It was the marriage of John (alias Charles) DEWFOL to Rhoda BAKER which brought these two families together. The story of John DEWFOL's life however has proved particularly difficult to unravel, not least of all because he changed his name around about the age of 20 to Charles DUFALL, married Rhoda and raised a family under that name, only reverting to his birth name in the 1860's after he had left Dorchester to live in Surrey. I have allowed myself a small amount of speculation as to why some of these events occurred as they did, but religiously documented each twist and turn of the story to allow other researchers to delve into the hard facts surrounding his life. We know for certain that he used both names from a series of probate records which were sworn on oath before the Principal Probate Court, but we are getting ahead of ourselves so I will start at the beginning.

NOTE:- His early life is complicated not only because he changed his name but also because there were several John and Matthew DEWFOL's in Dorchester at this time and some are of a similar age so careful tracking is necessary. First we know that his fathers name was Matthew DEWFOL as its on the marriage certificate for his 2nd marriage to Mary Leach GRAHAM. We also know from the 1851 Census when he was using the name Charles Dufall that he had staying with him a Matthew Dufall who was his unmarried younger brother aged 45 (i.e. born 1806) when he was described as 'previously an innkeeper'. It is important not to confuse this Matthew with the one living in Hospital Street Dorchester in the same census aged 46 described as a 'Post Boy' and married with children. Working backwards to the 1841 Census we can easily find and eliminate Matthew the post boy as he was still married with some of the same children. The 1841 Census also shows Matthew the unmarried brother living with their father, also called Matthew who was then aged between 70 and 74 years old, his spinster sister Mary (Ann) and his widowed sister Susan Biles. This string of events has enabled us to identify his immediate Family which is detailed in the next section.

All Saints Church Dorchester
Where John (alias Charles) DEWFOL was baptised 22nd Feb 1801)

Their father Matthew DEWFOL was married to Mary AUSTIN in All Saints Church Dorchester on 13th April 1795, presumably by the rector the Rev. Thomas Bryar (1754-1818) who served there from 1774 until his death in 1818. They lived at 20 High West Street where Matthew was the innkeeper of the Royal Oak ⁽²⁾ and they managed to produce a family of six children, on whom I give brief details below. His wife Mary pre-deceased him in 1839 being buried at All Saints on 3rd Oct 1839 when her age was given as 68⁽³⁾ and this seems to have been about the time that he passed on care of the Royal Oak to Frederick Bennett, a farmer, and his wife Susan who took on running the tavern. Matthew was about 70 then so it was probably associated with him taking a back seat and passing control of their business to his son Matthew as John (alias Charles) had already left to live with his wife Rhoda. The 1841 Census shows him as a Beerhouse keeper living at Back High West Street in Dorchester. Matthew DEWFOL senior died in 1843⁽⁴⁾ being buried at All Saints on 4th September that year, and Pigots directory for 1844 shows his son Matthew junior as still living there and running a business as a retailer of beer. Matthew senior's children were:-

(1) Susannah DEWFOL (1796-1849) she was baptised on 1st April 1796 in All Saints church and as far as we know worked in her youth with her father in the Royal Oak. Known locally as Susan she married rather late by the standards of the day at the age of 33. Her husband Joseph BILES (1812-1836) was only just over half her age when they married by licence in All Saints church on 1st July 1829. He was the son of John & Edith BILES and was only 17 having been baptised at All Saints church on 31 May 1812. They had three children (a) Owen Biles (1833-1900) bap. 28 Nov 1833 St Peters; he later married & became a seaman (b) George Biles (1834-1834) 23 Aug 1834 All Saints; buried 27 Aug 1834 All Saints; and (c) Matthew George Biles (1835-1836) bap. 21 Oct 1835, and buried as George Biles aged 7 months in All Saints on 8th January 1836. Four months after the death of their youngest child, Joseph died being buried at All Saints on 15th May 1836 at the age of 24. Susan returned with her surviving son Owen to live with her father where they still were in 1841. Susan died aged 53 in the second quarter of 1849 ⁽⁵⁾.

(2) Elizabeth DEWFOL (1799-1845) was baptised on 28th July 1799 in All Saints church Dorchester. She married John GAY in the same church on 24th June 1822 and they had a daughter Maria Gay baptised there on 19th Nov 1826. John then appears to have gained temporary employment at Milbourne St Andrew, a small parish on the old road to Blandford about 8 miles from Dorchester, where he died. His body was returned to All Saints Dorchester (his place of settlement) for burial on 5th April 1829, although he is recorded in the burial register as 'John GUY age 31 brought from Milbourne St. Andrew'. Elizabeth now a widow then remarried on 17th May 1830 to a cordwainer George CREECH, a native of Dorchester. Elizabeth had two more children baptised at All Saints (Adelaide CREECH bap 12th June 1831 - buried aged 5 years 8th May 1837, and Robert William CREECH bap 6th Nov 1836. He was known by his second name of William). Elizabeth, George and her surviving son William aged 4 are shown in the 1841 Census as living in Bell Street where Elizabeth is described as a shopkeeper & George as a shoemaker. Maria her daughter by John Gay is working on her own as a 15 year old servant in Fordington. (Maria later married an agricultural labourer Edward RAWLES in 1853 ⁽⁶⁾ and raised a family initially on the heath at 11 Warren, Bere Regis. About the year 1870 Edward gained a job as a gamekeeper at Morden Park where they lived in 'decoy cottage' for many years before moving to Headley in Southampton). Elizabeth then died in 1845 (GRO 1st qtr Dorchester dist Ref 8/33). Bell Street appears from the census to be a small offshoot of Durngate Street and George is listed there as a widower in the 1851, and 1861 census returns.

