Great x4 Grandmother Jane James (nee Leach)

My Great x4 Grandmother Jane (1806 - 1885) was a serge weaver, housewife, and mother of five.

Jane Leach was born around 1806 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Roger Leach (about 25), an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth 'Betty' Leach (nee Way) (about 22), a serge handloom weaver.

Jane was baptised on the 8th April 1806 in Morchard Bishop.

Jane was the eldest of eleven children (six daughters and five sons):

• Jane  1806 -
• Roger  1808 -
• Elizabeth  1810 - 
• John  1812 -
• William  1815 -
• Susanna  1817 - 1817 (1 week old)
• Anne 1817 - 1817 (2 weeks old) 
• Maria  1819 -
• Ann  1821 -
• George  1824 -
• Robert  1827 - 1827 (4 days old)

The records of baptism of Jane's younger siblings William, Maria, Ann and George list the family's residence as Watcombe (spelling varies), in Morchard Bishop, from the 1810's into the 1820's. Watcombe would remain the Leach family house for many decades. They will still be found there some twenty years later in the 1841 Census.

Sadly three of Jane's younger siblings passed away incredibly young...

In 1817, when Jane was about eleven, her younger twin sisters Anne and Susanna passed away as very young babies. Both baby girls were baptised on 26th May 1817. Susanna passed away first, at about one week old, and was buried on 31st May 1817 in Morchard Bishop. Anne lived only a week longer, living to about two weeks in all, and was buried on 8th June 1817, also in Morchard Bishop.

In June 1827, when Jane was about twenty-one, her youngest brother Robert passed away, also as a very young baby. He lived but four days. Robert was baptised on 14th June 1827 and buried on 18th June 1827, in Morchard Bishop.

On 31st January 1835, Jane (about 29), a serge weaver like her mother before her, married Robert James (about 27), an agricultural labourer, in their native Morchard Bishop.

Jane and Robert would have five children (two daughters and three sons):

• Elizabeth Frances  1835 -
• Henry  1837 -
• Robert   1840 -
• William  1844 -
• Ann  1845 - 1847 (one year old)

It seems likely Jane and Robert named their eldest daughter Elizabeth after their mothers, Elizabeth 'Betty' Leach and Elizabeth James.

All five children were born and grew up in Morchard Bishop. Elizabeth Frances' and Henry's baptism records list the family's residence in the mid 1830s as Watcombe, implying the young couple spent the first few years of their married life living at Jane's family home.

By 1841, Jane and Robert and their eldest two sons had moved from Watcombe to Gollands, also in Morchard Bishop, but their eldest child Elizabeth Frances stayed at Watcombe with Jane's parents. I wonder why.

1841 Census:

In the first quarter of 1847, Jane and Robert's youngest child Ann passed away, aged only one-year-old, in Morchard Bishop.

Jane and Robert's sons left home at very young ages to work as servants and labourers on local farms. It is likely they left school at the age of eight, as was often the case for poor rural children of that era, then were deemed old enough to go out and start work.

The 1851 Census shows Henry, thirteen, working as an indoor farm servant for William Leach, farmer of 160 arcres, at Higher Week in Morchard Bishop; and shows Robert, ten, working as an indoor farm servant for John Leach, farmer of 130 acres, at Higher Cote South in Morchard Bishop. Jane's maiden name was Leach, so farmers William and John Leach are likely better off relations of her. It seems they were likely first cousins of Jane's father Roger.

By 1851, only the couple's youngest son William, seven, was still at home and attending school.

1851 Census:

Unfortunately, I cannot find Jane and her family on the 1861 Census, meaning I know little of her life in her late forties and early fifties. But she does pop up again in the 1871 Census, still with Robert, still in Morchard Bishop. In that time, they had moved from Wood Gate to Paradise, also in Morchard Bishop.

1871 Census:

By the time of the 1881 Census, ten years later, Jane and Robert had moved again - this time from paradise to Church Yard Gate, next to the School House. Also elderly Robert was no longer working.

1881 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1885, Jane passed away, aged about seventy-nine, in the district of Crediton.

Great x4 Grandfather Robert James

My Great x4 Grandfather Robert (1808 - 1887) was an agricultural labourer and father of five.

Robert James was born around 1808 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Robert James (about 42), a labourer, and Elizabeth James (nee Kingwell) (about 36).

Robert was baptised on the 14th January 1808 in Morchard Bishop. Robert was named for his father.

