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Rumbelow & Descendants
West Row is a small village and civil parish in the county of Suffolk, England. It is generally considered the edge of The Fens. West Row lies on the north bank of the navigable River Lark, about 2 miles west of the town of Mildenhall.
The name of the town was first recorded in 1050 as Mildenhale, believed to mean a nook of land belonging to a woman called "Milde" or a man called "Milda".
The area around Mildenhall has been settled by humans since at least the Bronze Age. Following the Roman Empire invasion of Britain, Mildenhall was the site of a Roman settlement.
The Mildenhall Treasure, a major hoard of highly decorated Roman silver tableware from the fourth-century AD, was discovered in West Row. The hoard was discovered by farmer Gordon Butcher while ploughing in January 1942.
The first recorded marriage of a Rumbelow at the St Mary's Church Mildenhall Parish Church was on 13 June 1717 when Robert RUMBELOW married Mary FULLER.
** Records also show a John ROMBELOW married a Mary on 29 April 1703.
Ancestry of Malen Rumbelow
Ancestry of Malen Rumbelow
John Rumbelow was born in 1691, the same year Pope Innocent XII succeeds Alexander VIII. John (1691-1745) from Isleham, Cambridgeshire married wife Sarah Rumbelow (died 1758) and were parents to a son Samuel Rumbelow (1726-1780).
In 1755 Samuel Rumbelow married Mary Macer (born 1722) and gave birth to one son Samuel Rumbelow Jnr (1756-1836). In 1775 the British House of Commons voted in favor of £1,000,000 of appropriations to expand the British Army and Royal Navy operations in North America.
Samuel Jnr married Sarah Neale (1756-1829) in 1776 at Mildenhall, Suffolk.
They had one son Robert Rumbelow (1776-1854). The year 1776 is most famously known as the year the United States declared its independence from Great Britain with the signing of the Declaration of Independence
In 1797 Robert Rumbelow married Sarah Maling (1777-1846) and had 10 children.
Malen Rumbelow (1812-1889) was the sixth child born to Robert and Sarah.
In 1831 Malen married Alice Pitches. This is the same year Charles Darwin embarked on his famous voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.
Malen and Alice had they had nine children (six girls and three boys).
In 1854, Malen and Alice and their nine children (six girls and three boys) set sail from Southampton UK for a 112 day voyage aboard the barque Pestonjee Bomanjee. They arrived at Port Adelaide in South Australia on October 9th 1854.
Before deciding to sail to South Australia aboard the barque Pestonjee-Bomanjee, Malen Rumbelow (Malen 1st) lived in Plough Road, West Row via Bury Street St Edmonds in the English county of Suffolk.
Sarah Maling was born in 1777 in Mildenhall and her parents were John Maling & Elizabeth Godfrey.
Sarah married Robert Rumbelow in 1797. Malen was their sixth child, the name Malen may have derived from his mother’s maiden name Maling.
In 1831 Malen married Alice Pitches and had nine children (six girls and three boys).
In 1851, Malen’s oldest sister Mary and husband Mark Last left England for Australia. Their two sons Mark and Joseph may have sent reports back from the colony which encouraged Malen and Alice to take the courageous step in 1854 that changed their lives forever.
In 1973 Peter Rumbelow travelled from Australia to the UK as a member of a Rotary Group Study Exchange team.
He took the time to visit the home of Malan Victor Rumbelow, Coal Merchant , in West Row. He lived very near the US air base at Mildenhall.
Peter Rumbelow and Malan Victor Rumbelow, 1973
Victor had little knowledge of his ancestors (that had left for Australia in 1854).
His brother Walter Rumbelow heard from his father (who was not born until 1846, so the information was second hand) that “Uncle Malen only had one eye but could see and tell the time by the Mildenhall church clock better than normal people. Uncle Malen went to Australia because poor people were so badly off at that time they could hardly get a living”.
Whilst not a lot is known about the life of Malen and Alice in England but a letters from Walter Rumbelow (a grandson of Malen’s brother Thomas) to an Australian cousin in 1952 does give some insight (below).
Walter Rumbelow (right) and Raymond Rumbelow (left) at West Row.