(3) John (alias Charles) DEWFOL (1800-1871) bap 22nd February 1801; [the subject of this account - see next section below ]

(4) Maria DEWFOL (1803-aft 1881) baptised on 27 Nov 1803 at All Saints she had an illegitimate daughter Louisa baptised at Holy Trinity on 27 Jun 1825 whilst living with her parents at the Royal Oak Inn in the High Street. Six months later she married William Henry ROWLAND a sergeant in the 2nd Dragoon Guards from Fordington Barracks at Holy Trinity church on 7th Dec 1825. After his service in the Dragoon Guards William became a schoolteacher, as did Maria, and they travelled extensively for the times having children in Scotland and Ireland before, living in Little Stanmore Middlesex, and St Albans in Hertfordshire where her husband William died in 1868. She then went to live with her daughter Emma and her husband in Kensington before moving with them to Islington by 1881.

(5) Matthew DEWFOL (1806-1851) bap. 2nd January 1806 All Saints. He remained a bachelor working with his father initially in the Royal Oak tavern at 20 High West street until circa 1839 and then as a beer retailer at Back High West Street until after 1844. The 1851 census shows him still unmarried and living with his brother John (alias Charles) and his wife Rhoda at 7 High West street. Its possible that he was ill and they were looking after him as he is described as 'formerly an Innkeeper' rather than working in their business and he died shortly after the census being buried at Holy Trinity church on 27th June 1851 ⁽⁷⁾ at the age of 45.

(6) Mary Ann DEWFOL (1808-1895) bap. 6th Nov 1808 All Saints; She remained a spinster and worked alongside her father and brother running the Royal Oak and later their beer retailing business. When Matthew died in 1851 she was left sufficient income to be independent and lived for many years in South street Dorchester in a variety of premises and is shown in the 1851 and 1861 census returns as a retired innkeeper. In 1871 she is at 26 South Street living with another retired Innkeeper John Purkis and his wife Elizabeth. In her latter years she lived with her widowed niece Rhoda Baker WHITTINGTON in Chester where she died aged 85 in 1895 ⁽⁸⁾

The Old St Sidwells church Exeter
Link to picture showing its destruction - Exeter blitz 4th May 1942
.

The Baker Family - Rhoda's Parentage & Siblings


St Luke's Church Cannock where Rhoda was baptised
© Copyright Geoff Pick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Abraham BAKER senior ( c1753-1806) & Elizabeth HOBBINS (1768-1831)


Rhoda's father was Abraham BAKER senior (c1753-1806), a dealer in earthenware and he had married her mother Elizabeth HOBBINS (1768-1831) on 14th Sep 1783 at Acton-Trussell and Bednall in Staffordshire ⁽¹⁰⁾. They settled at Cheslynhay which is situated near Cannock on the old turnpike road between Walsall & Stafford. Six of their seven children were baptised in the local parish church of St Lukes at Cannock between the years 1785 and 1799. St Lukes is an ancient structure still standing today. A chapel is thought to have stood on this site from as early as the year 1100 and it appears to have been a parish church from at least 1293. It has undergone many repairs over the years, with one major restoration having been undertaken in 1753 when the south side of the church was rebuilt. Staffordshire naturally has plenty of clay, lead, salt, and coal which made it a natural place for pottery production. The potteries used to centre around six separate towns (Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall) which are now Stoke on Trent but the whole area has been a significant pottery producing region for centuries. Its not surprising therefore to find Abraham as a dealer in earthenware situated on the main route south for their goods.

The 200 Mile Journey from Cannock to Dorchester circa 1801

About the year 1801 Abraham and Elizabeth took the decision to move the whole family to Dorset. Its well worth pausing to consider what a major decision and undertaking this was. We know they were still in Cannock in 1799, when Rhoda was baptised, and had arrived in Dorchester about 1803 when their last child Robert was born there, so 1801 is a reasonable estimate for the date they moved. That meant there were seven in the Family who undertook the journey (Abraham aged 48; Elizabeth 33; Abraham junior 16; John 10; Anne 7; Mary Anne 4 and our Rhoda who was only about two years old).

