Great x3 Uncle Samuel Edworthy

My Great x3 Uncle Samuel (1856 - 1920), was a farm/agricultural servant and labourer, market gardener, father of eight, and a younger brother of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).

Samuel was born in Apr/May/June 1856 in East Worlington, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 35), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 32).

On 10th June 1856, Samuel was baptised in East Worlington.

Samuel was the sixth of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons):

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (65)
• Elizabeth  1849 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 - 1876  (22)
• Samuel  1856 - 1920  (64)
• Ellen  1858 - 1934  (75)
• Lewis  1861 - 1943  (82)
• Frederick  1863 - 1943  (79)
• Frank  1866 - 1929  (63)
• Mary Harris  1869 - 1939  (69)

Samuel and his siblings grew up at Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage, thatched cob cottage built in the early 1600s, in East Worlington.

(You can read more about the structure of the property here.) 

Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage

1861 Census:

As a young teen, Samuel was living and working away from his family. He was a indoor farm servant, for the Headon family, headed by farmer of 190 acres Benjamin Headon, at Burrow [Farm], East Worlington.

1871 Census: 

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1874, Samuel (18), an indoor farm servant, married Emma Chanter (only 16), a domestic servant on a farm, in the district of Crediton.

Samuel and Emma had eight children:

• Mary Ann 'Annie'  1876 -
• William John  1878 -
• Eva Jane  1880 -
• Ernest Samuel  1882 -
• Gertrude Emma  1885 - 1886  (between 14 and 18 months)
• Charles Frederick  1886 -
• Albert Frank 'Frank'  1888 -
• Florence Gertrude  1890 -

Sadly the couple's fifth child, Gertrude, passed away, aged only one year old, in 1886.

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

On 31st March 1905, Samuel's wife Emma broke her leg, after slipping off a kerb in Paul Street, in Exeter.

From the Western Times of 1st April 1905:

1911 Census:

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1920, Samuel passed away, aged sixty-four, in the district of Crediton.

Emma outlived her husband by twenty years. In May 1940, she passed away aged eighty-one, in Morchard Bishop.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 31st May 1940:

Great x3 Uncle George Edworthy

My Great x3 Uncle George (1854 - 1876), was a farm servant and a younger brother of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).

George was born in 1854 in East Worlington, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 33), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 30).

On 23rd April 1854, George was baptised in East Worlington.

George was the fifth of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons):

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (65)
• Elizabeth  1849 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 - 1876  (22)
• Samuel  1856 - 1920  (64)
• Ellen  1858 - 1934  (75)
• Lewis  1861 - 1943  (82)
• Frederick  1863 - 1943  (79)
• Frank  1866 - 1929  (63)
• Mary Harris  1869 - 1939  (69)

George and his siblings grew up at Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage, thatched cob cottage built in the early 1600s, in East Worlington.

(You can read more about the structure of the property here.) 

Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage

1861 Census: 

As a teenager, George left the family home to live and work on farms. By the time of the 1871 Census, he lived with and worked as an indoor farm servant for the Hutchings family, headed by farmer Samuel Hutchings, at West Chilla [farm], Black Torrington.

1871 Census:

Alas George passed away as a young man. Around July 1876, George passed away, aged only twenty-two, in the district of South Molton. He was buried on 13th July 1876, in East Worlington.

He was buried at St Mary's Churchyard. He shares a headstone with his mother, Mary, and older (half?) sister Ann. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207067273/george-edworthy)

Great x3 Aunt Elizabeth Spear (formerly Edworthy; nee Edworthy)

My Great x3 Aunt Elizabeth (1848 - 1917), was a child's maid, charwoman, housewife, mother of eight, step mother of five, and an elder sister of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).

Elizabeth was born around December 1848 in Coldridge, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 28), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 25).

On 19th December 1848, Elizabeth was baptised privately in Coldridge, Devon. At the time of Elizabeth's baptism, the Edworthy family lived at Hawkridge Bridge, Coldridge.

