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Parson Drove data

History of Parsons Drove

For a vivid picture of life in Parsons Drove, see Edward Storey, The Winter Fens, pub 1993, in which he interviews Rev John Seaman.

In Chapter 6 of the same book, Edward Strorey interviews the writerPolly Howat. He refers to her account of Sue Wiseman, ‘Happy Sue’ or ‘Holy Sue’.

1911 census:

Susannah Wiseman, 86, widow, infirm, b Terrington St John

Susan Elizabeth Wiseman, daughter, 48, b Parson Drove Wisbech

She claimed that she had once touched Jesus and therefore kept her had wrapped in a red flannel. Local people recalled that she would put a curse on anyone who displeased her. She had once had a child whom she named Jesus but was taken away from her. She died in 1936 and was buried in a pauper’s grave in Parson Grove (Southea) churchyard, Parson Drove.

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