Charles Boucher was a shoemaker at Hardington Moor in 1871 and 1881.

Life at East Coker

Charles was born at East Coker in 1827. He was the son of William Boucher a weaver, and his wife, Hannah. His father was dead by 1841.

On 27 May 1849, Charles married Maria Giles at East Coker. He was a shoemaker by that date. She was the daughter of William Giles, a weaver,

In March 1851, Charles and Maria lived in a part of East Coker called Sheepslake. By July 1857, they had two sons and two daughters.

Maria died in July 1857, aged 31.

In 1858, Charles married Mary Scott of Ilminster. By April 1861, they were living at Primrose Hill cottages.

Life at Hardington

By April 1871, Charles, Mary, and Charles’s son, also called Charles, were living at Hardington Moor, next door to Henry Hooper, a shoemaker.

The census returns of 1871 and 1881 recorded Charles’s name as “Butcher.” However, earlier records and the civil registration of his death use the name “Boucher.”

On 6 November 1872, George Hutchings and Charles Butcher were summoned for trespassing in search of game on land belonging to the Rev. Vassall on Sunday, 13 October. PC Puddy saw the men and discovered a gin set in the field. He searched the men and found no game on them. One of the defendants had free access to the field because he rented it. The defendants denied setting the trap or poaching. The case was dismissed.[1]

Mary Boucher died in 1881, aged 55; Charles died in 1884, aged 57.[2]

References

[1] Western Gazette 8 November 1872 p. 5.

[2] The Civil Registration Death Index erroneously gives his age as 53.