One of the principal whig families who belonged to the Octagon Chapel Presbyterian congregation. Robert Marsh I (1679-1771) was a worsted weaver who set up a London carrier business from Tombland. Lived in the parish of St George Tombland and was an alderman and mayor of Norwich. He did not have any children and left much of his estate to his younger brother Charles Marsh I (1684-1727)’s eldest son Charles Marsh II (1710-1789), a weaver.
Charles Marsh II left his estate to his three daughters.
Robert Marsh II (1741-1822) was grand nephew of Robert Marsh I and continued the carrier business in Tombland along with his brother Isaac Laughton Marsh (1745-1834). Their father Isaac Marsh 1716-1757) was the younger son of Charles Marsh I.
Isaac Laughton Marsh’s sons Samuel (1768-1834) and Isaac (1771-1837) were also involved in the carrier business. The Marsh family connection to the Norwich to London, Cambridge and Yarmouth carrier business came to an end with their deaths.
1679 Robert Marsh I born (location unknown)
1684 Charles Marsh I, brother of Robert Marsh I born (location unknown)
1700 Robert Marsh I admitted a freeman of Norwich as a worsted weaver
1704 Robert Marsh I marries Martha Frost at St Mary in the Marsh, Cathedral Close, Norwich
1708 Charles Marsh I marries Deborah Stone at Hardingham, Norfolk
1709 Robert Marsh, son of Charles Marsh I and Deborah, baptized as a non-conformist in Norwich
1710 Robert Marsh, worsted weaver, St George Tombland
1710 Charles Marsh II, son of Charles Marsh and Elizabeth Fromanteel, baptized at St George Tombland but also as a nonconformist.
1711 Robert Marsh, son of Charles Marsh I, dies, aged 2. Deborah, wife of Charles Marsh I, dies a few days later, buried in St George Tombland.
1714 Charles Marsh I marries Rose Laughton at St John Timberhill, Norwich
1716 Isaac Marsh, son of Charles Marsh I and Rose Laughton is born, baptized St Michael at Plea, Norwich
1719 Robert Marsh I becomes sheriff of Norwich
1727 Charles Marsh I dies – buried at St Michael at Plea
1727 – “another piece of adjoining land [in Tombland, between Erpingham and Ethelbert gates] was leased to Mr Nasmith for a term of 127 years. On Nasmith’s death, in the middle of the last century, the business, together with the house, stables, and premises, passed to Messrs. Marsh;, who, in 1786 had yet another strip of ground adjoining leased to them for sixty-eight years-the whole being thus terminable in 1854. A Mrs. Marsh; continued to reside in the house until about 1830, and the London waggons under various proprietors started from the adjoining premises, until driven off the road by the iron horse” p. 216 The first parish register of St. George of Tombland, Norwich (A.D. 1538-1707) Transcribed by the late George Branwhite Jay, with notes by Thomas R. Tallack. Revised by William Hudson. This would be James Nasmith, whose daughter Anne married Isaac Laughton Marsh in 1741. He was originally a linen draper and then became a waggoner and coach proprietor in Tombland.
1731 Robert Marsh I becomes Mayor of Norwich
1734 Robert Marsh Esq (I) and Charles Marsh II vote for Walpole, Bacon (Whig), Vere in St George Tombland.
1737 Charles Marsh II marries Elizabeth Fromanteel, at St Giles, daughter of Daniel Fromanteel (owner of a cloth firm, sheriff and mayor of Norwich) and Elizabeth Copeland. The Fromanteels were a Flanders family who had fled to Britain after the Spanish conquest in the 1580s.
1739 Edward Marsh dies, buried at St George Tombland (family connection not known)
1739 Elizabeth Marsh, daughter of Charles Marsh II and Elizabeth, born – baptized non-conformist, St George Tombland. Charles Marsh described as weaver.
1741 Martha, daughter of Charles Marsh II and Elizabeth Fromanteel, born – baptized non-conformist by Dr John Taylor – St George Tombland
1741 Isaac Marsh marries Ann Nasmith, St Mary in the Marsh (both of St George Tombland). Ann Nasmith is the daughter of a London carrier, James Nasmith
1741 Robert Marsh II, son of Isaac Marsh and Ann Nasmith born, baptized non-conformist by Dr John Taylor. St George Tombland.
1743 James Marsh, son of Isaac and Ann, baptized nonconformist, of St Michael at Plea. Presumably died in infancy.
1743 Charles Marsh III, son of Charles Marsh II, weaver, and Elizabeth, born, baptized non-conformist by Dr John Taylor, St George Tombland
1744 Isaac Lawton Marsh, son of Isaac Marsh and Ann Nasmith, born – baptized nonconformist and then at St Michael at Plea
1744 Sarah, daughter of Charles Marsh II, weaver, and Elizabeth, born, baptized non-conformist, but also at St George Tombland
1746 James Marsh, son of Isaac Marsh and Ann Nasmith, born, baptised nonconformist. Isaac Marsh is a weaver of St Michael at Plea.
