Hartgrove

Hartgrove

Although considered to be part of the parish of Fontmell Magna for civil purposes; during the 19^th Century Hartgrove was originally a division of East Orchard, which itself was a chapelry of Iwerne Minster. The scattered settlement, the irregular field shapes and the existence of Blackven Common, all indicate late occupation of the area, which is supported by the fact that the name Hartgrove does not appear in documents until as late as 1254.
Hartgrove was once a tithing of the Manor of Fontmell Magna, with its own appointed Tithingman reporting to the Manor Court, which sat during the spring and autumn each year at Manor Farm in Fontmell Magna (see the article on the Manor Court). As with most of the local place names, the word tithing is of Saxon origin and was the name given to a group of ten families or homesteads and it is interesting to note that to this day, there are still ten farms in Hartgrove.
The tithing of Hartgrove is bounded on the east by the Stirchel Brook and adjoins Fontmell Magna parish by a narrow strip that is only some 350 yards (322 metres) wide, which runs north from the road bridge at Woodbridge. Hartgrove is some 4½ miles north to south and 4 miles east to west and encloses an area of some 11,500 acres. Geographically it would make much more sense for Hartgrove to form a northern tithing and part of the parish of East Orchard.
The southern boundary of Hartgrove runs east to west and the ordnance survey maps show that Hartgrove Farm, situated on the left of the road as you rise up the hill from Woodbridge, is actually in the parish of East Orchard. So too is the old Victorian school building situated at the junction with the Shaftesbury to Gillingham road, the two old Methodist Chapels and the houses next to them in what is called Newtown.
Most of the population of Hartgrove has always lived either in the farms or in the associated labourers’ cottages.

The 1901 census records a population of just 92, which had risen to 107 in 1911. Although he took a slightly different route in 1911, it is probably best to follow in the footsteps of the census enumerator in order to provide a picture of just who those people were, where they lived, their occupations and the changes that took place during the 10 year period, etc.

Although the people of Hartgrove lived in the parish of Fontmell Magna, because of the distance from Fontmell village and its amenities they sent their children to East Orchard school and many of them worshipped in the Weslyan Chapels situated at Newtown in East Orchard.
The school was not good and attendances were poor. On the 10^th July 1900 the school log book records that ‘The attendance of the boys is still wretchedly low owing to the haymaking’.
Poor attendance was a constant theme and not only during the haymaking period. In March 1901 it was recorded that the previous quarter’s average attendance was 54 out of a total of 68 on roll (79%). Attendance also suffered at the time of Shroton Fair in September and, on the 22^nd September 1902, the log book records ‘Very poor attendance. Most older boys gone nutting in Fontmell woods’.
On the 16^th July 1902 as a result of a school inspection, Her Majesty’s Inspector reported that ‘The children appear to be excused attendance at 13 years; this is quite wrong’. However, on referring to bye laws it was found that, with one exception, all the older boys engaged in the haymaking, were exempt from attendance until the 1^st September, being over 11 and having made 250 attendances since the previous 1^st September.
On the 4^th December 1906 His Majesty’s inspectors gave a very poor report, leading to a formal warning that the school will be removed from the list of those in receipt of annual grant at the end of 12 months if there was no improvement to a satisfactory level of efficiency. They did survive a further inspection in October, 1907.

Little Hartgrove Farm

Starting at Woodbridge road bridge and walking up the hill, the enumerator took the first turning on the right and visited Little Hartgrove Farm. In 1901 the Farm was occupied by the Jesse family as follows:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Richard J. Jesse	Head	46	Farmer	Fontmell
Mary Jesse	Wife	41		Shapwick, Dorset.
Richard H. Jesse	Son	15		“
John Jesse	Son	12		Fontmell
George Jesse	“	11		Melbury Abbas
Harold B. Jesse	“	9		Fontmell
Mary B. Jesse	Daughter	9		“
Elden F. Jesse	“	6		“

 

