Richard Inkerman Purchase was an undergroom in 1871 and a groom in 1881.

Childhood

Richard was born at Hardington in 1856. He was the son of William and Sarah Purchase and the younger brother of James Morris Purchase. His baptism entry for 7 July 1856 records his name as Richard Inkerman Purchase, with “Inkerman” referring to the battle of that name, which took place on 5 November 1854.

His father, William Purchase, was a sleighmaker who kept the White Horse beer house at the foot of Pig Hill. He died in 1859 when Richard was 3.

After William’s death, his widow continued to run the beer house for several years, but by April 1871, she had moved to a house in the High Street. Richard was then an undergroom, aged 14.

Marriage

In 1874, the Rector called the banns for Richard to marry Edith Purchase, but in fact, the marriage did not take place until 1880, by which time Edith had had two children, with a third on the way, the father presumably being Richard.

Married life at Hardington

In April 1881, Richard, Edith, and their children lived at Barry Lane.

On 12 July 1883, Richard Purchase and Arthur Bartlett washed out the cellar of Hardington Rectory, leaving graffiti on the walls to record their work. Arthur Bartlett, who was then only 18, had moved to Derbyshire within the next seven years, where he rose to become an estate steward.

In 1883, Richard’s eldest son, Arthur Edward, died at the age of six.

Hampshire

Between 1883 and 1887, Richard and his family moved to South Stoneham, Hampshire, where Richard worked as a coachman.

April 1891 Lodge, West End Road, South Stoneham;

March 1901 Middlebury Lodge, Bitterne;

April 1911 1 Melbourne Terrace, Brownhill, Chandlers Ford.

In June 1921, Richard and Edith still lived at 1 Melbourne Terrace, but Richard worked for Hampshire County Council as a General Labourer.

Richard died in 1925, aged 68; Edith died in 1934, aged 81.

Children

Richard and Edith had two sons and five daughters.