Wednesday, 16 January 2019

Great x4 Grandfather John Havill

My Great x4 Grandfather John (1798 - 1870) was a farm labourer and father of nine.


John Havill was born in 1798 in Aylesbeare, Devon, to John Havill, a labourer, and Elizabeth Havill (nee ?).

John was baptised on 4th November 1798 in Aylesbeare.

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


  • Elizabeth  1796 -
  • John  1798 -
  • James  1801 - 1901 (about nine months old)
  • James Russell  1807 -
  • Mary Ann 1814 -


In 1801, when John was about three years old, his younger brother James passed away, aged only about nine months old.

On 24th March 1822, John (23), a labourer, married Somersetian Mary Parker (22), in his native Aylesbeare. Neither could sign their name on their record of marriage, but left their mark.

John and Mary had nine children (five sons and four daughters):


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


In 1829, when John was about thirty-one, his third daughter Elizabeth passed away, aged bout only one week old, in Aylesbeare.

1841 Census:


1851 Census:


1861 Census:


The Censuses show John and Mary took in Thomas, the illegitimate son of their eldest daughter Jane, and Walter, the illegitimate son of their youngest daughter Elizabeth.

On 1st November 1870, 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.

The accident was reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette Daily Telegrams of 5th November 1870:


John was buried on 9th November 1870, in Aylesbeare.

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