In the 1861 census, 'Armen, aged 8, was living with his parents in Ringshall and working as a stockboy (The surname was wrongly transcribed as "SAFFIN"). He has not been found in the 1871 census, when he was 18, but at some time after 1861 he moved to Bury St Edmunds.

In the second quarter of 1876, "Armen Laflin" married Helena White in the Bury St Edmunds registration district. In the last quarter of that year, Harry Herman Laflin was born in the same district. Ellen Elizabeth Laflin was born there in the last quarter of 1878, Harmen Benjamin Laflin in the first quarter of 1880 and Christabel Laflin in the first quarter of 1881.

In 1881, Armen and Helena Laflin were living at 46 Bishops Road, Bury St Edmunds and Harmen was working as a cattle drover. With them were their four children - Harry (aged 4 and at school), Ellen (aged 2), Herman (aged 1) and Christobella (aged 2 months).

In 1888, Harmen Laflin appeared in the Trade Directory as a beer retailer at 40 Prospect Row, Bury. This agrees with the statement of his sister-in-law (Arthur's wife) that "Harmen had a pub in Bury". The Trade Directory for 1892 had the same entry.

In 1891, Harmen and Helena Laflin were living at the "Crown and Anchor", 40 Prospect Row, Bury St Edmunds and Harmen was working as a publican. 1891 Census for the Crown & Anchor, 40 Prospect Row, Bury St Edmunds. Harmen Laflin head mar 39 publican b. Bury Helena Laflin wife mar 40 b.Bury Harry Laflin son 14 mill boy b.Bury Ellen Laflin dau 12 domestic servant -works at home b.Bury. Ernest Laflin son 11 scholar b.Bury Christobella Laflin dau 10 scholar b.Bury Helena Laflin dau 8 scholar b.Bury According to Granny “Harmen had a pub in Bury” and the trade directories for 1888 and 1892 show him at 40 Prospect Row, Bury. Helena Laflin died on 27th February 1892 at 40 Prospect Row, Bury St Edmunds. She was aged 9 and the daughter of Harmen Laflin, a beer-house keeper. The cause of death was “obstruction of the bowels and peritonitis” and the death was reported on 1st March by her aunt Christobella Pearl of 1 Chalk Lane, Bury St Edmunds. Harmen Laflin died in the first quarter of 1900, at the age of 47. In 1901, Helena Laflin was a widow living in 11 Prospect Row, Bury St Edmunds and working as a cook. With her was her 22-year-old daughter Ellen while Christobella was working as a housemaid in the household of Edward Lancelot Dacre Lake at 13 Westgate House, Bury. Civil Registration. Death March 1892 Helena Laflin, age 9 Bury 4a 641 Death March 1900 Harmen Laflin, age 47 Bury 4a 597 Marriage Sept. 1902 Ellen Elizabeth Laflin & either Frederick Hume or John Henry Parker Bury 4a 1586 Marriage Dec. 1907 Harry Herman Laflin & Mary Jane Atkinson Selby 9c 1648a Marriage Dec. 1909 Christobella Laflin & either William Smith or Robert Ernest Dade Bury 4a 1784 Marriage March 1914 Herman B. Laflin & Mabel L. Patten Henley 3a 1349 1901 Census for 11 Prospect Row, Bury St Edmunds. Eleanor Laflin head widow 49 cook (domestic) b.Stowmarket. Ellen E. Laflin dau single 22 dressmaker b.Bury 1901 Census for 13 Westgate House, Bury St Edmunds. Edward Lancelot Dacre Lake head single 19 brewer's pupil b.Bury with 4 sisters, 3 brothers and 6 servants including Christabel Laflin servant single 20 housemaid b.Bury.

Sources for this section.

Parish registers for Ringshall - available in Ipswich Record Office.
Civil Registration 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.