James Colby 1812

James Colby was born February 12th 1812 in Harleston and died December 30th 1901. He married

1. Sarah 1846. She was born 1804 in Thetford and died 1875
2. Maria 1876. She was born 1823 and died 1888 (think there is something wrong with this date!)
3. Ann Elizabeth Parker 1882 she was born 1835 in Burnham Market and died 1893

In 1851 Jamaes was living at the Bridge Street Thetfor and his occupation was given as ironmonger of the firm of Brown and Colby employing ?? assistants, 1 oil man and 2 porters. Wm Jackson an apprentice ironmonger from Colchester was staying with them.

In 1861 James now employed 4 men and 1 boy and staying with them was his nephew Rober Tilley an ironmonger's assistant.

In 1871 still in Bridge Street James still employed 4 men and 1 boy

In 1881 James was widowed and living with Mary Colby, his sister and Elizabeth Parker aged 26 from Banham was a domestic servant.

James Colby and Ann Parker had five children

Alice married ? Rruffles in 1911 and had 6 children, Joan, Travers, Ivan, Dudley, Raymond and Betty.

The Colby Connection - have been able to trace only two of James' wives, Millie Colby, the daughter of Ann Elizabeth Parker, was named Emily Parker.

They appear to have been a close knit family with James Colby being one of the dominant characters. When his second(?) wife died, his sister Mary came to be his housekeeper. When his third wife died in 1893 his nieces, Ann and Lizzie (Thirza's sisters) came to look after the fIve children, so there must have been considerable contact between the various branches of the family, between those in Bungay and Thetford for example.

James was a relatively wealthy man, generous in his giving to his local Congregational Church (now the United Reformed Church) and he made ample provision for his dependants. It is possible that he owned the Harleston branch of the firm which he gave to Ann Denny, his youngest sister. He was affectionately known as Uncle Jimmy. Mabel recalls a picture of him at Rossiter Road and her mother saying "Uncle Jimmy's watching you." Both Frank (jun) and Judith remember his name through their parents.

By 1869 James Colby seems to have been in charge of the future G Denny & Sons, the firm being advertised (in Thetford) as Brown and Colby. James gave the business but not the house (according to Herbert Denny's notes) to his sister Ann but this conflicts with another of his statements which says that Ann's father, William Colby, gave it to her.

However we are in possession of a Deed of Gift from James to Ann.

Obituary in Bury Free Press 5 January 1901
"Death removed another of our old and respected inhabitants on the last day of the old century, in the person of James Colby, Ironmonger of Bridge Street, at the age of 88. Mr Colby was the surviving partner of the old established firm of Born and Colby, so well known through the district. He was for many years secretary of the now defunct Horticultural Society and was a member of the Charity Governors and had filled other public bodies. He was a consistent Liberal, and a deacon of the Congregational Church. He was married three times and had survived each wife, his last wife leaving him a son and two daughters, one of whom recently married."