1746 Elizabeth Fromanteel, wife of Charles Marsh II dies, aged 33. Buried at St George Tombland.
1748 Charles Marsh II marries Margaret Meadows, nee Eade, 26 year old widow of an Ipswich doctor, Daniel Meadows.
1749 Ann Nasmith Marsh, daughter of Isaac Marsh weaver and Ann Nasmith born, St Michael at Plea, baptized non-conformist
1750 Robert Marsh I died
1752 Peggy, daughter of Charles Marsh II and Margaret Eade born and baptised non-conformist, St George Tombland
1754 Rose Laughton, wife of Charles Marsh I, dies – buried St Michael at Plea.
1754 Robert, son of Charles Marsh II and Margaret born and baptised non-conformist, of St George Tombland
1756 James Nasmith, father of Anne Nasmith, wife of Isaac Marsh dies, aged 76. He was mayor in 1743 and lived at 24 Tombland. Buried at St George Tombland.
1756 Octagon Chapel built
1756 Ann, daughter of Charles Marsh II and Margaret born and baptised non-conformist, of St George Tombland
1757 Isaac Marsh, son of Charles Marsh I, dies, aged 41 – leaves property in St Michael at Plea and elsewhere in Norwich and in St Faiths to wife Ann
1759 Alice Eade, daughter of Charles Marsh II and Margaret born and baptised non-conformist, of St George Tombland
1760 James Marsh, son of Isaac Marsh, dies, aged 13.
1760 Robert Marsh Esq Alderman and Charles Marsh merchant vote for Harbord (conservative whig) and Bacon (whig) in St George Tombland.
Robert Harvey seems to have sold 24-26 Princes Street to Robert Marsh or maybe to his nephew Charles Marsh.
1762 Ann Marsh, nee Nasmith, wife of Isaac Marsh, dies, aged 47. Buried St Michael at Plea.
1767 Isaac Laughton Marsh, son of Isaac Marsh, marries Elizabeth Clarke, St Peter Mancroft.
1767 Ann Nasmith Marsh, daughter of Isaac Marsh, dies aged 18, buried at St Michael at Plea
1768 Election – Robert Marsh carrier and Charles Marsh II merchant vote for Harbord (conservative whig) and Bacon (whig) in St George Tombland.
1768 Samuel Clarke Marsh, son of Isaac Laughton Marsh and Elizabeth of St George Tombland baptized nonconformist at Octagon Chapel.
1769 Robert Marsh III, son of Isaac Marsh, marries Sarah Heath, in Hemblington
1771 Robert Marsh I dies at the age of 92, and leaves his messuages and tenements in St George Tombland to his nephew, Charles, who is in occupation of them. He left instructions in his will that he should be buried at St George Tombland, where he was also baptized. Also mentions late brother Edward’s grand daughter Mary and [grand?] nephew Robert Marsh [II], son of the late Isaac (Robert Marsh I’s nephew).
1772 Sarah Marsh nee Heath, wife of Robert Marsh III dies, buried at Octagon Chapel.
1773 Martha Marsh (31), daughter of Charles Marsh II marries John Rash, 41 year old clergyman in Catton
1773 James Marsh, son of Isaac Laughton Marsh, born and baptised at Octagon Chapel
1775 Robert Marsh III marries Ann Candler at St Mary in the Marsh
1777 Elizabeth Marsh (37) daughter of Charles Marsh II marries Abraham Brook, a bookseller in Cockey Lane (now London Street) at St George Tombland.
1780 Charles Brook, son of Elizabeth Marsh and Abraham Brook, is born and baptized at the nonconformist Octagon Chapel.
1781 Elizabeth Marsh, wife of Isaac Laughton Marsh, dies. Buried at Octagon Chapel.
- Charles Marsh esq – 4 King Street
- Robert Marsh and Co. – London Stage Waggons, No. 4, Tombland
- Edward Marsh – merchant, 115 Magdalen Street
- Isaac L Marsh – silversmith and toyman, 31 Market Place
1784 Robert Marsh, carrier, votes for Harbord and Windham (both Whigs) in St George Tombland.
1786 Alice Eade Marsh, daughter of Charles Marsh II marries George Eade of the City of London, officiated by Rev John Rash, husband of Martha Marsh, witnessed by John Snelgrove, St George Tombland
1786 and 1787 elections Robert Marsh in St George Tombland, London carrier, votes Whig.
