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.