The Wisdom of Solomon?

Solomon Palmer was born in Taunton, Somerset, in 1830, he married Iset Rich b. 1833 in Over Stowey on December 2nd 1853. Solomon was at that time working as a labourer in the Over Stowey parish.
It was a tempestuous relationship to say the least, and led to several court appearances for both of them.

In 1860, at Overstowey, along with two other Broomsquire relatives, Henry and George Palmer, Solomon ends up in court again for theft.

In 1862 Iset appeared at court for stealing £8 worth of gold and silver jewellery from a shop in Holford when the couple lived at Kilton.

In 1864 the tables were turned and for once Solomon was the victim, he was robbed of 30 shillings by a woman he met in a public house. I'm sure Iset's retribution was swift.

In 1870, Solomon Palmer Jnr (son of Solomon and Iset) was sentenced to penal servitude for 7 years.

In 1876, both Solomon and Iset were up in front of the bench for public annoyance, and Iset for assaulting another woman.

In Othery, on August 9th 1879, there was an altercation between Solomon and Iset, that resulted in him going to prison for 9 months.

In 1885 in Taunton, Solomon and Iset fought again, with Iset bringing charges for assault against Solomon and him accusing her of hitting him around the head with a poker. He didn't have the money to have a warrant issued against her, so no charges were brought. Iset claimed his head injuries were caused by him falling over when drunk.

In 1885, Solomon was charged with stabbing his son James during an argument.

1886 saw Iset in court once more on charges of fighting with neighbours. One alleged that she threatened to run her neighbour through with a knife. She was bound over to keep the peace on this occasion.

The year of his wife's death in 1888, saw Solomon convicted of stealing some 'cooked tripe' (It fell out of his coat when accosted by the police) he was jailed for 6 months and given 6 months police supervision. This was the 22nd time he had been convicted of a crime, and was 67 years of age. Iset would have died around the time Solomon was released for this offence. 

Solomon was found drunk and incapable in a field after falling into a river several times whilst under the influence of cider in 1891.

I am related to both Iset and Solomon, and thought I would tell their story. It is a hard life when you are born to poverty, but Solomon (a Broomsquire, which by then was a dying way of country life) somehow managed to provide a living, by hawking goods. Some personalities have a catalyst effect on others and unhealthy relationships are formed. I think in this case, that may be the answer to their violent relationship.