THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

JOSEPH ROOTS BEARD FALLS FROM GRACE

 Copyright Valerie Martin 1997

Text first published in the West Sussex Gazette 6^th March 1997.

The characters of the various Findon millers over the decades is unknown but no doubt, some were of a dubious nature as in all trades. When the villagers placed their precious grain in the hands of the miller, they only had his word that they would receive their own product back at the end of the milling process. I think that trickery was not uncommon and another's inferior harvest could be bagged ready for collection. It was easy for millers to deliberately substitute, or mix in, flour of an inferior grade. Worse still, to steal some for their own use in an attempt to increase their financial resources.

I can disclose that one Findon Miller who was of a perhaps doubtful nature was Joseph Roots Beard. He was born in Chailey in Sussex and baptised on 10th December 1792 and was the son of Thomas Rootes Beard and Julanna Day a very prosperous Chailey landowner and a Quaker.

Joseph married Elizabeth Gosling on 28th June 1825.    Elizabeth came from a family with a successful grocery shop.

By c.1841, the couple and their son, Richard Marchant Beard, aged 13, were in occupation at Plumpton Windmill in East Sussex.   In 1845, Joseph put the windmill up for sale but for some now unknown reason the sale did not take place.  By c.1951 the Plumpton Windmill was in the occupation of Joseph's son, Richard and he described himself as a miller and farmer employing four men.

In his fifty-ninth year Joseph was miller at the Findon Windmill and residing high on the downs with Elizabeth. They had a thirteen-year old servant girl living with them and her name was Mary Anne Cheesman.

The rest of the Beard family were also doing very well for themselves in 1851.   Joseph's mother was an annuitant in Chailey.   His brother John famed 279 acres in Chailey and employed nine persons.  

In that year, the rates had to be excused in a number of incidences as the inhabitants of Findon were unable to pay. This was the year that Joseph Roots Beard, the Findon miller, was declared insolvent. An ill wind blew, his dreams turned to nightmares and aspirations crashed when disaster struck. The village had hit bad times and the Vestry gathered in the Church on the 17th June —

and they also —

No one knows the course taken by Joseph Roots Beard the insolvent debtor of Findon Windmill. He encountered financial difficulties and shame befell him. Perhaps he heaved a sigh of relief when it all came to an end. The London Gazette revealed the disheartening news for all to read on 9th November —

What happened to Joseph after he departed from Findon I do not know but he was buried at Chailey aged 83 on 25th April 1876.

Continue if you would like to read about milling during The Inbetween Years On The Downs.