James Joslin – Sussex People

Part of the Ingram-Green family tree (Great-great-grandfather)

Family background and early life

James Joslin was born on 20 August 1815 at Cressing, near Braintree, Essex. He was the third of seven children born to John Joslin (1783–1867) and his wife, Sarah née Wallis (1788–1847). James was one of ten children baptised at the Independent Chapel at Braintree on 12 November 1815, in a service presided over by Revd. John Carter.

John Joslin and Sarah Wallis had been married at All Saints’ Church at her home village of Stisted on 5 October 1806, before settling in Cressing, three miles south, where their first child, John, was born two years later, followed by six children over the next twenty years, all of whom were baptised in the Braintree Independent Chapel.

At the first national census in June 1841, 26-year old James was still living with his parents and 13-year old brother Ebenezer. Their address was recorded as “cottage on Braintree road”. Living in adjacent cottages were his brothers, John and his wife, Jane and their five children, and Joseph and his wife, Sarah and three children. All four men, including Ebenezer, were recorded as agricultural labourers.

Marriage and children

On 15 October 1842, 27-year old James Joslin married 24-year old Sarah Fryatt at All Saints’ Church, Cressing.

The couple’s first child, Shadrach was born at Cressing on 30 April 1844, followed by three daughters: Sarah three years later [birth registered Billericay, June 1847], Emily in 1849 [birth registered Braintree, March 1849] and Caroline in 1851 [birth registered Braintree, September 1851].

At the 1851 census, the family (James and Sarah with their three children) were now living at Polecat Road [recorded as “Pockets Road”] in Cressing.

There is no record of the first two children being baptised, but Emily and Caroline were baptised together at All Saints’ Church, Cressing on 11 October 1852.

The next child, Meshach only lived for six months, and died on 12 December 1854 from inflammation of the lungs. He was buried at All Saints’ Church, Cressing on 17 December 1854. There is no record of him being baptised.

His brother, Abednego was baptised on 8 June 1856, but died on 22 March 1857, aged 13 months, from “consumption” [tuberculosis]. He was buried at All Saints’ Church on 29 March 1857.

The couple’s seventh and final child, Charles was born on 6 October 1858 and baptised on 20 February 1859.

At the 1861 census, James (aged 45 and an agricultural labourer) and Sarah with their five children were still living at Polecat Road, Cressing. Shadrach’s occupation was recorded as agricultural labourer, while his sisters, Sarah and Emily were silk winders.

Further tragedy came to the family when 14-year old Sarah died on 12 September 1861, with phthisis [tuberculosis]. She was buried at All Saints’ Church on 18 September 1861.

In April 1871, James and Sarah were still living at Polecat Road, with their youngest child, Charles. Although only 12-years old, his occupation was recorded as agricultural labourer. His sister, Emily, aged 22, was still living at home although her occupation was shown as “domestic servant”.

James and Sarah continued to live at the cottage in Polecat Road until James died on 9 April 1897, aged 81. He was buried at All Saints’ Church, Cressing on 15 April 1897.

Sarah survived James by less than two years and died on 15 February 1899, aged 80, and was buried alongside her husband.

Subsequent family history

James and Sarah were survived by four children:

Shadrach Joslin married Emily Moss at All Saints Church on 26 July 1863. The couple had nine children. He became a foreman stoker at a gas works until his retirement. He died in East Ham on 21 December 1916, aged 72.

There is no record of Emily Joslin after 1871 until April 1901, when she was living with her brother, Shadrach, in East Ham. She had no recorded occupation. She died a year later, aged 52, and was buried in Cressing on 19 April 1902. She never married.

Caroline Joslin married Thomas Goodrick, a 52-year old widowed taxicab proprietor on 16 May 1884, when she was 32. Following his death, she re-married on 19 January 1902, to 61-year old Edward Randall, a widower with three children, a retired butler. After their marriage, she returned to Cressing. Edward died in March 1936, aged 95, followed by Caroline, aged 84, a month later. Caroline had no children.

Charles Joslin became a stoker in a gasworks. He married Jane Eastabrook at St Mary Magdalene in East Ham on 1 January 1889 and had two children. He died in Brentwood, Essex on 6 August 1945, aged 86.

Sources

Ancestry.co.uk:

1841 England Census

1851 England Census

1861 England Census

1871 England Census

1881 England Census

1891 England Census

England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970

Essex, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1918

Essex, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1994

Essex, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1935