Penn Common, Soham

History of Penn Common

Soham OS 1901

Robert Horsley, Sen., The Soham Centenarian was published by his grandson, Arthur Bullman, in 1895. It is a short biography of 16 pages.

Robert’s dates are given as born Soham July 31st 1792, died Soham January 9th 1895.

His place of birth is given as Penn Common, in close proximity to the water mills. At the end of his life the 1891 census places him at Ebenezer Cottage, Waterside which is next to Mill House and near The Penn. So it is reasonable to assume that Robert lived and died in the vicinity of the area shown in the map above.

According to the biography the family moved about three miles to the north west when Robert was very young to an area called Soham Mere. At nine years of age he was working for a wage of half-a-peck of potatoes. At times he was given cow-cabbage instead and bread was generally made of barley, not wheat. He survived numerous accidents at work.

1817 Robert Horsley married Elizabeth Langham

In 1841 Robert Horsley, is living at Mere Mills with his wife Elizabeth née Langham and four children, John, 20, Phebe, 15, James, 13, William, 8.

1850 Elizabeth, Robert’s wife died at age of 58. (source The Soham Centenarian)

In 1851 Robert Horsley is at Broad Piece, a widower, aged 56, described as an engineer. He is living with his James, son, 21, William, son, 18,  John Bullman, son in law, 22, shoemaker, Phoebe Bullman, daughter [in law], 24, Benjamin Horsley, grandson, 4, Elizabeth Horsley, grand daughter, 1. [This information differs from an alternative location for a Robert Horsley in 1851 at Qua Common, Soham, which can be found on line]

In 1861 Robert Horsley, b c1793, was living at Mere Mills with his wife Elizabeth née Flutt, b c1803.

1870 Robert made his first to London according to his autobiography.

In 1871 Robert Horsley was living at Mere Mills Cottages, Soham, with his wife, Elizabeth.

The biography says that Robert worked for the same master, W Slack, for 74 years. After this Robert retired and in 1875 took up residence in the town, living with his daughter.

In 1881 Robert Horsley was at the George and Dragon, High Street in Soham.

1891 Ebenezer Cottage

Phebe Bullman, widow, 64, b Soham

Rosa, daughter, 24, b Soham

Robert Horsley, father, 98, b Soham

Fred Horsley, brother, 72, blacksmith, b Soham

Woolbard Barton, lodger, 20, miller,b Wicken

On his 100th birthday in 1892 he was visited by A Slack. The following day, August 1st 1892, he accompanied his grandson’s bridge to the altar. Photos were taken of the event by Scott and Wilkinson of Cambridge.

Robert Horsley was referred to in a speech by Joseph Chamberlain MP reported in the ‘Times’ of December 7th 1894.