Samways Family of Merriott
The George & Mary Ann Samways Family were relatively late arrivals in Merriott – first appearing in 1867 when daughter Elizabeth was married. George Samways was a shepherd. From the birthplaces of the children, the family must have travelled quite a lot, but George & Mary Ann (nee Croft) eventually stayed in Merriott; Mary Ann was buried there in 1882; George was buried there in 1897. George married again after Mary Ann died.
The family can be found in the 1851 census living at Piddletown in Dorset:
George 38 b. Toller Porcorum
Mary A 36 b. Chilfrome
Charles 13 b. West Lynch
Anne 11 b. Great Toller
Edward 8 b. Clifton
George 6 b. Clifton
Elizabeth 3 b. Clifton
Of these children, only Elizabeth appears to have come to Merriott with George & Mary Ann, as she married Charles Legg in Merriott in 1867.
I have no further information about Charles & Anne.
- Edward appears in the 1881 census :Shepherd; Lower Farm Cottages, 5 Lower St, Middle Chinnock, Somerset, born Clifton Maybank, Dorset. With him is his wife Sarah (of Broadwinsor, Dorset) and three children: Mary Ann 12, Emma 6 & Jane 2. Mary Ann is probably the one appearing in the 1871 census of Merriott at the home of her grandparents.
- George appears in the 1881 census: Shepherd; 4 Houndstone, Odcombe, Somerset, England, born Clifton Maybank, Dorset. With him is his wife Rhoda, born Thorncombe, Dorset, England, and six children: Ben 16, George 14, Charlotte 9, Jesse 7, Kate 5, and Laura 2 months.
- Elizabeth married Charles Legg (of Mosterton, Dorset), in Merriott in 1867 (details below, including baptisms of children.) By the time of the 1881 census the family were living in Ickford Village Cottage, Ickford, Oxford, England, where Charles was working as a Police Officer. Another daughter, Elizabeth Ann, is listed as born at Northmaston, Buckinghamshire, England, about 1880. Three more children were born after the 1851 census: Charlotte born about 1851, birthplace varies in census detail (Hereson, Kent or Honiton, Devon). Charlotte married John Pattemore in Merriott in 1881. (Details below). Prior to this Charlotte baptised a daughter, Ann, in 1869. Benjamin born about 1853, Waterson, Dorset. Fanny born about 1855, Hook, Kent.
The following information appears in the Merriott records:
CENSUSES
Year | Ref | Location | Details |
1871 | 12 076 | Bow Mills | Samways George Head M 57 Shepherd Dorset, Great Toller Samways Maryann Wife M 57 Dorset, Chilfrome Samways Benjamin Son U 17 Shepherd Dorset, Waterson Samways Charlotte Dau U 21 Glove maker Kent, Hereson Samways Fanny Dau U 16 Glove maker Kent, Hook Samways Ann Dau U 2 Som, West Chinnock Samways Maryann Visitor U 2 Som, West Chinnock |
1881 | 19 740 | Bow Cottage | Samways George Head M 76 Shepherd Great Toller, Dorset Samways Mary Wife M 67 Maiden Newton Samways Charlotte Dau U 31 Dressmaker Honiton Samways Fanny Dau U 26 Shirt Maker Hooke, Dorset Samways Annie GDau 11 Scholar Merriott [probably daughter of Charlotte] Samways Charlotte GDau 5 Scholar Chiselborough, Somerset Samways Charles GSon 4 Merriott |
1891 | 2 142 010 | Lower Street | Samways Ann Head M 68 Merriott (single occupant) |
1891 | 11 147 072 | Lower Street | Samways George Head M 78 Shepherd Som, Birthplace unreadable; (single occupant) |
1891 | 11 147 071 | Lower Street | Lawrence Henry Head M 34 Groom & Gardener born Merriott Lawrence Fanny Wife M 34 Dorset, Hook (nee Samways) Lawrence Charles Son S 15 General Labourer Merriott Lawrence Daisy Dau S 8 Scholar West Chinnock Lawrence Lettie Dau S 6 Scholar West Chinnock Lawrence Darthie Dau S 2 Merriott |
1901 | 4 56 29 | Broadway | Samways George Head M 23 General Labourer Merriott Samways Rose Wife M 23 Merriott Samways Thomas Son 2m Merriott |
1901 | 4 56 33 | Broadway | Samways Benjamin Head M 48 General Labourer Dorset, Weybridge Samways Caroline Wife M 46 Merriott Samways Benjamin Son 16 Shirt Packer North Perrott Samways Arthur Son 13 North Perrott Samways Walter Son 11 Haselbury Plucknett Samways Henry Son 9 Haselbury Plucknett Samways Thomas Son 7 Haselbury Plucknett |
1901 | 30 69 216 | Lower Street | Samways Ann Head W 77 Parish Relief Merriott |
1911 Census:
Ref | No of Rooms | Abode | Persons |
---|---|---|---|
