James Skerry was baptised in May 1848 in West Bilney, and was one of at least seven children of farm labourer Humphrey Skerry (born in Grimston) and Mary (nee Eagle).
The family can be found in 1851 and 1861 living at Lodge Road Cottage, West Bilney.
By 1867 James had moved from West Bilney to Pentney as this was the year he married Mary Ann Dye.
In 1871 James aged 22 and Mary Ann aged 20 are living in Grays Buildings in Pentney along with their one year old son Charles and Mary Ann’s widowed mother, Rebecca Dye.
In 1881, still in Pentney, the family have grown with children Charles, Louise, Arthur and Ethel. James gives his occupation as agricultural labourer.
By 1891 James is a widower with two more mouths to feed – son William and daughter Dora aged 4. James’ wife Mary Ann had died the previous year aged 39 and is buried in Pentney churchyard.
In 1901, aged 52, James gives his occupation as machine minder at the bone mill. This is an interesting fact as it was believed the Bone Mill had stopped production not long after 1884 so it seems it continued for longer than originally thought. James’ daughter Ethel is living with him as his housekeeper at Gray’s cottages.
By 1911 the household consists of James plus daughter Ethel and her husband of two years, James Herbert Bland (born Gayton, known as Jack). The couple who had married at the end of 1908 have a one year old son Leslie. The two men are working as farm labourers. Jack Bland gave the original photo of the bone mill to David Turner for us to display and remembers collecting bricks from the mill after it was dismantled.
The 1921 census finds James Skerry still living in Pentney and still in the same cottage. He still lists his occupation as a labourer and his employer is a Miss Howlett but says he is out of work.
There is a separate listing on the 1921 census for his daughter Ethel and husband James Bland. They are in Pentney and now have three children – Leslie, Marjorie and Eric. James is working as a corn porter at the Maltings, his employer is Vynne and Everett.
In 1923 James Skerry and two friends are travelling in a horse and cart and are involved in an accident with a speeding car, where James is thrown out of the cart. He obviously was made of a strong constitution as he went on to celebrate his 86th birthday in 1932. He even gets a mention and his photo in the Lynn Advertiser where it mentions that he has lived in the same house for 68 years and can still ride a bike!
James Skerry died in 1936 at the Infirmary at Gayton and his funeral was very well attended at Pentney Church. See newspaper clipping.
In 1939 Ethel and James Bland are living in West Cottage, Pentney. Their son Eric is living with them working as a Bricklayer’s labourer.
Ethel passed away in 1962 and is buried in Pentney churchyard, husband James Bland died aged 94 in 1980.
Bone Mill Employees Bone Grinding & Boiling The Maltings
