Carbrooke Heritage News June 2014

 

The weather did us proud on Friday June 6^th, when we welcomed Carbrooke descendants, John and Dorothy Johnson from Michigan USA, whose ancestors were James and Elizabeth Sayer, born in the late 1700’s. They had a large family. John is descended from their son William, who emigrated to America to start a new life in 1840’s, which must have been quite an undertaking, leaving a quiet little village in Norfolk, everything he knew, and  travel across the world into the unknown!

James and Elizabeth had another son – Henry and one of his sons left for London. Patti Moore was also able to join us. She is descended through Henry, and hoping to move back to Carbrooke. John, Dorothy and Patti were delighted to meet each other, and discuss their connections. Sayer is quite a common name in this area, so if you have that name in your family, perhaps you are related too.

We were also able to welcome Anthony and Phyllis Boddy, from Harwich, whose ancestor (Anthony Boddy) was also born in Carbrooke, and his father was a Shepherd at Shipdham Road ( Tun Moore in 1851).

We started the day, by attending the Community Assembly at the school, and as the date coincided with the D-Day Landings, Mr King explained the importance of the events to the children. We were then shown around the school, and how much it has changed since Anthony Boddy would have attended in the 1850’s, soon after it was built as a single roomed building! We followed this by a look around the church, and John and Dorothy were able to visit the grave of their ancestors. We had a quick look around the village and then Mr and Mrs Johnson visited Woodrising where they also have connections.

A most enjoyable get together was held in the Village Hall at 2pm over tea and refreshments, as local residents arrived and we chatted about Carbrooke in past times. Although our older residents lived here during the first part of the 20^th century, Carbrooke life was probably more similar then to what it had been 200 years earlier, than what it is today.

Thank you to everyone who took part, it is great to be able to ‘show off’ our village like this, and the visitors were very appreciative, we presented them with local books and information.

Next meeting: Wednesday 9^th July 7pm in the Church. All welcome to our informal meetings.

We are also hoping for another visit to Norwich Records Office on Wednesday 2^nd July, contact me if you are interested in going. Still seeking local information relating to WW1 .