Research Forum

Is anyone researching John KING who was christened in Chapel Allerton 14th Jan 1755 and was buried in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Weston-super-Mare 1st Aug 1828?  This drawing of him was done by a Charlotte Wilson who visited Weston in 1826 and wrote a book describing her experiences in the resort at that time which can be read online here .

The book is called Somersetshire Dialogues: Or, Reminiscences of the Old Farm House at Weston-super-Mare and is an affectionate look at the people of Weston through the eyes of a more sophisticated Londoner. 

As I understand it John KING was married twice, the first time to an Anne COCK on the 23rd April 1793 at Wedmore.  I think she was buried at Chapel Allerton in 1800 and John was married again to a widow, Sarah HARSE (nee HAM) in 1802 in Chapel Allerton.  They must have moved into Weston shortly afterwards because their sons, Joseph, Silvester and Stephen where christened at St John's in 1803, 1806 and 1808 repectively.  John's wife Sarah, is mentioned in the book - so is  Hannah, a niece.  Does anyone know who her parents were?

In The Village of Weston-super-Mare - Historical Notes by Ernest Baker there is an account of interviews which Ernest Baker did with elderly inhabitants of Weston in 1882-1883 one of whom mentions the KING family.  Mrs HOWELL recounts:

" I must tell you a little about Farmer King.  Just before he came to Weston he was left a widower with two children, Matthew and Hannah..... he then must needs marry again, and this time he married a widow named Hurst, who had four children, John, George, Sarah and Elizabeth, they afterwards had three more, George, Silvester and Joseph"

I can find Matthew's christening in Wedmore in 1795 but I can't find a suitable christening for a Hannah - but perhaps she could be the niece that Charlotte Wilson writes about.  Mrs Howell says that Farmer KING married a widow HURST - HURST and HARSE are often confused. I've found christenings for 3 sons for them but one of them is called Stephen not George.  Can anyone sort his family out?

I know that one of his great grand daughters, Emma KING married Alfred HASE in 1884 in Emmanuel Church but there must be many other descendents of Farmer KING.