William and Pricilla Napper
WILLIAM NAPPER (My great, great grandfather)
William was born on 11 Sep 1806 (Seavington St. Mary).
He married Pricilla Burgess, daughter of Joseph Burgess and Betty on 3 Jun 1830 in St. Mary Abbott. (She was born on 21 Feb 1800 in Seavington St. Mary.)
Throughout his life William lived in the Tything of St. Mary Abbotts and was employed as a farm labourer. He died in 1859 and was buried on 16 Feb 1859.
After Williams death, Pricilla needed an income and became a Washerwoman, taking in other people’s washing. By 1871, however, her job description had been upgraded to “Laundress”. It is now that we have a more specific address for her. She was living in a cottage on Upton Farm.
According to the census there was only one cottage between where she lived and the Volunteer Inn.
In 1881 she is living next door to Cross cottage, the home of her son, Thomas. At the age of 80 she gives her occupation as a charlady – cleaning other people’s homes. But is also says that she is an “annuitant”. This could simply mean that her charring income is being supplemented by support from her family.
Pricilla spent the whole of her life living in the small community of Seavington St. Abbots. She died there and was buried 5th February 1886.
William Napper and Pricilla Burgess had the following children:
1) SUSAN NAPPER
Susan was born on 27 Mar 1831 in Seavington St. Mary.
By 1851 Susan had left home and in 1861 she was living at Pilway, South Petherton at the home of Thomas Cross, who by profession was a boot and shoe maker. Unlike the young men in the house who were apprentices, Susan is employed as a “servant” whose occupation is a “shoe binder”.
12th April 1856 she visited Seavington to attend her brother, Jonah’s wedding and signed (with a cross) the marriage certificate.
In 1871 we find Susan back home and living with her mother in Seavington. Susan continued to use her sewing skills and gives her occupation as “dressmaker”.
In 1875, Susan’s life took a new direction when on 6th April 1875, at the age of 44, Susan married a widower, William England. William was a butcher with a business in Shepton Beauchamp and it was to here that the newly weds returned. By now Susan’s younger sister, Sarah Ann, now Mrs Sarah Ann England was married and living in Shepton Beauchamp. It seems that Susan had married her brother-in-law.
The 5’6” tall, blue eyed William had been a bit of a lad in his younger days and has spent time in prison during 1856. He died aged 51 and was buried in Shepton Beauchamp 31 Oct 1886
Susan died in Shepton Beauchamp and was buried 13th January 1899.
2) JONAH NAPPER
Jonah was born on 25 Sep 1836 in St. Mary Abbott.
He married Jane Ash, daughter of John Ash and Mary Hopkins on 12 Apr 1856 in Seavington St. Michael. (She was born in 1836). As children Jonah and Jane has lived just three doors from each other in Seavington. However, at the time of their marriage they were both living in Seavington St. Michael. By now Jane was already 5 months pregnant with their daughter Emma. Jonah was an agricultural labourer and Jane was employed making leather gloves.
During the coming years Jonah and Jane had three daughters: These were sad years for the young family.
EMMA was born on 31 Aug 1856. She died on 11 Jul 1863
LOUISA was born on 21 Nov 1858. She died on 1 Dec 1860.
SUSAN was born on 01 Nov 1860. She died on 24 Nov 1861.
By 1861 Jonah and Jane were living in Seavington St. Mary. Jonah working as a labourer and Jane continuing her work as a glover.
In the coming years they had three more children. Tragedy continued to strike.
WILLIAM was born in Sep 1862. He died on 5 Oct 1862 in Seavington St. Mary.
LOUISA was born on 29 Dec 1863.
JOHN born on 14 Oct 1866 in Seavington St. Mary.
CHARLES was born on 21 Aug 1870 in Seavington St. Michael.
In 1871 their address is given as just two cottages away from Water Street House, the home of Rev J Billing, who supplemented his income by running a boarding school for 11 teenage boys. Jonah continued to work as an agricultural labourer.
Their daughter:
MARY was born in 1872 in Seavington.
There seems to have followed an unsettled time. By 1876 they are living in Somerton
(16 miles NE of Seavington) This is where their daughter JANE was born in 1876
By 1878 they are living in Walton, 7 miles north of Somerton. It was here that their daughter .
PRICILLA was born in 1878.
