One of my more interestingly named ancestors was Golding Boggis. He was born in 1786 in Bures, Suffolk to George Boggis and Rachel (Davy), and married Sarah Prentice on 11 July 1823. Golding and Sarah had 6 surviving children between them.
Golding Boggis died quite suddenly at the age of 71, and there were notices of his death in several local newspapers. While he was quite elderly for his time, the second article makes it quite clear that he was in good health otherwise and that his death was unexpected. It is also worth noting that while the first article reports his death in the 19th of January, the second says he died on the 20th.
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| Suffolk and Essex Free Press, Thursday 22 January 1857 |
This first notice above comments on his long standing in the community, as well as giving me the name of the farm where the family lived. It is the second notice below, however, that sent me looking for more information. It refers to a fire that occurred barely a week before his death, the stress of which was attributed to his sudden death.
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| Essex Standard, Friday 23 January 1857 |
This second notice of Golding's death immediately sent me looking for more information about this fire, which surely would have been reported in local newspapers.
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| Berkshire Chronicle, Saturday 24 January 1857 |
The article above was printed in several newspapers, the cleanest and most legible included here. Three fires in total were set in stacks on local farms. The first fire in the sequence took place at Golding's property, the next two impacted his neighbors, with the third almost spreading to a nearby barn.
The newspapers provided me with even more information after Golding's death, with notices advertising the sale of farming stock and household goods being posted by his executors.
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| Essex Standard, Wednesday 16 September 1857 |
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| Essex Standard, Friday 25 September 1857 |
Both these articles give details about how Golding Boggis and his family lived and worked, and are another wonderful resource. Although I am still disturbed by the advertising of 'live and dead farming stock'.
