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Past people

The Badwell Ash History Society http://www.badwellashheritage.co.uk/ has been collecting descriptions of Badwell Ash life by local residents of past life in Badwell Ash, called Badwell Ash Memories which can be found at http://www.badwellashheritage.co.uk/memories/

The Paynes

George and Hester Payne lived in Badwell Hall and set up Badwell Ash School in 1861. Hester Payne taught there most of her life. The following is a compilation of records found about the siblings.

Edward René PAYNE was baptised 25th March 1778 St Botolph, Bishopsgate, London, England, and was the Rector of Hepworth from 1819 to 1850. He married Frances BOLDERO on 2nd January 1822 at Ixworth where her father and brother, both named George, served as the Rector. Edward and Frances had four children:

George Edward PAYNE was born in Hepworth, Suffolk on 29TH December 1822 and baptised there on 1st January 1823. He died on 21st May 1912.

John Henry PAYNE was born in Hepworth, Suffolk on 23rd September 1824 and baptised there on 28th September 1824. He may have died in Dublin.

Hester Maria PAYNE was born and baptised on 29th June 1826 in Hepworth, Suffolk. She died on 24th December 1916.

Charles Richard PAYNE was born on 20th December 1827 in Hepworth, Suffolk and baptised there on 24th December 1827. He died in Abu Simbel, Egypt on 31st January 1859. He married Margaret Jane GOLDSON on 20th July 1855 at Blo Norton where her grandfather had been the Rector. Charles was the Curate at Walsham le Willows from 1852 until he died in 1859.

  • 1841 George Edward, aged 19, was living with his parents in Hepworth.
  • 1851 George Edward, Hester Maria and Charles Richard were living in Nowton Cottage, Coopers Lane, Nowton. All three are shown as fund holders.
  • 1861 George Edward and Hester Maria are living in Badwell Green. George is enumerated as a land owner and occupier, farming 220 acres and employing 10 labourers and 2 boys. In addition they employ a housemaid, a cook, an under-housemaid and a groom.
  • 1871 George Edward and Hester Maria are living in Badwell Green. George is enumerated as a landowner and occupier employing 14 men and 5 boys. Hester is enumerated as a landowner. They employ a house parlour maid, a cook, a housemaid and a coachman/groom.
  • 1881 George Edward and Hester Maria are living in Badwell Green. George is shown as a farmer and Justice of the Peace for Suffolk holding 300 acres of his own land and employing 11 men and 7 boys. There is no detail against Hester as George's entry takes up her line as well! They have an upper housemaid, a cook, a housemaid and a scullery maid living in the house. Their coachman and his family are housed separately.
  • 1891 George Edward and Hester Maria are living in Badwell Green. The name of the house is shown as Badwell Hall for the first time. George is enumerated as a JP for Suffolk and a farmer. Hester is living on her own means. The house staff now appear as a house keeper, a cook, a house parlour maid and a kitchen maid.
  • 1901 George Edward and Hester Maria are living in Badwell Green. The name of the house is shown as “The House”. George is again enumerated as a JP for Suffolk and a farmer, and Hester as living on her own means. The house staff now consists of a house keeper, a cook, a house parlour maid and a general servant. There is a sick nurse in the household as well.
  • 1911 George Edward and Hester Maria are living in Badwell Green. The name of the house is shown as “The Hall”. Hester is shown as being of private means and she made it very clear that she had completed the form on behalf of George, a land owner and occupier, who was then aged 88. A younger cousin Mary Catherine PAYNE is living with them. The house staff consists of a cook, parlourmaid, house maid and a kitchen maid.
  • 1912 George died on 21st May at which point his effects were worth £10,221:1s:8d, later resworn to £9,934:1s:8d which equates to approximately £566,837 at 2005 rates.
  • 1916 Hester died on Christmas Eve, 24th December 1916 at which point her effects were worth £32,286:5s:8d which equates to approximately £1,390,247 at 2005 rates.