Mary Ann Bullock

Born 1828, died 1905
Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, 1878-1879
Researched by Dauna Coppin

According to most census records, Mary Ann was born around 1830. It is not certain where she was born although, as her father’s name was given as Thomas Palmer on the marriage record, and she was a spinster of the parish of Wood Norton, we can trace that her probable baptism was 3rd February 1828 in St John de Sepulchre parish of Norwich and her mother’s name was Diana (or Dinah).

In 1841, Mary Ann’s parents and her six siblings were living at The Brust, Wood Norton, Aylsham. According to the census, Mary Ann was not at home at this time and her whereabouts cannot be certain.

By her early 20’s, in 1851, Mary Ann was a visitor in the Bullock household, living with her future husband’s family at Street, Hockering, in the Mitford District. On 1st June 1851, Mary Ann married labourer, Robert Bullock in Wood Norton and Swanton Novers. They had two sons, William and Robert.

However, her husband appears to have deserted her and by 1861, Mary Ann and her children were classed as paupers, living in the Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse in Gressnehall. 

Life had changed significantly for Mary Ann, a few years later. In June Quarter 1871, then aged 40,  she gave birth to a daughter, Blanche Daughty Bullock. She was also working as a housekeeper for 60-year-old widower, William Doughty, a plumber, painter and glazier, living at Booton Road, Reepham, in the Aylsham district of Norfolk.

When Blanche was 7 years old, Mary Ann applied for work as a nurse at the Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, where she had previously been a pauper inmate. On 26th August 1878, the Minutes of the Guardians recorded: “Mrs Mary Ann Bullock a widow attended before the Guardians and agreed to accept the office of Nurse at the Workhouse upon the same terms as her predecessor and to enter upon her duties on the 9th September next subject to the approval of the Local Government Board”

By this time, she called herself a widow. It is stated on her appointment form, that she: “Has been married…Husband deserted her more than 20 years and she does not know if he is alive or dead” On the back of the Appointment Form, on 24th September, the Poor Law inspector had written some notes regarding the appointment  “Mrs Bullock appears to have had no experience of nursing, but the cases in the Mitford and Launditch Workhouse are as far as my experience goes chiefly chronic and rarely acute. Sanction and ask for a report in six months.”

However, various correspondence in April 1879 between the Clerk and the Board appears to show that, despite a favourable report, Mary Ann Bullock had resigned her position of nurse with a reason given as “feeling unequal to duties”.

Mary Ann married for a second time in the March Quarter of 1880 to widower William Flood, an agricultural labourer, in Mitford. They lived in the Street, Hockering, Sadly, for Mary Ann, her marriage was to be short lived as William, died aged 52, just after the census was taken in 1881. Thus, in 1891, Mary Ann was a 63-year-old widowed pauper, living alone at Norwich Road, Hockering.

In 1901, Mary Ann was, once again, living as an inmate of the Workhouse. Her occupation was listed as ‘wife of William, Inmate of Workhouse’. Mary died in the June Quarter of 1905 and was buried on 9th June 1905 in Hockering. Her residence was given as Gressenhall, formerly of Hockering.