Western Gazette – 23^rd November 1900
Richard J. Jesse of Hartgrove won first prize for 12 dessert apples at the 11^th annual Chrysanthemum, Fruit, Flower and Industrial Show.
On the 4^th June 1901, a Diocesian school report found that, among others, the following answered well: Elden Jesse, Harold Jesse and Mary Jesse.
On the 20^th October 1902, having reached the age of 13, George Jesse left school.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Mary Jesse (Widow)	Head	51	Farmer	Shapwick, Dorset.
John Jesse	Son	22	Farm worker	Fontmell
*George Jesse	“	21	“	Melbury Abbas
Harold B. Jesse	“	19	“	Fontmell
Mary B. Jesse	Daughter	19		“
Thomas F. Jesse	Son	17	Farm worker	“
Elden F. Jesse	“	16	Scholar	“

Richard John Jesse died on the 4^th February 1907, aged only about 52, but the family continued to live and manage the farm. His widow, Mary Ann, obtained probate and was left the sum of £362-3s (£38,443 in present money value) and was no doubt well supported by their children.
* On the 8^th June 1908 George Jesse enlisted for 4 years with the Dorset Yeomanry. It is recorded that he was 18 years & 8 months old and 5’10” tall. He had a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes.
He re-enlisted to fight in the 1^st World War. He married Ida Dibben at Dorchester during early 1916 and then, in December, embarked for France, landing in Le Havre on the 10^th December 1916. On the 12^th May 1917 he was badly wounded in a gas attack and 9 days later was shipped back to England.

While recovering in Hospital in Cheshire, George wrote to Ida. Extracts from his letter are as follows:-

My Darling Ida,
…..…Am still having medicine three times a day and still on light food. ……. Can eat alright, then afterwards be sick and bring it all up………. Wish they would give me two months home…….. because I could do a little good home, although I don’t feel up to a lot of hard work. I could do your milking or drive the mowing machine. I know dearest how very hard you have to work……… Who would have thought that this terrible war was going to last all this time. …….I am sure one can never explain what it is like…….. I had a letter from my friend Harry Smart……. They had a terrible time after I left them. He said all the boys wished to be remembered to me and that there were only six left…… It is always worst to hold a trench than it is to take….. I expect the Huns gave them a good shelling.
Will close with all my love. Yours ever loving, George.

He was recorded as living at Blackven Farm (See below). It appears that he recovered from his gas injuries and was transferred to serve out his time with the Agricultural Labour Company until he was finally demobilised in February, 1919. He was awarded the British War and the Victory medals.

Hartgrove Hill
Moving on from Little Hartgrove Farm, the enumerator would have come to a labourer’s cottage, occupied in 1901 as follows:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Herbert Lemon	Head	37	Cattleman on farm	East Orchard
Elizabeth Lemon	Wife	35		Bourton, Dorset

 

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Herbert Lemon	Head	47	Cowman	East Orchard
Elizabeth Lemon	Wife (16 yrs)	44		Bourton, Dorset
Mary Marshall (Widow)	Mother-in-Law	65

By 1911 Elizabeth’s widowed Mother had come to live with them. Sadly she died just 3½ years later, not at home with her daughter, but in the Union (workhouse) infirmary, Shaftesbury. She was buried in Fontmell.

Tucker’s farm (Now called Yew Tree Farm)
Continuing north the enumerator now came to Tucker’s Farm, with only one occupant in 1901 and two occupants in 1911:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Alice Z. Rebbeck	Head	51	Farm occupier/employer	Margarets Marsh

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Alice Rebbeck (Widow)	Head	61	Farmer	Margarets Marsh
Elizabeth A. Reeves	Single	36	Helper	Bristol

 

Binegar

The enumerator now walked northwards towards Binegar Farm and its associated labourer’s cottages, the occupants of the cottages were as follows:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
James Martin	Head	38	Thatcher	East Orchard
Christina Martin	Wife	34		Tarrant Rushton
Gertrude F. Martin	Daughter	3		Fontmell
Edward J. Martin	Son	1		“

On the 19^th May 1903 a Diocesian report mentioned Gertrude Martin for having ‘Answered well’.

