Birth

William, the first child of William and Elizabeth Chapman, was born at East Chinnock in about 1833. Although his parents probably lived at Hardington, his mother returned to her mother’s home in East Chinnock to have her first child. William was baptised at Hardington on 19 January 1834. He was the brother of Walter, Edwin and Charles. His father was a weaver and later a labourer.

Occupations

In March 1851, William was a canvas weaver living in his parents’ home at Oil Moor. When he married in 1857, his occupation was recorded as ‘marine’. The 1861 census recorded his occupation as a railway packer. After that date, the records show him as a farm labourer or a labourer.

First marriage

On 28 December 1857, William married Susan Purchase at Hardington. She was the daughter of Richard and Hester Purchase.

In April 1861, William and Susan lived in North Lane with Susan’s mother, Hester Purchase. Hester died in the union workhouse in October 1868, aged 75. Susan died in August 1870, aged 40.

William and Susan had five children, but only two survived infancy.

Second marriage

In April 1871, William was a farm labourer living in the High Street with his sons, Edward, aged 12, and George, aged 4.

Later that year, he married Eliza Pike of East Chinnock. She was the daughter of James and Louisa Pike.

West Coker

In April 1881, William and Eliza lived at Coker Hill, West Coker.

Death

William died in December 1890, aged about 57.[1]

Eliza’s later life

In April 1891, Eliza lived in West Street, West Coker, with five of her children and worked as a charwoman. Her oldest son, John, lodged in Yeovil.

In about March 1893, Eliza married George Burt, a farm labourer of Coker Hill whose first wife died four months earlier.

By 31 March 1901, Eliza, George and Eliza’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Frances Rose, lived in a four-room house in West Coker High Street. George was ill and receiving parochial relief. He died two days later, aged about 68.[2]

Eliza died in November 1903, aged 52.[3]

Sadly, her youngest daughter, Frances Rose, only survived her mother by three years.

Children

William and his first wife had five sons, but only two survived infancy.

William and his second wife had four sons and two daughters.

References

[1] The Civil Registration Death Index and West Coker burial register incorrectly record William’s age as 50.

[2] The Civil Registration Death Index and West Coker burial register incorrectly record George’s age as 63.

[3] The Civil Registration Death Index and West Coker burial register incorrectly record Eliza’s age as 51.