Introduction

Thomas Bailey’s life story follows a trajectory from farmer to pauper. An advantageous marriage to a member of a prosperous farming family should have led to enduring success; however, his fortunes declined when he reached his fifties. The reasons for this decline remain unclear. Thomas was married twice, and although he had no children of his own, he helped care for his second wife’s two grandchildren. Towards the end of his life, he became dependent on outdoor relief.

Birth

Thomas, the son of James Bailey, was born at Frome St Quintin in about 1780.[1]

First marriage

On 12 May 1814, Thomas married Mary Brake at Ryme Intrinseca. Thomas was about 34 years old, and Mary was 30. Both signed the marriage register. Mary’s brother, David Brake, and his wife-to-be, Hannah Dodge, were the witnesses.

At the time of their marriage, Thomas lived at Hardington.

First wife

Mary was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Brake. Her father, John, was a farmer, and under his will, proved in 1812, Mary was to inherit an equal share of the residue of her father’s estate with her nine siblings upon her mother’s death in 1827.[2] Under her mother’s will, she and seven of her siblings inherited £20 each. However, while her siblings received a lump sum, Mary’s legacy had to be paid in weekly instalments of 2s.[3] This provision suggests that Elizabeth Brake regarded Mary or her husband as improvident.

Death of first wife

Mary died in May 1830 at the age of 46. Her body was taken to Yetminster for burial.[4]

Guarantor

On 6 December 1831, Thomas and two other men bound themselves for £200 to act as guarantors for John Genge.

Second marriage

On 2 April 1833, Thomas married Anne Burt at Hardington.

Caring for grandchildren

Anne had an illegitimate daughter, Harriet, born at Pendomer in about 1811. Harriet, in turn, had two illegitimate children: Emily, born in 1829 and Lazarus, born in about 1835. The 1841 census shows both children living with Thomas and Anne. Tragically, Emily died on 24 January 1844 from tuberculosis at the age of 14.[5]

Occupations

In 1831, when Thomas acted as a guarantor, he was identified as a yeoman. However, the 1841 census listed him as a labourer, and the 1851 census listed him as a farm labourer. This shift in his occupations suggests a financial decline in the 1830s, which is also reflected in the difference in social status between Thomas’s first and second wives.

Residence

In 1843, Thomas and his family lived near Cold Harbour in a house numbered 512 in the tithe survey. He also occupied an allotment at Cold Harbour. By March 1851, Thomas, Anne and Lazarus lived near the church.

Death of second wife

Anne died in August 1858 at the age of about 75.

Pauper

In 1858, Thomas’s step-grandson, Lazarus Burt, married Elizabeth Pike. At about this time, Thomas, now a pauper, moved in with fellow paupers John and Jane Abbott, who lived next door to Lazarus.

Witness in a right-of-way dispute

In March 1860, Thomas gave evidence in the court case, The Queen v The Inhabitants of East Coker, regarding the legal status of Isles Lane. Thomas, who had travelled along the lane with vehicles for over sixty years, recalled how East Coker’s highway surveyors had required him to perform statute labour, with one of his duties being to haul stone to repair Isles Lane.[6]

Death

Thomas died in June or July 1864 at the age of about 84.

Children

Thomas had no children but looked after his second wife’s grandchildren, Lazarus and Emily Burt.

References

[1] The Frome St Quinton baptism register does not record the name of Thomas’s mother.

[2] The will of John Brake, dated 2 October 1811, proved in London on 22 July 1812.

[3] The will of Elizabeth Brake, dated 28 July 1825, proved in London on 3 April 1827. Elizabeth left her daughter, Elizabeth, a legacy of £10. She left her son, George, the residue of her estate, charged with paying the legacies amounting to £170.

[4] The Yetminster burial register recorded her abode as Haselbury, but this entry is probably incorrect.

[5] Death certificate of Emily Burt.

[6] Bridgwater Mercury 22 March 1860 p.3; Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 28 March 1860 p.5. The reports name the lane “Isle Lane.”