Pomeroys in Dorset
OLDE CUSTOMS Symondsbury here
Around the year 1500, an assistant to the Venetian ambassador to England was struck by the strange attitude to parenting that he had encountered on his travels in England . He wrote to his masters in Venice that the English kept their children at home "till the age of seven or nine at the utmost" but then "put them out, both males and females, to hard service in the houses of other people, binding them generally for another seven or nine years".
Children were sent away regardless of their class, "for everyone, however rich he may be, sends away his children into the houses of others, whilst he, in return, receives those of strangers into his own".
It was for the children's own good, he was told - but he suspected the English preferred having other people's children in the household because they could feed them less and work them harder.
Letters and diaries in medieval schoolbooks indicate that leaving home was traumatic. In a letter given to pupils to translate into Latin a child complains ..."For all that was to me a pleasure when I was a child, from three years old to 10… while I was under my father and mother's keeping, be turned now to torments and pain."
Not dissimilar to what happened to 18th C Apprentices sent far away from home for 7 years at the age of 8 or 10
Illiterate servants had no means of communicating with their parents, and the difficulties of travel meant that, even if children were only sent 20 miles away, they could feel completely isolated.
Apprentices Apprenticeships were used to train boys (and some girls) in useful crafts and trades as a way of preparing them to become independent craftsman in adult life. Apprenticeship was in decline in the eighteenth century, as wage labour became more common and it became more difficult to set up as a master.
Robert Pomeroy son of Joan Pomeroy widow from Allington County Dorset Apprentice Indenture in 1711 for the Premium £6 .0s 0d to Daniel Jerrard Master Butcher in Chidcock, Dorset NA ref (IR 1 series) 32 f 26 SOG vol 24 page 4656 Record set Britain, Country Apprentices 1710-1808 Category Education & work Subcategory Apprentices Collections from Great Britain, England
Walter Pumeroy Master Tailor Symondsbury Dorset in 1748 took Bartholomew Billet son of Thomas Billet as apprentice by indenture for 5 guineas N.A. ref (IR 1 series) 18 f 173 SOG vol 3 page 470 SOG no: 18352
Parish of Symondsbury crop grown 1786. Flax stones 60 Hemp stones 0 Bounty £ 1 / 0 / 0
Churchwarden Jacob PITFIELD ; Overseer Richard X HUSSEY ;
Recognisance 1 Daniel STONE of Symondsbury
Recognisance 2 Samuel BARTLETT of Bridport - Record set Dorset Hemp and Flax growers. source Somerset & Dorset Family History Society
LOCAL POMEROY LIVES Marriages, Births & Deaths
Symondsbury
The principal houses in the village are Symondsbury Manor, Shutes Farmhouse and Oakhayes once the Old Rectory, all held by the Dukes of Somerset
Walter Pumeroy Master Tailor in Symondsbury took Bartholomew Billet son Thomas in 1748 fee 5 guineas (£5 .5s )
ROBERT POMEROY 1786 Symondsbury, Cowlease field Quarter Sessions 1788. died 3 Nov 1790 Symondsbury, St John the Baptist
Robert Pomeroy Bb 1749 son of Walter and his wife Sarah in Symondsbury
Robert Pomery Bb 15 Dec 1754 son of George & his wife Anne in Symondsbury
Robert Pomeroy BB 28 Nov 1779 son of John & his wife Mary in Bridport
1783 13 July James son of Robert Pomeroy of Poole baptised .They were Dissenters
ROBERT POMEROY 1786 Symondsbury Cowlease field Quarter Sessions 1788.
