Introduction
Frederick Burt was born and raised in Pendomer and moved to Hardington Moor with his wife in the 1850s. He worked as a farm labourer for most of his life, but by the time of his death in 1880, he had become a small-scale farmer.[1] Frederick liked making cider and ran an unlicensed cider house from his home in the early 1860s. After his death, his widow ran their smallholding by herself. They did not have any children.
Childhood
Frederick Burt was born around 1826 at Pendomer, the second of nine children born to Robert and Elizabeth Burt. His father was a farm labourer.
When Frederick was about 23, his father died in December 1849 at the age of 54. After his death, Elizabeth was left to care for five children at home, including Frederick.
Marriage
On 17 March 1850, Frederick married Mary Slade at the South Street Chapel, Yeovil.[2] At the time, Frederick was about 24 years old, while Mary was about 29. Mary was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Slade of Hardington. Her father, a sailcloth weaver, had died on 25 April 1850 from a ruptured blood vessel at the age of 52.[3]
Pendomer
Frederick and Mary initially lived at Pendomer, next door to Frederick’s mother.
Move to Hardington
By April 1861, the couple had moved to Hardington Moor, where they lived in a cottage owned by John Glyde.[4] This cottage was probably occupied by Mary’s mother, Elizabeth Slade, until her death in 1859.
Illegal cider sales
At Yeovil petty sessions, on 4 June 1862, Frederick was fined 40s for selling cider without a licence on 11 May. The case rested on the evidence of Robert and Emily Baker, a married couple of West Coker. Emily testified to visiting Frederick’s between five and six in the evening to look for her husband. She found him in an intoxicated state with about nine others, including three women. She saw him order a quart of cider for the women, which Frederick’s wife brought out. When Robert paid for the cider, Emily told Frederick that she would report him. This illegal sale of cider had gone on for some time, as Robert said he first visited twelve months earlier.[5]
Minor traffic offence
On 4 August 1869, Frederick was fined 1s and costs for allowing a donkey and cart to remain in the road at Hendford for an unreasonable time on 28 July.[6]
Allotment
Frederick maintained a connection to Pendomer through an allotment that he tended there. During the 1870s, he won several cash prizes from the Live and Let Live Labourers’ Friendly Society for his allotment: 7s in 1873 and 1875, 5s in 1876 and 6s in 1877.[7]
Death
Frederick died on 17 September 1880 at the age of 54 from heart disease and Bright’s Disease. His death was registered by William Helyar of East Coker, the husband of Mary’s sister, Fanny.[8] Frederick left an estate valued at “under £200,” which he bequeathed entirely to Mary. He also appointed her as his sole executrix.[9]
Mary’s later life
After Frederick’s death, Mary continued residing at Hardington Moor, where she ran their smallholding by herself. She died intestate on 17 November 1890 at the age of 71, leaving an estate valued at £30 5s 3d, administration of which was granted to her sister, Harriett Abbott of Northover. Harriett arranged a sale of Mary’s furniture and effects on 4 December 1890, which included pigs, poultry, hay, a cider press and ten hogsheads of cider.[10]
References
[1] Death certificate of Frederick Burt; the will of Frederick Burt, dated 10 September 1880, proved at Taunton on 23 February 1881.
[2] Information taken from family tree on ancestry.com.
[3] Death certificate of John Slade.
[4] Guardian valuation lists; Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser, 5 March 1861, p.2.
[5] Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette, 10 June 1862, p.2; Sherborne Mercury, 10 June 1862, p.5.
[6] Western Gazette, 6 August 1869, p.7.
[7] Western Gazette 24 October 1873 p.7; Western Gazette 22 October 1874 p.6; The Chard and Ilminster News 14 October 1876 p.3; Western Gazette 12 October 1877 p. 5.
[8] Death certificate of Frederick Burt.
[9] The will of Frederick Burt, dated 10 September 1880, proved at Taunton on 23 February 1881.
[10] Western Chronicle, 28 November 1890, p.1.
