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William Answorth and Rebecca Rickman © William's actual date and place of birth is not known. However it is recorded, in a copy of the Register of the Parish of Milford, that as the son of William Answorth & Margaret (nee Bennett) he was baptized on the 1st January, 18091. Nothing is known about William until, on the 12th May, 1839, at the age of 30, and according to the Rites of the Established Church, he married Rebecca Rickman in the Parish Church Milford. In the register, William made his mark, while Rebecca signed her name. The Minister was Thomas Robinson, the witnesses William Bath and George Rickman (possibly Rebecca's brother). William's occupation is given as Bricklayer and Rebecca's as a Servant, both were said to be residing in Limer at the time of their marriage, this is assumed to be Lymore, in the Parish of Milford. Rebecca's father is listed as William Rickman, Thatcher. William's father is recorded as William Answorth, Labourer. Lymore a small village, which has a brick and tile works, is situated 1½km north-north-east of Milford and 1½km north of Keyhaven4. Rebecca was daughter of William Rickman and Sarah nee Gibs. Their sixth child, she was born just a few months after a younger sister, also called Rebecca, had died. My Rebecca was baptized in the Parish Church Milford on 20th June 18131. It is tempting to make assumptions on the circumstances surrounding the meeting of William and Rebecca. However, it is thought that as both William's and Rebecca's parents lived within a few houses of each other5, it is highly likely that William and Rebecca had known each other and been friends since childhood. Only a few short months after their marriage, a son Harry was born to William and Rebecca. Baptized at Lymington on the 15th September, 1839, sadly Harry died just a month later1, and I believe it is possible he was buried in the grounds of the Parish Churchyard, Milford. William and Rebecca's second son, also named Harry, was baptized on the 14th February, 18411. At the time of the 1841 Census5, the small family were living at Keyhaven in the Parish of Milford. William, age 30, gives his occupation as Agricultural Labourer, wife Rebecca is age 25, and Harry age 4months. They are all recorded as being born in the County and they live only a few metres away from both their respective parents’ homes. Parish records show William and Rebecca had a daughter, Rosina, on the 4th August, 1844, then a son William Rickman 1847, he married Jane Pamela Lambert 1878. The 1851 Census5 shows William, his small family, along with Rebecca's mother Sarah, living at Lymore, Milford. William, age 41, is recorded as an Agricultural Labourer and all members of the household are recorded as being born in Milford. Parish Church records indicate William and Rebecca had three more children: son John in mid-1851; son George Stephen, two years later; and lastly daughter Sarah, early in 1856. Little more is known of the family, until the death of William's wife Rebecca and their daughter Sarah. Rebecca died, on the 25th June, 18566, from Phthisis or Tuberculosis, after a six month illness and little more than a month after their daughter Sarah was born. The Informant, Sarah Rickman believed to be Rebecca's mother, was present at her death and William's occupation is given as General Labourer. Rebecca was buried on the 29th June, 18561, in the Parish Church Milford. Only 4 months later little Sarah died, presumably also of Phthisis, and she was also buried in the Milford Parish Church grounds, on the 13th September, 18566. Agricultural labourers were generally unable to afford the care of medical practitioners, whose knowledge was often limited anyway, people had little option but to try and deal with illnesses the best way they could. This usually involved older children or other relatives caring for the patient. Tuberculosis, a chronic bacterial infection involving the lungs, bones and often other body organs, is spread through air droplets of tubercle bacilli coughed up by infected victims, which in turn can be inhaled by others who live in close contact. The living conditions of some agricultural workers in rural villages in the early 19th century were often appalling. Many of these labourers lived in little more than hovels, which in many cases were overcrowded and lacked adequate sanitation. With conditions such as these, combined in many cases with a poor diet and a lack of medical assistance, it is not surprising diseases such as Tuberculosis spread very quickly7. William’s occupational history is a little uncertain, as on his marriage certificate and the 1861 Census5, he is recorded as a bricklayer, the occupation of a person described as a tradesman who, using bricks, built houses, walls etc. Yet on the 1851 Census and Rebecca's death certificate, he is described as an Agricultural Labourer, and on his death certificate as a Farm Labourer. Often poorly paid and uneducated, agricultural labourers are described as persons engaged in physical work usually of an unskilled kind on a farm, who were frequently employed by farmers who rented their land from local wealthy landowners8. Could it be that William worked for a tradesman as a labourer and merely thought of himself as a bricklayer, or did building work dry up, and force William to look for any type of work to keep his family going? It is an interesting conundrum to ponder, but we will probably never know the truth. At the time of the 1861 Census, William, a 52year old Bricklayer, is still living in Lymore. With him are his children: Harry age 20, a Labourer; Rosina, age 17; William, age 14; John, age 10; and Stephen, age 8. Also in the house is his mother-in-law Sarah Rickman, an 80year old Widow, recorded as a Lodger. William died on the 25th April, 18636, 'Unknown' was given as cause of death, and the Informant, who was present at his death was Frances Ainsworth. It is believed Frances may have been the wife of William's younger brother John. William was buried in the Milford Parish Churchyard on the 3rd May, 18631. It is not known if there is, or was, a headstone on William's or Rebecca's graves.
References:
Milford on Sea Village History
http://www.milfordonsea.org/#/the-village-history/4533907218 |
