Horler family history

Origins of the name - Horler. I have not been able to determine what the name Horler means so far or where it originates and neither have any other Horler researcher from what I can see. A Reverend Wickham in 'Records of Spade and Terrier" suggests that the name refers to 'coal-carrier' and Horler ancestors were involved in the Somerset coal trade in the 17th through to 19th century. He says that the name is relatively modern and did not exist in Medieval times and that "the name outlived its special application". We can say that the name is peculiar to the North East of Somerset, which is where I can trace the family roots of my grandfather. Apparently until the Victorian era, when travel became more accessible, the name was almost exclusively in this part of Somerset. In 1891 the name was mainly found in Somerset with some other Horlers in the southern counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Hampshire and some in south Wales. Variants of the Horler name include Harler, Horlor, Harlor and sometimes Horley.

Horler family post war history. My mother's parents were Harry and Hebe Horler and they moved to Hartmoor Farm, Underhill, East Knoyle in the 1950's where Harry worked for the Glencoat family. In mid-1982 Harry and Hebe moved to the Cocked Hat in the same village and Harry continued to look after various animals - chickens, sheep and horses. His particular affinity for horses lasted through his life and in earlier years he used to 'break in' new horses for riding, not an easy task. They eventually returned to Somerset and lived for the rest of their 'retirement' (although Harry always laboured in his garden and Hebe in the home) at a bungalow in St Cuthberts Road in Wells. Harry outliving Hebe by a few years spending his last couple of years in a local nursing home.

1920 - 1950. From the 1930's until the 1950's Henry (or Harry as he was more commonly called) and Hebe Horler lived at Sharcombe Farm in the small village of Dinder which is between Shepton Mallet and Croscombe. It was whilst at Sharcombe that Dawn and her two elder sisters, Barbara and Pat were born. Sharcombe days are remembered fondly by all. Harry started working Sharcombe Farm for the Summerville family and later Lord Strathconan. Sharcombe was in these days apparently a model farm and well kept. Harry was in a reserved occupation during the war and, I believe, served with the Home Guard. They took land workers onto the farm and also evacuees from London. Harry was a 'special constable' whilst living in Dinder and enjoyed playing for the village cricket team, for which he was recognised in later life as an honorary president. He supported Bristol City football club and on occasion used to police a match at Ashton Gate (with more an eye on the match than the fans I expect).

1820 - 1920. Harry's parents were Matthias Tremeer Horler and Minnie Horler. Minnie was from the Say family of Croscombe and her father was for a time the village blacksmith Robert Say. Robert and Harriet are buried in Croscombe churchyard and the gravestone reads of Robert "he laboured hard during his life for those he loved and left us to remember him" which is testimony to the great respect in which he must have been held. There is an interesting story about her mother Harriet Say (nee Rhymes) who in the 1870's was involved in the struggle to protect the village cross (see documents for full story). There are many Say's buried in Croscombe churchyard and they would seem to have been a prominant local family in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Say is a Norman name and I believe that according to accounts that Robert and his daughter Thurza were very tall that this may well be where me and my cousins get our height from. Matthias Tremeer Horler was a grocer in later life however was for many years a Royal Marine. He met his future wife Minnie whilst they were both working at Bath workhouse between his two stints in miltary services. He was in the Royal Marine Light Infantry from 1889 until 1899 and rejoined and served with them during World War 1. In WW1 he was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig (signed by the Minister for War Churchill) for gallant and distinguished services in the field. He was according to my grandfather rather strict disciplinarian, not surpirising given the military background of the era. Matthias' parents were Matthias and Emma Horler and the younger Matthias took his mother's maiden name of Tremeer from Emma's Cornish roots as his second name. Matthias senior was also a military man and was in the 22nd Foot Regiment (Cheshire Regiment - see links page for regimental info). According to his discharge papers he served for over 21 years in the army from 1841 when he was 18 years old and for almost 15 of those years he was overseas. He spent 12 years in India. He had three good conduct badges and was promoted to Sergeant. He served in the Scinde (part of modern Pakistan) campaign in 1843, was present at the battles of Meeanee or Miani (for which he was awarded a medal) and Hyderabad, was present at the taking of the fort of Pandharpur and at one excursion into the desert and destruction of fort Emnanpur. He was also present at the taking and destruction of villages in the Boice Valley in the Peshawar district. Matthias and Emma were in Malta when he was discharged and one of the daughters was born there. I believe that they lived in Plymouth, Emma's home territory (and from where I have some links to some Cornish ancestry to Saltash/Landrake), for a time before moving back to Somerset.

1600-1820. For a few generations prior to 1820 the Horler family resided in the Somerset town of Mells. Thomas Horler who was born in 1772 was a farmer and coalcarrier. There are some rumours about whether the Horlers are related to the landed family of the Horner's in Mells at this point but nothing is confirmed. It is possible that Susannah Body (who married Thomas Horler in 1823) is descended from a Body (or Boddy) who was sentenced for their part in the Monmouth rebellion which drew most of it's support from protestant areas of Somerset and Dorset. Susannah was born near Bath the very place that about 120 years earlier one Body (Henry) was executed and another (Thomas) was transported. Boith these Body's were sentenced in Wells 23rd September 1685. I have not proved a connection yet but that is something I hope to prove or disprove. In terms of earlier Horlers we have definitely got back as far back as Thomes Horler born in 1741 but at this point there are three possible parents in the area and depending on whetrher it is two of three options we could go as far back as 1600 and to a Hercules Horler who was a coal miner in Stratton-on-Fosse. I have traced one branch back throiuygh the Say family to Ubley in Somerset and the Dirricks. This branch is traceable back to the early 17th century and Edmund Dirrick was parish clerk and started the parish records in 1671 (see links). I have copies of his writing in the early parish records where he recorded two natural disasters in the area and which causing famine and much hardship for the populace caused by on one hand excess rain and the other severe frost and snow. Seemingly divorced as we are in our modern world generally from the affects of nature it is well worth noting that a few short generations ago and even into the period of my grandfather people who lived and worked in rural England really did exist or not according to the whims of nature. We forget this at our peril.