Rumbelow coal yards. West Row 1997.
Letter from Walter Rumbelow
Letter from Walter Rumbelow
14 Pothall Rd. West Row via Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk
28/10/1952
Dear Madam,
The letter you sent to the President of the Mildenhall Women's Institute asking for information about the Rumbelow family, was read at their meeting, but they knew no one of that name in Mildenhall so they sent it on to the West Row Women's Institute and I have received it.
I sent a note to Mildenhall WI to thank them for sending it and told them I would write to you.
I have often heard my father talk about his uncle Malan who went to Australia over 100 years ago because poor people were so badly off at that time they could hardly get a living, so Malen went to Australia to try to get a better living.
The family were natives of West Row which is a large village in Mildenhall Parish and is about 2.5 - 3 miles from the town of Mildenhall.
I named one of my sons Malan V. Rumbelow and have another son named Walter which is also my name. Malan is a deacon of the Baptist church here and also a Sunday School teacher.
My grandfather's name was Thomas, a brother of Malan and there are only three of us alive belonging to the third generation. I am nearly 79 years old, my sister is nearly 71 and my cousin Emma Smith three days older than I am, and there are a few belonging to the 4th and 5th. generations.
There is an aerodrome about half a mile from here and about 18 years ago there was an air race from here to Australia and we could stand outside our door and see the aeroplanes start.
We had a house built 40 years ago and are still living in it. At that time you could get a good house built for 200 pounds now it would cost about 1200 pounds to get one built.
I and my two sons are in the coal business and get a decent living, we also farm 12 acres of land, growing barley, potatoes, and sugarbeet, though I do not work much at my age.
Yrs. etc.
Walter Rumbelow
Letter from Walter Rumbelow
14 Pothall Rd. West Row via Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk
07/02/1953
Dear Cousins,
Just a line to wish you and all your family and all Australian cousins a happy and prosperous new year. I received your card of laughing Jacks during the weeks before Christmas and by the way, do you eat them? As some people eat birds in England such as partridges and pheasants.
I expect you are having summer time in Australia while here with us it is the wintry season though we have been having a lot of fog and just now it is rather mild for the season and there is a lot of illness about and four people were buried in our chapel yard in three weeks two of them in one day both of them superintendents of our Sunday School.
The above was written a few days ago and the pen ran dry so I had to wait to get a fresh one and now 3 more persons died in one night at West Row. We have had very bad colds but they are better at present thank God.
I was going to write some weeks ago and send by ordinary mail, but I will send this by air mail hoping you will receive it all right.
Now I will tell you what I heard my father say about his Uncle Malan but he could not have known him as he was not born until 1846 but being the youngest of Thomas Rumbelow's family he may have heard his father or elder brothers talk about him.
He said his Uncle Malan had only one eye and could see and tell the time by the Mildenhall church clock better than other people could with two eyes.
He told me about a gardener in West Row (whom I will call Mr. E) who had a job of planting to do for a farmer some miles away and he took 2 men with him to help him and when the farmer went to him on the land he said " I'm sorry Mr. E. to see you have only one eye", and Mr. E. replied, " my men here are just the same, they only have one eye where we come from", and when the farmer saw the 3 men with "one eye" only each he did not know what to say and one of them was Malan Rumbelow who went afterwards to Australia.
My son Malan Victor has 2 sons in the R.A.F. and one has got his wings and is a Pilot in the R.A.F. The other son is a radio mechanic in the R.A.F. He also has a daughter working in a canteen at the aerodrome here for the Americans. My other son Walter has a son who has just served his time in the R.A.F. and now is home again to work as a carpenter which was the work he was doing before he was called up.
I do not know whether any of our other relatives are writing to you or not though I gave them your address but I am writing this time as you may like to receive a line from England sometimes as we like to hear from Australia sometimes.
Yrs. etc.
Walter Rumbelow
St Mary's Church Mildenhall, Suffolk
St Mary's Church Mildenhall, Suffolk
St Mary's Church is a 14th century Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Mildenhall, Suffolk.
