▶Date of birth:   1833  (baptised 6 January 1834)     Place of birth:  Barford St Martin, Wiltshire

▶Father: William Targett    Mother:  Sophia King

▶Spouse(s): Eliza Julia Macklin   Date(s) of marriage:   8 September 1858    Place(s) of marriage:

▶Occupation: Clergyman (Anglican)

▶Lifestory: James Targett was the son of William Targett, farmer (formerly inn-keeper of the French Horn Inn, Barford St Martin), and his wife Sohia (née King). He was born in Barford St Martin, Wiltshire, in 1833, and became a draper. He was working as a draper when he married a draper’s daughter: Eliza Julia, second daughter of James Macklin, a draper or hosier employing three assistants. The Targetts had at least one son and five daughters. James Targett remained as a draper into the 1860s, and around the middle of the decade decided to train for holy orders.

He attended the London College of Divinity, and was ordained Deacon in 1868, and Priest (both Carlisle) in 1870. Between 1868 and 1870 he was licensed Curate of St Mary’s, Ulverston, Cumberland, though he worked mostly as Curate-in-charge at the local Rattan Row School-Church. A popular clergyman, he left Ulveston in 1871, when he was appointed Curate of Faringdon with Coxwell, Berkshire. Later in 1871 he was appointed Curate of Holy Trinity, Cheltenham, which post he held until 1879. While in Cheltenham he lived at 11 Wellington Square from about 1873 until 1879. After this he became Curate of Littleton, Middlesex 1879-81, before being presented with the rectory of Falfield, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire 1881-92; in 1891 his household lived at the Rectory, Thornbury, Gloucestershire. From 1896 he was Perpetual Curate of Muchelney, Somerset, and by 1901 had become Rector of Burnett, near Bristol in Somerset, where he lived at the time of the 1901 census.

He died at his London residence, 2 Nottingham Place in 1905, at the age of seventy-two, and was buried at Idmiston, near Salisbury. His wealth at death was sworn at over £8,850.

▶Moved to Pittville from: Faringdon, Berkshire  Moved from Pittville to: Littleton, Middlesex

▶Date of death: 11 December 1905     Place of death: 2 Nottingham Place, London

▶Date of burial: 15 December 1905        Place of burial: Idmiston, Salisbury

▶Notes:        ID: 8422

Contributor(s):  Alan Munden/John Simpson