Robert married SHADDELOW, Anne Anne (daughter of SHARDELOW, Edward and Mary) was born on 13 Feb 1762 in Beighton, Norfolk, UK; was christened on 6 Jun 1762; was buried in 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Miscellaneous as specified: 1798-99, Hockering, Norfolk, UK; £16-2s due in Land Tax. Edward was the Occupier and Thos Day Esq the proprietor. [That's over £2,000 at 2021 purchasing power].
• Miscellaneous as specified: 25 Jan 1772, Hockering, Norfolk, UK; Duty paid for Apprentice Indenture. Edward, farmer was the Master; Gobbett Day was the Apprentice (not sure if his name begins with a G or other).
• Miscellaneous as specified: 1799, Hockering, Norfolk, UK; Paid Land Tax of £16-2s-0d. In 2021 values that's about £1851.

Edward married Mary. Mary was buried on 3 Feb 1779. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Some doubt whether the 5 Surlingham born children are part of the same family as the 3 Beighton born children. Did they move about 1757?
The dates make this entirely possible, there are no births that make pregnancies too close.

Surlingham to Beighton is a 15 mile drive these days but the Surlingham Ferry existed in the 18th century. The pub 'The Ferry' was opened in 1725, so assuming the Ferry was there in 1757 they could have made the 7 mile journey. At some stage at least the ferry was a 'horse ferry', so a cart and horse journey was feasible.

Notes:

Name:
Its possible that Thomas' parents were John and Sarah Pierson (or Pearson), P344 and P345. They lived and had children in Salhouse and their son John married Mary Smyth in nearby Little Plumstead. There is indeed a birth entry in Salhouse for Thomas son of John and Sary (abbreviation/alternative for Sarah) which is compelling. However, two factors detract from this a) in Shards Newsletter 48, Gerry Langford notes that John and Sarah had five children but only John survived. b) immediately after the birth entry record for Thomas there's one for the death of a Thomas 15 months after the birth (buried 11 May 1696); it doesn't mention his parents as infant deaths usually did.
A thorny mix of positive and negative factors leave us uncertain on this. Searching for an alternative Thomas that could fit the 1696 death record eg one born earlier in the area would be best way to resolve this. Also trying to work out what made Gerry think only John survived might help - Gerry worked mostly from source documents with not so much online.

Thomas married CLARKE, Elizabeth on 24 May 1720 in St Giles, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
See note against Thomas. Thomas' son Edward was definitely born to Thomas and Elizabeth but there may have been two such couples.