The Firmin family of Belchamp Walter
The 1891 census has Walter Firmin as head of household
,coachman and living at number 6 Munt Cottages.
There are 9 names listed in the census. The cottage is currently 3 bedroom and there are two residents.
In 1891 it must have been pretty crowded. In fact, numbers 5 and 6 may now be what is now
Munt Cottage as it is believed that it
was two "tenements" at that time - this would mean that there were 12 living in the Cottage.
There are 10 Firmin burials in the Parish Council Cemetery. The entry for William Firmin is
thought to be an error and it is actually Walter Firmin, Coachman for the Raymond family. Maria,
his wife were residents of number 6 Munt Cottages in 1891.
Walter Firmin is buried in the Parish Council Cemetery, the plot number is not known but it is
likely to be in the Northern section which is rather over-grown.
George Firmin, Charles' father, was a retired blacksmith and formely lived at the Forge in the
main village.
Top
The Firmins of Munt Cottage
There are many references to the Firmin Family with respect to Munt Cottage.
The 1891 Census:
No-6-Munt Cottages
Walter Firmin head-48-coachman-B.W.
Maria-wife-43-B.W.
Elizabeth Reeve-dau-19-retired servant-B.W.
Annie Firmin-dau-15-sch-B.W.
Laura Firmin-dau-13-sch-B.W.
Emma-dau-10-B.W.---(later teacher at Belchamp Walter School. Information from late Fred Chatters)
George-son-8-sch-B.W.
Ellen-dau-4-B.W.
Frank-son-1---B.W.
George-father-wid---75-retired blacksmith-B.W
The Burial Records for the cemetery at Belchamp Walter records:
- 26 - Maria Firmin - 13 June 1926 - this was Charles Firmin's spouse. He was 48 in 1891 and probably
died before the PC Cemetery opened (have to look for a headstone in
the main churchyard)
- 168 - Firmin Maurice William - 10 May 1965- Plot 150
Joseph Firmin - Farmer
Article from Bury and Norwich Post - September 29th 1863
Thomas Turner, R.Cattawell and James Felton labourers of Walter Belchamp were charged with stealing
7 bushels of wheat from Mr Thomas Hart their employer.
Mr Hart said the men had been in his employ for some time and he suspected them of stealing wheat.
He hid himself in some straw near his house and kept watch, at about 11-30 he saw the prisoners
enter the field and one watched my door and the other two filled the sacks or bags.
Next morning he informed the police and they traced the foot marks throught the fields to Gestingthorpe
to a farm in the occupation of Mr Joseph Firmin. A man named Brown has been charged with receiving.
Committed for trial.
The Cattawell and Felton families are yet to be documented.....
The R. Cattawell could have been a spelling error for Cattewell.
The Felton Family are an ancient Sudbury family and the Felton
here not related to the James Felton mentioned above.
Walter Firmin
Walter Firmin was the coachman for the Raymond estate in the 1890's
Article from Suffolk Free Press - May 11th 1892
William Cutmore aged 32 a labourer of Belchamp St Pauls was charged with driving four horses and a waggon at
Belchamp Walter on April 23rd while drunk.
Walter Firmin said I am coachman to Mr Raymond, on the 23rd of April I was driving Mr Raymond into Sudbury
with his mistress, I met a man with a waggon, he appeared asleep, I shouted several times, he was
sitting in the waggon, I touched the front horse with my whip as there was not enough room to pass,
the horses were going a quite a fast pace,
I passed a man named Crisp a little further on, I asked him to overtake the man and see if he was alright,
I did not see his face as his head was hanging.
Joseph Crisp said I live in Belchamp Otten, in consequence of what the last witness said I drove after
the waggon and overtook it in � a mile, the man was asleep in the waggon, it was going very slow,
I could see Mr Gunn the relieving officer coming, I shouted and hollered, he did not wake up,
I shouted again and he woke up, I do not know whether he was drunk or not, I would not trust him with
my horses, the horses and waggon belonged to Mr Robert Smith.
Discharged with a caution and to pay 16s costs