There were no railways then so the poor walked, and the better off went on horseback or by stage coach. Abraham was a dealer in earthenware and all his surviving children set up businesses of their own so the family were not poor and he almost certainly would have moved his young family by coach down their main trading route to Bristol. Even today with a modern road network, Cannock is 183 miles from Dorchester and in those days you had to travel from town to town so well over a 200 mile journey. Mail coaches had been introduced in 1784 and are said to have run regular journeys at 10 mph but they normally only took 4 passengers inside and the priority was to deliver mail on time not see to the comfort of passengers. A young family like theirs is more likely to have traveled by stage coach which was slower (about 8 mph) but often crowded and despite the introduction of springing and turnpike roads was often very uncomfortable. Different rates were charged for inside and outside the coach and the journey would have taken several days. What's more they had to carry all their wealth and family possessions with them, and the threat of highway robbery was a real one, so not something to be undertaken lightly. Travel had to be in stages as the horses had to be changed every 10 to 15 miles and the length of the traveling day was determined by daylight hours. Coaching Inns provided accommodation and refreshment, as well as stabling and fresh horses. There are many routes they could have taken, the most likely would have been down to Birmingham, on to Gloucester, Bristol, Bath and Dorchester where they would have arrived at one of the main coaching Inns such as the Kings Arms or Antelope Hotel.

Below I give a brief history of the lives of all seven of Abraham & Elizabeth's seven children:-

(1) Abraham BAKER junior (1785-1848) was baptised on 12 Feb 1785 at Cannock Staffordshire ⁽¹¹⁾. He married Mary (1787-1861) who in the 1851 Census gives her birthplace as Staford ⁽¹²⁾ and there is a baptism for 25th December 1816 in Wareham for 'Robert the son of Abraham BAKER a potter in Holy Trinity church but I have not been able to find any other trace and assume he must have died young as there is no reference to him in his fathers Will. Abraham & Mary had a shop for many years in West Street in Wareham selling china and glass which is mentioned in the earliest directory that we have for the town of 1830. By the time of the 1841 Census they have taken under their care two children James SPICER (then aged 10) and his brother John SPICER (aged 6). Abraham BAKER junior died on or about the 21st and was buried at the United Reformed Church called the Old Meeting House in Wareham on 26 February 1848. He also left a will written on 6th Dec 1847. After his death Mary continued the business with the help of the two boys whom she described in the 1851 census as her nephews both born in Wareham.


From this Census we can identify their baptisms; James was the son of James & Ann (nee Whitehouse) SPICER baptised in the 'Old Meeting House' on 25 March 1832, and his younger brother John SPICER was baptised there on 14th June 1835. James & Ann had married in Holy Trinity church Wareham on 20th April 1830 (Note:- ancestry has her surname recorded as WHITCHURCH and the church as St Marys). In 1841 their father James SPICER is recorded as a farmer and living with him is Jerimiah GASSER and his wife Jane nee HOPKINS whom Jeremiah married in Wareham on 17th Jan 1841; also their daughter Rebecca baptised in Lady St Mary church 15 April 1841 and later they have another daughter Ann. Jeremiah in 1841 was described as an earthenware man and in later census returns lives in Wimborne Minster as a china and glassware dealer. Jeremiah died there 6th August 1885 leaving an estate of £5,780. 10s 9d. his will being proved by his widow Jane and John SHORTER of Spitalfields in London. There is no sign of their mother Ann by 1841 whom I assume has died and this is the reason Abraham & Mary take control of their children, although I have not been able to locate Ann's death or burial. James Spicer their father then died 2nd qtr 1843 in Wareham.

Mary is still running the business in West Street in 1852 but by 1854 has handed over responsibility to James SPICER. Mary died in Wareham on 18th January 1861 leaving an estate of just under £800 having appointed Jeremiah GASSER and James SPICER her nephews as executors. James SPICER continued to run the shop in Wareham until 1869 when Rhoda DUFALL died, and he then moved to Dorchester to take over the shop at 7 High West street.

(2) James BAKER (1787-1788) baptised on 26 Dec 1787 died an infant being buried at Cannock Staffordshire on 2nd March 1788

(3) John BAKER (1791-1855) was not baptised until the age of 3 with his sister Anne on 23rd Feb 1794 at Cannock Staffordshire. John lived in London for a time and married at the age of 38 by Licence at Christ Church Spitlefields in London on 11th January 1829 to Mary SHORTER when his residence was given as St Marys parish in Tower Hamlets. Mary the daughter of John & Eleanor SHORTER was born on 22 Feb 1809 but was not baptised until 5th July 1812 with her younger sister Eleanor at St Botolph's in Bishopsgate London. She was therefore 18 years his junior and technically required parental consent for the marriage but as her father was a witness to the marriage this was obviously forthcoming. In 1841 he was living with his wife Mary at Holyrood in Southampton town aged 50 recorded as a China Dealer but says he was born in Hampshire. He is mentioned in his brothers will in 1848 as being of Millbrook Southampton in Hampshire which is where he was in the 1851 census. By then he had retired and he gives his birthplace (for a reason I have not been able to ascertain) as Andover. John died in the 4th quarter of 1855 (GRO Andover 8/117) and the business was continued by his wife Mary from Elm Cottage in Millbrook. No will appears to have survived but by 1861 Mary has living with her widowed brother-in-law Robert Baker and his son (her husbands nephew) Abraham Baker born at Blandford. The Will of Mary Baker who died at Elm Cottage on 16th Feb 1872 was proved by John SHORTER of 36 Crispin St Spitlefields Middlesex also a China and Glass merchant, James SHORTER of Epping in Essex, and Thomas SHORTER of 36 Crispin St Spitlefields Middlesex nephews and she left a substantial sum of just under £60,000.

