The Tolpuddle Martyrs

The Tolpuddle Martyrs

The Pomeroys of Broadwindsor, it will be of no surprise, lived it the small village of Broadwindsor and the surrounding hundreds and hamlets, in Dorset. It was a rural community not far from the border with Devon. A mere 5 miles in a vaguely South Westerly direction. Today Beaminster is bigger and lies about 2.5 miles East. Dorchester, the county town is only twenty miles away, a 6-7hr walk. Tolpuddle is another rural community, only another six miles East, a days walk in total.

John Pomeroy was born on 31 December 1808 in Broadwindsor, Dorset, his father, George, was 29 and his mother, Frances, was 30. He married Mary Ann Bowditch on 8 September 1830 in his hometown. His father George passed away in December 1831 in Broadwindsor. By 1834 John's family had grown with the birth of a Son and a Daughter.