William Allen 1825-1909

Contents

1825 – Baptism

William Allen, son of William Allen, was baptised in Great Ellingham on March 12^th 1825:-

1861 Census

In 1861, the Allen family living at “The Green” in Little Ellingham was made up of the following members:

Name	Age	Relation to head	Occupation
William Allen	36	Head	Farmer of 109 acres employing 3 men & 1 boy
Caroline Allen	36	Wife
William Allen	9	Son
Caroline Allen	7	Daughter
Sarah Ann Allen	5	Daughter
Rebecca Allen	3	Daughter
Ann Elizabeth Allen	1	Daughter
Elizabeth Skitmore	17	Servant	Dairy Maid
Jacob Spurgen	14	Servant	Yard Boy

1871 Census

By the time of the 1871 census, the farm at The Green in Little Ellingham had expanded considerably, as had the labour force; they no longer had any staff living with them in the home. This was the last census before William Allen senior moved to Deopham.

Name	Age	Relation to head	Occupation
William Allen	66	Head	Farmer of 230 acres employing 8 men & 3 boys
Caroline Allen	46	Wife
William Allen	19	Son
Caroline Allen	17	Daughter
Sarah Ann Allen	15	Daughter
Rebecca Allen	13	Daughter
Ann E Allen	11	Daughter
John R Allen	9	Son
Julia Allen	7	Daughter
Herbert Allen	5	Son

1875 – Move to Deopham

In 1875, coinciding with the marriage of his eldest son William, William Allen senior moved from Little Ellingham to Hall Farm, Low Common, Deopham. William Allen junior and his wife Martha remained at the Lyngwhite Farm in Little Ellingham. The following record shows the marriage of William Allen (junior).

Churchwarden

As a churchwarden, William Allen was named in the fundraising circulars for the nave and tower restorations carried out whilst the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn was the vicar.

Court of the Manor Deopham Hall

As a major tenant of the Manor of Deopham Hall, many of the Courts were held at the home of William Allen. There is a list of Courts here.

1881 Census

The 1881 Census recorded that William Allen was living in Low Common with his wife Caroline , daughters Sarah Ann & Julia together with sons John & Walter.

1888 – Court of the Manor of Shadwells

At the Court of the Manor of Shadwells otherwise Cockerells July 1888, William Allen was admitted into the Copyhold part of a purchase costing in total £410. The Copyhold land was located in Victoria Lane, and identified as piece no 44 on the 41814 Deopham Inclosures Map:

1890 – Death of his wife

The Norfolk News of Saturday January 25^th 1890 announced:

1891 Census

The 1891 Census recorded that William Allen was by this time a Widower, with the addition of a servant. The two sons and two daughters continued to live at Hall Farm with him.

1901 Census

The 1901 Census showed that whilst the two daughters remained at home and were still single, the two sons had moved on.

1910 – Obituary

The Eastern Evening News of January 3^rd 1910 carried the following article which has been reformatted here for ease of reading, but otherwise the text is as printed. The original is available here.

THE LATE MR. WILLIAM ALLEN.

“FATHER OF THE NORWICH CATTLE MARKET.”

The funeral took place at Deopham of Mr. William Allen of the Hall Farm, Deopham, one of the oldest and most respected agriculturists in Norfolk. Mr. Allen, who had reached the ripe old age of 85, was one of the oldest tenants on the Kimberley Estate, having come to Deopham thirty-four years ago from Little Ellingham, near Attleborough, where he was born and where he had previously farmed.
The deceased gentleman was a well-known figure at all the local markets, and for sixty-nine years he had been a regular attendant at the Norwich Cattle Market, of which for many years he had been regarded as the “father”. It was, perhaps, as a cattle and sheep dealer that the late Mr. Allen was best known, and during the last summer he attended as usual all the principal sheep and lamb sales in Norfolk and Suffolk, and, in spite of his great age, followed the markets with much activity, his judgement and advice being frequently sought by his fellow dealers.
Years gone by, when Tombland Fair was at its best as a sheep market, Mr. Alien was always one of the largest consignors, and right up to this year he, in conjunction with his son, Mr. Walter Allen, of the Crown Farm, Deopham, was always amongst the principal senders. A more kindly, genial, or honourable gentleman could not be imagined, and now that he has passed away he leaves one of the best of worldly possessions – a good and honoured name.

The great respect in which he was held could not have been better shown than by the large gathering in the church and at the graveside when he was laid to rest.
The chief mourners were:-
The Misses S. and J. Allen (daughters),
Mr. W. Allen (son),
Mrs. Clarke (daughter),
Mr. Alfred Clarke (son-in-law),
Mrs. Chaddock (daughter),
Mr. and Mrs. John Allen (son and daughter-in-law),
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Allen (son and daughter-in-law),
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Allen (son and daughter-in-law),
Archie and Edward Allen (grandsons),
Mr. Robin Allen,
Mr. A. W. Clarke (grandsons),
Mr. A. Allen (nephew),
Mr. J. W. Atmore (London),
Mr. Geo. Barker (Sussex),
Mr. W. R. Pollard (East Harling),
Mr. W. Makins (Colney),
Mr. and Mrs. William Eagling (Ellingham),
Mr. and Mrs. C. Clarke (Besthorpe), and
Miss C. Moore.

The service was impressively conducted by the Rev. J. S. Treglown, and as the funeral cortege moved up the church Miss Parr, who presided at the organ, played “But the Lord is mindful of His own”, and as the coffin was carried out “Oh, rest in the Lord”. The interment took place in a brick grave, which had been prettily lined with evergreen; and the coffin, which was of polished oak, with brass furniture, bore on the shield the inscription-

William Allen.
Died December 24th, 1909.
In his 86th year.

Amongst the senders of floral tributes were:-
Sallie and Julia:
Carrie and Alfred;
John and Hattie:
Herbert and Louie;
Walter and Helen and the boys:
Robin, Eva, and Constance:
Mrs. E. J. Allen and family;
Mr. and Mrs. Tingey;
Mr. and Mrs. Eagling and family;
Mr. and Mrs. C. Clarke;
Rev. J. S. and Mrs. Treglown;
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Pollard;
Mr. and Mrs. Pitts;
Annie and Sallie;
Mr. and Mrs. J. Atmore;
Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Stanley;
Miss Emma Colman, and
Mr. and Mrs. Woolnough.

The grave of William Allen and his wife Caroline is in Deopham church, although the headstone is now (in 2024) prostrate.
The text on the headstone reads:

In memory of
CAROLINE
wife of
WILLIAM ALLEN
who died January 21^st 1890
in her 65^th year
Watch therefore for ye know not what hour Our Lord doth come
Also
WILLIAM ALLEN
who died December 24^th 1909
in his 86^th year
So he gaveth his beloved sleep

Photo: P Long; 8/2005

Date	Change
20/10/24	1888 Copyhold purchase
12/5/24	Published