James Holden

  General Notes:

[Holden.GED]

Ancestor of Keith Holden:
By Keith Holden: James Holden was born at Crowfield, Suffolk, England 1 January 1795. He was the fourth child born to John Holden and Susan (Smith) Holden. He was publicly baptised at the parish church of Crowfield 18 January 1795. When James was a young man he worked in the Thelnetham district of Suffolk where he met his future bride, Lydia Kerry of Wattisfield. James and Lydia were married in the parish church at Thelnetham 8 May 1815 witnessed by John Kerry and John Darkin. Lydia belonged to the Independent Church at Wattisfield. She was born at Wattisfield 17 April 1793 to Thomas Kerry and his wife Mary English. Lydia was baptized on the 26 June 1793 in the Independent Church. James and Lydia baptised six of their 8 children in that church.
James was an agricultural labourer (farm hand) and was very poor. He became ill in 1827 and the family decided to move to Bressingham, Norfolk to see if they could find work. Someone in Thelnetham wrote a letter to the parish of Bressingham asking for financial help and explaining why the Holden family had missed a meeting to discuss their situation. Quote, "Thelnetham 20 July 1827, Gentlemen, in consequence of the illness of Holden, his wife can not attend your meeting tomorrow - they will be very thankful for what you please to send. I can apprise you they stand very much in need." Unquote. They were eventually settled in a cottage owned by Mr. John Thwaits and for over 11years James received a parish allotment of about 1 shilling and 10 pence per week. In 1847 he began to pay rent for his cottage and garden at the rate of about 2 shillings and 19 pense per month. On 19 March 1836 the parish authorized the expenditure of 6 shillings for clothing for his second daughter Sarah. (Sarah Holden died 30 April 1837) They continued to pay rent from 1847 to 1858 when the parish record closed. The last child born to James and Lydia Holden was born at Bressingham, Norfolk, 9 June 1833, she was christened Eliza Holden.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Fact 1: Fact 1, 1827, Moved To Bressingham, Norfolk, England.

• Fact 2: Fact 2, 9 Jun 1833, Last Child Born At Bressingham, Norfolk.

• Baptism, 18 Jan 1795, Crowfield, Sfk.

• Census 1851 (Mar30), 1851, ?.

• Census 1861 (Apr 7), 1861, ?.

• Census 1871 (Apr 2), 1871, ?.

• Census 1841 (Jun 6), 1841, ?.

James married Lydia Kerry on 8 May 1815 in Thelnetham, Suffolk, England. (Lydia Kerry was born on 17 Apr 1793 in Wattisfield, Suffolk, England, died on 21 Mar 1885 in Bressingham, Norfolk, England Aged 88 and was buried about 21 Mar 1885 in Bressingham, Norfolk, England.)

  Marriage Notes:

Reference Number:LDS#1472796