Merriott Families Genealogy

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The Butcher Family of Merriott

The surname of BUTCHER was not among the 23 most common surnames in Merriott during the censuses of the 19th century. Nevertheless there has been mention of the family name continuously since 1726 in the Merriott records, up until at least 1951 which is the limits of the records I have looked at.

The earliest Butcher record in Merriott was the marriage of Joseph & Joan Butcher:

Parents	Baptisms of Children	Baptisms of Children
11 May 1725 Joseph Butcher, sojourner in Merriott m Joan Wills, Merriott	2 July 1726 Joseph 12 April 1730 Marg 16 February 1731 William 26 February 1733 John	8 April 1736 Joseph 16 December 1739 Thomas 2 March 1742 Joan
6 August 1744 Joseph Butcher m Joan Mitchell	No children baptised
John & Jane Butcher	5 March 1754 Ann
20 August 1764 Joseph Butcher m Ursula Gange	3 February 1765 William 28 March 1766 Mary	25 Feb 1770 Joan (buried 12 Oct 1772) 5 October 1772 Ursula (buried 6 Oct 1772)

BURIALS

MALES	FEMALES
16 February 1735 Joseph Butcher 12 May 1765 Joseph Butcher	22 October 1731 Mary Butcher 2 May 1742 Joan Butcher 31 August 1767 Joan Butcher 6 October 1772 Ursula Butcher Wife of Jos

The Butchers and the Rodbards

From 1769 several children were born to Joan Butcher, possibly the Joan Butcher baptised 1742.

Baptism 30 January 1769 Mary, BB (base born)
Burial 19 February 1769 Mary Butcher
Baptism 22 February 1771 John, BB
Baptism 21 April 1773 Mary, BB
Baptism 1 March 1775 William, BB
Baptism 16 December 1778 Charlotte, BC (base child)

According to the Victoria County History of Somerset, Volume IV, one Henry Rodbard left four illegitimate children, the eldest, John Butcher, assuming the name of Rodbard. This John Butcher is thought to be the son of Joan Butcher, as above. Henry Rodbard was the son of John Rodbard, who left the Manor of Merriott to Henry. Henry died in 1792. John Butcher, now Rodbard, married a bigamist and his children by her did not inherit. The manor passed to John's brother William Butcher (later Rodbard - who died 1843) of West Coker. After William's death the manor was held jointly by his sister Mary, widow of Silvester Prior Bean (died 1797) and his niece Charlotte, wife of Edward Whitley. On Mary Bean's death in 1849 her share descended in turn to her son Reginald Henry Bean (later Rodbard) and grandson John Rodbard Rodbard. Eventually the entire lordship and half of the lands was received by H. E. Whitley, son of the Revd. H. C. Whitley, who was brother to the Edward Whitley mentioned above.

Deeds of properties owned by Rodbards and also some Wills are available for viewing at the Somerset Record Office, Accession number C/606. The Rodbards also appear in the 1873 Returns of Owners of Land of more than one acre:
RODBEID, Mrs Emma of Merriott; over 166 acres with a gross estimated rental of over 378 pounds;
RODBARD, Edward of Merriott; over 51 acres with a gross estimated rental of over 153 pounds; and
RODBARD, J & E of Merriott; over 82 acres with a gross estimated rental of over 314 pounds.

[The Rodbards previously appeared in the Merriott Parish Registers:

Marriage 31 March 1696 Thomas Rodbard m Hannah Phelps

Baptism 26 December 1699 Anne (twin) of John & Edith Rodbard
Baptism 26 December 1699 Mary (twin) of John & Edith Rodbard

Baptism 8 July 1726 Henry, son of John & Madam Mary Rodbard
Baptism 18 October 1731 William, son of John & Mary Rodbard
Baptism 27 September 1727 Mary, dau of John & Mary Rodbard
Burial 14 January 1733 Mary Rodbard
Burial 1 November 1745 Mary Rodbard
Burial 6 April 1744 Jno Rodbard, Esq]

In the Merriott Parish Register, 1795, the following has been written by the vicar:

