Introduction

Elizabeth Park is closely associated with significant elements of Hardington’s history. She was a Schoolmistress at Hardington School during the 1860s and 1870s, and her second husband, William Park, helped build and maintain the railway line that runs through the parish. Elizabeth’s life story is also remarkable for the sadness it contains. Her first husband and two of her children died from illnesses, and her second husband died in a dreadful road accident.

Childhood at Melbury Osmond

Elizabeth was born at Melbury Osmond in about 1810, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Barrett. Her father was a farmer who moved to Hardington before 1832.

First marriage

On 22 January 1835, Elizabeth married John Genge of Hardington at Crewkerne parish church. The marriage entry suggests that they married at Crewkerne because  they lived there at the time. However, it also suited them to marry outside of Hardington because Elizabeth was more than four months pregnant.[i]

The couple initially established their home at Hardington, where John worked as a labourer. About seven years later, he secured a position as a gamekeeper at Staple Fitzpaine, an opening that seemed to promise a better future.[2] Unfortunately, John’s new career was cut short by severe health problems that forced their return to Hardington. John died on 19 October 1846 from ulcerative colitis at the age of 32, leaving Elizabeth with five young children to support.[3]

Second marriage

In 1848, Elizabeth married William Park of Hardington. William was about 21, while Elizabeth was about 38.

White Vine

By March 1851, the family lived at White Vine, where William worked as a farm labourer.

Children’s deaths

Elizabeth had two daughters with William: Rhoda, born in about 1849, and Maria Elizabeth, born in 1851.

On 13 May 1852, Elizabeth’s eldest child, Francis John Genge, died from rheumatic pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart) at the age of 17. On 14 October 1858, her youngest child, Maria Elizabeth, passed away from influenza at the age of 7.

Hardington Marsh

In the late 1850s, construction began on the railway line that traverses the parish. By October 1858, William had given up farm work to become a railway navy.[4] After the line was completed, he joined the maintenance team and was allocated accommodation in one of the railway cottages at Hardington Marsh. He and Elizabeth lived there until the early 1880s.

By April 1861, Elizabeth had become the schoolmistress of the first school, a role she continued in until the 1870s.

On 15 January 1870, Elizabeth’s son, James Barrett, Genge, was baptised at Hardington church at the age of 32. He and his siblings, Frances Jane and Rhoda, were not baptised as children, but the others were baptised, suggesting the omissions were not for ideological reasons.

By April 1871, all five of Elizabeth’s surviving children had left home.[5]

Bridgend

By April 1881, Elizabeth’s daughter, Elizabeth Barrett, lived at Bridgend in South Wales, where her husband, John Bartlett, worked as an agent for a soda water manufacturer. The young couple must have persuaded William and Elizabeth to join them. By September 1885, William and Elizabeth lived at 24 Nolton Street, Bridgend, and William worked as a delivery man in the soda water business.[6]

Sadly, the move did not turn out as planned. On 30 September 1885, while making deliveries, William’s cart crashed down an embankment, leading to his death six days later.[7]

Elizabeth continued to reside at Bridgend until her death in December 1888 at the age of 78.[8]

Children

Elizabeth had three sons and two daughters with John Genge and two daughters with William Park.

References

[1] Their first child, Francis John, was baptised at Hardington on 13 June 1835.

[2] Staple Fitzpaine baptism register; South Perrott marriage register: entry for John’s daughter, Elizabeth Barrett Genge, on 30 January 1875.

[3] John Genge’s death certificate.

[4] William Park was a railroad labourer when he registered the death of Maria Elizabeth on 17 October 1858.

[5] Apart from Elizabeth, nothing is known about them after 1861.

[6] Bridgend Chronicle, 9 October 1885, p.3.

[7] Bridgend Chronicle, 9 October 1885, p.3; Nolton burial register.

[8] Nolton burial register.