James and Ann Biddlecombe of Enmore

 

 

ESRI Story Map

Below is, in part the culmination of my 'perambulation of the borders' of the Canford Manor, plotted on a single map so as to see the true extent of the huge manor. It is a stand alone ESRI Story Map so there will inevitably be repetition.

You can also open the ESRI Story Map An exploration of Biddlecomb(e) families by clicking on the link, which will open a new page.

Planned future additions to the story are the locations of all of the people mentioned in this article for whom I can establish a location. Some are already plotted. Others include Biddlecomb(e)'s with later stories and records. All being slowly expanded.

Scroll down the insert to see the map, which can also be expanded.

 

 

 

 

 

Thorncombe, Devon

Strictly speaking Devon is not part of Hampshire and Dorset so perhaps should not be included. However, Thorncombe at the time was very near the Devon / Dorset border, and the border has now moved, such that it is now part of Dorset.

 

 Whilst Thorncombe was in Devon at the time of the will of John Biddlecome by the date of the above map, Dorset XIX.15, Revised: 1901, Published: 1903, the county borders had already changed, shown in gold. Dorset centre and right, Devon left, East, and Somerset, top and top right, North. The parish heading for Thorncombe, highlight in light blue, and the village of Thorncombe circled in light blue. The marker represents the location thought to be the home of John Biddlecombe.

 Zooming it to the village of Thorncombe on the same map gives more detail.

 

 Moving on to a Tithe Map of the Parish of Thorncombe, signed by the Tithe Commissioners on 25 February 1843. There is a note indicating that the map was repaired 20 November 1961. I have circled Thorncombe village in light blue, to give you some idea of the position within the parish. The village is not labelled as the whole map is plot based.

Again zooming in Thorncombe village is on the left. It is recognisable by it's shape and roads compared to the above Ordnance Survey Maps. There is an area that I have given a light blue colour wash which represents land register in the Tithe Apportionment as belonging to John Biddlecombe.

 Name: John Biddlecombe
Parish: Thorncombe... County: Devon (Now In Dorset)... Type: Landowner... Plan Number: 1051...
and 1052, 1053, 1054. 

 An extract from the associated Tithe Apportionment shows three of the four plots as occupied by himself, with plot 1052 being his house, the building shown on the map adjacent to plot 1051.

Plot 1051 is an orchard of about ¹/₄ of an acre, rented out as the record below indicates.

Landowner John Biddlecombe
Occupier John Hitchcock
Parish Thorncombe
County Devon (Now In Dorset)
Original Date 3rd November 1841
Plot 1051

Returning to the Ordnance Survey 25" map.

The Tithe map is rather too dark to make out all the plot numbers, but plot 1002 is within the area circled in green on the OS Map above. On the edge of the village towards the land owned by John Biddlecombe. The significance of plot 1002 may be apparent from the below record.

Landowner Mary Biddlecombe
Occupier Mary Biddlecombe
Parish Thorncombe
County Devon (Now In Dorset)
Original Date 3rd November 1841
Plot 1002

From the will of John Biddlecombe it is apparent that his parents are Joseph and Mary Biddlecombe. Perhaps the Mary Biddlecombe in plot 1002 is John's Mother.

George Biddlecombe is also listed as a landowner in the Tithe Apportionment.

The plots identified as his are in two locations, but he is not the occupier according to the records. The relationship of George to John is not yet known. The lefthand patch is around 'New House' in the area of Headstock Cross. The righthand patch is at Greenhill, adjacent to the Turnpike Road, which is now known as Horseshoe Road. At the junction of the High Street towards Thorncombe village.

 Again, the OS 25" map with the two areas owned by George Biddlecombe identified in orange. A transition from the Tithe Map of 1841 to the Dorset XIX.15, Revised: 1901, Published: 1903. George Biddlecombe does appear to have a residence in Winsham, Chard, just 3 miles from the village of Thorncombe. There may be an association with George Bowditch, another surname of interest to me. The plots adjacent to Mary Biddlecombe also have adjacent Bowditch families.

George and James Biddlecombe also occupy lands in the parish of Shapwick, Somerset. However, that parish is over 30 miles from Thorncombe so could be a different family. George and James are also recorded in the voters register for Shapwick in the same year as George Biddlecombe is registered in the voters register for Winsham. However, I understand that a person could have more than one vote at than time.

