Ditcham Family

It seems that there were DITCHAM'S in Ludham around 1700 as I have found the baptism's of 6 in the FreeReg site under the spelling DETCHAM (parents Thomas and Elizabeth nee AYTON), it was one of these - John Detcham who appears to have began to use the spelling Ditcham.

E22.
In memory of JOHN DITCHAM …
Who departed this life on July 6^th 1804 in the sixty third year of his age. (The stone is not really readable now and the 1980 survey shows the date as 1801, but we are confident this is wrong).

E77.
In memory of JOHN DITCHAM who departed this life June 3^rd 1759 in the 47^th year of his age
Also of JUDITH DITCHAM his wife who departed this life Jan 7^th 1802
Remainder of inscription buried.

1631 Walton Way Street. John Ketcham paid 2d (it was his own land near the house)

1664 Catfield (nearby village) Hearth tax was paid by John Ketcham

1764 Marriage John Ditcham to Mary Jenkinson. Both of Ludham. Single persons, married by banns Oct 28th

1800 Enclosure Claims:

Claims for lands plus all rights and priviledges

Thomas Ditcham claims a cottage or tenement and garden in Ludham. Aforesead in the occupation of Thomas Green and his under tenants

About an acre of land in Ludham aforesaid in the occupation of John Ditcham and copyhold of the Manor of Ludham. He also claims the same rights as Thomas Smith and his wife Ann. Signed by John Ditcham.

John Ditcham claims double cottage or tenement in occupation of Thomas Beaumont and William Wittleton, also a cottage in the occupation of Barley Coleman and 4 acres of arable land in the said occupation of the said John Ditcham and copyhold of the Manor of Ludham Also a double cottage or tenement in the occupation of Henry Huggins and Samuel Hill and about 2 acres of arable land and meadow in his own occupation. Etc

Enclosure awards to John Ditcham 10 acres of land in Fritton area (a hamlet in Ludham Parish).

From Joan Snelling's book about the history of Ludham in the 19th century Page 22.

In Norwich Record office there is an inventory of goods of Mary Ditcham of Ludham. Widow Dated 1817 (Ask for Ludham PD653 No98)

1845 White's Directory.  John Ditcham was a shoemaker

July 31st 1910. Baptism, Ludham Church of Dorothy Laura daughter of Henry? William and Louise Dinah? Ditcham of 110 Gladstone St Norwich. Jeweller? This is from a difficult to read document, but the names are believed to be correct.

Now some family tree information kindly supplied by Lyn Ditcham and Narelle Simons:

Generation 1

Thomas DETSHAM-1 was born c 1670 (birthplace unknown), and died in Potter Heigham.
He married Elizabeth AYDON on 6th October 1701 in St Nicholas’ Church, Potter Heigham and they had seven children. Both of Potter Heigham. Thomas died April 1726  in Ludham Norfolk and was buried on 15/4/1726 in St Nicholas’ churchyard Potter Heigham.

•    Mary DETCHAM was born 4th November 1702 and baptised 15th November 1702  in Potter Heigham, Norfolk and she died on 8th February 1702 aged 14 weeks under the surname Dotchem. She was buried on 9th February 1702 in St Nicholas’ Churchyard Potter Heigham.
•    William DETCHAM was born 8th December 1705 in Ludham and was baptised 9th December 1705 under Dotchem in St Catherine’s Church Ludham, Norfolk. He died 12th December 1705 aged 4 days and was buried 13th December 1705 in St Nicholas’ Churchyard, Potter Heigham.
•    Elizabeth DETCHAM was born on 27th March 1707 and baptised 28th March 1707 in St Catherine’s Church in Ludham Norfolk [Reg 538]. She died 12th August 1707 under Dotchem aged 19 weeks of Ludham and was buried 14th August 1707 in St Nicholas’ Churchyard, Potter Heigham.
•    Thomas DETCHAM was born 10 May 1709 in  and baptised 12th May 1709 in St Catherine’s Church, Ludham, Norfolk [Reg 570] and died 24th June 1709 under Dotchem aged six weeks. He was buried 26th June 1709 in Potter Heigham.
•    Sarah DETCHAM was born 20th December 1710 and baptised 22nd December 1710 [Reg 597] St Catherine’s Church, Ludham and died July 1731 and was buried 11th July 1731 (of PH) in Potter Heigham, Norfolk.
•    John DITCHAM born on 2nd November 1712 in Ludham, Norfolk [UK reg says born Sun night] and baptised 13th November 1712 in St Catherine’s Church, (Reg 634). He married Judith PARESON by banns on 12th December 1738 in St Catherine’s Church Ludham [UK BDM 114]. This John appears to be the first to have used the name DITCHAM. John was buried 10th June 1759 in St Catherine’s Church Ludham with Judith in Sect E, grave no 77.
•    William DETCHAM was born in December 1715 and baptised 11th December 1715 in St Catherine’s Church in Ludham (Reg 678), Norfolk and died April 1719 in Potter Heigham. He was buried on 12th April 1719 in Potter Heigham, Norfolk of PH.

