In April 1861, Joseph Guppy, aged 26, was a carpenter at Oil Moor, living at Weavers Cottage in the household of his widowed mother-in-law.

Early life

Joseph was born at Hardington in about 1833. He was the fifth child of Thomas Guppy, a canvas weaver, and his wife, Mary. He was the brother of William Guppy.

On 27 December 1859, Joseph married Emily Elizabeth Hallett, the daughter of John Hallett, a thatcher.

In April 1861, Joseph, Emily and their son, Edward, lived at Oil Moor in the household headed by Emily’s mother.

Joseph liked poaching. A few weeks before his marriage, he was fined £1 for trespassing in search of game.[1] In February 1862, he was fined £2 for the same offence on Coker Hills.[2]

Married life in London

Between August 1863 and late 1867, Joseph, Emma and their two children moved to the Kentish Town area of London. Joseph continued as a journeyman carpenter (and joiner). He lived at various addresses:

April 1871         58 Mansfield Place (now Holmes Road)

May 1878          45 Warden Road

April 1881         87 Weedington Road

October 1884     87 Weedington Road

April 1891         2 Wellesley Place

March 1901       70 Wellesley Road

On 30 May 1878, three of their children, aged 10, 8 and 5 were baptised at St John the Baptist church, Kentish Town. On 26 October 1884, their two youngest daughters, aged 9 and about 6, were baptised at St Andrew, Haverstock Hill.

Emily died in January 1885, aged 45.

Widowhood in London

Joseph did not remarry or move in with one of his seven children. By March 1901, Joseph was living alone in a one-room property. From then onwards, he struggled with penury and destitution

On 7 October 1903, he was admitted to St Pancras workhouse from his home at 70 Wellesley Road and discharged on 14 October 1903. He was in the workhouse again from 5 January 1904 to 12 March 1904.

He was admitted and discharged on the same day, 23 September 1904, and was then without an address.

On 27 November 1909, he was admitted from St Anne’s Home and discharged on 23 September 1910.

He stayed in the workhouse twice more: from 26 October 1910 to 9 December 1911 and from 27 January 1912 to 21 March 1912.

Joseph died the very next day after leaving the workhouse, aged 78.

References

[1] Sherborne Mercury, 1 November 1859, p.5.

[2] Sherborne Mercury, 11 February 1862, p.5.