 

 Back to the plots owned by John Biddlecombe as identified by the Above Tithe Maps and Apportionment, circled in light blue. The position of the marker in first map in this section, with the county boundaries, and the map beneath that.

---

 

 

Collection of Biddlecombe and Aplin plots in the Village of Thorncombe

The first find, plots owned by John Biddlecombe in light blue, including his residence. Mary Biddlecombe in Fore Street, in green. The tan circle is a plot identified in the Tithe Apportionment with a George Biddlecombe as the landowner but not the occupier. The recent find in blue is Thorncombe Farm where the 1841 Census records the Joseph, Mary, and Elizabeth Aplin family.

Winsham, Somerset

Winsham is mentioned as the residence of George Biddlecombe in his will, transcribed below.

 Later in the will the premisses are stated as being in Church Street, coloured yellow on the above extract of the Dorset XIX.10, Revised: 1901, Published: 1903 held at the National Library of Scotland.

The tithe apportionment dated 30th October 1839 has George Biddlecombe as the combined Landowner and occupier of plot 74, shown in blue on the above map.

 The Tithe Apportionment Map with Plot 74 circled in light blue. 

The Tithe Apportionment shows George Biddlecombe as both Landowner and occupier for plot 74. George is also Landowner for Plot 77, a house occupied by John Singleton. Plot 77 is near plot 74 but is difficult to read on the above map, it is on the other side of the road from plot 190 which is easier to read. Interestingly the shop nor other elements mentioned in the Will are mentioned in the Tithe Apportionment as George Biddlecombe being the landowner.

 

It seems likely that one of these two buildings, which look old enough, are where George Biddlecombe lived and the dwelling house shop stable barn garden and orchard mentioned in the Will. Probably not the Post Office if it is in the the same position as it was for the Ordnance Survey Map above.

 

 Slightly further along Church Street, and perhaps these are the doors to the stable.

 

 

 Shapwick, Somerset

 

 

 

 

The will of John Biddlecombe of the Parish of Thorncombe

 

In the name of God Amen

I John Biddlecombe of a place called ?anplottt within the parish of Thorncombe in the County of Devon xxx being in a weak state of Bodily health but of a sound disposing mind perfect memory and in understanding thanks be to almighty God for the same do make ordain publish and declare this as xxx for my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say xxx xxx my immortal spirit into Hands of Almighty God my Creator in hope of eternal Salvation thro’ the xxx and death of Jesus Christ and my body to the Earth to be xxx interred by my well beloved wife Ann Biddlecombe and as for xxx and xxxx such worldly Estate and Effects as it hath pleased divine providence to bless me with of which I may be possessed of at the period of my decease

I give devise and bequeath the same to my beloved wife Ann Biddlecombe for her sole use and benefit including the premises I some time ago purchased of my father Joseph Biddlecombe called ??plott in the parish of Thorncombe aforesaid and now in my possession and I hereby make ordain and appoint my beloved Wife the said Ann Biddlecombe whole and sole Executrix to pay and discharge all my just debts xxx may stand indebted in to any xxx at the time of my decease

I also give and bequeath to my Mother Mary Biddlecombe the sum of five pounds to be paid her by my Executrix within three Calendar months after my decease

Lastly I hereby revoke annul and xxx any former will which I may have executed

In Witness whereof I the said John Biddlecombe have to this me last will and testament subscribe my name and affixed my seal this sixth day of April in the year of xxx one thousand eight hundred and twenty four John Biddlecombe ----- Signed sealed published and delivered by the said John Biddlecombe the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto
Joseph Biddlecombe Junior ---- Mary Biddlecombe junior

Will dated 6 April 1824

Proved 14 February 1843

 

My attempt at a transcription of the Last Will and Testament of John Biddlecombe of Thorncombe. In the county of Devon at the time of writing the will but, as explained in Locations above, now in Devon.

People mentioned in the Will

• Wife - Ann Biddlecombe
• Father - Joseph Biddlecombe
• Mother - Mary Biddlecombe
• Witness - Joseph Biddlecombe Junior
• Witness - Mary Biddlecombe Junior

 

The date of when the Will was Proved suggests that John Biddlecombe died towards the end of 1842 or early 1843 as there was a requirement to present the will within three months. I don't yet know if that was the case for this particular will and timeframe.