Western Gazette – 30^th December 1904
The Gazette reported the death of Christina, wife of James Martin, on the 21^st December at the age of only 38.

Western Gazette – 24^th March 1905
James Martin of Hartgrove, a working man with 3 children, advertised for a housekeeper.
A complete change of occupants took place during the next 10 years. James Martin appears to have moved to Fairview Cottage on Hartgrove Hill.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
William Compton	Head	47	Carter on farm	St.James, Shaftesbury
Fanny Compton	Wife	46		East Orchard
Sidney Compton	Son	15	Cattleman on farm	Fontmell
Ada Compton	Daughter	11		“
Eva Compton	“	7		“
Beatrice Compton	“	5		“

Binegar Farm

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Alfred Bennett	Head	42	Farmer	Hartgrove
Caroline Bennett	Wife	29		Shillingstone
Louisa Bennett	Daughter	7		Hartgrove
Adelaide Bennett	“	1		“
Bert Bennett	Son	5 months		“
Millie Fisher	Servant	17	Domestic Servant	Child Okeford

During the intervening period, the farm changed hands and was occupied by the Thomas Jesse and his sister, Sarah.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Thomas Jesse	Head (Single)	55	Farmer	Melbury Abbas
Sarah Jesse	Sister	59	Housekeeper	“

Sadly, Sarah died just a couple of years later and was buried in Fontmell on 27^th November 1912.

 

Gupples Farm
Heading on towards Shaftesbury, the enumerator now visits Gupples Farm, which was occupied by the Rebbeck family.

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
James Rebbeck	Head	26	Farmer	Fontmell
Louisa Rebbeck	Wife (2 years)	30		“
John J. Rebbeck	Son	11 mths		“
Bessie Francis	Servant	20	Domestic Servant	Manston

Western Gazette – 3^rd March 1905
Mr Rebbeck advertised that a girl (respectable) was wanted to help mistress with housework and children.

Western Gazette – 28^th February 1908
At the Shaftesbury prize Barrener sale, Mr Rebbeck of Hartgrove won 2^nd prize for his single barrener.
On the 11^th May 1908 Richard Rebbeck was admitted to East Orchard school.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
James Rebbeck	Head	36	Farmer	Fontmell
Louisa Rebbeck	Wife (12 years)	40		“
John J. Rebbeck	Son	10	Scholar	“
Alice M. Rebbeck	Daughter	9		“
Richard Rebbeck	Son	8		“
Reginald Rebbeck	“	7		“
Emma Rebbeck	Daughter	2		“
Infant (not named)		1 month		“
Caroline Perkins	Servant (single)	26	Servant	Shaftesbury

 

Blackmore (Blackven) Common

Travelling on to the end of the lane, the enumerator turned left along Blackmore/Blackven Common towards Sturminster Newton. On the common several families lived in cottages as follows:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Uninhabited cottage

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Henry Jeans	Head	56	Carter on farm	Margarets Marsh
Jane Jeans	Wife	57		West Orchard
Lucy Jeans	Daughter	13		Margarets Marsh

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Edward Martin	Head (widower)	76	Thatcher	Stour Provost
Ellen Martin	Daughter	45	Housekeeper	East Orchard

Sadly Ellen reached the end of her life in the County Asylum at Charminster near Dorchester. She was buried in Fontmell on the 22^nd December 1916.

