The Barter family married into the Shepard family when my great grandfather John Wesley Shepard married Mary Jane Barter in 1879.
John Barter 1829 – 1911, Elizabeth Tapp 1833 - 1862 and Sarah Edney 1850 - ????
John Barter was born in 1829 in West Compton which is about 10 miles west of Dorchester
“ In the Baptism record of West Compton... "
25.12.1829 John s.o. John & Sarah Barter, Compton Abbas, Dairyman
In 1841 John and his family have moved some 16 miles north to Somerset and are living in Yeovil
I have been unable to find any record of any other Barter families in the Hollis Froome area in 1841. I have checked the whole of the enumeration district which covers Hollis Froome and there are no Barters shown. At that time John and his parents and siblings were still in Yeovil.
John Barter 1829 – 1911, Elizabeth Tapp 1833 - 1862 and Sarah Edney 1850 - ????
John Barter was born in 1829 in West Compton which is about 10 miles west of Dorchester
“ In the Baptism record of West Compton... "
25.12.1829 John s.o. John & Sarah Barter, Compton Abbas, Dairyman
In 1841 John and his family have moved some 16 miles north to Somerset and are living in Yeovil
I have been unable to find any record of any other Barter families in the Hollis Froome area in 1841. I have checked the whole of the enumeration district which covers Hollis Froome and there are no Barters shown. At that time John and his parents and siblings were still in Yeovil.
1841 Census Brimsmore Tree Farm Yeovil
Brimsmore Tree Farm no longer exists as a working farm but has been replaced by buildings amongst which is one identifiable as Brimsmore Court just off the Ilchester Road on the Northern outskirts of Yeovil.
Ten years later and the family have moved south again to just outside Dorchester at Hollis Froome. Although not identifiable on any maps of the period or more recently, I am satisfied that Hollis Froome Farm was located in what is now known as Frome Whitfield. The following entry from the book 'A Walk around Dorchester' by James Criswick 1820 shows where Hollis Farm actually stood.
1851 Census Hollis Froome
John Barter married Elizabeth Tapp in the Dorford Baptist Chapel in Dorchester on 27/11/1854 Q4 1854 vol 5a page779. The Dorford Baptist Chapel stood at the bottom of High East Street beside the river Frome and had been rebuilt in 1830.
James Barter Marriage Certificate
Elizabeth Tapp was born in 1833 in Bradford Peverell
“...There is some confusion as to whether her parents surname was Tapp or Woodland ... In 1841 she was aged 8 and in 1851 she was 17 and described as a Dressmaker. She was one of at least seven children, not all of whom survived childhood. Her father is variously described as a Carpenter, Shopkeeper and Grocer....
...Elizabeth Tapp was baptised in Bradford Peverell in 1833..."
30.04.1833 Elizabeth Tapp d.o. William & Sarah Woodland, Carpenter, Bradford Peverell”
“...There is some confusion as to whether her parents surname was Tapp or Woodland ... In 1841 she was aged 8 and in 1851 she was 17 and described as a Dressmaker. She was one of at least seven children, not all of whom survived childhood. Her father is variously described as a Carpenter, Shopkeeper and Grocer....
...Elizabeth Tapp was baptised in Bradford Peverell in 1833..."
30.04.1833 Elizabeth Tapp d.o. William & Sarah Woodland, Carpenter, Bradford Peverell”
The 1861 census is shown under John Wesley Shepard 1843 - 1892
“...Sadly, a year or so after the 1861 Census was taken Elizabeth died from Phthisis which is another name for Tuberculosis. As her husband was a Dairyman she may well have picked up the disease from the cows. She may not have had any immunity because her father was a Carpenter and later a Shopkeeper, so she had not lived in an environment close to cattle. She was only 28..."
Elizabeth Barter died at Frome Whitfield 12/05/1862 recorded in Dorchester Q2 1862 vol 5a page 222.
