William Phillips was born near Beaulieu Rails to William and Hannah (nee Gregory) in May 1816, the eldest of their thirteen children. 

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Jane Hill was born to George (a shoemaker) and Martha Hill in 1820 who lived in East End.

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William was married to Jane at Boldre Church on 5th June 1838 by the Rev Charles Shrubb when she was still a minor so parental consent would have been needed.

 

Daughter Letitia was born on 1846 but died in infancy aged 2. She was buried at the chapel on 31st March 1848 by Rev John Bartlett Burt.

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​In 1851 William and Jane are living in Thorney Hill with four children, David (11), Arabella (10), Job (2) and Leah (2 months). William, assisted by young David, is running a 10 acre part of Hill farm.

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In 1861 William and Jane, Job (12), Leah (10), Frederick (6) and Emma (3) are living at Hill Farm and are working a 20 acre part of it. Son David, now 23, and his wife Ellen are also farming an additional three acres there and have an infant son. Their house is also used as a Baptist Chapel.

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In 1871, William, now 56, was assisted by sons Job (22) and Fred (16) on the farm. Son David and his family were at the neighbouring property. Leah was in service as a housemaid to surgeon William Finch and his family at Clayside House, Fugglestone St. Peter (near Salisbury).

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​By 1881 William and Jane's family have left home and William was working as a general labourer. Leah (29) was still in service to the Finch family who had moved to Bemerton House, Fugglestone St Peter.

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William was buried at the chapel by Rev John Bartlett Burt on 21st August 1883.

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Following William's death daughter Leah moved back to Thorney Hill to live with her mother. The 1891 census shows granddaughter Julia is also living with them. Leah died the following year, aged 41.

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Jane was still in Thorney Hill 10 years later living with two of her granddaughters, both aged 18; Julia and Edith Hann (daughter of Emma who died in 1895).

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​Jane died in 1904 but it is uncertain whether she was actually buried at the chapel as this post dates the surviving burial register.