Ann White Fielder

Ann White Fielder was born on 16th May 1793 to John (a shoemaker) and Mary (nee White, a schoolmistress), the fourth of their eight children.

Thomas Suffield

Thomas Suffield was born to Thomas and Hannah (nee West) in 1788, the second of their six children. His father died when he was 9 years old.

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Records show that Thomas was a shopkeeper in Beaulieu Rails in 1824 - there are several possibilities as to the location of his shop.

• Suffield Cottage (Pages Lane) was probably built by Thomas as, from map evidence, it was built between 1817 and 1867 and there were no other Suffield’s based locally at that time.

• The Rev. Comyn’s notebooks and research by Jude James indicate that in 1817 Thomas owned and rented out land near Sherfield cottage and in the early 1820’s he bought a property close to the ‘Old Coal Stores’ and Turfcutters Arm’s.

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In July 1824 Thomas married Ann White and together they had four children although only two, Mary and Ann, survived infancy.

Daughter Hannah's baptismal certificate lists him as a baker in 1828; sadly she died in 1829 aged 11 months.

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The 1841 census lists Thomas as a miller, age 50, living with Ann, probably at Hatchet Mill. It is possible he continued to run a shop in parallel with this. The 1851 census lists him, age 63, as a grocer and master baker employing one man.

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The Post Office directory of 1855 lists Thomas as operating a shop in Beaulieu Rails. Its location is not given but it does seem probable that this operated from Suffield Cottage in Pages Lane.

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In 1856 their daughter Ann married Benjamin Biddlecombe. The 1861 census shows Thomas (73), wife Ann (63) and daughter Mary (29) are living next door to Hatchet Mill which daughter Ann and Benjamin are now running.

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The inscription on this decorative headstone includes the last verse of the Hymn "Why should we start, and fear to die" by Isaac Watts and a quotation of Matthew 24:44.