Introduction

James Milverton lived in the adjoining parishes of Pendomer, West Coker, East Chinnock and Hardington for about 50 years, during which time he worked as a shoemaker. In 1859, he lost his three youngest children to smallpox. In 1862 or 1863, he and his family moved to Membury in Devon, where he became a farm labourer.

Early life

James’s parents, George Milverton and Sarah Rendell, were married at Corscombe on 17 March 1813 and settled in Sarah’s home parish of Pendomer, where George worked as a farm labourer. James was born within four months of their marriage, as he was baptised at Pendomer on 11 July 1813.

After the birth of their tenth and last child in 1837, George and Sarah moved to Coker Hill. West Coker. By March 1851, they had moved to Patch Lake, East Coker.

When George was about 70, he took on Paviott’s Mill, East Coker, where he remained until his death in 1867.[1]

Early married life

The 1841 census recorded James as a shoemaker living with his parents at Coker Hill.[2] It is unclear if he had his own business at that time.

On 12 June 1842, James married Elizabeth Chaffey at Crewkerne. The marriage register recorded Crewkerne as his place of residence, while Elizabeth was a domestic servant at South Perrott, and the daughter of Thomas Chaffey, a carrier of East Chinnock. James signed the register, but Elizabeth made her mark.

James and Elizabeth lived at Hardington from about 1842 until 1845. By 1848, they had moved to East Chinnock, where they lived in Yeovil Road.

By 1852, they had returned to Hardington, where they lived near Manor Farm for about ten years. By the time of the 1861 census, James’s son, Thomas, was also a shoemaker.

Smallpox

In 1859, James and Betsy faced the heartbreaking loss of their three youngest children to smallpox: Charlotte, aged 9 months, on January 24; Sarah, aged 3 years, on January 27; and Job, aged 5 years, on March 6.

Life at Membury

Between June 1862 and June 1863, James and his family moved twenty miles west to Membury in Devon, where he changed his occupation from shoemaker to farm labourer. The reasons for this change are unknown, but it may be significant that James’s younger brother, Job, lived at Dalwood, three miles from Membury, during the early 1860s.

Shortly after their move, two of their children died: Edward Job in the second quarter of 1863, aged 1, and Mary Jane in the third quarter of 1863, aged 18. In addition, their eldest son, Thomas, died at Crewkerne in 1864, aged 21, eleven months after his marriage.

James lived at Membury for the rest of his life, residing in at least two places in the parish. In April 1871, he and his family lived at Virdley, and in April 1881, they were at Marsh Cottage, near North Mill.[3]

Two court cases suggest that James stood up for his rights. In September 1870, he sued a Membury man named Rice for payment for three days of reaping at Ilchester. He had agreed to help Rice and three other men cut the corn in return for a share of the price agreed with the farmer. However, he left after three days because he did not like having to sleep in a tallet or attic. He was only awarded 4s 9d, which was equal to Rice’s counterclaim for lodgings.[4] In 1880, James accused Charles Summers of assaulting him on 3 August at Stockland. After hearing the evidence, the Bench dismissed the case.[5]

James died in or near Membury in 1889, aged 76.

Elizabeth’s later life

In April 1891, Elizabeth lived alone at Yew Tree Cottage, Membury, which consisted of only two rooms.

By the time of her death in 1898, aged 73, she was living at 8 Kew Place, Bath Road, Cheltenham, which was probably the home or near the home of her son, George. Her body was interred at Cheltenham on 3 December 1898.

Children

James and Elizabeth had twelve children, including two sons who had long careers in the police force.

Thomas, their eldest son, married Mary Jane Wills at Crewkerne on 2 February 1864. He died in December 1864, aged 21.

References

[1] Western Gazette, 22 November 1867, p.6. He died as a result of a rain water shoot falling on his head.

[2] The census recorded his name as Thomas.

[3] Virdley has not been found on OS maps but was near Osmore Farm.

[4] Western Times, 22 September 1870, p.4.

[5] Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 20 August 1880, p.7.