Exodus

My great grandmother, Emma, was born in 1837 being baptised on February 26^th in Seavington St. Mary.

My great grandfather, Thomas Napper, was born in 1838 being baptised on 7^th January in Seavington St. Mary.

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Thomas and Emma were married 24 Sep 1859 in Seavington St. Michael.

Thomas was only “sojourning” in the parish because he was actually from Seavington St. Mary. 

Their daughter Amelia was born three months after they were married and was baptised 22 January 1860.  By August 1863 the family were living in Seavington St. Mary, where their son William was baptised on 2 August. Three years later, their son Charles Ash Napper was born and was baptised 21 January 1966. In 1869 their daughter Eva was born and baptised 19 November.

The 1871 census gives their address as Upton Farm. A number of familiar names are working at Upton Farm: Nappers, Ashes & Hutchings.

Whilst the other residents are given the generic address of Upton, Thomas and Emma are identified as living on Upton farm in “Mucky Pit”. (This could be a variation of “Muckleditch”, one of the sunken Somerset lanes on the Upton Farm.) They shared this cottage with the Prior Family: William and Esther and their three adult children. Flora Napper was born in 1871 and baptised on 19 November that year. Flora was followed by my grandfather, Thomas Ash Napper, on 20 October and Lena in 1879.

Through these years Thomas continued working as an agricultural labourer. With a growing family, by 1881 young Flora and been farmed out to live with her widowed grandmother, Mary Ash. Flora continued to live with her grandmother even after Thomas and Emma moved out of Mucky Pit to “Court”.  As well as 6 of their children, Thomas’ mother moved in with them together with one of her other sons, Joseph, and her granddaughter, Susan. (She was the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Napper – now the newly wed Mrs Old. Clearly the 40 year Mr. Old didn’t want any stepchildren as a wedding present.)

Besides the 4 generations of Nappers at “Court”, the house was shared with George & Martha Solway and their 3 young children.

The Farmhouse may seem substantial until you realise three families, totalling 16 people, lived there. The number was added to in 1882 when the 45 year old Emma gave birth to another daughter, Ada. This was the same year that their daughter, Amelia, married Henry Baker.

In 1886, their son William flew the nest when he married Hannah Garrett.

In 1891, together with most people in Seavington Abbots, their address is simply given as “Upton Farm”. However, the 1901 census distinguishes between “Upton Farm” and “Seavington Abbots”. Thomas & Emma, together with the Parson, live on the “Abbots” side of Upton Lane,

By 1899, the 65 year old Thomas’ job description changes from Agricultural Labourer to Labourer/Carman i.e. he was now driving a horse and cart. By 1901 he is simply a Farm Carter: perhaps a less arduous job for a man of his age. Living with Thomas and Emma is their 7 year old granddaughter Daisy, the illegitimate child of their daughter Flora. Flora married John Cable in 1896, leaving Daisy behind with her parents. (Another unwanted wedding present.)

In 1909 my great grandmother died. She was buried in Seavington St. Michael on the 11 February. 

Thomas died 1919 and was buried in on 21 March, aged 81.

Thomas and Emma had the following children:                                

1) AMELIA was born on 22 Jan 1860 in Seavington St. Mary.

She married Henry Humphry Baker 24 September 1882 in Seavington St. Mary.  Henry was a Blacksmith. The marriage was witnessed by her father and her aunt, Elizabeth Old. Henry was born in Isle Abbots about 17 miles north of Seavington. However, in 1881 he worked as a Blacksmith and lived with his widowed mother, a retired Grocer, 1 Camden Place, Taunton.

Amelia left Seavington and by 1891 Henry & Amelia were living in Court Barton, Ilminister, where Henry worked as a Blacksmith. Also living and working with them was Amelia’s brother, Charles Ash Napper. In 1901 Henry was self-employed and lived above the Smithy in West Street, Ilminster. By 1909 the business had expanded to include not just blacksmithying, but shoe repairs (with sons Sam & Christopher) and bicycle repairs (with son Thomas a Bicycle Mechanic).  But not only that, Amelia had set herself up as a greengrocer amidst the blacksmithing, shoe and bicycle repairs! The situation was reminiscent of Henry's life in Taunton where he worked as a blacksmith and his mother had been a grocer.

1909 Trade Directory:

By 1919 Henry had handed over the running of the family blacksmith business to eldest son, Samuel. Henry started another business: “Beer Retailer” in East Street, Ilminster. Here he was accompanied by his son Thomas, who was running a linen collar making business.

Henry Humphry Baker and Amelia Amalia Napper had the following children:    

Edward born in 1883

Daisy born in 1886.
Mildred Ada born in 1897. She was baptised as an adult 16 December 1912 along with her brother Tom. At which time she was working as a Shop Assistant.
Christopher born in 1888.
Henry born in 1900.
Thomas born in 1892 but was baptised as an adult 16 December 1912, at which time he was working as a Mechanic.

2) WILLIAM

 William was baptised 8 February 1863 at Seavington St. Mary.

William left Seavington and married Hannah Garrett Christmas Day 1886 in Shepton Beauchamp. The marriage was witnessed by his sister, Amelia Baker.

Their eldest son, William, was born 4 months later April 1887 in Shepton Beauchamp.

In 1891, William was working as a Carter in Curry Rivel, 8 miles north of Seavington. It was in Curry Rivel that 9 other children were born:

Charles: 29 Sep 1889.

