Birth

Esau, the son of Lionel and Mary Harrison, was born at East Coker in about 1774.

Marriage

On 17 February 1803, Esau married Mary Bartlett at Hardington by banns.

Mary was the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Bartlett.

Hardington

Esau and Mary lived at Hardington until at least 1817. During this time, Esau was a farmer.

On 27 June 1813, they had four children baptised at Hardington: a twin of girls, another girl and a boy.

Inheritance

Mary’s father died on 10 April 1817, leaving Mary £100 and an annuity of £5 after the death of her mother. As her mother died only days after her father, her annuity would have commenced soon after her father’s executor proved the will.[1]

East Coker

Mary’s inheritance may have funded a move to a larger or better farm.

By February 1823, Esau and his family lived at Skinner’s Hill, East Coker. However, the family retained a strong attachment to Hardington. Three of Esau’s daughters were laid to rest there, and so too was his wife, Mary, when she died in November 1835, aged 59.

By June 1841, Esau and his family lived at Burton Lane, East Coker.

Esau died in 1846, aged about 72.

Children

Esau and Mary had one son and six daughters;

Circa 1805-Susannah (died at East Coker aged 18);

Circa 1810-Mary (died at East Coker aged 18);

Circa 1812-Thomas (died at Hardington, aged one);

Circa 1813-Sarah (spent her whole life at East Coker; died unmarried in 1862);

Circa 1813-Edith (like her twin sister, spent her entire life at East Coker; died unmarried in 1876);

Circa 1815-Thirza (worked as a domestic servant at Paignton and Torquay; died unmarried at East Coker in 1883);

Circa 1817-Margaret Bartlett (died at East Coker, aged 23)

References

[1] The will of Joseph Bartlett of Hardington, Yeoman, dated 9 October 1813, and codicil dated 7 November 1815, proved at Wells on 31 March 1818. The will left Mary a legacy of £150, which the codicil reduced to £100.