Introduction
George Abbott lived at Hardington for most of his life. In his late twenties, he resorted to theft, but after serving six months in prison, he returned to the village and resumed working there as before. His life story also includes the sad death of his son, a former soldier, from tuberculosis.
Birth
George was born in about 1826 at East Coker, the second child of John and Jane Abbott. His father was a farm labourer.
Removal order
Between December 1826 and July 1828, George’s parents moved to Hardington. However, they must have returned to East Coker because, in March 1830, the family was subject to a removal order from East Coker to Hardington. George is named on the order as being about 4 years old.
Occupation
George was a farm labourer for most of his life. The only exception comes from the 1871 census, which recorded him as a railway platelayer.
Marriage
On 2 August 1853, George married Sarah Saunders at Chedington. They both signed the register with a cross. Sarah was the daughter of Charles and Christiana Saunders. Two years earlier, Sarah and her younger sister, Selina, were farm servants at Cowcroft Farm.[1] Shortly before she married, Sarah registered the birth of a son, Charles Saunders, who later used the name “Charles Saunders Abbott.[2] While it is impossible to know if George was the biological father, we will assume that he was.
Prison sentence
In 1855, George spent six months in prison for stealing three hurdles and a sheep from Mr J Bartlett of Hardington and a quantity of barley from Abraham Genge, also of Hardington.[3]
Residences
In April 1861, George and his family lived at Hardington Hill, where they may have occupied a house owned by Thomas Isaacs. They were probably still living there ten years later.[4]
By April 1881, they lived at Broadstone and Sarah’s mother, Christiana, lived with them. After Christiana’s death in 1886, Stephen Allcock, a former railway worker, lodged with them.[5]
Death of their soldier son
In the early 1870s, their son¸ Charles, enlisted in the army and served as a private with the 3rd battalion of the 60th Regiment of Foot.[6] In 1875, he was invalided out of the army after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. He returned home to spend his final months with his family, passing away on 26 July 1876, aged 24.[7]
Death
George probably died in 1905, aged 76, and Sarah followed in 1908, also aged 76.
Children
George and Sarah had five children:
1853-Charles Saunders (served with the 3rd battalion of the 60th Regiment of Foot; granted pension in December 1875; died from tuberculosis at Hardington in July 1876);
1856-Georgina (married Edward Delamont at Hardington in 1882; died at Hardington in 1951)
1859-Elizabeth (died aged one);
1862-Joseph (married Mary Jane Russell at Crewkerne in 1886; worked as brewery labourer at Shepton Mallet and a colliery stoker at Taff’s Well near Cardiff; died in 1928);
1865-George (died aged 6 months).
References
[1] Selena Saunders was one of the witnesses to George and Sarah’s wedding, signing with a mark. The other witness was John Bartlett.
[2] Civil Registration Birth Index: birth registered Beaminster Q2 1853; Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925; Hardington burial register.
[3] Sherborne Mercury, 6 February 1855 p. 2; Southern Times and Dorset County Herald, 31 March 1855 p5.
[4] In April 1871, Mary Jane Kilmarten Saunders, the six-year-old illegitimate daughter of Sarah’s sister, Jemina, lived with them.
[5] Western Gazette, 5 March 1886, p.1.
[6] Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925.
[7] Death certificate.
