In April 1881, John Griffin was a dairyman at Lansdown Farm.

Early life

John was born at Abbotts Hill Farm in 1851, where his parents, Thomas and Mary, lived with his paternal grandfather, John Griffin. When this grandfather died in 1874, his parents retired to Barry Lane.

Marriage

One year earlier, on 21 October 1873, John married Mary Harris, the daughter of John Harris, a neighbouring dairyman. In 1874, John and Mary lived at Over Compton. Their stay in Hardington lasted from about 1876 to 1881.

Mary’s father died at Hardington on 3 May 1876, leaving an estate valued at under £20. By his will, he left the whole amount to Mary.[1]

The 1880s and 1890s

During the 1880s and 1890s, John and Mary’s lives were marked by mobility. By September 1884, they were at Halstock; in November 1886, at Pendomer; in January 1889, at South Perrott; in February and April 1891, at Abbotts Hill Dairy, Halstock; and in March 1901, at Sandford Mills, Sandford Orcas, where John was a miller.

Final years

John died on 7 December 1905, aged 54, leaving effects valued at £340-8s-7d. His last address was Upper Berrow Farm, Feckenham, Worcestershire.

In April 1911, Mary lived at 128 Milner Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, where she ran a grocery business. Her death has not yet been found.

John and Mary had four sons and four daughters. The 1911 census recorded a ninth child who had died.

References

[1] The will of John Harris, dated 27 October 1871, proved at Taunton on 24 June 1878.