Fourth Generation

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23. Lydia SIMS was born on 5 Sep 1792 in Burley, Hampshire. She was christened on 8 Oct 1792 in Ringwood, Hampshire. She died of Infirmities (certified) on 4 Feb 1854 in Burley, Hampshire. This was the day before her daughter Flora White sailed for Australia. She was buried on 11 Feb 1854 in Burley, Hampshire.

Lydia SIMS and Moses TANNER lived in Picket Post, Hampshire between 1811 and 1817. All the fields and houses at Picket Post were extra-parochial, a sort of no-mans-land in the New Forest, and this led to the very thriving trade of baby farming which reached its peak during the Napoleonic Wars. Between the years 1810 and 1817, more than a dozen illegitimate births are recorded in the Ringwood Register and there were probably many more.
The entries read 'Elizabeth, base born, 1810'; 'Henry John, Unknown'; 'William of Martha Pain Hill (Pennell?) 1816'; (Martha came back and had Louisa the next year!) and poor little 'Harriott, Unknown aged 4' was presumably left on the doorstep. Mrs Lydia Tanner looked after all these children as well as producing a regular stream of children herself. They were married on 7 Jul 1811 in Ringwood, Hampshire. In 1811, at the time of his marriage, Moses lived in Picket Post. They lived in Shobley, Hampshire in 1821. They lived in Picket Post, Hampshire in 1823. They lived in Ringwood, Hampshire in 1827. They lived in Shappen, Burley, Hampshire in 1851. In 1851, Charles Tanner aged 11 was a visitor in Moses' and Lydia's home. He was the son of Robert Charles Tanner and was their grandson.
The word 'Shappen', the name of the part of Burley where they lived, applied to the spot where dancing round the maypole took place. Moses TANNER (son of John TANNER and Ann TRIM) was born about 1790 in Harbridge, Hampshire. He was christened on 3 Oct 1790 in Harbridge, Hampshire. In 1813 he was an Innkeeper in Picket Post, Hampshire. It is said that Moses Tanner was involved with smuggling. Many inns in the area had secret passages. The inn at Picket Post was on the main toll road and was close to Burley. The inn's license was revoked in 1890.
Smuggling was rife in this area and was not confined to villains or wastrels but for the most part to industrious farmworkers or tradesmen who were recruited to help land the goods. The usual procedure when a run of goods was to be made was for the lugger to heave-ho off Hengistbury Head until the landers on shore signalled that the coast was clear of Excise men.
As soon as the signal was given, usually by a flashing lantern, the ship would be run on to the shore. Picket Post had sweeping views to the Isle of Wight and the Purbecks and was a natural high point for the lantern which was visible for miles around. At night time a lantern would be hoisted to the top of the highest oak tree on Vereley Hill near Picket Post.
The tree overhung the cottage of Murphy and Charles Bromfield who made themselves responsible for these signals. The iron hook by which the lamp was hoisted was found embedded in the topmost branch of this tree when it was cut down. In 1851 he was an Agricultural Labourer in Burley, Hampshire. In 1860 he was a Farm Labourer in Burley, Hampshire. He died of Chronic Bronchitis (certified) on 20 Oct 1860 in Burley, Hampshire. He was buried on 25 Oct 1860 in Burley, Hampshire. Lydia SIMS and Moses TANNER had the following children:

41
i.
Unknown TANNER was born about 1811.
+42
ii.
Flora White TANNER.
+43
iii.
Ellen (Helen) TANNER.
+44
iv.
Robert Charles TANNER.
+45
v.
Henry George TANNER.
46
vi.
Elizabeth A TANNER was born about 1821 in Burley, Hampshire. She was christened on 14 Oct 1821 in Ringwood, Hampshire. She lived in Sawmills, Avington, Hampshire in 1881.
47
vii.
Maria TANNER was born about 1823 in Burley, Hampshire. She was christened on 27 Aug 1823 in Ringwood, Hampshire.
+48
viii.
Alfred TANNER.
49
ix.
Abel TANNER was born about 1826 in Burley, Hampshire. He was christened on 9 May 1827 in Ringwood, Hampshire. It is thought that Abel went to America.
50
x.
Austin TANNER was born about 1827 in Burley, Hampshire. In 1851 he was a Footman in Marylebone, Middlesex. He lived in 19 Park Crescent, Marlebone, London in 1851. He died on 7 Jul 1856 in Sway, Boldre, Hampshire. He was buried on 12 Jul 1856 in Burley, Hampshire.
51
xi.
Anthony TANNER was born about 1828 in Burley, Hampshire. He was christened on 26 Jul 1828 in Bransgore, Hampshire. The Church of St Mary the Virgin was erected as a Chapel of Ease at the cost of £2800 in 1823.
52
xii.
William TANNER was born about 1829 in Burley, Hampshire. He was christened on 21 Feb 1830 in Bransgore, Hampshire. He died about 1830 in Burley, Hampshire.
53
xiii.
William Bird TANNER was christened on 2 May 1830 in Bransgore, Hampshire. He was born about 1830 in Burley, Hampshire.

41	i.	Unknown TANNER was born about 1811.
+42	ii.	Flora White TANNER.
+43	iii.	Ellen (Helen) TANNER.
+44	iv.	Robert Charles TANNER.
+45	v.	Henry George TANNER.
46	vi.	Elizabeth A TANNER was born about 1821 in Burley, Hampshire. She was christened on 14 Oct 1821 in Ringwood, Hampshire. She lived in Sawmills, Avington, Hampshire in 1881.
47	vii.	Maria TANNER was born about 1823 in Burley, Hampshire. She was christened on 27 Aug 1823 in Ringwood, Hampshire.
+48	viii.	Alfred TANNER.
49	ix.	Abel TANNER was born about 1826 in Burley, Hampshire. He was christened on 9 May 1827 in Ringwood, Hampshire. It is thought that Abel went to America.
50	x.	Austin TANNER was born about 1827 in Burley, Hampshire. In 1851 he was a Footman in Marylebone, Middlesex. He lived in 19 Park Crescent, Marlebone, London in 1851. He died on 7 Jul 1856 in Sway, Boldre, Hampshire. He was buried on 12 Jul 1856 in Burley, Hampshire.
51	xi.	Anthony TANNER was born about 1828 in Burley, Hampshire. He was christened on 26 Jul 1828 in Bransgore, Hampshire. The Church of St Mary the Virgin was erected as a Chapel of Ease at the cost of £2800 in 1823.
52	xii.	William TANNER was born about 1829 in Burley, Hampshire. He was christened on 21 Feb 1830 in Bransgore, Hampshire. He died about 1830 in Burley, Hampshire.
53	xiii.	William Bird TANNER was christened on 2 May 1830 in Bransgore, Hampshire. He was born about 1830 in Burley, Hampshire.