Introduction
Stephen Symonds spent his childhood in two neighbouring parishes in Dorset, just a few miles inland from Lulworth Cove. By the age of 21, he had become a railway labourer, working on the Southampton and Dorchester Railway line. He later moved to Bradford Abbas, where he worked first as a porter and then as a signalman. In about 1896, he was assigned to the Hardington signal box but died shortly afterwards. Stephen was married twice and had two daughters, both of whom predeceased him; one died from an eating disorder, and the other from an autoimmune disorder.
Childhood
Stephen was born around 1829 at Chaldon Herring, the only child born to Robert and Rebecca Symonds. At the time of his birth, his father, Robert, was a labourer.
By June 1841, the family had moved to Winfrith Newburgh, Rebecca’s home parish. The 1841 census recorded Robert’s occupation as a brewer, while the 1851 census recorded him as a shopkeeper. After Rebecca died in 1853, Robert remarried in 1855 and relocated to Melcombe Regis, where he worked as a builder’s labourer. He died in about 1867 at the age of 64.
Marriage
On 5 October 1850, Stephen married Maria Dorey at West Lulworth. Maria was the daughter of Edward Dorey, a labourer.
Life at West Knighton and Winfrith Newburgh
By March 1851, Stephen and Maria lived at East Knighton, a hamlet of Winfrith Newburgh, where Stephen worked as a railway labourer. Their first daughter, Ann Vivian, was born in 1851, and their second, Rebecca Read, in 1854.
Move to Bradford Abbas
Between August 1854 and April 1861, Stephen, Maria, and their two daughters moved to Bradford Abbas. Initially, Stephen worked as a railway porter, and by April 1871, he had become a railway signalman. From at least 1871, they lived in one of the railway cottages in that village.
A narrow escape
On the evening of Wednesday, 18 November 1868, Stephen was walking to a cottage in the village for a prayer meeting when he tripped over a guard stone surrounding an open well, severely injuring his nose and other parts of his face and head. Afterwards, he felt fortunate to have escaped without falling to the bottom. At the time of the incident, he was a pointsman.[1]
Anorexia
In 1871 or 1872, their eldest daughter, Ann, was admitted to the County Lunatic asylum, suffering from an eating disorder. At that time, it was referred to as marasmus, but today we would recognise it as anorexia. She died there on 27 July 1872 at the age of 21.[2] Her body was returned to Bradford Abbas for burial.
Annus horribilis
On 24 January 1895, Maria died at the age of 70.[3] Later that same year, on 22 September, their other daughter, Rebecca, died at the age of 41 from Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland.[4] She died at 23 Huish, Yeovil, where she lived with her husband, Fred Appleby, and their four children.[5]
Second marriage
On 29 December 1895, Stephen married Margaret Ann Ivey, a widow, at Dowry Church, Hotwells.[6] Margaret was the daughter of James Cole, a glove cutter of Yeovil. Her first husband, Samuel Ivey, a carpenter of 77 Milk Street, Bristol, whom she married at Brunswick Congregational Chapel in 1881, died in 1892.
Stephen’s will
Stephen and Margaret spent several days at Hotwells, enjoying a holiday and putting Stephen’s affairs in order. Three days after their marriage, Stephen made his will, leaving all his real and personal property to Margaret. The will stated his address as 4 Rownham Place, Hotwells, Bristol.[7]
Assignment to the Hardington signal box
Around that time, Stephen was assigned to the signal box at Hardington Marsh.
Death
On 26 August 1896, Stephen left the box to inspect the track and suffered a fatal fit. He left an estate valued at £166 11s. He was buried at Bradford Abbas.
Death of brother-in-law
A few months after Stephen’s death, his wife’s brother, Adolphus Cole, travelled from Worcester to visit her. After going to bed, he was seized with a coughing fit, which ruptured a blood vessel, resulting in his death. The inquest jury returned a verdict of “death from haemorrhage.” [8]
His widow’s later life
In March 1901, Margaret was a servant at Lower Wynford Farmhouse, Wynford Eagle. By April 1911, she was living at Brister End, Yetminster. She died in February 1914 at the Union Workhouse, Sherborne, at the age of 75.
References
[1] Western Gazette, 27 November 1868, p.8.
[2] Death certificate of Ann Symonds.
[3] Western Gazette, 1 February 1895, p.8.
[4] Death certificate of Rebecca Appleby.
[5] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 2 October 1895, p.8; Western Chronicle, 27 September 1895, p.6.
[6] Western Chronicle, 3 January 1896, p.8.
[7] The will of Stephen Symonds, dated 1 January 1896, proved at Taunton on 24 September 1896.
[8] Western Chronicle 27 November 1896 p. 6; Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser 8 December 1896 p.6.
