Introduction

Robert Charles Pike spent most of his life in the Shaftesbury area, where he worked his way up from farm labourer to farmer. His career included a short stint at Marsh Dairy, Hardington. His life story includes his parents’ illegal marriage and the tragic deaths of his two young sisters.

Early life

Robert’s family background was unusual. His father, Charles Pike, was born at Marnhull on 7 June 1821. When he was four years old, his family was forcibly removed from Marnhull to Stour Provost because they had become chargeable to the parish.[1] On 25 July 1848, Charles married Barbara Kendell at Stour Provost, and they moved to Shaftesbury, settling in the parish of St James, where Charles worked as a farm labourer. Tragically, Barbara died in December 1849 at the age of 26.

One year later, on 23 November 1850, Charles married Barbara’s sister, Phoebe, at St James’s Church, Shaftesbury.[2] This marriage contravened Lord Lyndhurst’s Act of 1835, which prohibited a man from marrying his deceased wife’s sister.

Charles and Phoebe had eight children. Robert Charles, their third child, was born in 1854. When he was about five years old, he lost two sisters to illness in the same month. Six-year-old Mary Jane died from diphtheria on 17 July 1859, and eight days later, Ellen Catherine succumbed to croup.[3] Thankfully, the rest of the siblings were spared from similar fates.

The family lived next to Cherry Orchard Farm, where Charles probably worked. The farm’s tenant, Joseph Coombs, died on 6 December 1871, which may have prompted Charles to relocate.[4]

Between April 1872 and April 1881, the family moved to Cliff Cottage, Motcombe, where Charles continued to work as a farm labourer. By April 1881, one of Robert’s sisters was married, and two others were working away from home in domestic service, while Robert and his two youngest siblings remained at home.

Marriage

On 11 February 1884, Robert married Emily Jane Stacey at Motcombe. She was the daughter of James Stacey, a farm labourer.

Hardington

Little is known about the early years of their marriage. However, Robert gradually worked his way up from farm labourer to dairyman. By April 1891, they were living in Hardington, where they both worked at Marsh Dairy. At that time, Robert’s niece, Martha Sharp, aged five, was visiting them.

After this period, they returned to the Shaftesbury area, where Robert became a farmer. By March 1901, Robert was a farmer at Edward’s Farm, Cann, Dorset. In April 1911, he was farming at Castle Farm, Donhead St Mary, the same parish where his sister, Annie Sharp, lived. By June 1921, he was a smallholder and farm labourer, living at Bramble Farm, Shaftesbury.

Deaths

Robert’s father, Charles, died at Motcombe in February 1911 at the age of 89, followed by his mother, Phoebe, in September 1916 at the age of 87. Robert’s wife, Emily, died in 1930 at the age of 77.

Robert died on 18 March 1933, at the age of 78, leaving an estate valued at £318-10s-6d. His last address was at Bittles Green, Motcombe.

Children

Robert and Emily had no children.

References

[1] Poor Law Removal Order dated 28 November 1825.

[2] Interestingly, Charles’ brother, Eli, married Phoebe’s sister, Mary Ann, at Stour Provost on 31 July 1851.

[3] Death certificate of Mary Jane Pike; death certificate of Ellen Catherine Pike.

[4] Southern Times and Dorset County Herald, 16 December 1871, p.16. Joseph Coombs was succeeded at the farm by his son, also named Joseph.