Saturday 4 April 2020

Great x4 Grandfather William Coombe

My Great x4 Grandfather William was a father of at least one.


In 1805, William fathered the illegitimate daughter of servant Loveday Bennett (about 19). Their daughter was christened Dinah Coombe, on 11th August 1805 in Sampford Courtenay, but would later go by Dinah Bennett. William was ordered by the parish to pay maintenance - thus why we know his name. On the Order of Payment record, William is described as being of Kigbeare, Okehampton. There is a Kigbeare Manor Farm still in Okehampton today - was this where William lived? Back in 1794, an eleven-year-old Loveday had been apprenticed to Simon Coombe. William may have been the son of Loveday's employer. A William Coombe was born to a Simon Coombe in Sampford Countenay in 1782, making him about twenty-three, if/when he fathered little Dinah. Though this a strong theory - that this William, born 1782, son of Simon Coombe, was Dinah's father - I am yet able to confirm it. That law had to be utilised for William to pay maintenance, implies William may have otherwise been disinclined to financially support the mother of his daughter. I wonder if William and Loveday's relationship was short-lived and reached its end before Dinah's birth.

Great x4 Grandmother Sarah Easterbrook (nee Westlake)

My Great x4 Grandmother Sarah (1765 - 1841) was a housewife and mother of nine.


Sarah was born around 1765 in Hatherleigh, Devon, to Richard Westlake (about 34) and Eleanor Westlake (nee Lake) (about 36).

Sarah was baptised on 3rd April 1765 in Hatherleigh.

Sarah was the sixth of eight children (three sons and five daughters)


  • Mark  1754 - 1768 (13 years old)
  • Eleanor  1756 -
  • Richard  1758 -
  • Mary  1760 -
  • Margaret  1762 -
  • Sarah  1765 -
  • Robert  1768 -
  • Elizabeth  1773 -


All eight siblings were baptised in Hatherleigh - their father's hometown.

In 1768, when Sarah was about three years old, her eldest brother Mark passed away, aged about thirteen. He was buried on 25th May 1768 in Hatherleigh.

On 5th September 1786, Sarah (about 21) married Thomas Easterbrook (about 21) in her native Hatherleigh. On their record of marriage, each left only their mark, implying neither could write. They married in the presence of William Westland, maybe an uncle or cousin of Sarah.

The young couple settled less then five miles away in Thomas' native Exbourne. There all their children was baptised.

Sarah and Thomas had nine children (four daughters and five sons):


  • Betty  1787 - 1802  (about 15 years old)
  • Walter  1789 -
  • Mary  1782 -
  • Sarah  1795 -
  • Jane  1798 -
  • John  1800 -
  • Thomas  1802 - 1809  (about 6 years old)
  • William  1807 -
  • Thomas Westlake  1810 -


Sadly two of their children passed away young. Their eldest child, Betty, passed away, aged about fifteen, in 1802. She was buried on 26th April 1802 in Exbourne. And their seventh child, Thomas, passed away, aged about six, in 1809. He was buried on 7th March 1809 in Exbourne.

Alas I know little about the middle of Sarah and Thomas' married life. They seemingly spent most of it in his native Exbourne. She was likely a housewife, and looked after their many children; whilst he likely worked as an agricultural labourer or had a rural trade, like his son Walter, who was a thatcher.

In 1841, Sarah passed away, aged about seventy-six. She was buried on 16th August 1841 in Exbourne.

Great x4 Grandfather Thomas Easterbrook

My Great x4 Grandfather Thomas (1765 - 1848), was a father of nine.


Thomas was born around 1765 in Exbourne, Devon to Philip Easterbrook (about 39) and Elizabeth Easterbrook (nee Gypson).

Thomas was baptised on 7th July 1765 in Exbourne.

Thomas was the seventh of eight children (two daughters and six sons):


  • Elizabeth  1748 -
  • John  1754 -
  • Philip  1756 -
  • Mary  1759 - 
  • William  1761 -
  • Richard  1763 -
  • Thomas  1765 -
  • Walter  1767 - 1768 (about 13 months)


In 1768, when Thomas was about three, his younger brother Walter passed away, about only thirteen months old. Walter was buried on 12th September 1768 in Exbourne.

