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William Rickman and Sarah Gibs © It is estimated that William Rickman would have been born around 1781, and most likely in or around Milford. It is thought he was the son of William Rickman and his wife Sarah (nee Haynes), and it is believed William Snr was a Thatcher. This assumption is based on later records of William's occupation as 'Thatcher' and a record found in the Hampshire Records Office1 which shows a payment, in 1773, from a John Bond Esq. to a William Rickman, for Thatching on late Evan Kittor’s estate. There are many Rickman families in and around Milford in Hampshire, and at this stage it hasn't been established which line William comes from, but it is a logical assumption that these two William's are of the same line, as sons generally followed their fathers in specialist crafts. Thatchers played a vital role in the rural communities of the past, and many classed themselves in a different league to the general labourers, due to their skill and craftsmanship. Material for thatching included wheat straw, reeds, grasses and heather, dependent on availability within the area. Physical fitness, creativity, manual dexterity and an eye for perfection were a must for a professional Thatcher, while skills of planning and numeracy were needed when costing a job. This was a demanding occupation, which could be pleasant on a warm sunny day, but could quickly turn into a tough unpleasant job as the Thatcher struggled with his materials in high winds or cut his hands on materials frozen solid in frosty winter conditions. It is estimated that William Rickman would have been born around 1781, and most likely in or around Milford. A reference to a possible baptism has been found for William, on the 3rd December, 1781, in the parish Church of Pennington1. Located about 4.8km north-north-east of Milford, the name Pennington was first recorded in 1272, its hypothetical derivation being from the Old or Middle English ‘Peni(n)gtun’ = ‘penny farm’, ie a farm on which a penny geld was payable. Until 1839, Pennington was ecclesiastically part of the parish of Milford, when its parish church was All Saints’, Milford. From Pennington village, the distance to Milford church was about three and a half miles. Roads were poor, only the wealthy could afford a horse or carriage, and for most people getting to church entailed a long walk across country. In such remote places, a chapel of ease was sometimes built for the convenience of parishioners, and it is believed that there was a chantry chapel dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, the earliest known record of which dates from 1285. However, the location of none is known today. It is thought he was the son of William Rickman and his wife Sarah (nee Haynes), and it is believed William Snr was a Thatcher. This assumption is based on later records of William Jnr's occupation as 'Thatcher' and a record found in the Hampshire Records Office2 which shows a payment, in 1773, from a John Bond Esq. to a William Rickman Snr, for Thatching on late Evan Kittor’s estate. There are many Rickman families in and around Milford in Hampshire, and at this stage it hasn't been established which line William comes from, but it is a logical assumption that these two William's are of the same line, as sons generally followed their fathers in specialist crafts. Thatchers played a vital role in the rural communities of the past, and many classed themselves in a different league to the general labourers, due to their skill and craftsmanship. Material for thatching included wheat straw, reeds, grasses and heather, dependent on availability within the area. Physical fitness, creativity, manual dexterity and an eye for perfection were a must for a professional Thatcher, while skills of planning and numeracy were needed when costing a job. This was a demanding occupation, which could be pleasant on a warm sunny day, but could quickly turn into a tough unpleasant job as the Thatcher struggled with his materials in high winds or cut his hands on materials frozen solid in frosty winter conditions. A search of parish registers in the area indicate William married Sarah Gib(b)s in Milton on 7th December, 18013. William was from the Parish of Milford and Sarah from the Parish of Milton. Married by Banns, William signed his name, but Sarah made her mark. The marriage was performed by Anthony Davidson and the witnesses were William Wimbetton and Walter Waldon. Milton is approximately 7km north-west of Milford. A reference for a baptism, in Milton, Hampshire, of a Sarah Gibbs, on the 1st July, 17811 has been located. This reference indicates Sarah was the daughter of William and Mary Gibs. Situated in south-west Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest, and roughly 8km from Pennington and 4.8 from Milford, Milton is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ‘Mildeltune’ and literally means ‘Middle Farm’. Like many of the neighbouring parishes, it contains several disused gravel-pits, clay-pits and brick fields, evidence of Roman occupation has been found, and excavations in 1956 revealed dwellings from the 9th to the 12th Century. There has been a chapel or church recorded in Milton since the 1260’s, and in 1270 a note in church records lists moneys owed to the Bishop of Winchester. By 1403 There was a field in Milton called ‘Church Furlong’ indicating that Milton had