Tidbits about the Corsellis / Harvey/ Firman families

From the notes of Nicholas Butler made in the 1980s

John Stewart

Book cover

Notes taken from the papers written by Nick Butler in the 1980s concerning the Corsellis / Harvey/ Firman family connections.

Captain Nicholas Caeser Corsellis R.N., the (VIth) 1763 -1833, elder son of the Revd Nicholas Corsellis, had eleven Illigimate children by his mistress, Sarah Plampin of Essex.  The eldest, Frances,1796-1874 (and probably pregnant), ran off with Henry Firman, aged 20, bailiff of Ballast Quay Farm – also owned by Captain Corsellis – and was struck out of her father’s will in disgrace.  She lived in the High Street and had two sons, one of whom became a grocer and a chemist in Wivenhoe, and the other became a doctor – probably aided by his Corsellis’ Uncles.

This doctor, Charles Firman, had a daughter, Annie Firman, who married George Henry Harvey of the Quay, Wivenhoe, son of George, a coalman and pilot, and cousin of John Martin Harvey.  George Henry Harvey also became a doctor and practised in Rowhedge and Abberton before moving to London.  His sons and grandsons were doctors.

The Harvey’s of Wivenhoe came originally from Normandy with William the Conqueror. For many years they occupied the estate of Riddles or Riddelts which had been in the possession of the Gibbered family.

Thomas Harvey had bought old Philip Sainty’s boat building yard after he was declared bankrupt and another yard at Ipswich, between 1850 and 1862.  His son John Harvey joined the firm in 1865.

John Martin Harvey was born in a house inside the shipyard, and not in Quay House as we are told.

This page was added on 19/12/2017.

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