Diss Family History Group

The Aves
(Betty Morley)

The 1939 Register shows three families in our region; one in Fersfield, one in Bressingham and one in Redgrave, all descended from a family in West Row, Mildenhall.

Henry Aves, born in West Row in 1833, was a farmer of 40 acres and also a butcher. First married to Alice Ruth Horn and then to Susan Naylor, Henry had at least eight children, the eldest being George Edwin, sometimes known as Edwin George or Edward.

George Edwin was born in West Row in 1865. He is found on the 1871 census aged six living with the family and five siblings on his father’s farm. In 1873 mother Alice Ruth died and in 1880 Henry married Susan Naylor. George Edwin is also there on the 1881 census aged 16 but as “Edward”, living with his father Henry , stepmother Susan and brothers Albert and Hustler. Susan died in 1887.

In the 1891 census “Edward” is listed as a farmer in West Row. He is a single man and living with him are his brothers Hustler aged 25 and John aged 9. (Father Henry is now living as a lodger together with his youngest son Herbert aged 8.)

George Edwin married Sarah Ann in 1899. In 1901 as “Edwin George” he is a gardener/seedsman at Bagsham Road, Mildenhall. Also there are children Ruth aged 1 and Sydney aged 8 months and brother John aged 19 is with them.

Sometime between 1902 and 1903 George Edwin and Sarah moved their family to Meadow House, North Lopham, which is where they are found in 1911. They have now had one son John who died and ten living children,(six daughters including one set of twins and four sons).

Now we come to the 1939 Register and find that George Edwin, now a widower, is working for the Meltons at Warnes Farm, Diss Heywood.

Son Edwin John, born in 1902, appears on the 1939 Register as a builder living in Redgrave married to Ellen and with three children.

Son George Adam born in 1906 appears as a farmer at The Oaks, Bressingham, married to Edith. His grandson Desmond still farms there.

Son Albert born 1908, being the youngest son has now inherited and taken over the family farm at Meadow Farm, North Lopham.

George Edwin’s eldest son Sidney, born in West Row in 1900 married Beryl Elsey in 1923 and appears in the 1939 Register farming at Row Farm, Thwaites Green, Fersfield. Their children are Joan aged 13, John aged 11, David aged 6 and Edwin aged 5. Beryl died in 1971. Sydney died in 1981 and John continued to farm at Row Farm for several years.

The people, their dates and events .....

• Beryl May AVES
• David AVES
• Edwin J AVES
• Joan Hilda AVES
• Sidney AVES