My Baldry family tree research began in Shelfanger, near Diss, where my grandfather, Thomas Baldry, was born in 1863. Thanks to a reply to a letter I placed in the Diss Express in 1984, I learnt that, in an examination for settlement, my great-great-grandfather, another Thomas Baldry, had stated that he had been born in nearby Roydon. My studies came to a standstill in Thelton, (Thelveton), also near Diss, where, I believe, my great (x 5) grandfather, Joseph Baldry, had lived, prior to moving to Roydon with his second wife.

Abbreviations: b: born; c: christened; m: married; d: died; bd: buried

Joseph Baldry married Ann (who died in June 1729) in Thelton. They had the following children:

George, c 11.5.1718, bd 23.8.1719
Edward, c 11.10.1719
Mary, c 27.5.1720, d ?
Mary, b 6.6.1722, bd 18.9.1763
John, c 26.5.1724
Robert, b 8.5.1726
George, b 20.10.1728, d 20.10.1729.

Joseph married his second wife, Mary Davy, after banns, in Roydon (-the records stated “Both of Thelton”-) on 24th June 1731. They had Thomas in 1733 and Lydia (who married George Mullenger by licence on 24.7.1763)

Thomas (b 1733) married Elizabeth (who died aged 55). He was buried (aged 76) on 31.09.1809. His grave is in Roydon churchyard. I have seen his will of 2.10.1807 in the Norfolk Records Office. In it he refers to his “six children now living” (John, Benjamin, Susan, Sarah, Mary, Ann) and his “two daughters Elizabeth and Martha deceased”. (According to my findings, what about Thomas, Samuel and William?!!)

a.. Susanna, c 9.8.1761; m Joseph Corben 29.9.1788 (banns)
b.. Sarah, m Robert Bryant of Diss 12.10.1787 (banns)
c.. Elizabeth had died prior to the making of her father’s will. She had married John Huggins on 13.10.1788
d.. Mary, c 24.2.1768
e.. ? Thomas (1767-1795), c 3.5.1767, m Anne Martin of Bressingham 10.4.1794, bd 22.7.1795 (“age 28”)
f.. ? Samuel b 1770?, bd 24.5.1803 “age 33”
g.. John, c 19.5.1771, m Eliz. Soames 14.4.1804. (She died on 30.3.1824) He featured in the 1841 Roydon census, but not in 1851. They had 3 children: Sarah, c 11.5.1806, James, c 12.12.1807, bd 7.2.1808, Elizabeth, c 15.1.1809
h.. Anne, c 7.11.1773
i.. Martha, c 3.9.1775, m William Horn 2.4.1798 (banns), d 2.10.1803. They had a daughter, Sophia, christened “privately” on 22.4.1798
j.. Benjamin, c 21.61778, m Mary (who died between the 1851 and 1861 Roydon censuses) - but when did Ben die? The 1841 census states that Mary (65) was living with son Benjamin and Letitia. Ten years later the 1851 census says she is 79 and lives at Brewers Green: lodger, pauper (housekeeper), born Bressingham. (Sarah Oakes, pauper (charwoman) is in the same household.) Mary’s son Benjamin and family live at Parsonage Green, Roydon
k.. ? William, b 1781?, d 4.4.1802