Great Great Half Uncle Isaac 'Henry' Harry Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle Henry (1906 - 1964) was a machinist as a label works, father of nine, and the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Henry was born (according to different sources on 8th, 12th or 14th) April 1906 in Crediton, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (36), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (30), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Henry was baptised on 1st August 1906 in Crediton. Though named at birth and then baptised 'Isaac Harry', likely after his father, on nearly all later records he seems to go by 'Henry'. In one of his brother Ernest's letters to my father in the 1990's, he too lists his brother as Henry.

Henry had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

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

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Henry)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

Around the time Henry was born, his older siblings Fred, Mabel and George attended Sandford School. On their school record, their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford). They stayed at the school until July 1907, when the family moved about three miles to Crediton.

Around February 1908, baby Henry and his family moved about nine miles south of Crediton to Dunsford. Henry's older siblings Fred, Mabel and George attended the primary school there until July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holcombe Burnell, where the older siblings again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and young Henry too attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In November 1911, George, Ernest and Henry began attending Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Cheriton Bishop). At the time, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, when they moved to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family lived at Turnpike Gate or Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. A toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike road, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike were often displayed.

Henry was eight, when the First World War began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1928, Henry (22) married Edith Mary Williams (18) in the district of Tiverton. 

Henry and Edith's had nine children:

• Maurice H  1931 - 
• Marguerite A  1934 -
• Kenneth H  1935 -
• David J  1937 -
• Rose M  1945 - 
• Dennis J  1948 - 
• Barry M  1949 - 
• Pamela J  1950 - 
• Julie A  1956 - 

Henry was thirty-three, when the Second World War began. At the time, he was working as a machinist for a labels works, living with his wife and eldest four children in Tavistock. Though not a very young man, Henry would have been of the age to be called up to fight. I wonder if he was.

1939 Census:

Henry and Edith's first five children were born in Tavistock. The family may have moved to Exeter sometime between 1945 and 1948, for their sixth child Dennis was born there in 1948. It looks likely they soon moved again to Plymouth - their next two children Barry and Pamela were born there in 1949 and 1950 - before returning to Exeter by 1956 - their youngest child Julie was born in the city in 1956.

At some point in the late 1950's or early 1960's, Henry and Edith made the move from their native Devon over the border to Launceston in Cornwall.

There, Henry passed away, aged fifty-eight, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1964.

Great Great Half Uncle Ernest Isaac Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle Ernest (1904 - 1997) was an innkeeper, taxi driver, father of one, and the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Ernest was born on 10th January 1904 in Upton Pyne, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (34), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (27), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Ernest was baptised on 7th August 1904 in Upton Pyne. At the time of his baptism, the family resided at Nettacott, Upton Pyne.

Ernest was named for his uncle of the same name, who was tragically killed at an accident at a level crossing, in July 1903.

Ernest had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

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

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Harry like his father, or Henry)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

Ernest's earliest months were spent in Upton Pyne. However, the family soon moved about seven miles north-west to Sandford. From 25th June 1904, Ernest's older siblings Fred, Mabel and George attended Sandford School. On their school record, their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford). They stayed at the school for three years, till July 1907, when the family moved about three miles to Crediton. There Mabel and George attended Crediton Hayward School, as their older half siblings had done before them.

Then from February 1908, Fred, Mabel and George began attending Dunsford County Primary School, which is about nine miles south of Crediton where they last lived. They left the school only five months later, in July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holcombe Burnell ,where they again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and Harry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In November 1911, George, Ernest and Harry began attending Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Chariton Bishop). At the time, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, when they moved to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family lived at Turnpike Gate or Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. A toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike toad, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike road were often displayed.

Ernest was ten, when the first world war began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experience soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

On 27th March 1926, Ernest (22) married Blanche Murch (25) in Exeter.

Ernest and Blanche had one son:

• Frederick 'Freddie' Ernest 1928 -

Touchingly: did Ernest name his only son Frederick for his elder brother who died in the First World War?

The Express & Echo of 27th March 1996 reports that Ernest "in 1928 cut the first tuft at Exeter Golf and County Club".

1939 Census:

When my father started his family tree research in the mid 1990's, it was his Great Half Uncle Ernest, though by then in his nineties, who answered his letters with kind words, invitations and information about the family. It is personally touching to read the two men discuss "the baby", for that baby was me!

