Gillard, Job

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1903

Area: Somerset - Hambridge & Westport

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Job Gillard of Hambridge (c1810-1904): age 93, 1 song ‘Gossip Joan’ Aug 1903: Job was baptised at Drayton on 25/12/1810. He married Ann Dinham at Huish Episcopi 1/5/1836 and they had at least 6 children. He is listed as a fisherman throughout the censuses, living at the north end of Hambridge. In 1901 census (RG13 2289 f37 p1) Job is aged 94 and listed as a Fisherman; his second wife Maria was much younger (age 69 in 1901). She had been a laundress and was born in Langport.

In Sharp’s Hampstead lecture (Nov 1903) he describes how he met Joby Gillard, ‘an old man of 98, sitting in a high backed chair before the fire. . . he had apparently lived his long life on the reputation of this song and was inordinately proud of his one and only accomplishment.’ Job was buried 26/4/1904 age 96 (?) in Hambridge. He may have known Marson through angling.