Elizabeth was the third of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons):

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (65)
• Elizabeth  1849 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 - 1876  (22)
• Samuel  1856 - 1920  (64)
• Ellen  1858 - 1934  (75)
• Lewis  1861 - 1943  (82)
• Frederick  1863 - 1943  (79)
• Frank  1866 - 1929  (63)
• Mary Harris  1869 - 1939  (69)

1851 Census:

By the age of twelve, little Elizabeth was no longer living at home with her family, but living with and working as a child's maid for the Reed family, headed by Henry Reed, a farmer of 300 acres, at Uppcott in Chawleigh. In 1861, Henry and Jane Reed had seven children, aged between 1 and 18 (Henry 18, Mary Ann 16, Richard 11, John 8, Fanny 6, Thomas 4 and Emma 1). It seems likely Elizabeth helped looked after the younger children, though only a child herself.

1861 Census:

Around December 1868, Elizabeth (about 20) gave birth to an illegitimate child, a son she called John, in East Worlington. Elizabeth brought one Sidney Chard of Thelbridge, the father of her child, to the County Magistate Sessions to apply for child maintenance. An order of 1s per week from the day of sessions was granted, with £1 8s cost.

• John Edworthy  1868 -

On 12th November 1870, Elizabeth (about 21), a servant and single mother of one, married William Edworthy (about 26), a farm labourer, in East Worlington. With the bride and groom having the same surname - Edworthy - they may well have been related, perhaps distant cousins. It seems William brought up Elizabeth's son John as his child (John is recorded as William's son on later censuses).

Elizabeth and William had seven more children (three sons and five daughters):

• William Henry  1872 -
• Mary Jane  1873 -
• Emily  1875 -
• Samuel  1878 -
• Eda Ellen  1880 -
• Bessy  1882 -
• Frank  1884 - 1884  (13 days old)

Sadly, young Elizabeth, William and toddler John's address is given on the 1871 Census as the Poor House, West Worlington. 

1871 Census: 

1881 Census:

In 1884, thirty-five-year-old Elizabeth suffered too great losses...

Her husband William passed away, aged thirty-nine, in Crediton. He was buried on 24th February 1884 in Crediton. Now Elizabeth was either gave birth to the couple's youngest child, Frank, either just before or just after her husband's passing. Sadly baby Frank passed away too, at only thirteen days old. He was buried on 7th March 1884, in Crediton.

After their deaths, Elizabeth supported herself and her younger surviving children by working as a charwoman. Her son William also lived with her and brought in money as an agricultural labourer. The 1891 Census also shows Elizabeth had a boarder, Albert Sanders a young gardener. Having a border or two would have brought in a little extra income.

1891 Census:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1896, twelve years after the death of her first husband William Edworthy, Elizabeth (47), a charwoman, widow and mother of seven surviving children, remarried. She married William Spear (about 47), a shepherd and agricultural labourer and himself a widower, in Crediton.

William had five children from a first marriage; thus Elizabeth gained five step-children:

• Alice  1873 -
• Ellen  1875 -
• Mary Jane  1879 -
• Eliza  1881 -
• John  1884 -

1901 Census: 

1911 Census: 

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1917, Elizabeth passed away, aged about 68.

Great x3 Uncle John Edworthy

My Great x3 Uncle John Edworthy (1845 - 1910), was a carter, farm/agricultural labourer, step-father of one, father of ten, and the elder brother of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).

John was born in Oct/Nov/Dec 1844 in Lapford, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 24), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 21).

On 22nd December 1844, John was baptised in Lapford.

John was the second of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons) and the eldest son:

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (65)
• Elizabeth  1849 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 - 1876  (22)
• Samuel  1856 - 1920  (64)
• Ellen  1858 - 1934  (75)
• Lewis  1861 - 1943  (82)
• Frederick  1863 - 1943  (79)
• Frank  1866 - 1929  (63)
• Mary Harris  1869 - 1939  (69)

1851 Census:

As a young teen, John left the family home to find work. By 1861, he was living with and working as a carter at the 168 acres Coombe Farm, for farmer Thomas White.

1861 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1870, John (about 26), a carter and agricultural labourer, married Grace Mitchell (about 20), a young single mother of one, in the district of Crediton, Devon.

Grace had one son, born before her marriage, when she was only seventeen:

• William Mitchell  1867 -

John and Grace had ten more children (five sons and five five daughters):

• John 'Jack'  1871 -
• Sydney  1873 - 1874  (3 months old)
• Lucy Ann  1875 - 
• Ruth  1877 - 
• Alice  1879 - 1902  (22 years old)
• Mary Jane 1881 - 
• Charles 'Charlie' James  1887 - 
• Ernest Mitchell  1889 - 1916  (28 years old) 
• Walter  1892 - 1917  (25 years old) 
• Florence Maud  1894 - 

Sadly John and Grace's second(/third) son Sydney passed away, at only three months old. He was buried in February 1874, in East Worlington, Devon.

