Steward Family Part One
My story starts with my Great Great Great Great Grandfather. Of course my actual family story goes back way beyond that, but research becomes more difficult the further back you go and so the story must start somewhere.
So I begin with William Steward. I know a few things about this gentleman including the fact that he was a baker by trade and became a freeman of the city of Norwich on 30th October, 1793. He had at least two children and it is likely be was born somewhere between 1770 and 1780. He was married to Ann Coe and the children I have a record of are Henry and George.
Henry was born about 1817 and died in 1881. He was also a baker, but is also described as a journeyman. He lived at a number of addresses in Norwich including Ber Street (1861 census), Woods Yard off Ber Street (1871 census), and 6, Cannells Court, Timberhill (1881 census). Like his father he was a freeman of Norwich, being awarded this honour on 4th June, 1841. He married Susan (or Susanna) Larkman.
The year 1808.That year saw George III on the British throne with William Cavendish-Bentinck, the Third Duke of Portland, prime minister. It was also the year that the original Covent Garden theatre in London was destroyed by fire. The United States prohibited the importation of slaves from Africa, the Peninsula war was being fought and travel entrepreneur Thomas Cook was born. It was the year that Beethoven wrote his famous fifth and sixth symphonies.
It is also the birth year of my great great great grandfather George Steward (brother of Henry) who was born in Norwich. George was a baker by trade and became a freeman of Norwich on 10th July, 1830. On June 6th, 1841, he was living in Ber Street and also had the profession of Inspector of Police. In the 1851 census his address is given as Creak's Buildings and his date of death is given as November 11th, 1866, in Bull Close Road. He died from kidney disease.
Brian David Butcher's history of policing in Norfolk "A Movable Rambling Police" gives a flavour of law and order in the middle of the 19th century when George would have been involved in policing. The County Police Act of 1839 allowed the establishment of a paid police. In 1836 to be sworn in as a policeman applicants had to be aged between 25 and 50 and at least 5ft 6in tall. Regular officers at the time were paid 70p a week and received a coat, greatcoat, hat, cape, belt, truncheon, rattle and handcuffs. The men had to supply their own trousers and five pence a week was taken to cover the cost of clothing.
Policing was divided into three shifts. Officers on the first shift started duty at 6 a.m and patrolled in pairs until 8 a.m, covering only the suburbs. From 8 a.m until finishing duty at 2 p.m they would work alone throughout the City. Those starting at 2 p.m patrolled separately until 11 p.m when they finished duty. Those starting at 11 p.m returned to the suburbs to patrol in pairs until 6 a.m. A police station was established in the Guildhall.
Members of the Force received fees for a wide range of activities such as arrests, finding stolen property and attending court as a witness giving rise to claims of payment through results.
"Whilst there was greater enthusiasm for appointment as an ordinary officer, life was to prove extremely difficult. Heavy drinking and its effects constantly affected officers of all ranks. Long hours had to be worked under conditions of strict discipline. Something of that life can be gathered from a number of rules, dated 1840, which applied to officers at Norwich.
They had to attend the station house at 10 minutes before duty time. If they were not there when the clock struck then there was a fine of 2 1/2p. If they were not there 15 minutes later the there was an automatic suspension until the next watch committee meeting.
The whole time of officers, even off duty, was at the disposal of the watch committee. A sergeant had the specific duty to see that the men were perfectly sober. Officers were expected to be civil and attentive; to act with coolness and at the same time with firmness and promptitude.
George was probably about 18 when he married Catherine August. Her date of birth is given as 1808 and it is likely she was born in Strumpshaw just outside Norwich. Catherine was my Great Great Great Grandmother. George and Catherine had seven children - George (born 1837), Henry (born 1830, died 1906), Margaret (born 1832), Ann (born 1835), Donald John (born 1839), Jessie Catherine (born 1843, died 1909) and Charles (born 1846).
Henry was my great great grandfather and on September 16th 1850 he married Mary Ann Vincent in St Augustine's Church, Norwich. Henry's trade was given as tailor/journeymen and we know that he lived in various areas of Norwich including Ber Street, Philidelphia (which I presume is Philidelphia Road), Bull Close Road and Cowgate Street. He died on October 19th, 1906 aged about 78 - a reasonable age for those times. Mary Ann's work is given variously as cotton reeler, "assistant in business", weaver and silk filler.