“...Sadly, a year or so after the 1861 Census was taken Elizabeth died from Phthisis which is another name for Tuberculosis. As her husband was a Dairyman she may well have picked up the disease from the cows. She may not have had any immunity because her father was a Carpenter and later a Shopkeeper, so she had not lived in an environment close to cattle. She was only 28..."
Elizabeth Barter died at Frome Whitfield 12/05/1862 recorded in Dorchester Q2 1862 vol 5a page 222.
Elizabeth Barter Death Certificate
Following Elizabeth’s death, John Barter married again this time to Sarah Edney. Sarah was 20 years his junior aged 21.
Finding details of Sarah Edney has proved very elusive. According to the census records she was probably born about 1849 but I have been unable to locate a birth entry for her.
There is an Emily Edney born in Bridport Q4 1849 vol 8 page 31 and a Sarah Elizabeth Edney born in Sherborne Q1 1839 vol 8 page 103. I believe the Bridport Sarah is not the right one as she appears in several subsequent census records still at home with her mother Agnes in Bridport.
In the census for Dorchester in 1861, 2 or 9 years before Sarah’s marriage to John Barter there is a Sarah Edney who was born in Beaminster in about 1819 working as a servant for the Ensor family in High East Street. Unless every census for 1871 – 1901 has overestimated the age of John’s wife by nearly 30 years then this is unlikely to be her. It is possible that the 1861 Dorchester census is the one in error and she was only 12 in 1861 but again this is unlikely.
The following marriages in Dorchester show a John Barter marrying a Sarah Edney
Dorchester Q3 1863 vol 5a page 613
Dorchester Q4 1870 vol 5a page 749
The first of these is too early as Sarah would have been less than 14 years of age. I therefore conclude that they married in 1870. Ada is 2 months old in 1871 which indicates that Sarah must have been expecting at the time of the wedding which could have been no earlier than 1st October 1870. According to the census in 1911 John and Sarah had four children, all were live births but only two had survived until 1911.
Finding details of Sarah Edney has proved very elusive. According to the census records she was probably born about 1849 but I have been unable to locate a birth entry for her.
There is an Emily Edney born in Bridport Q4 1849 vol 8 page 31 and a Sarah Elizabeth Edney born in Sherborne Q1 1839 vol 8 page 103. I believe the Bridport Sarah is not the right one as she appears in several subsequent census records still at home with her mother Agnes in Bridport.
In the census for Dorchester in 1861, 2 or 9 years before Sarah’s marriage to John Barter there is a Sarah Edney who was born in Beaminster in about 1819 working as a servant for the Ensor family in High East Street. Unless every census for 1871 – 1901 has overestimated the age of John’s wife by nearly 30 years then this is unlikely to be her. It is possible that the 1861 Dorchester census is the one in error and she was only 12 in 1861 but again this is unlikely.
The following marriages in Dorchester show a John Barter marrying a Sarah Edney
Dorchester Q3 1863 vol 5a page 613
Dorchester Q4 1870 vol 5a page 749
The first of these is too early as Sarah would have been less than 14 years of age. I therefore conclude that they married in 1870. Ada is 2 months old in 1871 which indicates that Sarah must have been expecting at the time of the wedding which could have been no earlier than 1st October 1870. According to the census in 1911 John and Sarah had four children, all were live births but only two had survived until 1911.
1871 Census Hollis Froome Dairy Farm
“.... John appears to be doing quite well for himself as he is employing two servants and managing forty cows. I don’t know the basis of ownership but it could be that John leased the cows and accommodation from the landowner then, having paid his rent, generated his income from milk sales and any other produce. In this way the landowner did not have to work but obtained a regular income from the Rent and the Dairyman ran his own business rather than being just a labourer for a minimal wage...”.
In 1881 John has retired from the dairy and has moved a few miles north and west to the outskirts of Maiden Newton at a place called Whitehall.
