Introduction

John Hallett was a thatcher at Hardington Moor from the 1830s to 1857.

Birth

John was born in Hardington in about 1811, the first of ten children born to John and Rachel Hallett. His father, John, was a weaver.

Marriage

On 23 December 1834, John married Elizabeth Delamont at Hardington.[1]

Elizabeth’s early life is rather sketchy. She was the daughter of David and Hannah Delamont, who married at Closworth on 5 January 1808. Elizabeth was born at Hardington shortly after but was taken to Closworth for baptism on Christmas Day 1809. What happened to her parents subsequently is unclear.

Residence

John and Elizabeth settled at Hardington. By 1843, they lived in the house at Moor, which was later owned by Miss Ethel Purchase. John also occupied an allotment in Oil Moor.

Assault charge

On 25 September 1847, John and Elizabeth were charged with assaulting Peter Hodges, the village schoolmaster, after they objected to the beating Hodges had doled out to their son, Frederick, for misbehaving in church. The Magistrates ordered them to pay the costs and dismissed the case.[2]

Death

On 12 February 1857, John fell with a chill that developed into influenza. He died ten days later at the age of 46.[3]

Elizabeth’s later life

After John’s death, Elizabeth lived at Hardington Moor as a widow for several years. By April 1861, her children, Frederick and Mary Ann, had left home. However, Joseph Guppy moved in after marrying Elizabeth’s daughter, Emily, in December 1859 and probably stayed for several years before relocating to London.

Elizabeth eventually found a new partner. On 28 December 1861, she married Henry Burt, a shoemaker of Odcombe, at Crewkerne parish church.[4] They lived at Odcombe for a few years before returning to Hardington by 1864.[5] The 1871 census recorded them living at Hardington Moor with Henry’s daughter, Jane, and Elizabeth’s daughter, Jane Lucinda. Jane married in 1881, and Jane Lucinda in 1872. Jane Lucinda returned home after her husband was sentenced to 24 years in prison in 1877.

Henry and Elizabeth both lived long lives: Henry died in 1885 at the age of 80, and Elizabeth died in 1888 at the age of 78.

Children

John and Elizabeth had four children:

Circa 1838-Frederick (registered his father’s death on 28 February 1857; later whereabouts unknown);

1839- Emily Elizabeth (married Joseph Guppy in 1869; moved to London, where she died in about 1885);

Circa 1843- Mary Ann (married Edwin Chapman in 1861; resided at Hardington; died in 1865 from Viral gastroenteritis);

1850- Jane Lucinda (married Giles Hutchings in 1872; resided at Hardington; died in 1887).

References

[1] John signed the register, but Elizabeth made a mark. The witnesses were Daniel Paul and Joseph Purchase.

[2] Sherborne Mercury 2 October 1847 p. 3.

[3] John Hallett’s death certificate

[4] Henry Burt signed his name, but Elizabeth made a mark. According to the marriage register, they were both resident in Crewkerne at the time of their marriage.

[5] Odcombe and Hardington Guardian Valuation Lists.