Lucy Penny nee Leach
Wesleyan Chapel, Somerton
Lucy Leach (1789-1871) was born in Thorne Coffin and baptised on Christmas Day. She was probably the daughter of
John Leach (1740-1806) and Mary Leach.
In 1810 the will of Mary Leach of Thorne Coffin, the widow of John Leach leaves bequests to her children: John;
Maria Green; Sarah [or Sabina]; Lucy; Tabitha Moore; Mary and 3 Andrews grandchildren: John Leach, George and Mary.
Lucy Leach married John Penny (a farmer) in 1813. John was the widower of Ann Allen (married 1788 in Pylle).
John and Lucy Penny had three known children (born in Charlton Mackrell): Ann Leach Penny (1814-1889), Hugh Penny (1815-1844)
and Lucy (1817-1857). John was at least 20 years older than Lucy and had died by 1841. Lucy then kept a draper/grocer’s shop in Broad Street,
and subsequently describes herself as a proprietor of houses.
On 27 July 1858, the following advert appeared in the Sherborne Mercury:
SOMERTON
TO DRAPERS AND TAILORS
TO be LET, with immediate possession, in
BROAD-STREET, SOMERTON, and excellent SHOP, with
a good and commodious DWELLING HOUSE attached.
Fixtures in the shop good and complete. Rent moderate. A
good general Drapery and Tailoring business has been
carried on for many years to advantage.
Apply to Lucy Penny, Somerton; or, if by letter,
address to SAMUEL BARNARD, Somerton.
Lucy's daughter Ann Leach Penny married Walter Walter (1804-1877) and lived at Greenhill Farm, Lower Foddington (Farrington),
Babcary. They had eleven children between 1838 and 1856, all of whom survived into adulthood. See
Lucy's son Hugh was a schoolmaster in New Street, Somerton and died unmarried.
Lucy's daughter Lucy married Samuel Barnard (1812-1869) from Somerton in 1852. He was a widower who was the son of
Indoe Barnard (c. 1780-1856) and Jane Barnard (c.1784-1858).
Through her daughter Ann's marriage to Walter Walter, Lucy has descendants with surnames including: Walter,
Locke, Hume, Heppell, Sproat, Hagerman, Welch, Seden, Newbury, Hayes, Storey, Aldridge, and Speck. This list only takes in her
known great grandchildren, spanning many parts of the world including: North Shields, Kansas, Peterstone-super-Ely, Glastonbury, Portsmouth and
Slough! Her oldest grandson died in the American Civil War aged 23, her youngest during the Second World War aged 86. A true 'character' - her will
favouring her granddaughters over grandsons seems somewhat ahead of its time!
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