John Chilvers, was born somewhere between 1776 and 1780 in Castle Acre, Norfolk, England.  He was the son of John and Rebecca (nee Clark) Chilvers.  Not much is known personally about our John ... only what can be related by census and Castle Acre parish records.  We do know, however, that John married Mary Howard, 01 May 1798, Castle Acre, Norfolk, and that banns had been read Mar 25th, Apr 15th and Apr 22nd, and both made their marks; L. Framingham, minister.

Their children were: John, Elizabeth, Philip, James, Benjamin, Benjamin, Robert, Joseph, George, Rebecca and William.

John, (first child) born about 1799 ... there is no record of Johns christening in Castle Acre.  He married Susanna Firth sometime between 1822 and 1827, Pentney, Norfolk.  Susanna was born in Pentney as well and gave birth to six children, all born Pentney, Norfolk.  They were Jane, John, Rebecca, Maria, James and Joseph.

Although Jane (first) born about 1822, 29 on the 1851 census, states her connection as daughter of John, when she and her husband, William Aylmer and three children, James, William and George, are living in the home of John Chilvers, along with Rebecca, Joseph and John; FHL film 0207483, living Rural Cot, Freebridge Lynn, Pentney Freebridge Lynn census place (1851 census).

John, (second) born about 1829 was married in the 1881 census to Ellen, born Beaton, Norfolk.  They had six children, five born Pentney: William, Mary A., John H., Harriet A., Florence, and Charles A. in Bawsey, Norfolk.

Rebecca, (third) born about 1833, was still at home in the 1851 census, age 18.
Maria (fourth), born about 1834, died and was buried 1836, Pentney, Norfolk
James (fifth) was born about 1837 and Joseph, (sixth) was 10 in the 1851 census.

Elizabeth, John and Mary's second child, was christened 23 Mar 1800, Castle Acre, Norfolk.  That appears to be all we know of her.

Philip, third child of John and Mary, was born 09 November 1801 and christened 15 November 1801, Castle Acre, Norfolk.  Philip married Mary Knights 20 October 1827, Pentney, Norfolk.  Mary, however, was born in Marham, Norfolk.  They had nine children: Frances (Fanny), Ann, William, Susan, John, Robert, John, Elizabeth and Rebecca, all born Castle Acre, Norfolk

In the 1851 census Mary appears to have her father, William Knights (79, also born Marham) pauper, as a lodger, along with her children.  Philip and son William, both ag lab, are living with the John Page family, Innkeeper and Farmer of seven acres, St. Germans, Norfolk, Downham, Wiggenhall St. Germans Downham, Norfolk census place.

Fanny, (first) was 10 in the 1841 census, d/o Mary.  Fanny married Henry Morley
28 October 1848, Castle Acre.  Henry was the s/o William Morley, born Castle Acre.
They could not be found in the 1851 census, but in the 1881 census they are living 2 Street, Rougham, Norfolk; FHL film 1341477.  Their children living with them at that time were Henry, 20, Ezra (son) 18, James, 16, Elizabeth 14, and John, 12, all born Rougham, Norfolk.

Ann, (second) d/o Philip and ..... Chilvers was christened 20 August 1830; buried 23 May 1832, Castle Acre.

William (third) was christened 09 May 1833, Castle Acre.  He married Sarah Ann Gotts, d/o John Gotts, 23 Dec 1856, Castle Acre.  They appear to have had one son, William, baptised 06 Jun 1858, Castle Acre.  William may have married Susannah Mobbs about 1877 and had a daughter, Mary E. Chilvers.  William sr. died 23 February 1897, age 63 and Sarah Ann 11 October 1899 ... Castle Acre cemetery grave extractions.

Susan (fourth), was christened 24 Jan 1836, Castle Acre.

John (fifth), was born about 1839 and died 24 July 1843, Castle Acre;  informant Mary Chilvers.

Robert (sixth) born about 1842, Castle Acre, married Hannah Smith, d/o Zachariah Smith, 10 November 1866.  No children were found, but in the 1881 census Robert, head, 41, ag lab, living Newton Road with wife Hannah 36, has nephew Herbert Fox, 11, born Castle Acre, living with them.  Herbert is quite possibly the son of James Fox and Phoebe - Phoebe being the sister of Hannah, also living Newton Road in the 1881 census, with daughter Alice Theresa, 8 scholar.
Robert died 15 August 1908; Hannah 21 November 1930, both in Castle Acre.