(4) Anne BAKER (1794-1861) baptised 23 Feb 1794 Cannock Staffordshire; She remained a spinster and like her siblings established a China and Glassware business. By 1841 she was living in Thomas Street Melcombe Regis ⁽¹³⁾ where she is recorded as a shopkeeper aged 40/44 and having been born outside of Dorset. The 1851 Census is clearer, she is still in Thomas Street and gives her age as 56 and like her brother John gives her birthplace as Andover in Hampshire. I have checked and not been able to locate any baptisms in Andover for either of them. She is being supported by her 18 year old nephew Richard Baker DUFALL. Probate records for Ann's death make it clear that she died in Fordington on 15th Feb 1861 and the burial records show her to have been resident at Salisbury Terrace Fordington and gives her internment as being at the Civic Cemetery in Dorchester on 21st of that month aged 66. She left an estate of £12,000 with the letters of administration being issued to her younger brother Robert BAKER of Blandford.

(5) Mary Ann BAKER (1796-1821) born on 10th Nov 1796 she was baptised at Cannock Staffordshire 5th March 1799 with her younger sister Rhoda. She moved to Dorset with the rest of the family but died at Fordington being buried in St Georges churchyard on 25th March 1821 at the distressingly young age of 24 (the burial register referring to her as the daughter of Elizabeth BAKER as her father had died in 1806).

(6) Rhoda BAKER (1799-1869) baptised. 5th Mar 1799 Cannock Staffordshire; [the subject of this account - see next section below ]

(7) Robert BAKER (c1803-1888) All the census returns show his birthplace as Dorchester circa 1803 but we have not located a baptism. He like his siblings established a China & Glass shop - his in Market Street Blandford Forum where he is recorded in Pigots Directory for 1831. He married Mary Ann (1808-1834) circa 1832 and had a son Abraham by her who was baptised at Blandford Forum on 26th Oct 1834. She died however shortly after the birth at the age of 26 and was buried at Blandford Forum on 10th Nov 1834 ⁽¹⁴⁾ . Robert is shown in the 1841 Census as still resident at Market Place Blandford aged 35/39, a chinaman by trade, with his surviving son Abraham aged 6 years. He remarried at the age of 42 on 13th Nov 1845 at Andover to Elizabeth DOWLING the daughter of an Innkeeper George DOWLING and his wife Elizabeth WOOLVEN. Elizabeth was born at Andover in Hampshire on 23rd June and baptised at St Mary's church on 31st July 1815 so she was 12 years his junior.She had a younger sister Mercy (born at Andover 30 Mar 1817 bap in St Marys 6th May) who married in London (Marylebone) in 1848 to Robert BROWN the son of a timber merchant. Robert BAKER is mentioned in his brother Abraham's Will dated in 1847 as living at Blandford. In the 1851 Census Robert & Elizabeth are living together in Blandford with her widowed mother Elizabeth DOWLING but a few months later tragedy struck again when his 2nd wife died (GRO 1st qtr 1852 Blandford Ref 5a/205) and this was followed in 1855 by the death of his brother John in Hampshire. The 1859 Post Office Directory for Blandford still shows Robert trading from market street, but by the time of the 1861 census Robert now aged 58 and his surviving son Abraham who is still single and aged 26 have moved to live at Elm Cottage Millbrook Road in Hampshire with his brother John's widow Mary. Robert decided to stay in Millbrook and ten years later is living further down Millbrook road and has retired, simply being termed a Gentleman. He died at Portman Villa Millbrook Road which is in the district of Freemantle Southampton on 15th March 1888 leaving a Will for which probate shows an estate of £72,262. 1s. 11d.


Death of Abraham & Elizabeth BAKER
Only a few years after their arrival in Dorset Abraham BAKER senior died and was buried at St Georges Church Fordington on 28th Sep 1806. Fortunately Abraham left a Will which has been transcribed and is available to view via this link. In it he mentions his wife Elizabeth and his five youngest children. Abraham junior his eldest son still owned land in Staffordshire when he wrote his will in 1847 so it looks as though the reason he is not mentioned in the Will is that he has already been well provided for in setting up the shop he ran in Wareham backed by possession of land in Staffordshire. Elizabeth died at the age of 63 being buried at Fordington on 13th December 1831 but I have not been able to trace a Will.

