Research Forum

Brian Austin, local historian and life member of this society, tells me that from his records John DAVIS was born 25th Aug 1812 and was christened 2nd May 1813 in either Axbridge or Compton Bishop.  When he died on the 26th Jan 1876 there was an obituary in the local newspaper which described him as being responsible for delivering the post between Weston and Cheddar.  He was certainly described as a "Coachman" in 1871 but by then the family had moved to Union Street

Brian also thinks that the Coach and Horses was probably a Beer House and did not trade for very long - he has a mention of it in 1858 and again on the 1861 census but nothing else.  He didn't think that it would have had its own livery stables.

He was buried in Weston Cemetery on the 1st Feb 1876, aged 63, in Grave Tc 3404, but there is no memorial on the plot.

When the new Library opens in Weston in October we can get a copy of the obituary for you. 

Thank you so much for this information.  I now have an accurate DOB and his death date.  I didn't know about delivering post to Cheddar.  I had assumed that the Coach and Horses was an old coaching inn, but on reflection, Weston would have been too small to warrant one in coaching days.

His wife, Harriett, I believe, remained in Weston and was living at Manilla Crescent in 1891, the year of her death.

I would be very interested to have a copy of John Davis' obituary.

Thanks again for your help.

Julie Davis