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.

Great x3 Grandmother Anna Maria Mutters (nee Havill)

My great x3 grandmother Anna Maria (1826 - 1897) was a farm servant, lacemaker, housewife, and mother of six.

Anna Maria's name varies on different records. It should be noted that, in England prior to the 20th century, Maria was commonly pronounced as the modern Mariah.

She was baptised Mary Anne in 1826, listed as Maria in the 1841 and 1851 census, Anna Maria in her 1851 marriage record, Maria on her three daughters' baptism records from 1852, 1854 and 1857, Anna on her son John's 1859 baptism record, was Anna Maria again in the 1861 census, Maria on her sons William and George's baptism records from 1862 and 1865, Anna on the 1871 census, Maria on the 1881 and 1891 census, and Hannah Maria on her death and burial record.

During this post, I will refer to her as Anna Maria.

Anna Maria Havill was born around 1826 in Aylesbeare, Devon to John Havill (27), a farm labourer, and Mary Havill (nee Parker) (27), a laundress.

Anna Maria was baptised on 29th October 1826 in Aylesbeare.

Anna Maria was the second of nine children (four daughters and five sons):

• Jane  1822 -
• Anna Maria  1826 -
• Elizabeth  1829 - 1829 (1 week old)
• George  1830 -
• James  1833 -
• William  1836 -
• Robert  1838 -
• Henry  1840 -
• Elizabeth  1843 -

Sadly in 1829, when Anna Maria was two years old, her younger sister Elizabeth passed away, aged only one week old.

As a teenager, Anna Maria worked as a servant for the Hill family at Bridge Farm, in Stoke Canon, which is about ten miles west of her native Aylesbeare.

In her twenties, Anna Maria worked as a servant for the Ashford family at Vernmore Farm in Woodbury.

1851 Census:

Anna Maria's future husband, George Mutters, also worked as a servant at Venmore Farm in the 1840s. It seems likely that Anna Maria and George met whilst working there together.

Photograph of (Higher) Venmore Farm, Woodbury

On 22nd October 1851, Anna Maria (25), a servant, married George Mutters (26), an agricultural labourer, in Woodbury. Anna Maria was about four months pregnant when she married.

On their record of marriage, George was able to sign his name, but Anna Maria left only her mark, implying she could not write.

Anna Maria and George married in the presence of Anna Maria's elder sister Jane.

Anna Maria and George had 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 children were born in Exton, but baptised in Woodbury.

Sadly two of their children, Elizabeth Ann and William George, passed away in infancy. As well as an agricultural labourer, Anna Maria's husband George was a sexton at Woodbury Church. A part of a sexton's duties was digging graves, so it seems likely George dug the graves for his two young children.

George may have named their daughter Elizabeth after his young sister Elizabeth, as the former was born soon after the latter passed away. Anna Maria may have also wished to honour her younger sister Elizabeth who passed away in infancy.

The tragic death of Anna Maria and George's daughter Elizabeth Ann was reported in the Western Times on 3rd May 1856:

How traumatic her infant daughter's death must have been to Anna Maria. She's washing - such a normal domestic situation - and her attention is off her infant for but a moment, but in that moment, that live-changing moment, her daughter manages to pull the tub of boiling water over herself. Imagine the screams, the cries.

1861 Census:

In the 1860s, Anna Maria and her family moved about two miles east from Exton back to Woodbury.

On 1st November 1870, when Anna Maria was about forty-three, her father John passed away, aged seventy-two, in Exeter Hospital. His death was the result of a road accident. He fell off a wagon that turned a tight corner too quickly.

1871 Census:

In May 1874, when Anna Maria was about forty-seven, her husband George 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. Anna Maria claimed she had taken the shawl away to look after it until the owner could be found.

Articles about the incident describe George's character:

"The Rev J.L. Fulford, Vicar of the parish [Woodbury] was called, and he stated that he had known the prisoner [George Mutters] for twenty-eight years, and he had always found him an honest man." - Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 15th May 1874

"The prisoner [George Mutters] received an excellent character from the rector of her parish" - Western Daily Mercury, 2nd July 1874

In 1875, when Anna Maria was bout forty-eight, her mother Mary passed away, aged seventy-six, in Aylesbeare.