John (alias Charles) & Rhoda DUFALL returned to Dorchester in 1823 when I think they gained the support of Rhoda's mother to establish a shop selling China & Glassware at number 7 High West Street. All her siblings had established shops and it appears in the earliest Street directory that we have for Dorchester dated in 1830. This was a prestigious part of the High Street with for example Christopher ARDEN the Borough Magistrate, surgeon and general practitioner residing next door at number 8 ⁽¹⁵⁾ and on the other side at number 6 was John GALPIN the Ironmongers ⁽¹⁶⁾. John GALPIN became a wealthy man as he also ran the Iron Foundry employing for example in 1851 a total of 28 men and 4 boys. Life appears to have been difficult for John (alias Charles) DUFALL during these early years whilst they were raising their family, as on 5th August 1837 he briefly came before the insolvent debtors court owing £178 and appears to have been bailed out by his father ⁽¹⁷⁾. As a result by the time we get to the 1841 Census John (alias Charles) is working as a coachman and it is Rhoda that is running the China and Glassware shop in the High street.

The shop continued to be occupied by Rhoda until her death in 1869 when it passed to James SPICER the adopted heir of Rhoda's older brother Abraham & his wife Mary who had been running their China & Glass shop in Wareham. With the additional capital from the shop in Wareham he was able to expand the business taking over the tenancy of the Ironmongers shop on the bottom floor of number 6 High West Street. John GALPIN relocated further down the High Street to live at number 61 leaving James SPICER in charge of both premises.

Number 6 High West Street needs a special mention as it was known as the 'County House' and upstairs was where Judge Jeffreys had lodged during the Bloody Assizes in 1685 so it was quite famous even then. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures from Rhoda's time but we do for James SPICER's, so I thought I would start with a general view of this part of High West street as it has not changed much in all these years. The Post card below can be dated from the photographic image number at the bottom to circa 1896. The square tower on the left is St Peters church, in front of it the Dorset County Museum and behind it the clock tower of the Corn Exchange. The spire in the distance on the other side of the street in front of Riglars the tobacconists is All Saints church. The shop on the right is 8 High West street occupied at that date by Robert Bullen BROWN who had a store there to display his goods. He manufactured marquees, tents, rick cloths & improved waterproof clothing, and lots of other products as well. Next to it is James SPICER's china shop at number 7 and the china mugs can clearly be seen hanging up outside, and beyond that is Judge Jeffreys lodgings. More information on the shops in this image can be accessed via this link.

Dorchester High West Street - circa 1896

John (alias) Charles DUFALL lived at 7 High West Street the second house on the right of this picture - from 1824 until after 1861 when he left Dorchester.
You can see the China mugs on display outside the shop which remained in possession of descendants of the family until after 1915.
©Copyright Mr. M Russell FIPD - All Rights Reserved. From my private collection of Dorchester Postcards.

Number 6 & 7 High West Street Dorchester circa 1890

Link to this wonderful postcard of 'Judge Jeffreys Lodgings in High West street which is on the oldphotosuk.com website
This card pre dates 1895 as by that date the ground floor of County House [No 6 - Judge Jeffreys Lodgings] had been taken over by 'Beehive Clothing Stores'.


Number 6 & 7 High West Street Dorchester circa 1910

©Copyright Mr. M Russell FIPD - All Rights Reserved. From my private collection of Dorchester Postcards.
Link to another postcard, of similar date, when 'Groves' Noted House for Mens and Boys Clothing occupied the ground floor of No.6 High West st

(1). Elizabeth Baker DUFALL (1822-1824) born 23 July 1821 Exeter Street Salisbury; Baptised 20 May 1822 St Martins Church Salisbury. Buried age 2 Fordington Dorset 26 Feb 1824.

(2). Mary Ann Baker DUFALL (1824-1854) bap. Holy Trinity church Dorchester 4th January 1824. She married in Poole in 1843 to a printer named Samuel DAVIS the son of a Farmer from Compton Valence. The first two of their children were baptised in Dorchester Holy Trinity Church ⁽¹⁸⁾ before they moved to the Strand in Middlesex between 1847 & 1850. A son Abraham Baker DAVIS was born there circa 1850. Mary Ann however returned to Dorset and they also became dealers in china and glass. In the 1851 Census Mary Ann is visiting with her parents together with her 3 children. She moved to Weymouth where a fourth child Letitia Elizabeth DAVIS was born in the 1st quarter of 1854. Unfortunately Mary Ann died on 4th July 1854. Neither Abraham nor Letitia had been baptised and this was done posthumously at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester on 16th July 1854 so they almost certainly stayed with Rhoda as Letitia died at the age of 7 months being buried at Holy Trinity on 18th Jan 1855. Her husband eventually (1861) took out Letters of Administration for her estate which amounted to just under £600. On 27th Jan 1856 Samuel remarried by licence at Christ Church, St George in the East, Middlesex to Jane Amey PEARCE the daughter of a sail maker and native of Melcombe Regis and continued the China and Glass Dealership from St Thomas Street in Melcombe Regis.

