Richard Parfrey (1776-1856)
     the 2nd husband of Elizabeth Fyson of Holme Hale

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Richard Parfrey  (1776 - 1856)

~ The Miller ~

and the husband of

Elizabeth Fyson, the Witch of Holme Hale
and
Penelope Powley

 

 

 

1.          RICHARD PARFREY was born in Ashill, Norfolk, England and was baptized 11 Nov 1776 in the church at Ashill.

Father:       Richard Parfrey

Mother:     Ann Bocking

 

The baptism in the parish register of Ashill:

Image No. 14 left side

Baptisms A.D. 1776.

13.  Parfree Richard Son of Richard & Ann his Wife  November 11th

 

~ 1772

Richard Parfrey's parents, Richard Parfree and Ann Bocking, were married on 12 May 1772 at the church in Ashill, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Ashill:

Image No. 8 right side

Marriages The Year 1772. -- Page 13. No. 47

Richard Parfree of the Parish of Holm Hale Single Man and Ann Bocking Single Woman of this Parish were Married in this Church by Banns. this Twelfth Day of May in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred and seventy Two  by me John Stanhawe Watts Rector

This Marriage was solemnized between Us

          The Mark  ~  of Richard Parfree.          The Mark  ~  of Ann Bocking.

In the Presence of

          Thomas Grummit   ~  his mark           George Oldfield   ~  his mark

 

~ 1776

The birth and baptism of Richard Parfrey is already mentioned at the top of the page.

 

~ 1780

Richard Parfrey's brother, Youngs Parfrey, was baptized 6 May 1780 at the church in Ashill, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Ashill:

Image No. 18 left side

Baptisms Anno Domini 1780.

9.  Parfree Youngs Son of Richard & Ann his Wife   May 6th

 

~ between 1780 and 1783

Richard Parfrey's parents moved the family from Ashill to Holme Hale, Norfolk.  Holme Hale was where Richard's father was living before he got married with Ann Bocking in Ashill.

Holme Hale is just over 2 miles north of Ashill.

 

~ 1783

Richard Parfrey's sister, Anne Parfrey, was baptized 28 Sep 1783 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 20 left side

Baptisms 1783

Anne daughter of Richard & Anne Parfree September 28

 

~ 1799

Richard Parfrey married ELIZABETH FYSON on 10 Dec 1799 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 17 left side

Marriages 1799 -- Page 30, No. 118

Richard Parfry of this Parish Singleman and Elizabeth Fison of this Parish Widow were Married in this church by Licence this tenth Day of December in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred and ninety nine by me William Young Minister

This Marriage was Solemnized between Us
Richard Parfrey      this mark [  ] is the mark of Elizabeth Fison

In the Presence of
Phebe [cyson or fyson ?]     Thos Child

 

The marriage drew attention because of the age difference of the couple and that Elizabeth Fyson was well known in the area and that she was a Celebrated Doctress and people thought of her as a Witch.

 

Apparently there was a big celebration when they got married.

 

From the newspaper, Oracle and Daily Advertiser, Tuesday, December 17, 1799:

… where there was great festivity,  a vast quantity of punch, ale, &c. having been given away in consequence of the marriage of Mr. Parfrey, aged 24, to Mrs. Fyson, the celebrated Doctress, aged 80.

 

From the Monthly Magazine and British Register of February 1, 1800:

Page 92

Norfolk.

Married.]

At Yarmouth, Mr. Parfrey, aged 24, to Mrs. Fyson, aged 80.

 

Actually base on her baptism date, Elizabeth would have been 82 years old at the time of the marriage.  And Richard Parfrey was about 23 to 24 years old.

 

~ 1799 to 1803

After Richard Parfrey married Elizabeth, he began using her hard saved money to build a windmill and then attempted to make a water mill.  And soon Richard had gone through all of her money and Elizabeth Parfrey was reduced to a poor person.

A book with a title of "Notes and Queries" published in 1858 contained a letter written by an anonymous person who mentioned about Mrs. Fyson who died about fifty years before in Holme Hale.

