Introduction

Thomas Greenham spent his early years at West Chinnock. After his marriage in 1815, he worked as a weaver and linman at Odcombe before becoming a farmer at Hardington. He died at Hardington in 1828 at the age of 41. His widow remarried and lived for another 46 years after his death.

Birth

Thomas was born at West Chinnock on 10 December 1786, the fifth of six children born to Thomas and Mary Greenham,

Marriage

On 7 February 1815, Thomas married Eunice Hutchings at Shepton Beauchamp by licence. At the time, Thomas was 28 years old, and Eunice was about 24. Both signed the marriage register.

At that time, Thomas lived at West Chinnock, while Eunice resided at Shepton Beauchamp. However, Eunice’s parents, Job and Mary Hutchings, lived at Barrington.

Odcombe

After their marriage, Thomas and Eunice moved to Odcombe, where Thomas worked as a weaver and a linman. Their first two children were born in that parish.

Hardington

By 1819, Thomas had become a farmer at Hardington, where they had two more children.

Thomas died at Hardington in July 1828 at the age of 41 and was buried at West Chinnock.

Eunice’s later life

In 1840, Eunice remarried, this time to James Farrow, a farmer of Huish Episcopi. James’s first wife had died the previous year, leaving him with four young children.

The 1841 census recorded James’s occupation as a farmer, the 1851 census as a farmer and innkeeper, the 1861 census as a farmer of 12 acres and the 1871 census as a farmer of 7 acres.

Eunice died in 1874 at the age of 83. James died in August 1879 at the age of 85.

Children

Thomas and Eunice had four children:

Circa 1816- Louisa (no information);

Circa 1817- Thomas (became the principal warder at Portland prison; died in 1886)

Circa 1819- Anna (died at Stocklinch Magdalen aged 20; buried at Barrington);

Circa 1828- John (died in infancy; buried at West Chinnock).