Introduction

John Dungey was born at Milborne Port in about 1804 and moved to Hardington in the early 1830s, a distance of thirteen miles. Being a bachelor with no relatives at Hardington, his presence in the village was probably due to his trade, suggesting he may have worked for the Portman or Ilchester estates. After marrying in 1842, he moved to Sherborne. Following the death of his wife in 1862, he remarried her sister the following year.

Childhood

John was born at Milborne Port in about 1804, the first of six children born to William and Susannah Dungey. His father was a weaver who later became a shopkeeper and innkeeper.

John’s brother, William, moved to London as a young man and settled in Marylebone, where he worked as a shoemaker.[1] His other siblings remained much closer to home.      

Hardington

John lived at Hardington from the early 1830s to 1842. During this time, he witnessed marriages in Pendomer on May 16, 1833, and in Hardington on October 5, 1835, and April 11, 1836.

In June 1841, John  was a mason living  in the household of Roger Purchase, a labourer.

First marriage

On 7 June 1842, John married Elizabeth Aplin at the Yeovil register office. He gave his address as Hardington, while she stated her address as East Street, Taunton.

Elizabeth was born at Corfe on 25 January 1808, the daughter of Robert and Joan Aplin.[2] Her father, Robert, was a farm labourer.

Sherborne

After their marriage, John and Elizabeth probably moved to Sherborne, where John continued to work as a mason.

In March 1851, they lived at 104 Bristol Road, and by April 1861, they lived at 229 Bristol Road.

Elizabeth’s death

Elizabeth died in November 1862 at the age of 55, and was buried at Sherborne.

Second marriage

On 13 June 1863, John married Charlotte Aplin, the younger sister of his late wife, at St Mary Magdalen, Taunton. Although it was illegal for a man to marry his deceased wife’s sister, they made no secret of the marriage, placing notices in two local newspapers.[3]

 In April 1871, John and Charlotte lived in the “Top Part” of Cheap Street, Sherborne, with one female lodger.

Death

John died in August 1880 at the age of 77 and was buried at Milborne Port.

Charlotte’s later life

Charlotte has not been found on the 1881 census. However, by April 1891, she lived with her niece, Emily Hickey, at the White Horse Inn, Wellington, where she lent a hand as an assistant.[4] She died in 1896 at the age of 77.[5]

Children

John had no children.

References

[1] William Dungey married Louisa Virgin at Saint Pancras Parish Church on 18 August 1833. He died in 1898.

[2] Orchard Portman parish register.

[3] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 17 June 1863, p.4; and West Somerset Free Press, 20 June 1863, p.5.

[4] Emily was the daughter of Charlotte’s sister, Sarah.

[5] Charlotte’s death was registered in the Wellington district in the second quarter of 1896.