Person:Benjamin Branford (2)

1795 - Baptism: Benjamin, son of William BRANFORD and Rebecca WOMACK.

1841 - Living at Florden House, Florden with wife, five children and three female servants. Farmer. Ben BRANFORD, aged 45, born at Norfolk.

1851 - Living in Thorpe Road, Thorpe next Norwich, with wife, three children and three house servants. Farmer of 700 acres, master maltster employing 12 labourers.

Derek Johnson writes:

Benjamin produced his final Will dated 08 March 1845 with a Codicil dated 09 Nov 1850. The Will was proven on 25 June 1857.

Benjamin named the following as Executors: 1) His elder brother Womack William BRANFORD of Godwick. 2) His nephew James Burry PALMER the younger of Yarmouth. 3) His good friend George GEORGE.

James PALMER would appear to be from his wife’'s family. George GEORGE, living in the neighbouring village of Swainsthorpe, appears to have been an unmarried farmer. He was born in 1798 and is recorded in the 1881 census.

The beneficiaries, apart from the Executors, were Benjamin’'s widow Elizabeth and his four surviving children. It is recorded that his eldest child, Lorina, was then married to George EDWARDS. As usual the heirs of his children were provided for but none was named hence it is assumed that he had no (living) grandchildren when compiling his Will and subsequently the Codicil. There is no mention of any other family members. Henry PALMER and Henry W WEAVER countersigned the Will.

The Codicil shows that Benjamin had, after making his Will, inherited land and estate from Francis BLOY of Stratton St. Michael. Benjamin then in turn left this inheritance to the same beneficiaries as before with particular reference to his son William Benjamin. Edward Palmer CLARKE and Candell CLARKE countersigned the Codicil.

The Will was proven in the presence of Elizabeth (widow), Womack William BRANFORD, George GEORGE and James Burry PALMER.