Hartland, Mr

Singer

Collection date: Sept 1904

Area: Somerset - Langport & Huish Episcopi

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Mr John Hartland (1847-1905): age 57, 2 songs FT394/5 (‘Spencer the Rover’ & ‘Poor Couple’) on 3 Sept 1904: John Samuel Small Hartland was born 11/7/1847 and baptised on 1/8/1847 at Langport church, son of William Crossman Hartland and wife Mary Ann. William was a confectioner and baker in the 1861 census in Bow St, Langport. He had 3 daughters then a son John.

On 31/1/1872 John Hartland married Sarah Chislett at Pitney church. They had 8 children. In 1881, 1891 and 1901 the family was found at Langport Westover (on the western side of River Parrett and administratively in the parish of Curry Rivel). They were close neighbours to the Knapps Lane families (Mrs Overd, Mrs Hutchings). Sharp records that he got the songs from Mr Hartland in Curry Rivel. Perhaps he was being technically correct as to the parish boundaries or perhaps Mr Hartland was working one mile away from his home in the actual centre of that village. His job was a ‘bill poster’ in 1901 but had been ‘baker’ in both 1881 and 1891.

John Hartland died in the Union Workhouse in Langport and was buried in Curry Rivel church 14/4/1905 aged 57, less than a year after meeting Sharp. It is not clear if he was in any way related to the Langport singer Mrs Kettle (Cattle), whose maiden name was Hartland.