Mary Ann Rowing

December 13^th 1814 – October 5^th 1900

Baptism

Mary “Anne” Rowing was baptised in Deopham Church by the Rev. John Howard on December 18th 1814:

The spelling of “Anne” seen above only appears in this baptismal record; everywhere else it is simply “Ann”.

Life

Image supplied by Michael Allen; now retained by Jacky Phoenix

At the time of the 1851 census, Mary Ann Rowing was living with her brother Archibald and his wife Rebecca on their farm at High Common, Wicklewood. Her niece Alice Fendick was also living with them: she appears again as the executor of Mary Ann’s will.
Ten years later, the next census shows her as living with her 80 year old widowed mother Mary at “Green” in Deopham. Her mother is described as a farmer of 26 acres, employing one man/boy. They have one servant in the household.

Image supplied by Michael Allen;
now retained by Jacky Phoenix

Rebecca Rowing – Mary Ann’s sister-in-law

By 1881, Mary Ann had become head of the household at “Green” , farming 25 acres, employing one man/boy and sharing the house with her blind 89 year old aunt and one servant.
In 1891, now aged 76, she is described in the census as “living on her own means”; she shares the house with her 36 year old unmarried niece, Ellen Fendick, and one servant.
Mary Rowing also appears on several electoral registers where her address is shown simply as “The Green, Deopham” – or in some cases just as “Green”.

Death and Burial

Inquest into death

The Diss Express published on October 12^th 1900 contained the following report of the inquest into Mary Rowing’s death:-

On Tuesday the Norfolk Coroner, Mr. H. R. Culley, held an inquiry at Deopham, touching the death of Mary Ann Rowing, aged 85 years, who died on Friday last from injuries received through having been knocked down by a goat. Martha Jane Smith, domestic servant, said the deceased, on Thursday in last week, went out of the house with the intention of feeding the fowls, and after she had been in the yard a few minutes witness heard her call out. She went out and saw her mistress on the ground, and a goat was standing near by Deceased said the goat had knocked her down. A doctor was sent for, and he ordered the deceased to be put to bed, where she had been up to Friday last, when she died. Francis George, farm labourer, deposed to assisting the deceased. She appeared to be seriously injured, and said the goat ran for her as she was coming out of her house. She used the broom for self-defence, and the goat ran at her again and knocked her down. Witness added that the goat appeared to be savage. The jury returned a verdict of death from injuries accidentally received through deceased having been knocked down by a goat

The following account from the Downham Market Gazette of October 13th 1900 gives a slightly different account of the event:

An abbreviated account of the inquest also appeared in the Ipswich Journal of October 13th, 1900.

Mary Ann Rowing’s death certificate states that the cause of death was:

“Death from injuries accidentally received through deceased having been knocked down by a goat”.

Funeral

The following announcement appeared in the Eastern Evening News of October 8^th, 1900:

Burial

Mary Ann Rowing was buried on October 10^th, 1900, by the Rev. J.S. Treglown.
Her gravestone is located near the church porch (see location A44 on the churchyard plan.)

Photo: G. Sankey, 7/2023

Probate

Alice Fendick was the older sister of Ellen Fendick who had been living with Mary Ann in 1891. The two sisters lived at The Cottage until their deaths and are buried in Deopham churchyard.

Auction of the household effects – November 1900

Note: The “Governess Car” referred to above (purchased by Dove for £1 5s) is not an automobile, but a horse-drawn cart, also known as a tub-cart because of its shape.

The above auction details are published by courtesy of the Wymondham Town Archive: their ref BF61.

It is interesting to note that the name Fendick appears a number of times: the nieces had to purchase their aunt’s furnishings for their home next door.

Auction of the Farm – June 1901

The statement of account from Pomeroys the solicitors for handling the sale of the farm and other matters following on from Mary Ann Rowing’s death is available here.

Where was Mary Ann Rowing’s Farm?

The farms at that time were not identified so much by a farm name as by an occupant. However, the following (undated) sketch of “Property at Deopham late belonging to Mary Ann Rowing” indicates that the farm was that which is now called Laurel Farm. This document was alongside others passed on by Pomeroy’s solicitors of Wymondham.

This plan published courtesy of the Wymondham Town Archive: their ref 82/119

The road to Great Ellingham is slightly misplaced, but lining the field numbers above with the tithe map below shows that the location corresponds to Laurel Farm. Plot 470 next door to Laurel Farm is The Cottage which became home to Miss Rowing’s nieces.

A further (undated document) lists the acreage associated with each of these plots. The total of 23 acres corresponds to the figure in the 1901 auction particulars (to within 1 rod):-

This document published courtesy of the Wymondham Town Archive: their ref 82/121

Date	Change
22/2/24	Revised image of gravestone
26/9/23	Link to Pomoroy’s account for the sale of the farm etc
5/9/23	Image of Rebecca Rowing
1/9/23	Image of Mary Ann Rowing
20/8/23	Article from Downham Market Gazette
10/8/23	Published