Introduction

Charles Chapman was one of Hardington’s earliest railway labourers. Born in the early 1840s, he married Hannah Pike in 1865. The couple had one daughter, Jane Hannah, who faced significant challenges due to her mental disabilities. Tragically, Charles vanished from the records shortly after his daughter’s birth, suggesting he may have abandoned his family in the face of these difficulties.

Birth

Charles, the fifth child of William and Elizabeth Chapman, was born at Hardington in about 1842. His father, William, was a weaver. His brothers included  Edwin, Walter and William.

Occupation

By April 1861, Charles was employed as a railway packer.

Marriage

In 1865, Charles married Hannah Pike, one of three illegitimate children born to Jane Pike of East Chinnock.[1]

Daughter

Charles and Hannah had one daughter, Jane Hannah, born in 1866. Unfortunately, she was mentally disabled and spent most of her life in institutions. When she was fourteen, she was an inmate at Yeovil’s workhouse. Ten years later, she was a patient at Wells Lunatic Asylum, and another ten years later, she was a patient at the Lunatic Asylum at Codford, Bishops Lydeard. She died in 1910 at the age of 43.

Disappearance

Charles Chapman disappears from the records after 1866, suggesting he may have abandoned his wife and daughter.[2]

Hannah’s later life

By April 1871, Hannah lived at East Chinnock with her mother, Jane, and stepfather, Joseph Cooper.

On 12 November 1883, Hannah married John Payne at West Coker. Hannah signed the register with a mark.

John Payne was a farm labourer who had worked on his brother’s dairy at Middle Chinnock since at least 1871.

John and Hannah settled at Coker Hill, where John probably worked for Samuel George Bartlett.

John and Hannah had one child, Mary Ann, born in 1886.[3]

John died in late 1906/early 1907, aged 77. Hannah died in 1920, aged about 78.[4] What became of Mary Ann is unknown.

References

[1] When Hannah married John Payne in 1883, she named “John Adams, Labourer” as her father.

[2] A Charles Chapman, 32, born “Ornby, Somerset” was a private at Verne Citadel Barracks, Portland, in April 1871.

[3] The Civil Registration Birth Index recorded Hannah’s maiden name as Cooper (her stepfather’s surname).

[4] The Civil Registration Death Index records her age at death as 71.