People in the Will of George Biddlecombe of Winsham

 

People mentioned in the Will dated 22 August and 13 October 1846, of George Biddlecombe of Winsham, Somerset 

Name	Stated relationship	Assumed relationship	Assumed previous name	Place	Notes
Samuel Aplin
Ruth Hallett	Sister		Ruth Aplin		Ruth Aplin married William Hallett on 19th May 1831
Elizabeth Page	Sister		Elizabeth Aplin		Elizabeth Aplin married Thomas Page on 25th December 1845
Mary Aplin	Mother, Widow		Mary Biddlecombe, Mary Boon
Daniel Hitchcock		Business Associate		Winsham
Joseph Biddlecombe	Brother, Schoolmaster
Mary Biddlecombe	Sister			Thorncombe
James Aplin	Brother			Forde Abbey
James Aplin	Executor / Executrix
Lot Palmer	Witness, Tailor			Winsham
William Dommett	Witness, Solicitor			Chard

 

 People mentioned in the Will

 Apart from the witnesses

 

Due to the date there are other helpful records such as the Title Apportionment, dated 3rd November 1841 for the Parish of Thorncombe, and the 1841 Census. The Tithe data is used above in Locations.

A extract of the Census is shown below.

In 1841 John was 59 and his wife Ann was 58. He was born in Devon, possibly Thorncombe, but Ann was not. The census does have the name of a place written in the margin, above this extract, which is too feint to read yet, but is the same shape and pattern as the place which I can't read in the Will.

Moving on to the Register of the Parish of the Church of Thorncombe.

 The first, well actually the second page of the register is headed;

A Register of those that have been buried in Woollen according to ?? ??? Act of Parliament Thorncombe 1680.

The primary thing to note here is that the book is indeed in relation to Thorncombe and that there is no reference to it being any other form of church, so presumably the Established Church.

The other thing of particular interest was the 'buried in Woollen according to Act of Parliament.' I had not come across this before so had to look it up. Wikipedia quickly provided an answer.

The Burying in Woollen Acts 1666–80 wRegister_of_bap_in_Thorncombe.jpgere Acts of the Parliament of England (Cha. II c. 4 (1666),  Cha. II c. 3 (1678)  and Cha. II c. 1 (1680) ) which required the dead, except plague victims and the destitute, to be buried in pure English woollen shrouds to the exclusion of any foreign textiles.

EnforcementRegister_of_bap_in_Thorncombe.jpg
It was a requirement that an affidavit be sworn in front of a Justice of the Peace (usually by a relative of the deceased), confirming burial in wool, with the punishment of a £5 fee for noncompliance. Burial entries in parish registers were marked with the word "affidavit" or its equivalent to confirm that affidavit had been sworn; it would be marked "naked" for those too poor to afford the woollen shroud.

The legislation was in force until 1814, but was generally ignored after 1770. The 1666 Act was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863.

The next interesting title page was at the beginning of the baptisms. It was a very smudged copy so I have tried to clean it up a little, without losing any of the original writing, however it is still difficult to decipher in the whole.

However, again it confirms that the book pertains to Thorncombe and seems to commence in 1663.

'A time to be born and a time to die' is one of the lines on the page.

 

It is difficult to make things out on the page, but it is nearly 4 centuries old. The Mayflower sailed to America in 1620 and the monarchy had been restored in 1660 with Charles II on the throne.

Turning to the next page of the scan, there are baptisms records, in Latin commencing in 15?? followed by 1552.

Jumping forward to 1781.

 In the Parish register an entry reads, 'John son of Joseph Biddlecombe Baptised Oc^t 14^th  ' , with a blue wash. Under the line across the page the next year is 1782. Hence John was baptised on 14 October 1781.

The John Biddlecombe of the census was 59 years of age in 1841, which would calculate as his year of birth being approximately 1782. The exact date of the census was 6 June 1841 and the baptism 14 October 1781. Which calculates as 59 years, 7 months, 24 days including the end date. Assuming John was baptised as an infant, an age of 59 suggests that this might be the same person.