Henry and Mary Ann Steward had 12 children - six sons and six daughters. They were Henry (born 1850), James (1851), Ann (1856), George (1858), Caroline (1859), Sarah (1860), Elizabeth (1862), Alfred (1866), Mary Anne (1869), Donald (1872), Arthur (1873) and Maria (1876). This means that Mary Ann was producing offspring from the age of 20 to about 46.
Of these children George became my great grandfather and that's where things begin to get interesting.
George was in many ways a rather notorious character. In 1877, aged 18 or 19 he married Hannah Durrant and they had one son - George who was born in 1880. Hannah died, probably in childbirth and George re-married in June 1882 to Sarah Engledow. Together they had five children - William (born in either 1881 or 1883), Sarah (1884), Alice (1888), Arthur (1894) and Horace (1900).
George and Hannah's child George became well known in Norwich as licensee of the Old Music House Public House at 167 King Street. This building is now part of Wensum Lodge education centre. Previously Wensum Lodge had been known as Jurnet's House at 167 King Street. It is the oldest surviving house in the city, built in about 1175. It belonged to the Jurnet family until King John Seized it. In the 18th century the house was known as the Music House and it was used by The City Waits who were the five official musicians for the city. In 1790 the building was divided into three tenements and was then bought by the brewing family of John Youngs who built a maltings there in 1851. It was sold to brewers Bullard and Sons in 1958 and converted to an adult education centre in 1997. In 1487 the house was owned by Sir John Paston and from 1584 by Sir Edward Coke. In the early 1900s it housed the architectural offices of Youngs, Crawshay and Youngs.
My story starts with my Great Great Great Great Grandfather. Of course my actual family story goes back way beyond that, but research becomes more difficult the further back you go and so the story must start somewhere.
So I begin with William Steward. I know a few things about this gentleman including the fact that he was a baker by trade and became a freeman of the city of Norwich on 30th October, 1793. He had at least two children and it is likely be was born somewhere between 1770 and 1780. He was married to Ann Coe and the children I have a record of are Henry and George.
Henry was born about 1817 and died in 1881. He was also a baker, but is also described as a journeyman. He lived at a number of addresses in Norwich including Ber Street (1861 census), Woods Yard off Ber Street (1871 census), and 6, Cannells Court, Timberhill (1881 census). Like his father he was a freeman of Norwich, being awarded this honour on 4th June, 1841. He married Susan (or Susanna) Larkman.
The year 1808.That year saw George III on the British throne with William Cavendish-Bentinck, the Third Duke of Portland, prime minister. It was also the year that the original Covent Garden theatre in London was destroyed by fire. The United States prohibited the importation of slaves from Africa, the Peninsula war was being fought and travel entrepreneur Thomas Cook was born. It was the year that Beethoven wrote his famous fifth and sixth symphonies.
It is also the birth year of my great great great grandfather George Steward (brother of Henry) who was born in Norwich. George was a baker by trade and became a freeman of Norwich on 10th July, 1830. On June 6th, 1841, he was living in Ber Street and also had the profession of Inspector of Police. In the 1851 census his address is given as Creak's Buildings and his date of death is given as November 11th, 1866, in Bull Close Road. He died from kidney disease.
Brian David Butcher's history of policing in Norfolk "A Movable Rambling Police" gives a flavour of law and order in the middle of the 19th century when George would have been involved in policing. The County Police Act of 1839 allowed the establishment of a paid police. In 1836 to be sworn in as a policeman applicants had to be aged between 25 and 50 and at least 5ft 6in tall. Regular officers at the time were paid 70p a week and received a coat, greatcoat, hat, cape, belt, truncheon, rattle and handcuffs. The men had to supply their own trousers and five pence a week was taken to cover the cost of clothing.
Policing was divided into three shifts. Officers on the first shift started duty at 6 a.m and patrolled in pairs until 8 a.m, covering only the suburbs. From 8 a.m until finishing duty at 2 p.m they would work alone throughout the City. Those starting at 2 p.m patrolled separately until 11 p.m when they finished duty. Those starting at 11 p.m returned to the suburbs to patrol in pairs until 6 a.m. A police station was established in the Guildhall.
Members of the Force received fees for a wide range of activities such as arrests, finding stolen property and attending court as a witness giving rise to claims of payment through results.