An extract from a letter by Ernest of 12th August 1995 (three months before I was born):

"We [Ernest and Blanche] are so pleased that everything is going alright with Julie [my mother] and the baby [me]. The baby seemed to be very strong - a very good sign. She [my mother] must not do any lifting, and, as you say, rest all she can. Whether it is a boy or a girl, they all bring their love. We often wish we had had a second one. Hoping it would have been a girl as well for Aunt Blanche. We think everyone who has a boy and a girl are very lucky."

On 27th March 1996, Ernest and Blanche celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary! Such made the Express & Echo of 27th March 1996. Of their marriage, Ernest said:

"People expect too much from married life. We have always seen what we could put into our marriage, whereas others seem to see what they could get out of it. We have had our ups and downs, but throughout it all we shared and cared and that is what it is about."

Ernest and Blanche, in their nineties, 1996

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1997, Ernest passed away, aged ninety-three, in the district of Honiton. His wife Blanche passed away in the same quarter, aged ninety- six.

Great Great Half Uncle George Henry Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle George (1901 - 1973) was the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

George was born on 20th September 1901 in the Thorverton, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (31), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (24), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

George and his older brother Fred were baptised together on 5th April 1903 in Brampford Speke. George was likely named for his older brother of the same name, who had passed away, aged only zero to three months old, the year before George Henry was born.

George had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

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

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• 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)

At some point between 1901 and 1904, the family moved to Upton Pyne, for there George's older half siblings Edith and Walter attended school for a time; and George's next younger brother Ernest was born in Netticott, Upton Pyne, in January 1904.

From 25th June 1904, George, with his older siblings Fred and Mabel, attended Sandford School. On their school record, their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford). They stayed at the school for three years, till July 1907, when the family moved about three miles to Crediton. There George and Mabel attended Crediton Hayward School, as their older half siblings had down before them.

Then from February 1908, George, along with Fred and Mabel, began attending Dunsford County Primary School, which is about nine miles south of Crediton where they last lived. They left the school only five months later, in July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holcombe Burnell, where they again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and Harry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In November 1911, George, Ernest and Harry began attending Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Cheriton Bishop). At the time, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, when they moved to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 or 1913, the family moved about three miles east to South Tawton. There, at their home of Turnpike Gate, George's younger brother Sidney was born in April 1913. But the family had moved back towards Whiddon Down, within a few years: in February 1915, George's youngest brother Percy was born at their home of Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. On a second look, they might not have moved at all, for a toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike road, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike road were often displayed. Also Whiddon Down is within the district of South Tawton.

During my father in his family tree research of the 1990's, he met with George's younger siblings, by then old men, he Great Half Uncles Sid and Percy. Sifting through some his research now, I just found scribbled that Sid (and presumably George and the rest of the siblings also) was "brought up at Barnstaple Cross, near Crediton".

George was twelve when the First World War began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

Alas I know next to nothing of George's adult life. My father's research puts his death year as 1973 (though I cannot confirm where he got this information from). There was a George Henry Vernon who married, had children, and then died in Staffordshire in 1973 (born around 1901); however, there was also a George Henry Vernon born in Staffordshire in 1901, so the death is more likely of this George and not ours.

Our George may well not have stayed in Devon or perhaps he didn't get married or have any children, meaning he comes up less frequently in records.

Great Great Half Uncle George Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle George (1900 - 1900) was the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

George was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1900 in the district of Tiverton, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (30), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (23), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

George had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

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

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• 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)

Sadly little George's life was a short one. He passed away in the same quarter that he was born - Jul/Aug/Sep 1900 in the district of Tiverton - aged only zero to three months old. His parents would name their next born son George also.

It is likely George's short life was lived in West Bowley, Cadbury. This was listed as the family's abode, on the school record of George's older half siblings Edith and Walter - the pair attended Cadbury School from the 12th March to the 7th September 1900.

Great Great Half Aunt Mabel Ellen Harris (nee Vernon)

My Great Great Half Aunt Mabel (1898 - 1993) was a housewife, mother of two, and the younger half sister of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Mabel was born on 25th November 1898 in Tolleys, Crediton Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (29), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (22), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Mabel was baptised on 19th February 1899 in Thorverton.

Mabel had four older half siblings (one half sister, and three half brothers) - the children of her father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

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

And nine full siblings (eight brothers and one sister):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• 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)

The fact that the family moved around mid-Devon a lot, likely as Harry sought farm work, is revealed in the children's different places of birth and their attending different schools...