Marriages
Robert Pomeroy marriage 8 Aug 1784 to Sarah Adkin at Netherbury.about 7 miles from Symondsbury
Walter Pomeroy 7 Dec 1742 marriage to Sarah Stourton 1742 Symondsbury
Robert Pomery married Mary Ann Pitcher 1852 Bridport
Births & Baptisms
Robert Pomeroy Bb 1749 father Walter and his wife Sarah in Symondsbury
Robert Pomeroy BB 1756 son of Joseph Pomeroy wife Patience in Otterton about 30 miles from Symondsbury
ALLINGTON is ¾ of a mile north west of Bridport;
Timothy Pomeroy marriage to Mary Gollop 30 November 1699 in Chideock Allington Dorset
Timothy Pomery burial 13 Jan 1739 Dorset
Walter P …. ? marriage to Anne Norman 1740 in Allington
1786 Dorset Hemp And Flax Growers
Robert Pomeroy Cowlease fields Symondsbury quarter sessions 1788 crop grown 1786 flax stones 60 Hemp stones 0 bounty £1/0/0
Churchwarden Jacob PITFIELD Parish where grown Symondsbury
Overseer Richard X HUSSEY Place Symondsbury
Recognisance Daniel STONE parish Symondsbury
Recognisance Samuel BARTLETT crop grown 1786 in Bridport Flax stones 60 Hemp stones 0
Record set Dorset Hemp And Flax Growers
marriage not found in FMP however this may be because they were Methodist
Baptisms 1784 11 Feb 1784 13 Jul 1783 Bb Pomeroy James Poole, Dorset son of Robert & Susanna Pomeroy in Poole, Dorset.
Skinner St Independent Chapel in Poole
1787 2 Feb 1787 28 Mar 1785 Bb Pomeroy Thomas Poole son of Robert & Susanna Pomeroy in Poole, Dorset at
Skinner St. Independent Chapel in Poole
19th century CENSUS
1841 Census Mowerbury, Symondsbury, Bridport, Dorset, England
Henry Pomeroy Male 65 1776 Dorset, England Ag Lab
Phillis Pomeroy Female 65 1776 Dorset, England
Ann Pomeroy Female 25 1816
1841 census Broadoak, Symondsbury, Bridport, Dorset, in the household at the time of the census.
George Pomeroy Male 67 1774 Dorset, England Ag Lab
Mary Pomeroy Female 67 1774 Dorset, England
Henry Pomeroy Male 34 1807 Dorset, England Ag Lab
Martha Pomeroy Female 33 1808 Dorset, England
Charles Pomeroy Male 6 1835 Dorset, England
John Pomeroy Male 3 1838 Dorset, England
William Pomeroy Male 1 1840 Dorset, England
Mary Guppy Female 13 1828
1851 Census Royal, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Bridport, Dorset, England
Sarah Pomeroy unmarried age 49 b 1802 occupation braider born WHITCHURCH DORSET
brother John Pomeroy widower age 69 b 1782 Ag Lab born Chideock
1861 Royal, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Bridport, Dorset, England
Thomas Pomeroy Head Married Male 62 1799 Ag Lab BORN Whitchurch Canonicorum,
Fanny Pomeroy Wife Married Female 82 1779 Braider Whitchurch Canonicorum,
1861 single occupant Chideock Royal, Chideock, Bridport, Dorset, England
SAMUEL POMEROY WIDOWER AGE 84 B 1777 AG LAB BORN CHIDEOCK
1871 Morcombe Farm, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Bridport, Dorset, England
John Barnes Head 52 1819 Farmer 90 acres born Chideock employing 1 man & 1 boy
Maria D Barnes Wife 55 1816 - Dorset, England
Charles Barnes Son 21 1850 Ag Lab- Dorset, England
John Barnes Son 17 1854 Ag Lab- Dorset, England
