Great x3 Grandfather William Edworthy

My Great x3 Grandfather William (1820 - bef 1901) was a farm labourer and father of eleven.

William was born around 1820 in West Worlington, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 34), a husbandman and agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Edworthy (nee Ford) (about 35).

William was baptised on 3rd March 1820 in West Worlington.

William was the fourth of seven children (two daughters and five sons):

• Mary  1811 -
• John 1814 -
• George  1817 - 
• William  1820 -
• Anne  1822 -
• James  1824 -
• Samuel 1828 -

Alas the 1841 Census shows William's parents, in their fifties, living in the poorhouse at West Worlington. All of their children, including their youngest aged only thirteen, were out working as servants, apprentices and labourers on different local farms. At the time, twenty year old William lived, and worked as a labourer for farmer George Smyth, at Town Farm, East Worlington.

1841 Census:

In 1841, William's future wife Mary Harris, aged only seventeen, gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, whom she called Ann. Was William the father? William's older brother George certainly lived at the 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. And on the 1851 Census, young Ann is recorded as William's daughter.

On 26th September 1844, William (24) married Mary (20) in Lapford. At the time, Mary was at least seven months pregnant with their son John.

Including Ann, William and Mary had eleven children (four daughters and seven sons):

• Ann  1841 - 1855 (about 14)
• John  1844 -
• Elizabeth  1849 -
• William  1852 -
• George  1854 -
• Samuel  1856 -
• Ellen  1858 -
• Louis/Lewis  1861 -
• Frederick  1863 -
• Frank  1866 -
• Mary  1869 - 

Sometime in the late 1840s, William and his young family moved from Lapford to Coldridge.

1851 Census:

Age was unkind to William's parents. In their mid sixties, in the 1851 Census, William's mother Elizabeth is recorded as deaf; whilst, his father William senior, seemingly struggled to find work as a farm labourer, and is recorded as a pauper.

Sometime in the early 1850s, William and his family moved from Coldridge to East Worlington.

In 1855, his eldest daughter Ann passed away, aged about fourteen. And in 1860, his father William passed away, in his seventies.

1861 Census:

Like William and his siblings before them, William's children each left home at a young age to work on nearby farms.

In 1866, when William was about forty-six, his mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about eighty-two, in South Molton.

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

In late 1886, when William was about sixty-six, his wife Mary passed away, aged about sixty-two, in East Worlington. She was buried on 15th December 1886 in East Worlington.

Widowed, William stayed at Oddislake, East Worlington, where he lived with his son Lewis and his family.

1891 Census:

William passed away in his seventies, sometime in the 1890s or very early 1900s, in the district of Crediton.

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.