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Gilbert Foot	Head	21	Carter on farm	Manston
Sarah Foot	Wife	22		Clapton, Somerset.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Elizabeth Edwards	Head (Widow)	66		West Buckland, Somerset
Margaret M. Edwards	Daughter	31	Housekeeper on Farm	Piddlehinton

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Sidney Crocker	Head	52	Agricultural Labourer	Stalbridge
Annie Crocker	Wife (17 years)	53		Tarrant Gunville
Clara Crocker	Daughter	24		Hinton St.Mary
Harry Crocker	Son	21	Agricultural Labourer	“
Ernest Crocker	“	19	“	“
Sidney Crocker	“	17	“	“
Edith Crocker	Daughter	13	Scholar	“
Muriel Crocker	“	10	“	“

It seems that the Crocker family came to live here in the spring of 1904, as their children, Ernest, Sidney, Edith and Muriel were admitted to East Orchard school on the 7^th March.

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Frederick Sharpe	Head	46	Agricultural Labourer	Compton Abbas
Bessie Sharpe	Wife (17 years)	44		Shaftesbury
Charles Sharpe	Son	14	Scholar	“
Robert Denleigh	Father in Law	70	Widower	“

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Walter Andrews	Head (Widower)	68	Farmer pensioner	Farrington, Dorset
Lillian Andrews	Daughter	26	Housekeeper	Marnhull

Four properties which all had a change of occupancy during the intervening 10 years.

Blatchford’s Farm (Today called Blackberry Farm)

This old farm was built about 1600. It was a one storey farm house with attics, rubble walls and tiled roof. The front was refaced in recent times and the building fitted with new doors and windows. Inside, the middle room was sub-divided by modern partitions and had a nine panel ceiling with four intersecting beams, and a large open fireplace.
In 1901 it was occupied by the Harding family as follows:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Gilbert Harding	Head	52	Farmer	Sturminster Newton
Frances Harding	Wife	50		“
Gilbert Harding	Son	23	Carpenter	“
Maggie Harding	Daughter	22	Draper’s Assistant	“

Gilbert died at the age of only 54 and was buried in Fontmell on the 22^nd May 1906.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Edgar E. Roberts	Head	40	Farmer	East Knoyle, Wilts
Bertha M. Roberts	Wife (14 years)	45		Sandy, Beds
Thomas E. Roberts	Son	12	Scholar	London
Harold M. Roberts	“	11	“	Semley, Wilts
Arthur C. Roberts	“	6	“	Nevendon, Essex

This was a family that experienced much tragedy and loss. Thomas and Harold both enlisted in the army when war broke out. Thomas was very severely wounded in the leg and was discharged as unfit for further military service.
Harold joined the 5^th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was killed in action in Flanders on the 25^th September 1918, when aged only 19, and only 7 weeks before the end of the war. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, together with over 20,000 others who have no known grave.
Western Gazette – 26^th September 1919.
Harold’s parents commemorated him with ‘In loving memory of Harold Martin, dearly loved son of Mr & Mrs E. Roberts of Blachford’s Farm, Hartgrove, who gave his life for his country, 25^th September 1918, aged 19 years’.
Aged only 26, Arthur died and was buried at Fontmell on the 25^th June 1931.

 

Cowgrove Farm
In 1972, this was an 18^th century two storey farmhouse with brick walls and a thatched roof. It consists of 3 bays with a central doorway and plain sashed windows. The fireplace was set against the rear wall.

 

In 1901 it was occupied by the Brown family as follows:-

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Samuel Brown	Head	38	Farmer	Lydlinch, Dorset
Rose M. Brown	Wife	30		Nunney, Somerset
Annie E. Brown	Daughter	5		Fontmell
Mabel R. Brown	“	4		“
Bessie A. Brown	“	2		“
Ethel M. Brown	“	1 month		“
Flora E. Symes	Servant	13	Domestic Servant	Sturminster Newton

 

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Samuel Brown	Head	48	Farmer	Lydlinch, Dorset
Rose M. Brown	Wife	40		Nunney, Somerset
Annie E. Brown	Daughter	15	Scholar	Fontmell
Mabel R. Brown	“	14	“	“
Bessie A. Brown	“	12	“	“
Ethel M. Brown	“	10	“	“
John J. Brown	Son	8		“
Edith J. Brown	Daughter	7		“
Sidney G. Brown	Son	6		“

