The family of Charles and Emma Catchpole
This certificate was awarded to the 13 year old Charles in 1877 by the British School in Stowmarket
It reads this Certificate – Upper Standard was awarded to Charles Catchpole – age 13 has passed the examination of Her Majesty’s Inspector in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, Singing And Drill.
Charles was brought up in Stowupland not far from where the Stowupland National School. The young Charles would have seen the school being built. we don’t know whether Charles started at the new stowupland school before finishing his education in Stowmarket or whether from a young age he made the long trek into Stowmarket.
Charles was born in 1865, the youngest of 7 children,. he had 2 older brothers,: Stephen (b 1853 d 14/8/1932)) and Samuel (b 1849 married Jane from Croydon): and 4 sisters Rachel (b 1847, married William Diaper),, Elisabeth (b 1851), Sarah (B1856), and Mary (b 1860)
Charles married Emma Elizabeth Oxford from Polstead. They had 3 girls. Ethel died in 1904 at age 5, Margaret Elizabeth was born on New Years Eve 1900, and Ivy Dorothy was born in1903. Ethel died from Whooping cough.
On Good Friday 1899, the year of Ethel’s birth, Emma baked some bread. We still have a peice in our Archives, apparently bread baked hard in the oven on a Good Friday will protect the house from fire for the coming year (see letter).
Charles Catchpole (Margaret’s father).
He died at Belvedere house in 1949. at the age of 84. His father and grandfather had both lived and died there.
Charles was verger at Holy Trinity church for 34 years retiring in 1944 having served under 7 vicars. For 21 years he was caretaker of the village cemetery retiring in 1929.
In 1887 Charles’ father Stephen won 3rd prize at the sSowupland Flower Festival and Fete, for his kidney potatoes and spring onions.
