Introduction

Esau Harrison was a farmer at Hardington during the early years of the nineteenth century. He settled in the parish after marrying Mary Bartlett in 1803. The couple remained there until the death of Mary’s parents in 1817, after which they moved to Skinner’s Hill in East Coker. Despite this move, Hardington remained significant to the family, as evidenced by the burials of Mary and two of their adult daughters in the parish churchyard.

Birth

Esau, the son of Lionel and Mary Harrison, was born at East Coker in about 1774.[1]

Marriage

On 17 February 1803, Esau married Mary Bartlett at Hardington by banns. Mary was the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Bartlett.

Residence

Esau and Mary lived at Hardington until at least 1817.

All eleven of their children were born at Hardington. On 27 June 1813, four of the children were baptised together: a twin of girls, another girl and a boy.

Inheritance

Mary’s father, Joseph Bartlett, died on 10 April 1817, leaving Mary a portion of his estate. He bequeathed her a legacy of £100 (reduced from £150 by codicil) and an annuity of £5 payable after the death of her mother.[2]

East Coker

By February 1823, Esau and his family lived at Skinner’s Hill, East Coker. However, the family retained a strong attachment to Hardington, as three of Esau’s daughters and his wife, Mary, who died in November 1835 at the age of 59, were buried there.

By June 1841, Esau and his family lived at Burton Lane, East Coker.

Esau died in 1846, aged about 72, but no record of his burial has been found.[3]

Children

Esau and Mary had three sons and eight daughters:

1803-Anne (may have died in infancy);

1805-Susannah (died at East Coker aged 18);

1807-Mary (died in infancy);

   ?   -Esau (buried 5 March 1807, no age recorded)

1809-a son whose name has been lost due to a torn page in Hardington’s baptism register;

Circa 1810-Mary (died at East Coker aged 18);

Circa 1811-Edith (spent her entire life at East Coker; died unmarried in 1876);

Circa 1813-Thomas (died at Hardington, aged one);

Circa 1813-Sarah (spent her entire life at East Coker; died unmarried in 1862);

Circa 1815-Thirza (worked as a domestic servant at Paignton and Tormoham; died unmarried at East Coker in 1883);

Circa 1817-Margaret Bartlett (died at East Coker, aged 23)

References

[1] Esau was baptised at East Coker on 3 April 1774.

[2] The will of Joseph Bartlett of Hardington, Yeoman, dated 9 October 1813, and codicil, dated 7 November 1815, proved at Wells on 31 March 1818.

[3] His death was registered in the Yeovil district in Q3 1846, with his age recorded as 78, which is probably too high.