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

In 1896, when Anna Maria was about sixty-nine, her husband George passed away, aged seventy, in Woodbury. George was buried on 13th February 1896 in Woodbury.

In 1897, Anna Maria passed away, aged seventy or seventy-one, in Woodbury. She was buried on 13th November 1897 in Woodbury.

Great x3 Grandfather George Mutters

My great x3 grandfather George (1825 - 1896) was a farm servant, farm labourer, sexton, and father of six.

George Mutters was born in 1825 in Woodbury, Devon, to John Mutters (20), a carpenter, and Mary Mutters (nee Marks) (28), a lacemaker.

George was baptised on 6th November 1825 in Woodbury.

George's parents married less than a month before George's birth. His mother Mary was about eight months pregnant with George, when she married his father John.

George was the eldest of five children (three sons and two daughters):

• George  1825 -
• Elizabeth  1827 - 1854 (26 years old)
• Mary Ann 1830 - 1848 (18 years old)
• William  1831 -
• Thomas Marks  1834 - 1838 (4 years old)

In 1838, when George was twelve, his youngest brother Thomas passed away, aged only four years old.

As a teenager, George worked as a servant for the Ashford family at Venmore Farm, Woodbury.

1841 Census:

George's future wife Anna Maria Havill also worked as a servant at Venmore Farm in the 1840s. It seems likely they met there.

Photograph of (Higher) Venmore Farm, Woodbury

When George was in his twenties, both his sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, passed away as young women.

Meanwhile, George worked as a farm labourer for the White family at Clare's Farm, Woodbury.

On 22nd October 1851, George (26), an agricultural labourer, married Anna Maria Havill (25), a servant, in Woodbury. Anna Maria was about four months pregnant when they married. The couple married n the presence of Anna Maria's elder sister Jane. On their record of marriage, Anna Maria left only her mark, but George was able to sign his name:

George Mutters' Signature, 1851

George and Anna Maria had 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 children were born in Exton, but baptised in Woodbury.

Sadly two of their children, Elizabeth Ann and William George, passed away in infancy. As well as an agricultural labourer, George was sexton at Woodbury Church. A part of a sexton's duties was digging graves, so it seems likely George dug the graves for his two young children.

George may have named his daughter Elizabeth after his younger sister Elizabeth, as the former was born soon after the latter passed away.

The tragic death of George's daughter Elizabeth Ann was reported in the Western Times on 3rd May 1856:

1861 Census:

In 1862, when George was thirty-six, his father John passed away, aged fifty-seven, in Woodbury. George had followed his father John in being sexton at Woodbury Church.

Photographs of St Swithun's Church, Woodbury, c 1895, when George was sexton in the 1860s and 1870s

From the Western Times on 16th January 1863:

In 1869, when George was forty-four, his mother Mary passed away, aged seventy-three, in Woodbury.

1871 Census:

In May 1974, when George was forty-eight, he was accused of stealing the shawl of a Mrs Sarah Street, who had left the shawl at church. Though the shawl was later found at his home, George was found not guilty. George's wife Anna Maria claimed she had taken the shawl away to look after it until the owner would be found.

Articles about the incident describe George's character:

"The Rev J.L. Fulford, Vicar of the parish [Woodbury] was called, and he stated that he had known the prisoner [George Mutters] for twenty-eight years, and he had always found him an honest man." - Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 15th May 1874

"The prisoner [George Mutters] received an excellent character from the rector of the parish" - Western Daily Mercury, 2nd July 1874

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on the 15th May 1874:

From the Western Daily Mercury on 2nd July 1874:

1881 Census:

Woodbury began an annual flower show in 1881. In 1881, George won first prize for his spring-sown onions. In 1883, George won third prize for best cultivated cottage garden. In 1884, George won joint third prize for best cultivated cottage garden.

1891 Census:

On 12th February 1896, George passed away, aged seventy, in Woodbury. He was buried the next day. His death was announced in the Western Times on 28th February 1896: