Introduction
After her husband’s death, Mary successfully ran one of Hardington’s principal village shops for almost a quarter of a century. Her life illustrates both the economic role played by widows in rural communities and the continuity of family businesses across generations.
Early life
Mary was born in 1849 at Seavington Michael, the sixth of seven children born to James Matravers and his wife, Elizabeth (née Reeland). Her father was a carpenter who died at the young age of forty-seven in December 1857. Four years later, in December 1861, Elizabeth remarried, but the marriage was short-lived, as she and her husband soon separated.
Marriage and life at Hardington
On 5 June 1865, Mary married Herbert Joseph Voizey at South Petherton. Herbert was about twenty-two, while Mary was only fifteen —an unusually young age. Their son Thomas was born just six months later, indicating that Mary was already pregnant when they married.
The couple initially settled at East Chinnock, where Herbert worked as a butcher. Between 1868 and 1870, they moved to Hardington, where Herbert established his own business as a butcher and shopkeeper. By 1888, they had nine children.
Mary maintained ties with her family of origin. Her sister Susan lived with her at Hardington for a short time before she married William Vaux in September 1872, and her mother did the same before her death in April 1880.[1]
Herbert died on 2 May 1900 from chronic bronchitis, with heart failure at the end, at the age of fifty-eight.[2] After his death, Mary ran the business operating for more than twenty years, gradually handing over responsibilities to her daughter.
By 1901, Mary resided at 329 Hardington with her two youngest children, Blanche and Walter. At this time, her daughter Mary Annie, affectionately known as Nance, was employed as a general servant for an elderly widow in Ringwood Road, Longfleet, near Poole.
By 1911, Blanche and Walter had left home, and Nance had returned to help run the shop.
In May 1917, they placed a newspaper advertisement for a Ralli or Governess Car that would suit a pony of twelve hands.[3] The purpose is unknown, though it may have been to make deliveries or collect goods.
By 1921, Nance had taken over the shop, and the census of that year described Mary as an invalid. In the estate sale of October 1920, Nance purchased her shop, the house next door, a garden across the road, and several farm buildings as the sitting tenant.[4] At that time, George James Partridge rented the house next door, but by 31 December 1923, it was occupied by Robert Marsh.[5]
Mary died on 15 March 1924 at the age of seventy-five. Her death certificate recorded the cause of death as atheroma of cerebral blood vessels (4 years) and congestion of lungs (3 days). Mary’s son Thomas was present and registered her death two days later.[6]
Conclusion
Mary spent most of her adult life serving the people of Hardington through the family shop. Widowed at the age of fifty, she successfully continued the business for more than twenty years before gradually handing it over to her daughter. Mary’s life illustrates the significant contribution that widows could make to the rural economy.
References
[1] Seavington St Michael burial register.
[2] The death certificate of Herbert Joseph Voizey.
[3] Western Gazette, 11 May 1917, p.5. The advert states “Apply 329, Hardington, Yeovil.”
[4] Eddy Colin Turner’s copy of the estate sale catalogue.
[5] Eddy Colin Turner’s copy of the estate sale catalogue.
[6] Death certificate of Mary Voizey.