272 | 3 | Broadway | SAMWAYS Benjamin Head 58 M Fish Hawker on Own Account born Wadison? DORSET SAMWAYS Caroline Wife 56 Married 36 years 10 children born alive 10 still living; born Merriott SAMWAYS Benjamin Son 18 Heckling Machinist Sailcloth Factory Worker born Haselbury SOM SAMWAYS James Son 17 Heckling Machinist Sailcloth Factory Worker born Haselbury SOM SAMWAYS Thomas Son 16 Heckling Machinist Sailcloth Factory Worker born Haselbury SOM |
286 | 3 | Broadway | SAMWAYS Walter Head 26 M Fish Hawker on Own Account; born North Perrott SOM SAMWAYS Ethel Wife 23 Married 4 years 2 children born alive, 2 still living; born Broadwinsor DORSET SAMWAYS Ivy Dau 3 born Crewkerne SOM SAMWAYS Dorothy Dau 2 born Merriott |
303 | 3 | Broadway | SAMWAYS Arthur Head 23 M General Labourer for Hay Dealer, Worker born North Perrott SOM SAMWAYS Frances Wife 20 Married 3 years 1 child born alive 1 still living; born Crewkerne SOM SAMWAYS Frank Son 1 born Crewkerne SOM |
DEATHS
6 March 1882 | Mary Ann Samways 67 Bow Mills Thomas Hodson, Curate-in-charge |
18 March 1897 | George Samways 84 Great Field, Crewkerne Stanley E Percival, Vicar |
17 July 1897 | Melinda May Samways 10 w Broadway Stanley E Percival, Vicar |
6 June 1898 | Henry George Samways 3 w Broadway Stanley E Percival, Vicar |
23 November 1910 | Ann Samways 86 Lower St, Merriott Stanley E Percival, Vicar |
21 April 1926 | Caroline Samways 72 Boozer Pit, Merriott Stanley E Percival, Vicar |
17 May 1935 | Eliza Jane Samways 77 Boozer Pit, Merriott Grave No 26 in New Section. WL Chivers, Asst Curate of Crewkerne |
7 March 1939 | Lionel Samways 3 days; 13 Newchester Cross, Merriott. Buried in Old Section. Died 5 March. William H Elwin, Vicar |
18 November 1939 | Benjamin Samways 88 Boozer Pit, Merriott Grave No 83 in New Section Died 16 Nov. GS Stubbs, for WH Elwin, Vicar |
MARRIAGES
Date | Name | Age/Condition | Signed? | Father | Witnesses |
11 July 1867 | Elizabeth Samways
Charles Legg |
19, Spinster of Merriott
21 Bachelor of Merriott, Miller |
No
Yes |
George Samways Shepherd
John Legg Kindle Maker? |
Charlotte Samways; John Collins |
4 September 1873 | Tryphena Caroline Pattemore
Benjamin Samways |
19 Spinster of Merriott
20 Bachelor of Merriott, Labourer |
No
Yes |
Ann Pattemore Single Woman
George Samways Shepherd |
Charlotte Samways
John Pattemore |
27 May 1881 | John Pattemore
Charlotte Samways |
31 Bachelor of Chiselborough, Labourer 31 Spinster of Merriott |
No
No |
William Pattemore Labourer George Samways Shepherd |
George Samways; Lucy Hockey |
27 May 1881 | Fanny Samways
Henry Lawrence |
26 Spinster of Merriott
26 Bachelor of Ilminster, Servant |
No
Yes |
George Samways Shepherd
Simon Lawrence Labourer |
Mary Anna Mudford
Hubert Mudford |
4 July 1882 | George Samways
Ann Hooper |
68 Widower of Bow, Shepherd
56 Widow of Lower St |
No
No |
Edward Samways (deceased) Labourer
John Mitchell (deceased) Gardener |
Joseph Hooper
Elizabeth Hooper |
5 September 1896 | George Edward Samways
Rose Ann Osborne |
20 Bachelor of Merriott, Labourer 19 Spinster of Merriott |
Yes
Yes |
Benjamin Samways Labourer
Henry Osborne, Dealer |
Tom Hone
Christiana Sweet |
7 August 1897 | Samuel Osborne
Charlotte Samways |
25 Bachelor of Crewkerne, Market Gardener
19 Spinster of Merriott |
Yes
Yes |
Sampson Osborne (deceased) Market Gardener
Benjamin Samways Labourer |
Susan Osborne
Henry Larcombe |
7 February 1920 | Henry James Samways
Gladys Lettie Taylor |
27 Bachelor of Merriott, Dealer
20 Spinster of Merriott |
Yes
Yes |
Benjamin Samways, Dealer
Joseph Lawrence Taylor, Weaver |
Evelyn Lydia Coombs
Joseph Lawrence Taylor |
BAPTISMS
Charlotte Samways (a Single Woman) of Bow Barton | 14 November 1869 Ann (born 5 September 1869) |
Benjamin (a Labourer) & Caroline Samways, of Higher Street | 13 September 1874 Mary Ann (born 30 August) |
Charles (a Journeyman Miller) & Elizabeth (nee Samways) Legg |
8 March 1868 Mary (born 20 Dec 1867 of Higher St) 13 June 1869 Emma (born 22 Apr 1869 of Lower St 29 December 1870 Ellen (Born 30 Oct of Shiremore Hill) 13 October 1872 Ellen (Born 13 July 1872 of Mill Lane) 13 September 1874 Matthew (Born 23 June pf Court Mill Lane) |
This is the extent of the detail on the family which can be gleaned from the Merriott records; if anyone has anything more to add to the above, please feel free to contact me , as I haven’t done any research on this family outside Merriott. Thanks!