Wednesday 13 March 2019

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.

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