Susan: 29 Nov 1891.
Edmund: 26 Oct 1894.
Thomas: 1895. 
Flora: 26 Mar 1895.
Henry: 1898. 
Herbert: 27 May 1900.
Ada: 1903.
Edward: 14 Oct 1904 in Curry Rivel.          

Sometime between 1904 and 1907, William and his family moved to Chalk Pit Farm cottages, Compton, Nr. Guildford. GU3 1AA

It was here that child no 11 was born:

Annie 24 May 1907.

William Sr & Jr worked as Carters. Charles was a Groom. Thomas an Under-carter and Henry an Errand Boy.

3) CHARLES ASH

Charles Ash was born on 21 Jan 1866 in Seavington St. Mary.

Charles Ash left Seavington and married Ellen Clapp on 23 May 1893 in Ilminster. He was working as a Blacksmith with his brother-in-law Henry Baker.

In 1901, he was still working as a Blacksmith but living with his family in Silver Street, Ilminster. With him was his mother-in-law Martha and brother-in-law Sam Clapp.

Charles & Ellen’s daughter, Mabel, died in 1902 aged just 4. Charles died July 1905 aged just 41.

In 1911, a widow, Ellen was living in West Street with her 16 year old daughter, Elsie May. They both worked in the linen shirt collar factory: Ellen as a laundresses and Elise May as a stretcher. Ellen died in 1937.

4)     EVA

Eva was born 1868 in Seavington No record of her baptism exists. Eva married Thomas Garrett on 22 Sep 1890.

7 months after her marriage, Eva is back home living with her parents together with her 2 month old daughter, Ada. Tom on the other hand is living and working on Hayes Farm, Sully in Glamorgan, Wales. Perhaps this explains why they didn’t have another child for 10 years.

By 1901 Eva has left Seavington and she and her husband are back together and living in Dillington, a mile from Ilminster town centre. It is here that Hilda was born in March 1901. 10 years later, they were still living there. Daughter Constance was born in 1910.

Eva died in 1917.

5)  FLORA  was born 1871 and was baptised on 19 Nov in Seavington St. Mary.

By the age of 10, Flora was living with her maternal grandmother, Washerwoman, Mary Ash. In 1891 she is back home living with her parents and working as a Collar Maker.

On 1 December 1893 Flora gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Daisy.  Daisy lived with her grandparents Thomas and Emma Napper. (By 1911 Daisy is living with her mother and step father. She continued to live with them until at least 1939.)  Flora worked as a Shirt Collar Worker.

Flora married John Cable on 25 Dec 1896 in Seavington St. Mary. John had been living with his parents, 5 Water Street, Lopen.

Flora left Seavington and with her new husband, John went to live in 3 Water Street, Lopen.

John Cable and Flora Napper had the following children:

Edward (Ted) was born 9 February 1897 in Lopen (6 weeks after they were married) and baptised on 4 April 1897. (In 1896, John Cable was a labourer.) Ted died in 1988 in 5 Water Lane, Lopen. 

Lynda Nellie was born 2 July 1899 in Lopen. (John Cable was a Private in the Somerset Light Infantry.) Lynda married F. Gummer.

Dorothy was born in 1891 in Seavington St. Abbotts. She married E. Marsh.

John had previously served in the Army, but on 9 Sept 1914 the 5’10 10st John Cable re-enlisted into the South Somerset Reg. 14509. He was sent to France, returning home on 24 July 1915. 16 August 1915 he was admonished for being 14 hrs 5min late back from leave. In September 1916 he was back in France serving in Rouen.

Flora, at this time, was living at Cross Tree, Lopen. She died in 1953

6)  THOMAS ASH, my grandfather was born 12 Oct 1874 and baptised 20 Oct 1874 in St. Mary Abbott.

He left Seavington and eventually made his way to London.

7)  LENA was born in 1879 in Seavington St. Mary.

She married James Male on 13 Feb 1904 in Seavington St. Mary.

Lena left Seavington for Ilminster Without. James and Lena had the following children:

Dorothy: born in 1905 in Ilminster Without.

Harold: born in 1908 in Ilminster Without.
Arthur: born in 1909 in Ilminster Without.

In 1986 Ilminster Without was renamed Horton, a village 2 ½ miles west from Ilminster town centre. 

8)  ADA  was born 4 April in 1881 in Seavington St. Mary.

Ada left Seavington. She married Fred Wines on Jan/Feb/Mar 1905. He was born in 1882 in South Petherton.  In 1911 Fred and Ada were living with Fred’s mother, Ann Wines, together with her other son, John, and two of her grandchildren in Bridgeway, South Petherton. Ann Wines was the Head of the household.

By 1911 Fred and Ada had three children.

Emily: born in 1910 in Ilminster.

Charles: born in 1906 in South Petherton.
William: died before 1911

In 1939 They were living in (Over) Stratton. Fred is working as a Smallholder, she has unpaid domestic duties.

Photograph taken in Lopen

Thomas was the last of my ancestors to have lived in Seavington. In 1911 he was living with his daughter Flora in Water Street, Lopen. 7 people lived in just 4 rooms.  During the First World War, Flora moved to Cross Trees. Thomas made his final Exodus on the 21st June 1919 in one of 4 cottages at Cross Tree Lopen when he died at his daughter Flora’s home.  Four rooms: a 2-up and 2-down cottage in central Lopen.