In 1871, Arthur Laflin (aged just 4 months) was living with his parents in Ringshall. In 1881, Arthur Laflin (aged 10) was living with his parents in Barking Road, Ringshall and attending school.

In 1891, Arthur Laflin (aged 21) was living at The College, The Grove, Chevington in the household of his brother-in-law Harry Last and was working as a shepherd. Charlotte Mary Welham (aged 20) was living at 2 & 4 Queen Street, Ipswich, in the household of Edgar Shreef Scrivener (an ironmonger) and working as a general domestic servant.

On 9th October 1893, Arthur Laflin and Charlotte Mary Welham were married in the parish church at Ringshall. The marriage was witnessed by Harry Laflin and Kate Gibbons and all four signed the register.

They had ten children, who are listed in the family tree. I do not have copies of any of the certificates relating to this part of the family, but have relied entirely on information from my relatives. However some of the information has been checked against the civil registration indexes.

Edward Laflin was born in the last quarter of 1894 in the Woodbridge registration district. Kate Laflin was born there in the last quarter of 1895, William Laflin in the last quarter of 1896 and Bertha in the second quarter of 1898. Then the family moved and Bessie Laflin was born in the second quarter of 1899 in the Lexden registration district and Edith Laflin was born there the second quarter of 1900.

In 1901, Arthur and Charlotte Mary Laflin were living in Wicks Farm Cottage, Layer-da-la-Hay, Essex and Arthur was working as cattleman on the farm. With them were their six children, Edward (aged 6), Kate (aged 5), William (aged 4), Bertha (aged 3), Bessie (aged 2) and Edith (aged 1).

Some of their early history was written down for me by their daughter, my "Aunt Mary" and this is included here:-

“FATHER AND MOTHER”

“When they first married they lived at Woodbridge in Suffolk, I think their first four children were born there. From Woodbridge they moved to Abberton in Essex and then to Layer-de-la-Hay and then they moved to Horsley Cross, Mistley. Here Francis, Mary and Thomas were born. All the little Laflins went to Horsley Cross School except Tom, and Mary only went for one month. Father worked as stockman for Mr Frank Pertwee at Dickley Hall Farm. Edward and William also worked on the farm when they left school at the age of 14 and Kate and Bessie worked for Mrs Pertwee in the farm house when they left school.”

“During the first World War Mr Pertwee sold the farm and went into the army so the workers had to find other jobs so in 1916 we moved to Brightlingsea. By this time Ted and Billy had both been called up and were fighting in France. After two years at Brightlingsea we moved to Hazelshrub Bentley at the end of 1918 just after the Armistice had been signed and the war was over. The Priory Farm was at that time owned by the Great Eastern Railway and was run by a bailiff. There was a housekeeper and her husband in the Priory house and the Directors of the G.E.R. used to come and stay for the shooting season, at Easter and on other occasions during the year. Father was stockman, he also drove the gentlemen to and from the station in a horse and trap when they came to stay at the Priory .”

“Each year after harvest the workmen and their wives were given a Harvest Hokey in the big barn, this consisted of a good meal, an entertainment, after which each workman was given his harvest bonus for the extra work he had done (no overtime pay in those days). Mother fetched her weekly groceries from the village shop. The shop keeper also baked bread which was delivered three times a week. We fetched our milk each day from the farm, taking our milk can with us (no bottles in those days). Tom and I usually went when we got home from school. The cows were milked twice a day by hand. The butcher came once a week from East Bergholt with meat ordered the week before, and all our vegetables were grown in the garden. Coal was also delivered from the village shop. We fetched oil from Capel for our lamps (no electricity)".

"In 1925 the Great Eastern put the farm up for sale and it was bought by Mr Fred Pluck, (Nibby's Father). His idea was to sell it at a profit. This he was unable to do so he sold bits and pieces of the land and horses off. Father was the only workman he kept on to work for him. After his son Neville (Nibby) left college and decided to farm he planted fruit trees on the remaining land and at intervals was able to buy some of it back; and so started Dodnash Fruit Farm. Father helped plant the first fruit trees and was really a pioneer of that farm. Here he worked and lived until his death. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1943 during World War Two and their Diamond Wedding in 1953, Coronation Year.”

The picture, probably taken in the 1950s, shows Arthur and Charlotte outside Bentley church.

Their youngest son Thomas Laflin was the father of Susan Laflin, who is working on this history and would be glad to hear from any relatives, however distant. She may be contacted by email on Laflins@blueyonder.co.uk

Sources for this section.

Parish registers for Ringshall - available in Ipswich Record Office.
Civil Regsitration Indexes available online from FreeBMD
Civil Registration Indexes and Census Data available online from Findmypast
Various certificates purchased online.
Various comments from my grandfather Arthur Laflin and other members of his family.

Page maintained by Susan Laflin. Last updated in December 2007.