Great x4 Grandfather William Manning

My Great x4 Grandfather William (1795 - after 1881) was an agricultural labourer and father of eight.

William was born around 1795 in Spreyton, Devon, to Thomas and Grace Manning.

William was baptised on 26th April 1795 in Spreyton, Devon.

William was the second of three sons:

• William  1792 - 1794  (about 14 months)
• William  1795 -
• George  1797 -

William was the second of his name. His elder brother of the same name passed away, aged about fourteen months old, in January 1794. He was buried on 21st January 1794 in Spreyton.

On 14th November 1821, William (about 26), an agricultural labourer, married Mary Westcott (about 25) in Alphington, near Exeter, some sixteen miles east of his native Spreyton. Both left only their mark, implying neither could write. Mary was about six weeks pregnant when they married - their first child Samuel being born on 27th June 1822.

William and Mary had eight children (four sons and four daughters):

• Samuel  1822 -
• Eliza  1823 - 1824 (1 year old)
• Harriot  1825 -
• Mary Ann  1826 -
• Benjamin  1828 -
• William  1830 -
• Thomas  1831 -
• Eliza  1834 -

William, Mary and their young family lived in the area of Alphington, Holcombe Burnell and Longdown (there is only a few mile between them). Their abode is listed as Longdown Cottage on the baptism record of their eldest son Samuel, who was baptised in Holcombe Burnell on 8th July 1822. Whilst the 1823 baptism record of their second child, Eliza, lists their abode as Longdown End, Alphington. Eliza was also baptised in Holcombe Burnell, on 12th October 1823.

Around 1824, they moved around five miles south-west to Dunsford. Their second child, Eliza, sadly passed away, aged about only about thirteen months old. She was buried on 5th November 1824, in Dunsford. On her burial record, the family's abode is listed as North Midwinter. This unusual name was likely the name of their cottage, as my research has found there was also a South Midwinter Cottage in Dunsford at the time.

The family lived at Midwinter for about three years, from 1824 to 1827. Their abode is listed as such on the baptism records of their next two children, Harriot (born 1825) and Mary Ann (about 1826). Both girls were baptised in Holcombe Burnell.

Around 1828, William and his young family moved around ten miles north-west, making the return to William's native Spreyton. Their next child, Benjamin, was baptised there on 12th October 1828. The couple's last three children were also baptised in Spreyton, showing the family remained in the village, throughout the early 1830's.

Sadly the 1834 baptism record of their youngest child, Eliza, lists the family's abode as the Poor House. Thankfully by the time of the 1841 Census, seven years later, their abode is no longer listed as the Poor House, but simply Spreyton Village.

1841 Census:

Two key things happened to the Manning family in the 1840's: firstly, at some point, William's wife Mary passed away, in her late forties or early fifties, as he is listed as a widower on the 1851 Census; also the family, at some point, moved from Spreyton about sixteen miles east to Exeter.

The 1851 Census shows the family living on Smythen Street in Exeter's poor West Quarter. The homes of Smythen Street were mainly late medieval timber-fronted buildings, beautiful in their time, but by the Victorian era long-weathered and their inhabitants poor.

The top part of Smythen Street was known as Butchers' Row, where one side of the street was lined with many butchers' shops. The opening of the Lower Market in 1836, a purpose built space for the butchers of Exeter, marked the beginning of the end for Butchers' Row; however the 1851 Census shows that when William and his family lived there, some fifteen years after the opening of the Lower Market, many of their neighbours were still butchers.

1851 Census:

Neighbouring households were quite small, with only families, but the labouring Manning family appear to have been part-letting their home or running a lodging house, for they have ten persons listed as lodgers, including two small families, the Prideauxs and the Belworthys.

Unfortunately I cannot find William on the 1861 Census. It seems likely he remained in Exeter, working as a labourer.

In the 1850's and 1860's, his youngest sons William and Thomas served as privates in the army, likely serving in the Crimean War.

