1817 Peal board
Bramford’s oldest peal board hangs in the ringing chamber of the church and records the efforts of the Bramford bellringers marking the beginning of the new year in 1817.
The achievement was reported in the Suffolk Chronicle on the 11th January. No record of them ever completing the “double” has been found – it would have been quite an accomplishment.
The Ringers
Notes on possible identities
Thomas Close Chamberlain
Born c1791. He appears in the Electoral Register for Bramford in 1842 but also recorded as resident in Handford Road Ipswich in the 1841 Census. He may have been a merchant.
William Pearce
Four daughters were born to William and Sarah Pearce in Bramford between 1814 and 1823 but no further information found so far.
William Watson
Born c1790 Lincolnshire. Inland Revenue Officer. Married Sarah Pallant who was born in Bramford.
In 1851 he is retired and living in Victoria Street, Ipswich.
George Wood
Married Rachel Crooks in Bramford in 1824.
Their children were baptised in Bramford.
He may have been related to the Wood family who farmed at Lovetofts Hall.
Stephen Allen
Born in Bramford in 1786
He married Esther Jeffries in Leatherhead, Surrey
In 1851 they are in Stamford Hill, Middlesex – he is working as a Gardener.
Joseph Lewes
Born 1804 in Bramford.
Married Sarah Mee (Born Bramford) in 1841 in Bramford
Iron founder’s warehouseman living in St Margarets Parish (Union street) in the 1841 Census
Died in 1867 in Ipswich.
Fascinating! William & Sarah Watson are my 4xgrt grandparents. They moved around with his work so didn’t settle in the village, but their son, also William Watson, was an Ipswich centenarian.
Apologies for a very belated reply to your comment. For some reason we didn’t get a notification from our website. Thank you very much for the information about William & Sarah Watson and family – it helps confirm what we thought was the identity of this bellringer.
Kelvin – Chairman BLHG
Hugo,
I think I may have William Watson and Sarah Pallant in my line too.