Introduction
George Morey was born in London and moved to Hardington with his parents as a teenager. After a brief period at Ilchester, he married Anne Sandiford at Hardington in 1844 and settled in the village, where he worked as a tailor. Unfortunately, he drank heavily and abused his wife.
Childhood in London and Haselbury
George was born in London in about 1822. He was the son of William Morey, a tailor, and his first wife, Sophia. His parents married at Christ Church Greyfriars, Newgate, on 8 July 1820. His father was originally from Haselbury, and by October 1828, the family had relocated there.
Move to Hardington
His parents moved to Hardington between February 1837 and June 1840, taking up residence in Partway Cottage.
Early conviction
On 9 June 1840, George was admitted to Ilchester prison and bound over to keep the peace for six months. The goal admissions register describes him as a seventeen-year-old tailor, 5 feet 5 inches tall, “smart” in his build, with a fair complexion, a long face, light brown hair and grey eyes. He could read well and write imperfectly.
The register gives his last place of abode as Hardington. After his release, he lived with his uncle, George Morey, at the Bush Inn, Ilchester.[1]
Marriage
On 9 July 1844, George married Anne Sandiford, the daughter of Henry and Joanna Sandiford, at Hardington.
Residences
The 1851 census shows them living in one of seven houses at “Cross” near the centre of the village; the 1861 census shows them living in the High Street next to Giles Hodges. By April 1871, they lived opposite Manor Farm.
Father’s emigration
In October 1848, George’s father emigrated to Australia with his second wife and two children. The emigration documents record their religious affiliation as Wesleyan.
Witness to a neighbour’s will
On 21 September 1859, George and his father-in-law, Henry Sandiford, witnessed Charles Groves’s will.
Two glimpses of George’s business
In 1860, Robert Honeymoon was charged with stealing a sovereign from George’s son while buying bread. The case shows that George sold bread in addition to making clothes.[2]
In December 1876, George accused his employee, Albert Marsh, of damaging some cider. The magistrates fined Marsh 10s.[3]
Drunkenness and domestic abuse
George was a heavy drinker. On Saturday, 5 October 1861, he visited several public houses and became very drunk. At East Chinnock, a man named William Ellis, alias Guppy, offered to see him home but then tripped him up and ran off with his bundle containing a handkerchief and two waistcoats, leaving George prostrate in the mud.[4]
When drunk, George often attacked his wife. On the morning of Friday, 13 August 1869, after coming home drunk the previous evening, he began punching her repeatedly on the back of her head and neck. Her cries of “Murder” were heard by Elizabeth Marsh, who ran to the house to help her. At the Yeovil County Petty Sessions on the following Monday, George’s wife testified that he often used her very badly and had done so for years past whenever he was under the influence of drink. She was afraid that he would do her some serious injury unless he was prevented from doing so. Elizabeth Marsh, Richard Genge and Rev Vassall gave evidence about George’s violent conduct towards his wife and his drunken habits. The magistrates gave him two months hard labour and bound him over for six months for the sum of £40.[5]
Death and administration of his estate
Anne died on 6 August 1895, aged 77; George died on 21 August 1895, aged 73.[6] George left effects valued at £35-4s-7d.[7] Their son, Henry William, died on 1 September 1895, aged 46.[8]
The Yeovil auctioneer, Mr W. Redwood, was instructed to sell George’s assets. On 3 September 1895, he auctioned George’s furniture, pigs, poultry, two acres of apples, a small rick of hay and five acres of keep.[9] On 21 October 1895, he auctioned George’s three freehold cottages at Chiselborough, which sold for £95.[10]
Children
George and Anne had five children:
1844- Sophia Jane (married Luke Axe, an employee of the Great Western Railway who rose from porter to passenger inspector; she died at Bristol in 1929);
1847- Mary Sandiford (married John Dean Pratt, who became a coachman for the Bristol carriage company; she died at Bristol in 1925);
1849- Henry William (married Elizabeth Tizzard at Hardington in 1874; worked as a tailor in the village; and died in 1895, shortly after his parents)
1851- Edward George (farm labourer in April 1861, living with his grandfather, Henry Sandiford; later whereabouts unknown);
Circa 1853- George William (at home in 1861; later whereabouts unknown).
The will of George Morey
Executors: Henry Morey and Arthur Reynolds, both of Hardington.
£2 to each executor when his wife dies.
To “dear wife”, Ann, a life interest in the whole estate
He instructed his executors to sell his three cottages at Chiselborough within three months of his wife’s death and his household effects at the same time. He instructed them to divide the proceeds equally between his three children residing in England: Sophia Jane Axe, residing at Brighton; Mary Sandiford Pratt, residing at Brighton; and Henry William Morey, residing at Hardington.
References
[1] 1841 census.
[2] Sherborne Mercury, 10 July 1860, p.9.
[3] Bridgwater Mercury, 13 December 1876, p.6.
[4] Western Daily Press, 3 January 1862, p 2.
[5] Western Gazette, 20 August 1869, p.7.
[6] Taunton Courier and Weekly Advertiser, 4 September 1895, p.8 gives his date of death as 20 August, but the grant of probate gives it as 21 August.
[7] The will of George Morey, dated 10 August 1893, proved at Taunton on 28 March 1896.
[8] Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser, 3 September 1895, p.6.
[9] Western Gazette, 30 August 1895, p.1.
[10] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 30 October 1895, p .6.