One of Ari’s 4x great-grandfathers was Fred Albert Dibben, born in 1848 in Witchampton, Dorset.
He was the fourth son of Isaac Dibben and Elizabeth Frampton, and was baptised on 3 September 1848 at the church dedicated to St Mary, St Cuthburga & All Saints. The online parish clerk’s page gives a good description of Witchampton: “With its quaint timber-framed and thatched cottages resplendent in summer with honeysuckle, roses and jasmine, the village of Witchampton has been described as one of the most beautiful in the country.”
The 1851 census shows Fred, age 2, with his family in the village. His father Isaac was a miller. Fred was still at school in 1861, while his older brother John was working as a blacksmith. Before the next census, Fred had married Emma Orchard, daughter of William Orchard of Langton Matravers. The marriage took place on 19 May 1870, at the parish church of Corfe Castle.
View from the church, August 2017
Fred gave his occupation as a gardener. In the census of 1871, Fred and Emma are living with Isaac, recently widowed, at Lower Street in Witchampton.
Their daughter Alice Sarah was born later that year, followed by Annie Elizabeth, Lucy Mary, Blanche Edna, and then a son, James Albert, in 1886. By this time Fred was working as a general dealer, and they had moved to West Parley.
An unusual monument in the eastern wall of the church at West Parley. Behind the grille and glass is an urn which apparently contains the heart of the Lady of Lydlinch, who endowed the church in the fourteenth century
Emma died in 1897, and Fred was working as a market gardener at the time of the census in 1901. Lucy, Blanche and James were still at home.
Fred died in December 1908 and was buried at Hampreston.
Witchampton: Sheephouse Drove signpost
Ari, this is how you are related to Fred:
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