Travel Diaries and Journals

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1874

==Fifty years since or My Rough Log==

My grandfather was the oldest of three sons, Robert, William + George and at their father's death the farm with everything on it was sold off and the proceeds divided amongst the children. From my Father's recollections.

Robert Suggate, of Sotherton, a country parish towards Halesworth, Suffolk, was my grandfather, a fine, hale, hearty and genial old man, famous in my boyhood's judgement for tales of flood and field, and in those days best of all, an old leathern purse out of which he has given me many a silver piece of money, a snug corner for grandfather by the fire was always kept by us youngsters whenever he visited us. My ancestors were chiefly yeomen farmers in that part of Suffolk towards Stowmarket, and in many a quiet churchyard thereabouts. Where-

"The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

-May be seen the name on the tombstones. The name is not unknown on the muster-roll of sailors and soldiers, in bygone times, but also unknown to fame. A real hard old Saxon one it is. The origin of no consequence, but without doubt was here when the conqueror came. The origin of surnames has of course

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many sources, and has sometimes an antiquarian and historical importance, and it is very natural, that it might partake of the same hereditary character as had been annexed to the office, or lands, with which it has been associated; as Suggate might possibly come from Surrogate Latin (Surrogatus), one substituted or appointed in room of another, a deputy.

My Grandfather had two sons only, my father William the eldest, and my uncle Henry [illegible?]. My father followed the business of farming, and my uncle the profession of medicine, and after the usual and necessary course of instruction in the hospitals of London, was appointed assistant surgeon on board the old Asia man of war, at that time a vessel of some renown.

Mr. Robert Suggate.

My father purchased a little farm in the parish of Carlton Colvile, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, and I was born in 1806, and as soon as I was big enough my occupation was fetching the cows home from their grazing grounds for milking, and driving back to the same, also keeping designing pigs in authorized bounds. Eight youngsters of whom I was the eldest, left our good parents, after finding food and raiment for us, but little money to spare for our schooling, nevertheless Whenever I could be spared from the duties of the farm, I was sent either to a school