There are a number of examples of mass baptisms in Ringshall at this time. However John seems to have been even more given to this habit than most. Of his seven children, the three eldest were baptised together in July 1804 and the three youngest in July 1827, when they were aged 17, 14, and 12. Ages were not given for the 3 eldest and they may have been triplets, however I have assumed they were born during the 7 years between the marriage and the first group baptism.

Four of his sons married and details of their families are known. Their daughters Sarah and Phoebe were married but nothing more has been found about Hannah.

In 1827, John was described as a carpenter. He was buried at Ringshall on 15th December 1837 at the age of 84.

The 1841 census showed Mary Laflin living at Charles Hall, Ringshall with her son Philip, (who had not yet married) and George Smith (aged 5). In 1851 she was lodging in Ringshall with Philip and his wife and family. In the 1861 census a “Mary Laflin, widow” aged 84 was living in Battisford while “Mary Laflin of Battisford”, aged 82, was buried in Ringshall on 8th February 1863.

THEIR CHILDREN

1. Sarah Laflin was baptised on 10 July 1804 in Ringshall. On 17th October 1828 Robert Gardiner mar Sarah Laflin, single woman, in Monks Eleigh parish church. In 1841, Sarah Gardner (aged 40-44) was living in Globe Lane, Ipswich and she may have been the same Sarah. In the same household were Betsey Gardner and Henry Williams, both aged 15-19.

2. Pheby Laflin was also baptised 10 July 1804. On 29th April 1832, Warner Callow, a bachelor of the parish, and Phebe Lafflin a spinster of St Marys, Bury St Edmunds, were married by banns at Fornham All Saints. The witnesses were Sarah Callow & John Callow and the two women signed while the men made their marks.
In 1841, Warner and Phoebia Callow were living in Church Yard, Bury St Edmunds.
In 1861, Warner and Pheabe Callow were living in Castle Row, Thetford and Warner was working as a gardener. These records show no trace of any children.

3. Jonathan Laflin was also baptised 10 July 1804. In October 1823 he married his cousin Hannah Laflin (daughter of Philip Laflin), they had six children and lived in Ringshall for the rest of their lives.

4. William Laflin was baptised on 22 June 1806. He married Susan Hurrell in Monks Eleigh in 1829 and they had five children. Several of their children appeared in the records of the Wattisham Strict Baptists' chapel.

5. Philip Laflin was born in 1810 and baptised on 13 July 1827, aged 17. He married Mary Palmer in 1842 and they had five children.

6. Hannah Laflin was born in 1813 and baptised on 13 July 1827, aged 14. No further information about her has been found.

7. James Laflin was born in 1815 and baptised on 13 July 1827, aged 12. He married Mary Ann Archer and they had two children.

Sources for this section.

Parish registers for Ringshall, Monks Eleigh and Fornham All Saints - available in Ipswich Record Office.
Civil Registration Indexes available online from FreeBMD
Civil Registration Indexes and Census Data available online from Findmypast

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