James Shinkfield was born on Tuesday 8 March 1808 in Sheringham, Norfolk the son of Matthew Shinkfield and Diana Dyball, both from Sheringham, Norfolk. James was baptised in the Parish Church of Sheringham in Norfolk on Friday 18 March 1808 [1]. James was the youngest of twelve siblings (see family tree, below).

James Shinkfield (1808-1854)

James Shinkfield's Immediate Family

Not much is known of James early life, but it may be assumed that he was raised in his birthplace of Sheringham, located on the north coast of Norfolk, four miles from Cromer. The parish of Sheringham historically comprised the villages of Upper Sheringham, a farming community, and Lower Sheringham, a mainly fishing community. Sometime in his early twenties, James traveled to London and would have made the journey either via horse drawn stagecoach, which would have taken two days or on foot, which would have taken about three-to-four days.

On Saturday 30 October 1830 James Shinkfield, a batchelor aged 22, married Elizabeth Wright, a spinster aged 21 from Littlebury, Essex at the church of St Leonards, Shoreditch [2]. It is noted that both James and his wife Elizabeth were able to sign their names in the register. The witnesses were William Robert Peacock, Mary Peacock and George Yarrow, but their relationship to the bride and groom is not known.

The baptism of James and Elizabeth's only child, Caroline, took place in 1838 when Caroline was six years old [3]. At this time the family were living in Labour-in-Vain Court, which was located in the City of London, a turning off Upper Thames Street just west of Southwark Bridge. Three years later, the 1841 census [4] shows James living at no 13 Labour-in-Vain Court with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Caroline. Also living with them are Mary and Thomas Wilkins, later to become Caroline's in-laws, when she was to marry their brother, Joseph.

James Shinkfield was given the honour of the Freedom of the City of London on 18 April 1850. A transcript of the order from the Lord Mayor of London, Thomas Francombe, is shown below.

James Shinkfield, Freedom of City of London

James Shinkfield's Freedom of the City of London

The 1851 census [5] for London City shows James living with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Caroline and her husband Joseph Wilkins at the 19 Upper Thames Street, the White Lion public house for which James is listed as the licensee. Two other members of Caroline's husband's family were also living at the White Lion pub. A photograph of the White Lion pub is available here White Lion, 19 Upper Thames Street.

Sometime around 1853, the Shinkfield family moved from the White Lion public house at 19 Upper Thames Street to the Grapes Coffee shop at 206 Upper Thames street, a distance of around three-hundred metres. James wife, Elizabeth was listed as the licencee of the Grapes, whilst James was employed as a corn / flour porter in Millwall.

On Wednesday 17 May 1854, James Shinkfield died from a the effects of a fall during an epilepric fit suffered at his home in Upper Thames Street. An inquest [6] was held the following day, Thursday 18 May 1854. Ironically the inquest was held at his home, the Grapes coffee shop, 206 Upper Thames Street, City of Lonon. The death certificate [7] indicates the cause of death as 'accidental suffocation by falling in his face whilst having a fit'.

Notes and Abbreviations:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854
  8.  'J Shinkfield' stands for 'James Shinkfield'

Notes and Abbreviations:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854
  8.  'Jas' stands for 'James'

Notes:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854

Notes:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854

Notes:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854

Notes:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854

Notes:

  1.  Baptism Register for Sheringham, Norfolk 1808
  2.  Marriage Register for St Leonards, Shoreditch, 1830
  3.  Baptism Register for St Mary Mounthaw, Caroline Shinkfield, 1838
  4.  National Archives, 1841 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/722/10 f8 p8
  5.  National Archives, 1851 Census for England and Wales, Ref. HO107/1528 f172r
  6.  City of London Coroners Inquest Report, James Shinkfield 1854
  7.  GRO, Death Certificate James Shinkfield, 1854
 

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