William Bushell of Martham (1768-1823)

William BUSHELL was killed by lightning during a violent thunderstorm on 25^th August 1823 whilst taking his horse to Cess Common in Martham. A vivid account of his death was published in the Norfolk Chronicle on 30^th August as shown below.

William was born about 1768 and became a butcher. When he was 20, he married Susannah DRAKE on 23^rd April 1788 at St Mary the Virgin, Martham and according to the newspaper report went on to have six children but I can only trace four who were all born in Martham as follows:-

1. William BUSHELL who was born on 6^th December 1789. He married Hannah KERRISON on 21^st February 1815 at St Mary’s. He died in 1827 at Hemsby and was buried in an unknown grave at St Mary’s, Martham on 14^th October 1827.
2. Robert BUSHELL who was baptised at St Mary’s on 20^th June 1791. He married Susannah GALLANT on 7^th November 1815 at St Mary’s and they went on have five children. They lived in a cottage on the east side of Cess Road a short distance from the Common Road junction that was plot No606 in the 1842 Martham Tithe Award.
3. Mary BUSHELL who was born on 8^th July 1793. She married Robert GOOSE on 30^th July 1811 at St Mary’s. They moved away and lived in Cambridge.
4. Thomas BUSHELL who was born in about 1792 based on his stated age when he died but this may be wrong as he was baptised at St Mary’s on 29^th March 1795.  He married Hannah DEARY on 19^th August 1823 at St Mary’s; Hannah was a widow having previously been married to William Rix SEAGO. Thomas inherited the land his father owned at Cess and became a very successful grocer and draper. They lived at Hope Cottage on The Green for most of their life. The grand house still exists on the east side of The Green and it may have been Thomas who had it built.
   Hannah died in 1876 and was buried at St Mary’s graveyard in section F, plot L6 and Thomas was buried beside her on 8^th March 1878 at section F, plot L5.

Under the 1807 Martham Inclosure Act, William claimed he was the freehold owner of a cottage, barn, stable, yard, garden and pightle on a plot measuring one acre & two roods situated near the Common at Cess. 

In the actual 1812 Martham Inclosure Award he was allotted two plots Nos 209 & 210 that measured four acres, two roods and 17 perches held as copyhold of the Manor of Martham. They were at the same place he had made the claim for in1807 and are shown on the map below. He may also have owned other freehold property in the village that was not subject to Inclosure.

After William’s untimely death he was buried on 28^th August 1823 at St Mary the Virgin, graveyard in section F, plot L9. Susannah lived until she was 78 and was buried beside her husband in section F, plot L8 on 22^nd August 1832.

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