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.