1787 Robert Marsh II property dealing
1787 R Marsh and I.L. Marsh – London and Norwich Expedition
1789 Charles Marsh II dies and is buried at St George Tombland. His will of 1786 left his messuages, grounds, tenements and hereditaments in St George Tombland, in the occupation of John Snelgrove (collector of excise), Edward Squire (merchant of 1 Tombland and King Street), Catharine Darby and William Ivory (son of Thomas Ivory the builder and architect of the Octagon Chapel) to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Abraham Brook, and other messuages in occupation of ?Garland and ?Munday in St George Tombland to go to his daughter Martha and her husband as well (who died in 1787). Also messuages in Essex to his daughter Alice and her husband George Eade.
1790 Election – Robert Marsh II, carrier, votes for Windham in St George Tombland
1790 Charles Marsh II’s estate is put up for auction, of five lots of nine dwellings. Possibly some properties bought by Edward Squire, merchant, who was living in one of them and was a freeholder in St George Tombland from 1794. Mrs Rash presumably Charles Marsh’s daughter, married to Rev John Nash who had died in 1787.
1792 – Abraham Brook dies
1792 Entire stock of I(saac) L(aughton) Marsh, Goldsmith, Jeweller, and Hardware-man, great variety of articles, Plate, Jewellery, Plated Goods, Watches, Tea Kitchens, Japann’d ware and a general assortment of Cutlery, Birmingham, bone and ivory goods.
1793 – 1794 Robert Marsh III and Isaac Laughton Marsh (sons of Isaac Marsh, grandsons of Charles Marsh I ) advertisement in Norfolk Chronicle
1794 Robert Marsh, carrier, St George Tombland
1795 Elizabeth Marsh and Abraham Brook’s son Charles dies at the age of 14, at Elizabeth’s house in St George Tombland. “Master Charles Brook, son of the late Mr. Abraham Brook, was a youth of amiable qualities, and being an only child, the lost is great and irreparable to his disconsolate mother.”[1]
1795 electoral register – Robert Marsh gent, lives in Norwich, freehold Lingwood, Isaac Lawton Marsh lives in Thorpe, freehold in Thorpe, William Heath Marsh, lives in Hoveton St John, clergyman, property in Lingwood.
1795 Norfolk Chronicle
1796 Samuel Clarke Marsh in St Stephen, Norwich.
1798 Land Tax Redemption Robert Marsh * 2, owner and occupier in St George Tombland
1799 Samuel Clarke Marsh is on electoral roll for St George Tombland
1799 election Robert Marsh II votes for Fellowes (Whig) Samuel Clarke Marsh, London carrier, voted for John Frere in St George Tombland
1800 Land Tax Redemption: Robert Marsh II owner (of two properties), Robert Marsh occupier in St George Tombland
1802 Robert Marsh, carrier, St George Tombland
1802 James Marsh Esq, son of Isaac Laughton Marsh is elected Alderman of Norwich. Attorney-at-law
1805-7 – Robert Marsh III Trustee of Norwich Insurance Office
1806 Robert Marsh Esq
1808 Robert Marsh III officer of the Norwich Institution for the Blind
1806 Robert Marsh, gent, voted for William Windham and Thomas Coke (both Whigs) in Norfolk election
1806 Isaac Marsh, carrier, living in Cambridge, on electoral roll for Norwich.
1807 Robert Marsh esq is foreman of the grand jury of the city assizes
1807 Samuel Clarke Marsh, gent, in Cambridge. Marries Anne Palmer
1810 Samuel Charles Marsh, son of Samuel Clarke Marsh and Anne Palmer baptised non-conformist in Cambridge, then a year later at Loddon, Norfolk
1811 directory Marsh and Sons, London Waggon Office, Tombland
1812 Robert Marsh gent, St George Tombland, Samuel Clarke Marsh ditto vote Smith (Radical) and Harvey
1812 Henry Palmer Marsh, son of Samuel Clarke Marsh and Anne Palmer baptised non-conformist in Cambridge
1813 James Palmer Marsh, son of Samuel Clarke Marsh and Ann born, baptised nonconformist, of St George Tombland.
1814 – 1816 Samuel Clarke Marsh, great-grandnephew of Robert Marsh (1678-1771), nephew of Robert Marsh II is running the London Stage Waggon from Tombland
1815 Elizabeth Brook, nee Marsh dies, at the age 75
1817 Robert Marsh Esq owner and occupier Brundall, Isaac Marsh owner of property in Brundall, occupied by R Marsh. By-election Robert Marsh voted Wodehouse (Tory), Samuel Clarke Marsh and Isaac Marsh voted Pratt. Samuel Clarke Marsh has freehold in Dickleburgh.
