Family Vignette—James “John” Sterry, Twinespinner

 

Family Vignette—James “John” Sterry, Twinespinner

James Sterry was born around 1824 in Southwold, Suffolk, England to John Sterry 1801-1858 and Ann Mewse 1802-1889.  He was baptised on September 26, 1924 in the local parish church of Southwold.  Although his given name was James, he became known as John Sterry during his adult life in homage to his father.  His trade was “Twine Spinner”, from which he was able to earn a meager living to support his family.

James “John” Sterry married Elizabeth Chatton 1823-1894 on August 4, 1846 at St. Margaret’s Church in Lowestoft.  They had ten children. Including one set of fraternal twins.

1.      James John Sterry 1847–1896

2.      Mary Ann Sterry 1849–1853

3.      William Sterry 1852–

4.      Frederick Sterry 1854–1928

5.      Charles Sterry 1856–1937

6.      Elizabeth Sterry 1859–1870 (Twin)

7.      George Sterry 1859– (Twin)

8.      John Sterry 1861–

9.      Mary Ann Sterry 1864–1953

10.  Emily Sterry 1867–1945

John Sterry was a well-known and respected Lowestoft townsman.  In 1891, he was living at 243 Clapham Road in Lowestoft, together with his wife and their son George. John was still working as a 66 year-old twine spinner and his son George, 22 years of age and unmarried, was working as the Town Postman.  At some point soon after the death of his wife, Elizabeth on June 3, 1894, Emily and her husband William John Bangay, a local bricklayer, moved into her father’s house to help take care of him. 

By 1896, John Sterry had been retired from twine spinning and had been suffering considerably for the past several years and was being attended by a local physician.  John suffered terribly from ailments and suffered from depression. In October 1896 he had taken poison in a failed attempt at suicide.

John’s depression had gotten worse and the doctor warned Emily to keep a careful watch over her father.  She did so to the best of her ability and had not left him alone for some time.  Emily saw her father on Friday, November 13, 1896 at 10 o’clock in the morning.  Soon thereafter, he said he wanted to go out and get a little air.  Emily stated that at the time, he was a little downhearted, but that was nothing unusual.  He used to walk on the pavement just outside the door, and she supposed he was going to do so on that occasion, so she let him go out alone.  When he had been out about five or ten minutes, she looked out to see if he were there, but she could not find him.

Emily went in search of him, and overtook him on Thurston Road.  She admonished him not to go far, because he might be taken ill.  He replied that he was only going a short way.  She went back, and not being satisfied she again went after him and saw him in Factory Street.  Having left a child at home, she saw her uncle, Timothy Sterry, also a retired twine-spinner and ropemaker, on the way home and asked him to follow her father.  He did so, but lost sight of him.  Timothy Sterry first went into High Street, looked down the scores, and then went on to the park, but still had not sighted his brother.

At about 12 o’clock, Benjamin Cross, a fisherman living at Anguish Street, was on the North Beach when he noticed something in the surf.  Being afraid to enter the surf to recover the body, Cross enlisted the aide of Mr. B. Elsegood who ran to the place, and taking off some of his clothes, went into the water and got the body out.  This turned out to be the body of John Sterry.  The police were called soon, therafter.

Emily was asked by the coroner’s inquest why she did not place her father where he would be taken care of, she replied that “she had thought about it only two days before.”  She had asked her father whether he would like to go to a hospital, but he said he would rather not.

The Coroner entrusted the evidence and statements of the witnesses to the jury who returned a verdict of “Suicide while temporarily insane.”  They considered that no blame whatever was attached to Emily Bangay, who had done her best.

James “John” Sterry had died on Friday, November 13, 1896.  May he finally rest in eternal peace.

Genealogy:  James "John" Sterry 1824-1896 was the son of Ann Mewse 1802-1889 and her father was Samuel Mewse 1775-1868 and his father was Samuel Mewse 1734-1795 and his father was Samuel Mewse (butcher) 1712-1795 and his father was Thomas Mewse 1671-1746 and his father was William Mewse 1637-1713 and his father was John Mewse (Fisherman) 1592-1667 and his son was Simon Mewse (butcher) 1641-1719 and his son was Simon Mewse (butcher) 1672-1741and his son was Simon Mewse 1683-1736 and his daughter was Mary Mewse 1727-1797 and her daughter was Elizabeth Curtis 1756-1831 and her son was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940

 

 

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