North Petherton in Slater’s Directory, 1852-1853

Extracted information about residents, trades, shops, churches, schools, public services and organisations

Scope. This document extracts every legible North Petherton entry found in the supplied Slater’s Royal National and Commercial Directory files, concentrating on the Somersetshire index and the Bridgewater & North Petherton section. Where the source gives only “North Petherton” as an address, no street or house name was printed.

Transcription note. The original pages are nineteenth-century scans. Spellings and abbreviations have been retained where possible. A few difficult readings are noted in the table comments rather than silently corrected.

Reference	Source location
p51	1852-1853_Part16.pdf, PDF p.10, printed p.51
p52	1852-1853_Part16.pdf, PDF p.11, printed p.52
p53	1852-1853_Part16.pdf, PDF p.12, printed p.53
p54	1852-1853_Part16.pdf, PDF p.13, printed p.54
p55	1852-1853_Part16.pdf, PDF p.14, printed p.55
index	1852-1853_Part15.pdf, PDF p.9, Somersetshire index

1. Summary of North Petherton

Topic	Extracted information
Location/status	North Petherton is described as a village in the parish and hundred of the same name, about three miles from Bridgewater.
Built form	It consisted chiefly of one street of well-built houses.
Principal buildings	The church, chapels for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists, and a national school are singled out.
St Mary’s Church	The parish church of St Mary is described as a fine structure with a lofty tower. The living was a vicarage in the patronage and incumbency of Rev. Arthur Trewman, M.A.
Market/fairs	A large corn market had formerly been held there, but had long since declined in favour of Bridgewater. Fairs for cattle were held on 1 May and on the Monday before 13 November.
Population	The population is given as about 4,000.
Postal service	The North Petherton post office was run by Maria Warner, Post Mistress. Letters from London etc. arrived every morning at seven and were despatched every evening at six.

Finding on clubs/groups. No clubs or social groups were explicitly listed in the North Petherton entries. The named local organisations are religious bodies, schools, the post office and district registration services.

2. Churches, schools, public services and other organisations

Type	Name / organisation	Information	Source
Village / parish / hundred	North Petherton	Village in the parish and hundred of its name; about three miles from Bridgewater; population about 4,000.	p51
Post Office	Post Office, North Petherton	Maria Warner, Post Mistress. Letters arrived every morning at 7 and were despatched every evening at 6.	p51
Parish church	St Mary’s Church, North Petherton	Fine structure with a lofty tower; living a vicarage. Rev. Arthur Trewman, M.A., vicar; Rev. James Thirlwall, B.A., curate.	p51, p55
Dissenting chapel	Independent Chapel, North Petherton	Minister: Rev. George Willets.	p55
Methodist chapel	Wesleyan Methodist chapel, North Petherton	The places of worship section lists Wesleyan Methodists at Ball’s Lane and North Petherton. No minister is named in the entry.	p55
School	Wroth & National School, North Petherton	John W. Havill, master; Elizabeth Ridge, mistress.	p52
School / academy	Alexander John	Boarding and day school, North Petherton.	p51
School / academy	Alexander Mary	Boarding and day school, North Petherton.	p51
School / academy	Crosswell Thomas S.	Boarding and day school, North Petherton.	p51
School / academy	Mulford Elizabeth	School/academy entry at North Petherton.	p52
School / academy	Shirley Misses	School/academy entry at North Petherton.	p52
Registrar	North Petherton district registrar	Thomas Rich is listed as registrar for North Petherton in the registrars for the district.	p55
Market/fairs	Former corn market and cattle fairs	Former large corn market had declined in favour of Bridgewater. Fairs were held 1 May and the Monday before 13 November for cattle.	p51

