Friday 27 November 2020

Great x3 Uncle Silas Vernon

My Great x3 Uncle Silas (1862 - 1933) was a inn servant, labourer, coal press maker, overlooker, yardsman on a farm, clayhole worker at brick works, debtor, father of seven, and an older brother of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).


Silas was born in Jan/Feb/Mar 1862, in the district of Torrington, Devon, to William Vernon (about 33), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 29), a housewife.

Silas was the fifth of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons)

  • Susan  1854 - 1930  (75 years old)
  • Thomas  1857 - 1916  (about 59 years old)
  • William 'Robert' Robert  1859 - 1939  (about 80 years old)
  • Sarah Ann  1860 - 1901  (about 40 years old)
  • Silas  1862 - 1933  (71 years old)
  • Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
  • Arthur John  1865 -
  • Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 - 1934  (65 years old)
  • Martha  1871 -
  • Louisa  1872 - 1874  (16 months old)
  • Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
  • Ernest  1878 - 1903  (25 years old)

1871 Census:

As a teenager, Silas lived with and worked for the Spreadbury family, headed by innkeeper William Spreadbury, at the Yeo Vale Hotel, an inn in Lapford, as a general inn servant. At the time of the 1881 Census, Silas was the only live-in servant.

1881 Census:

Following in the footsteps of his older brother Thomas, Silas moved up to Wales, as a young man.

On 2nd October 1887, Silas (25), a labourer, married Welsh Ann Evans (about 19), in Llangyfelach, a village a little north of Swansea, Wales. At the time, both parties resided in Graig Trewyddfa, Swansea. Neither bride nor groom was able to sign their marriage certificate, leaving only their marks, implying they could not write. 

Silas and Ann had seven children (four daughters, two sons and one unknown):

  • Martha Ann  1890 -  
  • Margaret Jane  1892 - 
  • Susannah  1894 -  
  • ????  possibly born between 1895 - 1898 and passed away before 1901
  • Frederick 'Freddy' William  1899 -  
  • Mary Elizabeth  1902 - 
  • David Thomas  1904 -

The 1911 Census confirms Silas and Ann had seven children - six still alive at the time of the census. I am struggling to find the name of that child, who must have passed away young, as: the family moved around a bit, I can only find evidence of one their children's baptisms, and the child does not appear on any census. It seems most likely they were either the couple's first child, born at the beginning of their marriage, between 1887 and 1889, and passing away before the 1891 Census; or in the five year gap between the births of siblings Susannah and Freddy, between 1894 and 1899, meaning they could have been born anywhere between Manchester (where Susannah was born) and Devon (where Freddy was born), and passed away before the 1901 Census; or were the youngest child, born after David in 1904, and passed away before the 1911 Census.

Having looked a little more, it seems more likely they were born between Susannah in 1894 in Manchester and Freddy in 1899 in Morchard Bishop, Devon. The child may not have lived long enough to be named, and Silas and Ann may have not even registered their birth; yet when asked how many children had been born living for the 1911 Census, they remembered that lost child. 

The couple's eldest two children, Martha and Margaret, were born in their mother's native Swansea. The young family moved briefly from Wales to Manchester, where daughter Susannah was born in 1894, before moving down to Silas' native Devon by 1900, where son Frederick was born and where the family can be found on the 1901 Census. However, by 1902, they had moved back up to Swansea - where children Mary and David were born, and where the family can still be found on the 1911 Census.

Silas' occupation changed as the family moved around: when he married in 1887, he was simply described a labourer; on the 1891 Census he was a coal press maker in Swansea; at the time of daughter Susannah's 1894 baptism, he was an overlooker in Manchester; by the 1901 Census he was a yardsman on a farm in Devon; then by the 1911 Census, a clayhole worker at a brick works in Swansea.

1891 Census:

The 1891 Census mistakenly gives Silas' wife's name as Eleanor. I have corrected it to Ann. I feel I can confidently do this as there is no other evidence of his having a wife called Eleanor; and the only record of marriage for a Silas Vernon (as his name is rare, it is literally the only one) is for his marriage to Ann.

The 1891 and 1911 Censuses also reveal Ann was bilingual - she was able to speak both Welsh and English. But the children were brought up to only speak English.

Swansea Prison records show Silas struggled with debt. There was three incidents - in 1893, 1905 and 1911 - which brought him to the attention of the law, two of which resulted in time in prison.

Unfortunately the 1893 record is damaged, but he would have served so many days imprisonment or have had to have paid a fine - considering his crime was debt, it seems unlikely he would have been able to pay an additional fine, meaning he likely served time in prison. The common length for such crimes was fourteen days. Indeed the dates match this: his 'date of discharge' is given as 2nd October 1893, and underneath is written 'sentence to reckon from date of arrest viz 19th September 1893'.

Was it debt and prison that made Silas and his family decide to leave Swansea for Manchester in 1893/1894?