progressed from having a chapel to being a village with a church, believed to have been dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. It is the only church in Hampshire named after the Saint, and from the 14th Century there was an annual fair held in Milton on St Magdalene’s day, July 22nd. In 1832 the original church was pulled down, leaving just the tower standing, the church was then rebuilt with a brick nave and chancel. It would seem the couple moved to Milford soon after the marriage as the Milford parish records indicate a son William was born there in March 1803, unfortunately these records also indicate he died in 1806. Milford records also suggest William and Sarah had several more children baptized in the parish: John 1805; William 1807; Philip 1809-1815; Rebecca 1811-1812; Rebecca 1813, she married William Ainsworth 1839, George 1815; and Philip 1818. Located in the southern most reaches of Hampshire, Milford was an established Saxon settlement, then called Melleford, the name simply meaning ‘mill ford’. By the time it was recorded in the Domesday Book it appears there were two separate estates with a total annual value to the Lord of £1.2s. Later three separate manors were evolved and were eventually known by the names of Milford Montagu, Milford Barnes, and Milford Baddesley. Until early this century Milford was essentially an agricultural settlement centred on the village green and the High Street, although salt manufacture was also common in the area. The first church was probably built of timber around 1080 and replaced by a stone building in the 12th Century, remnants of which can be seen today. The village green is all that remains of the ancient common land but the manor, vicarage and mill buildings still exist although none retain their original functions. We find William and Sarah in Milford on the 1841 Census4. Living at Lymore, William is recorded as a Thatcher, age 60, Sarah is also recorded as age 60, both are said to have been born in the County. It is interesting to note that there are several other Rickman families in adjoining houses, possibly a brother Thomas, and sons John and George. The in-laws of daughter Rebecca live only doors away, and Rebecca and her family also live in close proximity. Lymore is a small village in the Parish of Milford, approximately 1km north of Milford and 4km south-south-west of Lymington. The earliest settlement in the Lymington area was at the Iron Age fort at Buckland known as 'The Buckland Rings'. Dated from the 4th Century, the hill and ditches of this fort still remain. The Saxons then founded a settlement, called ‘Limen tun’ in the 6th Century. ‘Tun’ meaning farm or hamlet and ‘Limen’ is believed to be a Celtic name meaning Elm River or maybe marshy area, so Lymington became known as the village by the marshy river. William died at Lymore Common, Milford on the 27th April, 18485, age 67, his occupation was given as Thatcher4. John Rickman is recorded as the Informant and was present at his death, no relationship is recorded but it is believed John was William and Sarah's son, the 1841 Census shows John and his family living in an adjoining house to William. The cause of William's death is recorded as Dropsy. An old-fashioned term, Dropsy was often used to account for death and described swelling of the body, caused by kidney or heart disease. Today Dropsy would be called congestive heart failure, and is an accumulation of fluid around the heart. William was buried in the Milford Parish Churchyard on the 26th April 18485. According the 1851 Census4, Sarah is living in the household of William Rickman Ainsworth and his wife Rebecca (nee Rickman). On this Census Sarah is age 70 and recorded as born in Milford, a Widow, and the relationship is given as Grandmother. However, it is believed Sarah is Rebecca's mother and the grandmother of her and William Rickman Ainsworth's children. Sarah is recorded as the Informant on Rebecca Ainsworth's death certificate in 1856, but the relationship is not record4. In the 1861 Census4, Sarah is recorded as still living in the house of William Rickman Ainsworth, but is now recorded as a Lodger, a Widow, age 80, her birthplace is recorded as Milton, Hampshire. Sarah died on the 15th February, 1865, at Lymore, Milford5. She was 84years of age, and she was buried in the Milford Parish Church on the 19th February, 18656. Her death certificate shows she was the Widow of William Rickman, Thatcher, and the cause of death is said to have been Old Age. The Informant was Elizabeth Plowman who was present at the death. No relationship was recorded, but it is believed Elizabeth may have been a neighbour, as in the 1861 Census4 an Elizabeth Plowman and family lived next door to where Sarah was living.
References: 1 FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/search/ 2 Hampshire Record Office 8M56/220 3 Parish Marriage Record via Hampshire Record Office 4 UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 5 Death Certificate 6 Parish Burial Record via Hampshire Record Office
Other Sources: Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ Family History Monthly Issue 32 (2008) FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/search/ Find my Past https://www.findmypast.co.uk/ Milford on Sea History http://www.milfordonsea.org.uk/history Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org
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