Robert Glanfield

Birth, Marriage and Death information

     Robert Glanfield was born in 1804 at Ipswich, SFK, ENG.
     He was baptized on 30 September 1804 at St Clement, Ipswich, SFK, ENG, parents named Robert Cooke Glanfield and Mary.
     He married Mary Anne Winter on 27 December 1830 at St Mary Elms, Ipswich, SFK, ENG, (when age calculated as 26 years.)
     He died circa May 1864 at Ipswich registered, SFK, ENG; recorded age 59.
The Ipswich Journal 9 Apr 1864 reported the inquest:
     DISTRESSING SUICIDE - An inquest was held on the 4th inst., before S. B. Jackamn Esq., Coroner, at the John Barleycorn Inn, St Clements, upon the body of Robert Glanfield. It appeared that the deceased was in his 60th year and was a seafaring man (a man before the mast). He was the father of 11 children the youngest 10 years old. Deceased was a good husband and a good father, and he had enjoyed good health till about a fortnight since. he was not a sober man, he would go a long time without drinking, and then he would break ouit, and continue drinking for some time.
The deceased has been out of berth for the last three weeks; before that he sailed with Capt. Hadgraft in the "Emma" schooner of this port. Deceased told his wife that when he had to go aloft his head went round with him; he left Capt. Hadgraft because he did not feel equal to the work; he had not employment in view and no means of supporting himself and family; five children were at home depending upon him. The deceased before leaving work was a very cheerful man, but since that he had been very low spririted. Since last Wednesday week the deceased had complained of a violent pain in the head, and of the room going round with him, and he could not walk straight, but staggered about the house. The deceased went out several times, a week or two back in search of employment and finally got a berth on the brig "Malta" belonging to Mr. Samuel Ralph Gooding but he could not join the ship, being quite unable to perform his duties.
The deceased had not been drunk lately but he had been continually drinking a little. On Sunday last he ate his dinner, and took nothing else, and went to bed about two o'clock in the afternoon. His wife went to bed about nine o'clock; when she went to bed the deceased appeared to be asleep. When she got up at 5:30 on Monday morning the deceased was asleep, and about half past eight she went upstairs and saw the deceased on his knees at the foot of the bed, she thought he was praying, but on looking again she was a handkerchief round his neck and also round the top rail of the bedpost. She ran downstairs and gave an alarm, and Mr. W. Adams was sent for but life was extinct when he arrived, and in his opinion death was occasioned by a pressure upon the blood vessels of the neck causing suffocation.
The jury returned a verdict "that the deceased hanged himself being at the time of unsound mind."

Other information

     On 1 May 1847 The Ipswich Journal reported:
     Robt. Glanfield was charged with having stolen about 40 fathoms of rope, the property of the Suffolk and Norfolk Shipping Company. The robbery took place on the 2d ult., from the "Ipswich Trader," lying off the wharf of Messrs. Alexander, near St. Peter's dock. Glanfield disappeared soon afterwards; in the mean time enquiries were made, when it was discovered that Glanfield has sold the rope, at the establishment of Mr. Pickess, marine store dealer. Imagining that the matter had "blown over," Glanfield returned to Ipswich on the 19th ult., and the police being aware of his movements, apprehended him in bed in his own house in the Fore Hamlet. He was fully committed for trial.
     6 Apr 1850 The Norfolk News reported:
Robert Glanfield pleaded guilty to stealing eight fathoms of repoe, the property of William Whitehead, of Ipswich - 6 calendar months, with hard labour.
     6 Mar 1852 The Ipswich Journal reported:
At the late Sessions, a man named Robert Glandfield was convicted of stealing rope from the "Thomas Clarkson," Pear, master, and sentenced to two months imprisonment. The principal witness was a man named Thomas Dewy, employed as one of the crew on board. Dewy now appeared, and alleged thatm, from having attended the trial and given evidence, he had been discharged by Pear from his employment, there having been a relationship between Pear and Glandfield. Dewy further alleged that Pear stated, from having given evidence, he had "behaved very dirtily;" to which Dewy replied that he had only given evidence to further the ends of justice. The Magistrates having listened to Dewy's representations, the Mayor depracted the conduct of Pear severely, stating that his conduct amounted to nearly an obstruction of the course of justice. As a witness, Dewy was bound to appear to give evidence, besides which, he had given evidence against a man charged with robbing his master! It was a most unheard-of case; he trusted it would be a rare one not only in this town, but in the kingdom. He hoped that Dewy would soon obtain employment under another master.