Family of Robert Folker of Ingoldisthorpe

Family of
Robert Folker and Mary Ann Bird

Richard Folker was born about 1830 and was shown in the 1841 census as living with his parents at Old Hall, Ingoldisthorpe. He was employed as an Agricultural Labourer and in 1851 he was one of the six people lodging at Redburn, the family home of Abel Bunn in Snettisham.

Elizabeth Folker was born in Ingoldisthorpe about 1831 and was still living there with her parents and siblings in 1851. She married Richard Copeland in Wisbech in 1854. He was an Agricultural Labourer and had been born in Walpole St.Peter. Daughter Mary was born in 1855 and son Richard in 1857, both in Terrington St.Clement. The census of 1861 shows them living at Scaners Lane Field in Terrington St.Clement but the census of 1871 shows Richard and Elizabeth living at Fence Bank at Walpole St.Peter together with their son Richard and Elizabeth's brother Charles Folker. Elizabeth passed away in 1874 at the age of 42 after which Richard married Mary Ann Watson in 1875 and they had two children.

Jane Folker was born in Ingoldisthorpe on 6 December 1833. She was working as a Domestic Servant when married Thomas Creasy at the Chapel of St.Nicholas in Kings Lynn on 25 November 1855 and they lived in Bridge Street. Jane had income from making dresses. The census of 1861 shows them living at Scaners Lane Field in Terrington St.Clement but they were in Fence Bank in Walpole St.Peter in 1871. Thomas then farmed four acres of land which, by 1881 had increased to 18 acres. By 1901, they were living apart and alone, Thomas remaining in Walpole St.Peter and Jane having moved to Stonegate Street in Kings Lynn, describing herself as a widow and working as a Market Woman. In Jane was living at Johnsons Yard off Albert Street. She described herself as single on the census return and as living on private means. Thomas died in 1912 aged 77 and Jane aged 81 in 1914.

Robert Folker was a twin, born in Ingoldisthorpe on 6 December 1837 at 10am. By 1861 he had left home and found his way to Yorkshire where he was one of eight Agricultural labourers lodging at Wood Hatts in Cowlam. He married Jane Elizabeth Turner at Leven in Yorkshire on 29 December 1869 Their first child, Robert Turner Folker was born in 1870 but died the same year. In 1871 the couple were living in Brandesburton. Emma, Mary Ann and Charles were born in Brandesburton then the family moved to North Frodingham where William and George Thomas were born. The family were living at Emmet Land according to the census of 1881 and in May 1882 the family emigrated to North Dakota, staying first at Bathgate before settling at Neche Township in Pemberton County. Robert naturalised as a citizen of the USA as did the rest of the family. Children Alice, Dora Clifton, Eva and Henry were then born in Neche, North Dakota, as shown on the census of 1900. Robert took work as a Labourer but by 1910 was living on his own income. Jane died on 23 November 1920 and Robert two days later. They were buried in the Union Cemetery in Neche, Jane on 24 November and Robert on 26 November. Robert's death certificate gave his occupation as Mariner. A brief obituary appeared in the local newspaper.

Robert's twin brother John Folker, born in Ingoldisthorpe on 6 December 1837 half an hour after Robert. The last reference to him is in the census of 1851 when he was living with his parents and siblings at the Hall in Ingoldisthorpe and working as an Agricultural labourer.

Timothy Folker was born in Ingoldisthorpe on 16 April 1840. The last reference to him is in the census of 1851 when he was living with his parents and siblings at the Hall in Ingoldisthorpe.

William Bird Folker was born in Ingoldisthorpe on 24 February 1842. The last reference to him is in the census of 1861 when he was living with his parents and siblings in Common Road in Snettisham and working as an Agricultural labourer.

Charles Bird Folker was born about 1844 in Ingoldisthorpe. The census of 1871 shows him living with his sister Elizabeth and her family in Walpole St.Peter. He died In Scarborough in 1884.

Edward Folker was born in Ingoldisthorpe on 6 October 1846. The last reference to him is in the census of 1861 when he was living with his parents and siblings in Common Road in Snettisham.

Mary Ann Folker was born in Ingoldisthorpe on 26 November 1849. By 1871 she had left home and was a Dairymaid living at The Hall in Narburgh, one of six servants to the landowner, John Lewis Marriott. Mary Ann returned home to bear her son Lewis Edward Folker on 5 August 1871. On 14 October 1879 she married Farm Labourer James Robert Fiddy at Earlham. Son William was born in Earlham in 1880. In 1881 they were living at Bowthorpe when James died on 28 September aged only 24. Son Lewis was living separately in Ingoldisthorpe with his grandmother and her brother. Mary Ann was living in Norwich when she had son Earnest Albert in 1888 and daughter Ethel Elizabeth in 1891. The census of 1891 shows the family living at 176 Armes Street in Norwich and that widower Henry Nichols was lodging there with daughter Annie and son Henry. By 1901, Mary Ann and her children were living at 14 Church Close in the St.Bartholomew area of Norwich. She worked as a Laundress and her son William was a Shoe Operator. By 1911, her sons had left home and daughter Ethel was employed as a Bootwork Fitter. Mary Ann died in Norwich in 1933 aged 80.

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