By the time of the 1871 Census, an elderly William lodged with his son Thomas, a wagoner, and his Irish wife Ann, a charwoman, at their home at 2 Old Brewery Place, Haven Banks, near Exeter's quay.

1871 Census:

In his very old age, William stayed living with his son and daughter-in-law. By the time of the 1881 Census, they lived on Eneings Street, St Mary's Steps, Exeter.

1881 Census:

I cannot find a record of death or burial for William; however, we know he lived a long life, surviving into his late eighties or even nineties.

Great x4 Grandmother Thomazin Mutter (nee Kerslake)

My Great x4 Grandmother Thomazin (1811 - after 1871) was a housewife and mother of two.

The spelling of her name varies of records - Thomasin, Thomasine, Thomazin, Thomazine etc - but as she left only her mark on her record of marriage, implying she couldn't write, not even her name, I have decided to go with the more commonly written form of the name, Thomazin.

Thomazin was born around 1811 in Sampford Peverell, Devon, to John Kerslake (about 39), a lime burner and labourer, and Jane 'Jenny' Kerslake (nee Stephens) (about 36).

Thomazin was baptised on 17th April 1811 in Sampford Peverell.

Thomazin was the seventh of ten children (three sons and seven daughters):

• Robert  1796 -
• Mary  1799 -
• Elizabeth  1802 -
• Elizabeth  1804 -
• Thomazin 1804 -
• Jane  1808 -
• Thomazin  1811 -
• John  1813 -
• Thomas  1818 -
• Ann  1820 -

Thomazin had two elder sisters called Elizabeth, and she herself was the second of her name, implying the older Elizabeth and Thomazin may have passed away in infancy and their younger sisters were then named for them; however, I cannot find burial records for girls. Maybe, being so very young and small and poor, they weren't officially buried in the churchyard. It seems very unlikely a couple would had have more than one child living with the same name.

In 1837, Thomazin, aged about twenty-six, gave birth to an illegitimate daughter. On 9th April 1837, she was baptised as Jane Mutter Kerslake, in Sampford Peverell. Jane's father was lime burner and labourer, thirty-two year old, William Mutter. William had the same occupation as Thomazin's father John - maybe they worked together down at the lime kiln. 

Sometime around 1840, Thomazin, William and their daughter Jane moved about five miles west from Sampford Peverell to Tiverton. There, on 9th April 1840, Thomazin (about 29) and William (about 35) married. On their record of marriage, both left only their mark, implying neither could write. I wonder why they did not marry earlier, back before their eldest child was born. Was there a specific reason they could or did not?

Thomazin and William had two children (one daughter and one son):

• Jane  1837 -
• Robert  1843 -

In Tiverton, Thomazin and her family lived in the unusually named Hit or Miss Court.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1857, when Thomazin was about forty-five, her husband William passed away, aged about fifty-two, in Tiverton. Thomazin, widowed, lived with and was supported by their teenage son Robert, who worked as a farm labourer. Unfortunately Thomazin is listed as a pauper on the 1861 census.

1861 Census:

Come the 1871 census, Thomazin was living with her daughter Jane, her husband William Boobier and their sons, down in Exeter.

1871 Census:

Unfortunately the 1871 Census is the last record I can find concerning Thomazin. We leave her, aged sixty, living with her growing family.

Great x4 Grandfather William Mutter

My Great x4 Grandfather William (1805 - 1857) was a lime burner, labourer and father of two.

William was born around 1805 in Sampford Peverell, Devon, to Robert Mutter, a tailor, and Jane or Joan Mutter.

William was baptised in 1805, in Sampford Peverell. Unfortunately, two William Mutters were baptised in Sampford Peverell in 1805, sons of a Robert Mutter, and I cannot discern which is ours. These William's were nephew and uncle. I'll try to explain... Robert senior's eldest son by his first marriage was called Robert junior. Years later Robert senior, a widower, remarries (Jane Allway) and his youngest son is William Mutter, born 1805. By this time Robert junior is also married (to Joan Harris) and starting a family of his own and his eldest son is also called William Mutter and born in 1805. So though I know I've found the right family, frustratingly I cannot pinpoint if Robert senior or junior is our William's father. The only point slightly tipping the scales in favour of its being Robert junior is that on our William's marriage certificate his father's occupation is given as a tailor, and on the baptism records of Robert junior's youngest children his occupation is also given as a tailor; but as sons often followed in the footsteps of and were apprentice to their fathers, Robert senior may well have been a tailor too, only records that far back didn't tend to list occupation. Either way William is a decedent of Robert senior, whether as his son or grandson.

