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

 

The 1841 census shows them living in Beaulieu Rails with son David, aged 3. Their daughter Letitia was born in 1846 but died in infancy, aged two. She was buried at the chapel on 31st March 1848 by Rev John Bartlett Burt.

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​Around 1850 William and Jane moved to Thorney Hill with four children, David (10), Arabella (9), Job (1). William, assisted by 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, Bransgore 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 at Clayside House, Fugglestone St. Peter (near Salisbury).

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​By 1881 William and Jane's children 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, possibly because he had grown up there and daughter Letitia was buried there.

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Following William's death, daughter Leah moved back to Thorney Hill to live with her mother. The 1891 census shows Leah's daughter 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 (d. 1895).

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​Jane died in 1904 but it is uncertain if her inscription is simply commemorative or she was actually buried at the chapel as this post dates the surviving burial register.