"NB In October 1795 Mr John Rodbard had a child that died at Weymouth and was brought to Merriott for the purpose of internment - and without my permission or even being asked whether it might be buried in what was called Mr Rodbard's vault, it was broke open and I was ordered to attend the funeral - which I absolutely denied doing and declined it should not be buried in the Church at all - the consequence was, that every means were resorted to to bring me to account for any non compliance with their wishes, but no faculty or prescription being found in their possession or at Wells to establish their assumed rights, the child was buried at Stoke under Ham. I demanded a fee of Five Guineas which was refused - but be it remembered a Bank Note of Twenty Pounds value was given me for burying another child of Mr Rodbury in the year 1801 which I returned him and he gratefully acknowledged the favour."

Appearances of the Rodbards in the Censuses:

YEAR	REF	ABODE	NAME, AGE, (etc), OCCUPATION, WHERE BORN
1861	52 56	Higher St	Rodbard Edward Head M 55 M Land Owner Som, Merriott Rodbard Charlotte Wife M 55 F Land Owner's wife Som, Bristol Rodbard Edward William Son U 30 M Gentleman Som, Merriott Cundham? Louisa Servant U 29 F Som, East Coker Raison Mary Ann Servant U 15 F Som, West Coker
1871	15 101	Higher St	Rodbard Edward Head W 70 M Landowner Som, Merriott Rodbard Edward William Son U 40 M No occupation Som, Merriott Porter Betsy Serv W 67 F Domestic Servant Dorset, Burstock

The Butchers and the Osbornes

MARRIAGE

29 October 1776 Joseph Butcher of Chard m Charity Osband (Osborne)

BAPTISMS & BURIALS

Joseph & Charity Butcher

15 January 1777 Thomas
9 July 1778 Joan
21 February 1780 Joseph
26 September 1781 John (no burial found)
2 July 1782 John (buried 2 July 1782)

BUTCHERs in 19th Century Merriott

Most of the BUTCHERs of 19th century Merriott descend from the Joseph Butcher/Charity Osborne family. The 19th century censuses show most of the Butchers as Agricultural Labourers and Factory Hands, as were most of the Merriott population.

MARRIAGES

MALES	FEMALES
14 October 1806 John Butcher m Hannah Hooper	7 December 1812 Joan Butcher m John Eames

BAPTISMS

John (a Labourer/Gardener) & Hannah (nee Hooper) BUTCHER	30 May 1808 Joseph 7 February 1819 Martha 7 February 1819 John	7 February 1819 Mary 25 December 1831 Mary
Joseph (a Weaver/Labourer) & Elizabeth BUTCHER	24 August 1834 Martha
Thomas (a Labourer) & Mary (nee Sweet) BUTCHER	29 June 1834 Ann 13 December 1835 John	2 July 1837 George 24 February 1839 Charles
Mary (a Single Woman/Glove Sewer) BUTCHER	25 February 1855 Eloise, BB	12 January 1859 Adam
John (a Labourer) & Louisa (nee England) BUTCHER	18 September 1858 Thomas 11 November 1860 Mary Ann 13 July 1862 Hannah 10 April 1864 Joseph	14 April 1867 Eliza 13 November 1870 John 8 August 1875 Henry
Ann (a Single Woman) BUTCHER	12 August 1860 Emmanuel Pike Butcher

BURIALS 1801 - 1900

MALES - 10

FEMALES - 12

26 April 1860 Adam Butcher 1 yr
9 September 1899 Arthur Henry Butcher 2 mo
16 May 1839 Charles Butcher 3 mo
24 February 1849 John Butcher 66
7 February 1876 Joseph Butcher 11
10 March 1888 Samuel Butcher 7 w
17 May 1810 Thomas Butcher
2 April 1839 Thomas Butcher 28
31 August 1894 Thomas Butcher 35
2 May 1895 Thomas Edward Butcher 11 mo

