Introduction

During her long life, Martha Elizabeth Squire lived in London, Bristol, Hardington, Yeovil and Radipole. She ran a shop at Hardington Moor for nearly thirty years, initially with her husband and later with the help of her daughters. During her retirement, she alternated between living with her two married daughters.

Early life in London

Martha was born in St Pancras, London, in about October 1840.[1] She was the daughter of John and Mary Ann Robins. Her father was a wheelwright from Cricklade, Wiltshire.

In April 1861, Martha was a shopkeeper living at 14 George Street in the household of Thomas Hinton, a railway guard.

On 24 April 1867, she married Albert George Squire at St Pancras Parish Church. Albert was a commercial clerk who had moved to London from Yeovil. They both gave their address as Euston Road.

Bristol

After their marriage, Albert and Martha moved to Bristol, where Albert found employment as an accountant. Their first child, Elizabeth Emily, was born at 6 Redcliffe Parade on 22 October 1867.[2] This child may have had special needs as she was raised by Albert’s aunt, Eliza Knight, and later by his mother. Sadly, Elizabeth died at Yeovil Hospital on 11 February 1892 from spinal meningitis and pneumonia at the age of 24.[3]

Life at Hardington

In about 1868, Albert and Martha moved to Hardington Moor, where they took over a shop and bakery from John Yeandle. They had two more daughters: Ellen Mary on 31 January 1869 and Martha Alberta on 4 December 1870.

When Albert died intestate in 1886, Martha administered his estate, with her brother, William Brent Robins (a retired watchmaker) and Dr. Ptolemy Colmer providing sureties. On 28 December 1886, she held a sale to dispose of horses, vans and utensils connected with her baking business, as she was giving it up. The sale included three spring vans and 700 faggots of wood.[4]

Martha continued to run the shop, assisted by her two daughters, Ellen and Martha.

In 1891 and 1892, she advertised for a lad to look after a horse and milk cows.[5]

On 19 June 1893, her daughter Ellen Mary married a butcher named Percival Gould. On 5 August 1895, her other daughter, Martha Alberta, married a print compositor named William George Bishop.

In April 1895, the RSPCA prosecuted Martha for working a horse that was lame and unfit. As she had the horse shot before the case went to court, the magistrates did not fine her but ordered her to pay the costs of the prosecution.[6]

Retirement

In about 1897, Martha moved to Radipole to live with her daughter, Ellen, and Ellen’s husband, Percival Gould.

In April 1911, she lived with her other daughter, Martha, at 3 Crofton Park, Yeovil.

Death

Martha died at Broadwey, Dorset, on 15 March 1919, at the age of 78.[7]

References

[1] The 1841 census recorded her age as eight months.

[2] Birth certificate.

[3] Death certificate of Elizabeth Emily Squire.

[4] Western Gazette, 17 December 1886, p.5.

[5] Western Gazette, 24 April 1891, p.4; 29 July 1892, p.4.

[6] Western Chronicle 5 April 1895 p. 3.

[7] Western Gazette, 21 March 1919, p.12.