Rushden Research Group: Robert Emms Bradfield

Robert Emms Bradfield

Robert with his wife Martha, son Charles Luther and daughter Elizabeth Marcia c1865

Robert Emms Bradfield came to Rushden in 1857 from Cambridge, to become minister at Rushden's Old Meeting Baptist Church. He was married in 1855 in London to Martha (nee Linsell).

They had two children, Charles Luther Bradfield born 1854, and Elizabeth Marcia born 1856.

Baptist School Rooms & the Baptist Church Manse
was built in 1871.

Robert Emms Bradfield
in about 1875

The family lived in Park Road, in the Manse which stood behind the Church and the churchyard. Charles learned the shoetrade which began to flourish around this time.

Charles L Bradfield

Charles became a shoe manufacturer and joined Fred Knight probably when he began his firm in 1870.

His sister Marcia married Fred Knight in 1877.

Two years later Robert died. In 1881 Charles and his mother were living at Rose Hill. Later they moved to 17 Park Road, and Martha stayed there when Charles married. Martha died in 1907 aged 84. They were buried in the churchyard of the Old Baptist. The memorial was recorded (No 49) from photographs taken of the old gravestones when the burial ground was cleared.

MI 49 Old Baptist Church
In loving memory of Robert Emms BRADFIELD born at North Elmham in the county of Norfolk Feb 8th 1818 died at Rushden Nov 16th 1879. Where I am, there shall also my servant be, Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. Also Martha the beloved wife of the above who died at Rushden April 18th 1907 aged 84 years. "So He bringeth them unto their desired haven". Ps 107.30

Charles married Emily, widow of Walter Sargent, in 1898, and built a new house, and he called it "Elmham" after his father's birthplace. With Emily and her two children, William aged 18 and Lizzie aged 16, they soon moved into the villa.

At the end of WWI Charles built a smaller house opposite and once more called it "Elmham" so the new owners of the first house was renamed by Mr and Mrs Fred Hawkes as "Eastonwood."

Marcia married Fred Knight in 1877 and he bought the Old St Mary's Church rectory house which stood next to the Baptist Church in Little Street in 1889. Here they brought up three boys, and laid out the gardens.

Fred joined the new Volunteer Fire Brigade and became chief of the new Fire Brigade in 1885. Marcia was involved in many fund raising events, and was an acomplished writer.

Elizabeth Marcia Knight - Courtesy of Clive Wood