Abraham Partridge was a notable figure in Hardington, where he made his mark as a master baker for several decades.

Childhood

Abraham Partridge was born at Hardington in 1844, the fourth child of Abraham and Susan Partridge. His father was a weaver and later, successively, a farm labourer, sheep skin dealer and farmer. The family lived at Lyatts in a house that occupied plot 82 on the tithe map.

Bakery business

By the age of sixteen, Abraham worked as a farm labourer. In the 1860s, he presumably worked in a bakery, although its location is unknown.

In about 186, he started his bakery business, taking over the premises at the foot of Pig Hill where his aunt, Sarah Purchase, had previously run the White Horse public house. This new commercial venture coincided with his marriage to Julia Taylor Leach on 12 August 1869. Julia was the daughter of Robert Leach, a retired farmer who lived in North Lane.

Abraham continued to run the bakery until the 1920s and possibly until his death.

Second marriage

Julia died on 8 November 1908, aged 65. Two years later, Abraham married her younger sister, Laura Bartlett Leach.

Death

Abraham died on 26 November 1933, aged 89. Probate was not granted until 1944, a year after his second wife died, at which point his estate at death was valued at £420.

Children

Abraham and Julia had four sons and five daughters:

1870-Gilbert Leach (assisted his father until he established his own bakery; later moved to Almondsbury);

1871-Alice Julia Leach (died unmarried in 1914, aged 43);

1872-Arthur Henry Partridge (died aged 2);

1875-Sidney Walter Taylor (died aged 1);

1876-Bessie Louisa (married George Eastment in 1911);

1878-Laura Bartlett (died unmarried in 1940, aged 61);

1880-Archibald Abraham (a cheese dealer and smallholder; married Ellen Jane Sansom in 1901);

1882-Ellen Florence Leach (married George Walter White, a carpenter and builder, in 1901);

1884-Gertrude Anna (married William Dawe Taylor, a farmer, in 1907).