The Butcher Family of Merriott and the Rodbards
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.
See also: Earliest History – Lords of the Manor
[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@merriottfamiliesgenealogy.net
1911 Census
Ref | No of Rooms | Abode | Persons |
---|---|---|---|
28 | 5 | Knapp | RAINDLE Reuben Head 43 M Farm Labourer born Merriott RAINDLE Annie Wife 42 Married 17 years 1 child born alive 1 still living; born Merriott RAINDLE May Dau 16 S born Merriott BUTCHER Henry Nephew 20 S Assistant Grocers Shop born Merriott BUTCHER Nellie Niece 22 S Domestic Servant born Merriott RAINDLE Louisa Sister 44 S Servant born Merriott ROBINSON Emma Visitor Married 4 years born Merriott RAINDLE Susan Mother 82 W born Merriott |
130 | 4 | Shiremoor Hill | BUTCHER Henry Head 34 M Carter for Hay and Corn Merchant, Worker born Merriott BUTCHER Sarah Ann Wife 35 Married 13 years 5 children born alive 4 still living, born Merriott BUTCHER Francis John Son 13 Worker for Poulterer, born Merriott BUTCHER Henry George Son 10 born Merriott BUTCHER Albert Edward Son 7 born Merriott BUTCHER Hilda May Dau 10m born Merriott |
151 | 2 | Higher Street | BUTCHER John Head 40 M Carter for Royal Nurseries Worker born Merriott BUTCHER Florence Wife 35 Married 14 years 5 children born alive 5 still living; born Merriott BUTCHER Alice Dau 9 born Merriott BUTCHER Thomas Son 10 born Merriott BUTCHER Ellen Dau 7 born Merriott BUTCHER Florence Dau 5 born Merriott BUTCHER Ivey Dau 3 born Merriott |
183 | 2 | Boozer Pit | BUTCHER John Head 75 M Farm Labourer Worker born Merriott BUTCHER Louisa Wife 75 Married 52 years 9 children born alive 2 still living; born Merriott |
263 | 3 | Beadon Lane | BUTCHER Joseph Head 49 M Labourer Farm Worker born Merriott BUTCHER Rose Wife 39 Married 20 years 7 children born alive 6 still living; born Merriott BUTCHER Lily Dau 19 S Mind Drawings in Sailcloth Factory Worker born Merriott BUTCHER Harry Son 12 School born Merriott BUTCHER Victoria Dau 10 School born Merriott BUTCHER Benjamin Son 7 School born Merriott BUTCHER Elsie Dau 1 born Merriott |
271 | 4 | Broadway | BUTCHER SWEET John Head 40 M Labourer Farm Worker born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Eliza Wife 34 Married 14 years 7 children born alive 7 still living; born South Brewham SOM BUTCHER SWEET Reginald Son 13 Errand Boy Sail Cloth Works Worker born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Harold Edward Son 12 School born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Linda Dau 9 School born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Beatrice Dau 9 School born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Albert Son 6 School born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Violet Dau 4 School born Merriott BUTCHER SWEET Ivy Dau 2 born Merriott |
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]. |