yeovil people

Frederick Henry Barrett

Coachman, General Dealer, Fish Hawker, Bankrupt, Carter and Mason's Labourer

 

Frederick Henry Barrett was born in Huish, Somerset, on 12 March 1853. He was third of the four children of agricultural labourer Henry Barrett (1824-1883) of Crewkerne and Mary Elizabeth née Chislett (b1826), known as Elizabeth. Frederick's siblings were Selina (b1846), Elfreda Jane (1849-1867) and Job (1859-1910). In the 1861 census, the family were recorded living at Clapton, just outside Crewkerne.

Nothing of Frederick's early life is known, but on 28 December 1874, at Crewkerne, Frederick married Mary Barrett (b1854) of Crewkerne. They were to have five children, all born in Yeovil; Frederick Henry (1876-1948), Richmond Edward (1879-1959), Lucy (b 1880), Edgar Chislett (1886-1965) and Percy Rowland (1889-1943). Two of the children did not live to adulthood.

Frederick and Mary spent most of their married life living in Wellington Street, firstly at No 26 where they were recorded in the 1881 census. Frederick gave his occupation as a coachman. By the time of the following 1891 census, the family had moved further along the street, to No 11 Wellington Street. At this time Frederick gave his occupation as a general dealer.

Frederick, however was soon to change jobs again and it appears from the late 1880s he actually traded as a fish hawker. Sadly, this venture ended in failure and in 1897 Frederick was declared bankrupt. The Official Receiver's remarks, recorded on the summary of the case (see Gallery) stated; "The Receiving Order was made on the debtor's own petition. He states he commenced business about nine years ago with no capital. No proper books of account have been kept in the business. There is little doubt the Bankrupt has been insolvent for a considerable time. At the preliminary examination he stated he only became aware that he had not sufficient property to pay all his debts in full about a month before he filed his petition, but I observe from the deficiency account that he states he was insolvent to the extent of £40 a year ago." Frederick was declared bankrupt in the amount of £108 11s 8½d (about £12,000 at today's value).

By the time of the 1901 census, Frederick was working as a carter. He and his family still lived at 11 Wellington Street. In the 1911 census, at the same address, 57-year-old Frederick gave his occupation as a mason's labourer, while 55-year-old Mary was a shopkeeper at their home.

I couldn't find the record of Frederick's death, but Mary died in Yeovil in 1927, aged 72.

 

gallery

 



The top end of Wellington Street with the National Day School in Huish at the end. Photographed in 1957.

 


From my collection

The heading of the "Summary of Debtor's Statement of Affairs" of Frederick Barrett's bankruptcy hearing in Yeovil during 1897.