Research by Rosemary Jewers 2020
Perhaps now is a good time to mention how the patronage of St Andrew's Church came into my family, and how it eventually came to me.
Joseph Wilson, my great, great, great grandfather was a very wealthy silk merchant, who lived in London, before moving to a large house named ‘Highbury Hill’, in Islington. He purchased two country estates, one was at Stowlangtoft in Suffolk, and the other was at Little Massingham, Norfolk. Little Massingham is the village where I was born and grew up.
I recently came across this envelope for sale on an internet site. It confirmed Joseph Wilson's home was 'Highbury Hill' and not as some have added the word 'House' to his address. The family have always known it as 'Highbury Hill'.
There is so much that one could write about Joseph Wilson, but for this section, I've copied the following from my other blog which I've written in preparation for when I walk the 90 or so miles of Peddars Way, tracing the route from Colchester to the north Norfolk coast. As Patron. I'm hoping to raise as much money as I can for the church roof of St Andrew's, Little Massingham. If you have enjoyed my research and blog, it would be wonderful if you could help by donating to save the church roof and ultimately the church. http://peddarswaycharitywalk.blogspot.com/
When Joseph bought the estate of Little Massingham, he also acquired the patronage or advowson of St Andrew’s.
Joseph and his son, Henry and subsequent male Wilsons never lived at Little Massingham. Henry and some of his descendants lived at Stowlangtoft Hall, and where I will pass on my way north.
As well as having a son, Joseph also had two daughters, Frances and Mary. Frances married the Rev. Charles David Brereton. Charles and Frances were my great, great grandparents and in 1820, Charles became Rector of Little Massingham. I had always assumed that when Joseph died, he willed the advowson and his two estates to his son Henry, in fact this was not the case. When I looked again at 'The Breretons of Cheshire 1100 to 1904 A.D.', written by his grandson, Robert Maitland Brereton, he mentioned that later his paternal grandfather, John Brereton IV., of Brinton, purchased the advowson for his son, Rev. Charles David Brereton. The advowson was handed down through the family, until eventually it came to me. Several generations of my family lived in the village, many becoming clergyman. My father, was a farmer, with land in and around Little Massingham, and my parents continued to live in the village until their deaths.
Having lived in Essex for twenty plus years, and as I will be starting my walk from Essex, I think it appropriate to add a little more about Joseph Wilson, and his connection to Essex.
Joseph’s silk business was at Milk Street, Cheapside, but in 1809 the business expanded into Essex when he purchased the old flour mill, in Chapel Lane, Braintree. He engaged George Courtauld as his manager, but some historians have documented that Courtauld was the owner of the business. I found the following in The Gazette 1818. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/17328/page/226/data.pdf
“We hereby dissolve the Partnership carried on between us at Braintree,. Under the firm of Wilson and Courtauld, by mutual consent by the day of the date hereof. - Dated this 28th January 1818. Joseph Wilson George Courtauld”
According to Malcolm Harrison, author of 'Unravelling the threads: A Guide to the Wilsons of Stenson in The County of Derbyshire 1664 to 1880', Wilson was introduced to George Courtauld by an unknown third party in 1806. Harrison states, Courtauld was invited by Wilson to convert and then manage the silk mill in Chapel Lane.
The mill produced high quality silk mourning crape. At some point there was a disagreement and a court case ensued between Wilson and Courtauld - I understand that Wilson felt that Courtauld was not producing the silk to his high standard. The case did not go in Wilson’s favour. Despite losing the case, it was not until 1843 that Wilson sold his business in Braintree to Samuel Courtauld III. A large proportion of the Wilson family were involved in the silk industry.
Malcolm Harrison, 'Unravelling the threads: A Guide to the Wilsons of Stenson in The County of Derbyshire 1664 to 1880'
If you have enjoyed reading this article you might consider donating to www.fosalm.org which will help restore St Andrew's Church Little Massingham. This church has been very important to the Brereton family.
