Issac Saunders Blacksmith

A Memory of Binstead.

In 1970-72 I worked for a man in Sydney, Australia who told me that his Great-Grand-Mother came from the Isle of Wight, and that is all that he knew of his 'roots'.
In 2015 I said that I would try and find some more information about his ancestors. I spent many months delving into the past, and visiting the island. I discovered that my friend's 3x Great-Grand-Father was the Blacksmith, Issac Saunders (1782-1851) who lived with his wife Hannah and family at 'The Forge' (Frith Ref.B772009 / B772010 / B772012) the workshop being attached to the left side of the house as you face it and is still there to-date, but appears to be incorporated as part of the house now.
When Issac died in 1851 Hannah took over as the Blacksmith until 1859.
One of their daughters, Elizabeth, married James Hutchings (Born 1814 in Bath, Somerset); my friend's 2x Great-Grand-Father; he became the Landlord of 'The Fleming Arms' (Frith Ref. B772003 / B772019) from 1851-1853; he was also a builder and carpenter employing a workforce.
James and Elizabeth had a son, named James William who also became a builder and carpenter; he married Dinah Elizabeth Loader, (daughter of a Butcher, Robert Loader) at Holy Cross Church (Frith Ref. 8145 / B772001) in August 1869; they had four children. Sadly James William died of TB in 1878, He was buried in Binstead Old Cemetery; his mother Elizabeth died in 1881 is buried alongside him.
Great-Grand-Mother Dinah Elizabeth took herself and the four children to Tasmania circa 1882; one of her sons being my friend's Grand-Father.
One can still visit 'The Fleming Arms' Public House which is just across the road from 'The Forge'.