| Description | DOB: 1826
DOD: UNKNOWN
Grew up in Norwich, with vivid memories of St Andrew's Hall, Castle Hill, Household Heath, and other Norwich landmarks.
First memory: crawling toward coin laid out to encourage walking .
Fascinated by portraits, historical paintings and local traditions.
Experiences of unjust punishment over a lost stiletto deeply shaped his principles on justice and truthfulness.
Observed blind street vendors reciting poetic accounts of local events.
Attended a dame school from age 3-5, learned to read New Testament by age 4.
Later educated by a scholarly gentleman in Norwich, studying Latin, Greek, Euclid and English history.
Moved on to Norwich Grammar School around age 12, praised for strong academic foundation.
Received classical education, participated in rigorous studies of authors.
Junior clerk in an ironmonger's counting house.
Returned to school after 6 months to pursue academic aspirations.
Became a schoolteacher, working in multiple schools with varied discipline styles - from authoritarian to humane and principled.
Eventually ran a day school, and later a boarding school after marriage.
Met his future wife while visiting Norwich; she was an art student.
Engaged shortly after meeting; sold his day school to start a boarding school.
Mentions future family planning but no details on children.
Passionate about reading, philosophy, education, and gardening.
Built a summer house and bay tree "home" for contemplation.
Admired fire stations and steamboat trips to Yarmouth as a child.
Found joy in grocery shopping, packaging methods, and practical household tasks.
Chartist unrest observed as a child - Vivid account of mob pursuing a traitor and military intervention.
Annual visits to Yarmouth via steamboat before railways existed.
Extensive account of Norwich's culture and architectural life.
Transition from pupil to teacher, and from single to married life.
Handwritten
Norwich, Chartists, St. Andrew's Hall, Latin/Greek education, Grammer School, Yarmouth. |