Introduction

George Burbidge was born at Beaminster in 1839 and spent his entire life within a ten-mile quadrant north and east of that town. After running dairies for about twenty years, including at Landsdown Farm, Hardington, he took on the tenancy of Loxtree Farm, Evershot, where he died in 1919 at the age of 80.

Birth

George Burbidge was born at Beaminster in 1839, the fourth child of John and Elizabeth Burbidge.

Father

George’s father, John, was a thatcher who, in June 1841, lived in East Street, Beaminster.

In the mid-1840s, John switched from thatching to farming, living briefly at Sminney Farm, Marshwood, and then at Knapp Farm, Corscombe.

In 1863, John left Knap Farm to move to Chedington, where he returned to thatching.[1] He died in July 1875, aged 71.

Early working life

George began his working life helping on his father’s farm. By February 1868, he was a dairyman at Halstock.

First marriage

On 25 February 1868, George married Ann Churchill at Toller Porcorum. George was 29, and Ann was 32.

Ann was the daughter of Samuel Churchill, a dairyman at Over Kingcombe, a hamlet within the parish of Toller Porcorum. However, the 1851 and 1861 censuses recorded her occupation as a dressmaker rather than a dairy worker.

Hardington

By April 1871, George and Ann lived at Landsdown Farm, Hardington.

On 9 February 1872, a policeman saw George in the Borough, Yeovil, with a donkey whose flanks ran with blood. Upon further inspection, the officer found that George was carrying a stick with a sharp awl attached to one end, which he confiscated as evidence. At the Borough Petty Sessions on 5 March 1872, the magistrates fined George 5s and costs for mistreating his donkey.[2]

West Chelborough

By April 1875, George and his family lived at West Chelborough, where they remained until at least April 1877.

Rampisham

By April 1881, George was a dairyman living at “Yard,” Rampisham. He employed both a dairymaid and a dairy boy.

Ann’s death

George’s first wife, Ann, died at Rampisham in May 1882, aged 46.

Second marriage

On 6 December 1885, George married Sarah Ann Cole at Corscombe. George was 46, and Sarah was 36, young enough to give him two more sons.

Although Sarah’s father, James Cole, was a farmer, when he died in July 1891, he left no will nor anything to administer through the probate courts. Despite not being wealthy herself, Sarah may have used her expertise and connections to help George secure a farm.

Evershot

Between 1891 and 1901, George and his family moved to Loxtree Farm, Evershot.

After her father’s death, George’s sister-in-law, Mary Jane Cole, joined his household until her death on 17 January 1911.[3]

First World War

On 6 March 1916, a local tribunal granted George’s son, Ernest, conditional exemption from military service:

“Ernest Harold Burbidge, aged 28, of Loxtree Farm, Evershot, farmer; parents aged 76 and 70 respectively; farms 137 acres, 9 of which are arable, and 42 head of cow stock kept; conditional exemption.”[4]

Death

George’s death, at the age of 80, was registered in the second quarter of 1919.

On 27 March 1919, Sarah was admitted to Herrison Hospital, where she died on 6 July 1919, aged 69.[5] Neither George nor Sarah left a will.

Children

George had five children from his first marriage:

1869-Edith, who lived at Beaminster and who never married;

1871-James Churchill Burbidge, who occupied Bridge Farm, Melbury Osmond;

1873-Harriet Notting, who, in 1905, married her first cousin, William Churchill, a farmer at Higher Kingcombe;

1875-Annie Churchill, who, in 1901, married Edward Russell Bennett Wallbridge, a farmer at Higher Kingcombe;

1877-Samuel George, who disappears from the records after 1891.

From his second marriage, George had two sons:

1887-Ernest Arnold, who occupied Loxtree Farm until at least the Second World War;

1889-Charles, who became a head teacher at Havant.

References

[1] Dorset County Chronicle, 19 February 1863, p.20.

[2] Western Gazette, 8 March 1872, p.7. The account printed George’s name as “George Burbage.”

[3] Western Gazette, 27 January 1911, p.1.

[4] Bridport News, 10 March 1916, p.8.

[5] Herrison Hospital archive at Dorset Heritage Centre: reference NG-HH/CMR/4/33/1315