My Great x3 Uncle John Edworthy (1845 - 1910), was a carter, farm/agricultural labourer, step-father of one, father of ten, and the elder brother of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).
John was born in Oct/Nov/Dec 1844 in Lapford, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 24), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 21).
On 22nd December 1844, John was baptised in Lapford.
John was the second of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons) and the eldest son:
- Ann 1841 - 1882 (about 41)
- John 1844 - 19190 (about 65)
- Elizabeth 1849 -
- William 1852 - 1911 (about 59)
- George 1854 -
- Samuel 1856 -
- Ellen 1858 -
- Louis/Lewis 1861 -
- Frederick 1863 -
- Frank 1866 -
- Mary 1869 -
1851 Census:
As a young teen, John left the family home to find work. By 1861, he was living with and working as a carter at the 168 acres Coombe Farm, for farmer Thomas White.
1861 Census:
In Oct/Nov/Dec 1870, John (about 26), a carter and agricultural labourer, married Grace Mitchell (about 20), a young single mother of one, in the district of Crediton, Devon.
Grace had one son, born before her marriage, when she was only seventeen:
John and Grace had ten more children (five sons and five five daughters):
- John 'Jack' 1871 -
- Sydney 1873 - 1874 (3 months old)
- Lucy Ann 1875 -
- Ruth 1877 -
- Alice 1879 - 1902 (22 years old)
- Mary Jane 1881 -
- Charles 'Charlie' James 1887 -
- Ernest Mitchell 1889 - 1916 (28 years old)
- Walter 1892 - 1917 (25 years old)
- Florence Maud 1894 -
Sadly John and Grace's second(/third) son Sydney passed away, at only three months old. He was buried in February 1874, in East Worlington, Devon.
Their middle daughter Alice also passed away prematurely, aged twenty-two, in 1902. I do not know the cause; however, their youngest daughter Florence, aged nineteen, in 1913, entered the Devon and Cornwall Sanatorium for Consumptives. Her disease had developed in May 1913, she was admitted to the sanatorium in December 1913, and was discharged three months later in March 1914, 'V.M.I [likely very much improved] able to do light work'. What ailed Florence? Well 'consumptives' were individuals who suffered from a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Did her older sister Alice succumb to the same/or a similar disease?
Their fourth(/fifth) child and second daughter Ruth would go on to marry her first cousin William Gilbert John Edworthy, son of John's younger's brother William.
1871 Census:
In the 1870's, the young Edworthy family added to their income by having boarders.
1881 Census:
1891 Census:
1901 Census:
In Jul/Aug/Sep 1910, John passed away, aged sixty-five, in the district of Crediton, Devon.
By 1911, John's widow Grace went to live with their son Charles James, and his wife and young son, in Copplestone, near Crediton.
All of John's surviving adult sons served in the army - three in the First World War. Sadly two were killed in action...
Older son Jack (original service number: 2829. later service number: 3893) enlisted as a private, in the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, in January 1894 (his age is given as eighteen; however, he would have been twenty-three). His service record gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Jack was 5' 5'', had a fresh complexion, fair/light brown hair and grey eyes.
He was appointed as a drummer in October 1897. He transferred to the reserves in August 1902 and was discharged in February 1906. He was too old to re-enlist or be conscripted during the First World War. However, he lead the way for his younger brothers to join the army.
In December 1903, Charlie (service number: 7558), aged nineteen, enlisted as a private, in the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. His service record gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Charlie was 5' 6 1/2'', had a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes.
Charlie originally served for a period of three years. He served at 'Home' (eg England) from December 1903 - February 1905. Then in India for two years, from February 1905 - February 1907. In February 1907, he transferred to the reserves. With the outbreak of war, seven years later, in August 1914, Charlie found himself immediately called up, and promoted to Lance Corporal. However, he did not leave 'Home' for France until August 1916, when he was promoted again to Lance Sergeant. He was again promoted, in December 1916, to Sergeant. He served in France for two and half years, from August 1918 to February 1919 (with two furloughs - on in June/July 1918 and another in September 1918). He transferred again to the reserves in 1919; and was finally discharged from the army in 1920.
Next brother, seventeen-year-old Ernest (service number: 4890), a farm labourer, enlisted as a private in the 4th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Ernest originally signed up for a term of six years; however, he (or someone else?) purchased his discharge after only three months. Ernest's service record gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Ernest was 5'4 3/4'', had a fresh complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes. He either re-enlisted or was conscripted during the First World War. He was killed on 1st July 1916, aged twenty-eight.
Younger brother Walter was a private in the 9th Battalion, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed on 6th December 1817, aged twenty-five.
The younger Edworthy brothers (my first cousins three times removed on my father's side) are remembered on the Bow War Memorial, alongside my Great x3 Uncle Harry Sandford (from my mother's side of the family). (https://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Bow/BowWarMemorial.htm)
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| Bow War Memorial honouring my Cousins Ernest and Walter Edworthy and Uncle Harry Sandford |
Grace outlived her husband by twenty years. In Apr/May/Jun 1930, Grace passed away, aged eighty-three, in the district of Crediton.
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