Whether the son of Robert senior or junior, William was one of five children - being either the eldest or youngest.

In 1837, William, aged about thirty-two, fathered the daughter of Thomasin Kerslake. On 9th April 1837, their daughter was baptised as Jane Mutter Kerslake, in Sampford Peverell.

Sometime around 1840, William, Thomasin and their daughter moved about five miles west from Sampford Peverell to Tiverton. There, on 9th April 1840, William (about 35) and Thomasin (about 29) married. On their record of marriage, both left only their mark, implying neither could write. I wonder why they did not marry earlier, back before their eldest child was born. Was there a specific reason that they could or did not?

William and Thomasin had two children (one daughter and one son):

• Jane  1837 -
• Robert  1843 -

William named his only son Robert, likely after his own father.

In Tiverton, William and his family lived in the unusually named Hit or Miss Court.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1857, William passed away, aged about fifty-two, in Tiverton. William's widow Thomasin was lived with and was supported by their son Robert, who worked as a farm labourer.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Boobier (nee Wood)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1781 - 1866) was a housewife and mother of six.

Mary was born around 1780/81 in Tiverton, Devon.

Unfortunately two Mary Woods were born and baptised around that time (the first in 1779, the second in 1781) in Tiverton, Devon, to two different sets of parents, and I cannot discern which is ours. The second seems more likely as Mary's age given on censuses, imply she was born around 1780 or 1781; however, the first Mary, born 1779, cannot be ruled out as ours. Two more Mary Woods were baptised in Tiverton, in 1782 and 1783 - again these Mary's cannot be ruled out, as children were sometimes baptised a year or two after their birth.

On the 24th April 1805, Mary (about 24) married Thomas Boobier (23), a labourer and navigator, in her native Tiverton. On their record of marriage, both left only their mark, implying neither could write.

Mary and Thomas had six children (four sons and two children):

• John  1806 - 1840  (34 years old)
• Mary Ann  1809 -
• Edward  1817 -
• William  1820 - 1824  (4 years old)
• Grace  1823 - 1836  (13 years old)
• William  1826 - 1886  (59 years old)

Alas two of their children passed away in childhood. Their fourth child, William, passed away, aged only four in 1824. William was buried on 1st September 1824 in Tiverton. The couple would name their youngest son for their lost child. And their fifth child, Grace, passed away, aged about thirteen, in 1836. Grace was buried on 12th June 1836 in Tiverton.

On 4th November 1840, Mary's husband Thomas passed away suddenly, aged fifty-nine. That day, he, with one of their sons and some other men, had been making a pond on the estate of a Mr Gunn. After suddenly complaining of not feeling well, his son recommended he return to the farmhouse, but he would never reach it - on his way, he fell to the ground and died. He had not been ill, but appeared in his usual health, until his last moments.

His death was reported in the North Devon Journal of 12th November 1840:

Thomas was buried on 8th November 1840, in Tiverton. Mary and Thomas' oldest son, John, passed away soon after, aged about thirty-four. John was buried on 22nd November 1840 in Tiverton. Mary, now a widow, was supported by the income of her surviving adult children.

1841 Census:

Mary remained living with her daughter Mary Ann and her husband John Jess. Unfortunately in the 1851 census, Mary is recorded as a pauper.

1851 Census:

As Mary's husband had fell down dead at work, in his fifties, so did her son-in-law John. On 28th February 1861, John suddenly passed away at his job at the Gas Works in Station Road, Tiverton. He had long been suffering from a disease of the heart, which was deemed to have been the cause of death.

