[Phoenix]

Baptised 7 January 1711/2, son of Robert House & Mary nee Allen in Puddletown, Dorset.

Married Elizabeth Johnson 14 May 1732 in Puddletown (both parties of Puddletown)

Ran an alehouse at the sign of the Nag's Head at the Travellers' Rest. Probably over many years, but I have just noted the alehouse licence for 1757.

Thomas Hardy wrote a (not very good) poem about the Travellers' Rest and used its location as the setting for the Quiet Woman in Return of the Native. It sounds dark and desolate.

Married secondly Sarah Slade 2 May 1779 by licence in Puddletown. Both signed.

Will made 3 October 1784, leaving a guinea to his eldest daughter Ann, everything else, including two copyhold properties: Travellers' Rest and Castle Hill to his wife and their two children. (Provided Sarah remained a widow, otherwise his infant children got them)

Died 2 February 1785, will proved 25 February 1785. Sarah was executrix and remarried not long afterwards.

Have not visited Puddletown to see whether there is a gravestone. And cannot locate my copy of the local vicar's visiting book which shows that William was living at the Travellers' Rest with the rest of his family in the 1720s.