Introduction

George White was a dairyman throughout his working life, running dairies in various villages between Beaminster and Yeovil. In April 1881, he was a dairyman at Hill End, Hardington. He later lived at Closworth and Burstock before returning to Broadwindsor, where he grew up. His wife, Joan, was the daughter of Benjamin Cox, who farmed at Romsey Harm, Hardington, during the 1830s and 1840s.

Early life

George was born at Charmouth in December 1850, the son of Charles and Elizabeth White.[1] His father, Charles, was a dairyman. His mother, Elizabeth, was born at Haselbury in about 1817 and was the daughter of George Pitt, a sawyer. Shortly after George’s birth, his family moved to Marshwood.

When George was one year old, his family suffered a devastating blow when a lightning strike killed his father.[2] To add to the turmoil, his mother was heavily pregnant at the time and about to give birth.[3] When this child, named Ann, was baptised at Marshwood on 24 October 1852, the family’s address was Sminney Dairy; later, Elizabeth and her two children moved to Broadwindsor.

Elizabeth was the sole caregiver for her children until February 1859, when she married William Brownsdon. Although William was a carpenter by trade, he turned to dairying after their marriage. By April 1861, he was a dairyman at Clapton Bridge, Broadwindsor; ten years later, he was a dairyman at North Dibberford in the same parish.

Marriage

George left home as soon as he could. On 17 December 1866, he married Joan Cox at Marston Magna. At the time, George was about 16, and Joan was seven years older. Although they married at Marston Magna, Joan was the daughter of the late Benjamin Cox of Baker’s Mill Farm, Broadwindsor. During the 1830s and 1840s, Benjamin was the tenant of Romsey Farm, Hardington.

Career as a dairyman

George was a dairyman throughout his adult life; like most dairymen, he frequently changed his place of work.

When he married in 1866, George was a dairyman at Dibberford. By 1867, he and Joan lived at Baker’s Mill, Mosterton; in 1869, they lived at East Coker; and from 1871 to 1873, they lived at Hooke.[4] By April 1881, they lived at Hill End, Hardington, close to Bridge Close Farm.

Following their time at Hardington, they lived at the Dairy House, Closworth in April 1891, and later at Burstock, where they lived from at least March 1901 to April 1911.

Family life

When Joan gave birth to her third child, Ann, in March 1871, her two older children were packed off to George’s mother and stepfather temporarily. At the time of the 1871 census, George had two servants in his household and a relative named Susan Cox. While living at Hardington, he had no servants, but all four of their children lived at home, some of whom probably helped with the dairy work. Over the following ten years, all the children left home. They had no servants at Closworth but employed one in-house servant at Burstock.[5]

Death

George died at Commonwater, Broadwindsor, in 1919, aged 68. His estate was valued at £368-13s.

Joan’s later life

After George’s death, Joan lived with her married daughter, Ann, at the Forge, Kilmington. Joan died at Bournemouth in 1931, aged 89.

Children

George and Joan had two sons and two daughters.

References

[1] No record of the civil registration of his birth has been found, but the census taken on 30 March 1851 recorded his age as 4 months. He was baptised at Charmouth on Christmas Day 1850.

[2] Note in Marshwood burial register.

[3] When Ann Pitt White was baptised at Marshwood on 24 October 1852, Elizabeth’s address was Sminney Dairy, Marshwood.

[4] Birthplaces of their four children.

[5] The 1901 census recorded a fourteen-year-old boy working as a “servant in dairy,” and the 1911 census a twenty-year-old “dairy chap”.