Herbert Joseph Voizey was a butcher in the village from about 1870 to 1900.
Early life at East Chinnock
Herbert was born at East Chinnock in 1842. He was the youngest son of Thomas, a carpenter, and his wife, Priscilla (nee Reynolds). His father died in May 1847, leaving Priscilla with five children under 13 and three older children.
On 31 December 1850, Priscilla married William Brown, a saddler. She was 48, and William was 22.
Although Herbert was only eight when Brown married his mother, he retained the name “Voizey” and did not adopt the name “Brown.”
In April 1861, Herbert was a butcher’s labourer at East Chinnock.
On 5 June 1865, he married Mary Matraves of South Petherton, the daughter of a carpenter. They spent the first few years of their married life at East Chinnock, where they had two children.
Life at Hardington
By 1870, Herbert and his family were at Hardington. Mary’s brother, Thomas Matraves, already lived there, having taken over the village forge about one year earlier.
Like many other traders, Herbert sometimes broke the law. In November 1878, he was fined 16s, including costs, for having unjust scales.[1] In August 1886, he was fined £1 and costs for cruelty to a horse, working it when it was covered with wounds from which blood and matter oozed.[2]
Herbert also incurred two small fines for not minding his horse correctly. In March 1891, he was fined 2s 6d and costs for leaving his horse and cart unattended opposite the Butcher’s Arms, Hendford, Yeovil, between four o’clock and half past five on the afternoon of Saturday 14 February.[3] In August 1891, he was fined 1s and 5s costs for allowing his horse to stray at Hardington on 29 June.[4]
By the age of fifty, Herbert was sufficiently well off to make a loan to a relative. On 1 August 1892, Harry William Barge, a cabinet maker, carpenter and undertaker of 4 Goswell Terrace, High Street, Street, filed a bill of sale in favour of Herbert Voisey for £35.[5] Barge’s wife, Elizabeth, may have been Herbert’s first cousin once removed.
On 30 June 1897, Herbert was the principal witness at James Purchase’s inquest.[6]
Herbert died on 2 May 1900, aged 58.
Mary’s later life
Mary continued as a grocer, assisted by her daughter, Mary Annie, who eventually took over the business. In the 1901 census, Mary’s address was cottage 329. She died on 15 March 1924, aged 74.
Children
Herbert and Mary had four sons and five daughters: Thomas, Lillie Louisa, Albert Edward, Beatrice Elizabeth Matraves, Flora, Ernest Albert, Mary Annie, Blanche, and Walter.
References
[1] Western Gazette, 8 November 1878, p.6. Herbert’s name is spelt Voisey.
[2] Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 4 August 1886, p.3. Herbert’s name is spelt Voisey.
[3] Western Gazette, 3 March 1891, p.6. Herbert’s name is spelt Voisey.
[4] Western Gazette, 7 August 1891, p.3. Herbert’s name is spelt Voisey.
[5] Commercial Gazette (London), 3 August 1892, p.6.
[6] Weymouth Telegram, 6 July 1897, p.7.
