Seamark Women
Women of all generations have had
to suffer the scars of war, Civil, European or World Wars.
For
Bedfordshire women life was no different, the Lace Making industry of the
1800’s did offer a trade. The lace making industry in Bedfordshire was at its
peak circa 1850 to 1890 and went into decline due to;
Women in Britain were not given the
Vote until the early 1900’s. It is reported in the Bedfordshire papers in May
1909, that at a meeting organised by James Seamark for Keir Hardie “The Boo Boys” sung Rule Britannia during
the meeting and smashed windows all the way to Bedford train station trying to
find Hardie after discussing Labour Theories and the Right for Women to vote.
Imagine husband going off to defend his country and your are left at home looking after his off-spring, along with the rest of England wondering when the French would attack, knock on the door and you are told you are to be evicted from not only your home but back to the last village you came from – That’s what happened and Phylis and her four year old daughter, Elizabeth, sent packing. Imagine the outcry this would cause today, whilst we take Social Security as granted during the English Poor Law Settlement period you were at the mercy of the local poor fund. The basic rule was if you lived in the settlement for less than a year, no funds meant eviction to the previous settlement.
From records held in Dorset, Fordington St George: Matthew Seamark, son of Matthew and Phillis, 1 April 1814, 13th L Dragoons. The reference to '13th L Dragoons' is the 'occupation' of the father. Matthew is believed to have died 16th April 1814.
The following child was also born
to a Matthew Seamark in Dorset during the same period.
SEAMARK, John Christening
Gender: Male
Christening
Date: 6
Dec 1812 Recorded in: Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England
Father: Matthew SEAMARK
Mother: Sarah
Source: FHL
Film 1239212 Dates: 1731 - 1815
Ann emigrated to Australia with her husband George Wright, No records have been found at the Bedfordshire or Buckinghamshire Records Office regarding the emigration.
From discussions with archivists around this time people on Poor Relief could apply for assisted passage. If assistance were applied for, a person of standing would escort individuals to Parish or County boundary. The individuals would then make their own way to a port. This system worked based on the theory that a person could not just turn up at a settlement and live especially if requiring parish relief as you would be removed back to the previous Parish of abode.
Most Bedfordian’s in the 30 something plus year range have spent a night in the Old Bedford Poorhouse, based on that the Poorhouse became a General Hospital. The Poorhouse is now North Wing Hospital [Kimbolton Rd] and is situated adjacent to the Rugby Ground [Goldington Road], in fact the Rugby Ground was leased from the Poorhouse
When Louisa entered the Bedford Poorhouse around 1870-1871
she was with her full family, based on the 1871 census.
John
Seamark , 26, Labourer,
Pricilla Seamark [nee Arkitt], 31, Lacemaker
Harry Seamark, 9
James Seamark, 7
Louisa Seamark, 3
Josiah Seamark 1
Harriet
Seamark 2 months, Birth Certificate confirms parents.
Life must
have been awful for Louisa as by the time of the 1881 Census she was only in
the Poorhouse with her brother Josiah. Harry had joined the Royal Artilery on
the South Coast, James had been apprenticed even Josiah was about to be
apprenticed.
From the
Poorhouse records the following has been found,
For the
half year ending March 1881 Louisa had spent 175 days at the PoorHouse
Movements
found for Louisa:
26th Aug
1876 Sent to Fever Hospital
28th Oct
1876 Returned from Fever Hospital
7th Aug
1880 Sent to Infirmary
30th Aug
1880 Returned from Infirmary
SEAMARK, Harriet
Record ID: 307278
Age:
32
Year: 1903
Comments: Aboard the S.S. "Canada" which sailed
5 August 1903; destination - London, Ontario;
note: listed on another page of entry as
Harriett Seamack
Event:
#i901: Women (and others) brought to Canada
by the United British Women's Emigration
Association.
Source: Transcribed from (film
of) original documents held
at the National Archives of Canada [Ottawa]:
Immigration Branch, RG 76, volume 45, file 1378,
part 2, reel C-4708.
Ellen Curtis of
Wootton [1859-1945], Bedfordshire married John William Seamarks [1859-1885]on
the 23 September 1878. Ellen Later married Joseph Purser in 1900.
In 1881, Living with
John and Ellen was their children Louisa Seamarks 3 - Born 1878 and William
Seamarks 7 months - Born 1881. They also had the following children Harry,
Frederick and Ellen
John's Death
Registration - John William Seamarks, Male, 26 years, Bricklayer's Laborer,
Phthisis Pulmonalis 3 years Certified by Wm J Mackie L.K.2.C.P.I, Ellen
Seamarks Widow of deceased present a the death Stevington, Registered 23 June
1885, John Sneath Registrar. Around the same time Ellen Mary Ann Seamarks aged
0 died
After the death of
John William Ellen had the following Children;
Charles Seamarks
1887, son of Charles believed to have been killed WW2 in Singapore see CWGC
Alfred George Parrott
Seamarks1891, In the Navy WW1
Herbert Henry Gilbert
Seamarks 1895, Died WW1
Joseph Purser
Seamarks 1899,
From the 1901 Census,
Ellen was living in Stevington, married to Joseph Purser Born 1862, Harrold
Bedfordshire. The Marraige took place in 1900, Bedford District.
Ellen Purser died 7th
July 1945 aged 86, Joseph Purser died 21ST August 1921 both buried at
Felmersham Bedfordshire. Also buried at Felmersham is Albert Jospeph Purser
died Dec 12 1927 son of Joseph Purser who drowned. Ellen and Joseph had the
following Children.
Frederick Purser 1900
Phyliss Purser 1902
female Purser 1904
Ellen married Joseph
Purser in 1900, Bedford District.