His death was reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 8th March 1861:

Mary and her daughter Mary Ann, both widows, remained living together in Elmore, Tiverton. Mary Ann supported herself and her elderly mother Mary by working as a grocer and shopkeeper. The 1861 census shows staying with them was teenage Sarah Boobier, Mary's granddaughter, the daughter of her second son, Edward.

1861 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1866, Mary passed away, aged eighty-six, in Tiverton.

Great x4 Grandfather Thomas Boobier

My Great x4 Grandfather Thomas (1781 - 1840) was a labourer, navigator, and father of six.

Thomas was born on 26th October 1781 in Tiverton, Devon to Edward Boobier (about 27) and Grace Boobier (nee King) (about 24).

Thomas was baptised on Christmas Day 1781 in Tiverton.

Thomas was the second of six children (four sons and two children):

• Edward  1780 -
• Thomas  1781 -
• William  1784 -
• George  1786 -
• Grace  1791 -
• Ann  1793 - 1794 (about 12 months old)

In the summer of 1794, when Thomas was twelve, his mother Grace (about 37) and youngest sister Ann (about 1) passed away. Mother and daughter were both buried on 6th June 1794 in Tiverton.

On the 24th April 1805, Thomas (23), a labourer, married Mary Wood (about 24) in Tiverton. On their record of marriage, both left only their mark, implying neither could write.

In January 1807, when Thomas was twenty-five, his father Edward passed away, aged about fifty-three. He was buried on 4th January 1807 in his native Washfield, a village two miles north-west of Tiverton.

Thomas and Mary had six children (four sons and two children):

• John  1806 - 1840  (34 years old)
• Mary  1809 -
• Edward  1817 -
• William  1820 - 1824  (4 years old)
• Grace  1823 - 1836  (13 years old)
• William  1826 - 1886 (59 years old)

Alas two of their children passed away in childhood. Their fourth child, William, passed away, aged only four, in 1824. William was buried on 1st September 1824 in Tiverton. The couple would name their youngest son for their lost child. And their fifth child, Grace, likely named for her William's mother and sister, passed away, aged about thirteen, in 1836. Grace was buried on 12th June 1836 in Tiverton.

On 4th November 1840, Thomas passed away suddenly, aged fifty-nine. That day, he, with one of his sons and some other men, had been making a pond on the estate of a Mr Gunn. After suddenly complaining of not feeling well, his son recommended he return to the farmhouse, but he would never reach it - on his way, he fell to the ground and died. He had not been ill, but appeared in his usual health, until his last moments.

His death was reported in the North Devon Journal of 12th November 1840:

Thomas was buried on 8th November 1840, in Tiverton. Thomas' oldest son, John, passed away soon after, aged about thirty-four. John was buried on 22nd November 1840 in Tiverton. Thomas' widow Mary was supported by the income of her surviving adult children.

Great x4 Grandmother Jane Andrews (nee Perkins)

My Great x4 Grandmother Jane (1820 - after 1901) was a servant, housewife, and mother of ten.

Jane was born around 1820 in the county of Kent (likely Dartford in Kent; else in Shoreditch, London), to Robert Perkins (about 25), a labourer and worker in a London oil mill, and Elizabeth Perkins (nee Cooper) (about 29).

Jane was baptised on 11th February 1821 in Shoreditch, London.

Jane was the third of four children (three sons and one daughter):

• John  1817 -
• William  1819 -
• Jane  1821 -
• George  1823 -

Jane's parents, Robert and Elizabeth, had married in Dartford, in Kent, on Christmas Eve 1815. Their first two sons, John and William, were born and baptised in Dartford, in 1817 and 1819 respectively. It seems the family then moved to Shoreditch, London, for there Jane was baptised in 1821. Whilst in London, her father Robert worked in oil mills there (his occupation as such is given on his youngest son George's baptism record). Come 1822 and the family were living down in Upton Pyne, Devon. There Robert and Elizabeth were buried, and their youngest son George baptised in 1823.