Robert Barnes Son 13 1858 scholar Dorset, England
Ann Barnes Dau 22 §827 Dairy Maid - Dorset,
Charlotte Barnes Dau 15 1856 scholar- Dorset,
SAMUEL POMEROY WIDOWER Uncle 94 B 1777 annuitant B CHIDEOCK
Mary Ann Bobbett Granddau age 2 1869 - B Dorset
There were several Pomeroys living in the same street in Beaminster all separately recorded
Henry age 70 with wife Susan age 71 Paupers
Next door to Abraham as above
3 doors away from Sarah Pomeroy 28 year old spinster a laundress living with her son John age 15 a Baker
Every one of them born in Beaminster
1891 Abraham Pomeroy age 60 widower lodging with family of wheelwrights labourer Sam Poole , and still working as general labourer
1901 East Street Beaminster
Abraham Pomeroy single age 67 B 1834 Ab Lab born in Crewkerne living alone died 1903
Abraham Pomery Head Married 42 1809 Comber Bridport, Dorset, Eng
Charlotte Pomery Wife Married 32 1819 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset, Eng
George Pomery Son 15 1836 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset, Eng
Elizabeth Pomery Dau 12 1839 Twine Flay Bridport, Dorset, England
William Pomery Son 10 1841 Twine Flay Bridport, Dorset, England
John Pomery Son 9 1842 Twine Flay Bridport, Dorset, England
James Pomery Son infant 1851 Bridport, Dorset, England
John Pomeroy son of John & Susannah in Allington Dorset 5 April 1752
John Pomery bachelor of Bridport married Mary Hayward OTP spinster 8 Jan 1771
Sons of John & Mary Pomeroy
William 16 Dec 1771 Baptism Bridport, Dorset, England
William 22 April 1775 Bridport, Dorset, England
Joseph 18 June1777 Bridport, Dorset, England
Robert 28 Nov 1779 Bridport, Dorset, Englan
Isaac 17 Dec 1782 Bridport, Dorset, England
George 27 April 1788 Bridport
Joseph Pomery Bb 18 Jun 1777 son of Jno Pomery & Mary Hayward
Joseph Pomeroy & Elizabeth Kenway married 30 Sept 1799 in Bridport
children
Edmund 26 Feb 1806 Bridport, Dorset, England
Abraham 24 Feb 1809 Bridport, Dorset, England
Joseph Balston 15 Oct 1813 Bridport, Dorset, England
John — 10 Dec 1815 Bridport, Dorset, England
Mary — 4 Jan 1818 Bridport, Dorset, England
Abraham son of Joseph Pomeroy & Elizabeth Kenway B 24 Dec 1809 in Bridport
I wonder. Hemp rope was and still made at Chatham Dock using a 1/4 mile long rope twisting walks ———Abraham was a rope maker -as were his children -
did his sons learn that expertise to find work at the dockyards on the Isle of Sheppey when mechanisation took jobs in Bridport ?
Joseph Pomeroy b 1771 married Elizabeth Balsen in 1802 died 1829 Bridport
Abraham Pomeroy son of Joseph & Elizabeth Bb 24 Dec 1809 Bridport
Ruth Pomeroy OTP married William Rendell alias Martin OTP on 18 Aug 1833 at Symonsbury Dorset. GRO ref 8/44
Abraham Pomeroy son of John Rendell married on 2 Sept 1838 to Charlotte Bishop dau of George Bishop in Bridport
Abraham John Hoare Pomeroy 27 April 1862 married Matilda Bartlett in St Mary's Beaminster. GRO ref A Vol 5A Page number 671
Dorset Crime & Punishment
1838 Abraham Pomeroy b 1813 age 25 illiterate born Dorset given 2 weeks in prison for larceny 1838
