In June 1841, Henry Purchase, aged 64, was a schoolmaster living in Barry Lane.

 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 died between 1805 and 1824. A woman named “Sarah Purchase” died in July 1825, aged 44, but this death did not precede Henry’s second marriage. There may be an error in the documentation regarding 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.

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

A witness to wills

Henry had standing in the community as an educated man. He witnessed four wills and one codicil. These were as follows:

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.

In November 1853, Sarah died, aged 72; in January 1854, Henry died, aged 77.