Mabel's birth certificate shows that though she was born in Crediton, her mother Ellen's residence was Shobrooke, which is two miles west of Crediton. At some point, around this time, Mabel's elder half siblings Edith and Walter attended school in Thorverton, which is four and a bit miles east of Shobrooke. Mabel herself was baptised in Thorverton in February 1899.

1899 saw baby Mabel and the family move, about four and a bit miles, this time from the Thorverton area to East Coombe. Whilst the family resided there, Edith and Walter attended nearby Stockleigh Pomeroy Church of England School from the October. 1900 saw them move again: that year from East Coombe, about three miles east, to West Bowley, Cadbury. Edith and Walter attended Cadbury School from the 12th March to the 7th September, when the family left the area.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1900, when Mabel was only twenty to twenty-two months old, her younger brother George passed away as a very young baby - only zero to three months old. Their parents would name their next son George also, likely after their lost child.

The 1901 Census shows the family had moved back to Thorverton:

At some point between 1901 and 1904, the family moved three and a half miles south to Upton Pyne, for there Edith and Walter attended school for a time, before returning to Crediton in 1904.

Did Mabel's older half siblings like apart from their father and step family for a time? Notably, whilst Edith and Walter attended Crediton Hayward School and their address is listed as Chapel Down in Crediton in October 1904; their younger half siblings Fred, Mabel and George began attending Sandford School from 25th June 1904, and their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford, and three and a bit miles north of Crediton). These three stayed at Sandford School for three years, till the family left the area in July 1907. Also Walter appeared to be staying, neither in Crediton nor Sandford, but with his grandfather in Chawleigh in the summer of 1905, when, aged twelve, he made attempt to steal a silver water and chain. He was soon discovered and sent to an industrial school. This and the army were said to have reformed his character.

The family moved next back to Crediton, where Mabel and George attended Crediton Hayward School, like their older half siblings had done before them. Then from February 1908, they and Fred began attending Dunsford County Primary School, which is about nine miles south of Crediton where they last lived. They left the school only five months later, in July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holombe Burnell, where they again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and Harry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In January 1812, Mabel joined her younger brothers George, Ernest and Harry at Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Cheriton Bishop). Whilst the three brothers had begun attending the school in November 1911 and their previous school is listed as Hittisleigh, Mabel for a short time attended school in Whiddon Down, a hamlet to the west of Drewsteignton. Whilst the siblings attended Drewsteignton School, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, with a return to Whiddon Down.

Mabel was fifteen when the First World War began. Her older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

On 16th August 1920, Mabel (21) married John 'Jack' Harris (20), a labourer, in Monkton. The young couple married in the presence of Mabel's father Harry and brother Ernest.

Mabel and John had two children:

• Richard H J  1923 -  
• Nancy (adopted)  19?? -

Richard's birth shows the small family in the district of St Thomas in the early 1920's.

Alas I know little of Mabel's long life beyond this point, other than its close.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1993, Mabel passed away, aged ninety-four, in the district of Teignbridge.

Great x4 Grandmother Maria Brownscombe (nee Popham)

My Great Grandmother Maria (1819 - 1899) was a servant, housewife, charwoman, glover, domestic cook, and mother of three.

Maria was born around 1819 in Huntshaw, Devon, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Popham.

One ought to consider: prior to the twentieth century, in Britain, the name Maria was more commonly pronounced as the modern Mariah.

Our Maria was baptised on 20th June 1819 in Huntshaw. Her abode is listed as Huntshaw Moor House.

As a young woman, Maria found work as a servant. The 1841 Census shows Maria working as a servant for publican Thomas Liverton, in Bratton Fleming. Bratton Fleming is over fifteen miles north-east of Maria's native Huntshaw.

1841 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1841, Maria (about 22), a servant and charwoman, married Thomas Brownscombe (about 22), a sawyer, in the district of Barnstaple. I wonder if they met at the pub at Bratton Fleming.

Maria and Thomas had three daughters:

• Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy'  1843 -
• Mary Ann  1846 -
• Katherine 'Kitty'  1850 -

The three girls were baptised and brought up in their father's native Bratton Fleming.

1851 Census:

In Oct/No/Dec 1859, when Maria was about forty, her husband Thomas passed away, aged about forty, in the district of Barnstaple. Maria was left a widow, with three young daughters, aged sixteen, thirteen and nine.

