Introduction
This is the life story of William Henry Trim, who began his career as a dairyman but, by his early forties, found himself working as a cowman. His decline stands in stark contrast to the career path of his younger brother, Alfred Charles Trim, who, starting with the same resources, became the owner of two farms. Despite these challenges, William lived to be 67 years old and raised a family of eleven children.
Childhood
William was born in 1858 in Buckland St Mary, the eighth of ten children born to John and Mary Ann Trim. His father was a dairyman.
William spent his early years at Chillington and Purse Caundle.
Life at Hardington
By July 1880, William’s parents had moved to Hardington. William probably arrived slightly later, as he is not listed in the 1881 census. His father passed away in 1881, followed by his mother in 1882. After his mother’s probate was granted on 4 September 1882, William inherited one-eighth of her estate.[1]
Following the deaths of his parents, William took over the dairy. His younger brother, Alfred Charles, initially worked with him, but in December 1882, Alfred married Elizabeth Trask, and they left the village.
On 13 April 1883, William advertised for a working housekeeper, aged 25 to 30, who was skilled in butter and skim cheese making.[2] It is possible he married one of the applicants, as on 5 August 1883, at Halstock, he married Frances Ellen Mullins, the daughter of a dairyman. Her parents, William and Frances, had run a succession of dairies in Somerset and Dorset during her childhood, including at Corscombe, North Perrott and South Perrott.
On 10 August 1883, William advertised for an eighteen-year-old lad to assist with miking.[3]
William and Frances’s first four children were born at Hardington.
The family left Hardington in 1887 or 1888.
Later life
From about 1888 to 1891, William occupied a dairy in Frog Street, Beercrocombe. His children’s birthplaces indicate that he was at Clavershay, North Petherton, around 1892, East Bower in 1894, and Tiverton from 1896 to 1899.
By April 1901, his status had diminished from dairyman to cowman, and he remained in this role for the rest of his life. He and his family lived at Milverton in 1901 and Norton Fitzwarren in 1911. By June 1921, they were residing at Pierston Cottages, Milton on Stour, where he and his married son, who lived next door, worked for Leslie Sims of Pierston Farm. William died at Pierston Cottage, Milton-on-Stour, in August 1926 at the age of 67.
Frances’s later life
After William’s death, Frances and her daughter, Annie, lived with her youngest son, Cecil Albert, and his wife at Green Pleck, East Stour. She died on 27 March 1941 at the age of 79 and was laid to rest at Milton-upon-Stour alongside her husband.
Frances left a will bequeathing her money in a bank account at Lloyds Bank, Gillingham, equally to her husband and children.[4]
Children
William and Frances had thirteen children, two of whom in infancy.
References
[1] The will of John Trim, dated 19 November 1877, proved at Taunton on 16 December 1881; the will of Mary Ann Trim, dated 4 November 1881, proved at Taunton on 4 September 1882.
[2] Western Gazette, 13 April 1883, p.4.
[3] Western Gazette, 10 August 1883, p.4.
[4] The will of Frances Ellen Mullins, dated 20 May 1923, proved at Exeter on 7 July 1941. Her estate was valued at £146 5s 8d.
