Tucker, Mr Wm

Singer

Collection date: Jan 1907

Area: Somerset - Bridgwater Surrounds

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William Tucker of Ashcott (1843-1919): age 65, 17 songs 15 Jan 1907: Three of William Tucker’s songs made it into Folk Songs from Somerset vol 4 – the suggestive ‘Gently Johnny my Jingalo’ (FT1187); the murder ballad ‘Cruel Ship’s Carpenter’ (FT1181); and the cumulative song ‘Tree in the Wood’ FT1467 (the egg was in the nest/limb/branch/tree etc).

William Tucker was baptised at High Ham church on 1/10/1843, son of Samuel Tucker, labourer and his wife Elizabeth. On 3/10/1867 at Pitney church William married Mary Ann Gillett. He could not sign his name. William was a labourer and Mary a dressmaker. They lived in Pitney initially but had moved by 1891 to Berhill, nr Piper’s Inn just 1 mile SE of Ashcott on the Polden Hills. They had 5 children. William was listed as an ‘engine driver’ in 1891 and as a ‘Quarryman’ in 1901 (RG13/2286 f173 p1). Sharp found him stone-breaking when he met him in 1907. William died in Jan qr 1919 aged 75 (5c 553).