Birth
William Hallett was born at Sydling St Nicholas in about 1787. He was the only child of William Hallett and his second wife, Catherine (nee Randall). His father was a farmer who moved to Rampisham in about 1791.[1]
William’s mother, Catherine, died at Rampisham in July 1803, and his father married Dorothy Peach the following year.
Marriage
On 30 April 1810, William married Mary Garrett at Barwick. Mary signed the register with a mark. Her brother, Nathaniel Garrett, was a witness.
Mary and Nathaniel were the children of George and Mary Garrett of Trent. George and Nathaniel were thatchers.
Barwick
William and Mary had twelve children. Their first ten children were born at Barwick, and their last two at Wheathill.
William and Mary remained at Barwick until about 1828, and William worked as a labourer.
In 1827, their daughter, Ann, died aged six.
Inheritance
William’s father died at Rampisham in February 1827. His estate included land and buildings at Rampisham, Chilfrome and Stoford. He appointed William as one of his three executors, and William obtained probate.
His father left his whole estate to his executors to hold on trust, allowing his widow, Dorothy, to live in his house for life, enjoy the use of the household effects, and furniture and receive an annual income of £10. He also directed them to:
-pay £10 per annum each to William and his half-brother, Robert,
-invest and accumulate the remaining income for four years and then pay off his mortgages,
-to divide £50 among the five children of his dead son John when the youngest reached 21,
-to divide the remainder between William and Robert equally.[2]
Wheathill
The £10 per annum income from his father would have enabled William to service borrowing of about £200.
By 7 November 1830, William and his family lived at Wheathill, where William was a yeoman. Wheathill was a tiny village of about five houses halfway between Yeovil and Shepton Mallet.[3]
They lived there until at least June 1834.
Hardington
William was the tenant of Romsey Farm, Hardington, during the 1840s.
The 1841 census shows William, a yeoman, living at Hardington Marsh with his wife and six children. The jury lists from 1841 to 1848 record William as a farmer at Romsey Farm. The voters’ lists from 1842 to 1851 record him as the occupier of land at Romsey Farm. The 1843 tithe survey shows him occupying 64 acres owned by Benjamin Cox.
William and his family remained at the farm until Lady Day 1851.[4]
Daughter’s death
On 14 December 1848, William and Mary’s daughter, Caroline, died, aged 23 or 25.
Two illegitimate grandchildren
Two of William’s daughters had illegitimate children. In 1841, Jane had a son, Jonathan Herbert and in 1849, Kezia had a daughter, Clarissa Elizabeth. William raised both children as part of his family.
South Perrott
By March 1851, William and his family had moved into South Perrott village, where he farmed 30 acres and employed one labourer.
Drimpton
By the time his youngest daughter, Matilda, married on 15 April 1857, William and his family had moved to Drimpton.
Death
William died at Drimpton on 10 October 1857, aged 71.[5] His body was taken to Hardington to be buried in the grave of his daughter, Caroline.
Mary’s later life
Mary remained at Drimpton with her two grandchildren, Jonathan and Clarissa. When Jonathan married in 1863, Clarissa was her sole companion.
Mary lived long enough to see Clarissa able to support herself as a domestic servant. She died at Drimpton on 1 April 1867, aged 80. Like her husband’s, her body was taken to Hardington for burial.
Children
William and Mary had five sons and six daughters.
- Catherine married Charles Green, a Hornblotton farmer.
- William emigrated to America in 1857.
- Samuel emigrated to Canada in June 1857.
- George was a shoemaker at South Perrott.
- Eliza married twice. She married her second husband, William Croll, an artist brushmaker, at the parish church of St Giles in the Fields in 1854. She died in London in 1904.
- Jane married James Collins, a Chard tin worker. She died in Widnes in October 1889.
- Ann died at age six.
- Caroline died, aged 23 or 25.
- Kezia Ann married Henry Hicks, a widower and servant. She died at Twerton, the home of her daughter, Clarissa, in 1921.
- John Solomon was a shopkeeper. He died in Widnes in October 1890.
- Matilda married Richard Luxton, who pursued various occupations, including shoemaker, licensed victualler (of the Arch Hotel, Viaduct Street, Exeter), foreman at an alkali works and roadmaker. Matilda died at Leftwich, Cheshire, in April 1894.
- Thomas was a dairyman at South Perrott. He was only 35 when he died.
The will of William Hallett of Drimpton in the parish of Broadwindsor, Yeoman
Executors: Thomas Hallett of Drimpton, Yeoman, John Hallett of Drimpton, Yeoman, Charles Green of Hornblotton, Yeoman, and John Little of South Perrott, Yeoman.
To my dear wife, Mary: an annuity of 6s a week for life and the use of a cottage for life. Also, such household goods and furniture as she may require for her private use.
To Catherine Green: £40.
To Keziah Hallett: £30
To Matilda Luxton: £30.
To Jane Collins £30
To Eliza Croll: £30
To Samuel Hallett: £10
To George Hallett: £10
To William Hallett: £50.
To John Hallett: £50.
To Thomas Hallett: £50
To Jonathan Herbert Hallett: £10.
The remainder to my trustees upon trust to covert to money and stand possessed of the money on trust to pay my debts, expenses and legacies, and after the death of my wife, divide the same equally between my children, except Jonathan, at age 21.
Wit: John M Templeman, Solr, Crewkerne
A N Delafosse MA, Curate of Broadwindsor.
References
[1] Land Tax Returns.
[2] The will of William Hallett of Rampisham, yeoman, dated 16 January 1827, proved in London on 16 June 1827.
[3] British History Online.
[4] Dorset County Chronicle, 26 September 1850 p.1.
[5] The Hardington burial register recorded William’s age as 71.