In the scan there is an annotation 'End of Volume III Baptisms 1784'. Following that there are more baptisms starting at 1744 in a different hand. Further on in this section the hand writing has changed again, which is not a surprise, however, mothers started appearing in the baptisms in 1766, which is obviously before 1781. I expected to go forward from 1781 to a date when firstly mothers name started to appear and then date of birth as well as the date of baptism. The inconsistencies in this scan is beginning to be a cause for concern. The baptisms in this section end in 1776 and are followed by burials starting in1741.

Using the Dorset OPC for the Parish of Thorncombe;

22-Nov-1807; Joseph BIDDLECOMBE (born 23-Sep-1791) son of the late Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary his wife
22-Nov-1807; George BIDDLECOMBE (born 24-Apr-1793) son of the late Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary his wife

Both Joseph and George were baptised together on 22 November 1807, some 26 years after the baptism of John in 1781. At a time when the majority of baptisms were of infants it is a surprise that Joseph was 16 years, 2 months old and George was 14 years, 6 months, 30 days old at date of their baptisms. Noting that Joseph died before 22 November 1807, was he perhaps the reason for the delay in their baptism.

 Joseph and George Biddlecombe baptism record. On the same page William son of George Pomeroy and Betty daughter of Richard Bailey, both surnames of interest to me.

Looking at the Dorset OPC record transcriptions there are the following Biddlecombe records of baptism.

Baptisms
1691-1740, 1741-1783, 1784-1812, 1813-1851

No Bid?? in the 1691-1740 period.

In the period 1741-1783

• 05-Aug-1759; Robert BIDLCOM son of John BIDLCOM
• 25-Dec-1760; Joan BIDLCOMB daughter of Joseph BIDLCOMB
• 19-Dec-1762; Joseph BIDILCOMBE son of Joseph BIDILCOMBE
• 27-Jan-1765; Mary BIDELCOMBE daughter of Joseph BIDELCOMBE
• 09-Feb-1769; Joseph BIDDELCOMBE son of Joseph & Anne BIDDELCOMBE
• 23-Feb-1772; Anne BIDDLECOMBE daughter of Joseph & Anne BIDDELCOMBE
• 25-Sep-1774; George BIDDLECOMBE son of Joseph & Ann BIDDLECOMBE
• 17-Jan-1779; Sarah BIDELCOMBE daughter of Joseph BIDELCOMBE
• 14-Oct-1781; John BIDLECOMBE son of Joseph BIDLECOMBE

 

In the period 1784-1812

•  22-Nov-1807; Joseph BIDDLECOMBE (born 23-Sep-1791) son of the late Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary his wife
• 22-Nov-1807; George BIDDLECOMBE (born 24-Apr-1793) son of the late Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary his wife

In the period 1813-1851

• 26-Dec-1827; George Biddlecombe APLIN son of James & Sarah APLIN Farmer

 

An attempt to resolve the above baptisms into families. 

 

Timeline of recorded events - Parish Thorncombe (light brown infill, assumed data) Parish records began 1670

Parents Name(s)			Age	Date	1760s	1770s	1780s	1790s	1800s	1810s	1820s	1830s	1840s	1850s	1860s	1870s	1880s
Joseph BIDLCOMB / Joseph BIDILCOMBE / Joseph BIDELCOMBE		Birth	0		#
	Joan BIDLCOMB	Baptism		25 Dec 1760	#
	Joseph BIDILCOMBE	Baptism		19 Dec 1762	#
	Mary BIDELCOMBE	Baptism		27 Jan 1765	#
	Sarah BIDELCOMBE	Baptism		17 Jan 1779
Joseph & Anne BIDDELCOMBE	Joseph BIDDELCOMBE	Baptism		09 Feb 1769	#
	Anne BIDDLECOMBE	Baptism		23 Feb 1772		#
	George BIDDLECOMBE	Baptism		25 Sep 1774		#
Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary	John BIDLECOMBE	Baptism		14 Oct 1781			#
	Joseph BIDDLECOMBE	Birth		23 Sep 1791				#
		Baptism		22 Nov 1807					#
	George BIDDLECOMBE	Birth		24 Apr 1793				#
		Baptism		22 Nov 1807					#

Sarah BIDELCOMBE and Joseph BIDDELCOMBE were baptised within a month of one another, so presumably born too close together to not be separate families.

