John was baptised on 14 June 1811 at Ely Holy Trinity. PR "Hattersley John of John and Sarah"
On 29 Oct 1836 John was married to Rebecca Jefferson at St Mary's Church Ely. PR "John bac of Southery, Rebecca Jefferson otp".
They had 6 children:
- William Rickard b 1837
- Eleanor b 1840
- John b 1842 - d 1894
- Grace b 1844
- Catherine b 1846
- Hammond b 1849 - d 1912
In the 1841 census John Attlesey aged 30, Blacksmith, is living in Southery with Rebecca and their first 2 children. As expected John and Rebecca were born out of county, coming from Ely in Cambridgeshire, whilst Southery is in Norfolk, however William their first child was also born outside Norfolk which suggests they didn't immediately move to Southery when they married, but moved there between 1838 and 1841. In fact William Rickard's baptism in the Holy Trinity Ely parish register reads "William Rickard of John and Rebecca otp Blacksmith".
The 1851 census gives us much more information; John and Rebecca are living in Westgate Street, Southery, with their 6 children. John and eldest son William now 14 are Blacksmiths, the rest of the children are scholars, apart from Hammond who is only 2. The 1851 census confirms William was born in Ely.
Rebecca died in 1851 PR "aged 44", and was buried in Southery on 15 Nov 1851.
In Jun 1853 John remarries in Downham Market to Harriet Burton (nee Cork) b 1810.
They had 2 children:
Silverlight Version
In 1861 John is aged 50, he is still living in Westgate St Southery, with his second wife Harriet. With them are:
- William 23, Blacksmith, John's first son,
- Hammond 12 also from John's first marriage.
- George 7
- Robert 5
- Charles Burton 20 Blacksmith, described as Wife's son born in Snettisham.
- Sarah Burton 14 wifes daughter, born in Snettisham.
In 1871 census John and Harriet are still living in Westgate St Southery. Hammond 23, Blacksmith is the only child now living with them.
In 1881 census John now 70 and Harriet are still in Westgate St, the street now has numbers and they live at No 5. John is described as a Blacksmith employing 2 men. They have a lodger Thomas Jolly 24, a blacksmith born in Middlesex, London. However their family have not moved far, William 44, is at 6 Westgate St, and George Henry is at No 4 each with their own wives and families.
In 1883 John Attlesey is listed as Blacksmith in the Kelly's Directory.
In 1891 John and Harriet are still living at 5 Westgate St, John is now described as a Retired Blacksmith, his grandson John William Attlesey, also a Blacksmith, is living with them. John William is the son of John's first son William Rickard.
John died on 24 Jun 1897 aged 86, and was buried on 28 Jun 1897 in Southery Norfolk. Probate notice "Attlesey John of Southery Norfolk died 24 June 1897. Probate London 6 December to William Attlesey Blacksmith and George Henry Attlesey Harnessmaker Effects £186 9s 9d".