Two years later, the 1861 Census shows, Maria's eldest two daughters, though still only teenagers, living and working as domestic servants on local farms. Meanwhile, Maria worked as a glover. Alongside her youngest daughter Kitty, she lodged with elderly widow Elizabeth Huxtable, at 4 Bratton Down, in Bratton Fleming. Elizabeth interestingly had independent means. Was she somehow related to Maria, a friend who had taken her in after her bereavement, or simply her landlady?

1861 Census:

All three of her daughters having flown the nest, come middle age, Maria could be found working as a domestic cook for the household of Rev. Humphrey Senhouse Pinder, the "generous" rector of Bratton Fleming. She would work for the family for many years to come. Pinder was described as "a dynamic character who made a big difference to the Village. He built a new rectory... restored the church and had the Village School built... His family owned sugar plantations [in Barbados]... This enabled him to be generous with improvements in Bratton Fleming".

Photograph of Maria's employer, Rev. Humphrey Senhouse Pinder, 1884

1871 Census:

After the Rev. Pinder retired and moved his family down, nearly forty miles south-east, to Exeter, Maria moved with the family.

1881 Census:

The Rev. Pinder passed away in 1888. Three years later, 1891 Census shows an elderly Maria back living with her youngest daughter, Kitty, now a dressmaker. The mother and daughter lived together at Pottington Cottage in Pilton, which is only about seven miles south-west of Bratton Fleming, where Maria spent most of her life and brought up her daughters. Maria is described as 'living on own means' - had she worked to save up money, those years as a cook?

1891 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1899, Maria passed away, aged about eighty, in the distinct of Barnstaple. She just missed seeing the new century. She had outlived her husband, Thomas, by forty years!

Great x4 Grandfather Thomas Brownscombe

My Great x4 Grandfather Thomas (1819 - 1859) was a sawyer and father of three.

Thomas was born around 1819 in Bratton Fleming, Devon, to Thomas Brownscombe, a farmer, and Mary Ann Brownscombe (nee Parkin) (about 25).

Thomas was baptised on 14th March 1819, in Bratton Fleming. Thomas' parents had married less than two months earlier, on 17th January 1819, implying Thomas' mother Mary Ann was heavily pregnant when she married. Thomas was likely named for his father.

Thomas was the eldest of ten children (five sons and five daughters):

• Thomas  1819 -
• William  1821 -
• Mary  1823 -
• John  1824 - 
• Ann  1826 -
• Kitty  1828 -
• Sarah  1830 -  
• James  1833 -
• Edward  1835 -
• Grace  1838 -

All ten siblings were baptised and brought up in Bratton Fleming. And all seem to have survived into adulthood.

In Apr/May/Jun 1840, when Thomas was about twenty-one, his father of the same name passed away. Interestingly Thomas senior left a will! (That's something to do, when this pandemic is over - go find that will and give it a read. And for now wonder why a lovely farm didn't come my way?) By the looks of later census, the Brownscombe family farm, Haxton Farm in Bratton Fleming, went to Thomas' younger brother, the second son William. Why was this?

The 1841 Census shows Thomas' widowed mother, Mary Ann, and his nine younger siblings living on the family farm, with twenty year old William now listed as its farmer. Meanwhile, twenty-two year old Thomas lived at what is called the 'great house' in Bratton Fleming, with the young Martin family, working as an apprentice. It is hard to make out what head of the household, John Martin's occupation is - it seems to say 'Cartinper'. After lots of searching, I've come to the conclusion, that the person compiling the census, may have simply misspelt carpenter, putting the t and p the wrong way around. It would make sense for Thomas to have been apprentice to a carpenter, as he was later recorded on the 1851 Census as a sawyer.

1841 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1841, Thomas (about 22), a sawyer, married Maria Popham (about 22), a charwoman, in the district of Barnstaple.

Thomas and Maria had three daughters:

• Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' 1843 -
• Mary Ann  1846 -
• Katherine 'Kitty'  1850 -

The three girls were baptised and brought in their father's native Bratton Fleming.

1851 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dev 1859, Thomas passed away, aged only about forty, in the district of Barnstaple. To support themselves: his widow Maria found work as a domestic cook for the household of Rev. Humphrey Senhouse Pinder, the generous rector of Bratton Fleming; whilst her young daughters worked as domestic servants on local farms.

Great x4 Grandmother Frances Fisher (formerly Abbott; nee Keal)

My Great x4 Grandmother Frances (1807 - 1892) was a housewife, charwoman, and mother of eight.

