Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Amos Beamish, The Barnby Giant
Amos Beamish of Barnby, Suffolk was and is a local hero. He stood six feet six inches tall and weighed 28 stones (392 lbs/184 ks). He was known as The Barnby Giant. Because of his size, the hatchways of vessels he sailed on were enlarged, but since he was said to do the work of two men, owners were pleased to modify their boats. During a fishing voyage to Cornwall, he was challenged by the Newlyn Giant to lift a stone weighing 60 stones (840 lbs/395 ks), which he did with ease, the Newlyn man failing. Amos could carry four hundredweight of cement at once, one bag tucked under each arm and a sack in each hand, a total of 448 lbs. He had a tremendous appetite and would eat 30 herrings at a sitting. Victor Mons Beamish (son of Sidney Beamish and grandson of Amos Beamish) was fortunate to meet an old fisherman who sailed with Amos Beamish, the Barnby Giant, and who told the story that he and Amos were walking along what was then a lane from Barnby to Lowestoft to w...