Page 427

Mrs. Fyson (2nd S. v. 315.)  - The late Mrs. Fyson of Holme Hale, who died about fifty years since, was considered to possess the power of witchcraft.  I never heard of any person having felt the effects of her power in that "black art."

……. Mrs. Fyson by her mean habits saved a considerable sum, from 500 l. to 1000 l., for which a young fellow of the name of Parfray married her.  He built a windmill, and attempted a watermill; soon made away with all the money, and Mrs. Fyson died in penury and want.

I well remember her coming to a village shop, where she bought some shoe oil and oiled her shoes as they were upon her feet.

Having the character of a witch, she attracted a deal of attention wherever she went.

ANON.

 

~ 1803

Elizabeth Parfrey died at the age of 85 on 14 Mar 1803 and was buried 30 Mar 1803 at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

 

From the Norfolk Annals by Charles Mackie on a website:

1803.

March.

14. -- Died, Mrs. Parfrey, aged 80, wife of Mr. R. Parfrey, of Holme Hale, near Swaffham.  "The public will best recollect her, as a doctress, by her former name of Fyson, and for the many cures she made in dropsy and other complaints."

 

From the parish register of Holme Hale :

Image No. 43 right side

Burials 1803

Elizabeth Parfree late Fysen aged 85  March 18

 

From the Monthly Magazine and British Register of June 1, 1803:

Page 497

Died.]

- Aged 80, Mrs. Parfrey, formerly known by the name of Fyson, of Holm Hale, near Swaffham.

She was in high refute as a sort of medical practitioner, having performed many remarkable cures in the dropsy; and such was the opinion generally entertained of her skill, that she had continually a great many patients from all parts.

 

To read more about Elizabeth Fyson, the Witch of Holme Hale  <=== click on the link.

 

 

~ also in 1803

Richard Parfrey married 2nd  PENELOPE POWLEY  on 20 Sep 1803 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 18 right side

Marriages 1803 -- Page 33 No 130

Richard Parfrey of this Parish Widower and Penelope Powley of this Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Licence this twentieth Day of September in the Year One Thousand eight Hundred and three by me Thomas Young Rector

This Marriage was solemnized between Us

          Richard Parfrey           X  The mark of Penelope Powley

In the Presence of

          Ann Kiddle          James Eldred

 

~ 1804

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's son, Young Parfrey, was baptized 29 Jul 1804 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

 

~ 1806

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's son, Benjamin Richard Parfrey, was baptized 19 Jan 1806 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

 

~ 1808

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's son, Edward Parfrey, was baptized 19 Feb 1808 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

 

~ 1810

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's daughter, Ann Parfrey, was born 16 Feb 1810 and baptized 13 May 1810 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

 

~ 1812

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's daughter, Elizabeth Parfrey, was baptized 3 Feb 1812 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

 

~ 1814

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's son, Robert Parfrey, was baptized 22 May 1814 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Miller in the record.

 

~ 1816

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's son, William Parfrey, was baptized 17 Mar 1816 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Miller in the record.

 

~ 1818

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's daughter, Eliza Parfrey, was baptized 15 Nov 1818 at the church in Holme Hale, Norfolk.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Miller in the record.

 

~ between 1818 and 1820

Richard and Penelope Parfrey and their family moved from Holme Hale to Northwold, Norfolk.

Northwold is about over 10 miles south-west of Holme Hale and is near the fenlands.

 

~ 1820

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's twin sons, Philip and James Parfrey, were born on 26 Dec 1820 in Northwold, Norfolk and were baptized privately the same day in the church at Northwold.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Miller in the record.

 

~ 1823

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's son, Frederick Parfrey, was born on 17 Jun 1823 in Northwold, Norfolk and was privately baptized 28 Jun 1823 in the church at Northwold.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Miller in the record.

 

~ 1826 & 1827

Richard and Penelope Parfrey's daughter, Sarah Ann Parfrey, was born on 7 Jul 1826 in Northwold, Norfolk and was baptized 4 Jun 1827 in the church at Northwold.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Miller in the record.

