Trish, thanks for replying. It would be great if that Ann in 1851 IS her as it has a birthplace. So naturally I had a good look.
They were in 3 Alfred Terrace in 1851. Esther BROWN unmarried is her 22 year old niece, so I tried to find either of them in earlier records.
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There is only one Esther BROWN born in Norwich in 1829. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth, born 19th April.. Chr st John de schepelcher. Her father was a butcher.
Previous child for the same couple in the same parish - William 1823. This makes the parents most likely William BROWN and Elizabeth GIRLING who married 30th Nov 1820 SO - the widow Ann PESTELL 'may' have been born GIRLING, but of course there are other ways of being a niece. (inconclusive)
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In 1861 the lodging house was being run by Mary LAYTON, so no help there.
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An Ann PESTELL died 20th August 1960. One of her executors was Robert Anson RICHMOND, a baker. (Probate). That Ann was aged 66 (GRO Index).
AND I BELIEVE you are CORRECT. There is a burial in Yarmouth in August of Ann POSTELL with no entry in the deaths, and a death of Ann PESTELL of the right age and death month in the GRO.
So now we have 2 possibilities. The Ann who died in Yarmouth as a widow in 1860 is certainly the woman who was buried in Yarmouth, and who was living in Yarmouth in 1851 with a niece Esther Elizabeth BROWN. What we don't know for certain is that she is the mother of George and William (who I believe was in Laughing Image Corner in 1841, with son William who was ALSO listed in the Gaol).
I then turned to the executor of Ann's Will.
Robert Anson RICHMOND was born in 1830. He married Mary Ann HATCH in 1852, both were residents of Yarmouth their whole life. No clues there. Note Ann's estate was very small.
A link eventually surfaced. An Ann HATCH married Joseph PESTELL in Great Yarmouth 4th Feb 1816, so I am thinking that Ann POSTEL/PESTELL who died in 1860 is NOT the one who was married to John PURCELL/POSTEL the Irish soldier.
