Great x3 Uncle Lewis Edworthy

My Great x3 Uncle Lewis (1861 - 1943), was a farm/agricultural labourer, domestic gardener, father of eleven, and a younger brother of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).

Lewis was born on 9th January 1861 in East Worlington, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 41), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 37).

On 27th January 1861, Lewis was baptised in East Worlington.

Lewis was the eighth of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons):

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (65)
• Elizabeth  1849 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 - 1876  (22)
• Samuel  1856 - 1920  (64)
• Ellen  1858 - 1934  (75)
• Lewis  1861 - 1943  (82)
• Frederick  1863 - 1943  (79)
• Frank  1866 -
• Mary Harris  1869 -

Lewis and his siblings grew up at Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage, thatched cob cottage built in the early 1600s, in East Worlington.

(You can read more about the structure of the property here.) 

Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage

1861 Census: 

1871 Census: 

As a young man, Lewis lived with and worked as a indoor farm servant for the Burrow family, headed by Richard Burrow - a farmer of 100 arces - at Wilsdon, East Worlington.

1881 Census:

On 28th March 1885, Lewis (24), a farm labourer, married Eliza Saunders (20), in East Worlington.

Lewis and Eliza had eleven children (seven daughters and four sons)

• Alice Mary  1886
• Francis George  1888  
• Henry  1889
• Eva  1891  
• May  1893  
• Lewis  1895 - 1896 (13 months) 
• Amy  1897 - 1904  (7 years old)
• Ernest John  1899 - 1941  (42 years old)
• Winifred  1902  
• Muriel  1904  
• Gladys Lily  1909  

1891 Census:

Lewis and his young family lived at his childhood home of Edgelake/Oddislake Cottage. Lewis' widowed father William also lived with them, as seen on the 1891 Census.

In the mid 1890's, Lewis and his family moved to Newton St Cyres.

Sadly, Lewis and Eliza's son Lewis passed away at only 13 months. Little Lewis was buried on the 7th June 1896 in Newton St Cyres.

1901 Census:

On the 3rd July 1904, Lewis and Eliza's daughter Amy, just turned seven, died suddenly of convulsions. On Saturday morning, little Amy complained of feeling unwell. Her mother gave her some medicine and put her to bed. On Sunday morning, it was found that Amy had taken worse and a doctor was called for, but before the doctor arrived, Amy passed away.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 8th July 1904:

From the Western Times of 11th July 1904:

Around 1907, the family moved to Crediton.

Coincidentally, for around three months, from late 1907 to early 1908, youngest son Ernest, my 1st Cousin x3 Removed, attended Crediton Hayward School alongside my Great Great Uncle Frank Vernon.

Around 1910, Lewis began working as a gardener at Queen Elizabeth School in Crediton. He would go on to work there for 28 years. My mum would attend the same school in the 1970's.

1911 Census:

According to local newspaper report on their 1935 Golden Wedding anniversary, all three of Lewis and Eliza's surviving sons, Francis, Henry and Ernest, served in WWI.

Youngest son Ernest (D/K 26352) joined the navy, on 17th May 1915. Ernest lied about his age. He gave his date of birth as 6th April 1897, claiming to be eighteen when he signed up. He was in fact only just turned sixteen, born on 6th April 1899.

His service record gives a brief physical appearance: Ernest was 5'7''/5'8'', he had fair hair that darkened to light brown as he got older, had blue eyes, and a fair/fresh complexion. 

Ernest originally signed up for a period of twelve years, but in fact served well beyond. He continued to serve through WWI, as a stoker and then chief stoker, all the way through the 1920's and 1930's and into WWII. 

Lewis' youngest son Ernest, on board a ship, c 1940

Lewis' youngest son Ernest, c 1940, taken in Hong Kong

Edworthy Family, c 1930

Back Left to Back Right: Francis George, May, Gladys Lily, Winifred, Ernest John
Front Left to Front Right: Alice, Lewis' wife Eliza, Lewis himself and Eva

(Unfortunately one of the woman in the back row isn't named,
but I would assume is another daughter Muriel)

1921 Census:

On 28th March 1935, Lewis and Eliza's Golden Wedding anniversary (50 years!).

From the Western Times of 29th March 1935:

On 28th July 1939, Lewis' wife Eliza died, aged 75. She was buried on 1st August 1939 at Crediton cemetery. Eliza was described as "well known and held in much esteem". 

From the Western Times of 4th August 1939:

Come the start of the Second World War, a retired Lewis lived with his married youngest daughter Gladys and her husband at 20 Landscore, Crediton.

1939 Census:

On 11th April 1941, Lewis' youngest son Ernest died at sea, on board the H.M.Y Yorkshire Belle, five days after his forty-second birthday. He had married only the previous year.

In December 1943, Lewis died, aged 82, at 3 New Cut, Crediton.

"He was also a staunch Liberal, widely-known and held in high esteem."

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 10th December 1943: