On 26th December 1781, four sons of John and Elizabeth Doyley were drowned in Barton Broad along with three others from Barton Turf and three from Neatishead. The Doyley brothers were John aged 23, Robert 20, William 16 and James 10. The others from Barton Turf were Daniel Gunner, Daniel Lubbock and James Dawson. Those from Neatishead were John Eglingham, Solomon Lacey and John Whitfield.
A memorial on the east wall of the south porch of Barton Turf Church records the event and includes the following verse:
Weep not for us tis all in vain
For your loss is our eternal gain
We sleep in dust free from pain
Till Christ shall raise us up again
Weep for your Sins & them refrain
Than we shall meet in Heav’n again
Doyley Memorial
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The drowning was reported in newspapers at the time.
The Norfolk Chronicle & Gazette for 29th December 1781 is understood to have reported: “On Wednesday afternoon as ten men, who had engaged on work on the fortifications at Yarmouth, was passing over the Broad at Barton Turf, on their way to that place, by some accident the boat over-set, and they all perished.”
The Norfolk Chronicle & Gazette for 5th January 1782 is believed to have stated: “We hear that the bodies of the ten young men who were drowned in crossing the Broad at Barton Turf, as mentioned in last week’s paper, are found - four of them are said to be brothers.”