When Jane was nearly two years old, her father Robert passed away, aged only twenty-seven. He was buried on 27th October 1822 in Upton Pyne. At the time of his death, his wife, Elizabeth, was about two or three months pregnant with their fourth child.

Only eight months after her father passed away, when Jane was about two and a half years old, her mother Elizabeth also passed away, aged about thirty-one. Elizabeth was buried on 29th June 1823 in Upton Pyne. Elizabeth had given birth for the last time only the previous month - might she have passed away as a result of the birth?

All later censuses, taken was Jane was an adult, say she was born in the county of Kent, however no town or village is ever given. Given that her parents died when she was one or two years old, and her brothers were about six years old, four years old and one month old, she may not have known where she was born, but may have been told her family came from Kent.

Upton Pyne, 1823; who was looking after the four little Perkins orphans? Whilst their mother, Elizabeth, may well have been from Kent; it seems their father, Robert, may have been a native of Upton Pyne. A Robert Perkins, son of John and Mary, was baptised there in 1795 (the year according to Robert's burial record he was born). So paternal relations may likely have taken the children in. It also makes sense that Elizabeth would go to her husband's place of birth, around the time of his death, for it would be that parish which would (if any) have a duty to give aid to her and her children, for she and her children, as a man's wife and children, would thus be of his parish. Also, at Jane's wedding in nearby Exeter, nearly two decades later, a James Perkins acts as witness. This James was likely her uncle, her father Robert's younger brother.

Come 1840 and Jane, now a young woman, could be found living in Bartholomew Street, Exeter, working as a servant. On 18th October 1840, Jane (19 or 20) married William Andrews (22), an agricultural labourer, in St Olave, Exeter. At the time, William, though a native of Morchard Bishop, was also residing in Bartholomew Street. On their record of marriage, Jane and William left only their mark, implying neither could write.

It seems Jane was about five months pregnant with the couple's first child, when they married.

Jane and William had ten children (four daughters and six sons):

• Mary Jane  1841 - 1843 (about 2 years old)
• John  1844 -
• Sarah Ann  1847 -
• George  1851 -
• James  1854 -
• Mary Emma  1856 -
• William J  1859 -
• Eliza Jane  1861 -
• Jane  1864 -
• Elizabeth  1865 -

The couple's oldest child, Mary Jane, was baptised in William's native Morchard Bishop in February 1841, implying the young family moved back there from Exeter around late 1840, early 1841. Sadly Mary Jane seems to have passed away young.

Come the 1841 Census, the family had moved again, about nine miles south-east, from Morchard Bishop to Mills Cottages, Shobrooke, Crediton.

1841 Census:

However, within a few years, they were back down in Exeter. At the time of their son John's baptism in 1844, the family resided in Cowley Road, Exeter.

A few years later, and they had moved again, about four miles north from Exeter to Stoke Canon, where they resided at the time of their daughter Sarah Ann's baptism in 1847. They were still there come the 1851 census.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the early 1850's, Jane and her family moved again, about thirteen miles north-east from Stoke Canon to Sampford Peverell, where the younger children were born and baptised.

Unfortunately I cannot find the family on the 1861 Census; however, baptism records imply the family were still living in Sampford Peverell at the time.

Sometime in the late 1860's, Jane and her family moved once more: this time over the border into Somerset! They moved about fifteen miles north-east from Sampford Peverell to Allerford, Hillfarrance, Somerset. They would remain in the area for twenty/thirty years until their deaths. Lodging with the family was Emma Bennett, the older sister of James Bennett. the husband of Jane's daughter Sarah Ann.

1871 Census:

In August 1872, Jane's daughter Sarah Ann was suddenly widowed, when her husband James passed away as a result of an accident at work. In his role as a packer for the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, he aimed to unload a truck. Alas he attempted to get into the truck while it was still in motion; he missed his step and his leg got entangled in the wheel!

It seems Jane and William were either unable (or chose not) to support their widowed daughter and two infant grandchildren. Sarah, with no obvious means of support, was left a pauper and sought relief in Exeter. Sadly, she and her children were not welcomed by the city, and its justices sought to have them legally removed to South Molton. But Sarah did soon settle in Exeter, with her second husband, Scottish veteran of the Crimean War, James Clapperton, by whom she had more children.

