Introduction
Robert Peach was a farmer and dairyman who lived a remarkably long life, residing in Rampisham, Beaminster, Hardington, Nether Compton, and Martock. In his seventies, he lived with his son. However, after their home was destroyed by fire in 1857, Robert returned to dairy farming, managing the operation with his daughter, Sarah, until her death in 1866. This dairy also served as a temporary home for three grandchildren who had lost their mothers. Robert passed away in his nineties in 1867.
Birth
Robert was born at Rampisham in about 1775, the third of seven children born to John and Anne Peach.
His father, John, was a yeoman who, in his will proved in 1830, left pecuniary legacies totalling £265 and other property.[1] Interestingly, he left nothing to Robert, possibly because he had already provided him with financial support during his lifetime.
Marriage
On 18 January 1804, Robert married Elizabeth Paul at Beaminster by licence. At the time of their marriage, Robert was about 29 years old, and Elizabeth was about 21. Robert signed the marriage register while Elizabeth made her mark with a cross. The witnesses were John Pearce, Sarah Buckler, John Peach, Henry Paul and Mary Paul.
Robert and Elizabeth’s first child, Mary, was baptised at Beaminster on 6 April 1806.
Hardington
Robert and his family lived at Hardington, at the very least, from 1810 to 1813. Their son, John, was baptised there on 14 October 1810, followed by their daughter, Elizabeth, on 15 August 1813. In the Hardington baptism register, Robert was recorded as a farmer in 1813.
Nether Compton
By July 1815, Robert was a farmer at Nether Compton. On 15 March 1818, while living there, he and Elizabeth took their daughter, Sarah, to East Coker for her baptism.
Elizabeth’s death
Elizabeth died at Nether Compton in July 1820, at the age of 37.
Kingsbury Episcopi
By June 1841, Robert was a dairyman at Lower Burrow, Kingsbury Episcopi, living with his four unmarried children: Mary, Ann, Sarah, and Robert. Mary died in 1844, followed by Ann in 1850.
Witcombe, Martock
In the following ten years, Robert’s son, Robert Jr., became a farmer of 60 acres at Witcombe, Martock, where Robert Sr. and his daughter, Sarah, joined him. Despite his age, Robert remained active in farming.
On 23 June 1857, Robert Jr.’s house was destroyed by fire. Although it was insured, the incident was extremely disruptive.[2] He rebuilt the house but sold it at auction on 26 July 1860.[3] It may have been after the fire that Robert senior and his daughter, Sarah, moved to a dairy of their own at Witcombe.
At the time of the 1861 census, Robert and Sarah were helped by three of Robert’s grandchildren: Edwin Peach, Mary Sarah Peach and Sarah Jane Diment. Their presence illustrates the family’s commitment to supporting one another. Edwin and Mary Sarah were the children of Robert’s son John, whose wife passed away in April 1861 at the age of 46, just before the census. Sarah Jane Diment was the daughter of Robert’s daughter, Jane, who died in June 1846 at the age of 35.
The demanding work on the dairy affected Sarah’s health, leading to her death from cardiac dropsy on 11 August 1866, when she was about 48 years old. [4]
Death
Robert died at Witcombe on 24 November 1867, at around 92 years old, although the Ash burial register and a newspaper death notice reported his age as 95.[5]
Children
Robert and Elizabeth had two sons and five daughters:
Circa 1806-Mary (died unmarried at Burrow, Kingsbury Episcopi, in July 1844);
Circa 1810-John (married Marlen Hooper in 1835; worked as a farm labourer at Stoford, East Chelborough, and Montacute; died in 1870);
Circa 1811-Jane (married John Diment, a dairyman, in 1830; died at Combe St Nicholas in 1846);
Circa 1813-Elizabeth (probably died in infancy);
Circa 1815-Ann (died unmarried in June 1850);[6]
Circa 1818-Sarah (helped her father run a dairy; died unmarried at Ash on 11 August 1866);
Circa 1820-Robert (married Mary Richards in 1848; farmed at Martock until the 1880s; died in 1884).
The will of Robert Peach the elder of Witcombe, Martock, Farmer
Executor: my son, Robert Peach.
To my son, John: £20
To the children of my late daughter, Jane Diment: £1 a piece.
To my son, Robert Peach: the remainder.
Wit: William Best, Simon Baker.
References
[1] The will of John Peach of Rampisham, yeoman, dated 9 June 1826, proved in London on 26 May 1830.
[2] Sherborne Mercury, 30 June 1857, p.3.
[3] Sherborne Mercury, 4 July 1860, p.4.
[4] Death certificate of Sarah Peach; this recorded her age as 46, but she was older.
[5] Somerset County Gazette, 30 November 1867, p.7.
[6] Ann Peach may have died in June 1850 at East Chelborough, where her brother John lived. However, the death certificate described her as the daughter of John Peach, yeoman.
