Great x3 Grandmother Louisa James (nee Edwards)

My Great x3 Grandmother Louisa (1845 - 1928) was a farm servant, housewife, and mother of eight.

Louisa Edwards was born around 1845 in Morchard Bishop, Devon to William Edwards (about 32), a mason, and Susannah 'Susan' Edwards (nee Passmore) (about 27), a hand loom weaver (serge).

Louisa was baptised on 9th November 1845 in Morchard Bishop.

Louisa was the sixth of seven children (four girls and three boys):

• Ann Ellen (known as Ellen) 1836 - 
• Mary  1837 - 
• Richard  1839 -
• Henry  1841 - 1843 or 1849 (as a young boy)
• George  1843 -
• Louisa  1845 -
• Eliza  1849 -

Louisa and her siblings were all born and grew up in their parents' native Morchard Bishop.

It seems Louisa's older brother Henry passed away as a young boy, either a few years before Louisa was born or when she was about four years old.

1851 Census:

Louisa's parents passed away when she was young. In Jan/Feb/Mar 1855, when Louisa was about nine, her mother Susannah passed away, aged about thirty-six, in the district of Crediton. And in Oct/Nov/Dec 1859, when Louisa was about fourteen, her father William passed away, aged about forty-six, in the district of Crediton. Orphaned, what happened to Louisa and her siblings?

Though only a teenager, Louisa was old enough to work. Less than two years after her father's death, the 1861 Census shows Louisa, aged fifteen, working as a general servant, for widower Maria Davy of a 100 acre farm, at Lower Southcott, Oldborough, Morchard Bishop.

1861 Census:

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1866, Louisa (20) married Henry James (29), an agricultural labourer, in the district of Crediton.

Robert and Louisa was related by marriage. Robert's maternal uncle Roger Leach was married to Louisa's paternal aunt Frances Edwards. 

Louisa and Henry had eight children (four daughters and four sons):

• Lucy  1868 - 1897 (29)
• Bessie  1869 -
• Edwin  1875 -
• Louisa  1878 -
• Emily Maude  1880 -
• Charles  1883 -
• Francis Robert 1886 -
• Gilbert 1889 - 

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

Louisa (left), with her daughters Emily (standing) and Louisa (right), c 1900

1891 Census:

On 25th March 1897, when Louisa was about fifty-one, her eldest daughter Lucy passed away, aged twenty-nine, of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Sometime in the 1890s, Louisa moved with her husband and their youngest sons from their native Morchard Biship to East Worlington, where they can be found in the 1901 Census:

By 1911, Louisa and Henry's youngest son Gilbert supported his elderly parents, living with them back in Morchard Bishop and working, as his father had done before him, as a farm labourer.

1911 Census:

Louisa's husband Henry lived to see the beginning of the First World War but not its end. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1816, when Louisa was about seventy, Henry passed away, aged seventy-nine, in the district of Crediton. Thankfully their youngest son Gilbert could continue to support his elderly and now widowed mother Louisa, as, when conscription was introduced in 1916, Gilbert was given exemption as he was needed at home on the farm, being head horseman at Brownstone Farm.

From the Western Times on 20th October 1916:

Louisa would live for another twelve years. In July 1928, Louisa passed away, aged eighty-two, in Morchard Bishop.

Her funeral was reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 26th July 1928:

Great x3 Grandfather Henry James

My Great x3 Grandfather Henry (1837 - 1916) was an indoor farm servant, agricultural labourer, and father of eight.

Henry James was born around 1837 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Robert James (about 29), an agricultural labourer, and Jane James (nee Leach) (about 31), a serge and wool weaver.

Henry was baptised on 30th April 1837 in Morchard Bishop. At the time, the family lived at Whatcombe, Morchard Bishop.

Henry was the second of five children (two daughters and three sons):

• Elizabeth Frances  1835 - 
• Henry  1837 -
• Robert  1840 -
• William  1844 -
• Ann  1845 - 1847 (one year old)

All five siblings were born and grew up in Morchard Bishop. Henry would spend most of his life in Morchard Bishop.

1841 Census:

In the first quarter of 1847, when Henry was about nine, his younger sister Ann passed away, aged one year old, in Morchard Bishop.

As a young teenager, Henry worked as an indoor farm servant for farmer William Leach and his family at Higher Week, Morchard Bishop. William Leach seems to have been a better off first cousin of Henry's maternal grandfather Roger Leach.

1851 Census:

By the time of the next census, Henry, now a young man, was back living with his parents and working, like his father and grandfather, as an agricultural labourer.

1861 Census:

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1866, Henry (29), an agricultural labourer, married Louisa Edwards (20), a general servant on a farm, in the district of Crediton.

Robert and Louisa was related by marriage. Robert's maternal uncle Roger Leach was married to Louisa's paternal aunt Frances Edwards.

Henry and Louisa had eight children (four daughters and four sons):

• Lucy  1868 - 1897 (29)
• Bessie  1869 -
• Edwin  1875 -
• Louisa  1878 -
• Emily Maude  1880 -
• Charles  1883 -
• Francis Robert  1886 -
• Gilbert  1889 -

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

On 25th March 1897, when Henry was about sixty, his eldest daughter Lucy passed away, aged twenty-nine, of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Sometime in the 1890s, Henry moved with his wife and their youngest sons from his native Morchard Bishop to East Worlington, where they can be found in the 1901 Census:

By 1911, Henry and Louisa's youngest son Gilbert supported his elderly parents, living with them back in Morchard Bishop and working, as his father had done before him, as a farm labourer.

1911 Census:

Henry lived to see the beginning of the First World War but not its end. He passed away, aged seventy-nine, in Jul/Aug/Sep 1916, in the district of Crediton. Thankfully his youngest son Gilbert could continue to support his elderly and now widowed mother Louisa, as, when conscription was introduced in 1916, Gilbert was given exemption as he was needed at home on the farm, being head horseman at Brownstone Farm.

From the Western Times on 20th October 1916:

Great x3 Grandmother Martha Vernon (nee Dyment)

My great x3 grandmother Martha (1833 - 1903) was a glover, housewife, and mother of twelve.

Martha's family surname varies on different records, such as: Dyment, Diment, Dymont, Dymond, Dimond.

Martha was born around 1833 in Dolton, Devon to Robert Dyment (about 37), an agricultural labourer and later a road contractor, and Mary Dyment (nee Cudmore) (about 34).

Martha was baptised on 29th December 1833 in Dolton, Devon.

Martha was the sixth of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• Robert  1824 - 
• Thomas  1825 -
• William  1828 - 1849 (21 years old)
• Mary  1830 -
• Elizabeth  1832 - 1842 (10 years old)
• Martha  1833 -
• Susan/Susanna  1836 - 1853 (18 years old)
• Joanna  1839 - 1853 (14 years old)
• John  1841 -

All nine siblings were baptised in Dolton and grew up there. Sadly half of Martha's siblings passed away young.

1841 Census:

In 1842, when Martha was about eight, her older sister Elizabeth passed away, aged only ten years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 16th August 1842 in Dolton. At the time of her death, Elizabeth's abode was Torrington Union [Work]House. No other evidence implies the family were in the workhouse; however, poor families often used local workhouses for cheap or free health care. This would make sense if young Elizabeth was ill and receiving medical care in the workhouse before her premature death there.

In 1849, when Martha was about fifteen, her older brother William also passed away, aged twenty-one years old, in Dolton. He was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton. Again, at the time of William's death, his abode was recorded as Torrington Union [Workhouse]. Again it seems likely he was receiving medical care there before he passed away.

As teenagers, Martha and her sisters worked as glovers.

1851 Census:

In 1853, when Martha was about nineteen, her younger sister Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen years old, in Dolton, She was buried on 11 March 1853.

Also in 1853, Martha's younger sister Susan passed away, aged eighteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 28th August 1853. Martha would name her eldest daughter Susan after her sister.

Less the two months later, on 20th October 1853, Martha (20), a glover, married William Vernon (24), an agricultural labourer, in her native Dolton. Neither Martha nor William was able to sign their name on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Martha moved with her new husband from Dolton to Ashreigney.

Martha and William had twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):

• Susan  1855 -
• Thomas  1857 -
• William 'Robert' Robert  1859 -
• Sarah Ann  1860 -
• Silas  1862 -
• Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
• Arthur John  1865 -
• Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 -
• Martha  1871 -
• Louisa  1872 - 1874  (16 months)
• Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
• Ernest  1878 - 1903  (25 years)

1861 Census:

In the late 1860s, Martha and her family moved from Moorwater, Ashreigney to Fowl House, Iddesleigh.

In January 1871, when Martha was about thirty-seven, her father Robert passed away, aged seventy-four, in Dolton. He was buried on 31st January 1871 in Dolton.

1871 Census:

Around 1874, the family moved again to Hatherleigh. There, when Martha was about forty, her youngest daughter Louisa passed away, aged only 16 months.

By 1875, when Martha's son Sam was born, they had moved to Brushford; and by 1878, when her youngest son Ernest was born, they were living in Wembworthy.

In late 1877, when Martha was about forty-four, her mother Mary passed away, aged about seventy-eight, in Dolton. She was buried on 9th December 1877.

Sometime in the late 1870s, Martha and her family moved again to Stopgate, Zeal Monachorum.