3. Gentry, clergy and named residents living in North Petherton

Name as listed	Address as printed	What they did / status	Source
Bailey Miss Elizabeth	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Colthurst Mr. Robert Jolliffe	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Colthurst Mr. William Beadon	North Petherton	Gentry/resident; also listed as William B. Colthurst, maltster	p51, p53
Crosswell Mr. J. H.	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Crosswell Mrs.	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Gatcombe Joseph R., Esq.	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Harrison Mrs. Ann	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Jones Mr. John Webber	N. Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Starkey Mr. Anthony	Nth. Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Thirlwall Rev. Thomas James, B.A.	North Petherton	Clergy/resident; curate of St Mary’s Church, North Petherton	p51, p55
Trewman Rev. Arthur, M.A.	North Petherton	Clergy/resident; vicar of St Mary’s Church, North Petherton	p51, p55
Warren Mrs.	North Petherton	Resident	p51
Willets Rev. George	N. Petherton	Clergy/resident; minister of the Independent Chapel, North Petherton	p51, p55

4. Alphabetical people and entity index

Purpose. This index combines the North Petherton resident, occupation, school, church and organisation entries. A person may appear in more than one trade heading in the original directory; those roles are combined here.

Person / entity	Where they lived or were located	What they did / how listed	Source
Alexander John	North Petherton	academies and schools (Boarding and day school); School / academy: Boarding and day school, North Petherton.	p51
Alexander Mary	North Petherton	academies and schools (Boarding and day school); School / academy: Boarding and day school, North Petherton.	p51
Amery Henry	North Petherton	carpenters and joiners	p52
Bailey Miss Elizabeth	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Barnard John	North Petherton	tailors (Name difficult in scan; transcribed as Barnard)	p54
Bennett Charles	North Petherton	basket makers	p52
Bennett Henry	North Petherton	boot and shoe makers	p52
Brown & Tice	North Petherton	milliners and dress makers	p53
Burston Samuel	North Petherton	maltsters	p53
Chick John	North Petherton	wheelwrights	p54
Churchill George	North Petherton	shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	p54
Churchill James	North Petherton	saddlers and harness makers	p53
Clatworthy Charles	North Petherton	masons and bricklayers (Printed as Nth. Petherton); tailors	p53, p54
Coles Charlotte	North Petherton	blacksmiths	p52
Colthurst Mr. Robert Jolliffe	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Colthurst Mr. William Beadon	North Petherton	Gentry/resident; also listed as William B. Colthurst, maltster	p51, p53
Colthurst William B.	North Petherton	maltsters	p53
Crocker John	North Petherton	braziers and tin-plate workers	p52
Crosswell Mr. J. H.	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Crosswell Mrs.	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Crosswell Thomas S.	North Petherton	academies and schools (Boarding and day school); School / academy: Boarding and day school, North Petherton.	p51
Davey Solomon	North Petherton	carpenters and joiners; shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	p52, p54
Durham William	North Petherton	retailers of beer	p54
England William	North Petherton	watch and clock makers	p54
Evans John	North Petherton	blacksmiths	p52
Former corn market and cattle fairs	North Petherton	Market/fairs: Former large corn market had declined in favour of Bridgewater. Fairs were held 1 May and the Monday before 13 November for cattle.	p51
Foster Abraham	North Petherton	linen drapers	p53
Gatcombe Joseph R., Esq.	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
George Inn – John Ridge	North Petherton	inns (Listed under inns; see also taverns and public houses)	p53
Harden Richard	North Petherton	bakers	p52
Harden William	North Petherton	millers	p53
Harrison Mrs. Ann	North Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Havill John W.	North Petherton	Master of Wroth & National School	p52
Horsford Charles	North Petherton	coopers	p53
Hunt William	North Petherton	blacksmiths	p52
Independent Chapel, North Petherton	North Petherton	Dissenting chapel: Minister: Rev. George Willets.	p55
Jeanes George	North Petherton	butchers	p52
Jones Mr. John Webber	N. Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Lawless George	North Petherton	retailers of beer	p54
Loscombe Thomas	North Petherton	painters, plumbers and glaziers (Surname difficult in scan; transcribed as Loscombe)	p53
