Hazelbury Bryan, Thomas and Sarah Stovey

Thomas STOVEY married Sarah WHITE on 24th May 1820 in Hazelbury Bryan. The witnesses were Charlotte STOVEY (sister to Thomas), John HUTCHINGS (who married Charlotte in 1822), and William GILLINGHAM.

Sarah WHITE was the eldest child of Thomas and Leah WHITE. She was baptised on 19th July 1801 in Hazelbury Bryan. There is a note beside the baptism record stating that she died Sarah STOVEY on 30th August 1838.

Thomas STOVEY's parents were John and Sarah STOVEY. For some reason the baptism record shows him and his brothers and sisters being christened as STUBBEY. Thomas STUBBEY was baptised in Hazelbury Bryan on 30th July 1797.

On 17th December 1818 Charlotte ELSWORTH, the natural daughter of Priscilla ELSWORTH and Thomas STOVEY was buried aged 2 years old. Their relationship obviously didn't last as he went on to marry Sarah.

Thomas and Sarah had a number of children including: Mary (1824 and who married Charles ROBBINS), Charlotte (1827), Susan (1830), Jane (1832), Sarah Ann (1834), Christopher (1836), George (1837) and Sarah (1838).

Baby Sarah's birth and mother Sarah's death are recorded in the registers for the same quarter of 1838 so it looks as though she died in childbirth.

On 14th September 1840 Thomas STOVEY was sent to Dorchester Gaol for committing a misdemeanour. In the quarter sessions the record states that with Thomas HOLT and Henry BUSHROD – let them be severally imprisoned in the House of Correction to hard labour for two years.
The Dorchester Gaol record is as follows:
Thomas STOVEY, alias STUBBY.
Crime: Misdemeanour.
Number of children: 12. Stature: 5' 7". Hair: Brown. Eyes: Grey. Complexion: Fair.
Marks: Cut to the left side of throat. A cut above bottom joint of right finger, left hand. Another cut just below the middle joint of the middle finger.
Behaviour in prison: disorderly.

The Register of all Persons Charged with Indictable Offences has the following logged:- Thomas STOVEY – age 43 – Assault with intent to ravish. To prison for 2 years.

In the 1841 census Thomas was recorded in Dorchester Gaol and his children were in the Sturminster Castle Union Workhouse. No doubt the only place for them when their mother had died and their father was in gaol.

Thomas died in 1843 in Fifehead Neville.