 

Fairview Cottage

At the top of the hill on the left is Fairview Cottage where James Martin lived in 1911, having moved from Binegar.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
James Martin	Head (Widower)	48	Thatcher	East Orchard
Ellen Martin	Sister	54		“
Gertrude Martin	Daughter	13	Scholar	Fontmell
Edward Martin	Son	11	“	“
Winifred Martin	“	8	“	“

 

Bleaks

Now the enumerator returns to the Shaftesbury to Sturminster Road and turns left towards Bleaks Hill.

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Frank Cosser	Head	27	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell
Emily Cosser	Sister	35	Dressmaker	“

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Sarah Stacey	Head (widow)	69		Fontmell
Emily F.J. Stacey	Daughter	28	Glover	Hinton St.Mary
David J.D. Hatcher	Grandson	18	General Labourer	Fontmell

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Edwin T. Frampton (Tom)	Head	38	Cattleman on farm	Fontmell
Priscilla Frampton	Wife (10 years)	34		Compton Abbas
Flora K. Frampton	Daughter	10		Fontmell
Beatrice E. Frampton	“	8		“
*Frederick G. Frampton	Son	5		“
Bertram J. Frampton	“	2		“

Western Gazette – 16^th November 1900
Tom Frampton was summoned to court for assaulting Walter Abbot at Cann (at the Black Horse Inn). He was angered because Abbot pressed him for money owed, in front of his employer. Frampton struck Abbot 3 times, knocking him down. He was fined £2 or one month in prison in default. Frampton said during the confrontation “If you want to summon me, summon me for something, and not nothing at all”.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Frank Cosser	Head	36	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
George Moore	Head	78	Agricultural Labourer	Margarets Marsh
Alice M.M. Moore	Wife (11 years)	68		London

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Edwin T. Frampton	Head	48	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell
Priscilla Frampton	Wife (20 years)	44		Compton Abbas
Bertram J. Frampton	Son	13	Scholar	Fontmell
Arthur S. Frampton	“	6	“	“

Here the only change is that the Stacey family have been replaced by the Moore family.

It is recorded that on the 13^th October 1906 Bertram Frampton is absent from school with a broken leg.

*Frederick G. Frampton.
By 1911, Frederick had moved to live with his uncle and Aunt at Harpitts Farm in East Stour. He enlisted with the 5^th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment at the start of the 1^st World War and soon found himself in the thick of the fighting in Mesopotamia. He was one of 184 casualties suffered by the battalion in an attack on the Turkish trenches. He has no known grave and was posthumously awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Victory medals. He was aged 20.

KILLED IN ACTION IN THE PERSIAN GULF
(Western Gazette 1^st September 1916)

Mr and Mrs Thomas Frampton have received notification that their eldest son, Private F.G. Frampton (Photo) of the Wiltshire Regiment, has been killed in action at the Persian Gulf on April 5^th last. This makes the seventh hero from this village that has yielded up his life in this great and terrible war, and much sympathy is expressed throughout the neighbourhood for the sorrowing relatives of these heroes who have fallen whilst fighting for England’s honour.

Lower Hartgrove

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
James Knott	Head	81	Own means	Sturminster Newton
Ann Knott	Wife	77		Wincanton, Somerset

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Fred Padfield	Head	26	Agricultural Labourer	Margarets Marsh
Ellen Padfield	Wife (1 year)	26		Stour Row

Green Farm
Now on towards Margarets Marsh and Green Farm, a 17^th century farm house of two storeys and attic, coursed rubble walls and a thatched roof. 