1881 Census:

On 18th October 1890, Jane and William celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The local newspaper at the time that the elderly couple had "worked hard all their lives, and brought up a [large] family of children".

From the Weston Mercury of 1st November 1890:

1891 Census:

In January 1894, when Jane was about seventy-three, her husband William passed away, likely just short of his seventy-sixth birthday. He was buried on 21st January 1894 in Hillfarrance, Somerset. Jane, now widowed, moved in with their son, William, a groom, and his young family, in Taunton, Somerset.

1901 Census:

Jane's parents had been born at the end of the 18th century; Jane, in her old age, would live to see the beginning of the 20th century.

Although I cannot find a record of death, it seems likely Jane passed away, in her eighties, in Somerset, in the first decade of the 20th century, as she doesn't appear on the 1911 census.

Great x4 Grandfather William Andrews

My Great x4 Grandfather William (1818 - 1894) was an agricultural and railway labourer, and father of ten.

William was born around 1818 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Thomas Andrews (about 29), an agricultural labourer, and Mary Andrews (nee Lee) (about 27).

William was baptised on 8th February 1818 in Morchard Bishop. At the time of his baptism, the family lived in Oldborough (likely Oldborough Cottage) in Morchard Bishop.

William was the fourth of nine children (five sons and four daughters):

• John  1810 - 1810 (less than a week old)
• Sarah  1811 -
• John  1815 - 1818 (3 or 4 years old)
• William  1818 -
• Eliza  1820 -
• John  1823 -
• David  1825 -
• Jane Mary  1828 -
• Charlotte  1832 -

Sadly William's eldest brother John passed away only days old in 1810. He was baptised 3rd April and buried on 8th April 1810 in Morchard Bishop. William's next older brother, also called John, also passed away, aged three or four years old, in 1818. He was buried on 29th December 1818 in Morchard Bishop.

From the baptism records of the younger siblings, we learn the family moved from Oldborough to Frost (likely Frost Cottage), also in Morchard Bishop, in the early 1820's. They were still there, a decade later, in the early 1830's, when William's youngest sister Charlotte was baptised.

As a young man, William found himself, about fifteen miles south-east of his native Morchard Bishop, in Exeter. There he married.

On 18th October 1840, William (22), an agricultural labourer, married Kent-native Jane Perkins (19), a servant, in St Olave, Exeter. At the time of their marriage, both were residents of Bartholomew Street. William and Jane each left only their mark, implying their were illiterate. A James Perkins witnessed the marriage - likely a close relative of Jane.

William and Jane had ten children (four daughters and six sons):

• Mary Jane  1841 - 1843 (about 2 years old)
• John  1844 -
• Sarah Ann  1847 -
• George  1851 -
• James  1854 -
• Mary Emma  1856 -
• William J  1859 -
• Eliza Jane  1861 -
• Jane  1864 -
• Elizabeth  1865 -

The couple's oldest child, Mary Jane, was baptised in William's native Morchard Bishop, implying the young family moved back there from Exeter around late 1840, early 1841. Sadly Mary Jane passed away aged only about two years old.

Come the 1841 Census, the family had moved again, about nine miles south-east, from Morchard Bishop to Mills Cottages, Shobrooke, Crediton.

1841 Census:

However, within a few years, they were back down in Exeter. At the time of their son John's baptism in 1844, the family resided in Cowley Road, Exeter.

In the 1840's, in his twenties, William changed professions: the agricultural labourer became a railway labourer.

A few years later, and they had moved again, about four north from Exeter to Stoke Canon, where they resided at the time of their daughter Sarah Ann's baptism in 1847. They were still there come the 1851 census.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the early 1850's, William and his family moved again, about thirteen miles north-east from Stoke Canon to Sampford Peverell, where the younger children were born and baptised.

