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Note: Following is an extract of a letter ( supplied by J.Watts)from a katherine Bardwell of Lowestoft to the Curate at Hastings 1969/72. K.B.wrote "William Breach was in Lowestoft between 1851/58 bringing 3 sailing smacks containing most of his furniture.His family came by railway. He settled in the town of Lowestoft as one of the towns successful fishmerchants and boat owners and was a very wealthy man before he died.His son John carried on where he left off in Business"
The Curate replied:"The 1841 census had William and Harriet living at G.George House 1.William's occupation was Mariner.Harriet was born out of County. In 1851 Harriet Breach was at 69 All Saints Street age 36 fishermans wife born Goudhurst, Kent. Her
sister Jane Hayward aged 23 a fishermans wife was born in Ninfield, Sussex and was obviously helping with the children. Harriet 15, Caroline 14, Frances Louisa 11, Elizabeth 9, William 7, Mark 6, Charles 4, Henry 3, James Joseph 16 days all born
Hastings."It was interesting to note that father William and children John 13 years old, Henry 6 years old and Jane 18 years old were all missing from the census in 1851."The 1854 Hastings business directory listed William Breach of 69 All saints
street as Fishmongers. Sometime between 1854 and 1861,(likely close after the death of his father in December 1854),William decided to uproot the family and business and move to Lowestoft. At the Lowestoft 1861 Census the family was at 20 Arnold street.
1861 Cornwall Online Census Project website http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/64491.html
records Merchant Shipping at Civil Parish of Plymouth
Folio 50 - Vessel (Pet) of Lowestoft,1,William Breach,Crew,M,47,,Master,Hastings Sussex,,25 ton lugger fishing
James Allen,Crew,M,22,,Mariner,Lowestoft Suffolk,,
John Read,Crew,U,30,,Mariner,Blunderstone Suffolk,,
James Barnard,Crew,M,23,,Mariner,Corton Suffolk,,
James Ashley,Crew,U,21,,Mariner,Stowmarket Suffolk,,
Robert Bush,Crew,U,20,,Mariner,Corton Suffolk,,
William (Jnr) Breach,Crew,U,17,,Mariner,Hastings Sussex,,
Alfred Day,Crew,U,16,,Boy,Lowestoft Suffolk,,
Steve Peaks' book Fishermen of hastings states "The Breaches were one of the most prominent fishing families in Hastings,owning several boats and having a major interest in fish wholesaleing.William's father, also called William, gave evidence to the
1833 Royal Commision and was one of four brothers involved in fish marketing and selling.Breach family folklore today states that the younger William took many of his possessions to Lowestoft in his boats, as well as the lugger "Sarah Ann" and his
seven sons were soon very active in emerging Lowestoft fishing indstry,as boat owners, skippers and merchants".
Roy Breach supplied photos of the old Breach family house In Lowestoft in May 2007 and wrote " I was recently in Lowestoft and took some photos of the family house 'The Shoals'. The house has been converted into two flats and looking a bit 'shabby'.The
entrance archway keystone has the Breach 'B' carved on it. I believe 'Hastings House' also had the same keystone and when Hastings House was demolished to build the Birds Eye factory a woman with the maiden name Breach asked for it. She apparently came
from the local village of Blundeston. Hastings House was built by William Breach (1813-1880) during the 1860s after his arrival in Lowestoft from Hastings. His son John built additions to the house; new kitchen, scullery, W.C.,coalhouse, bathroom and
two extra bedrooms in 1886. In 1911 he had built for his son John Victor, a new house called 'The Shoals'. This house was also on Whapload Rd to the north of 'Hastings House'. The Shoals faces the sea and the 'Denes' (an area where the fishing nets
were hung to dry"
William is buried at St.Margaret's at Lowestoft and a picture of his headstone also told of a second wife Caroline. the inscription reads "In loving rememberance of William Breach Fish Merchant the beloved husband of Harriet and Caroline Breach who
died 3rd Dec 1880 --- illegible text--- life we are ----.
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