Introduction

 

Background

I am Christopher John. My father Harold William had access to the diary of Edward his grandfather for a short while and was able to transcribe selected parts. This document was my starting point to investigating my ancestry.

Edward - the author of the diary

Edward is my great grandfather. As far as I know he only had one forename. He married Ann Hind. This is a picture of them both:

Extracts from the Diary of Edward Sendall

"Origin of the name of Sendall. Sendall, Sendal, Icelandic, the name of a shepherds dog, from Senda to Send. "

This is not correct as the surname is generally accepted to have come from the Medieval English and Old French "sendal", (ultimately from the Greek "sindon" meaning fine silk or winding sheet, shroud), and was originally given either as a metonymic occupational name to a merchant dealing in fine silk, or in some instances, as an occupational name to an undertaker.

Information about his father, mother and grandparents

"I Edward Sendall was born on the 15th May 1831 at Hockering in the County of Norfolk, it is a village situated 10 miles West of Norwich and 6 miles East of East Dereham. My grandfather Sendall was a large Farmer at East Tuddenham a village adjoining Hockering. My Grandfather Middleton was a small Farmer in the same village but the land was his own. My Grandmother Sendall was related to the Leeds Freemans and Moneys all farmers in Norfolk, her maiden name was Nelson and was related to the Nelsons of Burnham Thorpe the Lord Nelson family. My Father was sent to a Mr Andrews of Lynn to learn the Business of a Grocer and Tallow Chandler (that is Candle Making) it was a very good trade at that time (as there was no gas). Mr Andrews was the only Candle Maker in Lynn.

When he came out of his apprenticeship he bought 12 Houses and a General Grocery and Drapery Business at Great Massingham in Norfolk, he lived there when the Prince of Wales afterwards George the Fourth visited Walpole at Houghton Hall a village adjoining Great Massingham. My father supplied the Hall with what goods they did not get from London. My Father was 40 years of age when he married my Mother who was only 19 years of age - there was of us six lived to be men and women.

Robert the Eldest die of Typhoid Fever when he was 14 years of age, then came Richard, Amelia, then Emmeline, Myself, Caroline, John, Clarassa, Robert, the two last died when about three years of age.

 

My Father became very much reduced in circumstances through being bound for a large sum of money for his eldest Brother Richard. My father was both a scholar and a Musician, he had the best library of books that I have met for a man of position and must have cost a great deal of money (at that time books were very dear) and he had allmost [sic] every kind of musical instrument that was used in Bands at that time.

 

My Mother received a good education and learned the Business of a Dressmaker."