Research Forum

You have mentioned before that Louisa and Robert PALMER were born in Axbridge Workhouse but as yet I have still not been able to find them in the record of Workhouse Births between 1838 and 1845 - and I have now checked the original records.  Do you have copies of their birth certificates giving place of birth? - if so I wonder whether you might let me have a copy of the details so that if they were omitted from the original Workhouse entries I can make a note to that effect on my transcriptions - I'm sure it would help others researching people who were in Axbridge Workhouse.   I can see that they were both christened in Winscombe Parish Church.

Although George appears in Axbridge Workhouse in 1851 I would agree with you that he was probably admitted to the Workhouse Infirmary and that his stay was a short one - he obviously returned home to Ann and lived until 1877.  What a pity the admission and discharge books have not survived for that period.

As you probably know from the records online - Joel PAIN/PAYNE married Mary GOLD[sic] - GOULD? 28 April 1792 in Axbridge which would account for their son being christened George Gould PAYNE.

There is a Mary GOULD christened in Bleadon in 1774 who might be worth investigating as the wife of Joel.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for your help here .... unfortunately, I've lost a lot of data recently when my old computer hard drive was dropped (by some-one else) so I'm relying on memory a lot to rebuild various things.

Mary Ann Palmer Payne gave birth to Louisa & Robert in Comptom Bishop as "baseborn" children.  I've no doubt she only went into the Workhouse for their births and came out again because Mary Ann Palmer was one feisty, independent and wonderful lady from all I've learnt.   In all census their birth places are given as Compton Bishop (as are some other of their father's siblings ... and now I understand why when I find out the Work House was in Compton Bishop).

Mary Ann (called Polly in the family) lived with two other single women the Hemmens girls and their children.  I had thought Polly was a servant in the family but I've since found the Hemmens girls in the Workhouse, as I have other Palmer girls and their offspring.   The times were not good for Ag. Labs and their families which often put off marriages etc.   We are fairly sure that both Louisa and Robert were Charles's natural children.

I happened to come across a discussion of Samuel Payne/ Ann Palmer marriage of people born in around 1799.  This would fit as a brother of George Gould Payne and given the names around Winscombe/Axbridge it appears that there were a minimal number of resident families who all intermarried at various points.

Its Joel's siblings/parents I'm most interested in as well as his children .... I have the minimum (twins who died), George Gould and Mariah but there must have been others given the number of Paynes in the area.   Or perhaps those Paynes are Joel's nieces/nephews?????

I'll have a look at Mary GOULD in Bleadon thanks for that it is appreciated as is all your help.   Regards, Claire

The Pain/Payne family lived around the Axbridge including Sidcot, Woodborough, Winscombe, East Brent, Compton Bishop, Weston Super Mare & Twickenham. George Gould Payne married Ann Andrews & they had:

1. Charles (1822-1871) = Mary Ann Palmer who had Louisa & Robert in the Axbridge Workhouse prior to marrying & migrating to Aust in 1858 per Golgonda to Sydney.
2. George (1824-1891) migrated to Aust in 1848. Married Zillah Aldous of Suffolk
3. Rose Anne Payne (1826-1861) married James Templar St James the Great Winscombe 1846 migrated to Aust in 1853 per Priam to Portland
4. William (1827-1871) married Jane Hancock (1828-1881) 1850 in Axbridge, migrated to Australia 1853 per Moltan to Port Phillip
5. John Edward (1832-1895) migrated to Aust 1853 per Priam to Portland married Margaret Farr (1838-1888) in Aust 
6. Marie (1836-) nothing known

Looking for information on all forebears of these people --- after much hair pulling, nail biting, disagreement and dead ends worked all the above out.   They were all ag. labs., illiterate, VERY succesful in Australia with very large numbers of children (up to 20 single births per family).  The Payne family as we became has spread to ALL states and territories of Australia.

George Gould Payne and Ann Andrews Payne stayed in Sidcot (where most of the family lived prior to migrating to Australia) for the remainder of their lives though they were paupers.  George being an Ag. Lab. when he wasn't ill and in the workhouse;  Ann selling fruit.   We have assumed that the above were the only children but that may not necessarily be so as unless Marie remained behind, married and helped her parents they would have been in a very hard place.

If you can help find more of our forebears we would be most grateful.   Regards, Claire in Oz