DREWELL, Robert

1811 - 1856

Robert Drewell was born at Beccles, Suffolk around 1811, son of Samuel Drewell (1778-5 June 1844), keeper of Beccles House of Correction, and his wife Martha née Long (1784-28 January 1861). Robert Drewell married at St George's Hanover Square, London in 1835, Matilda Ann, née Bye and they moved to Southwold, Suffolk. Robert was the printer of the Southwold Corporation accounts for 1838 and, in partnership with Emily Bye at Queen Street, Southwold, in 1847 printed a broadside handbill for a race meeting of 30 July 1847, imprinted Bye & Drewall, printers, Southwold. By 1851 Drewell was described as a 39-year-old artist, living at Queen Street, Southwold with his 39-year-old wife Matilda, who was born at Southwold and their children, 14-year-old Robert, born in London, 12-year-old Samuel and 8-year-old Matilda Ann, both born at Southwold. Recorded in 1853 as Bye & Drewall, printers and noted in White’s Suffolk Directory of 1855 as a printer on his own account. Robert Drewell died on 20 November 1856, aged 45, and buried at Southwold St Edmund church and his will is at SRO/Ipswich, one of the executrixes was Emily Bye and the will mentions his wife Matilda, and children Matilda Ann, Robert John and Samuel Bye Drewell and his brother George Drewell of Beccles. Robert was succeeded in his business by his wife Matilda although it was offered for sale in April 1856. The subject of his painting was Lord William Hill who was killed in Ipswich when struck by a branch of a tree and Henry Davy made an engraving of the accident. (Copsey - Suffolk Book Trades - Ipswich 2012).

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Works by This Artist