The earliest record we have of an Edrich in the locality is of Henry Edrich who died in 1722 and was buried in Hoveton St John. His early descendants lived in Hoveton St John, Irstead and Neatishead as well as Barton Turf and later descendants are found in Blofield, Lingwood, Coltishall, other parts of Great Britain, India and Australia. They include the famous cricketing family.
Robert Edrich is shown in Barton Turf in a Norfolk Poll list for 1734 and he was appointed church warden in Barton Turf in 1755 and Henry Edrich, possibly Robert’s half-brother, became church warden in 1765, following Robert’s death in 1761. A transcript of Robert’s will can be viewed as a PDF document on the Norfolk Wills and Probates website.
Electoral lists in 1768, 1802, 1817, 1832, 1835 and 1840 all show Edrich associations with Barton Turf. The Tithe Apportionment for 1840 shows Henry Edrich owning land and property in Barton Turf, much of which was occupied by Robert Edrich. This included Edrich’s Farm, later Drake’s Little Farm and now Home Farm.
With a great deal of help from Edrich descendants, we have traced over 250 descendants of the original Henry Edrich, of whom about 150 have the Edrich name. There are links though marriage to the Amys and Shepherd families.