Joseph & Anne BIDDELCOMBE and Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary could be separate families or alternatively sequential wife's, first Ann and then Mary, based on the births and baptism dates of the associated children.

The alternative is that there are three Joseph Biddlecombe within the Parish of Thorncombe at the same time.

Again, using the Dorset OPC for the Parish of Thorncombe;

Marriages

03-Nov-1778; Joseph BIDDLECOMBE & Mary HEX

Marriage in 1778 fits with John Biddlecombe being baptised 14 Oct 1781. 

27-Jun-1802; Joseph APPLIN & Mary BIDDLECOMBE, widow, by licence

Joseph Biddlecombe died before 22 Nov 1807. Could it have been as early as 1802?

 

 

Burials

06-May-1798; Joseph BIDDLECOMBE 29

 This is not the Joseph Biddlecombe that married Mary Hex in 1778, he would have been only 9

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxwillxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 Back to John Biddlecombe, of the Will, and his wife Ann.

There appears to be no record of such a marriage in Thorncombe, but there is one in nearby Crewkerne, Somerset, England.

There is very little to suggest that this is the correct Ann or the correct marriage. John would have been about 22 years of age at the date of this marriage.

 

 

 

 Newspaper

1814

06-Jan; Biddlecombe Joseph of Thorncombe married Mary Phillips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within this collection of articles the discussion starts with a Will.

The last Will and Testament of George Biddlecombe of Winsham

 

The above two images are from Ancestry, indexed to George Biddlecombe. It is an extract from the record book of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858. To think that each will presented to the court is copied by hand, in full, by hand. As it is a copy in a registry book, and they are apparently very aware of the cost of paper or parchment, there is no layout to the text. It is just continuous writing without space, paragraphs or punctuation. The original will may or may not have had a different layout.

 

I is very difficult to read the above images without the benefit of zoom, so below is a collection of images in more detail.

 

Below is my initial transcription of the above Will. It is not a proper transcription as I have added spacing, layout and a small amount of punctuation, all to aid readability.

This is the last Will and Testament

of me George Biddlecombe of Winsham in the County of Somerset, Gentleman

I give and bequeath unto Samuel Aplin of Ipswich xxx two hundred pounds

And to Ruth Hallett his Sister two hundred pounds

And to Elizabeth Page his Sister two hundred pounds

To be paid to them xxx by my Executor hereinafter named within twelve months after my decease

I give unto my Mother Mary Aplin Widow my small silver tea pot and stand and sugar basin with purple glass belonging to it and cream jug
I also give to my said Mother one annuity or yearly sum of eight pounds to be paid for by my said Executor for and during the rest of her natural life by equal quarterly payments and the first payment to be made on the quarter day first happening after my decease

And I xxx my xxx and personal estate with the payment thereof give devise and bequeath all that my dwelling house shop stable barn garden and orchard now occupied by Daniel Hitchcock situate in the High Street of Winsham in the County of Somerset xxx xx to the use of the said Daniel his heirs executors an administrators according to the nature and tenure thereof and for all my estate and interest therein but subject nevertheless to the payment of the sum of two hundred pounds to my executor hereinafter named and I do hereby expressly declare that the said Daniel Hitchcock may if he so thinks fit refuse to take the said dwelling house and premises upon the terms of the before mentioned bequest to him and I xxx that he will within 2 months after my decease signify to my Executor his intention to take the said house and premises or to reject it. And in the event of this xxxx to take the same it is my will that the said Daniel Hitchcock shall be permitter to occupy the said dwelling house shop and premises so long as he pleases to do so at the yearly cost of thirty pounds but this permission is not to be construed into a power to hold possession and let the same to any other person my object being to enable him to carry on the business in the house in which he now resides without the fear of being ejected so long as he shall carry on the same for own benefit
And this bequest and permission are made upon this express xxx that the said Daniel Hitchcock as and shall within six months after my decease to the satisfaction of my Executor to be signified by writing under his hand release me from all liabilities on account of the business which the said Daniel Hitchcock is now and has been for some years carrying on in my name. And I do hereby for the satisfaction of my family declare that I have no interest whatsoever in such business and that I allowed it to be carried on in my name for the benefit of the said Daniel Hitchcock only the store and boot debts the sole property of the said Daniel Hitchcock