By 1881 their address is more specific: Sharpham Park (now the site of Shapwich Heath Nature Reserve, and just a stone’s throw from that shopaholics delight - Clarks’ Village Outlet shops.)
In 1891 it seems that Jonah had left working the land and was working as a general labourer in the nearby small town of Street. (West End, the end nearest the High Street - Now the site of the Police Station) Here Jane worked from home as a shoe binder. And as a sign of the times, their son had a job as a bus driver.
By 1901, Jonah was working as a gardener and Jane was still working from home as shoe binder.
In 1911 Jonah and Jane had given up their own home and were living as lodgers of the Miles Family at 16 Glaston Road, Street. (Now the site of a school and art gallery). Soon after 1911 Jonah and Jane left Street and moved to Watergore, 3 miles East of Seavington. It was here that Jonah died in 1912 and was buried in South Petherton, February 5th 1912 at the ripe old age of 76.
3) THOMAS my great grandfather was born on 7 Jan 1838 in Seavington St. Mary.
4) SARAH ANN
Sarah Ann was born on 17 Apr 1840 in St. Mary Abbott.
In 1861 Sarah, still living at home with her mother and siblings, was working as a servant On the 26 January 1865 she married Edward England. At the time of her marriage Sarah Ann was working from home as a Glover. Her husband Edward was from Shepton Beauchamp. The newly weds set up home together in Village Street, Shepton Beauchamp, where Sarah Ann continue to work from home as a Glover (1871, 1881)
In 1891 & 1901 Edward was working as a butcher (as was his brother, William) and living in Love Lane Shepton Beachamp.
Sarah Ann died in 1903 and was buried in Shepton Beauchamp on the 12th of December. Edward, left a widower, lived with his youngest daughter Emma, until his own death in 1915
Sarah Ann and Edward had 6 daughters:
Eliza 1866
Victoria 1869
Elizabeth 1871.
Susan1874
Mary Jane 1877
Emma 1880
5) ELIZABETH
Elizabeth as born on 12 Feb 1843 in St. Mary Abbott.
The industrial revolution bypassed Seavington and manufacturing was still a cottage industry. As soon as she was old enough she was required to earn a living. Elizabeth joined the other women in the community in the only occupation that was open to them: making gloves at home.
In 1864 Elizabeth gave birth to an illegitimate baby daughter: Susan Napper.
Whilst other baptism records state the occupation of the father, Elizabeth’s occupation is given as “Spinster”. It seems that the father was unwilling to marry Elizabeth, perhaps suggesting that he wasn’t free to do so.
23 Jan 1875 in Seavington St. Mary, the 32 year old Elizabeth married George Old, a widower. Elizabeth was one of the first Napper’s able to write their name and sign their marriage certificate. George was 8 years her senior. After their marriage they lived together in Church Street, Seavington St. Mary (Leaving Elizabeth’s 11 year old daughter to live her grandmother, Pricilla Napper)
Sadly, George Old died in 1888, leaving Elizabeth without a husband and without an income. To make ends meet, Elizabeth took in other people’s washing and became a laundress.
10 years later Elizabeth had moved to Hunts Cottage (Next to Seavington House) in Seavington St, Michael. She was still a laundress, but was also sharing the cottage with a young couple: John & Annie Gummer.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Susan, continued to live with her grandmother until her own wedding in 1898 when she married innkeeper Tom Pym on the 24 May. (The name of Susan’s father is left blank on the marriage certificate.) Soon after their marriage Susan and Tom moved to Kent where Tom worked as a Mess Waiter in the Sergeants / Officers Mess at Chattondon Barracks Ordinance Depot. (Not the Innkeeper of his marriage certificate)
Tom and Susan returned to live in Somerset and Tom became the Proprietor of the Stones Cross Hotel in Midsomer Norton. Tom and Susan and no children.
In February 1910 Susan died. Her body was brought to Seavington St. Mary where she was buried. Tom seems to have been of some means, because Susan is the first person in the family to have been given a headstone.
The 44 year old Tom was soon comforted in his grief and on 2nd November 1910 Tom married Alice Edwards, 21 years his junior. They went on to have a family together.
