Jane Swaffield was an independent who lived with her sister, Elizabeth Poole, throughout her adult life.

Life at Hardington

She was born at Hardington on 6 June 1796, the daughter of John and Anne Swaffield. Her parents both died in 1823.

When her grandfather, John Swaffield of Haselbury, died in 1830, Jane and her three sisters inherited an equal interest in part of his estate.

When Jane made her will on 8 February 1877, she lived at Hardington.

Life at Gillingham

By April 1881, she and her sister, Elizabeth, had moved to Gillingham, Dorset, where they lived at Bugley Farm, the home of Elizabeth’s daughter and her husband, Robert Bartlett.

Jane died there on 29 January 1885, aged 88, leaving an estate valued at £319. She was laid to rest at Gillingham.

Her will

She appointed Elizabeth Poole and her son, John Poole, as her executors.

Jane left her furniture and effect to her sister, Elizabeth.

She directed her executors to sell her real estate, divide the proceeds into six shares and allocate them as follows:

Elizabeth Poole 2

John Poole 1

Ellen Brake Swaffield (niece) 1

Mary Elizabeth Swaffield (niece) 1

Elizabeth (the wife of Robert Bartlett) 1