Birth

Thomas, the son of James Bailey, was born at Frome St Quinton in about 1780.[1]

Move to Hardington

When Thomas married in 1814, he was a resident at Hardington. He remained in the parish for the rest of his life.

Occupations

In 1831, he was a yeoman; in June 1841, a labourer; and in March 1851, a farm labourer.

The shift in Thomas’s occupations from a yeoman in 1831 to a labourer in 1841 suggests a financial decline in the 1830s. This decline is also apparent in the difference in social status between Thomas’s first and second wives.

First marriage

On 12 May 1814, Thomas married Mary Brake at Ryme Intrinseca.

First wife

Mary was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Brake. Her father, John, was a farmer. Under his will, proved in 1812, Mary inherited an equal share of the residue of her father’s estate with her nine siblings when her mother died in 1827.[2] Under her mother’s will, she and seven of her siblings inherited £20 each. However, while her siblings received a lump sum, Mary’s legacy had to be paid in weekly instalments of 2s.[3] This provision suggests that Elizabeth Brake regarded Mary or her husband as improvident.

Death of first wife

Mary died in May 1830, aged 46. Her body was taken to Yetminster for burial.[4]

Guarantor

On 6 December 1831, Thomas and two other men bound themselves for £200 to act as John Genge’s guarantor.

Second marriage

On 2 April 1833, Thomas married Anne Burt at Hardington.

Caring for grandchildren

Anne had an illegitimate daughter, Harriet, born at Pendomer in about 1811.

Harriet had two illegitimate children: Emily, born in 1829 and Lazarus, born in about 1835. The 1841 census shows both children living with Thomas and Anne. However, Emily sadly died in January 1844, aged 14.

Residence

In 1843, Thomas and his family lived near Coldharbour. By March 1851, Thomas, Anne and Lazarus lived near the church.

Death of second wife

Anne died in August 1858, aged about 75.

Pauper

In 1858, Lazarus Burt married Elizabeth Pike. At about this time, Thomas, a pauper, moved in with fellow paupers John and Jane Abbott, who lived next door to Lazarus.

Witness in right of way dispute

In March 1860, Thomas gave evidence in the court case, The Queen v The Inhabitants of East Coker, about the legal status of Isles Lane. Thomas, who had travelled along the lane with vehicles for over sixty years, recalled how East Coker’s highway surveyors had required him to do statute labour, with one of his duties being to haul stone to repair Isles Lane.[5]

Death

Thomas died in June or July 1864, aged about 84.

Children

Thomas had no children but looked after his second wife’s grandchildren, Lazarus and Emily Burt.

References

[1] The Frome St Quinton baptism register does not record the name of Thomas’s mother.

[2] The will of John Brake, dated 2 October 1811, proved in London on 22 July 1812.

[3] The will of Elizabeth Brake, dated 28 July 1825, proved in London on 3 April 1827. Elizabeth left her daughter, Elizabeth, a legacy of £10. She left her son, George, the residue of her estate, charged with paying the legacies amounting to £170.

[4] The Yetminster burial register shows her abode as Haselbury, but this entry is probably incorrect.

[5] Bridgwater Mercury 22 March 1860 p.3; Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 28 March 1860 p.5. The reports name the lane “Isle Lane.”