By 1905, Silas was back in Swansea and back in debt. Now there were three commitments occurring twice on 2nd May and once on 20th June, to which the sentence was three lots of fourteen days imprisonment (forty-two days in all) or to pay three separate fines of £1 9d, 13s 1d and 8s 7d (amounting to £2 2s 6d). Again he appears to have gone to prison, rather than have been able to pay the fine. His release date is given as 17th September 1905, implying he entered prison on or about 6th July (if my maths if right and if he served his forty-two days).

In 1911, it seems Silas was finally able to pay the fine, though again charged with debt, rather than go once more to prison. His sentence was again fourteen days imprisonment or pay a fine of - it appears to say - '26/3'. Now I'm no expert of old money: should that be read as 26s 3d? But there's twenty shillings in a pound, so wouldn't they have put £1 6s 3d, if that was the case? Either way, Silas paid the fine promptly on 12th September 1911 - the day after he was arrested.

Silas' prison records give us a brief physical description of him. He was about 5'3'' or 5'4''. In 1893, his hair was dark, but by 1905 it had turned grey. His shifting religion is also listed: in 1893, he was Baptist, by 1905 he had changed to Salvation Army, and by 1911 was Church of England.

1901 Census:

The South Wales Daily Post of 9th June 1909 reports that Silas, amongst many others, was fined (in his case 7s 6d) for drunkenness.

1911 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1921, when Silas was fifty-nine, his wife Ann passed away, aged about fifty-three, in Swansea. A year and a half later, Silas remarried. In Apr/May/Jun 1923, Silas (61) married Elizabeth A Brown, in Swansea.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1933, Silas passed away, aged seventy-one, in Swansea.

Monday 23 November 2020

Great x3 Aunt Sarah Ann Ware (nee Vernon)

My Great x3 Aunt Sarah Ann (1860 - 1901) was a housewife, mother of eight, and an elder sister of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).

Sarah Ann was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1860, in the district of Torrington, Devon, to William Vernon (about 31), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 27), a housewife.

Sarah Ann was the fourth of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):


  • Susan  1854 - 1930  (75 years old)
  • Thomas  1857 - 1916  (about 59 years old)
  • William 'Robert' Robert  1859 - 1939  (about 80 years old)
  • Sarah Ann  1860 - 1901  (about 40 years old)
  • Silas  1862 -
  • Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
  • Arthur John  1865 -
  • Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 - 1934  (65 years old)
  • Martha  1871 -
  • Louisa  1872 - 1874  (16 months old)
  • Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
  • Ernest  1878 - 1903  (25 years old)


1861 Census:


1871 Census:


Unfortunately I can't find Sarah Ann on the 1881 Census, when she would have been a young woman.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1882, a twenty-two year old Sarah Ann gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, whom she called Mary Ann, in the district of Crediton. In the same quarter, Sarah Ann (about 22), a ?, married William Henry Ware (about 18) (often known by Henry or Harry), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, also in the district of Crediton. It seems likely William was the father of Sarah Ann's daughter - on later censuses he is certainly listed as Mary Ann's father.

Including Mary Ann, Sarah Ann and Henry had eight children (four daughters and four sons):


  • Mary Ann  1883 -
  • William  1884 -
  • John  1886 - 1887  (17 months old)
  • Emily  1887 -
  • Edwin John  1890 - 1890  (0 - 6 months old)
  • Annie  1891 -
  • Edith 'Alice' Alice  1895 -
  • Henry 'Charles' Charles  1900 -

Sadly, the couple's third child, John, passed away, at only seventeen months, in 1887. He was buried on 20th March 1887 in Crediton. They would give their next born son, Edwin, the middle name of John, perhaps after his older brother. Sadly, Edwin too passed away young. He passed away, aged between zero to six months, in 1890.

1891 Census:


1901 Census:


In Apr/May/Jun 1901, Sarah Ann passed away, aged only about forty, in the district of Exeter. She left behind a husband, and six surviving children, the eldest about seventeen and youngest not yet one.

That motherless baby would go on to serve in the Royal Navy at the end of the First World War. Charles enlisted less than a month after he turned eighteen. He joined as a stocker on 14th August 1918. Though he originally signed up for a period of twelve years, he was invalided out on 6th October 1920, serving two years. He served on several ships, including: Vivid II, Apollo, Columbine and Impregnable. His character is repeatedly given as very good, his ability satisfactory. As brief physical description is also given of Charles as a young man: he was only 5'2 1/2'', had light brown hair, blue eyes, and a fresh complexion. I wonder if he resembled his mother is any way.

Friday 6 November 2020

Great x3 Uncle William Robert Vernon

My Great x3 Uncle Robert (1859 - 1939) was a farm servant and labourer, father of six, and an elder brother of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).


Robert was born around 1859, in Ashreigney, Devon, to William Vernon (about 30), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 26), a housewife.

Robert's birth doesn't seem to have been registered by his parents; nor can I find record of any baptism. According to censuses, he seems to have gone by his middle name of Robert.

