Thomas Hudd and Elizabeth Pearce

Thomas Hudd

​​Born: 1820, Hilperton Marsh

Baptised: unknown

Married: 28th February 1847,

Died: 2nd July 1887, Hilperton Marsh

Buried: St Pauls, Staverton with his parents

        Thomas was born in 1820 at Hilperton Marsh. Thomas was the eldest child to William Hudd and Elizabeth Applegate. Thomas was most likely baptised at St Nicholas Church in Staverton. The rest of his siblings were all baptised together at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Hilperton Marsh. The reason Thomas was baptised at St Nicholas Church instead  of the chapel was most likely because the chapel was not finished being built until the year before in 1819 so the family probably did not convert to the methodist movement until after the chapel had been established.

 

        Thomas was to work on the family farm for most of his life, he was to inherit when his father died so was well prepared for his inheritance. The only time it is clear he wasn't working on the farm was in 1841 when he was recorded as being a boatman in the census record. He was most likely working on the Kennet and Avon Canal transporting coal and other products into the nearby towns.

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        Thomas married Elizabeth Pearce on the 28th of February 1847. Elizabeth was born in 1825 in Hilperton Marsh and was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Pearce. The couple had seven children between 1848 and 1862.

        Elizabeth was not just a housewife. She brought in her own income into the household working as a cloth weaver. She was most likely working in a weavers cottage in Hilperton, rather than one of the large weavers factories in the nearby town of Trowbridge. She would of been expected to look after the home and children and also help with farm and the floristry in Trowbridge.

        The farm and the floristry must of been doing well whilst it was under Thomas's ownership, as they were able to keep a servant. She was called Emily Pearce and was also Elizabeth's sister. This was probably a mutual agreement between the family for Emily to have a place to live and for Thomas and Elizabeth to hire someone they could trust, not mention it being cheaper to hire a family member rather than someone they did not know.

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       The Hudd family were very strong Methodists, so it is not a surprise to find Thomas was very much involved with the Methodist movement in Hilperton. The Methodists Chapel in Hilperton was where his brothers and sisters were baptised and the chapel he and his family in the future would worship at. As well as attending the chapel for worship, Thomas was also part of the committee for the chapel.

 

        Thomas was obviously a skilled horticulturist. He took part in many competitions where he won quite a lot of prizes. He entered into the Trowbridge Annual Horticulture Show frequently. These events are well documented in old local newspapers. In 1877 he won first prize for his verbenas and second prize for his fuscias. He also entered into other local horticulture shows in Bowood, Chippenham, Keevil, Bath, Rood Ashton and Calne. These events would of given the floristry business a good name in the community and also an oppurtunity to win some extra money.

 

       Thomas died on the 2nd of July in 1887 at the age of 67 at Hilperton Marsh. The death was witnessed by his fourth child Samuel who registered the death on the 5th of July. The causes of death on his certificate are heart disease and anasarca. The heart disease would most likely of  been the main cause of death. Anasarca is a general swelling in the body and is brought on when there is a fluid build up in the bodies tissue. This could have been very painful and may have caused problems with urination.

      

       Thomas’s wife, Elizabeth followed four years later on the 31st of October, 1890. Both are buried at St Pauls Church, Staverton in the same grave as his father, mother and sadly his seven year old brother, James.

 

Burial place of Thomas and Elizabeth

Silver St​reet with the Hudd family shop on the left. A man stands in the door way that could be Thomas or another member of the family