The Hewitt family name also appears as Hewet, Hewett and Hewit in the registers and other documents.
A list of inhabitants of Barton Turf in 1772 records a Hewet family of three.
Robert Hewitt was born around 1758 and married Alice Gay in Barton Turf in 1790. They had at least 15 children (the registers record 17, but may be inaccurate). One daughter Mary married John Haylett and their children were connected to the Cox and Watts families. Other connections are with the Shepherd and Yaxley families. So far our research has revealed over 150 descendants of Robert and Alice of whom over 70 were Hewitts.
Robert is reputed to be the person who taught Nelson to sail on Barton Broad, although other accounts suggest that he merely rowed him across the broad.
A transcript of Robert’s will can be viewed as a PDF document on the Norfolk Wills and Probates website.
Apart from Robert, a number of other Hewitts with Barton Turf connections have been found, but it has not yet been possible to establish links to Robert and his family.
If you have any information that could help, please contact the project team.