(3). John Baker DUFALL (1827-1872) bap. Holy Trinity church 23rd September 1827 - He lived for a long time with his parents being described as 'a wine merchants clerk' in 1851 but was working in the shop with his younger sister Rhoda Baker in 1861. At the age of 41 however he married to Mary Anne HOWE (nee Deacon) the widow of Edward HOWE the proprietor of the 'London Hotel' in Melcombe Regis. They married in Manchester Cathedral on 14th April 1868 ⁽¹⁹⁾ because his sister Rhoda had married by then and was living in Manchester. John & Mary settled at Radipole. According to probate records he died on the 4th April 1871 leaving an estate of just under £6,000. His eldest son by Mary - Robert Baker DUFALL was buried in Dorchester Civic Cemetery aged 3 12 Feb 1872 but they had another child John Baker DUFALL born that year.

(4). Robert Baker DUFALL (1832-1860) bap. Holy Trinity church 29th April 1832 - He seems to have gone to Australia at a young age as he is missing from the 1851 census. He died at the young age of 28, still a bachelor at Melbourne, Victoria in Australia 25 July 1860 ⁽²⁰⁾. Administration of his estate of under £3,000 going to his father Charles Dufall in 1861 but he failed to carry out the administration so a second grant was made ten years later by his 2nd wife Mary Leah Dewfol in 1871.

(5). Elizabeth Baker DUFALL (1833-1892) baptised Holy Trinity church 3rd November 1833 - she married James SPICER (1832-1905) of Wareham in Holy Trinity church Dorchester on 21st December 1854 ⁽²¹⁾ and they raised a family of 13 children for which I give brief details below. As already explained above James was the son of James & Ann SPICER and was baptised in the 'Old Meeting House' Wareham on 25 March 1832. When his parents died (when he was still young) he was taken in by Abraham BAKER junior who was Elizabeth's uncle, and his wife Mary. As James Spicer grew up he worked in their China & Glass shop in Wareham taking over control circa 1854. On her marriage to James, Elizabeth moved to Wareham where they remained until the death of Elizabeth's mother in 1869. James then moved his whole family to Dorchester taking over the business in the High street. They seem to have occupied both 6 & 7 High West street until 1889 but by 1891 the shop is still operating under his name but they have vacated the upper floors and are actually living in South street at 3 South Terrace. By the time of Kellys directory for 1895 James is 63 and probably looking to downsize as the ground floor of the County house at 6 High West street is now occupied by an outfitters 'Beehive Clothing Stores' but the ground floor of number 7 is still a China & Glass warehouse under the control of an A. SPICER which might be Alfred James his grandson who was staying with them in 1901. Elizabeth died in Dorchester in 2nd qtr 1892 when she was 58 followed by James in 2nd qtr 1905 aged 74, surprisingly I cannot trace a will or administration for either of their deaths.

James & Elizabeth Baker Spicer

© Copyright Janet Almond - All Rights Reserved


The Children of James & Elizabeth Spicer


(5.1). Alice Mary SPICER (1854-1925) born at Wareham 4th qtr 1855 (5a/268) - she married John Evomy PHELPS in Yeovil in 1876; lived and raised a family of 6 children in Thornbury Gloucestershire where she died in 1925.

(5.2). James Charles SPICER (1857-1923) born at Wareham 1st qtr 1857 (GRO 5a/315) - He was educated at a private boarding school run by Edward Thurman in Melcombe Regis together with his younger brothers Arthur & Alfred and joined the Royal Marines becoming a corporal by the age of 21; he married Mary Alice PHELPS 4th qtr 1885 (GRO 5a/696). She was the daughter of John & Mary PHELPS baptised at Holy Trinity church Dorchester 29th Mar 1861 and was the sub postmaster in Fordington High Street where he also traded as a grocer; they had two children (Kathleen Alice SPICER born 1886 and Leonard Baker SPICER baptised at St Georges Church in Fordington on 19th Aug 1894). James died at Bedloe house Fordington on 4th May 1923 leaving an estate of £1,101. 13s 6d to his widow. Thier son Lt Leonard Baker SPICER (1894-1917) of the 9th battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was killed in the 1st WW in 1917 and is commemorated in Brian Bates Book 'Dorchester Remembers the Great War' pages 186 and 187 and on the Dorchester Cenotaph and St George's Church Memoruials.

(5.3). Arthur SPICER (1858-1911) born at Wareham; educated at Melcombe Regis with James & Alfred; he married Ellen Sarah BILLINGER (1862-1890) 1st qtr 1879 (GRO 5a/537) a native of Blandford and he ran a pub in North Square Dorchester. They had a daughter Beatrice Victoria Spicer born at Dorchester 2nd qtr 1880 (GRO 5a/365) and a son Arthur James also at Dorchester 12 Dec 1881 (GRO 1st qtr 1882 5a/327). Unfortunately Ellen died still only aged 28 early in 1890 (GRO 5a/252). As a result he moved with his children to live in Millbrook where he operated as a China & Glass salesman. By 1901 he had moved onto Southampton working in a China & Glass shop as a shop assistant. He died at the age of 52 early in 1911 (GRO Winchester district 1st qtr 1911 2c/81).

