Introduction

This is the life story of Alfred Charles Trim, who overcame early challenges to build a successful career in farming, becoming the owner of two farms, one at Chilthorne Domer and the other at East Coker.

Childhood

Alfred Charles, the eighth child of John and Mary Ann Trim, was born at Chillington on 17 May 1862. He spent his early years in Chillington and Purse Caundle.

Life at Hardington

By July 1880, the Trim family had relocated to Hardington, where his parents ran a dairy.

His father died in 1881, and his mother in 1882. Following the grant of probate for his mother on 4 September 1882, Alfred inherited one-eighth of his late father’s estate.

In December 1882, Alfred married Elizabeth Trask, the daughter of George and Harriet Trask.

Broadway

Their first child, George, was born at Broadway on 20 December 1883.

West Coker

From 1885 to 1887, Alfred and his family lived at West Coker.

Thorne Coffin

From about 1888 to 1897, Alfred was a dairy manager at Thorne Coffin.

Yeovil Marsh

In about 1897, Alfred acquired the tenancy of Broad Marsh Farm, Yeovil Marsh, renting the 81-acre holding from the executors of Robert Donne.[1] Following the death of Donne’s widow on 10 February 1907, the farm was sold by auction on 24 May 1907 in three lots. Mr Chafyn-Grove of East Coker bought the farm buildings and 66 acres for £2,300 and a five-acre field for £575; Mr S Willie bought two fields covering nine acres for £650.[2]

Alfred became an active participant in local agricultural and community affairs, exemplified by his election to the Parish Council in April 1899, a position he held for the remainder of his life. His involvement extended to his role as overseer of the Yeovil Without Parish Council starting in 1908 and participation in the Yeovil and Yeovil Without Joint Burial Board.[3]

In the latter part of his life, Alfred achieved a degree of financial stability that enabled him to purchase his farm in 1919. This opportunity arose when the Messiter and Troyte-Bullock families offered 500 acres for sale in Yeovil Marsh, including six dairy farms, one of them Alfred’s, which he bought as the sitting tenant.[4] He also secured Skinner’s Hill Farm in East Coker in 1921 for his son, George.[5]

Death

Alfred passed away at Yeovil Marsh on 24 October 1922, aged 60, from an illness of the lungs. Two horses drew his body from Broad Marsh farm to Yeovil cemetery in a hearse, and four men who were present or former employees on the farm bore his polished oak coffin to the graveside. All his children attended the service, save for his daughter, Elizabeth, who was in Canada.[6]

At the time of his death, Alfred’s estate was valued at £7,729 17s 11d.[7] Subsequently, on 25 September 1924, his executors held a sale of livestock, implements and dairy utensils at the farm.[8]

Elizabeth’s later life

Following Alfred’s death, his executors carried on the farm with his son, George until 1929.[9] George’s sister, Florence and her husband, James Marks, succeeded him.[10]

George and his wife, Lilian, moved to Bournemouth, where George’s uncle, Henry Trask, owned private apartments and ran a gardening business. By September 1939, George had acquired the Grosvenor Hotel, Bournemouth.

Elizabeth Trim, Alfred’s widow, made her will on February 13, 1928, while residing at 64 The Avenue in Yeovil. Within four years, she moved to 105 Alumhurst Road, situated near the sea. Elizabeth passed away on July 8, 1932, at the Victoria Nursing Home in Bournemouth, at the age of 73, leaving an estate valued at £888 17s 5d. She left a legacy of £100 to her son, Harry, and directed her executors to divide the remainder equally between all her children living at her decease.[11]

Children

Alfred and Elizabeth had six children.

The will of Alfred Charles Trim

Executors and trustees: my son, George, my son, Frank, and my brother-in-law, Henry Trask of Bournemouth.

To my daughter, Annie: my piano and mahogany chest of drawers.

To my wife, Elizabeth: the free use of my household furniture and effects for life (except as specifically bequeathed) and then to my daughter, Annie, absolutely. And the right to remain in the farmhouse for so long as my trustees carry on my business of a farmer.

To my trustees: the remainder of my estate on trust to carry on my business of a farmer for 21 years from my decease if my wife shall so long live or such shorter period as they think it desirable.

I direct that if my sons or daughters work on the farm, they shall be paid good wages.

I direct that if my trustees consider it desirable to cease to carry on the said business during my wife’s life, they offer it to my sons, George and Frank.

Subject to the provisions for carrying on my farming business, my trustees shall stand possessed of my real and personal estate upon trust to convert the same into money and invest, paying the income to my wife for life and, after her death, to pay £500 to my son, Harry, and £500 to my daughter, Annie, and £500 to my son, Frank, and the residue to the six children, George, Florence, Henry, Annie, Elizabeth and Frank in equal shares as tenants in common. If any of my children, except my daughter, Elizabeth, dies in my lifetime or the lifetime of my wife, leaving issue living at my death or the death of my wife, such issue shall stand in the place of such deceased child.

I direct my trustees after the death of my wife to offer my farming business, including the farm stock, implements, and farm effects and my farmhouse and premises to my son, George, at the price to be fixed by mutual agreement or by valuation as hereinafter mentioned [later reference to the Arbitration Act]. If he declines the offer, my trustees shall make a similar offer to my son, Frank. If he declines too, my trustees shall be at liberty to sell the same to any person by auction or private contract.

Wit: solicitor and clerk.

Codicil

Since making my will, I have purchased a farmhouse, cottages, and about 27 acres of land at Skinners Hill, East Coker.

I direct my trustees to offer to let the same to my son, George, on a yearly tenancy at a fair annual rent with the power to determine the tenancy at the end of any year by six months and pay the income to my wife for life. I direct that after her death the said premises shall be sold under the trusts of my will with the option for my sons, George and Frank, to purchase the same. The son purchasing the other farm shall not have such an option until his brother has refused to accept it in writing.

Wit: solicitor and clerk.[12]

References

[1] Western Chronicle, 3 November 1922, p.6.

[2] Western Gazette, 10 May 1907, p.1; Western Chronicle, 31 May 1907, p.5.

[3] Western Chronicle, 3 November 1922, p.6.

[4] Western Chronicle, 8 August 1919, p.5

[5] The will of Alfred Charles Trim, dated 18 December 1920, and codicil, dated 31 January 1921, proved in London on 30 December 1922. Alfred must have bought the farm privately, as it was not advertised in the newspapers.

[6] Western Chronicle, 3 November 1922, p.6.

[7] The will of Alfred Charles Trim, dated 18 December 1920, and codicil, dated 31 January 1921, proved in London on 30 December 1922.

[8] Western Gazette, 19 September 1924, p.1.

[9] Western Gazette, 8 February 1929, p.1;15 March 1929, p.1. In 1929 and later, the farm was called Broadmead Farm, the name used in the 1911 census.

[10] Western Gazette, 29 August 1930, p.8. In 1940, the farm (which by then was 136.5 acres) was sold by private treaty (Western Gazette, 2 August 1940, p.7).

[11] The will of Elizabeth Trim, dated 13 February 1929, proved at Bristol on 2 November 1932.

[12] The will of Alfred Charles Trim, dated 18 December 1920, and codicil, dated 31 January 1921, proved in London on 30 December 1922.