Robert of the sixth of eight children (three daughters and five sons):

• Mary  1793 -
• Sarah  1795 -
• William  1797 -
• Richard  1800 - 1800 (about two weeks old)
• Richard  1805 -
• Robert  1808 -
• John  1810 -
• Elizabeth  1815 -

All eight siblings were baptised in their parents' native Morchard Bishop.

In 1800, eight years before Robert's birth, his older brother Richard passed away as a very young baby. Richard was baptised on the 17th June, and passed away less than two weeks later on 29th June 1800.

The 1815 baptism record of Robert's younger sister of Elizabeth states that family lived at the time at Middlecott, near or in Morchard Bishop.

In 1831, when Robert was about twenty-three, his mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about fifty-nine, in Morchard Bishop. She was buried on 16th September in 1831.

In 1834, when Robert was about twenty-six, his father of the same name passed away, aged about sixty-eight, in Morchard Bishop. Robert Senior was buried on 5th June 1834 in Morchard Bishop.

On 31st January 1835, Robert (about 27), an agricultural labourer, married Jane Leach (about 29), a serge weaver, in Morchard Bishop.

Robert and Jane had five children (two daughters and three sons):

• Elizabeth Frances  1835 -
• Henry  1837 -
• Robert  1840 -
• William  1844 -
• Ann  1845 - 1847 (one year old)

It seems likely Robert and Jane named their eldest daughter Elizabeth after their mothers, Elizabeth James and Elizabeth 'Betty' Leach.

All five children were born and grew up in Morchard Bishop. Elizabeth Frances' and Henry's baptism records list the family's residence in the mid 1830s as Watcombe, near or in Morchard Bishop. Watcombe was Jane's family home.

By 1841, Robert and Jane and their eldest two sons had moved from Watcombe to Gollands, also in Morchard Bishop, but their eldest child Elizabeth Frances stayed at Watcombe with Jane's parents. I wonder why.

1841 Census:

In the first quarter of 1847, Robert and Jane's youngest child Ann passed away, aged only one-year-old, in Morchard Bishop.

Robert and Jane's sons left home at very young ages to work as servants and labourers on local farms. It is likely they left school at the age of eight, as was often the case for poor rural children of that era, then were deemed old enough to go out and start work.

The 1851 Census shows Henry, thirteen, working as an indoor farm servant for William Leach, farmer of 160 acres, at Higher Week in Morchard Bishop; and shows Robert, ten, working as an indoor farm servant for John Leach, farmer of 130 arcres, at Higher Cote South in Morchard Bishop. Their mother Jane's maiden name was Leach, so farmers William and John Leach are likely better off relations of their mother. It seems they were likely first cousins of Jane's father Roger.
 
By 1851, only the couple's youngest son William, aged seven, was still at home and attending school.

1851 Census:

Unfortately, I cannot find Robert and his family on the 1861 Census, meaning I know little about his life in his late forties and early fifties. But he does pop up again in the 1871 Census, still in Morchard Bishop, still working as an agricultural labourer, still with Jane. The only apparant changes are that the couple moved from Wood Gate to Paradise, also in Morchard, and that all their surviving children had now left home.

1871 Census:

By the time of the 1881 Census, ten years later, Robert and Jane had moved again - this time from Paradise to Church Yard Gate, next to the School House. Also by then elderly Robert was no longer working.

1881 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1885, when Robert was about seventy-seven, his wife Jane passed away, aged about seventy-nine, in the district of Crediton.

Less than two years late, in Apr/May/Jun 1887, Robert himself passed away, aged about seventy-nine, in the district of Crediton. 

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Dyment (nee Cudmore)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1799 - 1877) was a housewife and mother of nine.

Mary Cudmore was born around 1799 in Dolton, Devon, to Richard Cudmore (about 33), a husbandman and agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Cudmore (nee Williams) (about 30).

Mary was baptied on 31st March 1799 in Dolton.

Mary was the third of eleven children:

• Elizabeth  1796 -
• Joan  1797 -
• Mary  1799 -
• William 1801 -
• John  1802 -
• Jane 1806 - 1806 (about one week old)
• George  1807 -
• James  1809 -
• Richard  1811 -
• Thomas  1813 - 1815 (about eighteen months old)
• Christopher  1816 -

In April 1806, when Mary was about seven, her baby sister Jane passed away. Jane was baptised on 6th April and buried on 13th April in Dolton, making her only about one week old when she passed away.

