The Family of Merit Best of Durweston, Dorset

Merit was born in 1819 at Durweston. He married Ann Sophia Harvey, a laundress, and they had one daughter, Susan (who seems to have become Sophie as she grew older). They lived at Blandford St Mary and Brianston.

Merit was a labourer at Church Farm, Blandford St Mary in 1841, Labourer at Brianston in 1851, and Gardener there in 1861. By 1891 he was Parish Clerk at Blandford St Mary.

Ann died in 1870 and Merit married Matilda in 1872. Matilda died in 1890 and Merit died in 1894.

Parents

• Susan, born 1844, was a dressmaker before she married. She married Robert Blanchard and they had six children.
  • Robert F BLANCHARD
  • Frederick BLANCHARD
  • James BLANCHARD
  • Edith M BLANCHARD
  • Ellen BLANCHARD
  • Ernest E ? BLANCHARD

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