Frances was born around 1807 in Bishop's Tawton, Devon, to William Keal (about 31), a farmer and farm labourer, and Elizabeth Keal (nee Lee) (about 29).

Frances was baptised on 18th February 1807 in Bishop's Tawton.

Frances seems to have been an only child.

On 27th April 1830, Frances (about 23) married Robert Abbott (about 24), a yeoman, in Swimbridge, four miles east of her native Bishop's Tawton. Robert is described as of North Molton; whilst Frances is of the parish of Swimbridge. Both Frances and Robert were able to sign their name.

Signature as Frances Keel, 1830

Sadly, Frances and Robert's marriage was short-lived. In early 1831, Robert passed away, aged about twenty-five. He was buried on 15th February 1831 in North Molton.

Frances and Robert had one daughter:

• Elizabeth Jane  1831 -

Frances was likely around five months pregnant, when her young husband passed away. Elizabeth Jane was baptised on 24th June 1831, in Goodleigh, four months after her father's death.

A few years later, Frances remarried. On 26th October 1834, Frances (about 27), a widow and mother of one, married John (about 33), an agricultural labourer, in Landkey. On their record of marriage, his place of residence is listed as Tawstock; whilst Frances' is Landkey. Whilst John left only his mark, implying he could not write, Frances was able to once more sign her name.

Signature as Frances Abbott, 1834

The couple's eldest son, John (likely named for his father) was baptised less than one month later, on 23rd November 1834, in Landkey. Frances would have been heavily pregnant, when they married.

Frances and John had seven children (six sons and one daughter):

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel  1842 - 1850  (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 -
• Henry  1847 - 1847  (2 months old)
• James  1847 - 1847  (less than 2 months old)

(The 1841 Census shows Frances' eldest daughter, Elizabeth Jane, the only child from her first marriage, after her father's premature death and her mother's beginning a new family, lived with her maternal grandparents, William and Elizabeth Keal, in Goodleigh.)

Sometime between 1834 and 1837, Frances and her new family moved about five miles south-west from Landkey to Eastacombe. There they lived at the time of their daughter Mary's 1837 baptism. And can still be found in the hamlet come the 1841 Census.

1841 Census:

Sometime between 1841 and 1845, the growing family moved from Eastacombe to Goodleigh. There the couple's youngest three children were baptised.

Alas three of Frances and John's children passed away young. Firstly their youngest children, twins Henry and James, in 1847. They were baptised on 21st September 1847. Less than two months later, James was buried on 14th December 1847; and then Henry, perhaps just two months old, was buried on 23rd December 1847. Both were baptised and buried in Goodleigh. There in 1850, their fourth child Samuel passed away, aged eight. He was buried on 27th November 1850 in Goodleigh.

In 1851, when Frances was about forty-four, her father William passed away, aged about seventy-five. He was buried on 7th December 1851, in Goodleigh.

Sometime around 1851, the family moved about three and a half miles from Goodleigh to Swimbridge.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the 1850's, Frances and her family moved about ten miles north from Swimbridge to Blackmore Gate.

By the 1860's, Frances' husband John wasn't simple just an agricultural labourer. On the 1861 Census, he is listed as a shepherd of 600 acres (just under one square mile).

1861 Census:

Sometime in the early 1860's, Frances and her family moved again. This time about four miles east, from Blackmore Gate to Challacombe.

In 1862, when Frances was about fifty-five, her widowed mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about eighty-five. Elizabeth was buried on 4th January 1862, in Goodleigh.

In March 1866, when Frances was about fifty-nine, her husband John tragically passed away, aged about sixty-five, in an accident at work. He was instantaneously killed, when, whilst turnip picking, he accidentally drove the 'butt' in which he was riding against a wall, causing it to capsize and himself to fall under the shaft.

John was buried on 24th March 1866 in Parracombe. Touchingly, their son Richard would name his next born child John, likely after his late father. Widowed, Frances would move in with their son Richard and his young family, at the new family home of Westland Cottage, in Challacombe. This would be a real home. The family would live there for over sixty years!

1871 Census:

Perhaps to support herself and her family, Frances worked as a Charwoman, in her widowhood.

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

In early 1892, Frances passed away, aged about eighty-five, in the district of Barnstaple. She has been an invalid in her later years, likely looked after by her son Richard and daughter-in-law Bessie/Betsy.

