In April 1881, James Jones Packer was a journeyman baker living at Hardington Moor.

Early life in Rode

James was born in Rode, Somerset, in 1860. He was the youngest son of John Packer, a farm labourer, and his wife, Mary Jones. His parents married at a Baptist chapel in Frome six years earlier.

In April 1861, the family lived in Lower Street. By April 1871, they were living in Upper Street. In this street was the Cross Keys Inn, occupied by Henry Fussell, an innkeeper, grocer and baker. When Henry died in 1875, his son, Sidney, took on his business.

Elopement

The Cross Keys Inn was to prove pivotal in James Packer’s life. While working there as a baker, he formed a strong attachment to his employer’s sister, Fanny, who worked in the family business as a barmaid. When they married at Warminster on 20 May 1879, Fanny was already four months pregnant with their first child. Within the family, there is a tradition that James eloped with his boss’s daughter, whereas it was with his boss’s sister.

The age gap between James and Fanny would have added to the sense of impropriety. While the marriage register records James’s age as 22 and Fanny’s age as 32, their actual ages were 19 and 35, respectively.

First marital home in Shaftesbury

When James and Fanny were married, James was already working in Shaftesbury as a baker.

Fanny joined James in the town, and their first child, William Henry, was born there on 4 October 1879.

Life at Hardington

By July 1880, James and his family had moved to Hardington.[1] The record of a court case of 6 June 1883 reveals that James was a journeyman baker employed by Albert Squire, a baker and grocer at Hardington Moor.[2]

Their time in Hardington only lasted a few years, possibly cut short by the court case in which James  testified against a neighbour accused of stealing straw from Albert Squire. This action may have caused hostility and resentment. On 11 August 1883, James and Fanny organised a sale of furniture and effects because they were leaving the village.[3]

Career with the Great Western Railway

James joined the Great Western Railway as a ganger. The newspaper account of his funeral states that he was employed as a ganger and served the railway company for about thirty years.[4] The evidence from the census returns shows that he began as a railway platelayer (or ganger) and was an engine driver by April 1911.

Residences

By March 1885, James and his family lived in Keynsham. By April 1891, they had moved to Bath and lived at 2 Greenfield Place, Lyncombe and Widcombe.

They then moved a few miles east of Bath. By March 1901, they lived at 2 Rose Cottages, Bathampton, where James worked as an engine driver at a sawmill. By April 1911, they lived at Brookside, Batheaston, where James worked as an “Engineman” for a railway company. He was still there ten years later, working as an “Engineman” for the Great Western Railway.

Death and military funeral

James’s final residence was Yew Cottage, Batheaston. He intestate died on 1 January 1935, aged 74, leaving effects valued at £632-9s-8d. His wife had died in 1926, aged 82.

James was laid to rest with military honours. Members of the 4th Somerset Light Infantry carried his coffin and sounded the “Last Post” and “Reveille” over his grave. This special ceremony occurred because he was an old Volunteer with the regiment, having a record of thirty years of service, including about fifteen years as a sergeant. In recognition of his commitment, the regiment awarded him the Territorial Long Service Award.[5]

The funeral account also states that James had been the secretary of the Bathford Lodge of the Wiltshire Working Men’s Conservative Benefit Society since its inception some thirty years earlier.[6]

References

[1] Western Gazette, 4 July 1880, p.4.

[2] Western Gazette, 8 June 1883 p.6.

[3] Western Gazette, 10 August 1883, p.5.

[4] Bath Chronicle, 12 January 1935, p.12.

[5] Bath Chronicle, 12 January 1935, p.12.

[6] Bath Chronicle, 12 January 1935, p.12.