George Mutters was born in 1865 in Exton, Devon, to George Mutters (40), a farm labourer and sexton, and Anna Maria Mutters (nee Havill) (39), a lacemaker.
George was baptised on Christmas Day 1865 in Woodbury, Devon.
George was the youngest of six children (three daughters and three sons):
- Mary Jane 1852 - after 1871 (at least 19 years old)
- Elizabeth Ann 1854 - 1856 (18 months old)
- Sarah Ann 1857 - 1928 (70 years old)
- John Thomas 1859 - after 1871 (at least 11 years old)
- William George 1862 - 1864 (15 - 18 months old)
- George 1868 - 1918 (52 years old)
All six were born in Exton, but baptised in neighbouring Woodbury. The family moved to Woodbury in the late 1860s, when George was young.
Two of George's older siblings, Elizabeth Ann and William George, passed away in infancy, before George's birth.
1871 Census:
In May 1874, when George was eight, his father was accused of stealing the shawl of a Mrs Sarah Street, who had left the shawl at the church where he was sexton. Though the shawl was later found at his home, he was found not guilty. George's mother claimed she had taken the shawl away to look after it until the owner could be found.
1881 Census:
As a teenager, George worked as an agricultural labourer.
In the 1880s, George moved from Woodbury about six miles north west to Holy Trinity, Exeter.
George and his future wife Emma Brealey had their first daughter, Charlotte Irene Mutters Brealey, in 1888, about three months before they married.
On 2nd December 1888, George (23), a mason, married Emma Brealey (33), in Holy Trinity Church, Exeter. At the time of their marriage, the couple were living in Centre Street, Exeter.
Both George and Emma were able to sign their name on their marriage certificate. Here are their signatures:
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| Signatures of George Mutters (23) and Emma Brealey (33), 1888 |
George's signature changed over time. Here it is twenty-three years later on the 1911 Census:
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| George Mutters' Signature, 1911 |
George and Emma had seven children (three sons and four daughters):
- Charlotte Irene 1888 - 1890 (1 year)
- Henry George 1889 - 1889 (0 - 3 months)
- Lily Emmeline 1890 - 1970 (79 years)
- Charles 'Charlie' George 1892 - 1970 (77/78 years)
- Violet Grace 1894 - 1953 (58 years)
- Anna/Anne 1896 - 1896 (0 - 3 months)
- William 'Willie' George 1898 - 1910 (11 years)
Alas four of their seven children passed away in childhood.
Around 1889, George and his family moved about twelve miles north east from Exeter to Cullompton.
1891 Census:
Times were tough. The couple's first two children passed away young. Their third child Lily was very small. George was a patient at Exeter Hospital, an institution for the sick poor. Whilst Emma lived in Cullompton, away from any family support.
1891 Census:
Thankfully their situation improved. George returned to his family, and they moved around 1892 about sixteen miles south west to George's native Woodbury. The couple had more children who survived infancy.
When George was thirty, his father George passed away, aged seventy, in 1896, in Woodbury. He was buried on 13th February 1896, in Woodbury.
When George was thirty-one, his mother Anna Maria passed away, aged seventy or seventy-one, in 1897, in Woodbury. She was buried on 13th November 1897, in Woodbury.
In 1899, George was caught trespassing in pursuit of game and fined. From the Western Times on 29th August 1899:
1901 Census:
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Photograph of Globe Hill, Woodbury, 1904
George and his family lived on Globe Hill in the early 1900s.
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On 12th March 1910, when George was forty-five, his youngest son Willie passed away, aged only eleven years old.
1911 Census:
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| Photograph of Globe Hill, Woodbury, 1914 |
George was in his late forties, when the First World War began. Sadly George passed away before the war's end. He passed away, aged fifty-two, on 20th April 1918 in the district of Neath, Glamorganshire, Wales. Though he died in Wales, he was buried in Woodbury.
George's wife Emma passed away six years later, aged sixty-nine, in Woodbury. George and Emma are buried together.
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