1881 Census:

By 1891, they had moved again to Coldridge. Only Martha and William's youngest child, Ernest, remained at home with his parents. The rest each left home at an early age to work on different farms around mid Devon.

1891 Census:

Soon Ernest too left home, whilst Martha and William remained at Coldridge.

1901 Census:

By 1901, it seems the elderly William was no longer working. How then did the elderly couple support themselves?

In Apr/May/Jun 1903, Martha passed away, aged about sixty-nine, in the district of Crediton.

Great x3 Grandfather William Vernon

My great x3 grandfather William (1829 - 1917) was a farm apprentice, husbandman, agricultural labourer, and father of twelve.

William was born around 1829 in South Molton, Devon to William Vernon (about 35), a labourer and pauper, and Sarah Vernon (nee Prout) (about 27).

William was baptised on 12th April 1829 in South Molton. At the time, the family lived in East Street, South Molton.

William was the second of eight children (five sons and three daughters):

• John  1827 - 1855 (28 years old)
• William  1829 -
• Mary  1831 - 1845 or 1847 (13 - 16 years old)
• James  1833 -
• Henry  1835 - 
• Elizabeth  1839 - 
• Thomas  1841 - 
• Sarah Bray  1843 - 

Around 1830/1831, when William was a baby or toddler, it seems he and his family moved from South Molton to Ashreigney. Sadly, they resided for some time in the poorhouse there. William's younger siblings Mary and James were born in the poorhouse.

Young William, aged only twelve on the 1841 Census, lived with and worked as an apprentice for the Ley family, headed by farmer John Ley, at Redland, Ashreigney.

1841 Census:

By 1851, William, then a young man, lived with and worked for the Tout family as a farm labourer, at Westyard, Ashreigney. His older brother John had worked there previously, appearing at Westyard in the 1841 Census. Whilst William worked for the Tout family, his father and older brother John were alas paupers

1851 Census:

On 20th October 1853, William (24), an agricultural labour, married Martha Dyment (20), a glover, in Martha's native Dolton. Neither William nor Martha was able to sign their name on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

William and Martha had twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):

• Susan  1855 -
• Thomas  1857 -
• William Robert  1859 -
• Sarah Ann 1860 -
• Silas  1862 -
• Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
• Arthur John  1865 -
• Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 -
• Martha  1871 -
• Louisa  1872 - 1874 (16 months)
• Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
• Ernest  1878 - 1903 (25 years)

1861 Census:

In the late 1860s, William and his family moved from Moorwater, Ashreigney to Fowl House, Iddesleigh.

1871 Census:

Around 1874, the family moved again to Hatherleigh. There, when William was about forty-five, his youngest daughter Louisa passed away, aged only 16 months.

By 1875, when William's son Sam was born, they had moved to Brushford; and by 1878, when his youngest son Ernest was born, they were living in Wembworthy.

Sometime in the late 1870s, they moved again to Stopgate, Zeal Monachorum.

1881 Census:

By 1891, they had moved again to Coldridge. Only William and Martha's youngest child, Ernest, remained at home with his parents. The rest each left home at an early age to work on different farms around mid Devon.

1891 Census:

Soon Ernest too left home, whilst William and Martha remained at Coldridge.

1901 Census:

By 1901, it seems the elderly William was no longer working. How then did the elderly couple support themselves?

In Apr/May/Jun 1903, when William was about seventy-four, his wife Martha passed away, aged about sixty-nine, in the district of Crediton. Alas a short time later, on 10th July 1903, their youngest son Ernest, aged twenty-five, was tragically killed by a train at Stafford level crossing, a few miles from Exeter. What a sad time this must have been for William.

Sometime in the 1900s, William moved in with his eldest daughter Susan and her family at their cottage at Hollow Tree, near Chawleigh.

1911 Census:

On 1st October 1917, William passed away at Hollow Tree, with his eldest daughter Susan at his side. The cause of death was recorded as senile decay. Though on his death certificate, William's age at death was recorded at eighty, we know he was baptised in 1829, meaning he would have been in fact eighty-eight.

Whilst alive, William had been a religious man. My father's family tree research from the mid 1990s says William was "thought to be a minister at Aller Bridge (Allerbeare) Chapel at Coldridge." His son Harry also "used to preach when younger, he knew all the bible references etc... Sidney [son of Harry] thinks these were drummed into him by William".

Great x3 Grandmother Joanna Brealey (nee Sampson)

My great x3 grandmother Joanna (1820 - 1872) was a domestic and farm servant, housewife, and mother of three.

Joanna Sampson was born around 1820 in Broadwoodkelly, Devon to William Sampson, a farmer, and Mary Sampson (nee ?).

It looks likely Joanna was one of several siblings. Unfortunately there were at least two couples called William and Mary Sampson having children in Broadwoodkelly around 1820, and it seems impossible to work out which children belong to which couple.

