Introduction
William Dart was the railway signalman at Hardington Marsh from about 1881 to 1888. He spent his early life in Devon and probably began his railway career on the Exeter to Barnstaple branch line. After leaving Hardington, he became a signalman at Sway, Hampshire, on the Waterloo to Weymouth line.
Childhood in Devon
William was born at Lapford in about 1848, the third of six children born to John and Mary Dart. His father, John, was a farm labourer.
In about 1860, the family moved to Nymet Rowlands.
In 1864, his mother passed away, and in 1865, his father remarried and relocated to Eggesford.
By April 1871, William had left home; however, he has not been found on the 1871 census.
Marriage
On 9 March 1879, William married Matilda Rossey at Eggesford. At the time, William was about 31, and Matilda was about 22.
Eight years earlier, Matilda had been an inmate at the Home for Female Servants in Bartholomew Street, Exeter, which suggests that she may have been an orphan.
At the time of his marriage, William was working as a porter. Their first child was born at Chumleigh on 12 August 1879.
Life at Hardington
By April 1881, William and his family lived at Hardington, where they remained for about seven years. Their second child and third child were born at Hardington: Albert Edward on 6 December 1881, and Matilda Jane in 1886.
Life at Sway
By late 1888, they were living in Sway, Hampshire. They resided initially in Brighton Road and later in Station Road. The 1891 census recorded William as a signalman, but by 1901, he was a railway porter.
During their time at Sway, their son, Albert Edward, joined the Royal Navy in 1893.[1]
Life at Hordle
In about 1905, William retired and moved to Hordle. The 1911 census recorded William and Matilda living in a two-room residence in Arnewood Rise. At that time, William was a pensioner suffering from paralysis. By June 1921, they had moved to Bruxey Cottage on Silver Street, Hordle, where they lived with two of their grandchildren.
Death
William died at Oak Cottage, Silver Street, Hordle, on 22 August 1932, at the age of 85.[2] A newspaper report of his funeral states that he had been the signalman at Sway for seventeen years, though this probably included his later role as a porter.[3]
Matilda died near Christchurch in about 1936 at the age of 78.
Children
William and Matilda had two sons and three daughters.
References
[1] Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services, 1848-1939.
[2] New Milton Advertiser, 27 August 1932, p.8.
[3] New Milton Advertiser, 3 September 1932, p.5.
