Introduction

Henry Purchase was one of Hardington’s earliest schoolmasters, and his position led him to witness several wills. He is also notable as the father of William Purchase, who was a sleighmaker and the landlord of the White Horse Inn.

Birth

 Henry was born at Hardington in about 1777, the son of William and Emma Purchase.

First marriage

On 2 November 1795, Henry married Sarah Morris, the daughter of Jacob and Betty Morris.

They had four children: Elizabeth, William, Mary and John.

Sarah passed away sometime between 1805 and 1824. There is a record of a woman named “Sarah Purchase” who died in July 1825 at the age of 44; however, this death occurred after Henry’s second marriage. It is possible that there is an error in the documentation regarding either her burial or Henry’s second marriage.

Second marriage

On 14 August 1824, Henry married Sarah Rendell, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Rendell. She signed the register with a mark.

By June 1841, they lived at Barry Lane, and Henry was a schoolmaster. In 1843, they lived in what was later Bert Rendell’s house in Rectory Lane.[1] By March 1851, Henry was a canvas weaver.

A witness to wills

Henry had standing in the community as an educated man and acted as a witness to four wills and one codicil. These were:

6 July 1807-the will of William Game

19 December 1835-the will of Edward Bartlett

9 January 1836-the codicil of Edward Bartlett

9 January 1841-the will of Daniel Paul

25 November 1841-the will of John Genge.

Death

Sarah died in November 1853, aged 72 or 73; Henry died in January 1854, aged 77.[2]

Children

Henry and Sarah had four children. Their son, William, became a sleighmaker and the landlord of the White Horse Inn.

References

[1] Hardington tithe map and apportionment.

[2] The civil registration index recorded Sarah’s age as 73, and the Hardington burial register recorded it as 72.