Introduction

Joseph Guppy was born and raised at Hardington Moor, where he became a carpenter. In the mid-1860s, he and his family moved to London, where he continued his work as a carpenter. His life in London was fairly stable for about two decades until his wife contracted tuberculosis and died. Her death had a profound impact on the family, leading the children to leave home early and resulting in Joseph falling into poverty.

Birth

Joseph was born at Hardington in about 1834, the fifth of seven children born to Thomas and Mary Guppy. His father, Thomas, was a canvas weaver. His siblings included Emma, Samuel and William Guppy.

Marriage

On 27 December 1859, Joseph married Emily Elizabeth Hallett at Hardington. Emily was the daughter of John and Betsy Hallett, and her father was a thatcher.

Early married life

In April 1861, Joseph, Emily and their son, Edward, lived at Hardington Moor in a household of Emily’s mother. Joseph worked as a carpenter, and over the next four years, Emily gave birth to two more children.

Joseph had a fondness for poaching. A few weeks before their marriage, he was fined £1 for trespassing in search of game.[1] In February 1862, he was fined £2 for committing the same offence on Coker Hills.[2]

Married life in London

In 1865 or 1866, Joseph, Emma and their three children moved to the Kentish Town area of London. Sadly, their third child, Frederick John, died in late 1866 at the age of one.

Joseph continued to work as a journeyman carpenter (and joiner), and the family lived at various addresses:

April 1871         58 Mansfield Place (now Holmes Road)

May 1878          45 Warden Road

April 1881         87 Weedington Road

October 1884     87 Weedington Road

April 1891         2 Wellesley Place

March 1901       70 Wellesley Road

Their London-born children were baptised in two batches: three were baptised at St John the Baptist church, Kentish Town, on 30 May 1878 and two at St Andrew, Haverstock Hill, on 26 October 1884. The second batch was probably prompted by the death of their youngest child in infancy in late 1884.

The child’s death may have been due to Emily contracting tuberculosis. Emily died on 10 January 1885 at the age of 45.[3]

Widowhood in London

After Emily’s death, Joseph did not remarry or move in with any of his children. By April 1891, he and his youngest daughter, Frances, were living at 2 Wellesley Place. By March 1901, Frances was living with her married sister, Susan, while Joseph lived alone in a one-room property at 70 Wellesley Road. From that point on, he struggled with poverty and destitution.

On 7 October 1903, he was admitted to St Pancras workhouse from his home at 70 Wellesley Road and discharged on 14 October 1903. He was in the workhouse again from 5 January 1904 to 12 March 1904. He was admitted and discharged on the same day, 23 September 1904, and was then without an address. On 27 November 1909, he was admitted from St Anne’s Home and discharged on 23 September 1910. He stayed in the workhouse twice more: from 26 October 1910 to 9 December 1911 and from 27 January 1912 to 21 March 1912.

Joseph died the very next day after leaving the workhouse, at the age of 78.

Children

Joseph and Emily had nine children, two of whom died in infancy.

References

[1] Sherborne Mercury, 1 November 1859, p.5.

[2] Sherborne Mercury, 11 February 1862, p.5.

[3] Death certificate of Emily Elizabeth Guppy.