Yeovil's Virtual Museum

James Pudden

Butcher - and father of fifteen

 

James Pudden was born in Yeovil in 1809 and baptised at St John's church on 16 April 1809. He was the son of Henry Pudden (d1853) and his wife Ann née Barber.

Nothing is known of his early life, but on 11 January 1830 at East Coker, he married Hannah Giles (1811-1879) of East Coker. They were to have fifteen children, the first four being born at East Coker, the next two recorded at Yeovil and the remainder at Preston Plucknett. The children were; James (b1831), Marina (b1834), Emily (1835-1900), Sarah (b1836), Eliza (1837-1919), Lucy (1840-1873), Thomas Giles (1841-1922), Martha (b1842), Henry (1844-1853), Jessy (b1845), Fanny (1847-1932), Oliver (b1849), Robert (b1850), Frank Montague (b1855) and Penelope.

In the 1841 census, 30-year-old James, Hannah and seven of the children were listed in Preston Plucknett together with a governess, butcher's apprentice and a domestic servant - all three being just 15 years old. James gave his occupation as a butcher. In 1851, James, Hannah and eleven of the children were listed in Preston Road, together with 87-year-old James Gruge, described as a 'Relative'. Again, James gave his occupation as a butcher.

By the time of the 1861 census, James had moved his family to Lower Lyde, also known as Little Lyde Farm. The farm was being farmed by 52-year old James, described in the census as a 'Farmer of 70 acres employing 3 men & 1 boy'. He lived at the farm with his wife, Hannah, and seven of their fifteen children.

By 1871 James had given up the life of being a farmer and had returned to being a butcher. The census of that year found him and Hannah with three of their children living in Princes Street above his butcher's shop premises on the corner of Princes Street and Church Street. In the census, James described his occupation as 'Butcher, employing 1 man'.

In early 1879, Hannah died in Yeovil, aged 68. In the 1881 census, James was described as a 72-year-old widower. He was still working as a butcher and lived above the premises with his 34-year-old spinster daughter Fanny.

James Pudden died in Yeovil on 16 March 1888, aged 78. His will was proved at Taunton in May and his effects were valued at £1,521 11s 1d (around £165,000 at today's value).

 

 

The record of James' baptism at St John's church on 16 April 1809.

 

Little Lyde Farm, photographed around 1870. James had worked the farm during the 1860s, but by 1871 he and his family were living in Princes Street where he returned to being a butcher.

 

James' advertisement in the 1878 edition of Whitby's Yeovil Almanack Advertiser.

 

James Pudden's butchery (at the time of this photograph occupied by W & R Fletcher) on the corner of Princes Street and Church Street. Photographed in the 1960s.