The St Mary's Church dominates its surrounding settlement as the largest church in Suffolk, almost 60m long and 20m wide, with a tower 40m high. It is a church of superlatives; the 14th century west window is considered one of England's best, the roof the finest in East Anglia.
Rumbelow Marriages in St Mary's Parish Church (1690-1837)
Rumbelow Marriages in St Mary's Parish Church (1690-1837)
29 Apr 1703 John ROMBELOW & Mary *
13 Jun 1717 Robert RUMBELOW & Mary FULLER
02 Nov 1731 William STOAKS & Mary RUMBELOW
16 Nov 1740 Philip RUMBELOW & Judith JOHNSON
15 Oct 1765 Thomas HAYLOCK jnr & Judith RUMBELOW
12 Oct 1767 Robert GILBIRD & Mary RUMBERLOW
06 Apr 1773 Francis GILL & Elizabeth RUMBERLOW
12 Oct 1773 William DOW & Ann RUMBERLOW
24 Sep 1776 Samuel RUMBERLOW & Sarah NEALE
24 Oct 1786 Nathan RUMBELOW & Susan GATHERCOLE
13 Nov 1796 John RUMBELOW & Ann CLOVER
5 Nov 1797 Robert RUMBELOW & Sarah MALING
10 Nov 1807 John HOOD & Ann RUMBELOW
19 Dec 1809 John ROLFE & Ann RUMBELOW
5 May 1811 John RUMBELOW & Susan BROWN
13 May 1812 Robert KENT & Mary RUMBELOW
24 Mar 1816 James SUCKER & Susan RUMBELOW
13 Feb 1817 Nathan RUMBELOW & Sarah SHINGLES
19 Jun 1820 Mark LAST & Mary RUMBELOW
7 Dec 1821 John RUMBELOW & Margaret LEONARD
14 Apr 1822 Charles MACKENDER & Hannah RUMBELOW
21 Dec 1823 John HARVEY & Susan RUMBELOW
6 Dec 1824 John RUMBELOW & Anne TAYLOR
18 Nov 1825 John RUMBELOW & Keziah HORN
27 Dec 1825 Joseph RUMBELOW & Jane WOOLLEY
21 Nov 1828 Samuel RUMBELOW & Sarah PARSONS
5 Mar 1829 Joseph RUMBELOW & Alice TAYLOR
25 Feb 1831 John BRAHAN & Emily RUMBELOW
16 Jul 1831 Meaking (Malen) RUMBELOW & Alice PITCHES
Banns entry reads groom forename as Mealing
30 Nov 1832 Thomas RUMBELOW & Ann HINER
10 Jul 1834 James KING & Sarah RUMBELOW
West Row, Suffolk & Surounds
West Row, Suffolk & Surounds
West Row Abrey family, at Beck House, West Row
Left to right: Charles, George, Jesse, Absalom, Albert
Front row: Fanny, David, Caroline, Sarah Ann and Mary Elizabeth
John Rumbelow
John Rumbelow
John Rumbelow was born on 28 November 1847 in West Row, Mildenhall Suffolk. He was a cousin of Malen Rumbelow who would depart West Row for Australia in 1854.
The 1851 Census states John Rumbelow, at age 6 ,was living at Union House in Mildenhall Suffolk.
In 1870 John was 23 years of age when married Sarah Okey.
He was noted as Platelayer (railway labourer) on the birth certificate of one of his sons Tom.
In 1915 John was tragdically killed at age 68 by a train near Ely North Junction on the Great Eastern Railways.
West Row War Memorial
West Row War Memorial
Arthur Rumbelow
Arthur Rumbelow
Arthur Rumbelow was born in 1897 (Mildenhall Q3-1897 4A:834), son of Walter and Alice Kate Rumbelow (née Flatt) of West Row.
1901 census - Aged 3, he was at Youngman's Lane, West Row with his father Walter Rumbelow farm labourer; his mother Alice; brother Thomas, grandfather, widower, John Flatt farm labourer and his uncle Edward A Flatt farm labourer.
All were recorded as born in Mildenhall.
1911 census - Aged 13, a farm labourer, he was in West Row with his parents, brothers Malan Victor and Walter: sister Alice May ; grandfather John Flatt and uncle Edward Arthur Flatt. The new siblings were born in Mildenhall, brother Thomas had died in 1907.
