A Short Biography of Edward Boys Ellman
Born 1815 at Firle, died 1906 at Berwick; Father John Ellman the younger, Mother Catherine Boys
Boys Ellman’s father and grandfather were Deputy Lieutenants of the County, both farmers
overseeing their Home Farm in Firle, and two others at Beddingham and Ripe. His father, ‘John the
younger’ had political leanings, spending much time in London; counting amongst his many
influential friends the Duke of Richmond, Lord John Russell, Duke of Bedford, Duke of Sussex,
Duke or Cambridge, Lord Hampden and Lord Chichester.
In the preface to his book ‘Recollections of a Sussex Parson’ Edward writes:
Having been repeatedly asked to put on record anecdotes that I have heard in my earlier days, or
facts of which I have myself been witness, I have attempted to make a beginning, and in so doing
hope that I may be preserved from showing any unkind feeling. Having at no period in my life
mixed much in society, and having been more of a listener than a talker when I have been with
others, what I have heard and seen has made a more lasting impression on me.
The following short biography is taken from his book, and are the words of Edward and his
Daughter Maude Walker.
To Begin
Schoolwork and study did not come easily to young Edward, and he was frequently beaten for
being a poor scholar; at ten years of age he was generally studying until 10.00pm or 11.00 pm,
restarting at 4.00 a.m. His father who was a brilliant scholar regarding him as a very dull and stupid
boy. Aged thirteen having been confirmed at St. Anne’s Lewes, he was sent to boarding school in
Guernsey, where thanks to the headmaster Mr. Proctor he was able to study and learn without
being beaten, although still frequently bottom of the class. Eventually he progressed to Oxford,
where he studied diligently and obtained a first class degree in mathematics. Some sage advice
from Edward: During the three years I was at Guernsey, I was each year awarded the fifth form
prise for good conduct, but I always remained at the bottom of my class. Competition certainly did
not answer in my case, and it was only when I was released from working in class, and allowed to
go at my own pace that I got on. I leave record of this account of my school days as a warning
against making mistakes in the instruction of children. Over and over again I have gone over their
lessons with boys in my own class and helped them to prepare – often giving them information
which enabled them to keep above me – but I never could bring out in time what I knew when an
answer was required .
On Confirmation
When I was confirmed, in 1829, the Confirmation service was held in St. Anne’s Church Lewes.
And on that occasion, some of the confirmees were brought all the way from Seaford in wagons –
a distance of eleven or twelve miles, great boys and girls riding together, and all feasted before
they returned home. The day was looked upon by most of the young people as a regular outing,
the greater part being spent on the road, going backwards and forwards. It is easy to imagine how
little they came prepared for the solemn rite.
At that period a bishop would frequently only repeat the prayer “Defend O Lord this Thy child,”
once for a whole railful, and then pass along the rail laying his hand on the head of each. Even in
much later years I have known incumbents to communicate a whole railful with one repetition only
to each railful. Needless to say they were very careless churchmen.
Ordination
In February 1833, my father wrote telling me that Mr Hutchinson, an old friend, the Vicar of Firle,
and Bishop’s Chaplain, had persuaded him to purchase the advowson of Berwick with a view to my
eventually settling there. When his letter came I was very sorry. Strange to relate, up to that time I
had not only never seen Berwick, but had hardly realised the fact that there was a village near. It
had always been my desire and intention to be a Naval Chaplain and Instructor (the two of them
went together in those days), and this desire had encouraged me in the study of mathematics, and
in my leisure time of navigation.
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Soon after I returned to Glynde, I took “Old Hoper” (his horse) and rode over to Berwick. It was a
most beautiful day in summer, and the quiet peacefulness of the village, so retired amongst the
trees, pleased me much. I tied up “Old Hoper” outside the rectory gate, got the church key, and
looked over the church. It was in a very tumble-down state. One aisle had been pulled down years
before, the roof almost touched the ground, and the high pews had been added to and heightened
till few people could see over the tops.
On Sunday September 23rd 1837 he was ordained, and on Sunday 30th September writes: I rode
over to Berwick and took the prayers, and the former Curate preached his farewell sermon. In the
afternoon I took the whole service.
Marriage to Georgina
On December 6th 1853, Edward Boys Ellman and Georgina Frances Plummer became man and
wife. During the first year of their marriage they built the school and schoolhouse. The site had
been given and the parishioners helped with the labour and gave what little money they could
afford, the most money being found by Edward and Georgina. In summer 1854 the school was
finished and opened free of debt, and they began saving for the church.
The east chancel wall had at some time been moved inwards, shortening the chancel by several
feet: the spire had been burnt down by lightening a hundred years before; the tower damaged; the
north aisle had been entirely pulled down in the eighteenth century as it was then in a tumbledown state as were the walls; the roof was literally a rabbit-warren and rotten; the earth came up
nearly to the windows in the south aisle; the east window had been blocked up; the flooring was
rotten, and altogether the church was in a shocking state.
