Robert FENN [4529]

  General Notes:

It appears Robert farmed at Henley before taking up Malt House Farm in Coddenham, his wife Margaret was from Henley.
He is reported to have had a long and lingering illness which may have occaisioned his move to Malt House Farm, he died young at 37

Notice in the Bury & Norwich Post 27 May 1812 Pg 3 Col 4 reads:
FARM at HENLEY near IPSWICH.
With possession at Michaelmas next
By John King
At the Griffin Inn, Ipswich, on Sat., the 6th June 1812 at Four o'clock in the afternoon (unless an acceptable offer is previously made by Private Contract)
All that very desirable farm, in the occupation of Mr Robert Fenn; comprising a good farm house, a barn, stable, cow house, cart sheds, piggeries, and other convenient outbuildings, a neat garden, and two orchards well planted with choice fruit trees, and containing in the whole 47^½ Acres of most excellent arable and pasture land, in convenient sized enclosures, and in an excellent state of cultivation.
This Estate is all freehold, subject to very moderate parliamentary and parochial rates, situated within 4^½ miles only of Ipswich (the road nearly all turnpike) and forms one of the most eligable farms of its size, either for occasional or constant residence, in the County.
Part of the purchase money may remain on the estate.
For further particulars apply to Mr George Goodwin Friars Street, St Nicholas, Ipswich, or of the Auctioneer at the County Press.
Copy on file 2004.

Notice in the Ipswich Journal 3 Oct 1812 pg 3 col 3 reads:
At Henly
On Saturday the 10 October.
By Jonathan Abbot & Son.
By a direct Order from the Proprietor
The valuable Farming Live and Dead stock, Implements in husbandry, dairy and brewing equipment, of Mr Robert Fenn who leaves his present occupation at Michalmas next. Consisting of 5 useful chestnut and bay cart mares and gelding, full in bone and and in good condition, one 2 year old bay cart colt, and 3 suckerels; road wagon in good condition, 3 foot and other ploughs, harrows and tumbrels, strong cart and plough harness, sow, 6 shoats and 9 pigs, 30 coomb sacks, with barn implements, one 12 gallon and 50 gallon copper, 6 bushell mash tub, and other brewing utensils, with a few articles of houshold furniture. The sale will take place at Ten o'clock precisely, and catalogues may be had in due time of the Auctioneers.

It is unproven that the above relates to the Robert Fenn below.

From 1817 a Robert Fenn appears on the Coddenham Parish Tax assessments as taxpayer for land valued at 50 Pds previously owned by John Bird, known as the Malt Office Farm. This was held on Leasehold from Rev John Longe Vicar of Coddenham.

Malt House Farm as let to Robt Fenn 1817 by Rev J Longe
Total contents 77 acres.
Pasture 15 A
Arable 62 acres
Rent less pasture land
62 Acres £93
Maltings
The floor carried 16 coombs.
Malt Cistern 21 coombs¹ of Steep £24
Total £117
Ref: Ipswich R.O. HA24/50/19/3.19
1. Coomb was a measure of volume (4 bushels = 145 litres) in common use in farming in Suffolk until 1950's

Details of Malt House Farm: field names & uses, areas, rents, other details as let to Robert Fenn 1817
Ref: Ipswich R.O. HA24/50/19/3.19

In 1818-1819 Overseers tax for the poor a Robert Fenn was assessed for land bought from George Gibbons, valued at 6 pds, however in the 1819 - 1820 assessment this land has passed to a Geo Goodwin for the last two quarters.
Who was this Robert.

From 1819 to 1821 Robert was only assessed for the Malt Office Farm, valued at 50 pds.

Land Tax assessments for the district of Bosmere & Claydon, village of Coddenham show:
1803 ref HB16 29/40 Ipswich PRO, no record of Robert.
1823 ref HB16 29/40 shows Robert Fenn (occupier) Longe (proprietor) assessed tax 2 pds. Malt Office Farm.
1827 ref HB 16 290/10 shows Widow Fenn occupier (land) Longe (proprietor) tax 2 pds.
Malt Office Farm.

The Ipswich Journal reports: Saturday last (2/4/1825) died in the 37th year of his age, much respected, after a lingering and painfull illness, Mr Robert Fenn farmer and maltster of Coddenham in this County.

Roberts wife Margaret is identified in a tithe apportionment dated Easter 1825, this eliminates Robt Fenn son of Simon from the above death notice. Malt Office Farm was tithed on a value of L36
Ref Ips PRO FB37/E1/2.

Document from the John Longe archive.
Malt House Farm.
1825
Mrs Fenn a short time since informed me that her late husband's affairs turned out to be in a worse state than she had expected, some debts having been proved against him which she was ignorant of; and consequently she feared she should not be able to carry on the Malt Business, with out some assistance; that she wanted to borrow L300, for immediate use till she can get her malt bills paid.
Sept. 5th Mr Robt. Fenn informed me that a Mr Prentice of Stowmarket had assisted his daughter-in-law with money, and that she should be able to continue to work the malt kiln as . . . . . illegible. . . . .
Ref: Ipswich R.O. HA24/50/19/3.19

Sept 11th 1827 - Jas Brook is desiriousof hiring the The Malt House and land . . . . . that his son Robert be joined in the Lease.
Ref: Ipswich R.O. HA24/50/19/3.19

John Longe's Diarys.
October 12, 1827. I consulted Wenn about the dispute between the executors of the late Robert Fenn and the incoming tenant James Brook and his son Robert about the fixtures on the Malthouse farm.
October 13, 1827. James Brook after much difficulty settled the affair of fixtures at Malthouse farm with the Fenn's.
Ref:HA24/50/19/4.3

In John Longe's records of he sometimes refers to Robert as "Robt Fenn Jnr." to differentiate him from Robert Fenn son of Simon born 1785, his other tenant.

Prior to the name of the Malt Office Farm the property was known as Donnescroft, and held by copy to the Manor of Crowfield cum Bocking. It is now named Shrubberies, owned in 2001 by Dr and Mrs Tyndall. It is a beautiful example of a early Suffolk farm house, possibly dating from the 14thC.

Deaths.
On Saturday sen'night in his 37th year, Mr Robert Fenn farmer & maltster of Coddenham.
Bury & Norwich Post. 13 April 1825.

Robert Fenn farmer & maltster born of Robt & Sarah Brook 17 Aug 1787 Hemingstone buried 8 Apr 1825 Hemingstone.
Document Ref for the Church Minutes dated 6 Nov 1822 signed by Robert is: Ipswich RO FB 37/G1/3.

  Research Notes:

A John Fenn married Mary Ann Ward in Coddenham 30 Oct 1817 IGI.

  Other Records

1. Robert Fenn: His headstone & Hemingstone Church SFK.
Churchyard monumental inscription transcript for Hemingstone reads: "Robert son of Robert & Sarah Fenn 2 Apr 1825 aged 37" The actual headstone was located against the Sth wall of the church in Sep 2000, marked with red arrow, by the reseacher E L Fenn.

Robert married Margaret DRIVER of Henley [197] [MRIN: 1802] on 13 Sep 1808 in Henley By Lic. (Margaret DRIVER of Henley [197] was born about 1787.)