Their middle daughter Alice also passed away prematurely, aged twenty-two, in 1902. I do not know the cause; however, their youngest daughter Florence, aged nineteen, in 1913, entered the Devon and Cornwall Sanatorium for Consumptives. Her disease had developed in May 1913, she was admitted to the sanatorium in December 1913, and was discharged three months later in March 1914, 'V.M.I [likely very much improved] able to do light work'. What ailed Florence? Well 'consumptives' were individuals who suffered from a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Did her older sister Alice succumb to the same/or a similar disease? 

Their fourth(/fifth) child and second daughter Ruth would go on to marry her first cousin William Gilbert John Edworthy, son of John's younger's brother William.

1871 Census:

In the 1870's, the young Edworthy family added to their income by having boarders. 

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1910, John passed away, aged sixty-five, in the district of Crediton, Devon.

By 1911, John's widow Grace went to live with their son Charles James, and his wife and young son, in Copplestone, near Crediton.

All of John's surviving adult sons served in the army - three in the First World War. Sadly two were killed in action...

Older son Jack (original service number: 2829. later service number: 3893) enlisted as a private, in the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, in January 1894 (his age is given as eighteen; however, he would have been twenty-three). His service record gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Jack was 5' 5'', had a fresh complexion, fair/light brown hair and grey eyes. 

He was appointed as a drummer in October 1897. He transferred to the reserves in August 1902 and was discharged in February 1906. He was too old to re-enlist or be conscripted during the First World War. However, he lead the way for his younger brothers to join the army.

In December 1903, Charlie (service number: 7558), aged nineteen, enlisted as a private, in the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. His service record gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Charlie was 5' 6 1/2'', had a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. 

Charlie originally served for a period of three years. He served at 'Home' (eg England) from December 1903 - February 1905. Then in India for two years, from February 1905 - February 1907. In February 1907, he transferred to the reserves. With the outbreak of war, seven years later, in August 1914, Charlie found himself immediately called up, and promoted to Lance Corporal. However, he did not leave 'Home' for France until August 1916, when he was promoted again to Lance Sergeant. He was again promoted, in December 1916, to Sergeant. He served in France for two and half years, from August 1918 to February 1919 (with two furloughs - on in June/July 1918 and another in September 1918). He transferred again to the reserves in 1919; and was finally discharged from the army in 1920.

Next brother, seventeen-year-old Ernest (service number: 4890), a farm labourer, enlisted as a private in the 4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Ernest originally signed up for a term of six years; however, he (or someone else?) purchased his discharge after only three months. Ernest's service record gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Ernest was 5'4 3/4'', had a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. He either re-enlisted or was conscripted during the First World War. He was killed on 1st July 1916, aged twenty-eight.

Younger brother Walter was a private in the 9th Battalion, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed on 6th December 1817, aged twenty-five.

The younger Edworthy brothers (my first cousins three times removed on my father's side) are remembered on the Bow War Memorial, alongside my Great x3 Uncle Harry Sandford (from my mother's side of the family). (https://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Bow/BowWarMemorial.htm)

Bow War Memorial honouring my Cousins Ernest and Walter Edworthy and Uncle Harry Sandford

Grace outlived her husband by twenty years. In Apr/May/Jun 1930, Grace passed away, aged eighty-three, in the district of Crediton.

Great x3 (Half?) Aunt Ann Cobley (formerly Edworthy; nee Harris)

My Great x3 (Half ?) Aunt (also my Great x4 Aunt by marriage) Ann (1841 - 1882) was a housewife, mother of three; the eldest (possibly half) sister of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911), and the first wife of my Great x4 Uncle Samuel Cobley (1829 - 1916).

Ann was born in Apr/May/Jun in 1841 in Lapford, Devon, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Harris (about 17).

On 13th June 1841, Ann was baptised as Ann Harris, in Lapford. Her mother's name is listed, but not her father's.

Ann's father may have been Mary's future husband William Edworthy (about 20), a farm labourer. 

Around 1841, William's older brother George lived for some time with the Harris family in Lapford (as shown on the 1841 Census) and would soon marry Ann's older sister Mary, meaning it was likely younger siblings William and Mary knew each other in 1841, if not earlier.

Ann is recorded on the 1851 Census as being William's daughter and has his surname of Edworthy; however, when she later married in 1860, she was once more calling herself Ann Harris and her father's name not listed.

1841 Census:

On 26th September 1844, when Ann was three years old, her mother Mary (about 20) married William Edworthy (about 24), in Lapford. At the time, Ann's mother Mary was around seven months pregnant with her second child, a son called John.

Ann had ten younger (half?) siblings:

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (65)
• Elizabeth  1849 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 - 1876  (22)
• Samuel  1856 - 1920  (64)
• Ellen  1858 - 1934  (75)
• Lewis  1861 - 1943  (82)
• Frederick  1863 - 1943  (79)
• Frank  1866 - 1929  (63)
• Mary Harris  1869 - 1939  (69)

1851 Census:

Though Ann Edworthy on the 1851 Census, by 1860 Ann was once more going by Ann Harris.

On 31st March 1860, Ann (about 18) married Samuel Cobley (about 30), an agricultural labourer, in East Worlington. The name of Ann's father is not recorded. But a witness to the marriage was an Elizabeth Edworthy - probably an aunt or cousin, rather than Ann's younger (half?) sister Elizabeth, who would have only been eleven or so at the time.

Samuel (1829 - 1916) is also my Great x4 Uncle. He was the youngest brother of Great x3 Grandmother Grace Nott (nee Cobley) (1828 - 1890). Hopefully this tree explains the link...

Ann and Samuel had three daughters:

• Mary Ann  1863 -
• Emily  1870 -
• Jessie  1876 -

They would bring up their young family in East Worlington.

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1882, Ann passed away, aged about forty-one, in the district of Crediton, Devon. She was buried on 27th December 1882 in East Worlington.

Ann shares a gravestone with her mother Mary and younger (half?) brother George, at St Mary's Churchyard, East Worlington. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207067738/ann-cobley)

...

Ann left behind a widower, Samuel (about 53), and three young daughters, Mary Ann (about 19), Emily (about 12) and Jessie (about 6).

Her daughters seem to have first found work as domestic servants. Ann's middle daughter Emily, a domestic servant, would live with her paternal Uncle William Cobley and his family, at the Black Dog Inn, in Washford Pyne, where Uncle William was the innkeeper/publican. Emily later married her first cousin Walter Cobley. 

Ann's daughter Emily passed away in 1939; at that point the Cobley family had reportedly run the Black Dog Inn for 150 years (so since approximately 1790) and were directly descended from Uncle Tom Cobley! 

Well at least according to the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 12th May 1939:

...

Back to the 1880s, and the years directly following Ann's death...

Two years after his wife's death, Samuel remarried. In September 1884, Samuel (about 54), a widower and agricultural labourer, married Elizabeth Bennett (nee Crossman) (about 47), the widow of agricultural labourer George Bennett, and mother of four:

• Henry Crossman  1857 - (an illegitimate son born before her first marriage)
• John Bennett  1871 -
• Mary Ann Bennett  1874 -
• Clara Bennett  1876 -

Mary Ann and Clara, some fifty plus years later, attended the funeral of their step-sister Emily Cobley (they are listed under their married names of Mrs H Petherick and Mrs J Saunders).

1891 Census: 

1901 Census:

By 1901, Samuel, in his early seventies, was working as the caretaker of Affeton Castle, East Worlington. Though it has castle in its name, the building is in fact a restored late medieval gatehouse, and in the late Victorian period was used as a hunting lodge by the knighted Stucley family.

Affeton Castle, near East Worlington

In the 1900's, Samuel's second wife Elizabeth passed away.

By 1911, an elderly and twice-bereaved Samuel was living with his daughter, Emily and her family at the Black Dog Inn, Washford Pyne, Devon. By this time, Emily's husband (Samuel's son-in-law and nephew) Walter, following his own father's death, had taken over as innkeeper (and farmer).

1911 Census:

On 30th December 1916, Samuel passed away, aged about eighty-seven, at the Black Dog Inn, Washford Pyne, Devon. He outlived his first wife Ann by nearly twenty-five years.