Pelham George Rolfe
Pelham George Rolfe
Pelham George Rolfe was born in West Row , Suffolk UK on 6th March 1930, son of Frank Frederick and Doris Evelyn Rolfe (née Ford).
Pelham’s father was Frank Frederick Rolfe born 1899. His mother’s maiden name was Morley.
Pelham and Malen Rumbelow were 1st cousins 3 times removed.
He had joined 1124 Squadron (Mildenhall), Air Training Corps. Like many of the ATC cadets, he was keen on boxing.
On Saturday 17th March 1945 another West Row cadet, Ronnie Rolfe was competing in a boxing match at RAF Bircham Newton and several of the cadets went to watch him. They travelled in what they called the Pneumonia Truck,the ubiquitous RAF lorry with canvas sides and no heaters. It was a happy group that started for home after Ronnie had won that evening, but a low flying German raider, a Messerschmidt Me 110, strafed the lorry.
Pelham was found to be wounded and was taken to hospital in King's Lynn. His parents were able to visit him on the Sunday. His father had to leave to tend his animals, but his mother remained with him and was with him when he died on Monday.
Pelham was given a military funeral in front of 500 mourners, a guard of honour of his ATC squadron, his coffin being borne by other members of his squadron.
West Row Girl: A Pre-war Suffolk Childhood
Publisher: Una Ellen Jenkins, 2007
Decendants of John Rumbelow (b. 1691)
Decendants of John Rumbelow (b. 1691)
Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England
Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England
John Rumbelow (r.1691-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England u.1745) married Sarah (u.1758). John and Sarah were parents to Samuel.
Samuel Rumbelow married Mary Macer (r.1722-, Coveney, Cambridgeshire, England m. 1755), and were parents to 4 children.
Susanna Rumbelow (r.1752-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England)
Samuel Rumbelow (r.1756-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England u.1836)
Robert Rumbelow (r.1761-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England)
Mary Rumbelow (r.1764-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England)
Susanna married John Gilby (m. 1786) and were parents to 4 children.
Ann Gilby (b.1781-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England) married Edward Moule (m. 1802)
James Gilby (b.1782-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England)
Edward Gilby (b.1786-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England)
Michael Gilby (b.1789-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England) married Grace Bysouth (b.Abt 1800-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England m. 1821). They had 7 children.
Hannah Gilby (b.Abt 1822- Reed, Hertfordshire, England d.1902) married Samuel Bysouth (b.Abt 1813-, Enfield, Middlesex, England m. 1839)
George Gilby (b.Abt 1824- Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England d.1901) married Rebecca Fardle (b.Abt 1827-Therfield, Royston, Hertfordshire, England m. 1846 d.1897)
Ann Gilby (b.Abt 1827- Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England) married William Fardell (b.Abt 1825 m. 1851)
Edward Gilby (b.Abt 1830- Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England) married Ann Dellow (b.Abt 1831-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England m. 1851)
Mary Gilby (b.Abt 1833- Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England)
Hester Gilby (b.Abt 1836- Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England d.1919) married George Gilbey (b.Abt 1833- Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England)
William Gilby (b.Abt 1839 d.Aft 1861) married Sarah Jane Elliott (b.Abt 1837-Limehouse, Bromley, London, England m. 1858 d.Aft 1861)
Elizabeth Gilby (b.1793-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England) married William Smith (b.Abt 1785-Reed, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, England m. 1815)
Samuel Rumbelow (r.1756-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England u.1836) married Sarah Neale (r.1756-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1776 u.1829). They had a son Robert Rumbelow (r.1776-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1854).
Robert Rumbelow (r.1776-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1854)married Sarah Maling (r.1777-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1797 d.1846) and had 10 children.
Ann Rumbelow (r.1801-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England)
John Rumbelow (r.1802-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1878) married Margaret Leonard (b.Abt 1805 m. 1821 u.1824)
John then married Anne Taylor (b.Abt 1806-West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1824)
Mary Ann Rumbelow (r.1802-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1873) married Mark Last (r.1793-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1820 u.1836)
She then married William Stockings (b.Abt 1800-, Bildeston, Suffolk, England m. 1841 d.1867)
Joseph Rumbelow (r.1807-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1874) married Jane Woolley (b.1808-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1825 u.1827).
