Introduction
Mary Delamont’s life story illustrates how a woman could fall into poverty after her husband suffered a tragic accident. She was a widow and pauper for about twenty-one years following the death of her husband, who was knocked over and killed by a runaway horse.
Birth
Mary, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Hood, was born at Hardington on 7 August 1794.[1]
Marriage
Mary married Charles Delamont. A marriage at Hardington on 29 October 1816 matches the facts except that the groom’s name is recorded as “Charles Rendle.” It appears that Charles was baptised “Charles Delamont” but adopted the name Rendell (variously spelt Rendle, Rendal, or Rendall) for a time before reverting to Delamont (or Dolimount). Two of his eight children were baptised with the name Rendal(l) and six with the name Dolimount.
Residence
Charles and Mary settled at Hardington. The 1841 census shows them living in Barry Lane with seven children and John Hutchings (probably a lodger). Their daughter, Ann, had married Jeremiah Rendell and left home the previous year.
The tithe survey shows Charles living in Barry Lane in a house owned by William Reynolds (plot 331 on the tithe map).
By March 1851, Charles and his family were probably still living in the same place. Two children had died in the previous ten years, and one daughter had left home to work as a servant for William Guppy.
Occupation
The 1841 census recorded Charles and Mary as both weavers. Charles continued to work as a weaver ten years later.
The death of two children
Two of Charles and Mary’s children died in the 1840s: John on 31 July 1843 from tuberculosis at the age of twenty, and Elizabeth in 1848 at the age of nineteen.[2]
Charles’s death
On Thursday, 4 September 1851, Charles was preparing to return home from Crewkerne Fair. While standing in East Street to keep two bullocks from running into the town again, he was knocked down and killed by a horse ridden at speed by George Osborne. Osborne was taken into custody to await the inquest verdict.[3] Following the jury’s verdict of manslaughter, Osborne was committed for trial at the next assizes.[4] At the assizes, Osborne got off scot-free. A newspaper report noted that Osborne was drunk at the time of the offence, but “there was some question as to whether he had any command over the animal at the time,” as if intoxication and lack of control were unrelated.[5]
Mary’s later life
Charles’s death would have been a devastating blow to his family. By April 1861, Mary was a pauper, living near the church with her daughter, Mary. By April 1871, they lived in the household of Mary’s son, Charles, while Mary remained a pauper.
Death
Mary died in March 1872 at the age of 78.
Appendix
On 29 October 1816, “Mary Hood” married “Charles Rendle” at Hardington. Charles signed the register with a cross.
One interpretation is that “Charles Rendle” was Charles Delamont or Dolimount under a different name.
The baptism register contains entries for children of both Charles and Mary Rendell and Charles and Mary Delamont.
Charles and Mary Rendal(l) [Rendell]
13 July 1817 Mary Lab
30 January 1820 Ann Weaver
25 August 1822 John Lab
Charles and Mary Dolimount [Delamont]
24 December 1820 Ann Lab
25 December 1827 Jonas Lab
11 January 1829 Elizabeth Lab
15 December 1831 Charles Weaver
28 September 1834 Sarah Weaver
27 January 1839 Susan Weaver
References
[1] Hardington baptism register.
[2] Death certificate of John Delamont. According to the Hardington burial register, he was buried on 30 July 1843, which contradicts the death date of 31 July 1843 recorded on his death certificate. Elizabeth’s birth certificate is not available as a digital image.
[3] Bristol Mirror, 13 September 1851, p.7
[4] Sherborne Mercury, 16 September 1851, p.3.
[5] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 7 April 1852, p.3. The newspaper report states that Osborne was 31 but provides no other identifying information.