The feeling that John had done fairly well as a Dairyman may be further reinforced by the fact that in the two Broadwey census records which follow John is shown as a retired farmer which is more significant although by 1911 he is shown again as Retired Dairyman.
1911 Census Broadwey
John Barter Death Certificate
John Barter died in Broadwey 30/07/1911 aged 81 recorded in Weymouth Q3 1911 vol 5a page 328. I can find no trace of Sarah’s death
Probate of his will was granted to one of the executors Walter Gundry at Blandford on 22nd September 1911.
Probate of his will was granted to one of the executors Walter Gundry at Blandford on 22nd September 1911.
John Barter 1778 – 1855 and Sarah Dubben 1778 - 1844
From the 1841 census we might assume that John Barter was born about 1781 and Sarah Dubben about 1786. Nigel has researched baptisms and has found the following:
“...John Barter was baptised 1777... "
This tells us that John was from Holnest. In the Parish records for Glanvilles Wootton there are two baptism records for a John Barter.
13/04/1777 John Barter father Thomas Barter mother Sarah
01/01/1779 John Barter father Thomas Barter mother Sarah
It is possible that the first of these did not survive although I have not located a burial record. If this were the case then it puts the birth year of John Barter as 1778.
It is a reasonable assumption that Sarah came from Lillington or one of the villages surrounding Lillington based on information in the marriage record.
"...He married Sarah Dubben in 1808...."
Marriage 09.02.1808 at Lillington – John Barter of Holnest = Sarah Dubben
Witnesses Jean Barter and William Dubben
...one of the witnesses to the marriage is Jean Barter, who is probably John’s sister who was born the year after him....“
Sarah Dubben was born about 1778 probably in Lillington
The census for 1841 is shown under John Barter 1829 – 1911
From the 1841 census we might assume that John Barter was born about 1781 and Sarah Dubben about 1786. Nigel has researched baptisms and has found the following:
“...John Barter was baptised 1777... "
This tells us that John was from Holnest. In the Parish records for Glanvilles Wootton there are two baptism records for a John Barter.
13/04/1777 John Barter father Thomas Barter mother Sarah
01/01/1779 John Barter father Thomas Barter mother Sarah
It is possible that the first of these did not survive although I have not located a burial record. If this were the case then it puts the birth year of John Barter as 1778.
It is a reasonable assumption that Sarah came from Lillington or one of the villages surrounding Lillington based on information in the marriage record.
"...He married Sarah Dubben in 1808...."
Marriage 09.02.1808 at Lillington – John Barter of Holnest = Sarah Dubben
Witnesses Jean Barter and William Dubben
...one of the witnesses to the marriage is Jean Barter, who is probably John’s sister who was born the year after him....“
Sarah Dubben was born about 1778 probably in Lillington
The census for 1841 is shown under John Barter 1829 – 1911
We know that Sarah was alive in 1841 but that she had died by 1851. During this ten year period the family had moved from Yeovil to Dorchester as John her husband is a widower at Hollis Froome in 1851. What we do not know is whether Sarah died before or after the move. There are no suitable death records in the immediate Yeovil area but there are two under Wincanton. At first I dismissed these but on investigation it appears that Wincanton covers the district as far south and west as Queen Camel which is only 7 miles north of Yeovil. So it is possible that one of these is the record of Sarah’s death
Sarah Barter Wincanton Q4 1842 vol 10 page 387
Sarah Barter Wincanton Q2 1843 vol 10 page 380
The most likely option is that she died after arriving in Hollis Froome in which case the following entry is probably her.
Sarah Barter died 19/02/1844 age 60 at Pulham recorded as Dorchester Q1 1844 vol 8 page 40
Sarah Barter Wincanton Q4 1842 vol 10 page 387
Sarah Barter Wincanton Q2 1843 vol 10 page 380
The most likely option is that she died after arriving in Hollis Froome in which case the following entry is probably her.
