Robert Marsh Minns and Mary Kett

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:

1. Robert Marsh Minns b. 1 Apr 1802, bap. 4 Apr 1802
2. Mary Ann Minns b. 17 Jan 1805, bap. 20 Jan 1805
3. John Minns b. 19 Jul 1807 and bap. 19 Jul 1807
4. Ann Minns b. 14 Sep 1810, bap. 16 Sep 1810
5. Hannah Minns bap. 24 Jan 1813
6. David Minns b. 22 Jun 1815, bap. 25 Jun 1815
7. Elizabeth Minns b. 29 Mar 1818 and bap. 29 Mar 1818
8. 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.)

St Mary's churchyard Hellesdon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak
 geograph.org.uk/p/850775

Robert Marsh Minns, Widower, remarried Ann Clark, Widow (have been unable to discover her maiden name), on 13 Nov 1831, also at St Bartholomew's, Heigham. 

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.

William Byatt and Ann Poole

All Saints, Little Canfield

William Byatt (bap. 6 Mar 1814) son of John Byatt and Jane Stokes, married Ann Poole (b. 1817) on 18 Oct 1834, in Great Dunmow, Essex. 

William Byatt and Ann Poole had ten children, all baptised in Little Canfield:

1. George Byatt bap. 3 Apr 1836 
2. Walter Byatt bap. 11 Mar 1838
3. Charlotte Byatt bap. 31 May 1840
4. Alfred Byatt bap. 25 Sep 1842
5. Henry Byatt b. 1845 M Quarter Volume 12 Page 81, bap. 2 Mar 1845
6. Emma Byatt b. 1847 J Quarter Volume 12 Page 78, bap. 18 Apr 1847
7. Charles Byatt b. 1849 J Quarter Volume 12 Page 22, bap. 10 Jun 1849
8. Mary Byatt b. 1852 M Quarter Volume 04A Page 318, bap. 21 Mar 1852
9. John Byatt b. 1854 J Quarter Volume 04A Page 321, bap. 2 Apr 1854
10. Rebecca Byatt b. 1856 M Quarter Vol 04A Page 343, bap. 27 Apr 1856

All of the baptisms list William's occupation as Labourer and the registrations, in DUNMOW UNION, list the mother's maiden name as POOLE or POOL.

In 1841, William Byatt (26) was living in Hickey's Lane, Little Canfield with Ann Byatt (24), George (5), Walter (3) and Charlotte (1).

The 1851 Census returns for both Great and Little Dunmow are missing.

Ann Byatt died, aged 42, in 1859 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 224 and was buried in Little Canfield on 6 Jan 1860.

In 1861, living in High Canfield Lane, Little Canfield were William Byatt (48) Agricultural Labourer, Widowed; George Byatt (25), Alfred Byatt (18), Charles Byatt (11), Mary (9), John (7) and Rebecca (5). George, Alfred and Charles were all working as Agricultural Labourers too, while Mary, John and Rebecca were at school. Living with them was William's sister, Catherine Wilton (35) Widow and George Wilton (1) Nephew. Henry Byatt (16) was a Carter on the farm of Thomas Bernard (59) at Little Hoddens, Little Canfield. Emma Byatt (14) Visitors Nurse Maid, was among a large number of staff at Gardeners Cottage, Little Easton (on the Easton Lodge estate).

William Byatt then remarried to Ann Vail (sic) on 18 Oct 1862. 

William shouldn't have been able to forget his wedding anniversary. 

Baptised Mary Ann Vale on 3 Nov 1833 in Little Canfield, daughter of Robert Vale and Mary Dubry, she was listed as Ann Vale when living with her parents at Frogs Hall, Takeley, Essex (presumably, her father was working there on the farm), in 1841. In 1861, she had been listed as Mary Vale (28) House Servant to Joseph Sweeting (64) at Beelfords, Great Dunmow.

William Byatt and Ann Vale had two sons, but neither survived:

1. William Byatt bap. 20 Apr 1864 in Little Canfield. Died in 1864 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 236
2. David Byatt b. 1865 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 349, mother's maiden name VALE, bap. 17 Aug 1865, in Little Canfield. Died in 1865 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 226.

In 1871, William Byatt (58) Ag Lab and Ann Byatt (40) were living in High Cross Lane, Little Canfield.

In 1881, William Byatt (68) and Ann Byatt (50) were still living in High Cross Lane, Little Canfield.

In 1891, William Byatt (81) Agricultural Labourer Retired, had accelerated time, while Ann Byatt (50) had succeeded in making time stand still.

William Byatt, with age 81 (actually 77), died in 1891 S Quarter in DUNMOW Volume 04A Page 296 and was buried in Little Canfield on 19 Aug 1891.

Ann Byatt died, at 68, in 1897 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 385.