Christopher Thomas Frost
Christopher Thomas Frost was a dairyman at Hardington in 1901 and 1902. His landlord was Abraham Genge.
Early life at Banwell
Christopher was born at Banwell on 13 October 1851. His father, William Bennett Frost, farmed about 100 acres at Towerhead Farm. His mother, Amelia, was the daughter of Christopher Bennett, who farmed a similar acreage at South Brent.
Christopher’s parents were first cousins, which harmed his development.
On 3 November 1876, Christopher and two of his brothers were charged with pushing an elderly woman named Eliza Tozer into a mill stream. In their defence, they claimed that they wished to punish her for having an improper intimate relationship with their father. The magistrates acquitted one brother and fined another £5, but they sentenced Christopher to one month in prison for hard labour. His treatment caused a public outcry, with many calling for a petition to the Home Secretary. When he left Shepton Mallet jail, he was feted as a hero and given a public dinner at the Ship Inn attended by thirty people.[1]
After Christopher’s mother died in 1878, his father gave up farming and retired to Burnham-on-Sea, where he died in 1881. He died intestate, and when the Wells probate registry granted Christopher administration in 1890, his estate was valued at only £202 1s 8d.
1877-1901
On 26 June 1877, at Banwell, Christopher married Ellen Louisa Ashman Padfield, the daughter of Joseph Padfield, a dairyman.
Their daughter, Daisy Amelia, was born at Kingsbury Episcopi on 1 July 1887.
In April 1881, Christopher ran a dairy of 42 cows at Eadyx Hill, Gillingham, Dorset, assisted by his brother, Sidney. By December 1886, he was a dairyman at Lower Burrow, Kingsbury Episcopi, assisted by Sidney.[2] From February 1892, he rented a dairy of 26 cows at Isle Brewers at the yearly rental of £590. He and the farmer fell out and sued each other in March 1893.[3]
In December 1898, he was a dairyman at Aller.[4] In March 1901, he was a dairy manager at Pilsdon.
Life at Hardington
By November 1901, two policemen visited Christopher’s premises at Hardington. On 3 December 1902, the RSPCA prosecuted him for starving his dog.[5] He had rented a diary from Abraham Genge, but this had been taken from him, and he was desperately short of money. He was fined £1 and costs 18s 6d. The newspaper account described him as “an old, deformed man, with such an impediment in his speech that it was with the greatest difficulty he could make himself understood.”[6]
On 4 December 1902, at Yeovil County Court, he sued Abraham Genge for breach of contract, seeking damages of £12. Genge lodged a counterclaim of £9. The judge adjourned the case because Frost was in bed with bronchitis.[7] On 3 January 1903, he adjourned it again because Frost was in the workhouse.[8]
Death
Christopher died in the first quarter of 1903 in the Langport registration district, aged 52.
Ellen’s second marriage
In 1906, Ellen married Esau Golledge, a Hornblotton farmer. In 1913, her daughter, Daisy, married Esau’s son, George.
Ellen died on 6 March 1934, aged 78, leaving an estate valued at £130 16s. She was laid to rest at Lovington.
References
[1] Western Mercury, 9 December 1876, p.5.
[2] Western Chronicle, 10 December 1886, p.2.
[3] Langport & Somerton Herald, 11 March 1893, p.5.
[4] Langport & Somerton Herald, 4 February 1899, p.5.
[5] Western Chronicle, 5 December 1902, p.8.
[6] Western Chronicle 5 December 1902 p. 8.
[7] Western Chronicle, 5 December 1902, 5.
[8] Western Chronicle, 2 January 1903, p.5.