Introduction
William Morey was born at Haselbury and followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a tailor. He had an adventurous spirit, spending several years in London as a young man and emigrating to Australia with his family in 1848. Before emigrating, he lived in Partway House, Hardington, for at least eight years. He was a Religious Nonconformist and was most likely a Bible Christian.
Childhood at Haselbury
William was born around 1798, probably at Haselbury, the second of six children born to George and Julia Morey. His father was a tailor.
In 1819, William inherited a clock and a large testament from his grandfather, also named William Morey.[1]
First marriage
On 8 July 1820, William married Sophia Old at Christ Church, Greyfriars Newgate. At the time, William was about 22 years old, and Sophia was about 32. Both signed the marriage register.
Sophia was the daughter of Ambrose and Ann Old of Netherbury, Dorset.
Their first two children, George and Thomas, were born at St Giles in the Fields over the following three years while the family lived in Great Wild Street.
By 1828, they had moved to Haselbury, where they had four more children: Henry John, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Henry. Sadly, Henry John and Elizabeth both died at a young age.
Sophia died at Haselbury in March 1833 at the age of 44.
Their son, Henry, was baptised by the Bible Christians on 20 July 1835.
Second marriage
On 12 May 1835, William married Alice Purchase at Haselbury. Alice was the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Purchase. Her siblings included John Purchase and James Purchase.
Over the following five years, they had four children: Richard Purchase, Alice Edith, Charles Langdon and Jane Haggett. Unfortunately, Richard Purchase died in infancy.
In January 1836, William’s father died, and William inherited the income from two cottages at Chiselborough, along with £10.[2]
Life at Hardington
William and his family moved to Hardington between December 1838 and June 1841, taking up residence in Partway Cottage.[3] The 1841 census recorded William and Alice living with their three children, Alice, Charles and Jane, as well as William’s son Henry from his first marriage.
Jane died in April 1842 at the age of two.
Emigration to Australia
In 1848, William, his wife and their two children, Alice and Charles, sailed from Plymouth for Australia. The records describe them as Wesleyans.
By that time, William’s oldest son, George, was married with children and chose to remain in England.
Alice died at Benalla, Victoria, on 11 February 1872. William died at Benalla on 27 November 1880 at the age of 83 after being knocked down by a horse.
References
[1] The will of William Morey, dated 14 February 1808, proved at Wells on 24 June 1819.
[2] The will of George Morey, dated 17 December 1835, proved at Wells on 3 August 1836.
[3] Birth certificate of Charles Langdon Morey.
