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G1 & F35. Samuel COLCHESTER was christened on 25 Oct 1724 in Barking, Suffolk.1 He died on 3 May 1796.2 The Barking baptism register records him as son of Samuel & Sarah, rather than Ann.1 Both Samuel and his sister Ann were mentioned in Ann Coe's will 1758,3 so it seems reasonable to assume that it was a mistake in the register.
He was a yeoman, baker and miller and lived at 111 High St Needham Market but as a child he had lived at 17 High St which was rented from Dykes Alexander. He seems to have owned several properties in Barking: a customary house abutting on the north side of the Ipswich to Stowmarket road, a house with buildings yards and appurtenances, and a house called Glaziers (16 High Street) with stable and yard.2
He was a church warden at least from 1784 to 1791 when he signed the terrier of Barking church, and he was noted in the Bishops Visitation Books for Barking in the intervening years. Possibly because of his position in the church, perhaps of the friendship of the family to the Alexanders, and his knowledge as a miller, he was required as one of two constables of Needham Market to take £3.11s.7½d worth of flour from William Alexander of Needham Market who had refused to pay 7 years church rates, as was noted in the Society of Friends records.2 The Alexanders cannot have been too upset, as his son was head clerk at Alexanders Bank.
In 1743 Samuel witnessed a settlement certificate to St Clements parish, Ipswich, for John Parish, his wife and child; and then again for the same family in 1746 to St Margaret's parish, Ipswich. In 1756 he was noted as one of the Overseers of the poor, responsible for their relief and care, the Overseers accounts mentioned him until 1765. There was a bad outbreak of smallpox in 1763 - 'Paid to Samuel Colchester & Co for their care of the smallpox poor £20' and later the same year £63 for the reason. In 1765 he was paid 5s 9d for a bushel of wheat and grinding for the Baalhams family. On 14/2/1778 the Ipswich Journal notes that he subscribed 10s 6d to Needham Market Society for prosecution of Felons. He was a tenant of the Town Lands (rent going to charity) from 1780 - 1785.2
He rented a windmill in Creeting from Dykes Alexander, presumably the same one as was passed to his son and was later owned by Mr Lingwood. The insurance policies for this still exist at the Guildhall Library, London for 1779, 1784 and 1794. In the first two years the total value was £300 but by 1794 this had reduced to £150 although the premium had doubled and it no longer included his main home, furniture and the windmill.2 The 1784 policy was as follows:4
"Policy 101090 1784 premium 14s, Samuel Colchester of Needham Market, baker & miller
On household furniture in his dwelling house, lathe & plaster built & tiled in Needham Market £60
On fuel in the yard belonging £15
On fuel in a barn £5
On his baking office & offices adjoining, brick & plaster built & tiled in Needham Market £35
On a range of buildings let in tenements, plaster built & thatched, near, in the occupation of Armstrong & others £55
On tenement plaster built & thatched, situated near, tenant James Welham £30
On utensils & trade in a windmill in his own occupation in Creeting St Mary £100
Total £300"
To light the fires in his bakery he was regularly buying "short wood & hurdle brushwood" from the Ashburnham Estate until 1796 when his son Edward took over.2
He inherited from his father most of his fathers possessions after his mother Ann was provided for, and half his books.5 From his mother he inherited 'my handed copper' and one third of her investments.3
Samuel was married to Mary RUFFELL in 1743 in Barking, Suffolk.6 She died in 1790 which the Ipswich Journal7 recorded on 20/2/1790: 'Sunday died Mrs Colchester, the wife of Mr Samuel Colchester, baker of Needham Market.' The Society of Friends records for 1777 show Mary Colchester as witness at the birth of Sarah Parkinson, daughter of John & Sarah of Needham Market, miller.2 So was this the child of her husband's employee at the windmill, or were the millers in collusion as has so often been said? In 1790 her father Samuel Ruffell yeoman of Needham Market left money to his grandchildren, Samuel, or if dead William then Mary (her daughter).2