In May 1815, when Mary was about sixteen, her little brother Thomas passed away, aged about eighteen months. He was buried on 11th May 1815 in Dolton.

On 2nd June 1822, Mary (about 23) married Robert Dyment (about 26), an agricultural labourer, in Dolton. Each left only their mark on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Mary and Robert had nine children:

• 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 children were baptised and grew up in Mary's native Dolton. Sadly four of their children passed away young.

1841 Census:

Alas the 1840's saw for Mary the deaths of her parents and two of her own children...

In 1841, when Mary was about forty-two, her mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about seventy-two, in Dolton. She was buried on 6th June 1841 in Dolton.

The next year, Mary's daughter also called Elizabeth - likely after Mary's mother - also passed away, aged only ten years old. Elizabeth was buried on 16th August 1842 in Dolton.

In 1847, when Mary was about forty-eight, her father Richard passed away, aged about eighty-one, in Dolton. He was buried on 8th April 1847 in Dolton.

In 1849, when Mary was about fifty, her son William also passed away, aged twenty-one. William was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton.

On the records of burial for Mary's children Elizabeth and William, their residence is listened as alas Torrington Union [Work]House. Poor families often used local workhouses for cheap or free health care. These young persons may have been receiving medical care in the workhouse before their premature deaths there. The Censuses imply the family were not living in the workhouse, or if they did it was not for long.

In middle age, Mary's husband Robert seemingly changed career from agricultural labourer to road contractor. Mary and Robert's second son Thomas followed in his father's new trade - on later Censuses he is listed as a roadman.

1851 Census:

In 1853, Mary's eighth child Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen. She was buried on 11th March 1853 in Dolton.

And later that same year, her seventh child Susan passed away, aged eighteen. She was buried on 28th August 1853 in Dolton.

Mary's closest sibling in age, her younger brother William, as well as being a agricultural labourer, like most of the men in Mary's life, we learn from newspaper articles that in the 1850's he was also a poacher and more surprisingly a musican.

William had a local rival musican, Thomas Dymond. Now the only Thomas Dymond/Dyment I can find living in Dolton in the 1850's in Mary's own son Thomas! Was William's rival then his own nephew? It seems likely. Their rivaly made the local newspapers, when it turned violent. From the North Devon Journal of 15th June 1854:

In late 1858, William attempted to poach on the land of a local lord, Lord Clinton. Such was reported in the North Devon Journal of  9th December 1858:

A year later, in 1859, William was again caught attemping to poach - this time on land belonging to the local reverand. From the Exeter Flying Post of 13th October 1859:

Sometime in the late 1850's, Mary, Robert and their youngest child John moved from Dolton to Torrington. Also living with the family was Mary and Robert's grandson William, the illegitimate son of their fourth child and eldest daughter Mary. It's nice William stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

In 1871, when Mary was around seventy-two, her husband Robert passed away, aged about seventy-four. He was was buried on 31st January in Dolton.

It seems Robert spent the last years of his life back in Dolton, for there he was buried and there Mary, widowed, and their grandson William can be found living together, back by the brook, in the 1871 Census.

1871 Census:

Mary herself passed away in late 1877. She was buried on 9th December 1877 in Dolton.

Great x4 Grandfather Robert Dyment

My Great x4 Grandfather Robert (1796 - 1871) was an agricultural labourer, husbandman, later a road contractor, and father of nine.

Robert's family surname varies on different records, such as: Dyment, Diment, Dymont, Dymond, Dimond.

Census records imply Robert was born around 1796 in Beaford, Devon. Annoyingly two Robert Dyments were baptised in Beaford around the same time: firstly a Robert Dyment on 22nd February 1795 to Robert and Sarah; and secondly a Robert Dyment on 12th February 1797 to Francis and Martha. It is difficult, if not impossible, to work out which is ours.

On 2nd June 1822, Robert (about 26), a labourer, married Mary Cudmore (about 23), in Mary's native Dolton. Each left only a mark on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Robert and Mary had nine children:

• 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 children were baptised in Dolton and grew up there. Sadly four of their children passed away young.

1841 Census:

In 1842, when Robert was in his mid forties, his fifth child Elizabeth passed away, aged only ten years old, in Dolton. She was buried on the 16th August 1842 in Dolton.

Seven years later, in 1849, his third son William also passed away, aged twenty-one years old, in Dolton. He was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton.

