Introduction

Sussex-born Stephen Allcock arrived at West Coker around 1860, probably drawn there by railway construction work. After making a village woman pregnant (or believing he had), he married her and they moved to Hardington about five years later. Following the death of his wife in 1873, Stephen struggled to cope, and the family’s dire circumstances raised concerns among the Poor Law authorities. Despite these challenges, he lived to the age of 89.

Birth

Stephen was born at Eastbourne, Sussex, around 1822. His father, William, was a farm labourer.[1] His mother, Ann, died in 1837.

West Coker

In April 1861, Stephen was a railway labourer boarding with a widow in a beerhouse called “The Case is Altered” at West Coker. Little is known about his life prior to this point. A nomadic existence as a railway navy may have contributed to his remaining single into his late thirties.

Stephen soon began a relationship with Mary Jane Caines, a glove sewer who was about thirteen years younger and lived with her widowed mother in Duck Street. On 28 September 1861, Mary gave birth to a son, William Allcock Caines. The name suggests that Mary wanted to identify Stephen as the father, indicating that he was known to her by November 1860.[2] However, it remains unclear whether he truly was the father.[3]

Marriage

Stephen stood by Mary, and on 14 November 1861, they married at West Coker church. Stephen stated his age as 39, while Mary Jane was about 26 or 27, although she gave her age as 28. Stephen signed the marriage register, while Mary Jane made a mark.

Initially, they probably lived with Mary Jane’s widowed mother at 159 Duck Street.

Married life at Hardington

Between early 1865 and February 1867, Stephen and his family moved to Hardington. By April 1871, he was living in Pen Lane with his wife, five children, and mother-in-law. The 1871 census recorded his occupation as a farm labourer, although this may not be accurate.

At that point, he probably had a steady income, and everything seemed stable and secure. But then tragedy struck.

Catastrophe

On 27 February 1873, Mary gave birth to a son, Robert. Over four years had passed since her previous child, and the birth did not go well. Mary died on 3 March 1873 at the age of 38, and her newborn baby died two weeks later.[4]

To make matters worse, Mary’s mother died in January 1874 at the age of 81.

The deaths of these two women plunged the family into squalor. The lack of proper care probably contributed to the death of Stephen’s six-year-old son, George, from bronchitis on 14 January 1875.[5]

A hovel on the moor

In May 1876, the rector of Hardington, William Vassall, wrote to the Poor Law Guardians expressing concern for Stephen and his four children, who were living in a wretched hovel “on the moor in Hardington.” The children were half-starved and too ragged to be admitted into school.[6] Later that month, the Inspector of Nuisances reported that the Allcock family had been ordered to leave their home.[7]

Eastfields

By April 1881, Stephen was living at Eastfields with his son, Charles. Both were working as railway platelayers.

The children pursue their own paths

Stephen’s other three children had already left home, including Sarah Ann, who was a housemaid in Abraham Partridge’s home.[8] In 1885, Sarah Ann emigrated to Australia. On 10 June 1889, William Allcock Caines married Ruth Elliot at West Coker, and on 18 June 1891, Charles married Sarah Ann Genge at West Coker as well.

Later life

By April 1891, Stephen had moved into lodgings with George Abbott at Broadstone. By this time, he had left the railway and was working as a general labourer.

By March 1901, he was drawing a railway pension.

After George Abbott died in 1905 (or his widow died in 1908), Stephen lodged with Frank and Mary Ann Eastment at Hill End.

Death

Stephen died in 1913 at the age of 89.

Children

Stephen and Mary had four sons and two daughters:

1861- William Allcock Caines (married Ruth Elliott at West Coker in 1889; worked at a timber yard in Yeovil and later as a labourer on the Heneage Estate at East Coker; died in about 1951);

1863- Maria (not found after April 1871);

Circa 1865-Sarah Ann (emigrated to Australia in 1885; married Robert Charles Currie in 1891; died in 1945);

1867- Charles (railway labourer in April 1881; married Sarah Ann Genge at West Coker in 1891; later whereabouts unknown);

1868- George (died aged 6);

1873- Robert (died aged one month).

References

[1] Eastbourne baptism register. When he married, Stephen stated that his father was a bricklayer.

[2] Assuming a normal gestation period.

[3] William was baptised with the surname “Alcock” and is recorded on the 1871 census as “Aucock” as the rest of the family are. However, he later used the surname “Caines”, and when he married, he left the space in the register for his father’s name blank.

[4] Death certificate of Mary Jane Allcock.

[5] Death certificate of George Allcock (recorded under the name “George Aucock”).

[6] Western Gazette, 19 May 1876, p. 5; Langport & Somerton Herald, 20 May 1876, p.5.

[7] Western Gazette, 2 June 1876, p. 5.

[8] William Allcock Caines has not been found on the 1881 census, but he was alive at that time; Maria Allcock has not been found after April 1871, so she may have been dead by April 1881.