 

~ between 1827 and 1837

Richard and Penelope Parfrey and their family moved from Northwold to Swaffham, Norfolk.  Swaffham is about 5 miles west of Holme Hale.

Richard Parfrey was a miller in Swaffham.

 

~ 1837

There is a poll book for a vote taken on the 1st and 2nd of August, 1837 for the county of Norfolk and Richard Parfrey is listed at Monk's Path-lane, Swaffham, Norfolk.

From the 1837 poll book:

Page 95

South Greenhoe Hundred.

Parfrey Richard, Monk's Path-lane, Swaff ham

 

~ 1841

In 1841, Richard and Penelope Parfrey and their son Youngs Parfrey were living at Northwell Pool in Swaffham, Norfolk.

Richard Parfrey was listed as a Doctor and the son Youngs Parfrey was listed as an Engineer.

From the 1841 census of Swaffham:

Name / Age / Sex / Occupation / Born in the County ?

Northwell Pool

Richard Parfrey  60 M   Doctor                     Y
Penelope    do      55 F                                      Y
Youngs       do      35 F*   Engineer                 Y

* his age was written in the female box but he was a male

 

Richard Parfrey's first wife, the widow Elizabeth Fyson, was a celebrated Doctress and people knew her to be a Witch.  And here in the 1841 census Richard Parfrey was called a Doctor.

Richard recieved some knowledge from Elizabeth Fyson and so on side of being a miller, Richard offered help to others in the other matters.

 

 

~ 1851

In 1851, Richard and Penelope Parfrey and their daughter Sarah Ann were living at North Pool in Swaffham, Norfolk.  Richard was listed as a Miller.

From the 1851 census of Swaffham:

Names / Relationship / Condition as to Marriage / Age / Sex / Occupation / Where Born

North Pool

Richard Parfrey        Head  Mar  75 M      Miller       Norfolk  Ashill
Penelopa     D            Wife   Mar  65 F                              D         Holm Hale
Sarah Ann  D             dau    Un     22 F                             D         Northwold

 

~ 1856

Richard Parfrey died at the age of 79 years in Swaffham, Norfolk and was buried 12 Apr 1856 at the churchyard in Swaffham.

From the parish register of Swaffham:

Image No. 64 left side

Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Burials 1856 -- Page 122. No. 974.

Richard Parfrey (married) / Swaffham / April 12 / 79 Yrs. / F Brothers.

 

~ 1857

Penelope Parfrey died at the age of 72 years at Hilgay, Norfolk which is in or near the fenlands and was buried 7 Jul 1857 at the churchyard in Swaffham, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Swaffham:

Image 70 right side

Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Burials 1857 -- Page 135. No. 1076.

Penelope Parfrey (Widow of Richard) / Hilgay / July 7 / 72 Yrs. / F. Brothers

 

 

 

Children of Richard and Penelope (Powley) Parfrey

 

 

2.          YOUNG PARFREY  was baptized 29 Jul 1804 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 24 left side

Baptisms 1804
Young son of Richard & Penelope Parfrey  July 29th

 

 

3.          BENJAMIN RICHARD PARFREY  was baptized 19 Jan 1806 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 24 left side

Baptisms 1806
Benjamin Richard son of Richard & Penelope Parfrey  Jany 19th

 

 

4.          EDWARD PARFREY  was baptized 19 Feb 1808 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 24 right side

Baptisms 1808
Edward son of Richard & Penelope Parfrey  Febry 19th

 

 

5.          ANN PARFREY  was born 16 Feb 1810 and baptized 13 May 1810 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 25 left side

Baptisms 1810
Ann daughter of Richard & Penelope Parfree born Feb. 16  -  Bap  May 13

 

 

6.          ELIZABETH PARFREY  was baptized 3 Feb 1812 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 25 right side

Baptisms 1812
Elizabeth daughter of Richard & Penelope Parfree  Febry 3

 

 

7.          ROBERT PARFREY  was baptized 22 May 1814 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 3 left side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1814 -- Page 2. No. 12.
May 22 / Robert Son of / Richard Penelope / Parfrey / Hale / Miller / Thos Young

