Introduction

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

Life at Hardington

Jane was born at Hardington on 6 June 1796, the oldest of five children born to John and Anne Swaffield.[1] Both parents died in 1823.

After the death of their parents, Jane and her siblings probably lived together for a time. John married in 1832, Elizabeth in 1837, and Ann and Mary in 1839. Jane never married, and after Elizabeth married James Poole in 1837, Jane moved in with them.

When her grandfather, John Swaffield of Haselbury, died in 1830, Jane and her three sisters inherited an equal share of part of his estate.[2]

When Jane made her will on 8 February 1877, she lived at Hardington.[3]

Life at Gillingham

By April 1881, she and her sister, Elizabeth, had moved to Gillingham, Dorset, where they lived at Bugley Farm, home to 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.

Jane’s will

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

Jane left her furniture and effects 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 shares

John Poole: 1 share

Ellen Brake Swaffield (niece): 1 share

Mary Elizabeth Swaffield (niece): 1 share

Elizabeth (the wife of Robert Bartlett): 1 share

References

[1] Hardington baptism register.

[2] The will of John Swaffield, dated 28 August 1828, proved at Wells on 28 May 1830.

[3] The will of Jane Swaffield, dated 8 February 1877, proved at Blandford on 2 March 1885.