Sarah Barter died 19/02/1844 age 60 at Pulham recorded as Dorchester Q1 1844 vol 8 page 40
Sarah Barter Death Certificate
In the 1851 census John Barter is shown as a widower.
The 1851 census is shown under John Barter 1829 – 1911
John Barter probably died in Dorchester Q2 1855 vol 5a page 252
The 1851 census is shown under John Barter 1829 – 1911
John Barter probably died in Dorchester Q2 1855 vol 5a page 252
John Barter Death Certificate
There is a record of his will held by Dorchester History Centre dated 28/07/1855 reference = PROB 11/2215
Thomas Barter 1737 - 1823 and Sarah Hunt 1750 - 1835
“...The earliest Barter ancestors found so far are Thomas and Sarah Barter who were living in Glanvilles Wootton in the late 18th Century. This village has been identified because their son John said he was born there on the 1851 Census.
...the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society (S.& D.F.H.S.) checked the Dorset Marriage Index for a Thomas Barter who married a Sarah of unknown surname. They have only two entries relating to these names and from the information provided, they have concluded that the following entry is the most likely to relate to our ancestors.
... Marriage - 17.06.1776 at Shaftesbury, St. James – Thomas X Barter bachelor of Motcombe = Sarah X Hunt o.t.p. after Banns. Witnesses:- James Smith, Fanny Taylor. ... “
“...The earliest Barter ancestors found so far are Thomas and Sarah Barter who were living in Glanvilles Wootton in the late 18th Century. This village has been identified because their son John said he was born there on the 1851 Census.
...the Somerset & Dorset Family History Society (S.& D.F.H.S.) checked the Dorset Marriage Index for a Thomas Barter who married a Sarah of unknown surname. They have only two entries relating to these names and from the information provided, they have concluded that the following entry is the most likely to relate to our ancestors.
... Marriage - 17.06.1776 at Shaftesbury, St. James – Thomas X Barter bachelor of Motcombe = Sarah X Hunt o.t.p. after Banns. Witnesses:- James Smith, Fanny Taylor. ... “
Thomas Barter 1737 – 1823
Thomas Barter was born in about 1737 and married Sarah Hunt probably about 1776.
“ ...On the basis that Sarah Hunt was about 25 when she married a check of for her birth in the Shaftesbury baptisms for about 1750 produces the following entries... there may also be other children born before 1750. ...
17.08.1750 Sarah d.o. John Hunt
25.11.1755 Ruth d.o. John Hune
07.02.1758 George d.o. John Hunt
01.01.1764 John d.o. John Hunt, Capt
Thomas Barter died and was buried in Holnest 06/02/1823. There is a record of the burial of a Thomas Barter age 86 in Holnest 06/02/1823. If this is the same person then it gives him a birth date of about 1737 this would make him 39 when he married Sarah some 13 years her senior and all his children would have been conceived when he was between 40 and 53, although this is of course not impossible.
Sarah Barter died age 85 and was buried in Holnest 30/01/1835. This confirms her year of birth as about 1750.
Thomas Barter was born in about 1737 and married Sarah Hunt probably about 1776.
“ ...On the basis that Sarah Hunt was about 25 when she married a check of for her birth in the Shaftesbury baptisms for about 1750 produces the following entries... there may also be other children born before 1750. ...
17.08.1750 Sarah d.o. John Hunt
25.11.1755 Ruth d.o. John Hune
07.02.1758 George d.o. John Hunt
01.01.1764 John d.o. John Hunt, Capt
Thomas Barter died and was buried in Holnest 06/02/1823. There is a record of the burial of a Thomas Barter age 86 in Holnest 06/02/1823. If this is the same person then it gives him a birth date of about 1737 this would make him 39 when he married Sarah some 13 years her senior and all his children would have been conceived when he was between 40 and 53, although this is of course not impossible.
Sarah Barter died age 85 and was buried in Holnest 30/01/1835. This confirms her year of birth as about 1750.