The Barritts of the Fenlands - Page 14
James Barrett, son of George and Martha
James was born 1st May 1844 on Feltwell Fen, being the third son of George and Martha. He married Sarah Goodge of Southery on 19th October 1867 at Southery Parish Church and they lived at Coldharbour, Black Horse Drove, Brandon Creek, close to the Ely to Kings Lynn railway line.
James was employed as farm bailiff at The Chain Farm, Brandon Creek. He and Sarah had a total of nine children. Two of their sons, Albert Samuel and John moved to Blackheath, South London where they were in the carriage business. Another son, James Louis, took his own life in 1954 just four months after his wife Ellen died.
I knew James and Sarah's youngest daughter, Ethel Mary for the last few months of her life. She remained at home at Cold Harbour living with her widowed mother until 1926, when she was turned 40. She then became housekeeper to the Hazel family of Berry Green, Stretham. She married Charles Langford Hazel about 1933 and I knew her as a widow living at 12 Top Street, Stretham, opposite her sister-in-law, a retired schoolteacher. I once took her for a drive to see her old home at Cold Harbour, which she'd not seen for many years. Ethel died 22nd September, 1969 and was buried at Stretham. From the birth of her father to her death was a span of 125 years.
James Barrett the farm bailiff died 12th September 1922 and Sarah died 19th August 1926. Both are buried in Littleport Cemetery.
© Ron Barritt - March 1995