Napper Family - The escape from Mucky Pit

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 a...

My Great Grandparents were Thomas and Emma Napper. Emma had been born Emma Ash (Sometimes spelt Aish) Her Great Grandparents were John Ash (1735 – 24/4/1785) and Mary Gillett (1728 – 1795) They had been married in Seavington St. Michael 12 June 1759 John and Mary were married before the 1763 Marriage act that raised the marriageable age to 16. Until then boys could marry at 14 and girls 12, as long as they had parental consent. The marriage register states that the couple had parental consent. John was 15 and Mary was aged just 12. Emma’s Grandparents were: Thomas Ash (21 Jun 1770 - 12 Feb 1837) & Susanna Hopkins (b1771) They were married in Seavington St. Michael 29th July 1796 Thomas Ash and Susan Hopkins had the following children 1) William was born in 1794 in Seavington St. Michael. He married Sarah. She was born in 1797 in Hinton St. George. 2) James was born in 1804 in Seavington St. Michael. He married Mary. She was born in 1800 in Seavington...

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. , , 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, Tho...