Reuben, the seventh child of Robert and Amy Eastment, was born at Hardington in about 1832. He was a brother of Esau and James.

Occupation

Esau worked as a farm labourer throughout his life.[1] The 1861 census refers to him specifically as a carter.

Marriage

On 14 November 1859, Reuben married Jane Higgins at Hardington. She was the daughter of William and Hannah Higgins.

Married life

In April 1861, Reuben and Jane lived at Kingswood Cottage. Ten years later, they had five children and lived at Hardington Marsh.

Ten on again, three of their children lived at home while their other two Mary and Emma, were dairymaids at Lansdown Farm. Jane’s widowed mother also lived with them.

Jane’s death

Jane died in 1882, aged 54. Her mother died the following year.

Reuben’s later life

Reuben continued living at Hardington Marsh. The 1891 census shows him living in a four-room house at 361 Farm Lane with his daughter, Emma, and her six-year-old son, George.

The household increased because Emma had two more children: a son in 1899 and a daughter in 1900. Otherwise, it remained the same for the rest of Reuben’s life.

Reuben’s death

Reuben died in 1912, aged 80.

Children

Reuben and Jane had five children:

1861-Martha

1863-Mary

1864-Emma

1866-Reuben James

1868-Rhoda.

Their only son, Reuben James, used his knowledge of horses to obtain employment at some distance from Hardington.[2] He moved to Holdenhurst near Bournemouth (where he was a domestic groom in 1891) and then Frensham, Surrey (where he was a non-domestic coachman in 1901).

References

[1] The 1901 census describes Reuben as a general labourer.

[2] Bournemouth Guardian, 31 January 1885, p.4; Western Gazette, 23 January 1891, p.4; Exeter Flying Post, 31 January 1891, p.4.