Charles Hewitt was born in Rushden in 1838, son of James, a watchmaker, and Elizabeth (nee Briggs). He had three older siblings - Thomas, William, and Harriott, and all four were baptised at St Mary’s Church on 26th May 1841.

The boys learned shoemaking, but in the early 1860s Charles began to trade as a stationer. He gradually increased his trade and when William Packwood retired as sub-postmaster, Charles took over the post in about 1872. He traded at 35 High Street, and added books, and drapery to his sales lines.

In August 1901 Charles retired as sub-postmaster, and the following year the Post Office was built, and Sidney Field became Postmaster. In 1903 his Charles’ daughter Elizabeth had established a newsagency in the same shop, and she continued to trade there until both her parents had died. Charles died in 1911, and his wife, Elizabeth died in 1914, and both are buried in Rushden Cemetery.