Unfortunately I cannot find the family on the 1861 Census; however, baptism records imply the family were still living in Sampford Peverell at the time.

Sometime in the late 1860's, William and his family moved once more: this time over the border in Somerset! They moved about fifteen miles north-east from Sampford Peverell to Allerford, Hillfarrance, Somerset. They would remain in the area for twenty/thirty years until their deaths. There once more William worked as an agricultural labourer. Lodging with the family was Emma Bennett, the older sister of James Bennett, the husband of William's daughter Sarah Ann.

1871 Census:

In August 1872, William's daughter Sarah Ann was suddenly widowed, when her husband James passed away as a result of an accident at work. In his role as a packer for the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, he aimed to unload a truck. Alas he attempted to get into the truck while it was still in motion; he missed his step and his leg got entangled in the wheel!

It seems William and Jane were either unable (or chose not) to support their widowed daughter and two infant grandchildren. Sarah, with no obvious means of support, was left a pauper and sought relief in Exeter. Sadly, she and her children were not welcomed by the city, and its justices sought to have them legally removed to South Molton. But Sarah did soon settle in Exeter, with her second husband, Scottish veteran of the Crimean War, James Clapperton, by whom she had more children.

1881 Census:

On 18th October 1890, William and Jane celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The local newspaper at the time reported that the elderly couple had "worked hard all their lives, and brought up a [large] family of children".

From the Weston Mercury of 1st November 1890:

1891 Census:

William passed away in January 1894, likely just short of his seventy-sixth birthday. He was buried on 21st January 1894 in Hillfarrance, Somerset. His widow, Jane, would move in with their son, William, a groom, and his young family, in Taunton, Somerset.

Great x4 Grandmother Jane 'Jenny' Bennett (nee Godsland)

My Great x4 Grandmother Jane (1804 - 1855) was a housewife and mother of eight.

Jane was born around 1804 in Sandford, Devon, to William Godsland and Jane Godsland (nee Maunder).

Jane was baptised on 8th January 1804 in Sandford as Jenny, though on all later records she is called Jane. Perhaps the nickname was to differentiate her from her mother of the same name.

Jane was the fifth of six children (two daughters and four sons):

• Ann  1794 -
• Richard  1796 - 1798 (about thirteen months old)
• William 1799 - 1800 (about eleven months old)
• John  1801 -
• Jane 'Jenny' 1804 - 
• William 1808 - 1808 (as a very young baby)

Although the siblings were baptised in Sandford with their surname spelt as Gosland (without the d), on their father's marriage certificate and on Jane's own marriage certificate, father and daughter both spell it as Godsland.

Sadly three of Jane's siblings passed away as babies. Six years before Jane was born, her older brother Richard passed away, aged about only thirteen months old. He was buried on New Years Day 1798. Two years later, Jane's older brother William passed away, aged about only eleven months old. He was buried on 4th May 1800 in Sandford. And in December 1808, when Jane was about four years old, her younger William (second of his name) passed away, as a very young baby. He was buried on 27th December 1808 in Sandford.

On 15th March 1827, Jane (about 23) married John (about 35), a ropemaker, in his native South Molton. Both Jane and John were able to sign their name. They married in the presence of Sarah Bennett (likely a relative of John) and John Godsland (likely Jane's brother).

Signature of Jane Godsland, 1827

Their first child Mary was baptised in August 1827, meaning Jane was about four months pregnant when they married.

Jane and John had eight children (three daughters and five sons):

• Mary  1827 -
• John  1829 -
• Jane  1831 -
• William  1834 -
• Robert  1836 -
• Emma  1839 -
• James  1842 -
• Samuel  1845 -

Around 1828, Jane and her family moved, over twenty miles south, from South Molton to Hatherleigh. Their children John, Jane and William were baptised there. The family moved again, around 1835, about twenty-five miles east, from Hatherleigh to Upton Pyne. Their younger children Robert, Emma, James and Samuel were baptised there.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

In 1855, Jane passed away, aged about fifty-one, at Upton Pyne. She was buried on 29th April 1855 in Upton Pyne.