Robert was the third of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):

  • Susan  1854 - 1930  (75 years old)
  • Thomas  1857 - 1916  (about 59 years old)
  • William 'Robert' Robert  1859 - 1939  (about 80 years old)
  • Sarah Ann  1860 -
  • Silas  1862 -
  • Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
  • Arthur John  1865 -
  • Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 - 1934  (65 years old)
  • Martha  1871 -
  • Louisa  1872 - 1874  (16 months old)
  • Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
  • Ernest  1878 - 1903  (25 years old)

1861 Census:


Before the age of twelve, Robert had left his family home to live with and work as an indoor farm servant for the Harris family, headed by farmer William Harris, at Higher Coldharbour, still in his hometown of Ashreigney.

1871 Census:


By the time of the 1881 Census, Robert was back living with his parents and younger siblings. The family had moved from Ashriegney to Zeal Monachorum. Robert must have made a good impression upon the Harris family, for different members of it would later employ his children.

1881 Census:


On 24th September 1883, Robert (about 24), a agricultural labourer, married Elizabeth Ann Westacott (about 22), in Nymet Rowland, Devon. Robert and Elizabeth Ann left only their marks, implying they could not write - not even their own names. Robert's younger brother Silas acted as a witness. Elizabeth Ann was between six and eight months pregnant with their eldest child, when they married.

Robert and Elizabeth Ann had six children (four daughters and two sons):

  • Emma  1883 -
  • Bessie  1886 -
  • Elizabeth Ann 'Annie'  1888 -
  • Robert 'William' William  1891 -
  • Eva  1893 - 1919  (25 years old)
  • John  1895 - 1916  (about 20 years old)

In the mid 1880's, Robert and his young family move from Zeal Monachorum (where Emma in born in 1883) to Coldridge (where the rest of the children are born, 1886 onwards). By the 1891 Census, Robert's widowed mother-in-law was living with the family in their cottage.

1891 Census:


1901 Census:


In Apr/May/Jun 1903, when Robert was about forty-three, his mother Martha passes away, aged about sixty-nine, in the district of Crediton. Alas a short time later, on 10th July 1903, Robert's youngest brother Ernest, aged twenty-five, was tragically killed by a train at Stafford level crossing, a few miles from Exeter.

In the 1900s, Robert and Elizabeth, now in their forties, appear to take in their granddaughters, Minnie (born 1903) and Florence (born 1909), likely the illegitimate daughters of one or other of their own elder daughters.

1911 Census:


Florence's school record of 1913, when she was yet to turn four, lists her parent or guardian as Robert Vernon - likely her grandfather. She joins the school in the January, but leaves in the October. The reason for leaving is recorded as 'going to Crediton', as her 'mother [is] going into the workhouse'. Robert's eldest daughter Emma, a domestic servant, is already listed as a resident of Crediton workhouse on the 1911 Census, so she may well have been the mother of Florence and Minnie.

Both of Robert's two sons, William and John, served in the First World War.

In 1913, Robert and Elizabeth's youngest son, John (Service Number K17328), joined the Royal Navy as a stoker, for serve for a period of thirteen years. Though his service record gives his date of birth as 23rd August 1894, thus making him nineteen when enlisting, the 1901 and 1911 Censuses imply he was born around 1896; and a likely record of birth puts his birth around Oct/Nov/Dec 1895, meaning he was probably seventeen when he signed up. The country was not yet at war, but it seems John was eager to serve, as he likely lied about his age. 

John served on only two ships: the HMS Vivid II from 27th January to 16th June 1913; then on the HMS Indefatigable from 17th June 1913 to 31st May 1916. Sadly on 31st May 1916, John was killed in action, aged about twenty. His character was given as 'good' or 'very good' and his ability improved from 'satisfactory' to 'superior'. His name appears on both the Coldridge and Eggesford War Memorials.

John's elder brother William (Service Number 228429) enlisted as private in the army reserve in December 1915, aged twenty-four. Though briefly in the 330th Road Construction Company of the Royal Engineers, he was soon transferred to Class W Army Reserve. He was 'Home' from 1st February to 10th March 1917; then went to France on 11th March 1917.

John's service record gives a physical description of him as a young man: he was 5'5'', had dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. I wonder if he resembled his father. William's service record doesn't give much of a physical description, beyond stating he was only 5'2'' - he was shorter than me (5'3'')!

On 1st October 1917, when Robert was about fifty-eight, his father William passed away, aged eighty-eight, at home in Chawleigh, his eldest child - Robert's eldest sister - Susan at his side. The cause of death was senile decay.

Then in Apr/May/Jun 1919, Robert and Elizabeth's youngest daughter Eva, a servant, also passed away aged only twenty-five, in the district of Crediton.

All four of Robert and Elizabeth's daughters worked as domestic servants on farms, whilst their two sons worked as horsemen on farms, before going into the forces. 

Around September 1939, Robert himself passed away, aged about eighty. Though his death was recorded in Oct/Nov/Dec 1939; Elizabeth is listed as a widow in the 1939 Census, which was taken at the end of September 1939, meaning Robert must have passed away around the start of the Second World War. Elizabeth would outlive her husband by eight years, passing away, aged about eighty-six, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1947.