The Palmers of Rochford
The Dancing Bear
East Street, c. 1908. The little boy on the left is Marion Morgan's uncle.
As told by Marion Morgan
My mother was Mary Palmer, born and brought up in the butcher's shop at the crossroads in Rochford. Her mother was Emily Jane Bishop - the same family as the solicitor and, of course, the drapers. Emily Jane was born and brought up in Delft House.
Over the past few years I have been gradually tracing the family tree. My great-grandmother was an Aylett from Hockley, most of whom went to Australia in the 1800s. The Bishops appear to have come from Southend - I can trace them to about 1850 through Kelly's. The Palmers go back to great-grandfather in, I think, 1860 at the butcher's premises, but I have no knowledge at all about where they came from.
I used to visit my grandmother, Emily Jane Palmer, in the 1940s when she lived at 54 West Street (next to Clements the bakers. Their rolls smelled wonderful in the mornings!).
I remember going to visit the Palmer great-aunts who lived in Glenmore, East Street. I think there was also a great-Uncle William, because I remember singing a simple hymn down his ear trumpet when I was about 6 years old, in 1948. Have you any knowledge or recollection of these? There may have been a daughter. I would love to know where the Palmers came from before buying the butcher's premises in Rochford.
With the help of a friend, I have traced a few family details on the Bishop side. One of my great-aunts was a witness in the murder trial in the 1880's! My friend has found a copy of the newspaper report.