William & Elizabeth Beake               Family Chart

WILLIAM BEAKE b: 1798 was the fifth child of parents William and Hannah in Weston Zoyland, Somerset, England - he was employed as an agricultural labourer and d: 26th December 1859 in Weston Zoyland aged 65 years, (cause of death: decay of nature!) The burial register signed with an x, mark of eldest son, James Beake) (Certificates sent courtesy of Beake researcher, descendant Catherine Poarch)

Weston Zoyland was a parish in the hundred of Whitley, county Somerset, 4 miles S.E. of Bridgwater. The church where the Beake family worshiped, is dedicated to St. Mary - it's register dates from 1558. (Nat. Gazetteer (1868).

William Beake mar: 26 Jan 1823 at St Mary Church, Weston Zoyland to ELIZABETH (Betty) SALTER  (Betty was the daughter of John and Sarah Salter and was bapt: 22 Nov 1798 in Clayhidon, Devonshire; she d: 27th Nov 1860 at Weston Zoyland aged 62, widow of William - the church register is signed with a x by son James)

Agricultural labourers suffered hardship and poor living conditions. To survive, all who were able, worked twelve hours a day for six days a week. Minimal wages meant families often went hungry and cold and local economy was controlled by the landowners. Revd. Caleb Rocket recognised the reality of their situation and 1835 in Westonzoland, he established a bread charity and in 1847 Elizabeth Axford gave money to provide clothing for the poor. 1841 William and Elizabeth Beake are living at Shark St, Weston Zoyland.

EDUCATION: A National school was opened in 1842 opposite the church, and in 1864, the adjoining pound was acquired to enlarge the site. By 1867, 100 children attended in winter and up to 40 at night school, however attendance in summer was poor (it was said "uneducated parents were indifferent to their children's education" totally ignoring the fact their added income by seasonal labour in working the land was needed). (Src.) In 1870 the school was extended to provide two classrooms and an infant gallery - accommodation for 148 children.

Former church house of Westonzoyland built by 1529. Later used as school and poorhouse until demolished mid 19th century

Below: In 1851, the Beake family are living at 81 Bussex St, Weston Zoyland; Head - Wm Beake 53; Betty Beake 53; George 18; Robert 12 and Mary 10, Alfred 5. James and Ann have left home and married; Elizabeth is employed as a housemaid at Standers Lane, Weston Zoyland.

Children of WILLIAM BEAKE and ELIZABETH SALTER are:

1 JAMES BEAKE (b: 1819 in Weston Zoyland, Somerset mar: Abt. Sep 1845 in Bridgewater, Somerset to DEBORAH PITMAN (b: 1821 in Weston Zoyland, Somerset d: 1883 in Avon, Lake, Illinois, United States)  US Naluralisation 1886

ii. ANN BEAKE (bapt: 06 Apr 1823, St Marys Weston Zoyland, Somerset, England;  1841 census is a servant aged 15; d: Moorlynch; mar: 10 Apr 1844, Moorlynch, Somerset to WILLIAM COOMBS,  b. Abt. 1811.

iii. CHARLES BEAKE (bapt: 20 Mar 1825, St Marys Weston Zoyland, Somerset, England; mar. 4 Aug 1860 Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England, to BRIDGET ANN LOFTAS (b. 1841, Ireland; d; 1906 Preston, Lancashire.

iv. ELIZABETH BEAKE (bapt: 23 Sep 1827 St Marys Church, Weston Zoyland; Bur: 16 Nov 1828 St Marys Church, Weston Zoyland

v. ELIZABETH BEAKE (b: 01 Dec 1828, Western Zoyland, Somersetshire; bapt: 4 Jan 1830 St Marys, Western Zoyland; d. 15 Oct 1914, Timaru; mar. 18 Aug 1856 to RICHARD PELVIN, St Mary's Church, Curragh Camp, Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland; b. 28 Apr 1821, Gravel Pits, Kensington, Mdx, Kent; d. 03 May 1902, Timaru.

vi. GEORGE BEAKE (bapt: 3 Feb 1833 St Marys Church, Weston Zoyland, Somerset, England d: 11 May 1898 in Grayslake, Illinois, U.S.A)  mar: 16 Oct 1858 in Lake County, Illinois, U.S.A. to LAVINIA TUCKER (b: 1839 in England d: 1889 in Grayslake, Illinois, U.S.A)

vii. ROBERT BEAKE (Bapt: 17 Apr 1835 St Marys Church, Weston Zoyland; d: 1Y; Bur: 27 Nov 1836 St Marys Church, Weston Zoyland;

viii. ROBERT BEAKE (b. 25 Jun 1838, Weston Zoyland, Somerset, England; Bapt: 21 Jul 1838 St Marys Church, Weston Zoyland, Somerset; d. 1884, Bridgwater); mar: 9 Apr 1862 St John the Baptist, Eastover,Bridgewater to ELIZABETH TRAPNELL ASHILL,  (b. 23 Jul 1841, Chedzoy, Somerset; d: abt. Dec 1906 Bridgewater, Somerset.

Please contact family researcher Catherine - direct descendant of Robert and Elizabeth nee Ashill,if you can help!
ix. MARY BEAKE (b. 1840, Weston Zoyland, Somerset, England) (This may be her...... mar: 10 Jun 1866 at Bristol (St Matthias), Gloucestershire to Frederick Sims)

x. ALFRED BEAKE, b. 1846, Weston Zoyland, Somerset,England; d. 1866, Clifton.