On 5th September 1786, Thomas (about 21) married Sarah Westlake (about 21) in her native Hatherleigh, which is less than five miles from Thomas' native Exbourne. On their record of marriage, each left other their mark, implying neither could write. They married in the presence of William Westlake, likely a close relation of Sarah.

Thomas and Sarah had nine children (four daughters and five sons):


  • Betty  1787 - 1802  (about 15 years old)
  • Walter  1789 -
  • Mary  1792 -
  • Sarah  1795 -
  • Jane  1798 -
  • John  1800 -
  • Thomas  1802 - 1809  (about 6 years old)
  • William  1807 -
  • Thomas Westlake  1810 -


In 1793, when Thomas was about twenty-eight, his father Philip passed away, aged about sixty-seven. Philip was buried on 30th October 1793 in Exbourne.

In 1798, when Thomas was about thirty-three, his mother Elizabeth passed away, likely in her seventies. Elizabeth was buried on 13th November 1798 in Exbourne.

Sadly two of Thomas and Sarah's children passed away young. Their eldest child, Betty, passed away, aged about fifteen, in 1802. She was buried on 26th April 1802 in Exbourne. And their seventh child, Thomas, passed away, aged about six, in 1809. He was buried on 7th March 1809 in Exbourne.

Alas I know little about the middle of Thomas' life. He seemingly spent most of his life in his native Exbourne, and likely worked as an agricultural labourer or had a rural trade, like his son Walter, who was a thatcher.

In 1841, when Thomas was about seventy-six, her wife Sarah passed away, aged about seventy-six. She was buried on 16th August 1841 in Exbourne.

In 1848, Thomas passed away, aged about eighty-three. He was buried on 3rd July 1848, in Exbourne.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Ireland (nee Riggs)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1814 - 1883) was a servant, laundress, housewife, and mother of four.


Mary was born around 1814 in Ivybridge, Devon, to Robert Riggs (about 35), a labourer, and Irish-born Mary Anne Riggs (nee Gibson) (about 29).

Mary was baptised on 8th October 1814 in Harford (a hamlet two miles north of the town of Ivybridge).

Mary was the fourth of eight children (five sons and three daughters):

  • John Robert  1805 -
  • Anne  1807 -
  • Robert  1810 -
  • Mary  1814 -
  • Thomas  1817 -
  • James 1820 -
  • Jane  1822 -
  • Charles  1825 -

All eight children seem to have survived into adulthood. The five eldest siblings were baptised in Harford. Sometime between 1817 and 1820, the Riggs family must have made the approximately forty mile move north-east from the Ivybridge/Harford area to Farringdon, for there the three younger siblings were baptised in the early 1820's. In making this move, the family moved back nearer to Mary's father Robert's hometown - Robert was born in Ottery St Mary, which is only about seven miles north-east of Farringdon.

In 1834, when Mary was about nineteen, she give birth to an illegitimate son, John. John was baptised on 2nd March 1834 in Farringdon.

As shown on the 1841 Census: as a young woman, Mary lived with and worked as a servant for the Thomas family - farmer Samuel Thomas, his wife Alice, and their seven children - at Upham (likely Upham Farm) in Farringdon. Whilst Mary worked away, her young son John lived with her parents (his maternal grandparents), her brother Thomas (his Uncle Thomas) and Thomas' wife and baby daughter, all together in Perkings Village, Farringdon.

1841 Census:


In early 1842, when Mary was about twenty-seven, her mother Mary Anne passed away, aged about fifty-seven. Mary Anne was buried on 17th March 1842 in Farringdon.

Mary Anne may have lived just long enough to see her daughter Mary marry. On 17th February 1842, Mary (about 27), a servant, married William Ireland (about 39), a labourer, in Farringdon. On their record of marriage, Mary and William each left only their mark, implying neither could write. Mary's son John is listed with his step-father's surname of Ireland on the 1851 Census; however, when he married as a young man in 1856, he was once more using his mother's maiden name of Riggs. When Mary and William married, Mary was about three months pregnant with their first child, daughter Mary Ann. If wonder if Mary named her daughter for her late mother.

