Introduction
William Pattemore was the son of a farmer, and much of his early life was spent at Lower Severalls Farm in Crewkerne. After his mother gave up the farm in 1883, he worked as a labourer for a time before becoming a farm bailiff first at White Vine Farm, Hardington, and then at Lower Burton, Charminster. In his sixties, he lived in Fordington, where he worked as a storeman in an iron foundry. William appears to have lacked ambition; despite his family background and his wife receiving a gift of £600 from her father, he never started his own business.
Early life
William was born at Merriott in 1856, the seventh of nine children born to Jesse and Elizabeth Pattemore. His father was a farmer of thirty acres. In the 1860s, the family moved to Lower Severalls Farm, Crewkerne. After his father died in August 1878, William helped his mother run the farm.[1] In April 1881, his mother farmed 66 acres and employed one man and two boys.
Marriage
On 4 September 1883, William married Emma Cross Martin at Wyke Regis. William was 27, and Emma was ten years older. Both signed the register.
Emma was the daughter of Edward and Jane Martin of Weymouth. Her father was a baker.
Farm sale
On 4 October 1883, William’s mother sold her live and deadstock at Lower Severalls Farm by auction.[2] She died intestate on 26 May 1885, leaving an estate valued at £160 5s 4d.
Birth of daughter
William and Emma’s daughter, Beatrice, was born in Exeter on 9 December 1886, possibly in a hospital.[3] However, the family home was probably at Merriott. When Beatrice was baptised at Merriott on 14 January 1887, William was a labourer living at Boozer Pit, Merriott.
Gift from Emma’s father
In his will dated 15 January 1889, Emma’s father states that he has, during his lifetime, “given to my daughter Emma the wife of William Pattemore the sum of six hundred pounds to help them in their business.”[4]
When Emma’s mother died in 1904, she left Emma a legacy of £20.[5]
Farm bailiff at White Vine
In April 1891, William was a farm bailiff at White Vine Farm, Hardington.
Farm bailiff at Charminster
In 1901 and 1911, William was a farm bailiff at Lower Burton, Charminster. His daughter, Beatrice, taught at Charminster School.
Fordington
By June 1921, William had retired from farming and transitioned to a new role as a storeman in an iron foundry for Messrs Lott and Walne. He, his wife, and their daughter lived at 7 Salisbury Terrace, Fordington, with one female servant from London, probably engaged to look after his wife.
Wife’s death
Emma died at 7 Salisbury Terrace on 5 January 1923, at the age of 78.
Retirement
In 1932, Beatrice married Frank Palmer, a farm labourer who later became a dairy farmer.
By September 1939, William was living with his daughter and her husband at Clear View, Martinstown.
William died in June 1946, at the age of 90. His last address was Glen View, Martinstown. It is possible that Clear View and Glen View denoted the same property.
William, Emma and their only child, Beatrice, were all buried at Fordington.
References
[1] Express and Echo, 27 August 1878, p.2.
[2] Western Gazette, 28 September 1883, p.5.
[3] Beatrice’s birth was not registered so this cannot be resolved.
[4] The will of Edward Martin, dated 15 January 1889, proved at Blandford on 19 August 1889. Edward left his estate to three trustees who were instructed to pay the income to his wife for life and, at her death, to sell everything and divide the net proceeds equally between all his children except Emma. However, if the share for each child exceeded £600, Emma was to have an equal share of the excess. As Edward Martin’s estate’s (resworn) value was £1,172 and he had eight children, Emma Pattemore would not have received any more from her father.
[5] The will of Jane Martin, dated 10 October 1901, proved at Blandford on 24 January 1905. The value of her estate was £408 5s 10d.
