George 1860

George was born in 1860 in Mendham  on 8 April 1860 and died on 30 June 1903 in Harleston.  He married Mary Elizabeth Everson on 25 December 1883 in Bedingfield.

Pictured is a cutting from a newspaper announcing their wedding.  It had been cut out, sellotaped to a piece of paper and used as the book mark for the family Birthday Book.  Note how only the fathers are mentioned.

George ran the family business - ironmongers in Harleston until his early death brought on by alcoholism.  He was buried in Redenhall church yard.  My brother saw his grave but unfortunately that area of the church yard was dug up in the 1950-60s and no records were kept of the graves.

The family story is told of how George would go out on the rounds collecting the money and would drink it on the way home.  One day he told the story of how he was set upon and his money stolen to account for the lack of takings.  He used what is called "The Denny Life Preserver" - a form of cosh made of woven leather over lead.  This is still in the family.

George pre-deceased his father and following the death of his father, Edward, Mary took over the running of the business until her sons Hedley and Sydney were old enough take over.  Mary was christened in 1861 in Occold and died in November 1943 in Beccles at the home of her younger daughter, Grace.  She was an invalid much of her life and had to be carried upstairs and downstairs.  She lived to be 82 and saw his first grand-son - Roger.