Great Great Uncle Frank Vernon

My Great Great Uncle Frank (1896 - 19??) was the younger brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Frank was born on 18th August 1896 in Sandford, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (27), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Lucy Vernon (nee James) (28), a former domestic servant and housewife.

(Though his record of baptism gives his date of birth as 18th August, later school records give it as 21st September.)

Frank was baptised on 13th September 1896 in Sandford, Devon. At the time of his birth, the family resided in Lower Henstill Cottages in Sandford.

Frank was the youngest of four siblings born to Harry and Lucy (one daughter, three sons):

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971 (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John  1894 - ? (?)
• Frank  1896 - 19?? (?)

Frank's mother Lucy was ill with pulmonary tuberculosis and passed away from the disease, aged twenty-nine, on 25th March 1897, in Kennerleigh, when Frank was only about seven months old. Lucy's death left Harry a widower with four young children, aged five to zero.

But before Lucy passed away, it seems Harry may have begun an affair with Ellen Tonkins - her son Fred Tonkins, born Apr/May/Jun 1897, was conceived before Lucy's death and Harry would later recognise him as his son. On New Year's Eve 1897, Harry and Ellen married. Before they married, Harry was described as Ellen's lodger. From this marriage, young Frank gained a step-mother and ten younger half siblings (8 half brothers and 2 half sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1994  (95)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months old)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Harry like his father)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

School records show, for three months, from November 1904 to January 1905, Frank attended Crediton Hayward School, alongside his younger half siblings Mabel and George. All three left on 20th January 1905 and went to Landscore. But Frank alone returned to Credition Hayward School on 3rd July 1905. His address is listed as Yeotown. He left the school on 21st June 1907, with the remark that he was an 'indifferent' student.

Having very briefly attended the school in East Village, Sandford, Frank returned once more to Crediton Hayward School on 11th July 1907. His address is given as Salmon Hutch, Uton, Crediton. He finally leaves the school on 19th February 1908, aged eleven, with the remark that he is 'very much neglected'. Indeed he does seem to be living apart from his family, as doesn't appear with them on either the 1901 or 1911 census.

Unfortunately after attending school, Frank appears to disappear from record. Did he pass away? Move away? Change his name? Unfortunately I cannot presently discern.