Mulford Elizabeth	North Petherton	academies and schools (School/academy entry); School / academy: School/academy entry at North Petherton.	p52
Mulford Philip	North Petherton	boot and shoe makers; retailers of beer	p52, p54
Mulford Robert	North Petherton	builders; grocers and tea dealers (See also shopkeepers etc.); maltsters	p52, p53
New Inn – James Tucker	North Petherton	taverns and public houses	p54
North Petherton	North Petherton	Village / parish / hundred: Village in the parish and hundred of its name; about three miles from Bridgewater; population about 4,000.	p51
North Petherton district registrar	North Petherton	Registrar: Thomas Rich is listed as registrar for North Petherton in the registrars for the district.	p55
Owens George	North Petherton	retailers of beer	p54
Parren Sarah	North Petherton	straw bonnet makers	p54
Parsons Henry	North Petherton	attorneys	p52
Pocock George	North Petherton	shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	p54
Post Office, North Petherton	North Petherton	Post Office: Maria Warner, Post Mistress. Letters arrived every morning at 7 and were despatched every evening at 6.	p51
Pratt John	North Petherton	boot and shoe makers	p52
Pursey George	North Petherton	saddlers and harness makers	p53
Rich Thomas	North Petherton; North Petherton district	Registrar for North Petherton; builders	p52, p55
Richards Charlotte	North Petherton	milliners and dress makers	p53
Richards Henry	North Petherton	boot and shoe makers	p52
Ridge Elizabeth	North Petherton	Mistress of Wroth & National School	p52
Ridge Henry	North Petherton	wheelwrights	p54
Ridge John	North Petherton	wheelwrights	p54
Rogers Francis	North Petherton	shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	p54
Rogers James	North Petherton	butchers	p52
Rogers John	North Petherton	butchers	p52
Searle John	North Petherton	painters, plumbers and glaziers	p53
Shirley Misses	North Petherton	academies and schools (School/academy entry); School / academy: School/academy entry at North Petherton.	p52
Slocombe James	North Petherton	builders; carpenters and joiners	p52
Slocombe William	North Petherton	basket makers	p52
Squibbs Moses	North Petherton	shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries; tailors	p54
St Mary’s Church, North Petherton	North Petherton	Parish church: Fine structure with a lofty tower; living a vicarage. Rev. Arthur Trewman, M.A., vicar; Rev. James Thirlwall, B.A., curate.	p51, p55
Starkey Mr. Anthony	Nth. Petherton	Gentry/resident	p51
Starkey Thomas	North Petherton	brewers; maltsters	p52, p53
Swan – Thomas Godfrey	North Petherton	taverns and public houses	p54
Thirlwall Rev. Thomas James, B.A.	North Petherton	Clergy/resident; curate of St Mary’s Church, North Petherton	p51, p55
Tilsley Horatio Nelson	North Petherton	surgeons (Printed as Nrth. Petherton)	p54
Townsend Joseph	North Petherton	hair dressers	p53
Tozer William	North Petherton	bakers; shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	p52, p54
Trewman Rev. Arthur, M.A.	North Petherton	Clergy/resident; vicar of St Mary’s Church, North Petherton	p51, p55
Tucker John	North Petherton	bakers; millers	p52, p53
Verionr Charles	North Petherton	attorneys (Name retained as printed/legible in the scan)	p52
Warner Elizabeth	North Petherton	basket makers	p52
Warner George	North Petherton	basket makers	p52
Warner John	North Petherton	basket makers	p52
Warner Maria	North Petherton	Post Mistress at the North Petherton Post Office	p51
Warner Stephen	North Petherton	shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries; tailors	p54
Warren John C.	North Petherton	bakers	p52
Warren Mrs.	North Petherton	Resident	p51
Wesleyan Methodist chapel, North Petherton	North Petherton	Methodist chapel: The places of worship section lists Wesleyan Methodists at Ball’s Lane and North Petherton. No minister is named in the entry.	p55
Wilkins Joseph	North Petherton	retailers of beer	p54
Willets Rev. George	N. Petherton	Clergy/resident; minister of the Independent Chapel, North Petherton	p51, p55
Williams James	North Petherton	boot and shoe makers	p52
Williams William Frederick	North Petherton	linen drapers	p53
Wroth & National School	North Petherton	school (John W. Havill, master; Elizabeth Ridge, mistress)	p52
Wroth & National School, North Petherton	North Petherton	School: John W. Havill, master; Elizabeth Ridge, mistress.	p52

5. Shops, trades and businesses listed for North Petherton

Note. This table follows the directory’s trade headings. It therefore records multiple entries for people who were listed under more than one heading, such as Tucker John, Mulford Robert, Starkey Thomas, Squibbs Moses and Warner Stephen.

