In June 1841, John Apsey was a carpenter living at Oil Moor.

Early life

John, the son of George and Margaret Apsey, was born at East Coker in about 1812.[1]

In 1833, John may have married Susan Green of Barwick. She died in 1836, aged 23, and her daughter, Margaret Ann, died in 1835.

In his late twenties, John began a relationship with Harriet Rendell, which led to the birth of two sons, George Apsey Rendell, in 1839 and John, on 13 December 1842, before the couple married at Hardington Church on 9 November 1843.[2]

In June 1841, John lived with Harriet and their son, George, at Oil Moor-an unusual example of cohabitation outside of marriage.

At the Somerset Epiphany Sessions of January 1842, John Apsey and Thomas Haggett were each sentenced to six months imprisonment for stealing a hatchet and some coal from John Swaffield.[3]

Life in Southampton

Between November 1844 and early 1847, John, Harriet and their two children, John and Elizabeth Susan, moved to Southampton. Their eldest child, George, initially stayed at Hardington with his uncle, Henry Purchase, but moved to Southampton later.

In 1851, John was a carpenter living at 24 Grove Street; in 1861, he was a joiner living at 42 Grove Street; in 1871, he was a carpenter living at 5 Coleman Street.

John died at Coleman Street on 4 May 1880, aged 70.[4] Harriet died in 1897, aged 76.

References

[1] The East Coker Baptism register records his name as John Mew Apsey.

[2] The birth of a John Apsey occurred in the Yeovil registration district in Q4 1841 and of a John Rendle in Q1 1843. The Baptism Register of St Mary’s, Southampton, records John Apsey’s birth date as 13 December 1842.

[3] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 12 January 1842, p.6.

[4] Hampshire Advertiser, 8 May 1880, p.4.