Introduction

Edward Apsey belonged to a family that had lived at Hardington for generations. Unfortunately, during his lifetime, his status declined from farmer to farm labourer, and in his advanced old age, he took up work as a carrier.

Birth

Edward, the seventh child of Joseph and Mary Apsey, was born at Hardington in about 1791. His father, Joseph, was a farmer.

Parish offices

Edward was a tithingman in 1822 and 1824, an overseer in 1827 and a churchwarden from 1835 to 1838 and in 1842 and 1844.^[1]

Marriage

On 16 January 1823, Edward married Mary Reynolds, the daughter of Joel Reynolds, at East Chinnock.

Occupations

Edward was a farmer from at least 1823.

The tithe survey recorded him as the occupier of 58 acres owned by John Batten and Lord Ilchester, two small plots owned by Lord Ilchester and himself and an allotment in Cold Harbour. His farm later became known as Bishop’s Farm.

In about 1847, John’s occupation changed from farmer to farm labourer, suggesting a financial crisis.[2]

The 1871 census recorded him as a carrier. Given his age, this work was probably part-time and only semi-commercial.

Residences

The tithe apportionment shows Edward as the occupier of plot 318, a house, barton, and orchard, while his father occupied plot 317, a house. His father died in March 1843 at the age of 89.

In about 1862, Edward became the occupier of a house in Barry Lane owned by his daughter’s husband, Robert Dodge.[3]

Sale

On 16 September 1852, at the New Inn, West Coker, Mr B Watts, the auctioneer, sold 41 acres at Hardington in four lots and a £400 policy on the life of Edward Apsey. The tithe map recorded the land as belonging to John Batten and Lord Ilchester, with Edward Apsey occupying all of it, except for plot 317 (Boleshay), which his brother, Joseph, occupied. Batten and Ilchester may have decided to sell the land after Edward ceased farming.

Death

Mary died on 10 May 1868 at the age of 76; Edward died on 29 May 1873 at the age of 81.

Children

Edward and Mary had four sons and four daughters:

Circa 1823-Grace (married Robert Bartlett John Eastment Washington Dodge in 1844)

Circa 1825-Joseph (a carpenter; lived in Portsea, Elton and Brinklow; died in 1910);

Circa 1825-Edward (lived with his grandfather in 1841; later whereabouts unknown);

Circa 1827-Elizabeth (married Robert Allan, a Yeovil butcher, in 1854);

Circa 1830-Susan (married William Smith in London in 1865);

Circa 1833-George (a labourer at Shere in Surrey in 1871);

Circa 1834-Sarah Anne (married Enoch James Bartlett in 1862);

Circa 1838-John Thomas (emigrated to America).

References

[1] Hardington jury lists.

[2] Edward is recorded on Hardington voters’ lists from 1835 to 1847 as an occupier of lands but not subsequently.

[3] Guardian valuations.