Introduction
James Poole was a significant figure in the village from 1837 until his death in 1866. In addition to being a farmer, grocer and sub-postmaster, he was also the parish clerk for a time. Unfortunately, not much is known about his life prior to his marriage to Elizabeth Swaffield in 1837.
Birth
James was born in about 1808, possibly at Hardington. He may have been the son of Giles Poole, who occupied Coker Hill Farm, West Coker, in the early nineteenth century, and left in about 1822.[1]
Marriage
James married Elizabeth Swaffield at Hardington on 9 September 1837. The marriage record describes him as “a sojourner of this parish,” but later census returns give his place of birth as Hardington.
Occupations
According to the Hardington baptism register, James was a weaver in 1838 and 1840 and the parish clerk by 9 January 1842. In June 1841, he was a farmer; in March 1851, he was a farmer of 12 acres; and in April 1861, he was a farmer of 15 acres and a sub-postmaster.
On 7 September 1859, he was fined 5s and costs for having defective weights. The newspaper report referred to him as a grocer.[2]
Residence
James lived in or near the High Street. The tithe survey of 1843 shows him as the occupier of two houses owned by his brother-in-law, John Swaffield: plots 314 and 315. He also occupied about 5 acres owned by John Swaffield, a small plot of 33 perches owned by Lord Ilchester, and 1 acre 19 perches that he owned himself. Additionally, he owned a house (plot 46) that William Rendell occupied.
Parish offices
In the 1840s, James served as the parish clerk. An incident on December 18, 1842, where he attempted to remove a child’s coffin from the church at the insistence of the Rector—who objected to the disruption caused to his service—led to his appearance in court the following February. However, the magistrates dismissed the case.[3]
James served as an overseer in 1841, 1842, and 1844.[4] On 7 June 1844, he, while acting as the parish overseer, summoned Robert Slade for refusing to contribute towards the support of his father.[5]
Leisure
On Friday, 11 September 1863, James was at Crewkerne Fair at 10 o’clock at night. Later, he accused a woman of stealing a watch and money from him. However, the magistrates abandoned the case rather than allow the defending solicitor to cross-examine James, suggesting that further scrutiny might have harmed his reputation.[6]
Death and will
James died from bronchitis on 23 December 1866, aged 58, leaving an estate valued at under £300.[7] He instructed his trustees to sell his property and invest the proceeds, paying his wife the income for life or until her marriage. After her death, his children inherited as tenants in common. He also bequeathed the use of his furniture to his wife for life and granted her an absolute interest in the residue of his estate.
Children
James and Elizabeth had two sons and one daughter:
1838- John Swaffield (died in 1839);
Circa 1840- John (became an accountant and later a lime merchant in London, marrying Mary Jane Lockwood at Hunslet in 1878);
1841- Elizabeth (married Robert Bartlett of East Chinnock in 1876; lived at Bugley Farm, Gillingham, New House Farm, East Stour, and Hartmoor, Buckhorn Weston; died in 1924).
Elizabeth Bartlett had four sons: Robert, who became a Church of England priest; John Poole, who became a farmer and later a fine wood dealer; Joseph, who emigrated to Australia; and Walter Swaffield, who emigrated to Canada.
References
[1] Sherborne Mercury, 21 October 1822, p.1. Giles Poole, the son of Giles and Betty Poole, was baptised at Martock Independent Chapel on 27 February 1805; the register states that the parents lived at Hardington. No baptism record for James Poole has been found.
[2] Sherborne Mercury, 13 September 1859, p.5.
[3] English Chronicle and Whitehall Evening Post, 4 February 1843, p.8.
[4] Hardington jury lists.
[5] Sherborne Mercury, 8 June 1844, p.3.
[6] Western Gazette, 19 September 1863, p.3.
[7] James Poole’s death certificate; the will of James Poole, dated 22 September 1854, proved at Taunton on 6 May 1867.
