Great Great Half Aunt Florence Emily Chidgey (formerly Flay; nee Vernon)

My Great Great Half Aunt Florence (1911 - 1993) was a housewife, mother of three, and a younger half sister of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Florence was born on 1st February 1911 in Cheriton Bishop, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (40), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (about 35), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Florence 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 brother 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)

Florence was born was her family were living at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

1911 Census:

Around November 1911, the family moved to Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They moved again in May 1912 to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family live 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 turnpike were often displayed.

Florence was only three, when the First World War began. Her older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced solder, 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.

Florence's young brothers, in their later years, recalled that around 1919, the family lived between Bow and Down St Mary. Sid remembered that, whilst the family live there, their father would often send young Florence and Sid (about eight and six at the time) into Bow to get cider and tobacco for himself.

By 1922, the family had moved to Westwood, between Exeter and Cullompton.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1928, Florence (17) married Albert William Flay (21) in Halberton.

Florence and Albert had one daughter:

• Kathleen Sylvia Florence  1929 -  

Between 1928 and 1932, they lived at Burlescombe and Langford, near Cullompton.

Florence and Albert's marriage was short-lived. On New Year's Day 1932, Florence (20) left their home, leaving Albert (24) a letter. She had left him for Somerset-born William George Chidgey (25), whom she had reportedly "been friendly with" before she married Albert.

Two weeks later, Albert posted a statement, in the local newspaper, that he would no longer be responsible for debts incurred by his absent wife.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 15th January 1932:

Still, when Albert sought divorce later that year, he stated he believed their marriage to have been a "happy" one, and before Florence left "had no idea she intended to go away". Albert was granted divorce and custody of their daughter Kathleen, in November 1932.

From the Western Times of 11th November 1932:

Florence was pregnant by William at the time of her divorce from Albert.

Florence and William would have two daughters (one born before their marriage):

• Marlene B  Jan/Feb/Mar 1933 - likely 1933 (likely as a very young baby)
• Marlene B  Oct/Nov/Dec 1933 - 

In Apr/May/Jun 1933, Florence (21 or 22) married William (27), in the district of Tiverton. Florence was pregnant with her third daughter, when she married.

I cannot find a record of death for the older Marlene, but it is likely she passed away soon after her birth, early in 1933, for Florence to fall pregnant and give birth to another daughter with the same name before the year was out.

The 1939 Census shows Florence living in Tiverton, seemingly with the younger Marlene, as well as her widowed mother Ellen. Ellen is described as 'incapacitated' - I wonder if Florence cared for her mother. Notably William doesn't seem to be with them. Also Florence is unemployed - are the three females getting by only on Ellen's pension?

1939 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1976, William passed away, aged seventy, in the district of Tiverton.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1993, Florence passed away, aged eighty-two, in the mid-Devon district.