"Whilst there was greater enthusiasm for appointment as an ordinary officer, life was to prove extremely difficult. Heavy drinking and its effects constantly affected officers of all ranks. Long hours had to be worked under conditions of strict discipline. Something of that life can be gathered from a number of rules, dated 1840, which applied to officers at Norwich.
They had to attend the station house at 10 minutes before duty time. If they were not there when the clock struck then there was a fine of 2 1/2p. If they were not there 15 minutes later the there was an automatic suspension until the next watch committee meeting.
The whole time of officers, even off duty, was at the disposal of the watch committee. A sergeant had the specific duty to see that the men were perfectly sober. Officers were expected to be civil and attentive; to act with coolness and at the same time with firmness and promptitude.
George was probably about 18 when he married Catherine August. Her date of birth is given as 1808 and it is likely she was born in Strumpshaw just outside Norwich. Catherine was my Great Great Great Grandmother. George and Catherine had seven children - George (born 1837), Henry (born 1830, died 1906), Margaret (born 1832), Ann (born 1835), Donald John (born 1839), Jessie Catherine (born 1843, died 1909) and Charles (born 1846).
Henry was my great great grandfather and on September 16th 1850 he married Mary Ann Vincent in St Augustine's Church, Norwich. Henry's trade was given as tailor/journeymen and we know that he lived in various areas of Norwich including Ber Street, Philidelphia (which I presume is Philidelphia Road), Bull Close Road and Cowgate Street. He died on October 19th, 1906 aged about 78 - a reasonable age for those times. Mary Ann's work is given variously as cotton reeler, "assistant in business", weaver and silk filler.
Henry and Mary Ann Steward had 12 children - six sons and six daughters. They were Henry (born 1850), James (1851), Ann (1856), George (1858), Caroline (1859), Sarah (1860), Elizabeth (1862), Alfred (1866), Mary Anne (1869), Donald (1872), Arthur (1873) and Maria (1876). This means that Mary Ann was producing offspring from the age of 20 to about 46.
Of these children George became my great grandfather and that's where things begin to get interesting.
George was in many ways a rather notorious character. In 1877, aged 18 or 19 he married Hannah Durrant and they had one son - George who was born in 1880. Hannah died, probably in childbirth and George re-married in June 1882 to Sarah Engledow. Together they had five children - William (born in either 1881 or 1883), Sarah (1884), Alice (1888), Arthur (1894) and Horace (1900).
George and Hannah's child George became well known in Norwich as licensee of the Old Music House Public House at 167 King Street. This building is now part of Wensum Lodge education centre. Previously Wensum Lodge had been known as Jurnet's House at 167 King Street. It is the oldest surviving house in the city, built in about 1175. It belonged to the Jurnet family until King John Seized it. In the 18th century the house was known as the Music House and it was used by The City Waits who were the five official musicians for the city. In 1790 the building was divided into three tenements and was then bought by the brewing family of John Youngs who built a maltings there in 1851. It was sold to brewers Bullard and Sons in 1958 and converted to an adult education centre in 1997. In 1487 the house was owned by Sir John Paston and from 1584 by Sir Edward Coke. In the early 1900s it housed the architectural offices of Youngs, Crawshay and Youngs.
The first licensee of the Old Music House Public House appears to be Samuel Pallant who ran it from 1760 to 1763. There were 17 licensees before George Steward who had the licence from 6th May 1902 until 9th February 1926 when it was taken over by his wife Emily Fanny Steward. The pub was closed on 12th November 1932. Emily took over the licence after the death of her husband on 11th January, 1926 in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. A search of the records shows that George died on the Ber Street Ward from empithelioma of the oesophagus and carditis heart failure. This could possibly have been brought on by being gassed in the war. It is likely that other members of the Steward family helped out with the pub as George Steward obviously saw action in the First World War. He was medically discharged from the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry on 26th November, 1917, when he would have been about 36 years of age. He had shrapnel wounds and injuries to both wrists and was awarded £25 for each wrist and £10 for his service.
He had three children with Emily, who died in 1967. The children were Eva Emily who died in 1981, Ernest George who dies in 1991 and George who died in 1976. In his will George left effects to the value of £248 9s 6d to his wife Emily. Emily's maiden name was Porter.
In July 2006 journalist Derek James wrote about the numerous pubs in King Street in his column in the Norwich Evening News. At one time almost 60 pubs were in operation. Sailors from around the world mingled with the locals when they stooped off at the port of Norwich and headed off into King Street for a night on the town. Derek tells us that many were going into town but never got any further than King Street.
