Graver Family
Graver Family
Census 1871 James Graver, born 1831, Brick Merchant, lived on Wroxham Road. Ann his wife, born 1833.
Census 1881 William Graver, born 1835 in Norwich, Blacksmith, lived on Wroxham Road. Esther his wife, born 1848 in Rackheath. Son – Arthur, born 1863 in Sprowston. Dau. Sarah, born 1865 in Sprowston. Dau. Rosa, born 1878 in Sprowston.
Census 1881 Walter Graver, born 1853 in Newton St. Faiths, Blacksmith, lived on Wroxham Road. Hellen his wife, born 1853 in Letheringsett, Dressmaker. Census 1891 Samuel Campling, born 1859, Butcher, lived on North Walsham Road. Emma his wife, born 1861. Amelia Graver, born 1827, mother in law, widow, Seamstress.
Census 1891 James & Ann Graver. Lived on Wroxham Road.
Census 1891 William Graver. Lived on Wroxham Road Esther Graver. Rosa Graver.
Census 1901 Arthur Graver, born 1863, Traction Engine Driver. Lived on Wroxham Road. Louisa his wife, born 1864 in Northrepps. Son ~ Arthur, born 1887. Dau. ~ Alice, born 1888. Son ~ Henry, born 1897.
Census 1901 James & Ann Graver. Lived ~ Graves Building, Sprowston Visitors Alfred Pointer, born 1888. Mary Pointer, born 1893.
Census 1901 William Graver, born 1835, Blacksmith & Iron founder. Lived on Wroxham Road. Esther, born 1848 in Rackheath Rosa Teawter, born 1878. Rose Teawter, born 1901. William Yellop, Brother in law, born1846.
Census 1911. William Graver, born 1835, Blacksmith. Lived on Wroxham Road. Esther, born 1847, William Yellop, born 1846, Charles Fowler, born 1879, Rosa Fowler, born 1878, Ivy Fowler, born 1901, Kingston Fowler, born 1902, Clifford Fowler, born, 1904, Stanley Fowler, born, 1905, Gerald Fowler, born 1909, Dora Fowler, born 1911.
Children of Rosa and Charles Fowler.
Rosa Graver married Charles S. Fowler
Charles Samuel Fowler, Corporal, Norfolk Regiment. WW1 Casualty.
Kingston Fowler Memories
I was born a “Swedenhore” in the year 1902, in a house on the main Wroxham Road, Sprowston, not far from the Blue Boar Public House. I was one of eight children and my father Charles Samuel Fowler, Corporal Norfolk Regiment, he was killed in the 1st World War. He was the son of Samuel and Mary Fowler of Trowse, Norfolk. He married Rosa Graver, daughter of William and Esther Graver of Sprowston. My mother was left with seven children, the eldest was 14 and the youngest a few months old, and we lived with my Grandfather and Grandmother. My Grandfather William Graver, owned the Village Blacksmiths shop, Carpenters shop, also the Agricultural Engineers Business.
I used to like going with my Grandfather, Threshing out in the field, when they went to the farm to “Trosh”, as they say in Norfolk. I used to ride on the Elevator at the back, of the Threshing machine. The men didn’t know I was there, until they arrived at the farm. On one occasion the men were sitting having their Dinner, and saw me, one of them said “Have you got any Whittles with ya boy”, and I said no, he said “Here you are, have a bit my cake then”. I expect I was going to get my dinner off a Swede from the field. My Grandfather, was a religious old man, he used to sing Hymns in his native tongue, one of his favourites was Onward Christian Soldiers, and he used to use his old Norfolk Breen when he sung, it used to go something like this;
“Christ the Royal master leads against the foe,
Forward into battle, see his banners go. “
He wasn't so religious on one occasion, when one of his men was trying to get a stubborn old Horse into a Tumbrel (Cart), that had been repaired, He said “Put a stick across him Bob, you won’t get him that way, you may as well fart agin the wind”. I told my Mother, I had heard Grandfather use a rude word, she said “Never mind don’t let me hear you use it”!
He lent his Traction Engines, to tow the farm wagons, full of children, to Sprowston Park, for their Sunday school treat.
William Graver my grandfather used to supply free of charge, a black painted plank of wood, to be nailed onto the window of a deceased house, which was the custom in those days. I remember seeing a funeral and the coffin being carried on a “bier” along the Wroxham Road and up Church Lane to the Parish Church. The bearers would occasionally stop for a rest, during this time the church bells would toll the person’s age, this was another of those old Sprowston customs. My Grandfather was one of the first people in Sprowston to own a motorcar, it was a `BENZ` which he had purchased from the vicar, and vicars were usually very rich in those days. I believe they had to pay road tax on four wheeled cars, so grandfather converted the vehicle to a three wheeler, he was an engineer so this was not too much of a problem for him, as they say `he had the tools for the job`.
Graver`s Steam engine pulls seven carts on a Sunday School Treat.
Kingston Fowler`s map of Sprowston (Part)
William Graver standing next to his Steam Engine, near the big wheel, situated on Wroxham Road, at the time of this photograph was but a small cart track.
The first car to be owned by a Sprowston resident.