1817 Isaac Laughton Marsh son of Samuel Clarke Marsh and Ann born, baptised non conformist in Norwich
1818 Robert Marsh III votes for William Smith and Richard Gurney, Whigs.
1822 Robert Marsh III dies, aged 80, in Lammas, Norfolk “of St George Tombland” Left all his property in St George Tombland to his wife Ann. To his son William Heath Marsh the advowson of Lammas and property in Brundall. “At his house, Tombland, Mr. Marsh, “in the 80th year of his age. The unsullied integrity and active benevolence which distinguished the character of the deceased justly entitled him to the respect of all with whom he was connected in life.” Bury and Norwich Post
1824-5 Samuel Clarke Marsh is proprietor of Norwich to London carrier leaving Tombland
1826 Isaac Laughton Marsh II son of Samuel Clarke and Ann dies, aged 9, buried in Swardeston
1829 Tombland carrier business is called Marsh & Swann, of Cambridge
1830 Samuel Clarke Marsh, gent, voting in Great Yarmouth elections
1832 Samuel Clarke Marsh Esq, householder, Yarmouth, South Quay
1833 June – Anna Marsh, nee Candler, widow of Robert Marsh II, resident in St George Tombland, buried in Lammas at age of 83. Will of 1822 and codicil Leaves money to Claytons, William Heath Marsh, her stepson, who was a clergyman. Also money to Catherine, Susan and Sarah Heath, daughters of Anna Marsh’s cousin William Heath. No real estate. ” On Sunday, at her house, Tombland, aged 84, sincerely respected and regretted by her relatives and friends, Anna, relict of the late Robert Marsh, Esq. of this daughter of the Rev. Philip Candler, formerly of Blofield, in the county of Norfolk.”
1834 March – Isaac Laughton Marsh dies aged 89, at his house in the chantry, St Stephens, in Norwich.
Buried at Octagon Chapel https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250882960/isaac-laughton-marsh#view-photo=268982152
Appoints his daughter Ann Nasmith Marsh and son Samuel Clarke Marsh as executors. To dispose of his property in St Ethelburga in the ward of Bishopsgate, London.
1834 April Mrs Marsh’s houses on Tombland and in the Cathedral precinct to be let
1834 September – Samuel Clarke Marsh, son of Isaac Laughton Marsh, dies suddenly aged 66 at his lodgings in London, was living in Yarmouth, buried in Swardeston. “We regret to announce the sudden death of S. Marsh, Esq. of this town, under circumstances doubly distressing to his family. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh had been on a visit to the Kentish and Southern coast, and had reached London on Wednesday on their return home, when the distressing intelligence was communicated to Mrs. M. of the death of her brother, and she instantly took coach to visit the house of mourning, leaving Mr. Marsh to follow the next day by way of Cambridge. Mr. Marsh took his place accordingly for Thursday ; but on the morning of that day, when leaving his bed-room, he was seized with apoplexy and was instantly a corpse. Thus in the brief space of 18 hours was Mrs. Marsh deprived of a beloved husband and a brother.” Bury and Norwich Post.
Samuel Clarke Marsh leaves all his property to his wife Ann.
1835 Henry Palmer Marsh Esq of Martham Hall marries Eliza Harriet Turner in Jersey
1837 Isaac Marsh, son of Isaac Laughton Marsh, dies in Cambridge, aged 66. Waggon proprietor – Swann & Marsh of Cambridge. Also innholder. Appoints brother James Marsh (attorney at law), son Isaac Marsh (farmer who later became a bank manager) and son in law Field Dunn Barker (wine merchant) as executors.
1837 Sep – Henry Palmer Marsh, son of Samuel Clarke Marsh dies aged 25 at Martham Hall.
1838 March – Eliza Marsh, daughter of Henry Palmer Marsh and Eliza Turner is born in St Helier, Jersey.
1841 August – Ann Nasmith Marsh dies a spinster, age 71, at her house in the Chantry, St Stephens, after a long and painful illness. Brother James Marsh of Hastings (attorney at law) and nephew Samuel Charles Marsh (wine merchant) are executors.
1856 Ann Marsh, widow of Samuel Clarke Marsh dies, leaves all property to her sons Robert Palmer Kemp (from first husband, by then a farmer and magistrate in Coltishall, Norfolk) and Samuel Charles Marsh (a wine merchant in Yarmouth). Leaves £100 a year to her son James Palmer Marsh (an attorney) and in codicil the profit from £1000 invested by trustees, but stipulates he should have no further claim, and also to allow funds to his children.
1863 Samuel Charles Marsh dies and is buried at Swardeston
[1] Norfolk Chronicle, 21 February 1795 p 2
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