He again asked the parishioners to help with the restoration, calling a meeting and explaining his
plan. He himself would build the vestry, rebuild the spire, practically rebuild the chancel and
beautify it, and would give various other things, besides subscribing to nave and roofs. His
proposal was that the villagers should voluntarily levy a rate for two years upon every inhabitant, so
that all would help according to their means, he himself to be rated with the others.
The rate was cheerfully agreed to without a dissentient voice; and, moreover, was paid regularly by
church people and dissenters alike for two years. Of course, it did not raise nearly enough money,
but was a great help. We are told that a few offerings came from relations and friends, possibly
from the many influential contacts that his grandfather and father had forged during their lifetimes.
Georgina sold her jewels to buy a chalice and paten, and to have the ancient church plate re-gilt.
Together they designed and worked the carpet for the altar rails. On St. Thomas Day 1856 Church
services were once more held in the old church, now restored to its former beauty.
Anecdotes
With an excellent memory for a good yarn he relates a story told by his great Uncle George:
The firm of Enderby, South Sea Shipping Merchants, bought to England a New Zealand chief who
during his visit resided at their home. He, not unnaturally, excited great interest at evening parties.
In the course of conversation, a lady asked him whether he was married. The chief replied that he
had had several wives, but he had not one of them. This led to further enquires about the wives.
What had become of them? He replied that when he got tired of them he ate them. One gentleman
asked if he had ever eaten white people. He acknowledged that he had, but said he did not like
them as they were so salt. Soon afterwards the chief went back to New Zealand. Nothing was
heard of him for some time, but a year or two later it was revealed that the chief was dead, it was
recounted that; On the chiefs return to New Zealand he had told so many wonderful things about
England that he himself had been eaten as an inveterate liar!
Edward and Georgina were the perfect team, she attending to the practical needs of his flock and
he the spiritual; she was tireless in her care of the sick and was an excellent nurse, with Edward
often acting as physician, doctors being beyond the means of many villagers. Edward firmly
believed that a house-going parson makes a church-going people, and he worked tirelessly to
encourage his flock to attend their church.
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Georgina meanwhile watched over Edward and tried to protect him from over-work, often to the
detriment of her own health. In 1895 Georgina was struck down for the second time with
inflammation of the lungs, she recovered but remained feeble. Eighteen months later a message
came from a dying woman entreating her presence. It was a wet evening but she went
nevertheless, caught a chill, inflammation of the lungs set in for the third time, and that day week
she died. This tragedy was a severe blow for Edward, and his health started to deteriorate from
then on, however he was still diligent in his duties and never missed a service
Farewell to Georgina
A speech from the pulpit by Edward Elman at age 81 on Advent Sunday two weeks after her death:
“You may naturally perhaps think that I am going to speak of her whom it has pleased the Lord so
recently to have removed from among us. I have lost a true and loving helpmeet. You all have lost
a true and loving friend, who was ever ready to help in affliction, and to comfort in distress, who,
like Dorcas, employed her time in making clothes for the poor, who like our blessed Lord Himself
went about doing good. I cannot trust myself to say more. Let it be our earnest endeavour to follow
her as she ever humbly followed our blessed Lord. Let us trust in Him as she ever trusted. Let us
live, and watch and pray that whenever the call comes we may be found ready”
Final Farewell Edward
On Edward by Maude Walker (his daughter)
His was a very gradual decline. Each summer he seemed better, but fell back again when winter
came, and after every attack of illness he seemed a little weaker. Then in 1906 came the last few
months. He was 90 on September 7th, and was much pleased with the heaps of flowers that kept
arriving all the morning until the room he was sitting in seemed nearly full of them. He inspected
the bunches with great interest, picking out some for the altar and sending some to the churchyard.
A week or two later he managed for the last time to go round the church and visit his wife’s grave,
but after that the church door was the farthest walk, and that achieved by leaning heavily on an
arm, and with the aid of his long staff, he would painfully and slowly go up the churchyard steps or
sit in the garden.
The lovely old Rectory garden, full of old trees, was a never ending delight to him. He had planned
the boarders and planted the shrubbery to give the idea of space and of entering a wood. When
too tired and feeble to move about, he loved to sit and gaze, watching the birds, with dog and cat
sitting close beside him. Sometimes he would have a visit from the old ponies, who that autumn
often managed to undo their field gate, and getting into the garden, would seek him out, going
away quite contented when he had patted and spoken to them.
At the end of February, just before Lent as Edward himself had predicted, he drew his last breath;
at 10.30 am the doctor arriving said he had just gone.
And so his gentle loving spirit returned to the God who gave it. Doubtless he heard the summons
for which he had been longing for years; he had with patience waited for it, and when the call came
for which he was ready and waiting, gladly answered, “Ready Now”! In his last fully conscious
moment ere he passed into the Valley of the Shadow of Death. And so he fell asleep.
A former parishioner wrote, on hearing of his death: “Dear Mr. Ellman – what will people do without
him! How well I remember, if one of us missed being at church, the next morning early we would
hear his quick firm footstep coming up to the door, and as the door was opened, hear, ‘I came to
see why so and so was not I church.”
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