Introduction
Betsy Morris, born in about 1845 in Hardington, worked as a dairymaid for the farmer, Giles Hodges, in April 1861. In April 1869, she married Samuel Salisbury, who initially worked as a groom and coachman before later becoming a gardener. However, in the 1890s, they separated, with Samuel moving to Bournemouth while Betsy remained at Stoke-sub-Hamdon.
Early life at Hardington
Betsy was born at Hardington in about 1845, the fourth child of Jacob and Mary Morris. Her father worked as a weaver and later a farm labourer.
Betsy’s birth was registered as “Betsy Marris” in the first quarter of 1845, but she was baptised as “Elizabeth Morris.” By April 1861, she was a dairymaid living in the household of Giles Hodges, a farmer who lived in the High Street, Hardington..
Marriage
On 27 April 1869, Betsy married Samuel Salisbury at Hardington. Samuel was the son of Daniel Salisbury, a bootmaker of Haselbury.
Beaminster
After their marriage, Samuel initially worked as a groom at Beaminster. He may have worked at Mapperton House, as census returns recorded Mapperton as the place of birth of his first two children.
By April 1871, Samuel and his family lived at Coombe, Beaminster.
Merriott
By April 1881, Samuel and his family lived at Merriott, close to Blair Athol House, where Samuel probably worked as a coachman.
By July 1883, Samuel was employed as a gardener at Merriott Nurseries.
Stoke-Sub-Hamdon
By March 1888, Samuel and his family lived at Stoke-sub-Hamdon. The 1891 census recorded their address as West Street.
The upheavals of the 1890s.
The 1890s brought significant changes to Betsy’s family life.
In 1890, Samuel and Betsy’s eldest son, George, married Susan Tanner of West Chinnock. They moved to Bristol, where Susan died two years later.
At about his time, on 25 May 1891, Betsy’s daughter, Mary, gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Sarah Ann Strickland Salisbury.
Most importantly, Samuel and Betsy decided to live apart. Samuel relocated to Bournemouth while Sarah remained at Stoke-sub-Hamdon.
The new reality
By March 1901, Samuel had established a gardening business and lived at 77 Windham Road, Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Betsy, her daughter, Elizabeth, and granddaughter, Sarah, lived in a four-room house in West Street, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, where Betsy worked as a glove finisher.
Death of daughter
Betsy’s daughter, Elizabeth, died in 1903 at the age of 20.
Later life
In March 1911, Betsy lived in the High Street at Stoke-sub-Hamdon with her son, Samuel, and granddaughter, Sarah.
In 1915, Sarah married Benjamin Gaylard, a labourer in the stone quarries, and they had a son, Evan, the following year. Tragically, Benjamin was killed on the Western Front on 14 December 1916. In 1920, Sarah found love again and married Ernest Drayton, another quarryman.
In June 1921, Betsy lived in Castle Street with her son, Samuel.
Death
Betsy died in the Coventry area (probably at the home of her son, William) in 1927, at the age of 82.
Samuel died in the Bournemouth area in 1937 at the age of 86.
Children
Samuel and Betsy had four sons and two daughters:
1870- George (became a labourer in Bristol; died in about 1959).
1871- Mary (a cook at Bedford in 1901; later whereabouts unknown);
Circa 1876- Daniel (died in infancy)
1877- William (newsagent at Bournemouth; died in Coventry in 1939);
1881- Samuel (worked as a layer-out in the glove industry; resided at Stoke-sub-Hamdon and Yeovil; died in 1964);
1883- Elizabeth (a garter machinist in 1901; died in 1903).