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Charles Foyle	Head	35	Farmer & Dealer	Kington Magna
Annie Foyle	Wife (16 years)	35		“
Jennie Foyle	Daughter	16
Daisy Foyle	“	9		“
Charles Foyle	Son	6		“
Percy Foyle	“	4		“

On the 29^th April 1901 Percy Foyle was admitted to East Orchard school and, on 4^th June 1901 a Diocesan school report found that he ‘Answered well’. In a further Diocesan report on the 19^th May 1903 both Charles and Percy were mentioned for having ‘Answered well’.
Violet Foyle admitted to the school on the 11^th May 1908.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Charles Foyle	Head	45	Farmer	Kington Magna
Annie Foyle	Wife (26 years)	45		“
Daisy Foyle	Daughter	19		“
Charles Foyle	Son	16	Farm Lad	“
Percy Foyle	“	14	“	“
Violet Foyle	Daughter	8	Scholar	Hartgrove
Elsie Foyle	“	7	“	“
Kenneth Foyle	Son	5		“
Cyril Foyle	“	3		“

During the 1^st World War, Percy Foyle enlisted with the Queens Own Dorset Yeomanry (along with George Jesse and other men of Fontmell. Percy saw action in Gallipoli, the middle east and was wounded in a heroic cavalry charge at Agagia against Turks and Senussi tribesman.

Western Gazette – 26^th September 1919
It was reported that Trooper Percy Foyle, late of the Dorset Yeomanry, unveiled a memorial tablet at an impressive service at the Hartgrove Weslyan Church. The tablet was to the memory of Frederick George Frampton and Maurice Burden, former church members who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War.

 

Lower Hartgrove Farm

Now the enumerator heads back along Green Lane, visiting Lower Hartgrove Farm, which was occupied by the Doggrell family in 1901.
In 1972 the original house was no longer being used as a dwelling, but for animals. It was a one storey house with dormer-windowed attics, rubble walls with ashlar dressings and a thatched roof. It was built in the 17^th century, then heightened and altered internally, probably in the 19^th century.

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Noah Doggrell	Head	56	Farmer	Camborne, Cornwall
Sarah M. Doggrell	Wife (25 years)	46		Whitings Farm, Melbury Abbas
Joseph J. Doggrell	Son	24	Farmer’s son	Fontmell
Elizabeth Doggrell	Daughter	21		“
Agnes S. Doggrell	“	19		Lower Hartgrove Farm

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Noah Doggrell	Head	66	Farmer	Camborne, Cornwall
Sarah M. Doggrell	Wife (35 years)	56		Whitings Farm, Melbury Abbas
Agnes S. Doggrell	Daughter	29	Dairywoman	Lower Hartgrove Farm

 

Noah Doggrell died on the 22^nd August 1913 and was buried in Fontmell. His widow Sarah obtained probate. His estate was valued at £867-17s-6d (£86,471) in present day values.

 

Blackven Farm
Now the enumerator made his way back to the Shaftesbury road, turning left along what the census refers to as Blackmore Common (probably Blackven Common) and Blackven Farm.

At the time of the first Glyn sale in 1919 there were ten active farms in Hartgrove. The largest was Blackvenn, described in the sale brochure as ‘A superior dairy and grazing holding of 202 acres’. The house was ‘in the Elizabethan style, with mullioned windows, five bedrooms, drawing and dining rooms, kitchen and scullery’.

 

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Mark S. Tucker	Head	35	Farmer	West Harptree, Somerset
Mary A. Tucker	Wife	29		Cranmore, Somerset
Ethel E.M. Tucker	Daughter	5		Wedmore, Somerset
Dorothy D.M. Tucker	“	3		Fontmell
Ernest S. Tucker	Son	1		“
Lillian M. Warren	Servant	77	Domestic servant	Marnhull

In the 1901 census, William Jesse was the Miller and Farmer living at nearby Woodbridge Mill. He died at the age of about 47, on the 21^st December 1905, leaving estate that was valued at the considerable sum of £1,397-12s-3d (£148,350 in present money values). His place of residence was given as Blackven Farm and probate was obtained by his son, Reginald James Jesse.
What happened to his son Reginald James is unknown, but it seems that his daughter, Daisy, took over the management of Blackven Farm, as the 1911 census records the following.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Daisy Jesse (Single)	Head	19	Dairymaid (Employer)	Fontmell
Percy Jesse	Brother	16	Farm worker	“
Charles Jesse	“	13	Scholar	“
Henrietta E. Sparke		53	Housekeeper	Chinnock, Somerset

 On the 21^st September 1900 Percy Jesse had been admitted to East Orchard school.