I give to my Brother Joseph Biddlecombe of Sherborne Schoolmaster the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid him in twelve months after my decease by my Executor

I also give to my Sister Mary Biddlecombe of Thorncombe one hundred pounds to be paid within six months after my decease in manner hereinafter mentioned the said Mary Biddlecombe being indebted to the above named Daniel Hitchcock in the sum of xxxx pounds and upwards I xxx that the xxxx so bequeathed to her be paid to the said Daniel Hitchcock in part discharge of such debt and if the said Mary Biddlecombe shall refuse to sign the proper receipt for the same it is my will that the receipt of the said Daniel Hitchcock for the said sum of one hundred pounds on account of the said Mary Biddlecombe shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executor for the same.
I desire that all my silver plate be divided as equally as possible between my Brother Joseph Biddlecombe, my said Executor hereinafter named Samuel Aplin Ruth Hallett and Elizabeth Pane and I give the same to them accordingly

All the rest Residue and Remainder of my xxx personal xxx leaseholds and other estates and all my property xxx find or xxxx subject to the payments hereinbefore mentions and xxx the house and premises before xxx to the said Daniel Hitchcock if he shall refuse to that the same upon the terms of this me Will I give devise and bequeath the same xxxx unto my Brother James Aplin of Forde Abbey Yeoman to and for his own absolute xx and benefit xx to his heirs executors and administrators respectively

And I appoint the said James Aplin sole Executor of this my Will and I devise and bequeath all estates vested in me upon trust or by way of mortgage unto the said James Aplin his heirs executors administrators respectively upon the trusts affecting the same.

In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal to this my Will this twenty second day of August one thousand eight hundred and forty six
George Biddlecombe

Signed sealed published and declared by the said George Biddlecombe as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses

Lot Palmer – Winsham – Tailor
W^m Dommett Sol^r Chard

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me George Biddlecombe of Winsham in the County of Somerset Gentleman.

I revoke the bequest of the dwelling house shop and orchard which in my Will I gave to Daniel Hitchcock subject to the payment of two hundred pounds to my Executor and instead thereof I give and bequeath the said dwelling house shop and orchard which is situate in the Church Street of Winsham aforesaid and is now in the occupation of the said Daniel Hitchcock unto the said Daniel Hitchcock his executors administrators and assigns absolutely for all my town estate and interest in therein and I also revoke the bequest of two hundred pounds by my said Will given to Samuel Aplin Ruth Hallett and Elizabeth Page and instead thereof give and bequeath the each of them the said Samuel Aplin Ruth Hallett and Elizabeth Page the sum of one hundred and thirty pounds to be paid to them by my Executor out of my property. And I declare that the receipts of the said Ruth Hallett and Elizabeth Page shall be xxxx a sufficient discharge for the said xxxx without the receipts of their respective husbands

In all other respects I confirm my said Will

Dated this thirteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty six

George Biddlecombe
Signed sealed published and declared by the said George Biddlecombe as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
W^m Dommett Sol^r Chard -- Lot Palmer

 

Date of Will	22 August 1846
Date of Codicile	13 October 1846
Date of Proving	19 March 1848

 

The quest to find the surname of Daniel. 

He is not part of the Tithe Apportionment record, so on to the 1841 Census.

 This was another case of a read through as the search for George Biddlecombe did not find any 1841 Census records. It was worth going through page by page though. Surprisingly there is no clear Enumerators route. The places recorded appear to be for each residence, jumping from one street to another. Church Street is long and populous but there appears to be only one entry, that of George Biddlecombe and his crew.

On the way there I found a tailor.

 In Pools Lane, Josiah Palmer, aged 40, a Tailor, and his family. Is this the Palmer that witnessed the Will? The current Pooles Lane is off Church Street, between the school and the church.

On to the main event.

 

 In the only entry for Church Street that I found, George Biddlecombe, a Draper, of 45 years of age, not born in the County of Somerset. Living with Joan and Ann Biddlecombe, and Mary Dickison or Pickison, all of Independent Means. Two more Drapers, Daniel Hitchcock, aged 25, and Lot Palmer, aged 75. The former is probably the Daniel mentioned in George's  Will and the latter one of the Witnesses.

