William Henry Trim was a dairyman at Hardington Marsh from 1882 until about 1887.

William, the seventh son of John and Mary Ann Trim. was born at Buckland St Mary in 1858. His early years were spent in Chillington and Purse Caundle.

Life at Hardington

By July 1880, William’s parents were at Hardington. William may have come slightly later as he is not on the 1881 census.

His father died in 1881, and his mother in 1882. Following the grant of probate for his mother on 4 September 1882, he inherited one-eighth of his late father’s estate.

William took over the dairy. His younger brother, Alfred Charles, initially worked there, too, but in December 1882, he married Elizabeth Trask, and they left the village.

On 13 April 1883, William advertised for a working housekeeper, 25 to 30, who was a good butter and skim cheese maker.[1] Perhaps he married one of the applicants as, on 5 August 1883, at Halstock, he married Frances Ellen Mullins, the daughter of William Mullins, a dairyman.

On 10 August 1883, William advertised for an eighteen-year-old lad to do the miking.[2]

William and Frances’s first three children were born at Hardington.

They left Hardington in 1887 or 1888.

Later life

From about 1888 to 1891, William occupied a dairy in Frog Street, Beercrocombe. His children’s birthplaces suggest that he was at Clavershay, North Petherton, in about 1892, East Bower in 1894, Tiverton from 1896 to 1899, and at Milverton in 1901.

William was a cowman at Milverton. He was the same at Norton Fitzwarren in April 1911 and at Pierston Farm, Milton, Gillingham in 1921.

He died in August 1926, aged 67. Frances died on 27 March 1941, aged 79. They were both laid to rest at Milton-upon-Stour.

William and Frances had thirteen children, two dying in infancy.

[1] Western Gazette, 13 April 1883, p.4.

[2] Western Gazette, 10 August 1883, p.4.