James Curtis was the son of Francis Curtis and Elizabeth Farrow and born on the 15th February, 1785. There is some doubt about his birthplace as it is shown in the 1851 Census as Norton Subcourse but he was christened privately in Aldeby on the 20th March, 1785..

James, shown in the register as 'of Wickhambrook', married Hannah Bullock in Lackford, Suffolk on the 11th November 1817.
Hannah was born in Woolpit, Suffolk in about April 1796 the youngest child of William Bullock and Sarah Gorbold.

Sometime after the marriage they moved to Wymondham where eight of their children were born.

1. James born 1821
2. George born 1824
3. Sarah Hannah born 1826
4. Hannah Rebecca born 1929
5. Adelaide born 7th September 1831
6. Amelia born 29th October 1834
7. Francis Bullock born 1836
8. Frederick Bullock Curtis born 1836 - most probably twin of Francis.

The 1830 Pigot Directory shows James Curtis as being the landlord of 'The George' in Market Place, Wymondham.
The Local History of Wymondham Public Houses states;-
The George & Dragon, sometimes called the George, stood just off the Market Place in Bridewell Street. It was a three-storeyed timber-framed, plastered building which probably dated from the 17th Century. It probably closed in the early 20th Century. The frontage of the building remains and is occupied by the Nationwide Anglia Building Society and a wine store

In 1838 the family moved to Wreningham where James became the landlord of 'The Bird in Hand'. Their last child (9.)Amelia was born there in January 1839.

Bird in Hand (C1920's)	Bird in Hand (1992)

James died in Wreningham on the 8th August 1852. The following notice appeared in the press.

The Norfolk News., Eastern Counties Journal & Norwich, Yarmouth & Lynn Commercial Gazette. No; 398 dated Saturday, 14th August 1852.

"CURTIS - On Sunday last, at Wreningham, in his 67 year after a few days illness, Mr. James Curtis, deservedly respected by his friends and deeply lamented by his widow and children"

In the meantime Hannah continued to run 'The Bird in Hand' with the help of her young grandaughter, Clementine Dawson and Charles Thompson, a young ostler. (See list of licensees at foot of the page)

The 1871 census shows that Clementine is still working there. Also there were Frederick, a house painter, his wife, Rebecca and their children Evangeline, James, Alfred and Hannah.

Hannah died in 'The Bird in Hand' on the 11th February 1879. The following notice appeared in the press.

The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 15th February 1879.

"CURTIS - On the 11th inst at her Grandson's residence, Alfred Claxton, Wreningham, "Bird in Hand" HANNAH, relict of the late JAMES CURTIS, in her 83rd year"

James and Hannah Curtis	All Saint's, Wreningham	Sarah Hannah Dawson (nee Curtis) and her sister, Amelia, who died 1845 aged 6

Note;
James Parker of Wymondham was the owner of "The Bird in Hand" from 1848 to 1862. He was the son of Edward Parker of Wymondham who owned it prior to 1848. On Saturday, August 9th, 1862 at 3p.m. property sold by auction by Messrs.Butchers at Royal Hotel, Norwich for £575. This included double containing 1r. 30p. of land. Cottage tenants were given notice to quit at Michaelmas. Steward and Patteson were owners by 1888.

Additional Information

1. James married Harriet Kennedy in 1855. He was a master tailor and they lived in various addresses in Cromer from 1861 to 1901. They had three children - Augusta Kennedy (1847); Walter Kennedy. (1853); and James William Walpole Kennedy (1862).
James died in Cromer about September 1902 aged 84 and Harriet in about December 1913 aged 90..

2. George married Sarah Ann Burcham on the 25th December 1847 in Wymondham.
George was a master plumber and glazier. They lived in Lowestoft. They had seven children - James (1849); Sarah (1858); Hannah Elizabeth (1860); Georgiana (1862); Alice Maud (1863); Thomas (1867) and Arthur (1870).
They had four other children who all died in infancy.
George died in 116 Bevan Street, Lowestoft on the 17th December 1889. His will showed that he left a Personal Estate of £780. 0. 5d. Sarah died in about June 1893 aged 68.

3. Sarah Hannah married William Blackwood Dawson, a shoemaker, in Wreningham in about December 1847. They had one daughter Clementine (1848).
Sarah Hannah died in Wreningham in about September 1850. No further information on William.

Clementine married Alfred Claxton in about March 1874. He was most probably running the 'The Bird in Hand' at this time. They had five children - Walter (1878); Bessie (1880); Ella (1885);Charles (1888) and Mary (1891).
In 1891 they were living at 14 Burnaby Road, Lakenham
Alfred died in 1896 aged 57 and Clementine in Sussex in 1933 aged 84.

4. Hannah Rebecca married George Day in Wreningham on the 23rd October 1850.
They lived in Wreningham and had six children - George Frederick (1855); Robert Curtis (1857); Adelaide Hannah (1863); Emma Mary (1866) ; William Alfred (1868); and Edwin George (1874).
There were also four other children who all died in infancy
Hannah died in Wreningham on the 17th June 1904 and George, a retired agricultural labourer, on the 24th January 1911.

5. Adelaide married Alfred Cox in Wreningham in February 1862. No further news.

6. Amelia died in infancy.

7. Francis Bullock married Rosanna Smith in about March 1890. No further news.

9. Amelia died in about July 1845 in Wreningham.

List of licensees of 'The Bird in Hand' since 1829
--------------------------------------------------------
Levi Scott 1829; Thomas Mann 1836 ; James Curtis 1838 - 1851; Hannah Curtis 1852 - 1871; Alfred Claxton 1875 - 1883; John Aves 1888 - 1908; Samuel John Folkes 1912 - 1922; Arthur Ernest Yallop 1925; Simeon Howlett( Simeon as given 1929, 1933 & 1937 ) 1927 - 1957; Mrs. May Howlett 1957 - 12.1983; Jackie Noy 12.1983 - Closure 1984.; Closed April 1984 to August 1989; Carol Turner 1989.

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