Great x4 Grandfather John Fisher

My Great x4 Grandfather John (1801 - 1866) was an agricultural labourer, later a shepherd of 600 acres (which is just less than one square mile), and father of seven.

John was born around 1801 in the Barnstaple area, to ? and Mary Fisher.

Annoyingly, two John Fishers were baptised (one in Barnstaple, and one in Pilton, a village just outside Barnstaple) in 1801. The mothers of both John's were called Mary, so we at least know his mother's name. Either way, he was one of several children.

On 26th October 1834, John (about 33), an agricultural labourer, married widow and mother of one, Frances Abbot (nee Keal) (about 27) in Landkey. On their record of marriage, his place of residence is listed as Tawstock; whilst Frances' is Landkey. Whilst Frances was able to sign her name, John left only his mark, implying he could not write. The couple's eldest son, John (likely named for his father) was baptised less than one month later, on 23rd November 1834, in Landkey. Frances would have been very heavily pregnant, when they married.

John and Frances had seven children (six sons and one daughter):

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel  1842 - 1850  (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 -
• Henry  1847 - 1847  (2 months old)
• James  1847 - 1847  (less than 2 months old)

Sometime between 1834 and 1837, John and his family moved about five miles south-west from Landkey to Eastacombe. There they lived at the time of their daughter Mary's 1837 baptism. And can still be found in the hamlet come the 1841 Census.

1841 Census:

Sometime between 1841 and 1845, the growing family moved about six miles from Eastacombe to Goodleigh. There the couple's youngest three children were baptised. Notably on this baptism records, John is listed as a yeoman, as apposed to a labourer (the reverend is making the differentiation on the records of baptism, as fathers as labourers are listed, alongside yeomen). John may then have been more than a simple labouring cottager.

Alas three of John and Frances' children passed away young. Firstly their youngest children, twins Henry and James, in 1847. They were baptised on 21st September 1847. Less than two months later, James was buried on 14th December 1847; and then Henry, perhaps just two months old, was buried on 23rd December 1847. Both were baptised and buried in Goodleigh. Then in 1850, their fourth child Samuel passed away, aged eight. He was buried on 27th November 1850 in Goodleigh.

Sometime around 1851, the family moved about three and half miles south from Goodleigh to Swimbridge.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the 1850's, John and his family moved about ten miles north from Swimbridge to Blackmore (now Blackmoor, though originally named for the Blackmore family) Gate.

By the 1860's, John was certainly more than just an agricultural labourer. On the 1861 Census, he is listed as a shepherd of 600 acres (just under one square mile).

1861 Census:

Sometime in the early 1860's, John and his family moved again. This time about four miles east, from Blackmore Gate to Challacombe.

In March 1866, John tragically passed away, aged about sixty-five, in an accident at work. He was instantaneously killed, when, whilst turnip picking, he accidentally drove the 'butt' in which he was riding against a wall, causing it to capsize and himself to fall under the shaft.

His death was reported in the local newspaper. From the North Devon Journal of 29th March 1866:

John was buried on 24th March 1866 in Parracombe. Touchingly his son Richard would name his next born child John, likely after his late father. John's widow, Frances, would move in with their son Richard and his young family.

Great x4 Grandmother Loveday Turner (nee Bennett)

My Great x4 Grandmother Loveday (1785 - 1854) was a farm servant, housewife, and mother of ten.

Loveday was born around 1785 in North Tawton, Devon to James Bennett (about 27), and Sarah Bennett (nee Skinner) (about 30).

Loveday was baptised on 20th November 1785 in North Tawton.

Loveday was the fourth of seven daughters:

• Joanna  1782 -
• Sarah  1784 - 1784  (about 3 weeks old)
• Susanna  1784 - 1784  (about 3 weeks old)
• Loveday  1785 -
• Dinah  1788 -
• Mary  1790 -
• Mahlah  1793 - 1797  (3 or 4 years old)

In 1784, the year before Loveday was born, her older sisters, twins Sarah and Susanna, passed away, only a few weeks old. Together they were baptised on 4th April and buried on 21st April in North Tawton.

In the late 1780's the baptisms of the girls show, the family lived in North Tawton. In the early 1790's, the family moved from North Tawton back to Sampford Courtney, where Loveday's youngest sister, Mahlah was baptised in 1793.

In 1793, when Loveday was about seven, her father James passed away, aged about thirty-five. James was buried on 10th September 1793 in Sampford Courtenay. In the same year, Loveday's widowed mother, Sarah, along with her four youngest daughters, were ordered to be removed from Belstone back to Sampford Courtenay.

