A shoemaker at Hardington Moor in 1871, next door to Charles Boucher, another shoemaker.

Childhood at East Coker

 Henry was born at East Coker in about 1845. He was the son of Thomas, a sailcloth weaver, and his wife, Theresa.

Henry’s father died in 1852 when Henry was about seven years old, and his mother, Theresa, remarried in 1860.

In April 1861, when Henry was sixteen, he was a shoemaker living at Coker Marsh with his mother and stepfather.

Life at Hardington

In 1869, he married Letitia Cox of Hardington, a daughter of Thomas Gill Cox. The couple settled at Hardington Moor, occupying a cottage that belonged to Daniel Paul.

Letitia died on 24 May 1871, aged only 26.[1]

On 28 September 1872, at East Coker, Henry married Jane Curtis, the daughter of Thomas Curtis, a shepherd.

In an 1875 trade directory, Henry called himself a bootmaker, which remained his craft for the rest of his life. It is likely that Henry was in business on his own account while at Hardington and that he employed Charles Boucher.

On 24 October 1873, while living at Hardington, Henry advertised in the Western Gazette, seeking a shoemaker: “a steady man for strong general work.”[2]

Return to East Coker

By May 1875, Henry and his family had moved back to East Coker.

In April 1881, Henry and his family lived at Coker Marsh. On the census of 1891, the property was called East Cottage, and it remained the home of Henry and Jane for the rest of their lives.

Henry was a keen gardener and, from 1885 until 1892, regularly won a prize for the high standard of his allotment.[3] He also won prizes in the Sherborne Flower Show.[4]

Henry died on 7 November 1919, aged 74.[5] Two years after his death, his widow remembered him in the local newspaper, the Western Gazette:

“In loving memory of my dear husband…

A father dear, a husband kind,

a beautiful memory left behind,

Never forgotten.”[6]

Jane died on 4 December 1932, aged 85.[7]

Children

Henry and Jane had three sons and five daughters. None of their children were baptised, which suggests that Henry and Jane were dissenters. It is noteworthy that their eldest son, Thomas Henry Hooper, married in 1903 at the Wesleyan Chapel in Yeovil.

Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was a pupil teacher at East Coker and later served as a teacher at Finchley and Cameley.

References

[1] Monumental inscription in Hardington churchyard

[2] Western Gazette, 24 October 1873, p.4.

[3] Chard and Ilminster News, 3 October 1885, p.5; Western Gazette, 30 September 1887, p.6; Western Gazette, 14 September 1888, p.5; Western Gazette, 11 October 1889, p.7.

[4] Western Gazette, 16 August 1895, p.6; 6 August 1897, p.5.

[5] Memorial inscription at East Coker.

[6] Western Gazette, 18 November 1921, p.12.

[7] Memorial inscription at East Coker.