John (seventh) born about 1845, married Susan (?) about 1865 and they had ten children: Rebecca Elizabeth, Samuel, Philip, Fanny, William, Elizabeth, Ann Maria, William and Ann Maria.

Elizabeth (eighth) born about 1847 married George Engledon. s/o James Engledon,
25 Dec 1868.  They may have had a daughter, Alice Fanny, born about 1869, who was buried, infant, 10 Apr 1869, Castle Acre.

Rebecca (ninth) was born about 1850, Castle Acre.

After Mary's death (06-Jul-1854), Philip married Sarah Anne Seele, widower, Castle Acre, d/o John Griffin, 27 September 1856, Castle Acre.  Sarah Anne was born about 1789, Andover, Hampshire and died 17 Mar 1869 while Philip died 20 May 1879, Castle Acre.
 James, John and Mary's fourth child, was privately baptised 27 Jan 1804, Castle Acre and
was buried 15 November 1829 at age 25, Castle Acre, Norfolk.

Benjamin, christened 26 October 1806, CA, film 1526742, CA OPR, may have been their fifth child.

Another Benjamin, christened 17 Apr 1808 would have been John and Mary's sixth child.  This Benjamin married Sarah Bungay by banns, 31 May 1833.  Sarah born about 1806, Magdalen, Norfolk, gave birth to seven children: James, Elijah, William, Elizabeth, Ann, George and Jane.  Of all their children, Jane lived the longest, age 32, and the informant of her death, 14 September 1880, was her cousin, Caroline Springle (nee Chilvers), d/o George, Castle Acre.

Robert, John and Mary's seventh child, was christened 31 May 1808.  He married Mary Ann Parker 26 Jun 1830 by banns, Castle Acre..  Mary, born about 1808, gave birth to nine children: Eliza, John, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Harriet, Sarah Ann, Caroline, and Mary.
Robert appears to have died by the 1851 census since Mary and all the above children appear with her, parish relief FHL film 0207485.  John, however, unmarried, 18, ag lab, seems to be the only one working at the time.

Joseph, John and Mary's eighth child, was christened 31 Dec 1809, Castle Acre, and in the 1851 census is recorded as a soldier, unmarried, 43, Castle Acre, Corporal 4th Regiment, I-“Plymouth Citadel”, Sant Andrew; Plymouth St. Andrew Plymouth, Devonshire, census place, FHL film 0221028.

George, their ninth child, was christened 22 August 1831.  George first married Lucy Anne Harvey by banns, 14 Dec 1832 and had five children: Caroline, Lucy Ann, Elizabeth, Ellen and Mary Harvey, born between the years of 1833 and 1838.  Lucy died 04-Oct-1842, Castle Acre, and George married Ann Bubbins, 27 October 1843.  (Refer to George Chilvers story).

Rebecca, their tenth child, was christened 22 October 1815.  She married Robert Buckle, shepherd, s/o John Buckle, 06 October 1838, Castle Acre.  The 1841 census shows them  living Cottage Town Farm, Swaffham parish.  Rebecca appears to have given birth to nine children: Elizabeth Chilvers Buckle, Mary, John, Martha, Robert, Anne, Elizabeth, Emma and George.

Rebecca seems to have been fairly close to her parents, John and Mary, since in the 1841 census, they have her daughter, Elizabeth, age 3; 1851 census they are in Swaffham; 1871 West Acre, and in the 1881 census back in Swaffham.

If this is the case, then the John Chilvers of Swaffham, who died March 1/4 1850, may have been her father; Mary , w/o John, died 4 Dec 1848, Castle Acre, informant John Chilvers.
 William, christened 22 August 1819, s/o John and Mary, Castle Acre, was buried 03 Mar 1820, infant, Castle Acre.

So although we have no pictures, really no actual recorded history of John and Mary, quite a story  has been pieced together from a few statistics, all gathered from Castle Acre parish records and the census.

As you can see, this rather large family and their descendants, all lived and died mostly in Castle Acre, Norfolk.  We are proud to have been able to trace our connection to them.
 

Back to the Chilvers Story Index

Edited 14 April 2000