Generation 2

John DITCHAM-2 (Thomas DETCHAM-1) was born 2nd November 1712 in Ludham, Norfolk [ ] He was the only surviving son from his parents’ family; a sister Sarah lived to be 21 years of age. He died in Ludham June 1759 aged 46 and was buried on 10th June 1759 in St Catherine’s Churchyard, Ludham [UK NAOMI 299 Sect E Grave 77 ]
He married Judith PARESON (maybe Pearson) on 12th December 1738 in St Catherine’s Church Ludham [UK BDM 114 ]
Judith was born 1715 in Ludham, Norfolk and died January 1802 in Ludham – buried under Judigh on 11th January 1802 in St Catherine’s Churchyard, Ludham, widow, [NAOMI UK 323 Sect E Grave 77]

They had six known children whose details you will find in Generation 3. It is possible that there were daughters but I haven’t found any to date;

•    John DITCHAM was baptised 21st October 1739 in Ludham [No 2], Norfolk. He died in July 1804 in Ludham, a yeoman,  and was buried on 20th July 1804 in St Catherine’s Churchyard. [NAOMI UK BDM 371 Grave 23] aged 64.

•    Robert DITCHAM was born baptised 11th November 1741 (Reg 41 under Ditchell) in St Catherine’s Church Ludham Norfolk. Robert died 27th January 1816 and was buried 30th January 1816 in St John the Baptist, Reedham [No 12680 under Robin]. He was a husbandman.

•    Thomas DITCHAM was baptised 24th April 1746 [Reg 130] in Ludham, Norfolk. He died May 1818 in Norwich and was buried 14th May 1818 in St Stephens Church, Norwich aged 72.

•    William DITCHAM was baptised 25th June 1749 [Reg 188] in Ludham Norfolk and was married on 7th December 1775 in St Catherine’s Ludham [Reg 108] under William DUNHAM, batchelor, to Elizabeth HOLMES, widow. He died after 1817 in Hemsby.

•    Samuel DITCHAM was baptised 7th June 1752 in Ludham [Reg 248], and died on 10th October 1822 in Martham

•    James DITCHAM was baptised on 11th January 1756 in Ludham [Reg 319] Norfolk He lived and died in Sea Palling and was buried on 1st December 1841 in St Margaret’s Churchyard Sea Palling.

Thomas DITCHAM was baptised 24th April 1746 [Reg 130] in Ludham, Norfolk. He died May 1818 in Norwich and was buried 14th May 1818 in St Stephens Church, Norwich aged 72. Beneficiary of Mary’s Will made 23/4/1813 who died in 1816:

Thomas married twice-
a) Martha Spanton whom he married on 6th April 1788 and she bore a son Jonathon in Great Yarmouth who was baptised 8th November 1789 at Old Meeting Gaol Street, Presbyterian, Great Yarmouth and was buried 17th November 1789 at Yarmouth [LDS]

b) Ann Hayward on 29th June 1815 in Norwich, St George Tombland with no issue known. He lived in Ludham. He was a Gent. And left a Will and Probate with Codicil held at Norwich City Records Dept Address Norwich, Gent, Will Ref No 244 ELEY

After Thomas’ death Ann (An) nee Hayward is believed to have remarried to John ALLCOCK in 1820 in the same church, St George Tombland

Generation 3

Robert DITCHAM -3 (John-2, Thomas DETCHAM-1) was born 11th November 1741 (Reg 41 under Ditchell) in St Catherine’s Church Ludham Norfolk, and died c1812 in Reedham. Robert married Mary Gurnell/Gurney on 14th November 1768 in Reedham.
Robert died 27th January 1816 and was buried 30th January 1816 in St John the Baptist, Reedham [No 12680 under Robin]. He was a husbandman.

•    John DITCHAM was privately baptised under DITCHELL Sunday 20th August 1769 in St John the Baptist Reedham [Reg 130], Norfolk who was buried 6th December 1772 [Reg 59] as an infant.
•    Richard DITCHAM was baptised 13th March 1771  in St John the Baptist Reedham [Reg 142], (as Rachel) Norfolk and married Mary Robinson.
    From Mary Ditcham’s Will made 23/4/1813 and she died 1816; Richard (born 1771) was to inherit twenty pounds after his father Robert dies.
•    James DITCHAM baptised 6th July 1772 in St John the Baptist [Reg 150] buried 9th May 1773 [No 62]
•    Judith DITCHAM baptised  27th May 1774 in St John the Baptist Reedham [Reg 166] and was buried 13th December 1774 [Reg 73].
•    Thomas DITCHAM baptised 20th April 1776 in St John the Baptist [under Reg 189 and 190]- I wonder if he had a stillborn twin?] buried 6th July 1777 [Reg 93]
•    Maria DITCHAM baptised 26th March 1779 in St John the Baptist [Reg 223] and buried 4th July 1779 [Reg 103]
•    William DITCHAM baptised 28th March 1781 in St John the Baptist [Reg 241] and buried 20th July 1781 [Reg 118]
•    John DITCHAM baptised 10th May 1783 in St John the Baptist [Reg 270] Married Mary Ann Bartram on 25 January 1807 in Ludham and had at least two chn William and John, who had a son John.
From Mary Ditcham’s Will made 23/4/1813 this John was in HMS at this time; he had a son John under 21 yo. at 4/1813 who was to receive fifty pounds if his father did not claim within eighteen months of Mary’s demise.
•    Christiana DITCHAM baptised 24th October 1784 in St John the Baptist [Reg 290] born 14th October 1784
•    Keziah DITCHAM (under Cheziah) baptised  14th June 1787 in St John the Baptist Reedham [Reg 325] born 13th June 1787 buried 29th March 1788 [Reg 162] with a note :Kezia died 26h March 1788.