Norwich pub historian and author Derek McDonald says it is difficult to imagine what life must have been like in the extraordinary King Street. In his article Derek lists the Music House as being in business from 1760 until 1932.
A guided tour of King Street under the Norwich Heritage Programme in 2011 underlined the huge number of public houses in King Street with at one point 26 pubs and two breweries.
A chance meeting at Norwich Archive centre with Peter Wilson led to him sending me details of a 1925 publication "Inns and Taverns of Old Norwich" by Walter Wicks which had the following to say about the Music House Public House.
The old "Music House," rich in historical associations, the home in bygone times of the Pastons, Chief Justice Coke, and other eminent people, deserves more than a passing reference. The basement cellar is reputed to be the only Norman domestic cellar in Norwich. Its earliest record shows that the house was standing in the remote days of William Rufus, and that it was the property of wealthy Jews, and was known as "Isaac's Hall" from a member of that body who, from time to time, was mulcted in heavy fines by avaricious monarchs. The first Jew magnate who resided there was named Moses, followed by his son Abraham, the property descending to the son of Abraham, when the house was know as "Isaac's Hall." It is said (we do not vouch for the accuracy of the statement) that this offspring of Abraham was the unfortunate wight who was condemned by King John to pay a forfeit of 10,000 marks, with which demand the Jew did not easily comply; so the king commanded a tooth to be drawn daily until the uttermost mark was paid. We are not tole what method of torture was devised to secure payment of any balance which may have been outstanding at the time the Jew surrendered his final molar.The house was entreated to King John, whose son, Henry III, granted it to Sir William Valoynes. Amongst other notabilities it became the property of Lady Katherine Felbrigge. The Paton family lived there in 1488, as is well known, and in 1633 it was the city residence of Lord Chief Justice Coke, who, at the time of his residence there, was Recorder of Norwich. It is difficult to say at what date the house became a tavern but it was called the Music House when the city waits used to meet there and rehearse their nocturnal performances for the benefit of the music loving citizens. The waits - five in number - had each a residence in King Street, and were presented with their instruments by Queen Elizabeth, in whose reign they were constituted. The waits were dissolved by an order of the Corporation, whether to the regret or relief of the King Street residents we are unable to record.
Ernest A Kent's Norfolk Archaeology Volume 28 of 1945 had the following to say about the Old Music House
“... At Bury St Edmunds is still to be found the strong Jew’s House known as Moyse’s Hall, and correspondingly the Jew’s House in Norwich is still to be found although greatly disguised by reason of subsequent additions. It is in the parish of St Etheldred, and has been known both as “Paston House ” and “The Music House”. ... a conjectural drawing of the original Jew’s House ... exhibits the usual method of entrance to a Norman building which was by a covered staircase leading to a door on the first floor. ... the Norman groined cellaring (has) the only remaining portion of one side of the entrance door of the Isaac’s Hall, all the rest of the door, porch and staircase having been destroyed when the Jacobean portion of the Music House was erected on the south side. The bases (of this entrance door) have vertical “nicks” about 10 inches apart inside the concave moulding ... similar to the three transitional pillars of the old Infirmary of the Norwich Priory ... the date of these is believed to be between 1175 and 1190.“It appears then that the house was built by Isaac the Jew temp.Henry II. On his death it was escheated by King John and alienated in favour of Sir William de Valoines by Henry III. After passing through many hands it was in 1474 the city house of William Yelverton esq who sold it to Sir John Paston Knt. In 1613 it was purchased by Sir Edward Coke, Recorder of Norwich and Lord Chief Justice. He it was who probably built the 17th century addition to the south, calling it Paston House in memory of his first wife. Finding the old porch in the way, he destroyed all except the fragment shown. The “Music House” was first mentioned in the “Norwich Gazette” of 19th January 1723, the City Waits being accustomed to meet and practice there.”
Norwich photographer George Plunkett took a number of photographs of the Old Music House and we reproduce one from 1931 with the kind permission of his son Jonathan. George has also written a history of Norwich Buildings which gives a fascinating insight into the past. You can read this by clicking here to go to George's web site.
He had three children with Emily, who died in 1967. The children were Eva Emily who died in 1981, Ernest George who dies in 1991 and George who died in 1976. In his will George left effects to the value of £248 9s 6d to his wife Emily. Emily's maiden name was Porter.
