Great x4 Grandfather William Cobley

My Great x4 Grandfather William (1798 - 1869) was an agricultural labourer and father of seven.

William was born around 1798 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Richard Cobley (about 24) and Grace Cobley (nee Rollstone) (about 36).

William was baptised on 11th March 1798, in Morchard Bishop.

William was the eldest of three sons:

• William  1798 -
• John  1800 -
• Richard 1803 - 

On 14th May 1816, William (about 18), an agricultural labourer, married Agnes Davey (about 27), a serge weaver, in Plymouth. The residence of both parties is recorded as St Andrews, Plymouth. Plymouth is some 45 miles south of Morchard Bishop - why would they have married so far from their hometown? Yet this does seem to be the marriage of our William and Agnes.

The couple married in the presence of William and Elizabeth Davey - likely relatives of Agnes. Whilst Agnes left only her mark, William was able to sign his name.

Signature of William Cobley, 1816

William and Agnes had seven children (six sons and one daughter):

• Richard  1817 -
• George  1818 -
• William  1820 -
• John  1822 -
• James  1826 -
• Grace  1828 -
• Samuel  1829 -

William and Agnes did not stay long in Plymouth evidently, as all seven of their children were baptised back in Morchard Bishop. Also all seven of their children appear to have survived into adulthood.

In 1822, when William was about twenty-four, his mother Grace passed away, aged about sixty. She was buried on 27th January 1822 in Morchard Bishop. Six years later, William named his only daughter Grace, likely for his mother.

In 1837, when William was about thirty-nine, his father Richard passed away, aged about sixty-three. He was buried on 2nd January 1837 in Morchard Bishop.

1841 Census:

Come the next census, all of William and Grace's children had left home, but living with them was little Mary Rattenbury. I can neither discern Mary's origins - her birth is recorded, but she seemingly wasn't baptised, so her parents names aren't given - nor her relationship to the Cobleys - I can find no marriage between any Rattenbury and Cobley. Her relationship to them is not listed on the census. It seems unlikely then she was a blood relation. Was she the young daughter of friends perhaps? She may well have passed away young, as a death for a Mary Rattenbury in recorded in that district (Crediton) in 1854, when Mary would have been around seven years old.

1851 Census:

1861 Census:

When William was about sixty-four, his wife Agnes passed away, aged about seventy-three, in Jul/Aug/Sep 1862 in the district of Crediton.

William himself passed away, aged about seventy-one, in Apr/May/Jun 1869 in the district of Crediton.