In early 1797, when Loveday was about ten, her youngest sister Mahlah passed away, aged about only three or four. Mahlah was buried on 5th February 1797 in Sampford Courtenay.

In 1797, when Loveday was ten or eleven, she was apprenticed to Simon Coombe of Sampford Courtenay.

In 1801, when Loveday was about fifteen, her mother Sarah passed away, aged about forty-six. Sarah was buried on 12th September 1801 in Sampford Courtenay.

In 1805, when Loveday was about nineteen and working as a servant, she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, fathered by William Coombe. 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. William may well have been the young son of Loveday's employer, Simon Coombe. I wonder if Loveday and William's relationship was short-lived and reached its end before Dinah's birth.

On 4th November 1811, Loveday (about 26) married George Turner (about 24), a labourer at Plymouth Dock, in Stoke Damerel, near Plymouth, which is over thirty-miles south of Sampford Courtenay, where Loveday lived for most of her younger years. Whilst George was able to sign his name (interestingly he spelt it without the first e, eg 'Gorge'), Loveday left only her mark, implying she could not write.

'Plymouth [Dock], from Mount Edgcumbe' painted by JMW Turner in the 1810's

Loveday and George have nine children (six daughters and three brothers):

• Mary  1813 -
• Loveday  1816 -
• Rebecca  1818 -
• Elizabeth  1821 -
• Susan  1822 - 1826  (3 years old)
• Eliza  1825 - 1826  (1 year old)
• George  1827 - 1828  (4 months old)
• George  1829 -
• William  1832 -

The baptism records of the couple's eldest five children give the young family's address as Plymouth Dock. Though the couple's first two daughters was baptised into the Church of England; interestingly, when the couple had their third, fourth, and fifth daughters baptised, they chose to have them baptised into the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Does this signify a change in religious belief?

Sometime between 1822 and 1825, the family moved back northwards to Jacobstowe, which is only three miles west of Loveday's former home of Sampford Courtenay. There, the couple's youngest four children were baptised, once more into the Church of England. George continued to work as a labourer, but no longer at the docks - was he now a farm labourer?

In 1826, when Loveday was about forty-one, her infant daughters passed away. Eliza (1 years old) passed away first - she was buried on 30th June - followed by Susan (3 years old) - she was buried, less than a week later, on 6th July - both in Jacobstowe. Touchingly, Loveday's eldest daughter Dinah, who was about one to two months pregnant with her first child at the time, would name that child, a daughter, after the girls: so Loveday's first grandchild was christened Eliza Susan Herd, on 26th February 1827, in Jacobstowe.

Just over one year later, Loveday's son, George, passed away, aged four months old. He was buried on 9th March 1828 in Jacobstowe. George had been Loveday's eighth child, but her first son - I imagine his death was felt acutely. George had likely been named for his father. George and Loveday would named their next born child, another son, George also.

In early 1841, when Loveday was about fifty-five, her husband George passed away, aged about fifty-four. He was buried on 21st February 1841, in Jacobstowe. On his burial record, his abode is listed as Exbourne, which is only one and a half miles from Jacobstowe. He is also described as being a pensioner, implying he was in receipt of a military pension - in other words, a Chelsea pensioner. George would have been a young man at the time of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815). Had he served in that war, before working as a labourer at Plymouth Dock (today Devonport)? Had he been a sailor? Was it his service that brought him to the navel town in the first place?

Widowed, Loveday lived and worked once more as a servant on farms. Meanwhile her youngest two sons - George, about twelve, and William, about nine - lived and worked as labourers on different farms in the Okehampton area. Whilst her adult daughters had long left home, with at least Dinah, Loveday (junior) and Rebecca married.

The 1841 Census shows Loveday, living with agricultural labourer Thomas Bolt and his family at Bude (Farm), Monkokehampton, which is less than three miles north of Exbourne, where Loveday's husband George had passed away earlier that year.

1841 Census:

Come the 1851 Census, Loveday, now in her mid sixties, is listed as a visitor, living with widow Catherine Piper and her daughters at Folly Gate, Inwardleigh, which is about eight miles south of Loveday's last address in Monkokehampton.

1851 Census:

In 1854, Loveday passed away, aged about sixty-eight, in Inwardleigh. She was buried on 25th June 1854 in Jacobstowe.