1857 Abraham Pomeroy 1857 Ship stealing , a lamb - given 5 months
1883 Abraham Pomeroy 16 Oct 1883 in Dorchester feloniously receiving stolen good after previous offence _ 6 months - alias Abraham John Pomeroy age 49 hawker admitted to Bail 18 Sept 1883
Charles Dunham stole coal to the value of 7s 6d from Albert Isaac Stradling and Abraham Pomeroy received it knowing it was stolen on 15 Sept 1883 . Magistrate J Floyer Esq MP -AP got 21 days hard labour
In July 1830 Abraham Pomeroy was drunk and disorderly when he was killed during a scuffle over beer in the Bell Inn in Enfield
-Bell Inn in Hertford Road Edfield Wash which is North London The pub is still standing but now a Turkish restaurant
Abraham John Hoare Pomeroy son of Henry bachelor married 10 May 1862 Beaminster to Matilda Bartlett dau of Jeremiah Bartlett
Abraham Pomeroy son of Henry & Susan Pomeroy BB 19 Dec 1833 Beaminster
Did they move from Beaminster to Crewekerne
Abraham Pomeroy son of Henry & Susan in Crewkerne 2 Nov 1834
Henry Pomeroy son of John & Elzabeth Pomeroy Bb 31 March 1833 Beaminster Age 1 died Aug 1834
Henry Pomeroy 1831 Poll books North Symondsbury Rejected; not duly assessed ( no idea what that means)
Henry Pomeroy at Symondsbury 29 Sept 1831 married Mary Ann Gardner
Henry Pomeroy at Symondsbury 1833 married Martha Guppy
Abraham Pomeroy & Charlotte Bishop married 2 Sept 1838
Census 1841 South Street Bridport
Abraham Pomery 30 1811 occupation hackler born Dorset, England HACKLER separated the coarse part of flax or hemp with a hackle, an instrument with teeth
Charlotte Pomery 25 wife 1816 Dorset, England
George Pomery 6 1835 Dorset, England
Elizabeth Pomery 2 1839 Dorset, England
William Pomery 1 1840 Dorset, England
1851 Census 1851 still at same address BRIDPORT
Abraham Pomery Head 42 1809 Comber Bridport, Dorset,
Charlotte Pomery Wife 32 1819 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset,
George Pomery Son 15 1836 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset,
Elizabeth Pomery Dau 12 1839 Twine Flayer Bridport, Dorset,
William Pomery Son 10 1841 Twine Flayer Bridport, Dorset,
John Pomery Son 9 1842 Twine Flayer Bridport, Dorset, England
James Pomery Son infant 1851 Bridport, Dorset, England
Beaminster see image above
Abraham Pomeroy son of Henry ,labourer & his wife Susan in Crewkerne 2 Nov 1834
Abraham John Hoare Pomeroy son of Henry single marriage 10 May 1862 Beaminster to Matilda Bartlett dau of Jeremiah Bartlett
Henry Pomeroy son of John & Elizabeth Pomeroy Bb 31 March 1833 Beaminster
died age 1 in Aug 1834
Henry Pomeroy at Symondsbury 29 Sept 1831 married Mary Ann Gardner
Henry Pomeroy at Symondsbury 1833 married Martha Guppy
Henry Pomeroy in Bridport 1853 married Amelia Fippin
Henry Pomeroy at Bridport 1862 married Rhoda Macey
Henry Pomeroy son of George marriage at Broadwinsor
Abraham Pomeroy & Charlotte Bishop married 2 Sept 1838 Bridport
He was a hackler person who separated the coarse part of flax or hemp with a hackle .