Black Dog Inn, Washford Pyne, was run by the Cobley/Rattenbury family for several generations.

(...William Cobley, brother of Samuel and Grace, had married his employer's daughter, Sarah Rattenbury. Upon his father-in-law's death, William became innkeeper. Upon William's death, his and Sarah's son Walter took over. Walter married his Uncle Samuel's daughter, his first cousin Emily. Walter and Emily's son then took over...)

A Quick Note From the Researcher

Hello my lovely little corner of the internet,

First I must thank you for your patience and apologise for what turned out to rather a long step back from family tree research. The pandemic affected everyone in different ways. And due to additional personal issues, I had a especially challenging year or so. However, I am glad to say my life is much more settled now. Sporadic research I did last summer, I am now compiling together and will post soon. I will also endeavour to reply to any comments/emails/messages you were kind enough to send in the interim. 

All the best, Jane xx

Great x3 Uncle Gilbert James

My Great x3 Uncle Gilbert (1889 - 1972) was a head farm carter, farm labourer, father of five, and the youngest brother of my Great x2 Grandmother Lucy Vernon (nee James) (1868 - 1897).

Gilbert was born in 17th August 1889 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Henry James (about 49), an agricultural labourer, and Louisa James (nee Edwards) (about 37), a housewife.

On 15th September 1889, Gilbert was baptised, in Morchard Bishop. At the time of Gilbert's baptism, the family resided at Knightstone [likely cottage, or farm].

Gilbert was the youngest of eight children (four daughters and four sons):

• Lucy  1868 - 1897  (29 years old)
• Bessie  1869 - 1945 or 1956  (77 or 86 years old)
• Edwin  1875 - 1896  (21 years old)
• Louisa  1878 - 1966  (87 years old)
• Emily Maude  1880 - 1967  (86 years old)
• Charles  1883 - 1965  (82 years old)
• Francis Robert  1886 - 1962  (76 years old)
• Gilbert  1889 - 1972 (82 years old)

Gilbert and his siblings grew up in Morchard Bishop.

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

When Gilbert was about twenty-six/twenty-seven, his father Henry passed away, aged around seventy-nine, in Jul/Aug/Sep 1916. Gilbert, the youngest James child and only one still living at the family home, likely became the breadwinner, supporting his elderly widowed mother, Louisa. Thankfully, though a young man during the First World War, Gilbert was given exemption from serving (at least for six months after the introduction of subscription in 1916) due to his being head horseman on his farm and deemed 'essential'.

From the Western Times of 20th October 1916:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1922, Gilbert (32), the head horseman at Brownstone Farm, married Minnie Evelyn Edwards (20), in the district of Crediton. 

At the time of their wedding, young Minnie was seemingly somewhere between 7 and nearly 9 months pregnant, as the couple's eldest child Louie was born on 3rd March 1922.

Gilbert and Minnie had 5 daughters:

• Florence 'Louie' Louise Bessie  1922 - 
• Marjorie Muriel  1924 - 
• Phyllis Rosalind  1926 - 
• Patricia 'Pat' I  1938 - 
• Brenda S  1942 - 

From 1936, when eldest Louie first joined, into the 1940's, when 'Major Pat' and 'Captain Brenda' contributed, Gilbert's daughters were members (described as 'nieces and nephews', and given ranks) of the 'Uncle Fred's Young Folk's League' - a children's club, which took up a small section of the Western Times newspaper. Thus at Brownstone Cottage, Morchard Bishop, in the early twentieth century, maybe after their father had finished the newspaper, a small gaggle of girls poured over stories, games and contributions, marvelling at seeing their names in print. They may have had a rural hard-working up-bringing, but these girls read, wrote and had fun. Partially Pat, with younger sister Brenda, whose names appear most. 

By 1939, Gilbert and Minnie's eldest daughter Louie, in her late teens, lived at and worked as a domestic help at Brownstone Farm. Whilst her parents and younger sisters lived next door at Brownstone Cottage.

1939 Census:

On 11th June 1970, when Gilbert was eighty, his wife Minnie passed away, aged sixty-eight, in Devon. Less than two years later, on 14th January 1972, Gilbert himself passed away, aged eighty-two, also in Devon. 'Our Dear Parents' - they are buried together in St Mary's Churchyard, Morchard Bishop.