 

Kitt Hill
Now back to the Shaftesbury road and left up to the settlement on Kitt Hill.

1901 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
William Gray	Head	61	Agricultural Labourer	Cann
Emma Gray	Wife	56		East Orchard
Bessie Gray	Daughter	23		Compton Abbas
Henry Atwell	Boarder	25	Agricultural Labourer	Wincanton, Somerset

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Robert Rideout	Head	75	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell
Emily A. Rideout	Wife (44 years)	67		West Orchard
Mary J. Rideout	Daughter	36		Fontmell
Henry Rideout	Son	33	Flour Mill Carter	“
Alfred Beckley	Boarder	23	Flour Miller	Dukesford, Wilts

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Robert Rideout	Head	75	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell
Emily A. Rideout	Wife (44 years)	67		West Orchard
Mary J. Rideout	Daughter	36		Fontmell
Henry Rideout	Son	33	Flour Mill Carter	“
Alfred Beckley	Boarder	23	Flour Miller	Dukesford, Wilts

 

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Ann Tucker	Head (widow)	71		Shaftesbury
Edwin Tucker	Single	39	Cattleman on farm	Fontmell
Kate Tucker	Daughter	28		“

Anne Tucker died and was buried on the 25^th April 1904.

1911 Census

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Alfred Young	Head	45	Agricultural Labourer	East Orchard
Caroline Young	Wife (24 years)	45		Sturminster Newton
Elizabeth Young	Daughter	20		Cann
*James Young	Son	18	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell
Alfred Young	“	16	“	“
William Young	“	14	“	“
Rose Young	Daughter	11	Scholar	“

It seems that the Young family came to Kitt Hill in the spring of 1901, as Alfred and Mary were admitted to East Orchard school in April; then William was admitted on the 8^th July 1901.
Caroline died at the age of only 49 and was buried on the 28^th August 1914.
* James Young married Beatrice Brown at Basingstoke on the 12^th October 1914. They had a son who was born on the 24^th October 1915 and who they named Frederick James.
On the 14^th February 1916 James enlisted with the 2^nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex regiment. His service record shows that he was only 5’-2½” tall and 9½ stones. His occupation was stated to be a Carter and he was living near Petersfield in Hampshire.
In June, 1916, he left for France and, just two months later on the 20^th August he was killed in action on the Somme; aged 23. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Parish Magazine announced his death, stating ‘He left this parish some years ago, and another claims him for their roll, but our deep sympathy goes out to his widow and his Father’.
His widow remarried in 1918.

1911 Census (continued)

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Robert Rideout	Head	86	Pensioner	Fontmell
Emily A. Rideout	Wife (54 years)	76	“	West Orchard
Henry Rideout	Son	42	Farm Carter	East Orchard
Fanny Rideout	Daughter in Law	33		Weymouth
Emily Rideout	Grand daughter	6		Fontmell
Robert Rideout	Grandson	4		“
William Rideout	“	1		“
Matilda Moore	Cousin (single)	67	Farmer’s Domestic	West Orchard

Emily Ann died at the age of 81 and was buried in Fontmell on 30^th December 1915.

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Melina Rideout	Head (single)	82	Farmer’s Domestic	Fontmell

Poor Melina died in the Shaftesbury Workhouse and was buried in Fontmell on 20^th March 1917.

Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Where born
Edwin Tucker	Single	49	Agricultural Labourer	Fontmell

 

Author: Dave Hardiman