In 1911 Elizabeth, now both a widow and childless, is in the home of William and Ella Porter in East Lambrook (about 5 miles north of Seavington). The 68 year old Elizabeth is employed as a “Monthly Nurse”. A Monthly Nurse was not a medical role in the modern sense but rather a woman who moved in with a family temporarily to care for the lady of the house during her confinement. Baby Molly Porter was born 4 April 1911. (Moly grew up to become a music teacher)
Elizabeth died, a widow and alone in Chard Union workhouse in 1919. Former Son-in-law Tom brought her body home to Seavington St. Mary. And there she lies, reunited with her daughter Susan. “Rest in the Lord”.
6) ELIZA NAPPER
Eliza was baptised 10 Aug 1845 in St. Mary Abbott.
As soon as she was able, Eliza joined other women in the community and became a maker of leather gloves. Working from home.
She married Japhath Seaward on 3rd Sep 1864 in Seavington St. Mary. Japhath was a shepherd from Allowenshay, a few miles south of Seavington. The vicar, mishearing her Somerset accent called her “Eliza Nappa”. (Japhath is some time called Jabez). The newlyweds went to live in a cottage on the farm at Allowenshay.
Their first child, George was born in 1865, followed by John (1866) Tom (1870) and Joe (1873).
It seems that the family then moved to Bove Moor, Street. Street, was where Eliza’s older brother, Jonah, lived. And it was here that their 5th son, Sydney was born in 1877.
11 years later, the 44 year olds Eliza and Japheth had a surprise. Their 6th son, Percy, was born! Percy continued to live with his elderly parents into adulthood. Forsaking the traditional family occupation of farm labourer, Percy became an insurance agent.
7) JOSEPH BURGESS NAPPER
Joseph was born on 10 Jun 1849 in Seavington St. Mary.
By the age of 12 Joseph was already in full time employment, working on Upton Farm as a labourer. He continued living with his mother until her death in 1887. She was buried on February 5th. Joseph died 4 weeks later and was buried on the 6th March. He was 37 years old.
8) WILLIAM NAPPER
William was baptised on 12 Jun 1852 in St. Mary Abbott.
By the age of 8 William was working full time as a farm labourer. In 1871 he is still living with his mother, Soon after this, William left home to join the navy.
In 1881 William was serving aboard HMS Flora, docked at Asencion Island in the mid-Atlantic between Angola and Brazil.
William was born on 11 Sep 1806 (Seavington St. Mary).
He married Pricilla Burgess, daughter of Joseph Burgess and Betty on 3 Jun 1830 in St. Mary Abbott. (She was born on 21 Feb 1800 in Seavington St. Mary.)
After Williams death, Pricilla needed an income and became a Washerwoman, taking in other people’s washing. By 1871, however, her job description had been upgraded to “Laundress”. It is now that we have a more specific address for her. She was living in a cottage on Upton Farm.
According to the census there was only one cottage between where she lived and the Volunteer Inn.
In 1881 she is living next door to Cross cottage, the home of her son, Thomas. At the age of 80 she gives her occupation as a charlady – cleaning other people’s homes. But is also says that she is an “annuitant”. This could simply mean that her charring income is being supplemented by support from her family.
Pricilla spent the whole of her life living in the small community of Seavington St. Abbots. She died there and was buried 5th February 1886.
William Napper and Pricilla Burgess had the following children:
1) SUSAN NAPPER
Susan was born on 27 Mar 1831 in Seavington St. Mary.
By 1851 Susan had left home and in 1861 she was living at Pilway, South Petherton at the home of Thomas Cross, who by profession was a boot and shoe maker. Unlike the young men in the house who were apprentices, Susan is employed as a “servant” whose occupation is a “shoe binder”.
12th April 1856 she visited Seavington to attend her brother, Jonah’s wedding and signed (with a cross) the marriage certificate.
In 1871 we find Susan back home and living with her mother in Seavington. Susan continued to use her sewing skills and gives her occupation as “dressmaker”.
In 1875, Susan’s life took a new direction when on 6th April 1875, at the age of 44, Susan married a widower, William England. William was a butcher with a business in Shepton Beauchamp and it was to here that the newly weds returned. By now Susan’s younger sister, Sarah Ann, now Mrs Sarah Ann England was married and living in Shepton Beauchamp. It seems that Susan had married her brother-in-law.