3 September 1825 Charity Butcher 61
27 April 1868 Eliza Butcher 1
9 November 1828 Elizabeth Butcher 2 w
10 October 1830 Elizabeth Butcher 11 w
18 July 1846 Elizabeth Butcher 72
8 March 1879 Ellen Butcher 7 mo
1 May 1847 Hannah Butcher 70
25 March 1812 Joan Butcher
19 January 1861 Margaret Butcher 71
21 January 1820 Mary Butcher 1
20 December 1879 Mary Butcher 84
17 February 1883 Mary Ann Butcher 22

CENSUSES (excluding 1881)

YEAR	REF	ABODE	NAME, AGE (ETC), OCCUPATION, WHERE BORN (Y = Somerset)
1841	12	Lower St	Butcher John 55 M Ag. Lab Y Butcher Hannah 55 F Y	Butcher Mary 11 F Y
1841	13	Bottom of Sherrimore Hill	Lawrence James 75 M Ag. Lab Y Lawrence Sarah 75 F N Trask Ruben 35 M Shoemaker Y Trask Ann 35 F Y Trask Sampson 10 M Y	Trask Mary 5 F Y Trask George 3 M Y Trask Francis 1 M Y Butcher Elizabeth 64 F Ind Y
1841	22/23	Boozer	Butcher Mary 40 F Labourer Y Trask James 20 M Labourer Y Trask Hannah 16 F Factory Y	Butcher Ann 7 F Y Butcher John 5 M Y Butcher George 4 M Y
1851	334 045	Town's End	Butcher Mary Head W 53 F Ag. Lab Som, Merriott Butcher John Son U 14 M Ag. Lab Som, Merriott	Butcher George Son U 12 M Shoemaker Som, Merriott
1851	352 043	Broadway	Sweet Hannah Head W 43 F Works in the fields Som, Merriott Sweet Mary Ann Dau U 24 F Works in the factory Som, Merriott Sweet George Son U 22 M Labour Som, Merriott	Sweet Samuel Son U 6 w M Som, Merriott Butcher Mary Lodger U 21 F Glover Som, Merriott Sweet ?? Son U 4 M Som, Merriott
1861	53 067	High St	Butcher John Head M 22 M Laborer Som, Merriott Butcher Louisa Wife M 24 F Som, Merriott	Butcher Thomas Son U 2 M Som, Merriott Butcher Mary Ann Dau U 5m F Som, Merriott
1861	54 074	High St	Butcher Mary Head W 60 F Laborer Som, Merriott Butcher Ann Dau U 27 F Glover Som, Merriott	Butcher Emanuel Pike Grandson U 10m M Som, Merriott Sweet Charles Lodger U 22 M Ag. Lab Som, Merriott
1871	13 83	Boozer	Butcher Mary Head W 76 F Ag. Lab Som, Merriott Butcher Ann Dau U 34 F Glover Som, Merriott	Butcher Emmanuel Grandson U 10 M Scholar Som, Merriott
1871	14 90	Boozer	Butcher John Head M 37 M Carter Som, Merriott Butcher Louisa Wife M 36 F Som, Merriott Butcher Thomas Son U 12 M Ag. Lab Som, Merriott Butcher Maryann Dau U 10 F Scholar Som, Merriott	Butcher Hannah Dau U 8 F Scholar Som, Merriott Butcher Joseph Son U 6 M Scholar Som, Merriott Butcher John Son U 6m M Som, Merriott
1871	37 187	Hinton St George	Butcher Mary Head U 40 F Glover Som, Merriott Butcher Joseph Son U 8 M Som, Merriott	Butcher Eliza Dau U 6 F Som, Merriott Butcher John Son U 1 M Som, Merriott
1871	71 118	Broadway	Parker Roger, Jnr Head M 38 M Market Gardener Som, Merriott Parker Louisa Wife M 33 F Som, Merriott Parker Mary Susan Dau U 12 F Scholar Som, Merriott Parker Henry William Son U 10 M Scholar Som, Merriott	Parker Jane Dau U 7 F Scholar Som, Merriott Parker Sarah Dau U 5 F Scholar Som, Merriott Parker Rose Dau U 3 F Scholar Som, Merriott Parker Richard Son U 2 M Som, Merriott Butcher Elsy Servt U 15 F Domestic Servant Som, Merriott