(5.4). Alfred SPICER (1860-1912) born at Wareham; educated at Melcombe Regis with James & Arthur; he worked as a grocers assistant in Southampton before marriage to Eleanor JAMES at Maidenhead Cookham in Berkshire in 1884 (GRO 1st qtr 2c/867. They lived at 22 Risborough Road Maidenhead where they had a son Alfred James SPICER the following year. In 1901 Alfred is a boarder staying in Farnham & described as a hardware assistant although I think he was an insurance agent and presumably there on business whilst Eleanor & their son Alfred James are staying in West Fordington with his father James Spicer. Alfred may have died in Andover in 1912 (GRO 2nd qtr 2c/265) when his age was given as 47. Alfred James married in London Paddington to Florence Rosa HARE on 31st March 1912.

(5.5). Robert Baker SPICER (1861-1900) born at Wareham; He married Frances Ellen SPENCER, the daughter of James SPENCER a builder, at Lady St Mary's Church in in Wareham on 23rd March 1885 and they lived at No. 10 Prospect Place in West Fordington where they raised a family whilst he worked as an assistant in his fathers shop in Dorchester. Known children known so far:- (5.5.1) Rhoda Baker Spicer Born 4th qtr 1886 (GRO 5a/320) bap Christchurch West Fordington 12th Dec 1886 (5.5.2) Horace James Spicer Born 1st qtr 1888 (GRO 5a/333) bap W/F 30 Apr 1890 (5.5.3) Elsie Spicer Born 2nd qtr 1890 (GRO5a/327) bap W/F 30 Apr 1890 (5.5.4) Robert Baker Spicer Born 4th qtr 1892 (GRO 5a/304) bap Christchurch W/F 20 Jan 1893.

He died at the age of 39 in Hampshire (GRO 1st qtr 1900 South stoneham 2c/75)

(5.6). Annie Baker SPICER (1863-1870) baptised at Wareham 12 Jul 1863; buried at Dorchester at the age of 7 (GRO 4th qtr 1870 5a/256)

(5.7). John Baker SPICER (1864-1864) born at Wareham (GRO 2nd qtr 1863 5a/310); Died Wareham (GRO 4th qtr 1864 5a/199)

(5.8). Rhoda Baker SPICER (1865-1865) born at Wareham (GRO 3rd qtr 1865 5a/291) ; Died Wareham (GRO 3rd qtr 1865 5a/190)

(5.9). John Baker SPICER (1866-1930) born at Wareham in the parish of Lady St Marys (GRO 4th qtr 1866 5a/294); He grew up at 7 High West Street with the rest of his large family but lived in Lyme Regis for 3 years (1883-6) working as a grocer to Mr W.H.Burge. He joined the Army, initially as a private into the 7th Dragoon Guards on the 13th April 1886, but deserted on 2nd Nov 1887. He immediately re-enlisted on 8th Nov 1887 into the East Lancs Regiment (with his younger brother Charles) and spent the first 5 years at home gaining the rank of Lance Corporal in 1888, and Corporal in 1890. They then discovered his previous enlistment and desertion so his re-enlistment was deemed fraudulent. Charges of desertion however were dropped on 30 April 1891 under provisions made in the Act which I assume takes into account his immediate re-enlistment and subsequent good behaviour. He not only retained his rank but was promoted to Sergeant in 1892 and ended his service with long service and good conduct medals. In 1893 he spent over 2 years at Gibraltar before spending another 2 years at home. On 16th Sep 1897 he was posted to France where he remained for over 6 years returning to England on 4th Dec 1903. During this time he re-engaged for the East Lancashire Regiment at Ranikhet on 18th April 1899 to ensure that he could complete a full 21 years service and claim full pensionable rights, his service terminating on 7th Nov 1908. He re-enlisted in WW1 on 9th Sep 1914 and was posted to the Kings Liverpool Regt being immediately promoted to Sergeant because of his previous experience. John died on 13th December 1930 at 170 Boaler Street Liverpool at the age of 64 leaving a modest estate of just £281. 10s 7d with probate granted to Thomas Arthur Wedgewood an electrician.

(5.10). Charles James SPICER (1867-aft 1891) born at Wareham (GRO 4th qtr 1867 5a/281) and Baptised in Lady St Marys Church 24th Nov 1867; He grew up at 7 High West Street with the rest of his large family. In 1891 he was staying with his younger brother Walter in Bournemouth and living on his own means.

(5.11). Agnes SPICER (1868-aft 1901) the last of their children born at Wareham she was initially baptised in Lady St Marys Church on 27 Nov 1868; she moved with her parents to Dorchester and grew up at 7 High West Street. For some reason she was baptised a second time at the age of 8 with her younger sister Lizzie in Holy Trinity church Dorchester on 6th July 1877. She was still a spinster in 1901 living with her father.

