Monday 8 April 2019

Great x4 Grandfather William Edworthy

My Great x4 Grandfather William (1785 - 1860) was a husbandman, agricultural labourer, and father of seven.


William Edworthy was born around 1785 in West Worlington, Devon, to John Edworthy (about 40), a husbandman, and Joan Edworthy (nee Lockyear) (about 38).

William was baptised on New Years Day 1786 in West Worlington.

William was the seventh of ten children (six daughters and four sons):


  • Mary  1773 - 
  • Richard  1775 - 
  • Catharine  1776 - 
  • Ann  1778 - 
  • Elizabeth  1781 -
  • Frances  1783 - 
  • William  1785 - 
  • Joanna  1788 - 
  • John  1789 - 1810 (20 years old)
  • George  1792 - 


In 1808, when William was about twenty-two, his mother Joan passed away, aged about sixty. Joan was buried on 29th May 1808, in West Worlington.

In 1810, when William was about twenty-four, his younger brother John passed away, aged about only twenty. John was buried on 1st May 1810, in West Worlington. William would name his first son John, perhaps after his deceased brother and father.

On 3rd October 1810, William (about 24), a husbandman and agricultural labourer, married Elizabeth 'Betty' Ford (about 26), in his native West Worlington.

William and Elizabeth had seven children (two daughters and five sons):


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


In 1820, when William was about thirty-four, his father John passed away, aged about seventy-five. John was buried on 13th June 1820, in West Worlington.

Alas the 1841 Census shows William and Elizabeth living in the poorhouse in West Worlington. All of their children, including their youngest aged only thirteen, were out working as servants, apprentices and labourers on different local farms.

1841 Census:


Though they were no longer in the workhouse, age was still unkind to William and Elizabeth. In their mid sixties, in the 1851 Census, Elizabeth is recorded as deaf; whilst William seemingly struggled to find work as a farm labourer, and is recorded as a pauper.

1851 Census:


In Jan/Feb/Mar 1860, William passed away, aged about seventy-four, in the district of Crediton.

No comments:

Post a Comment