1891	21 152 136	Higher St	Butcher Thomas Head M 33 G. Nurseryman Merriott Butcher Hannah Wife M 30 Merriott	Butcher Ellen Dau 3 Merriott Butcher Henry Son 7 mo Merriott
1891	22 152 143	Higher St	Butcher John Head M 50 General Labourer Merriott Butcher Louisa Wife M 55 Merriott Butcher Hannah Dau S 30 Factory Labourer Merriott	Butcher John Son 20 Agricultural Labourer Merriott Butcher Henry Son S 16 General Labourer Merriott
1891	28 155 179	Church St	Butchers Elsie Head S 36 Living on own means Merriott	Butchers Mary Dau 11 Crewkerne, Somerset Butchers Henry Son 8 Merriott
1901	4 56 25	Beadon Lane	Butcher Rose Wife M 30 Merriott Butcher Edward Joseph Son 9 Merriott Butcher Lily Mary Dau 9 Merriott	Butcher Henry William Son 2 Merriott Butcher Ellen Victoria Dau 10 m Merriott Wills Ann Aunt S 70 Merriott
1901	10 59 82	Sandy Hole	Butcher Elsie Head S 44 Independent Merriott	Butcher Mary Parker Dau S 21 Dressmaker Own account At home Crewkerne
1901	13 61 98	Church Street	Butcher James Head M 26 Sail Cloth Canvas Weaver Merriott Butcher Bessie Wife M 27 Merriott	Butcher Thomas Henry Son 6 Merriott Butcher Edward James Son 4 Merriott Butcher Walter Son 2 Merriott
1901	39 74 276	Townsend	Butcher John Head M 30 Labourer in Nursery Merriott Butcher Florence Wife M 25 Shirt Maker At home Crewkerne	Butcher Thomas George Son 6m Merriott
1901	40 74 280	Townsend	Pattemore Matthew Head M 66 Nursery Labourer Merriott Pattemore Ellen Wife M 65 Merriott Pattemore Matthew Henry Son S 22 Canvas Sail Cloth Weaver Merriott	Butcher Hannah Dau W 39 Linen Flax Spinner Merriott Butcher Nellie Granddau 12 Merriott Butcher Charles Henry Grandson 10 Merriott
1901	42 75 301	Boozer Pitt	Butcher John Snr Head M 64 General Labourer Merriott Butcher Louisa Wife M 64 Merriott	Butcher Hannah Dau S 37 Canvas Yarn Spooler Merriott
1901	44 76 311	Shiremoor Hill	Butcher Henry Head M 24 Nursery Labourer Merriott Butcher Sarah Ann Wife M 25 Shirt Maker Merriott	Butcher Francis John Son 3 Merriott Butcher Henry George Son 5m Merriott

BUTCHERs in Merriott in the 20th Century

The surname BUTCHER was still in evidence in the Parish Records of the early 20th Century.

For more information, please contact: Sue Osborne

Joseph BUTCHER & Rose OSBORNE

Joseph BUTCHER, son of Mary BUTCHER, was born about 1863 in Merriott. Rose OSBORNE was born in 1872, the daughter of the widow Ellen OSBORNE (nee WILLS). A marriage date has not yet been found for the couple, who lived in Merriott and worked as Market Gardeners. The couple had six children. Joseph died in 1940 aged 77 years, and Rose in 1946 aged 74 years.
[Photo showing Joseph & Rose BUTCHER standing outside their house in Broadway, Merriott, courtesy of Robin Taylor]

This is a photo of Joseph BUTCHER and his daughter Lilian Mary (born about 1892), working in a Merriott Market Garden (location unknown- perhaps on the Hinton Road?). [Photo courtesy of Robin Taylor].

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Last Updated: 28 August 2008
All Parish Register information ©Somerset Archives
Other Data © Sue Osborne 2002-8
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