In July 2006 journalist Derek James wrote about the numerous pubs in King Street in his column in the Norwich Evening News. At one time almost 60 pubs were in operation. Sailors from around the world mingled with the locals when they stooped off at the port of Norwich and headed off into King Street for a night on the town. Derek tells us that many were going into town but never got any further than King Street.
Norwich pub historian and author Derek McDonald says it is difficult to imagine what life must have been like in the extraordinary King Street. In his article Derek lists the Music House as being in business from 1760 until 1932.
A guided tour of King Street under the Norwich Heritage Programme in 2011 underlined the huge number of public houses in King Street with at one point 26 pubs and two breweries.
A chance meeting at Norwich Archive centre with Peter Wilson led to him sending me details of a 1925 publication "Inns and Taverns of Old Norwich" by Walter Wicks which had the following to say about the Music House Public House.
The old "Music House," rich in historical associations, the home in bygone times of the Pastons, Chief Justice Coke, and other eminent people, deserves more than a passing reference. The basement cellar is reputed to be the only Norman domestic cellar in Norwich. Its earliest record shows that the house was standing in the remote days of William Rufus, and that it was the property of wealthy Jews, and was known as "Isaac's Hall" from a member of that body who, from time to time, was mulcted in heavy fines by avaricious monarchs. The first Jew magnate who resided there was named Moses, followed by his son Abraham, the property descending to the son of Abraham, when the house was know as "Isaac's Hall." It is said (we do not vouch for the accuracy of the statement) that this offspring of Abraham was the unfortunate wight who was condemned by King John to pay a forfeit of 10,000 marks, with which demand the Jew did not easily comply; so the king commanded a tooth to be drawn daily until the uttermost mark was paid. We are not tole what method of torture was devised to secure payment of any balance which may have been outstanding at the time the Jew surrendered his final molar.The house was entreated to King John, whose son, Henry III, granted it to Sir William Valoynes. Amongst other notabilities it became the property of Lady Katherine Felbrigge. The Paton family lived there in 1488, as is well known, and in 1633 it was the city residence of Lord Chief Justice Coke, who, at the time of his residence there, was Recorder of Norwich. It is difficult to say at what date the house became a tavern but it was called the Music House when the city waits used to meet there and rehearse their nocturnal performances for the benefit of the music loving citizens. The waits - five in number - had each a residence in King Street, and were presented with their instruments by Queen Elizabeth, in whose reign they were constituted. The waits were dissolved by an order of the Corporation, whether to the regret or relief of the King Street residents we are unable to record.
Ernest A Kent's Norfolk Archaeology Volume 28 of 1945 had the following to say about the Old Music House
“... At Bury St Edmunds is still to be found the strong Jew’s House known as Moyse’s Hall, and correspondingly the Jew’s House in Norwich is still to be found although greatly disguised by reason of subsequent additions. It is in the parish of St Etheldred, and has been known both as “Paston House ” and “The Music House”. ... a conjectural drawing of the original Jew’s House ... exhibits the usual method of entrance to a Norman building which was by a covered staircase leading to a door on the first floor. ... the Norman groined cellaring (has) the only remaining portion of one side of the entrance door of the Isaac’s Hall, all the rest of the door, porch and staircase having been destroyed when the Jacobean portion of the Music House was erected on the south side. The bases (of this entrance door) have vertical “nicks” about 10 inches apart inside the concave moulding ... similar to the three transitional pillars of the old Infirmary of the Norwich Priory ... the date of these is believed to be between 1175 and 1190.“It appears then that the house was built by Isaac the Jew temp.Henry II. On his death it was escheated by King John and alienated in favour of Sir William de Valoines by Henry III. After passing through many hands it was in 1474 the city house of William Yelverton esq who sold it to Sir John Paston Knt. In 1613 it was purchased by Sir Edward Coke, Recorder of Norwich and Lord Chief Justice. He it was who probably built the 17th century addition to the south, calling it Paston House in memory of his first wife. Finding the old porch in the way, he destroyed all except the fragment shown. The “Music House” was first mentioned in the “Norwich Gazette” of 19th January 1723, the City Waits being accustomed to meet and practice there.”
Norwich photographer George Plunkett took a number of photographs of the Old Music House and we reproduce one from 1931 with the kind permission of his son Jonathan. George has also written a history of Norwich Buildings which gives a fascinating insight into the past. You can read this by clicking here to go to George's web site.