The 5’6” tall, blue eyed William had been a bit of a lad in his younger days and has spent time in prison during 1856. He died aged 51 and was buried in Shepton Beauchamp 31 Oct 1886
Susan died in Shepton Beauchamp and was buried 13th January 1899.
2) JONAH NAPPER
Jonah was born on 25 Sep 1836 in St. Mary Abbott.
He married Jane Ash, daughter of John Ash and Mary Hopkins on 12 Apr 1856 in Seavington St. Michael. (She was born in 1836). As children Jonah and Jane has lived just three doors from each other in Seavington. However, at the time of their marriage they were both living in Seavington St. Michael. By now Jane was already 5 months pregnant with their daughter Emma. Jonah was an agricultural labourer and Jane was employed making leather gloves.
During the coming years Jonah and Jane had three daughters: These were sad years for the young family.
EMMA was born on 31 Aug 1856. She died on 11 Jul 1863
LOUISA was born on 21 Nov 1858. She died on 1 Dec 1860.
SUSAN was born on 01 Nov 1860. She died on 24 Nov 1861.
By 1861 Jonah and Jane were living in Seavington St. Mary. Jonah working as a labourer and Jane continuing her work as a glover.
In the coming years they had three more children. Tragedy continued to strike.
WILLIAM was born in Sep 1862. He died on 5 Oct 1862 in Seavington St. Mary.
LOUISA was born on 29 Dec 1863.
JOHN born on 14 Oct 1866 in Seavington St. Mary.
CHARLES was born on 21 Aug 1870 in Seavington St. Michael.
In 1871 their address is given as just two cottages away from Water Street House, the home of Rev J Billing, who supplemented his income by running a boarding school for 11 teenage boys. Jonah continued to work as an agricultural labourer.
Their daughter:
MARY was born in 1872 in Seavington.
There seems to have followed an unsettled time. By 1876 they are living in Somerton
(16 miles NE of Seavington) This is where their daughter JANE was born in 1876
By 1878 they are living in Walton, 7 miles north of Somerton. It was here that their daughter .
PRICILLA was born in 1878.
By 1881 their address is more specific: Sharpham Park (now the site of Shapwich Heath Nature Reserve, and just a stone’s throw from that shopaholics delight - Clarks’ Village Outlet shops.)
In 1891 it seems that Jonah had left working the land and was working as a general labourer in the nearby small town of Street. (West End, the end nearest the High Street - Now the site of the Police Station) Here Jane worked from home as a shoe binder. And as a sign of the times, their son had a job as a bus driver.
By 1901, Jonah was working as a gardener and Jane was still working from home as shoe binder.
In 1911 Jonah and Jane had given up their own home and were living as lodgers of the Miles Family at 16 Glaston Road, Street. (Now the site of a school and art gallery). Soon after 1911 Jonah and Jane left Street and moved to Watergore, 3 miles East of Seavington. It was here that Jonah died in 1912 and was buried in South Petherton, February 5th 1912 at the ripe old age of 76.
3) THOMAS my great grandfather was born on 7 Jan 1838 in Seavington St. Mary.
4) SARAH ANN
Sarah Ann was born on 17 Apr 1840 in St. Mary Abbott.
In 1861 Sarah, still living at home with her mother and siblings, was working as a servant On the 26 January 1865 she married Edward England. At the time of her marriage Sarah Ann was working from home as a Glover. Her husband Edward was from Shepton Beauchamp. The newly weds set up home together in Village Street, Shepton Beauchamp, where Sarah Ann continue to work from home as a Glover (1871, 1881)
In 1891 & 1901 Edward was working as a butcher (as was his brother, William) and living in Love Lane Shepton Beachamp.
Sarah Ann died in 1903 and was buried in Shepton Beauchamp on the 12th of December. Edward, left a widower, lived with his youngest daughter Emma, until his own death in 1915
Sarah Ann and Edward had 6 daughters:
Eliza 1866
Victoria 1869
Elizabeth 1871.
Susan1874
Mary Jane 1877
Emma 1880
5) ELIZABETH
Elizabeth as born on 12 Feb 1843 in St. Mary Abbott.
The industrial revolution bypassed Seavington and manufacturing was still a cottage industry. As soon as she was old enough she was required to earn a living. Elizabeth joined the other women in the community in the only occupation that was open to them: making gloves at home.
