Introduction

John Simon Purchase’s life was marked by tragedy, including the death of a young brother, the death of a young son, and the suicide of his mother. At the age of eighteen, he committed a violent assault on a young woman. However, after marrying in 1865, he seemed to find stability with his wife, Emily, and they enjoyed a fairly steady life at Hardington and other villages in the Yeovil area.

Childhood

John Simon Purchase was born on 16 June 1844 at Ansford, Somerset, the sixth of ten children born to Thomas and Grace Purchase.[1] Two previous children had been named John Simon, but had died in infancy.

Thomas and Grace had moved to Ansford from Hardington to work in a weaving factory. They returned to Hardington in about 1846 to live near Broadstone. By 1861, they had moved to Hardington Moor.

Death of a brother

When John was nine years old, his four-year-old brother, Walter William, died suddenly. An inquest was held but reached the vague verdict of death by natural causes.[2]

The family in 1861

By April 1861, the only siblings remaining at home were Harriet Louisa, who worked as a weaver, John, who worked as an ostler or groom, and Francis George, who was still at school.[3] Harriet married John Rendell on 20 December 1862.

Assault

On 4 March 1863, John appeared at Yeovil County Petty Sessions, accused of assaulting Charlotte Frampton. He was acquitted when his future wife, Emily Bartlett, provided him with an alibi.[4]

Mother’s suicide

On 17 June 1865, John’s family faced a tragic event when his mother hanged herself from a bedpost.[5] This calamity occurred just one day after John’s twenty-first birthday.

Marriage

In December 1865, John married Emily Bartlett at Hardington Church. Her father, George Bartlett, worked as a woodward or woodsman.

Early married life at Hardington

John and Emily initially set up their home in Barry Lane, Hardington. By this time, John was probably working as a farm labourer, which remained his occupation for the rest of his life. Emily supplemented their income by working as a glover.

Their first three children were born at Hardington. The second one, George, developed an ulcerated throat on 16 August 1872 and sadly died fourteen days later at the age of five.[6]

East Coker

By April 1876, John and Emily had moved to East Coker, where they had two more children. While living at East Coker, their only daughter, Mary, left home to work as a general servant on a farm at Holwell in Dorset. She later married George Milverton, a farm labourer, at the age of 17.

Tintinhull and Chilthorne Domer

The family moved at least three times. In April 1891, they lived at Perrins Hill Cottages, Tintinhull; in March 1901, they lived in a four-roomed house at Chilthorne Domer; and by December 1907, they were back in Tintinhull, living in Queen Street.

Death

Emily died in December 1907 or early January 1908 at the age of 63; John died in 1909 at the age of 67. Both were laid to rest at Tintinhull.

Children

Their son, Robert George Purchase, served as a policeman with the Metropolitan Police before retiring to Chilthorne Domer. Their youngest son, Arthur John Purchase, was a farmer at Gentle Farm, Tintinhull, for many years.

References

[1] Ansford baptism register.

[2] Death certificate of Walter William Purchase.

[3] A census official added the word ‘Groom’ after the word “Hostler.”

[4] Sherborne Mercury, 10 March 1863, p.2.

[5] Western Gazette, 23 June 1865, p.5; Sherborne Mercury, 27 June 1865, p.8.

[6] Death certificate of George Purchase.