An entire family worked in the rope making industry from childhood
George Pomery 1836 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset, England
Elizabeth Pomery 1839 Twine Flayer Bridport, Dorset, England
William Pomery 1841 Twine Flayer Bridport, Dorset, England
John Pomery 1842 Twine Flayer Bridport, Dorset, England
James Pomery 1851 Bridport, Dorset, England
Henry Pomeroy married Susan Hoare 19 Sept 1831 at Beaminster St Mary
son Abraham Bb 19 Dec 1833 to Henry Pomeroy, & his wife Susan
1841 Fleet Street BEAMINSTER
Henry Pomeroy B 1811 - Scavenger
Wife Sarah Hoare b 1811
Abraham b 1834 Ag lab
Jane b 1843 Flax Spinner
Daniel b 1847 Ag Lab
John B 1849 AG Lab
Mary b 1852
Henry b 1854
Beaminster
Abraham born 1833 Ag Lab son of Henry Pomeroy B 1841 in Beaminster a road worker labourer
Wife Sarah and children
Sarah b 1833
Hannah b1837
Elizabeth B 1839
Daniel b 1847
John b 1849
Henry Pomeroy married Susan Hoare 19 Sept 1831 at Beaminster St Mary their son
Abraham John Hoare Pomeroy son of Henry married Matilda Bartlett 1862
1871 Census Fleet Street Beaminster
Abraham Pomeroy age 34 B 1834 labourer
Matilda Bartlet his wife age 33 b 1838 - died 1872
Abe W B 1863
Emily E b 1864 in 1885 Matilda Jane Pomeroy was born to Emily Pomery , Beaminster
1881 Census Fleet Street Beaminster
There were several Pomeroys living in Fleet street in Beaminster all separately recorded
Henry age 70 with wife Susan age 71 Paupers
Next door was Abraham Pomeroy widower age 47 Haulier- b 1834 died 1903
3 doors away was Sarah Pomeroy 28 year old spinster ( B 1853 ) a laundress living with her son John age 15 a Baker
Every one of them born in Beaminster
1891 Abraham Pomeroy age 60 widower lodging with family of wheelwrights labourer Sam Poole , and still working as general labourer
1901 East Street Beaminster
Abraham Pomeroy single age 67 B 1834 Ab Lab born in Crewkerne living alone. He died 1903
Abraham Pomery Head Married 42 1809 Comber Bridport, Dorset,
Charlotte Pomery Wife age 32 1819 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset,
George Pomery Son Unm 15 1836 Twine Spinner Bridport, Dorset, England
Elizabeth Pomery Dau - 12 1839 Twine Flay Bridport, Dorset, England
William Pomery Son - 10 1841 Twine Flay Bridport, Dorset, England
John Pomery Son - 9 1842 Twine Flay Bridport, Dorset, England
James Pomery Son infant 1851 Bridport, Dorset, England
Reading a little about Bridport & Hemp workers 1866
The chief work of children is turning wheels for twine spinners who worked in open spinning walks , under trees planted to keep the sun off ;
turners sat in an open sided shed at the end of the walk turning a small wheel by hand to twist the fibre for the spinner.
Spinning ways ran behind the houses like gardens but by 1866 the numbers were dropping owing to an increase in factories doing the work- mechanisation
Hemp rope was and still made at Chatham Dock using a 1/4 mile long rope twisting
Abraham was a rope maker -as were his children - did his sons take that expertise to the dockyards on the Isle of Sheppey
John Pomeroy son of John & Susannah in Allington Dorset 5 April 1752
John Pomery bachelor of Bridport married Mary Hayward OTP spinster 8 Jan 1771
Sons of John & Mary Pomeroy
William 16 Dec 1771 Bridport, Dorset, England
William 22 April 1775 Bridport, Dorset, England
Joseph 18 June1777 Bridport, Dorset, England
Robert 28 Nov 1779 Bridport, Dorset, Englan
Isaac 17 Dec 1782 Bridport, Dorset, England
George 27 April 1788 Bridport
Joseph Pomery Bb 18 Jun 1777 son of Jno Pomery & Mary Hayward
Joseph Pomeroy & Elizabeth Kenway married 30 Sept 1799 in Bridport
children
Edmund 26 Feb 1806 Bridport, Dorset, England
Abraham 24 Feb 1809 Bridport, Dorset, England
Joseph Balston 15 Oct 1813 Bridport, Dorset, England
John — 10 Dec 1815 Bridport, Dorset, England
Mary — 4 Jan 1818 Bridport, Dorset, England
Abraham son of Joseph Pomeroy & Elizabeth Kenway B 24 Dec 1809 in Bridport
None of whom appear in later records as far as I can see