He then married Alice Taylor (b.Abt 1806 m. 1829 d.1845)
He then married Susan Slapp (b.Abt 1817-, Lyn Ford, Norfolk, England m. 1849)
Samuel Rumbelow (r.1807-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.Abt 1831/2) married Sarah Parsons (r.1809-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England m. 1828 d.1874)
Malen Rumbelow (b.1812-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1889) married Alice Pitches (r.1813-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1831 d.1890)
Thomas Rumbelow (b.1812-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1889) married Ann Hiner (b.Abt 1811-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1832 d.1893)
James Rumbelow (r.1814-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Elizabeth Rumbelow (r.1816-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1816)
Sarah Rumbelow (r.1816-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1816)
Samuel Rumbelow (b.1778-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England) married Lucy Pearpoint (m. 1799). They had 4 children.
Susan Rumbelow (r.1801-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England) married John Harvey (m. 1823)
Charlotte Rumbelow (r.1804-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Martha Rumbelow (r.1807-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Lydia Rumbelow (r.1809-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Mary Rumbelow (r.1781-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England) sp: Robert Kent (m. 1812)
Daniel Rumbelow (b.1782-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1783)
Elizabeth Rumbelow (r.1784-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Anne Rumbelow (r.1787-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1881) married John Rolfe (b.1790 m. 1809 d.1858). They had 8 children.
Robert Rolfe (b.1810-, West Row, Suffolk, England d.1859) married Sarah Ford (b.Abt 1807-, , London, England m. 1829)
Richard Rolfe (b.1812-, West Row, Suffolk, England)
Sarah Rolfe (b.1815-, West Row, Suffolk, England)
Naomi Rolfe (b.1819-, West Row, Suffolk, England d.1885) married Thomas Clarke Jnr (b.Abt 1819-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1841)
John Rolfe (b.1822-, West Row, Suffolk, England d.1910) married Sarah (b.Abt 1828-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Lewis Rolfe (b.1824-, West Row, Suffolk, England d.1875) married Charlotte Wade (b.1816-, Lawshall, Suffolk, England m. 1843)
Ann Rolfe (b.1827-, West Row, Suffolk, England) married John Phillips (m. 1844)
Samuel Rolfe (b.1832-, West Row, Suffolk, England d.1909) married Sophia Peachey (r.1834-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1856)
John Rumbelow (r.1791-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1847) married Susan Brown (b.Abt 1792-, Thetford, Norfolk, England m. 1811 u.1865). They had 8 children,
James Rumbelow (b.Abt 1812 d.1814)
James Rumbelow (r.1817-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Charlotte Rumbelow (r.1818-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1871) married Joseph Parsons (r.1801-, Isleham, Cambridgeshire, England m. 1840 d.Bef 1871)
Sarah Mary Rumbelow (b.1823-West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England) married Robert Taylor (b.1826-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1845)
Richard Rumbelow (b.Abt 1825-West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1904) married Mary Ann Reynolds (b.Abt 1828-, Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, England m. 1847 d.1916)
Samuel Rumbelow (r.1826-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Rebecca Rumbelow (b.Abt 1831-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1886) married Jacob Hicks (b.Abt 1830-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1852 d.1893)
Eliza Rumbelow (b.Abt 1834-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.1907) married James Bowden (b.Abt 1830-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England m. 1853 d.1924)
James Rumbelow (r.1794-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Susannah Rumbelow (r.1799-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England) married James Secker (m. 1816) and had 8 children.
Henry Secker (r.1816-St Mary's, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England)
Susan Secker (b.1818 u.1829)
Phoebe Secker (r.1820-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1829)
Rebecca Secker (r.1823-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1829)
James Secker (r.1825-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England d.Bef 1836)
Elizabeth Secker (r.1827-, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England u.1839)
James Secker (r.1836-, Brandon, Suffolk, England)
Elvis Secker (r.1836-, Brandon, Suffolk, England)
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