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There are no burial records for my third greatgrandparents John Nessling and Elizabeth Nessling. Both died in June 1881 in Hadleigh Hamlet Boxford Suffolk. I believe they are buried in what is now a back garden of a 5 bed house in Swan Street Boxford which was formally a Reformed church up until the fifties/sixties. I am hoping the local historian will get back to me. In the meantime does anyone know of the place I am on about?

I know exactly where you mean as I lived in the area for many years. I think that, when the redundant church was turned into a home, the owners had to grant access to the gravestones when required. I think the house has changed hands a couple of times since then and I don't know if that still applies.

You could try contacting The Boxford Society to see if they can give you any information. Let me know if you want to do that and I will pm you a name and phone number.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SUFFOLK/2006-01/1138490952

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-57573755.html

Looking at the satellite image of the house on Google Streetview, the gravestones are clearly visible in the field / garden beside the house.

Heading north-west along Swan Street, it's on the left, shortly before you come to the junction with Daking Avenue.

You did better than me ArgyllGran. I could not get that Rootsweb address to copy over.

Reginald, what evidence have you got that your ancestors were buried at the Congregational Church as it was then, as you say there are no burial records?

(references look to be below)

Chris :)

Deaths Jun 1881 (>99%)
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NESTLING John 89 Cosford 4a 321


Deaths Jun 1881 (>99%)
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NESTLING Elizabeth 74 Cosford 4a 322

There are no official burial records for them. I was down at the records office in Bury St Edmunds. I know their son Benjamin was buried in the baptist church in Laxfield. John and Elizabeth lived in Ellis Street in Hadleigh Hamlet. John was a gardener. I emailed the local Vicar who was unable to help but passed my message onto the local historian a Tina Flood I think it was. Still waiting to hear. Also emailed that Patricia Bridges via that roots web. While down there visiting i went into the local coffee shop and the woman who served me sister now owns the house! gave her my email but no news there either so not sure if you can still access graveyard. Reformed church headquarters could not help me.

Vera if you could contact the Boxford Society that would be grand. Got the latest issue of the Box River News from the coffee shop. Its quite a busy little village. Will go there again when im next down on hols from the north of Scotland

Hi Reginald
The person from the Boxford Society that I would have suggested contacting is Tina Loose and it sounds as though the vicar has already passed the information on to her. Hopefully you'll hear from her soon but I know she is a very busy lady, involved in all sorts of things locally.

Just for your general interest, the coffee shop you mention was the local newsagent until 3 or 4 years ago when the owner died. You can also look at the Box River News online if you are interested in the area.

Why not just go to the house and ask, next time you are there?

Or write to the Occupier (by name if you know it, of course,) and ask what names are on the remaining stones.

Another thing you could try is sending a letter for publication in The Box River News, explaining what information you are looking for. The newsletter is delivered to every house in the five parishes that make up the Box River Benefice. Perhaps the current owner of the converted church will see it and respond. If you want to get something in the August edition you need to email it to the editor before noon on 15th July. His email address is [email protected].

It was a shame I didnt spot the access when I was down. Will email the Box River News. Cheers everyone