(5.12). Walter SPICER (1870-1942) baptised Holy Trinity Dorchester 1st Mar 1871; He grew up at 7 High West Street with the rest of his large family & in 1891 was working as a grocers assistant in Bournemouth. By 1901 he had moved to Bristol to work as an assistant to a provision merchant and he married a Deborah WATKINS there in 1902. They seem to have settled at Bristol as he died there in 1942 aged 71

(5.13). Elizabeth SPICER (1871-1889) baptised at Holy Trinity Dorchester on 6th July 1877 with her older sister Agnes. Known as Lizzie she grew up at 6 & 7 High West Street but died at the age of 18 on 13th August 1889 with probate for her estate of £172.5s.6d going to her father.


(6). Rhoda Baker DUFALL (1836-1909) baptised at Holy Trinity church Dorchester 10th October 1836; She stayed with her parents until her marriage in Dorchester on the 12th Feb 1866 (GRO 5a/525) to Jabez WHITTINGHAM a Gentleman from Manchester. As was traditional Rhoda had her first child in her home town so that she had the support of her mother, and Robert Baker WHITTINGHAM was duly baptised in Holy Trinity church on 17th Feb 1867 followed by John Baker WHITTINGHAM on 7th June 1868. They lived initially however at 8 Shakespeare Road, then 254 Stockport Road, and then 24 Bridges Row all in Manchester. Rhoda & Jabez raised a family of 6 children before Jabez died in Dorchester aged 55. When he became ill I assume Rhoda took him back to her family in Dorset for support as he died on 13 January 1879 at West Walks which was probably temporary accommodation. He left an estate of under £6,000 so Rhoda returned to Manchester and managed to successfully run their China & Glass business at Bridge street with her aunt Mary Ann DUFALL until Rhoda died in Manchester at the age of 72 on 13th February 1909 leaving an estate of £13,233. Robert Baker WHITTINGHAM (1867-1940) took over the running of the shop at number 7 High West Street Dorchester by the time James SPICER died in 1905 and is shown as the proprietor in the 1911 census and Kellys directory for 1915. I am not sure how long he continued to run the shop but he died at 5 Tarvin road Chester on 24th September 1940 probate being granted at Llandudno on 23rd Nov to Robert Baker WHITTINGHAM a farmer when his estate amounted to £20,424. 4s 8d.

---

On the 10th June 1870 when he was 71 years old John DEWFOL, now using his birth name, re-married by licence to a young widow Mary Leah GRAHAM at Christchurch Kennington in Surrey a lady who was 34 years his junior. Whilst speculation it would appear that problems that first arose in 1861 may have been caused by his departure from Dorchester and subsequent association with Mary Leah Graham, his ability to marry only arising after the death of his first wife Rhoda in 1869.

Mary Leah BLY was the daughter of James and Sarah BLY and she was duly baptised at Selsey in Sussex on 7th Feb 1836. Her father James had been born on 23rd August 1801 in Dorchester the son of Henry and Leah Bly and he was baptised in the Presbyterian Chapel in Pease lane on 6th Oct the same year. The Presbyterian Chapel was used by protestant dissenters and was well supported in Dorchester at this time. By this date the Coastguards were being organised as a reserve for the Royal Navy and James worked as a commissioned boatman being employed at the Thorney or Damergreen Station in Sussex. Mary grew up at the station with her parents and siblings until she married. Mary Leah married Michael GRAHAM in the 4th quarter of 1855 in Dorchester and they lived initially at Buckland where she had a son Arthur W born 1859, then Norfolk where another son Clifford was born 1862, and then Melcombe Regis where a daughter Ada Mary GRAHAM was baptised in St Marys church on 12th June 1864. Michael died aged 37 in 4th qtr 1866 leaving her with 3 children to support.

Three months later on 26th March 1871 John (alias Charles) DEWFOL died at their home, 124 Mostyn Road Brixton in Surrey ⁽²²⁾. He left a Will some details of which are given in the 'Andrews Newspaper Index Cards' and in the Times newspaper. Mary was duly granted probate and administration of his estate on 11th May 1871. Probate refers to his use of both names and he left just under £7,000 to Mary his relict and sole executrix ^{(23 & 24)} .

Mary then applied for administration of the estate of his first wife Rhoda which was granted by the probate court on the 29th June 1871. Her estate however had clearly already been distributed and the business re-developed by her daughter and son-in-law as her effects amounted to under £100.

Mary then re-applied for administration of the estate of his son Robert Baker DUFALL who had died in Australia on 25th July 1860 and for whom her husband had never carried out the grant he obtained when he was still in Dorchester. She was granted administration of his estate as well on 26th July 1871 which was then revalued (as ten years had passed) and amounted to £1.500. Mary then married for a third time at Christchurch Brixton Road Kennington Surrey on 25th April 1872 to a grocer by trade called Walter HUNT. In all the remaining census returns Mary is shown as married, but Walter is absent and I have not been able to locate him. Mary died at the age of 67 on 7th November 1903 when her address was given as 70 Hampton road Hornsey in Middlesex. Surprisingly she only left an estate of £58. 0s. 11d.