Mary and William had three children (one daughter and two sons):


  • Mary Ann  1842 -
  • William Henry  1844 -
  • Samuel  1848 -


Sometime between 1844 and 1848, Mary and her young family moved from Farringdon about six miles west to Heavitree, near Exeter - there, their youngest child Samuel was baptised in 1848 and Mary and the children can be found in the 1851 Census.

1851 Census:


Mary is listed as the head of the family in the 1851 Census, working and looking after her four children. Where was her husband William? Mary is not listed as a widow, implying William was still alive at that point. Unfortunately William seemed to disappear from record,, particularly censuses, after the baptisms of his three children in the 1840's; however research revealed why...

In February 1850, William, a labouring man in his forties with a wife and four children to support, stole one sheep, and had the misfortune of being caught. For his crime, he was sentenced to seven years transportation to Tasmania, Australia! (otherwise known as Van Diemen's Land)

From the North Devon Journal of 21st February 1850:


After this incident, I wonder if Mary even saw her husband again. He was tried at Exeter Castle on 26th February 1850; two and a half years later, on 4th November 1852, he boarded the Oriental Queen in Plymouth for Australia; and three months later, on 19th February 1853, he arrived in Tasmania.

William's Tasmanian Convict Record paints a picture of Mary's husband. A physical description of the forty-nine year old is given: he was 5'5 1/2''; with a sallow complexion, dark brown hair and eyebrows, and grey eyes; had a large oval head, a large nose and mouth, and a medium-sized forehead and chin. He also had a scar near his right eye. Did their children share his colouring, his features?

He was also described as being Church of England and, touchingly, that he could read a little. For his prison report, he received the mark of exemplary. William's good behaviour must have continued for he applied for and received a ticket of leave on 8th November 1853; and on 17th July 1855, he applied for and received a conditional pardon. Unfortunately I cannot find out anything about William after 1855. We leave him in Australia, an old Devonshire lad, a conditional pardon in his pocket.

10,000 miles away, Mary remained in Devon and struggled to support herself and her four children. She found work as a washerwoman for laundress Mary Saunders of Clifton Street, Exeter. In June 1854, Mary was first charged by Mrs Saunders with embezzlement, but as the evidence was deemed insufficient the case was dismissed.

From the Western Times of 17th June 1854:


She was then charged with stealing a flannel petticoat. Mary was assigned to return the washed petticoat from Saunders' home-business to its owner Mary Elliot, a servant of Miss Ball, Dix's Field. Instead Mary pawned the petticoat at the shop of Mr Bannister, pawnbroker, Milk Street. The prosecutor called for mercy due to her sad circumstances, as a single mother of four, her husband having been transported, yet for stealing the petticoat, Mary was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, with hard labourer.

From the Western Times of 1st July 1854:


Mary was additionally changed with obtaining 4s 6d by false pretences from Rebecca Mudge. Mary pleaded guilty and was sentences to another six weeks imprisonment, with hard labour, to begin at the end of the previous term (so in all twelve weeks, nearly three months, imprisonment with hard labourer).

From the Exeter Flying Post of 29th June 1854:


With Mary imprisoned for three months, who looked after her children? Her eldest son John would have been around twenty. Did he look after his three younger half-siblings, Mary Ann (about twelve), William (about ten) and Samuel (about six)?

In 1858, when Mary was about forty-four, her father William passed away, aged about eighty. He was buried on 21st November 1858 in Farringdon.

Mary's sons, William and Samuel, later both moved to Wales, where they married and had children of their own; whilst Mary's daughter, Mary Ann, lived in Exeter, Devon, with her husband and children. Mary would live with her daughter and her family. Mary and Mary Ann supported the family by working as laundresses.

1871 Census:


1881 Census:


In late 1882, Mary passed away, aged about sixty-eight, in Exeter. She was buried on Christmas Eve 1882 in St Leonard, Exeter.

At some point, Mary may have set up her own laundry business. Mary and her daughter Mary Ann were listed as laundresses on the 1871 and 1881 Censuses. After Mary's death, her daughter Mary Ann continued to work as a laundress, supported by her own grown-up daughters (Mary's granddaughters) Polly and Kate, who worked as laundry maids and laundry assistants (as shown on the 1891 and 1901 Censuses). After Mary Ann's death, her children continued the business: in the 1911 Census, her son (Mary's grandson) William is listed as a laundry man and employer, his wife a laundress, running a launderette at their home; sisters Polly and Kate living a few houses down, and still working as laundresses for the family business.

