The Minor Family of Somerset

Meliora Berrett, eighth child of Thomas and Mary Ann, was born i
n Hinton andwas christened in Steeple Ashton 5 Jan 1840. Whe
n Meliora was about sixteenyears old she gave birth to an illeg
itimate daughter, Meliora Carpenter. Shealso gave birth to tw
o illegitimate sons according to the parish registers.Franci
s Walter Berrett b 6 Dec 1863 was a "wheelwright"in Steeple Asht
on.The building where he made the wagons is still (1979) stand
ing on the southside of Church Street. Francis Walter Berret
t married Caroline Biggin and they had nine children......Aftye
r the birth of her first two sons Meliora married George Matthew
s, who was born in 1837 to Humphrey and Elizabeth Matthews.Hum
phrey Matthews was a licenses "victualler" and operated the Ros
e and Crown Inn when the Census of 1851 was taken. George wa
s a boy of thirteen atthat time. The Rose and Crown Inn was lo
cated on High (Steeple Ashton) Street just North of the Villag
e Green and immediately south of Church Street. By1861 the Ros
e and Cown Inn was operated by Sidney Smith whose parents and br
others all became "Mormons." Sidney was the only member of the f
amily notconverted to "Mormonism." Three children were born t
o Meliora and George: George Matthews, a pig dealer," Ellen Mat
thews and Fred Matthews. Fred was aCarpenter and his wife a la
undress for the Walter Long estate. Meliora ran the village bak
ery in Steeple Ashton. She died in 1927.