The other witness could be William Dommett, Sol otherwise Solicitor, also Atts Law, Attorney at Law. Not totally definitive, but it does seem to fit.

 

People in the Will of George Biddlecombe of Winsham

 

People mentioned in the Will dated 22 August and 13 October 1846, of George Biddlecombe of Winsham, Somerset 

Name	Stated relationship	Assumed relationship	Assumed previous name	Place	Notes
Samuel Aplin
Ruth Hallett	Sister		Ruth Aplin		Ruth Aplin married William Hallett on 19th May 1831
Elizabeth Page	Sister		Elizabeth Aplin		Elizabeth Aplin married Thomas Page on 25th December 1845
Mary Aplin	Mother, Widow		Mary Biddlecombe, Mary Boon
Daniel Hitchcock		Business Associate		Winsham
Joseph Biddlecombe	Brother, Schoolmaster
Mary Biddlecombe	Sister			Thorncombe
James Aplin	Brother			Forde Abbey
James Aplin	Executor / Executrix
Lot Palmer	Witness, Tailor			Winsham
William Dommett	Witness, Solicitor			Chard

 

 People mentioned in the Will

 Apart from the witnesses

 

 

 

Parents of George Biddlecombe

George Biddlecombe has stated in his Will that his mother is Mary, presumably Biddlecombe at the time of his birth.

The marriage certificate of Elizabeth Page nee Aplin stated that her father was Joseph Aplin, Yeoman.

 A Joseph Biddlecombe married Mary Boon, both of the Parish of Broadwindsor in the County of Devon, in the Parish Church by Licence on 27^th October 1790. The witnesses were William Boon and James Brown. William Boon could have been Mary Boon's father. More to do to check that.

Presumably Joseph Biddlecombe died and Mary Biddlecombe became a widow.

 Joseph Aplin, using the signature version instead of Applin, married Mary Biddlecombe, both of the Parish of Thorncombe in the Parish Church by Licence on twenty seventh day of June 1802 in the presence of Samuel Phillips and Will^m Hawkins.

If this is correct Joseph Biddlecombe died before 1802, and the Aplin children of Mary were born after 1802.

An extract of the 1851 Census.

A Mary Aplin, a widow, is a Lodger at Partway, in the Parish of Thorncombe. The family she is lodging with appear to be Richard Bowditch and his wife Susannah. Mary is recorded as being 81 with a calculated year of birth of 1770, in Crewkerne, Somerset. She is of Independent Means. Richard is a dairyman of 70 years of age. Were they all living together in the Dairy House and Garden referred to as Plot 406 in the Tithe Apportionment. That is at Partway, by comparing the locations on two maps, all as detailed within the part about Forde Abbey Farm above under Locations. Plot 406 has the Landowner of John Francis Gwyn Esquire and James Aplin is the Occupier. Being occupier in Tithe Apportionment terms does not necessarily mean in residence. By 1851, the new Forde Abbey Farm yard and buildings had been constructed. Previous to that it is probable that James Aplin lived in the vicinity of Forde Abbey. The James Aplin of Forde Abbey is the brother of George Biddlecombe according to the latter's will.

Just a short distance away lies Forde Abbey Farm, where in 1851, James Aplin is resident.

Pulled from James Aplin tab.

James Alpin is recorded as being at Forde Abbey Farm on the day of the Census 30^th March 1851. An aside. When the 1851 census was taken on 30 March total population was recorded as 17,922,768.

James Alpin was the Head of the Household and he was 47 years of age. His occupation is stated as Farming 350 Acres employing 16 agricultural labourers. The 350 acres stated here is larger that the 313 stated in the Tithe Apportionment for his plots under Forde Abbey Farm, but it is over a decade later, so is not incongruous. He is recorded as being born in Dorset, in the Parish of Thorncombe, (was in Devon until 1844).

His wife is named as Sarah, aged 43, also born in Thorncombe. Her calculated year of birth was 1808, with James being 1804.

All the children are also born in Thorncombe and are unmarried.

 

 

 

Wife of George Biddlecombe

Current understanding is that George Biddlecombe never married.

 

Children of George Biddlecombe

Current understanding is that George Biddlecombe never had any children.