Introduction
Frederick George Goldring lived at Hardington from about 1907 until his death in 1940. He was born to a single mother but found stability early in his life when she married a widower with several children. He adopted his stepfather’s surname and used the name George in preference to Frederick. After spending his childhood in various Dorset parishes near his birthplace at Maiden Newton, he found employment on a dairy at Owermoigne, where he met his future wife. Following their marriage, he worked as a dairyman at Yetminster and Corscombe before moving to Hardington. Tragically, George’s wife committed suicide after learning of their eldest son’s severe injuries sustained during the First World War, and he later died from these injuries.
Childhood
Frederick George Symes Smart was born in Maiden Newton on 14 August 1860, the second of two illegitimate children born to Marina Smart.[1] Marina added the name “Symes” because George Symes of Cerne Abbas was his father. In July 1861, Dorchester Magistrates ordered Symes to pay Marina maintenance of 1s 6d a week.[2]
Marina’s father, Jonathan, was a farm labourer who died at the age of 38. His early death left his widow, Sarah, and their five children vulnerable, especially as Sarah never remarried.[3] Their eldest daughter, Mary Ann, had an illegitimate son, Henry, in 1849.[4] Their youngest daughter, Marina, had two illegitimate children: Emily in 1855 and George in 1860.[5]
Despite these difficulties, Sarah Smart and her children remained united and supportive. The 1851 census shows Sarah caring for the two-year-old Henry.[6] The 1861 census shows her looking after Emily and George while Marina worked away as a wet nurse in the County Lunatic Asylum.[7]
On 2 April 1862, Marina married William Goldring at Maiden Newton.[8] He was a farm labourer, thirteen years older than Marina, whose wife, Ann, had died three years earlier, leaving him with five children to look after, although the youngest died in infancy in March 1860. Marina became their stepmother and, over time, had six more children.[9] George and his sister took their stepfather’s surname and became part of this blended family.
After their marriage, William and Marian lived at Notton (a hamlet in the parish of Maiden Newton) for a year or two, and then they moved to Chantmarle (a hamlet in the parish of Cattistock).[10] In April 1881, they lived at Chilfrome.[11]
Early working life
George began his working life as a farm labourer.[12]
By April 1891, he was a “Dairy Chap” employed by William Harding at Galton Dairy, Owermoigne.[13] While there, he met Mary Maria Warner, a parlour maid employed by a clergyman at Holworth House.[14] George was about 33 years old, and Mary was three years younger.
Mary was born and raised at Bennington, Hertfordshire, where her father worked as a farm labourer. Like George, she came from a large family, being the sixth of ten children. Before moving to Owermoigne, she had worked as a housemaid at Bennington Rectory, a position she probably obtained because her father was a bellringer for many years.[15] George and Mary were married in Hertfordshire in 1893.[16]
By September 1894, George and Mary were living at Yetminster, where George worked as a dairyman. While living there, they had two sons: Frederick Arthur, born on 18 September 1894, and Herbert, born on 30 June 1897.[17]
By March 1901, George was a dairyman at Milton Farm, Corscombe.[18] He may have been residing there when his mother, Marina, passed away at Piddlehinton in July 1906. His stepfather had died eleven years earlier.
Life at Hardington
Frederick and his family moved to Hardington around February 1907.[19] They probably lived at Prospect Farm, which was then called Townsend or Hill Dairy.[20]
On 23 January 1912, Frederick held a sale of his pigs and dairy utensils.[21]
By September 1916, George and his wife were living at Hardington Marsh, and their two sons were serving in the army. On Tuesday, 12 September 1916, George left home to travel to Yeovil. When he returned at 3.30 p.m., he found his wife’s body hanging from the bannisters of their house. He cut her down and sent for Dr Collar of West Coker, who could only pronounce her dead.[22]
The coroner held an inquest at Marsh Farm with George White serving as the jury foreman. The jury heard how Mary worried so deeply about the safety of her two sons at the front that she became mentally unstable. When she received the news that Frederick had been wounded in both legs, she interpreted it as him losing both legs entirely. Unable to cope with the distress, she took her own life, leaving a note on her table which said, “I cannot live without my dear boys. It is worse each day I live.” The jury returned a verdict that she died from suffocation from hanging while of unsound mind.”[23]
Fredrick Arthur Goldring died from his wounds on 17 September 1916. His body lies in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery. [24]
Their other son, Herbert, survived the war and later became a civil servant in London.[25]
At the 1920 estate sale, George bought a twelve-acre holding in Hardington for £625.[26] This holding was referred to by various names over time, including Bishop’s House, Bishop’s Holding, and Bishop’s Farm.[27]
In June 1921, George and his bailiff, Donald Frederick White, were living at Hardington Marsh in the household of Sidney George Pike, a platelayer.[28] They may have been residing there temporarily while construction work was being done at Bishop’s Farm.
George died at Bishop’s Farm on 18 August 1940, at the age of 80.[29] He left an estate valued at £3,462 14s 11d but no will.[30]
References
[1] Civil Registration Birth Index; Maiden Newton baptism register; 1939 Register.
[2] Dorset County Chronicle, 1 August 1861, p.3.
[3] Maiden Newton burial register; HO107, piece 285, book 7, folio 9, page 13.
[4] Maiden Newton baptism register.
[5] Maiden Newton baptism register.
[6] Ho107, piece 1858, folio 470, page 33.
[7] HO107, piece 1356, folio 114, page 21; HO107, piece 1356, folio 151, page 1.
[8] Maiden Newton marriage register.
[9] Family reconstitution.
[10] RG11, piece 2113, folio 50, page 9.
[11] RG11, piece 2113, folio 50, page 9.
[12] RG11, piece 2113, folio 50, page 9.
[13] RG12, piece 1645, folio 110, page 4.
[14] RG12, piece 1645, folio 116, page 15.
[15] Herts Guardian, 11 March 1865, p.4; 14 March 1865, p.3; Hertford Mercury and Reformer, 22 February 1873, p.6; 19 February 1887, p.4.
16] Civil Registration Marriage Index.
[17] Yetminster baptism register.
[18] RG13, piece 2009, folio 10, page 12.
[19] Hardingon School Admission Register.
[20] Voters’ Lists 1910-14; Western Gazette, 12 January 1912, p.1; RG14, piece 14381.
[21] Western Gazette, 12 January 1912, p.1.
[22] Western Chronicle, 15 September 1916, p.2.
[23] Western Chronicle, 22 September 1916, p.3.
[24] Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
[25] RG15, piece 138, schedule 189.
[26] Copy of estate sale catalogue in author’s possession.
[27] Western Gazette, 26 February 1937, page 8; 1939 Register; Kelly’s Directory of 1939; Western Gazette, 30 August 1940, p.8.
[28] RG15, piece 11308, schedule 90.
[29] Probate calendar; Western Gazette, 30 August 1940, p.8.
[30] Probate calendar.