Matilda RANDELL 1831
Matilda Randell was the eldest child and first daughter of William Hunter Randell and Elizabeth Moore. She was born in North Walsham 29 July 1831 and christened at St Nicholas Church in North Walsham 25 August 1831.
In the 1841 census record she was living with her parents in Cock St, North Walsham. By the following census of 1851 she had moved from her family home to the local Grammar School where she as acting as a housemaid for local curate and school master Thomas Dry of Oxford.
Around October 1856, Matilda Randell married Robert Steward Harmer. They were both twenty five years old at their marriage and produced their first, of five children in late summer of the following year.
Once married the couple set up home in Dilham, Norfolk and move into the Cross Keys where Robert an established wheelwright was installed as a Licensed Victualler. Unfortunately, in 1874 Robert was to die at the early age of 43.
The Cross Keys, Dilham was Matilda’s home seemingly for the remainder of her life, although in 1891 she is recorded as a widow living at a house called 'Staithe' which may be attached to the Cross Keys.
Matilda had five children, Joseph Henry born 1857, Rhoda Charlotte 1859, Robert William 1861, Hannah Matilda 1862 and finally in 1864 Harriet Steward. Unfortunately, the youngest two girls died as children. Tragically, Hannah Matilda died age 4, when stuck by lightning.
The eldest child Joseph Henry Harmer, a carpenter, married Susannah Walpole in 1884 and had two children Lilly and Daisy. Hannah Matilda was unmarried in 1901 but Robert William married twice. His first wife, Phillis Betsy Morter, but known as Elizabeth, died after producing two girls, Kitty and Maud. Robert married for a second time, taking Harriet Hannah Hannant as his bride in 1901.
In 1901 Matilda was living with her youngest son Robert, now the landlord of the Cross Keys. She lived a further twenty years and died 14 January 1921 aged 89. She is buried in St Peters Church Smallburgh.
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Robert Steward HARMER
Joseph Harmer married Hannah Steward, 9 March 1819 in Smallburgh, Norfolk and together in 1931 they had son Robert Steward Harmer conveniently crafting both parents names into his single name.
Robert first appeared in the census register in 1841 living with his parents and three brothers, Benjamin 1825, Henry 1829, and William Harmer 1833. Additionally three other girls, Martha 1820, Hannah Elizabeth 1822 and Rhoda Charlotte 1827 were born to the family.
By 1851 Robert had lost his father and was at home with his widowed mother. He was a groom, whilst his two brothers still at home were farm workers.
With the passing of another ten years, he was married to Matilda and both a wheelwright and Master Carpenter and he is also recorded as the tennant landlord at the Cross Keys, Dilham.
Interestingly the Norfolk Pubs Website records a history of the Cross Keys Inn. They believe the original building was constructed around 1730 and became an Inn around 1800. Documents covering the period 1837 to 1851 show it to be owned by Steward, Patterson & Steward. It is not clear if the Steward component are the same family.
In 1851, 37 year old John Lacey assumed control of the Cross Keys. It transferred to Robert Steward Harmer in 1858 and then following his death to Matilda Harmer in 1875 and finally to their son Robert William Harmer in 1888. Robert ran the establishment for 37 years finally relinquished control to G E Studholme in 1925.
Of note Elizabeth Hunter Randell, Matilda's aunt, married farmer Robert Lacey who was born around the same time as John Lacey.
Robert Steward Harmer born 1831 died 2 February 1874, age 43 and is buried in St Peters Church, Smallburgh, Norfolk.
Matilda and Robert had the following children:
Joseph Henry HARMER, 1857 Dilham, Norfolk
Rhoda Charlotte HARMER, 1859 Dilham, Norfolk
Robert William HARMER, 1861 Dilham, Norfolk
Hannah Matilda HARMER, 1862 Dilham, Norfolk
Harriet Steward HARMER, 1864 Dilham, Norfolk
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