 

 

8.          WILLIAM PARFREY was baptized 17 Mar 1816 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 5 left side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1816 -- Page 6. No. 43.
March 17 / William Son of / Richard Penelope / Parfree / Hale / Miller / Thos Young

 

 

9.          ELIZA PARFREY  was baptized 15 Nov 1818 in the church at Holme Hale, Norfolk.

From the parish register of Holme Hale:

Image No. 7 right side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1818 -- Page 11. No. 82.
Novr 15 / Eliza daughter of / Richard Penelope / Parfree / Hale / Miller / Thos Young

 

 

10.          PHILIP PARFREY and his twin brother, James, were born 26 Dec 1820 in Northwold, Norfolk and were baptized privately the same day in the church at Northwold.

From the parish register of Northwold:

Image No. 22 left side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1820 -- Page 34. No. 272.

Privately / Dec 26th / born Dec. 26  Philip & James twin sons of / Richard and Penelope / Parfrey late Powley / Northwold / Miller /  Richard Pillans curate.

 

 

11.          JAMES PARFREY and his twin brother, Philip, were born 26 Dec 1820 in Northwold, Norfolk and were baptized privately the same day in the church at Northwold.

From the parish register of Northwold:

Image No. 22 left side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1820 -- Page 34. No. 272.

Privately / Dec 26th / born Dec. 26  Philip & James twin sons of / Richard and Penelope / Parfrey late Powley / Northwold / Miller /  Richard Pillans curate.

 

 

12.          FREDERICK PARFREY  was born on 17 Jun 1823 in Northwold, Norfolk and was privately baptized 28 Jun 1823 in the church at Northwold.

From the parish register of Northwold:

Image No. 27 right side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1823 -- Page 45. No. 356.

Privately / June 28th / born June 17th.  Frederick son of / Richard and Penelope / Parfrey late Powley / Northwold / Miller / Richard Pillans. Curate

 

 

13.          SARAH ANN PARFREY  was born on 7 Jul 1826 in Northwold, Norfolk and was baptized 4 Jun 1827 in the church at Northwold.

From the parish register of Northwold:

Image No. 34 right side

When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.

Baptisms 1827 -- Page 59. No. 471.

June 4th / born July 7.  Sarah Ann daur of / Richard & Penelope / Parfrey late Powley / Northwold / Miller / W. bleach Curate

 

 

 

 

Sources:

1.     1772 marriage of Richard Parfree and Ann Bocking.  Ashill, Marriages, 1756-1813, 28 images.  Searched Images Nos. 8 to 10, marriages 1771 to 1779.  Norfolk Parish Registers collection online at FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org.  Searched on May 5, 2011 Thursday 4:06 PM.

2.     1776 baptism of Richard Parfree and 1780 baptism of Youngs Parfree.  Ashill, Baptisms and Burials, 1772-1812, 107 images.  Searched Images No. 1 to 33, covering Baptisms 1772 to 1790.  Norfolk Parish Registers collection online at FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org.  Searched May 5, 2011 Thursday 3:41 PM.

3.     Parish registers of Holme Hale, Norfolk, England.  Baptisms:  1783 Anne Parfree, 1804 Young Parfrey, 1806 Benjamin Richard Parfrey, 1808 Edward Parfrey, 1810 Ann Parfree, 1812 Elizabeth Parfree.  Burials:   1803 Elizabeth Parfree late Fysen.  Online at https://www.familysearch.org, Norfolk Parish Registers collection.  Holme Hale Bapt, Mar, Bur, 1709-1812, 46 images.  Searched July 26, 2010 Monday 8:43 PM.

4.     1799 marriage of Elizabeth Fison and Richard Parfrey.  Parish registers of Holme Hale, Norfolk, England.  Online at https://www.familysearch.org, Norfolk Parish Registers collection.  Holme Hale Marriage 1755-1812, 22 images.  Searched April 27, 2011 Wednesday 5:42 PM.