Directory heading	Name / business	Address	Details	Source
Academies and schools	Alexander John	North Petherton	Boarding and day school	p51
Academies and schools	Alexander Mary	North Petherton	Boarding and day school	p51
Academies and schools	Crosswell Thomas S.	North Petherton	Boarding and day school	p51
Academies and schools	Mulford Elizabeth	North Petherton	School/academy entry	p52
Academies and schools	Shirley Misses	North Petherton	School/academy entry	p52
School	Wroth & National School	North Petherton	John W. Havill, master; Elizabeth Ridge, mistress	p52
Attorneys	Parsons Henry	North Petherton		p52
Attorneys	Verionr Charles	North Petherton	Name retained as printed/legible in the scan	p52
Bakers	Harden Richard	North Petherton		p52
Bakers	Tozer William	North Petherton		p52
Bakers	Tucker John	North Petherton		p52
Bakers	Warren John C.	North Petherton		p52
Basket makers	Bennett Charles	North Petherton		p52
Basket makers	Slocombe William	North Petherton		p52
Basket makers	Warner Elizabeth	North Petherton		p52
Basket makers	Warner George	North Petherton		p52
Basket makers	Warner John	North Petherton		p52
Blacksmiths	Coles Charlotte	North Petherton		p52
Blacksmiths	Evans John	North Petherton		p52
Blacksmiths	Hunt William	North Petherton		p52
Boot and shoe makers	Bennett Henry	North Petherton		p52
Boot and shoe makers	Mulford Philip	North Petherton		p52
Boot and shoe makers	Pratt John	North Petherton		p52
Boot and shoe makers	Richards Henry	North Petherton		p52
Boot and shoe makers	Williams James	North Petherton		p52
Braziers and tin-plate workers	Crocker John	North Petherton		p52
Brewers	Starkey Thomas	North Petherton		p52
Builders	Mulford Robert	North Petherton		p52
Builders	Rich Thomas	North Petherton		p52
Builders	Slocombe James	North Petherton		p52
Butchers	Jeanes George	North Petherton		p52
Butchers	Rogers James	North Petherton		p52
Butchers	Rogers John	North Petherton		p52
Carpenters and joiners	Amery Henry	North Petherton		p52
Carpenters and joiners	Davey Solomon	North Petherton		p52
Carpenters and joiners	Slocombe James	North Petherton		p52
Coopers	Horsford Charles	North Petherton		p53
Grocers and tea dealers	Mulford Robert	North Petherton	See also shopkeepers etc.	p53
Hair dressers	Townsend Joseph	North Petherton		p53
Inns	George Inn – John Ridge	North Petherton	Listed under inns; see also taverns and public houses	p53
Linen drapers	Foster Abraham	North Petherton		p53
Linen drapers	Williams William Frederick	North Petherton		p53
Maltsters	Burston Samuel	North Petherton		p53
Maltsters	Colthurst William B.	North Petherton		p53
Maltsters	Mulford Robert	North Petherton		p53
Maltsters	Starkey Thomas	North Petherton		p53
Masons and bricklayers	Clatworthy Charles	North Petherton	Printed as Nth. Petherton	p53
Millers	Harden William	North Petherton		p53
Millers	Tucker John	North Petherton		p53
Milliners and dress makers	Brown & Tice	North Petherton		p53
Milliners and dress makers	Richards Charlotte	North Petherton		p53
Painters, plumbers and glaziers	Loscombe Thomas	North Petherton	Surname difficult in scan; transcribed as Loscombe	p53
Painters, plumbers and glaziers	Searle John	North Petherton		p53
Saddlers and harness makers	Churchill James	North Petherton		p53
Saddlers and harness makers	Pursey George	North Petherton		p53
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Churchill George	North Petherton		p54
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Davey Solomon	North Petherton		p54
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Pocock George	North Petherton		p54
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Rogers Francis	North Petherton		p54
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Tozer William	North Petherton		p54
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Squibbs Moses	North Petherton		p54
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Warner Stephen	North Petherton		p54
Straw bonnet makers	Parren Sarah	North Petherton		p54
Surgeons	Tilsley Horatio Nelson	North Petherton	Printed as Nrth. Petherton	p54
Tailors	Barnard John	North Petherton	Name difficult in scan; transcribed as Barnard	p54
Tailors	Clatworthy Charles	North Petherton		p54
Tailors	Squibbs Moses	North Petherton		p54
Tailors	Warner Stephen	North Petherton		p54
Taverns and public houses	New Inn – James Tucker	North Petherton		p54
Taverns and public houses	Swan – Thomas Godfrey	North Petherton		p54
Retailers of beer	Durham William	North Petherton		p54
Retailers of beer	Lawless George	North Petherton		p54
Retailers of beer	Mulford Philip	North Petherton		p54
Retailers of beer	Owens George	North Petherton		p54
Retailers of beer	Wilkins Joseph	North Petherton		p54
Watch and clock makers	England William	North Petherton		p54
Wheelwrights	Chick John	North Petherton		p54
Wheelwrights	Ridge Henry	North Petherton		p54
Wheelwrights	Ridge John	North Petherton		p54

