Introduction

Charles Milton lived at Jubilee Cottage, Hardington, from about 1897 until his death in 1919 at the age of 80. However, his connection with the village began much earlier, in 1859, when he married Susan Purchase.

Early life in Devon

Charles, the son of William and Charlotte, was born in 1837 at Uffculme, Devon. His father, William, worked as a farm labourer. Charles had a younger brother, James, who later became a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Marines Artillery.

In March 1851, Charles was employed as a farm servant in the household of James Tancock, a farmer of 32 acres at Uffculme.

First marriage

On Christmas Day, 1859, Charles married Susan Purchase at Hardington.

In April 1861, they lived with Susan’s parents at Hill End, Hardington. Charles worked as a railroad labourer.

Susan’s father died in the Union Workhouse in 1864.

In 1869, Charles’s brother, James, married Susan’s sister, Keziah.

Culmstock

By April 1871, Charles and Susan had moved to Hackpen Hill, Culmstock, where Charles worked as a farm labourer and carpenter. Susan’s nephew, Walter George Rendell, the son of Susan’s sister, Emily, lived with them.

A family crisis

Walter George lived with them because his father, Thomas Rendell, had deserted his family after only a few years of marriage.

On 8 June 1877, Emily died in the Yeovil workhouse from cancer of the uterus at the age of 44.[1] Her death caused a crisis, leaving her mother and three of her children without support.

This situation may have prompted Charles and Susan to move closer to Hardington. By April 1881, they lived at Melbury Osmond, where Charles worked as a carpenter. Susan’s mother and Emily’s children, William Thomas and Susan Ellen, lived with them. Meanwhile, Susan’s son, Walter George, lived at Hardington with his uncle, Albert Purchase, and her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, was a farm servant at Frome St Quintin.[2]

Frome St Quintin

By April 1891, Charles, his wife and his mother-in-law had moved to Frome St Quintin.

Weymouth

By June 1896, they resided at Weymouth. Emily’s mother died there at the age of 91.

In 1898, the Hardington voting list recorded Charles’s address as 4 Bedford Terrace, Cromwell Road, Westham, Weymouth.

Return to Hardington

Shortly after, Charles and Susan moved into Jubilee Cottage at Hardington. The name “Jubilee” probably refers to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of June 1897.

Charles continued to work as a carpenter, initially as a worker and later as a self-employed person.

Hardington chapel

Charles was an active member of the village chapel. On 1 September 1901, he spoke at a chapel meeting.[3] In June 1909, the United Methodists of the Crewkerne circuit held their quarterly meeting at his home.^[4] On 7 January 1914, he even performed in an entertainment at the chapel.[5]

Susan’s death

Susan died in 1905 at the age of 67.

Second marriage

In 1907, Charles married Elizabeth Park, the daughter of John Park, the thatcher.

Death

Charles died in 1919, aged 80. After his death, Elizabeth moved to a house in Barry Lane. She died in the Shepton Mallet district in 1921 at the age of 77.

Children

Charles and Susan did not have any children.

References

[1] Death certificate; this records her age as 40; however, she was 44.

[2] Sarah Elizabeth probably lived with Charles and Susan Milton for a few years before working at Frome St Quintin.

[3] Western Chronicle 6 September 1901 p. 5.

[4] Western Chronicle 9 July 1909 p. 6.

[5] Western Gazette 23 January 1914 p. 5.