5.     1799 marriage of Mr. Parfrey and Mrs. Fyson mentioned in the newspaper.  Oracle and Daily Advertiser (London, England), Tuesday, December 17, 1799; Issue 22170.  Online at 17th-18th Century Burnley Collection Newspapers at http://find.galegroup.com.  Searched April 28, 2011 Thursday 5:37 PM.

6.     1800 the marriage of Mr. Parfrey and Mrs. Fyson mentioned in a 1800's magazine.  Monthly Magazine and British register, Volume 9; Publisher: Printed for R. Phillips, 1800; Original from: Princeton University; Digitized: Jun 16, 2008.  Online at Google Books.  Searched May 4, 2011 Wednesday 2:23 PM.

7.     1803 death of Mrs. Parfrey.  From a website that has the Norfolk Annals by Charles Mackie extracted and listed.  Online at http://www.freefictionbooks.org/books/n/23028-norfolk-annals-by-charles-mackie?start=18.  Searched May 4, 2011 Wednesday 2:41 PM.

8.     1803 death of Mrs. Parfrey.  The Monthly Magazine and British Register, Volume 15; Publisher: Printed for R. Phillips, 1803; Original from: the New York Public Library; Digitized: Nov 21, 2007.  Jeremy T. Dixon of Melbourne, Australia found this and posted on his site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pickingill/ .  I then searched the original source on May 4, 2011 Wednesday 3:13 PM.

9.     1803 marriage of Richard Parfrey and Penelope Powley.  Parish registers of Holme Hale, Norfolk, England.  Online at https://www.familysearch.org, Norfolk Parish Registers collection.  Holme Hale Marriage 1755-1812, 22 images.  Searched April 27, 2011 Wednesday 5:42 PM.

10.     Parish registers of Holme Hale, Norfolk, England.  Baptisms 1813-1874, 53 Images.  Searched Images 1 to 28, 1813-1842.  Baptisms:  1814 Robert Parfrey, 1816 William Parfree, 1818 Eliza Parfree.  May 7, 2011 Saturday 5:38 PM.

11.     Parish registers of Northwold, Norfolk, England.  Northwold, Baptisms, 1813-1858, 107 Images.  Spot checked for the following Baptisms: 1820 Philip and James Parfrey, 1823 Frederick Parfrey, 1827 Sarah Ann Parfrey.    Norfolk Parish Registers collection online at https://www.familysearch.org  Searched May 8, 2011 Sunday 5:44 PM.

12.    1837 Richard Parfrey listed in Poll for Swaffham.  The poll for two knights of the shire for the western division of the county of Norfolk: taken on the 1st & 2nd of August, 1837…  Publisher Printed and sold by Matchett, Stevenson, and Matchett, 1837.  Online at Google Books.  Searched on May 5, 2011 Thursday 2:43 PM.

13.     1841 census of England, Norfolk, Swaffham, Swaffham, District 1, Image No. 18, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference HO 107/773/24, Original Page No. 36, Stamped Page No. 21, household of Richard Parfrey.  Searched May 5, 2011 Thursday 4:53 PM.

14.     1851 census of England, Norfolk, Swaffham, District 5a, Image No. 63, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference H. O. 107/1831, Original Page No. 63, No. of Householder's Schedule 241, household of Richard Parfrey.  Searched May 5, 2011 Thursday 4:40 PM.

15.     1856 burial of Richard Parfrey and 1857 burial of Penelope Parfrey.  Swaffham, Burials, 1840-1865, 103 Images.  Searched Images Nos. 64 and 70.  Norfolk Parish Registers collection online at https://www.familysearch.org  -- May 7, 2011 Saturday 9:52 PM.

17.     1858 a letter written about Mrs. Fyson.  Notes and Queries, Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1858; Original from: Harvard University; Digitized: Mar8, 2007.  Online at Google Books.  Found by Jeremy T. Dixon of Australia earlier and then I searched it on May 4, 2011 Wednesday 1:42 PM.

 

 

1st publication May 8, 2011 Sunday 9:15 PM

 

Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth

 

 

 

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