6. Quick trade summary by sector

Sector	North Petherton entries
Attorneys	Parsons Henry; Verionr Charles
Bakers	Harden Richard; Tozer William; Tucker John; Warren John C.
Basket makers	Bennett Charles; Slocombe William; Warner Elizabeth; Warner George; Warner John
Blacksmiths	Coles Charlotte; Evans John; Hunt William
Boot and shoe makers	Bennett Henry; Mulford Philip; Pratt John; Richards Henry; Williams James
Braziers and tin-plate workers	Crocker John
Brewers	Starkey Thomas
Builders	Mulford Robert; Rich Thomas; Slocombe James
Butchers	Jeanes George; Rogers James; Rogers John
Carpenters and joiners	Amery Henry; Davey Solomon; Slocombe James
Coopers	Horsford Charles
Grocers and tea dealers	Mulford Robert
Hair dressers	Townsend Joseph
Inns	George Inn – John Ridge
Linen drapers	Foster Abraham; Williams William Frederick
Maltsters	Burston Samuel; Colthurst William B.; Mulford Robert; Starkey Thomas
Masons and bricklayers	Clatworthy Charles
Millers	Harden William; Tucker John
Milliners and dress makers	Brown & Tice; Richards Charlotte
Painters, plumbers and glaziers	Loscombe Thomas; Searle John
Retailers of beer	Durham William; Lawless George; Mulford Philip; Owens George; Wilkins Joseph
Saddlers and harness makers	Churchill James; Pursey George
Shopkeepers and dealers in groceries and sundries	Churchill George; Davey Solomon; Pocock George; Rogers Francis; Tozer William; Squibbs Moses; Warner Stephen
Straw bonnet makers	Parren Sarah
Surgeons	Tilsley Horatio Nelson
Tailors	Barnard John; Clatworthy Charles; Squibbs Moses; Warner Stephen
Taverns and public houses	New Inn – James Tucker; Swan – Thomas Godfrey
Watch and clock makers	England William
Wheelwrights	Chick John; Ridge Henry; Ridge John

7. Notes on interpretation

• The directory largely uses “North Petherton” as the address, without street-level detail. The village description says it chiefly consisted of one street, but individual entries normally do not identify houses or premises.

• Several entries show the same person under more than one trade heading. This can indicate a combined occupation or business, or a person who appeared in multiple directory categories.

• The source uses the historic spelling “Bridgewater” for Bridgwater.

• The Somersetshire index lists North Petherton and also the inverted form “Petherton, North”, pointing to the detailed section around printed page 51.