Introduction
Joseph Rendell lived at Hardington until the 1840s. He and his family then lived briefly at Ansford and East Coker before moving to West Coker. He worked as a weaver until the 1850s when he became a farm labourer. Following the death of his wife in 1859, Joseph returned to Hardington to live with his brother while claiming outdoor relief.
Birth
Joseph was born at Hardington in about 1797, the fourth of seven children born to Samuel and Susan Rendell.
Marriage
On 27 March 1824, Joseph married Mary Purchase at Hardington. Joseph made a mark in the marriage register, while Mary signed her name.
Occupations
Although Joseph worked primarily as a weaver until the 1850s, three baptism register entries (in 1828, 1833 and 1837) record his occupation as a labourer. By April 1861, he was a farm labourer.
Residence at Hardington
Until the 1840s, Joseph and his family lived at Hardington.
The 1841 census shows Joseph and Mary living in Barry Lane with six children. Their eldest daughter had left home and may have been a servant on a farm at Lufton.
Joseph and Mary briefly resided at Ansford, where their eighth child, Giles, was born on 1 December 1842. Their ninth child, Sarah Elizabeth, was baptised at Hardington on Christmas Day 1843, while they lived at East Coker. Sadly, she died four months later and was buried at Hardington.
In 1843, Joseph occupied a house at Hardington Moor owned by Jane Genge (number 152 on the tithe map) and an allotment at Coldharbour (number 459 on the tithe map).
West Coker
By March 1851, Joseph and his family had moved to West Coker, where they lived at Middle Lawn. Six of his children were still at home, and his widowed brother, George, lodged with them.
Mary’s death
Mary died at West Coker on 19 August 1859, at the age of 60.
Joseph’s later life
By April 1861, Joseph had changed his occupation to farm labourer and was lodging with his son, John, at 179 Duck Street, West Coker. At the same time, Joseph’s brother, George, was lodging with John Delamont at Hardington Moor.
Return to Hardington
By April 1871, Joseph was a pauper living with his brother, Thomas, at Hardington Moor. Thomas was a farm labourer, while his wife, Susan, was also a pauper.
Death
Joseph died in October 1873, at the age of 75.
Children
Joseph and Mary had four sons and five daughters. Their son, Israel, became a sergeant in the Royal Artillery.
