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A list of sources is included.

John Govier and Mary Elliott ©

John, the son of Robert Govier and his wife Arabella (nee Mayger), was baptised in the Parish Church at Whitchurch Canonicorum on the 1^st April, 1781¹.

Marriage Banns which were read in the Parish Church at Symondsbury on the 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd May, 1808², tell us that John Govier was a Bachelor from Whitchurch Canonicorum, and his intended wife Mary Elliott was a Spinster from Symondsbury.  On the 2^nd June, 1808³, in the Parish Church in Symondsbury, John married Mary, and this record indicates they were married by G. Raymond (Rector).  John signed his name and Mary made her mark, and the witnesses were William Elliott, possibly Mary’s father, Martha Tuck and Robert Wakely.

Mary, baptised on the 10^th July, 1786¹, in the Parish Church at Symondsbury, was the daughter of William Elliott and his wife Martha (nee Oliver).

Parish Records of Symondsbury indicate that John and Mary had nine children: William 1809; Arabella 1811-1871; Robert 1813; Martha 1815; Simeon 1818-1893; Ann Hodder 1820; Phoebe 1822, she married Thomas Atkins 1845; Joseph 1824; and Harriet 1828-1828.  

Although no record has yet been sighted, it is assumed that Mary died between 1828 and 1841, as she has not been found on the 1841 Census.  A reference to a Mary Govier, buried in Whitchurch Canonicorum on the 20^th December, 1829⁴, has been located and this is believed to be my Mary. 

John can be found on the 1841 Census⁵, in Morcombe, Whitchurch Canonicorum.  With his surname recorded as ‘Gorrie’, John is a 60year old Agricultural Labourer, born in Dorset.  With him are two of his children, Phoebe and Joseph.

The 1851 Census⁴ has John, still living in Whitchurch, but now in the house of his daughter Martha, her husband John Taylor and their children.  John is recorded as a Widower, age 71, occupation Pauper / formerly a Flax Dresser, born Whitchurch, Dorset.  John’s daughter Ann is also in the house.  Flax was an agricultural crop grown for its fibers which were used to make linen.  A Flax Dresser was one who broke up the flax, or prepared it for the spinners⁶.

It is believed John died, at the age of 77, and a reference has been located which indicates he was buried in Whitchurch Canonicorum on the 14^th January, 1858⁴, but this record has not yet been sighted.

References:

1. Parish Baptism Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

2. Parish Banns Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

3. Parish Marriage Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

4. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, 1844, Q$, Oct-Dec, G via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

5. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

6. Free Dictionary On-line, The http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Other Sources:

FamilySearch https://familysearch.org
Symondsbury Parish Records via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

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