Introduction
Sarah Larcombe probably moved to Hardington after marrying George Rendell in 1810. Although she was significantly older than George, they were married for 51 years and had seven children together. In their later years, they lived with their married daughter, Ann. By this time, Sarah, who was in her late seventies or early eighties, was receiving outdoor relief. Her death came swiftly; she died in her husband’s arms while he was helping her put on her shoes. He died two years later.
Birth
Sarah Larcombe was born at Mosterton in about 1778.
Marriage
On Christmas Day 1810, Sarah married George Rendell at Hardington.[1] George was 18 years old, while Sarah was about 32. George signed his name in the marriage register, while Sarah made a mark.
Occupations
George worked as a sailcloth weaver until the 1850s. The 1851 census recorded both George and Sarah as sailcloth weavers. By April 1861, George had become a farm labourer, and Sarah was a pauper.
Residences
George and Sarah lived at Hardington. The 1841 census shows them residing at Hardington Marsh with three daughters: Elizabeth, Susan and Ann. Ten years later, they lived alone at Hardington Marsh. By April 1861, they lived in the household of their son-in-law, William Chester, a farm labourer, at Hardington Hill. George was a farm labourer, and Sarah was a pauper.
Collapsed as she put her shoes on
On Thursday, 14 November 1861, Sarah rose as usual. At about 9.30, while her husband was helping her put her shoes on, she fell forward in his arms and died about ten minutes later. At the inquest held at the Royal Oak the following Saturday, the jury returned a verdict of “Died by the Visitation of God.”[2]
Husband’s death
George died in August 1863 at the age of 75.[3]
Children
George and Sarah had one son and six daughters:
Circa 1814- George (married Elizabeth Bremble at Hardington in 1851; resided at Hardington, where he worked as a weaver and later a farm labourer; died in 1885);
Circa 1816-Martha (died at the age of 18);
Circa 1819- Sarah (no information available);
Circa 1823- Elizabeth (married Hezekiah Marsh, a weaver and later labourer, at Hardington in 1851; resided at Hardington; died after 1901);
Circa 1823- Grace (no information available);
Circa 1825- Ann (married William Chester, a weaver and later farm labourer, in 1849; resided at Hardington; died 1881);
Circa 1825-Susan (married John Abbott, a farm labourer, at Hardington in 1849; resided at Hardington and the Isle of Wight; died in 1907).
References
[1] George may have been the son of John and Mary Rendell, born at Hardington on 12 October 1792. However, the censuses of 1851 and 1861 and his age of 75 recorded in the Hardington burial register, suggest a birth year of about 1788.
[2] Weymouth Telegram, 21 November 1861, p.4. The newspaper report states that Sarah was 81, but the Hardington burial register recorded her age as 83, while the Civil Registration Death Index recorded it as 80. The report also states that they had been married for 53 years, but it was actually 51 years.
[3] Hardington burial register.
