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| Ruins of St Bartholomew, Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk |
Robert Marsh Minns (bap. 19 Nov 1776 in Hethersett, Norfolk), son of David Minns and Hannah Marsh, married Mary Kett on 19 Oct 1801 at St Bartholomew's, Heigham, Norfolk. Mary Kett, baptised at St Bartholomew's on 1 Oct 1780, was the daughter of Hannah Kett and, just in case there was any doubt, the baptism states that she was 'Baseborn' (illegitimate).
(Wonder if Hannah and Mary were related to Robert Kett, leader of Kett's Rebellion. Kett’s Oak is an important historical landmark located near Hethersett, Norfolk. The tree holds significant historical and symbolic value, linked to the Kett’s Rebellion of 1549, during the reign of Edward VI. )
Robert and Mary also wasted no time in starting a family:
- Robert Marsh Minns b. 1 Apr 1802, bap. 4 Apr 1802
- Mary Ann Minns b. 17 Jan 1805, bap. 20 Jan 1805
- John Minns b. 19 Jul 1807 and bap. 19 Jul 1807
- Ann Minns b. 14 Sep 1810, bap. 16 Sep 1810
- Hannah Minns bap. 24 Jan 1813
- David Minns b. 22 Jun 1815, bap. 25 Jun 1815
- Elizabeth Minns b. 29 Mar 1818 and bap. 29 Mar 1818
- Harriet Minns b. 15 Feb 1824 and bap. 15 Feb 1824
Several of the baptism records, which all took place at St Bartholomew's, Heigham, list Robert's occupation as Husbandman. On Harriet's baptism, her father is listed as David Minns, but I'm certain this is an error. The record also clearly lists her mother, and specifies her as the former Mary Kett.
In 1829, Mary Minns (née Kett) died, aged 49. She was buried on 17 Jun 1829 in the churchyard at St Bartholomew's, Heigham. (The church was destroyed by German bombs on April 27, 1942 and the graveyard was grassed over in the 1950s. No trace of any grave remains.)
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| St Mary's churchyard Hellesdon cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak geograph.org.uk/p/850775 |
In 1841, Robert Minns (55), Ann Minns (55) and youngest daughters, Elizabeth (20) and Harriet (15) were living at Upper Heigham.
In 1851, living at Heigham Fields, Upper Heigham, were Robert M Minns (74) and Ann Minns (64) birthplace Norwich St Martins.
In 1861, Robert Minns (84) Farm Labourer and Ann Minns (74) Charwoman, were living at 22 Church Path, Heigham.
Robert Marsh Minns, of Upper Heigham, died on 25 Jan 1865, in his 89th year (1865 M Quarter in NORWICH Vol 04B Page 125), was buried on 31 Jan 1865 at St Mary, Hellesdon (where his grandparents married & mother was baptised) and was reported in the Suffolk Chronicle on 4 Feb 1865.
In 1871, Ann Minns (85) Widow, was living alone in Norton's Yard, Upper Heigham (Yards and Courts of Old Norwich).
Ann Minns died in 1873 J Qtr in NORWICH Vol 04B Page 104, at 86.