The Rackham Family of Campsea Ashe Research by Sheila Holmes July 2014 Sheila Holmes
The Rackham Family The Rackham family have lived in East Suffolk for at least 7 generations. It seems that members of the Rackham family moved to Campsea Ashe around 1770 when Phillip Rackham, born 1757 and Elizabeth his wife, moved with their family to the village. The earliest ancestor found so far is Benjamin Rackham, born about 1625/30 who married Margery. Benjamin was probably born in South Elham. Suffolk. Both Benjamin and Margery died in 1710. Benjamin and Margery had five children. They were Benjamin born 1656, Alice born 1657, Thomas born 1662, Ann born 1664 and Robert born 1672. Robert Rackham, born 1672. Robert was the youngest son of Benjamin and Margery. He married Mary Camplin, born in 1672. They had at least five children. Thomas born 1699, Robert born1702 and died 1783, William born 1703 and Mary 1705 who died in 1740, Nathan, born 1708 and Jonathan, born 1713 but who died the same year. All the children were born in Great Glemham, Suffolk. Thomas born in 1699 married Mary Rush. They had a son, John born on 17 th May in 1733. He married Elizabeth Greenleaf on 10 th February 1755. They had five children. Thomas died in April 1807 in Campsea Ashe. Robert Rackham, born 1702 Robert was the second son of Robert and Mary. He married Ann Stimpson, born 1703 in Swelfing, Suffolk. They married in 1728. They had five children at least. Their eldest child was Robert, born 1728 followed by Phillip their second son born 1729. Nathan was Robert and Ann s third child born 1730. Their fourth child was Ann born 1731 and their last child was possibly John, born 1736, who died in 1807 in Campsea Ashe. Robert died in 1783 and Ann died in 1758. Phillip Rackham born 1729 Phillip was born on 22 nd April 1729 in Swefling. He married Alice Peachie, born 1731, on 7 th June 1757. They had at least five children, one son and four daughters. Their first child was Phillip, their only son, born on 31 st July 1757. Frances Peachie, born on 15 th November 1759 was their first daughter. She died in 1829. Their second daughter was Alice born in Cratfield married Henry Burch and they had 9 children. Alice died in 1807 in Tunstall. Phillip and Alice s fourth child was Ann, born 1769 and Mary was the last to be born in 1770. 2
Phillip Rackham, born 1757 Phillip, born in 1757 in Campsea Ashe and was baptised in Swefling on 31 st July the same year He married Elizabeth Garrod in 1785. They had at least eight children. Anne was their first child, born in 1786. John was their first son born 1787. He married Sophia Wayman in 1814. John died in 1864. Phillip and Elizabeth s second son was born in 1788. Elizabeth was born in 1790. Their fifth child was William, born 1793, died in 1810 in Campsea Ashe. Phillip and Elizabeth s next child was Jemima, born 1794(7) She married Peter Archer on 3 rd May 1816. They had eight children. Jemima died in 1844 in Campsea Ashe. Marianne was Phillip and Elizabeth s next child born 1798. She died in 1872. Robert was their last child, born 1802. Phillip and Elizabeth lived in Campsea Ashe and their children were born in the village. Phillip died on 22 nd October 1832 and was buried in Campsea Ashe churchyard. Elizabeth died in 1830 in Blaxhall. Phillip Rackham born 1788. Phillip was born in Campsea Ashe, son of Phillip and Elizabeth. Phillip married twice. He firstly married Ann Engledow on 22 nd September 1807 in Rendlesham. They had six children. They were Phillip, born 1808 but he died he same year. Elizabeth was their first daughter, born 1809. Jemima, Phillip and Ann s next child was born in 1811 and William, their next child followed a year later in 1812. Their next child was Phillip, born 1815. He died in 1828 aged 13 years. Mary Ann was Phillip and Ann s last child born 1818 but she also died the same year. Secondly, Phillip married Jemima Lanett on 21 st December 1831. They had one daughter, Emily, born 1832 and baptised in Campsea Ashe on 11 th May the same year Phillip died in 1864 in Campsea Ashe. Robert Rackham born 1802 Robert was the last child born to Phillip and Elizabeth nee Garrod. He was born on 29 th November 1802 in Campsea Ashe. Robert married twice. First he married Sarah Howard in 1824. They had at least two children, Cecilia born 1826 and John born 1831. Robert then married Frances Churchyard on 14 th October 1833. They had ten children. They were; 3
Frances, known as Fanny, born 1834 Robert was born 11 th June 1835 and was baptised on 12 th July 1835, Reason born 1837 in Campsea Ashe. He was baptised on 30 th April 1839. He married Laura Girling and they lived in Cransford. Reason was a farmer. They had six children. Reason died on 26 th March 1889. Probate was granted to Laura, widow. Personal effects - 405. 4s. 3d. Rufus born 1839 was baptised at Campsea Ashe on 21 st July 1839. He married Gertrude Robinson Elizabeth born 1841 Reuben born 1843, married Evelyn Bedsmore. Rowland born 1845 Mary Ann born 1847 Leah born 1849 Raymond born 1853 and died in 1886, aged 13 years. Robert was recorded as a farmer in 1844 in a trade directory. He was a tenant farmer of Ash Green Farm, Campsea Ashe. He was also Church Warden in 1843 and again in 1846 and 1847. Robert died in March 1886 in Orford. Frances died in 1894 aged 88 years. Reuben Rackham born 1843 Reuben was the son of Robert and Frances. He was born in Campsea Ashe in 1843. He was baptised on 28 th February the same year at Campsea Ashe Church. He lived with the family until at least 1871. He then moved to Wickham Market and was living with his sister Leah. They were both unmarried. In 1881, Reuben was recorded as a master miller and coal merchant. His sister was living with him, unmarried aged 34 and also a niece, Gertrude Rackham aged 9. They were living at Lime Tree Terrace, Wickham Market. By 1891, Reuben was aged 47 and still unmarried. His unmarried sister, Mary Ann was living with him as well as his widowed mother, Frances. In 1901, Reuben aged 57, was living with his wife, Evelyn aged 38. They had four children, Edward born 1893, Robert born 1895, Basil born 1897 and Frances born 1900. Reuben had married Evelyn Alice Bedsmore 4
She was 19 years his junior. In 1911, Reuben was aged 68 years and a miller and merchant. Evelyn, his wife was 47 years. They were living with their family in Wickham Market. Their children were Edward Reuben aged 18, Robert Thomas was 16 years, Frances Evelyn was aged 11 and Ruby Millicent aged 3. Reuben was a tenant farmer in 1909, (Lord Rendlesham the land owner) of 153 acres at Park Farm, Campsea Ashe. Rueben died on 25 th July 1924, aged 81 years. Probate was granted to Edward Reuben Rackham, manager of flour mills and Robert Thomas Rackham, miller. Personal effects, 11,583 2s. 5d. There are still a few mysteries regarding the Rackham family. Phillip Rackham, son of Robert and Ann appears to have two dates of birth if they were the same person. About 50% of family researchers on the Ancestry Web site suggest that Phillip was born in 1829 whilst the other 50% record that a Phillip Rackham was born in 1834. In the Burial Records for Campsea Ashe there is a record of a Hannah Rackham who was buried on 29 th September 1836 aged 78 years. This means that she was born in 1758. Who was she? Also a Mary Rackham who was buried on 14 th February 1797 aged 80 years. She was born in 1717. There is a record of the birth of a Catherine Rackham born 1832 in Campsea Ashe. Her parents were Robert and Elizabeth West. Who was she? 5