In 1864 Elizabeth gave birth to an illegitimate baby daughter: Susan Napper.
Whilst other baptism records state the occupation of the father, Elizabeth’s occupation is given as “Spinster”. It seems that the father was unwilling to marry Elizabeth, perhaps suggesting that he wasn’t free to do so.
23 Jan 1875 in Seavington St. Mary, the 32 year old Elizabeth married George Old, a widower. Elizabeth was one of the first Napper’s able to write their name and sign their marriage certificate. George was 8 years her senior. After their marriage they lived together in Church Street, Seavington St. Mary (Leaving Elizabeth’s 11 year old daughter to live her grandmother, Pricilla Napper)
Sadly, George Old died in 1888, leaving Elizabeth without a husband and without an income. To make ends meet, Elizabeth took in other people’s washing and became a laundress.
10 years later Elizabeth had moved to Hunts Cottage (Next to Seavington House) in Seavington St, Michael. She was still a laundress, but was also sharing the cottage with a young couple: John & Annie Gummer.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Susan, continued to live with her grandmother until her own wedding in 1898 when she married innkeeper Tom Pym on the 24 May. (The name of Susan’s father is left blank on the marriage certificate.) Soon after their marriage Susan and Tom moved to Kent where Tom worked as a Mess Waiter in the Sergeants / Officers Mess at Chattondon Barracks Ordinance Depot. (Not the Innkeeper of his marriage certificate)
Tom and Susan returned to live in Somerset and Tom became the Proprietor of the Stones Cross Hotel in Midsomer Norton. Tom and Susan and no children.
In February 1910 Susan died. Her body was brought to Seavington St. Mary where she was buried. Tom seems to have been of some means, because Susan is the first person in the family to have been given a headstone.
The 44 year old Tom was soon comforted in his grief and on 2nd November 1910 Tom married Alice Edwards, 21 years his junior. They went on to have a family together.
In 1911 Elizabeth, now both a widow and childless, is in the home of William and Ella Porter in East Lambrook (about 5 miles north of Seavington). The 68 year old Elizabeth is employed as a “Monthly Nurse”. A Monthly Nurse was not a medical role in the modern sense but rather a woman who moved in with a family temporarily to care for the lady of the house during her confinement. Baby Molly Porter was born 4 April 1911. (Moly grew up to become a music teacher)
Elizabeth died, a widow and alone in Chard Union workhouse in 1919. Former Son-in-law Tom brought her body home to Seavington St. Mary. And there she lies, reunited with her daughter Susan. “Rest in the Lord”.
6) ELIZA NAPPER
Eliza was baptised 10 Aug 1845 in St. Mary Abbott.
As soon as she was able, Eliza joined other women in the community and became a maker of leather gloves. Working from home.
She married Japhath Seaward on 3rd Sep 1864 in Seavington St. Mary. Japhath was a shepherd from Allowenshay, a few miles south of Seavington. The vicar, mishearing her Somerset accent called her “Eliza Nappa”. (Japhath is some time called Jabez). The newlyweds went to live in a cottage on the farm at Allowenshay.
Their first child, George was born in 1865, followed by John (1866) Tom (1870) and Joe (1873).
It seems that the family then moved to Bove Moor, Street. Street, was where Eliza’s older brother, Jonah, lived. And it was here that their 5th son, Sydney was born in 1877.
11 years later, the 44 year olds Eliza and Japheth had a surprise. Their 6th son, Percy, was born! Percy continued to live with his elderly parents into adulthood. Forsaking the traditional family occupation of farm labourer, Percy became an insurance agent.
7) JOSEPH BURGESS NAPPER
Joseph was born on 10 Jun 1849 in Seavington St. Mary.
By the age of 12 Joseph was already in full time employment, working on Upton Farm as a labourer. He continued living with his mother until her death in 1887. She was buried on February 5th. Joseph died 4 weeks later and was buried on the 6th March. He was 37 years old.
8) WILLIAM NAPPER
William was baptised on 12 Jun 1852 in St. Mary Abbott.
By the age of 8 William was working full time as a farm labourer. In 1871 he is still living with his mother, Soon after this, William left home to join the navy.
In 1881 William was serving aboard HMS Flora, docked at Asencion Island in the mid-Atlantic between Angola and Brazil.
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