Thursday 2 April 2020

Great x4 Grandfather William Ireland

My Great x4 Grandfather William Ireland (1803 - after 1855) was an agricultural and general labourer and father of three.



William was born around 1803 in Talaton, Devon to William Ireland (about 26), a labourer, and Mary Ireland.

William was baptised on 27th February 1803 in Talaton, Devon.

William was the second of two children (one daughter and one son):


  • Elizabeth 'Betty'  1801 - 1803 (24 months old)
  • William  1803 -


Sadly, when William was only about one month old, his older sister Betty passed away, aged only two years old. Her record of burial lists her cause of death: my hands covered my eyes after reading 'burnt to death'. Little Betty was buried on 21st March 1803 in Talaton.

At some point, either during his boyhood or as a young man, William moved around three miles south-west from Talaton to Whimple. There, with his elderly father of the same name, he lived with and worked as an agricultural labourer for farmer Thomas Elworthy, come the time of the 1841 Census.

1841 Census:


On 17th February 1842, William (about 39), a labourer, married Mary Riggs (about 28), a servant and single mother of one, in Farringdon, Devon. Mary's son John (born 1834) is listed with his step-father's surname of Ireland on the 1851 Census; however, when he married as a young man in 1856, he was once more using his mother's maiden name of Riggs. When William and Mary married, Mary was about three months pregnant with their first child, daughter Mary Ann. On their record of marriage, William and Mary each left only their mark, implying neither could write.

William and Mary had three children (one daughter and two sons):


  • Mary Ann 1842 -
  • William Henry  1844 -
  • Samuel  1848 -


The summer of 1844, when William was about forty-one, his father of the same name passed away, aged about seventy-five. William Senior was buried on 9th July 1844 in Whimple.

Sometime between 1844 and 1848, William and his young family moved from Farringdon about six miles west to Heavitree, near Exeter - there, their youngest child Samuel was baptised in 1848 and Mary and the children can be found in the 1851 Census.

William's wife Mary is listed as the head of the family in the 1851 Census, working and looking after her four children. Where was William? Mary is not listed as a widow, implying William was still alive at that point. Unfortunately William seemed to disappear from record, particularly censuses, after the baptisms of his three children in the 1840's; however, further research revealed why...

In February 1850, William, a married man in his forties with three/four young children, stole one sheep, and had the misfortune of being caught. For his crime, he was sentenced to seven years transportation to Tasmania, Australia! (otherwise known as Van Diemen's Land)

From the North Devon Journal of 21st February 1850:


Though tried at Exeter Castle on 26th February 1850, it wasn't until two and half years later, on 4th November 1852, that William boarded the Oriental Queen in Plymouth for Australia. Over three months later, on 19th February 1853, he arrived in Tasmania.

His Tasmanian Convict Record gives a physical description of forty-nine year old William: he was 5'5 1/2''; with a sallow complexion, dark brown hair and eyebrows, and grey eyes; had a large oval head, a large nose and mouth, and a medium-sized forehead and chin. He also had a scar near his right eye.

He was also described as being Church of England and, touchingly, that he could read a little. For his prison report, he received the mark of exemplary. William's good behaviour must have continued for he applied for and received a ticket of leave on 8th November 1853; and on 17th July 1855, he applied for and received a conditional pardon.

Unfortunately I cannot find out anything about William after 1855. We leave him in Australia, an old Devonshire lad, a conditional pardon in his pocket.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Manning (nee Westcott)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (c 1796 - 1840's) was a housewife and mother of eight.


Mary was born around 1796 in Devon.

On 14th November 1821, Mary (about 25) married William Manning (about 26), an agricultural labourer, in Alphington, near Exeter. 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.

Mary and William 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 -


Mary, William and their young family lived in the area of Alphington, Holcombe Burnell and Longdown (there is only a few miles 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, aged abour only 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 (born 1826). Both girls were baptised in Holcombe Burnell.

Aroun 1828, Mary and her young family moved around ten miles north-west, making the return to her husband 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 183 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, Mary passed away, in her late forties or early fifties, as her husband William is listed as a widower on the 1851 Census; also the family, at some point, moved from Spreyton about sixteen miles east to Exeter.