When young, Joanna moved about three miles east from Broadwoodkelly to Bondleigh. In her early twenties, Joanna worked there as a farm servant for the Garrow family.

1841 Census:

In the 1840s, in his twenties, Joanna moved about twenty miles south east from Bondleigh to Fore Street, Exeter. There she worked as a domestic servant for the Brock family, who ran Willcocks and Brock Wholesale and Retail (later William Brock & Co).

1851 Census:

Old Photograph of William Brock & Co Store, Exeter

A sign for William Brock & Co that can still be found in Exeter today

An advertisement for Joanna's employers, William Brock & Co, placed in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on 15th January 1853:

On 20th July 1853, Joanna (33), a domestic servant, married George Brealey (22), a carpenter, in George's native North Tawton.

The couple soon moved back about nineteen miles to Exeter.

There they had three children (one son and two daughters):

• Emma  1855 - 1924  (68 or 69 years old)
• Charles  1857 - 1923  (65 years old)
• Eliza  1859 - 1860  (13 months old)

In 1860, when Joanna was forty, her youngest daughter Eliza passed away, aged only thirteen months old. Eliza was buried on 25th March 1860, in Holy Trinity, Exeter.

1861 Census:

1871 Census:

In 1872, Joanna passed away, aged fifty-three, in Exeter. She was buried on 29th December 1872, in Holy Trinity, Exeter. She left behind her husband George (41) and her teenage children, Emma (17) and Charles (15).

Great x3 Grandfather George Brealey

My great x3 grandfather George (1830 - 1894) was a carpenter and father of three.

George Brealey was born in 1830 in North Tawton, Devon to Richard Knight Brealey (22), a carpenter, and Martha Brealey (nee Hill) (25).

George was baptised on 12th December 1830 in North Tawton.

George's mother Martha had been about three pregnant with him, when she married George's father Richard.

George was the eldest of three brothers:

• George  1830 -
• Robert  1833 -
• Richard  1835 -

In 1837, when George was six, his mother Martha passed away. aged thirty-two, in North Tawton.

About one year later, when George was seven, his father remarried. On 2nd September 1838, Richard Brealey (29), a carpenter, married Ann Hill (about 28) in St Edmund's Church, Exeter.

1841 Census:

George soon had four younger half siblings from his father's second marriage:

• John  1839 - 1845 (5 years old)
• William  1844 -
• Martha  1843 - 1845 (2 years old)
• Henry 'Harry'  1845 -

Sadly, in May 1845, when George was fourteen, his younger half siblings John (5 years old) and Martha (2 years old) both died of measles.

Six years later, when George was twenty, his step mother Ann passed away, aged forty-four, in 1851, in North Tawton.

1851 Census:

On 20th July 1853, George (22), a carpenter like his father, married Joanna Sampson (33), in North Tawton.

Around 1854, George and Joanna moved around twenty miles south east to Holy Trinity, Exeter.

Around the same time, George's father Richard married for a third time. On 26th June 1854, Richard (46), a carpenter, married Agnes Even (36), in North Tawton.

George soon gained another younger half sibling:

• Selina  1856 -

George and Joanna had three children (one son and two daughters):

• Emma  1855 - 1924  (68 or 69 years old)
• Charles  1857 - 1923  (65 years old)
• Eliza  1859 - 1860  (13 months old)

Sadly, in 1860, when George was twenty-nine, his youngest daughter Eliza passed away, aged only thirteen months. She was buried on 25th March 1860, in Holy Trinity, Exeter.

1861 Census:

1871 Census:

In 1872, when George was forty-two, his wife Joanna passed away, aged fifty-three, in Exeter. She was buried on 29th December 1872, in Holy Trinity, Exeter.

Four years later, George remarried. In the summer of 1876, George (45), a carpenter, married Charlotte Mary Filleul (30), a laundress, in Exeter.

1881 Census:

Tragedy struck George and his family in August 1889, when George was fifty-eight years old.

Firstly, Henry 'Harry', George's youngest half brother from his father's second marriage, was charged with manslaughter, having hit his mistress Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Redway, who fell back, hit her head, and died. He was sentenced to ten days hard labourer.

Seondly, William, George's younger half brother from his father's second marriage, who was dying from stomach cancer, in great pain and suffering from depression, killed himself, slitting his throat with a razor. George himself was sent to identify William's body.

George's second wife Charlotte appears to have had a problem with drink. She was repeatedly charged for being drunk and disorderly, and spent many years in a home for inebriate women.

From the Western Times on 10th March 1890:

1891 Census:

In 1894, George passed away, aged sixty-three, in Holy Trinity, Exeter. He was buried on 12th May 1894 in Holy Trinity, Exeter.