On Elizabeth and William's records of burial their residence is listened as alas Torrington Union [Work]House. Poor families often ussed local workhouses for cheap or free health care. These young persons may have been receiving medical care in the workhouse before their premature deaths there. The Censuses imply the family were not living in the workhouse, or if they did it was not for long.

In middle age, it appears Robert changed career: whilst the 1841 Census lists his occupation as a simple labourer, by the time of the 1851 Census he was recorded as a road contractor. Later Censuses also list Robert's second son Thomas as a Roadman - it seems he followed in his father's trade.

1851 Census:

In 1853, Robert's eighth child Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 11th Marth 1853.

And later that same year, his seventh child Susan passed away, aged eighteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 28th August 1853.

Sometime in the late 1850s, Robert, his wife Mary and youngest child John moved from Dolton to Torrington. Also living with the family was Robert and Mary's grandson William, the illegitimate son of their fourth child and eldest daughter Mary. It's nice William stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

Robert passed away, aged about seventy-four, in 1871. He was buried on 31st January 1871 in Dolton.

It seems Robert spent the last years of his life back in Dolton, for there he was buried and there his widow Mary and grandson William can be found living together, back by the brook, in the 1871 Census.

Great x4 Grandmother Sarah Vernon (nee Prout)

My Great x4 Grandmother Sarah (1802 - 1868) was a housewife and mother of eight.

Sarah Prout was born around 1802 in South Molton, Devon, to William and Margarett Prout.

Sarah was baptised on 30th May 1802 in South Molton.

Unfortunarely, beyond her baptism giving the names of her parents, Sarah's childhood remains a mystery. I can neither find a likely marriage record for her parents, nor baptisms of any likely siblings. We are left with several possibilities: Sarah may have been an only child; records may have been lost or events (such as births of siblings) may not have been recorded in the first place; her parents may not have been native to South Molton and records of their marriage or baptisms of other children may be further afield. We cannot say for certain. But we can say Sarah either remained in South Molton from her earliest years, or soon returned there, for there she married as a young woman.

On 26th September 1824, Sarah (about 22) married William Vernon (about 30), a labourer, in South Molton. On the record of their marriage, whilst William was about to sign his name, Sarah left only her mark, implying she could not write. They are both described as native to the parish of South Molton.

Sarah and William had 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 -

Records of baptism of their eldest sons, John and William, list the young family as residing on East Street in South Molton in the late 1820s.

Around 1830, Sarah, William and their two infant children moved from South Molton, about twelve miles south west, to Ashreigney. Sadly, they resided for some time in the poorhouse there. Their children, Mary and James, were born in Ashreigney poorhouse.

It seems the family managed to leave behind the poorhouse by the mid 1830s. The 1835 baptism record of their next and sixth child Henry lists their abode of Hayes. Hayes was likely around today's Little Hayes Plantation, a wooded and laked area, and Hayes Moor, both just to the south west of Ashreigney.

The 1841 baptism record of Sarah and William's son Thomas shows the family were back living on East Street up in South Molton. William had lots of family living on East Street.

The couple's eldest daughter Mary passed away as a teenager in either 1845 or 1847 in South Molton. (There are records of death for a Mary Vernon in South Molton in both years, and there isn't a way to find out which is our Mary, as there is no age given, unless I purchase the documents)

By the time of the 1851 Census, Sarah and her family were back living in Hayes, which is then described as a hamlet, and their home called Clarkes Hayes. Though not back in the workhouse, the family were alas again struggling. William and their eldest son John were described as paupers, their middle sons were away from home working as servants and labourers on farms (and were maybe sending money home), bu the only individual bringing in money at home seems to have been Sarah's young daughter, twelve-year-old glover Elizabeth.

1851 Census:

In 1855, Sarah's eldest son John passed away, aged twenty-eight, in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash. He was buried on 25th March 1855, in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash. Sadly his abode was listed as Torrington Union Work House.

Sarah's husband William passed away, in his mid sixties, in 1860. He was buried in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash on 25th November 1860.

Soon after William's death, the 1861 Census shows Sarah, a widow, remained at Hayes with her two youngest children: her son Thomas, a labourer, and daughter Sarah, a glover. As different records show Sarah's daughters Elizabeth and Sarah both worked as glovers as teenaged girls, I wonder if they learnt this trade from their mother. Also living with the family at the time was three-year-old Elizabeth Ann, the illegitimate daughter of one of Sarah's daughters. It's nice she stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

Sarah herself passed away, aged about sixty-six, in 1868. She was buried in Ashreighney or Ring's Ash on 21st August 1868.