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!