John Wellington (1747 - 1827)

Born 11 Nov 1747 in Talaton, Devon, England

Husband of Molly (Bowden) Wellington — married 12 Feb 1772 in Honiton, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 9 Jan 1827 at age 79 in Chard, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

John Wellington was born 11 November 1747, probably at Talaton in Devon, where he was baptized on New Year’s Day. He was the eldest son of John Wellington and Sarah nee Ley. John married Molly Bowden of Honiton on 12 February 1772 at Honiton by licence. Talaton is only a few miles away from Honiton. [Stringham] Molly was 19, bap 20 June 1753 daughter of John and Mary Bowden. John Wellington was described in 1808 as the chief butcher, apothecary and grocer, but no record of his training has been found yet. He was known as a botanist by his obituary. In 1787 the Exeter paper advertised him as one of four agents in the West Country selling "Oriental Vegetable Cordial", a cure all complete with stories of its universal efficacy. Two of the other agents were Mrs. Leigh of Dartmouth and Mr. Bowden of South Molton, raising questions of whether one of these might be the source of his apprenticeship - if through this mother's family, the Ley/Leighs there might have been no formal papers registered and no money exchanged. [Stringham] Elisabeth Rolf also found in the edition for 9th March 1778 an advert for a cabinet maker on behalf of John Wellington of Chard and John Bowden of Honiton. In the Bridgwater and Somerset Advertiser of 18th June 1832, there are apparently references to Wellingtons in Chard, South Petherton, Yeovil and Wells(?) being agents for Palmers pills. But which of them was in Wells, or was it a completely different family? He was declared bankrupt in 1773, paying final dividends in 1876, but there are no extant details of the case. Family legend says that John Wellington was the first man in England to grow poppies for opium., at Chard, where his business had recovered sufficiently by 1778 to allow him to purchase pews in the church for himself, his family, and for Elizabeth Blackaller (probably Molly’s aunt). In 1790 he bought pews in a better position in the middle of the church. He died on 9 June 1827 at Chard. Molly kept the herbalist apothecary business, and died 24 February 1830 or 33 aged 77. They had three sons who became chemists. By May of 1773 the Sherborne Mercury, Gentleman's Magazine, and Trewman's Exeter Flying Post reported him bankrupt, to surrender at London Guildhall on May 14th and 24th and June 19th. B4/21 at the Public Record Office lists him among the bankrupts on 3rd May 1773, with his solicitor, M. Young. The actual bankruptcy case papers are not extant to give details of his business setback. On 25th October 1776, the Exeter papers report "John Wellington of Chard, Somerset, Druggist, 5th of November at 5, at Guildhall, London. Final dividend." In January 1777 he advertised for a journeyman cooper in the Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury. Business recovered well enough by 1778 that he bought pews in Chard church for himself, family, Elizabeth Blackaller (probably Molly's aunt) and servants. In 1790 he bought pews in a better position in the middle of the church. By this time John and Molly had several children at Chard parish. He became Portreeve or mayor of Chard registers show. His second son Robert 1779-1859, was a yeoman, possibly the source of the livestock for the butcher's business. No other reference has come to light of this part of John's occupation but he appears to have been one of the 'grand old men' of the town by about 1815, when he was one of three men leading a parade (immediately following the trumpeter) to celebrate victory over Napoleon, and in the presence in a following carriage of the Duke of Wellington himself. (from a poster in Chard Museum). [letter from Mrs. McCann of Chard Museum] A survey in 1818 showed him owning a house, offices to the drying house, stable, wring house, garden, land, nursery; a house rented to 'Josh' Wellington, (prob. Robert, who otherwise does not appear occupying a house), a house rented to William Wellington in Crimchard Lane, and six other Crimchard Lane houses. The Sherborne, Dorchester and Taunton Journal and General Advertiser for the West of England announced his death in the edition of Friday 12 January 1827: "On Tuesday the 9th instant at Furnham Cottage, Chard, John Wellington, aged 80 years, who for more than half a century carried on the business of chemist, druggist and botanist in that town. His will described him as John Wellington, gentleman. He was buried on 13 January 1827 in the churchyard at Chard, where Molly was later buried beside him. According to an old book, Pullman's "Book of the Axe", the gravestone was prominent on the west side of the churchyard. Nothing was visible of this in 1987, but Pullman's book recorded that the grave of Elizabeth Blackaller lay next to that of John and Molly Wellington. This gravestone was still recognizable, though broken when visited by G. and E. Stringham in 1987. Eliz. Blackaller died in 1799, aged 72. Nearby were the graves of the Edwards (George's first wife) and White families, (Robert's in laws.)

Sources

• Research by Gabrielle Stringham. Bridgwater and Somerset Advertiser of 18th June 1832. letter from Mrs. McCann of Chard Museum. The Sherborne, Dorchester and Taunton Journal and General Advertiser for the West of England, Friday 12 January 1827.