Introduction

John Slade was born at Beaminster and probably moved to Hardington in 1789 when he married Elizabeth Bartlett. He spent the rest of his life in Hardington, marrying twice more after Elizabeth. According to the 1841 census, he was working as a labourer, but by June 1844, he had become a pauper. His third wife, Betsy, also became a pauper around the same time and lived to be 98 years old, which means she claimed outdoor relief for more than thirty years.

Birth

John, the son of William and Joan Slade, was born at Beaminster on 17 February 1764.[1]

First marriage

On 10 February 1789, John married Elizabeth Bartlett at Hardington. John made a mark in the register, while Elizabeth signed her name.

Over the next eight years, they had three sons and one daughter. Elizabeth died in November 1798.

Second marriage

On 18 June 1799, John married Elizabeth Baker at Hardington. They both made a mark in the register.

Elizabeth died in May 1819 at the age of 58.

John and Betsy’s marriage

On 24 September 1821, at Hardington, John married Elizabeth Bartlett of Halstock. They both made a mark in the register.

The marriage register refers to Elizabeth as “Elizabeth”, but later documents often refer to her as “Betty” or “Betsy.” The register does not indicate whether she was a spinster or a widow.

The 1841 census

The 1841 census shows John, a labourer aged 80, and Betsy, with no recorded occupation, aged 60, living at Hardington Marsh. Their actual ages were 77 and about 63, respectively.

Living with them were Ann Rendell, who was a weaver aged 40, and her illegitimate daughter, Matilda, aged 6.

Paupers

John became a pauper in the 1830s and 1840s, and his son, Robert, contributed towards his support.

On 7 June 1844, James Poole, Hardington’s overseer, summoned Robert to appear at the Yeovil Petty Sessions for refusing to contribute to his father’s support. Despite his plea that he could no longer afford to do so, the Magistrates ordered him to pay 1s a week.[2]

By March 1851, John and Betsy lived in the High Street. They were both paupers, and Roger Purchase, another pauper, lived with them.

Roger Purchase died in January 1855 at the age of 80.

John’s death

John died in April 1853, aged about 91.

Betsy’s later life

Betsy remained a pauper for the rest of her life, living to a great age despite her poverty.

By April 1861, she lodged with Thomas Matthews, a butcher who lived in the High Street. By April 1871, she and another pauper, James Abbott, lodged with Susan Whebby, a laundress who lived in the High Street.

Betsy’s death

Betsy died on 6 January 1876, at the age of 98.[3]

Children

John and his first wife had four children:

1790- Edward (married Susannah Rose Curtis at Portsea in 1818; became a grocer at Westbourne, Sussex, and later a butcher at Headley, Hampshire; died in 1874);

1792- John (married Elizabeth Sugg at Hardington in 1814; resided at Hardington where he worked as a weaver; died in 1843 from a ruptured blood vessel);

1794- Robert (married Elizabeth Hooper at St John’s, Yeovil, in 1821; resided at Hardington, where he farmed on a small scale; died in 1881);

1797- Anne (married William Park, a farm labourer, at Hardington in 1818; resided at Halstock; died in 1865).

References

[1] Beaminster parish registers.

[2] Sherborne Mercury, 8 June 1844, p.3.

[3] Western Gazette, 14 January 1876, p.5.