Hoveton – St. Peter’s Church (Solomon Hannant)

The grave of Solomon Hannant (1821-1901) is in the churchyard of St. Peter’s Church in Hoveton.

At the 1841 census, Solomon was listed as being a farm labourer, although I can’t find him in the 1851 census (not that I’ve looked very hard). But there’s something interesting in the 1861 census, as a large family has formed:

Solomon Hannant (40-year old agricultural labourer)

Maria Hannant (37-year old housewife, born in East Ruston)

George Hannant (13-year old agricultural labourer, born in East Ruston)

Hannah Hannant (11-year old, at school)

Harriet Hannant (9-year old, at school)

Robert Hannant (6-year old, at school)

Sarah Hannant (3-year old)

Benjamin Hannant (1-year old)

Solomon Hannant (81-year old pauper, born in Worstead)

By the 1871 census, the family were living on Common Road in the village and Solomon, Maria, George, Robert, Sarah, Benjamin and Emily were living at home. Solomon (the elder) died at the age of 84 and was buried at the church on 24 March 1864. At the 1881 census, the children had all left home, other than Benjamin who was aged 21 and was working as a carpenter’s apprentice.

By the 1891 census, Solomon and Maria was living on Plantation Road in Hoveton St. Peter and by now they were living alone. By 1901, Solomon and Maria were living at Upper Street in Hoveton, along with Sarah Hannant who was still single and by now was aged 43. By the time of his death, Solomon was paying £5 per year rent on his home, which is around £500 per year by today’s money and this is perhaps a sign of how much things have changed.

And, with a touch of pathos, here is the burial register for St. Peter’s Church. Solomon was buried on 10 May 1901 and the next burial at the church was that of Maria, on 23 December 1901.