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John Guppy and Ann Symes ©

The son of John Guppy and his wife Mary (nee Dimet), John was baptized on the 24^th May, 1769, in the Parish of Symondsbury¹.

Banns of Marriage² between John Guppy and Ann Symes were published in St Mary the Virgin Parish Church Netherbury, 29^th May, 5^th & 12^th June, 1791.  John and Ann were then married on the 14^th June, 1791³.

A baptism for an Ann Symes in Netherbury has been located¹.  The daughter of Justinian and Betty, she was baptised on 12^th November, 1769.

Situated on the River Brit, Netherbury is approximately 6km north of Symondsbury.  The valley of the River Brit used to contain several mills which processed the flax for use in the rope-making industry and There are still two flax and tow manufactories in the parish.  The church of St Mary is 480 years old with a Norman font, a 15th Century altar and several admirable stained glass windows.

Parish records indicate John and Ann had eleven children: Sarah 1791; Elizabeth 1793; Mary 1795, she married William Atkins 1816; James 1797; Jane 1799; Ann 1802; Martha 1805; John 1807; Robert 1809; Susannah 1812; and Harriet 1814.

Unfortunately Ann died just a few years later.  Buried in Netherbury on the 16^th April, 1818, she was 48years old and the record indicates she was from Netherbury⁴. 

Records suggest John remarried after Ann death, and a marriage of John to Jane Symes, believed to have been Ann’s younger sister, in Melcombe on the 17^th August, 1821, has been found³.  Melcombe Regis is roughly 40km south-south-east of Netherbury.

Land Tax Records of Dorset indicate John Guppy was the Occupier of a House and Orchard in Netherbury in 1826 & 1827.  The Proprietors were Gale and Sarjeant.  

The 1841 Census⁵ suggests John and Jane may have had two daughters, as this record shows John, his wife Jane and daughters; Susan, age 29; Emila, age 15; and Eliza, age 10, living in Workhouse Street, Netherbury.  However, as John is recorded as a 70year old Agricultural Labourer and Jane is age 62, it is more than likely Emila and Eliza are grandchildren.

John and Jane can be found living in the High Street in Netherbury on the 1851 Census⁶.  Born in Symondsbury, 81year old John is recorded as the Head, his occupation as an Agricultural Labourer, who is also blind.  Jane, a 71year old Laundress was born in Netherbury.  With them is 6year old grand-daughter Julia Guppy, a Scholar.

John died in 1853, and was buried in Netherbury, on the 3^rd February.  He was 83years old and from Netherbury⁴.

Jane died in 1864, at the age of 86, and was buried on the 27^th July, in the Parish Churchyard, Netherbury⁴.

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

5.UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
6. Dorset, England, Land Tax Returns, 1780-1832 via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

Other Sources:

Beryl Baker Devon UK

FamilySearch https://familysearch.org

OPC Dorset  http://www.opcdorset.org/

Robert Atkins Middlesex UK

Please contact me for further information