Great x3 Aunt Jane Mary Pyke (nee Sandford)

My Great x3 Aunt Jane (1873 - 1930) was a domestic servant, housewife, possibly mother of one, and a younger sister of my Great Great Grandfather Mark Sandford (1872 - 1945).

Jane was born in Apr/May/Jun 1873 in Colyton, Devon, to George Anley Sandford (about 30), a farm labourer, and Sarah Ann Sandford (nee Willis) (about 33), a lacemaker and housewife.

Jane had two older half siblings, her mother's illegitimate children born before her marriage:

• William Willis  1864 - 1922  (58)
• Mary Willis  1868 - 1937  (69)

William and Mary lived with their maternal grandparents.

Jane was the second of five children born to George and Sarah Ann (two sons and three daughters):

• Mark  1872 - 1945  (73)
• Jane Mary  1873 - after 1911 (at least 38)
• Alice  1877 - 1943  (65)
• Susan  1882 - after 1939 (at least 57)
• Henry 'Harry'  1884 - 1917  (32 or 33)

Jane and her family seem to have moved around a lot, likely as Jane's father George found work as a labourer on different farms...

In the late 1870's, when Jane was about four, they moved about eleven miles north west from Colyton to Feniton.

Around 1880, when Jane was about six, they moved again about two miles north from Feniton to Payhembury.

1881 Census:

In the early 1880's, when Jane was about eight, they moved again about twenty-six miles west from Payhembury to Zeal Monachorum.

They moved again in the late 1880's, when Jane was in her teens from Zeal Monachorum east five miles to Morchard Bishop.

In the 1880's and 1890's, Alice's older half-brother William Willis served as a gunner in the Royal Artillery. He would serve for twelve years, including six years (from 1886 to 1893) in Gibraltar.

1891 Census:

Living with Jane's father George, her older half sister Mary Pike (formerly Gill; nee Sandford), and other family members on the 1901 Census, is a William George Sandford, who is described as George's grandson. William was born Jan/Feb/Mar 1895, in the district of Crediton - his mother's maiden name was Sandford. Either unmarried twenty-one year old Jane or her unmarried seventeen year old younger sister Alice was William's mother (I suspect it was Alice as she was having other illegitamate children at the time, whilst Jane had no other child); however, William seems to have remained closer to his Aunt Mary Pike, for it is Mary, rather than Jane or Alice, whom he puts as his next of kin on his World War One Army Service Records.

In Apr/May/Jun 1896, Jane (22 or 23), a domestic servant, married Edward John Pyke (20), a horseman on a farm, in the district of Crediton. Jane and Edward had no children. 

In the 1890's and early 1900's, both of Jane's brothers served in the army. In 1896, twenty-four year old Mark enlisted as a private in the 4th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. He served for three years. In 1901, eighteen year old Harry enlisted as a private, also in the 4th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment.

Mark and Harry seemingly looked alike as young men: both had fresh complexions, fair hair and blue eyes. I wonder if Jane was fair as well.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1897, when Jane was only twenty-three, her mother Sarah Ann passed away, aged fifty-seven, in the district of South Molton.

By the time of the 1901 Census, Jane's older brother Mark, returned from the army, lodged with Jane and her husband Edward at West Howell, Colebrooke. Mark also worked as a horseman on a farm, likely alongside his brother-in-law.

1901 Census:

Sometime in the first decade of the 1900's, Jane and Edward made the big move from their native Devon to Rhondda, in Glamorganshire, Wales. Jane's maternal aunt Mary and her family were already living there.

At the time of the 1911 Census, living with them were two nephews: a John Sandford Pyke (whose parentage I can't presently determine) and Arthur Harry Gill. Arthur was the son of Jane's half sister Mary Pike (formerly Gill; nee Willis)). In 1908, Mary had then married Jane's husband Edward Pyke's younger brother Samuel Pike (Pyke). Also lodging with them were James Pyke (another younger brother of Jane's husband Edward Pyke) and Samuel Gill. Samuel was Jane's first cousin, the son of her maternal aunt Mary Ann Gill (nee Willis), as well as the brother of her half sister Mary Pike (formerly Gill; nee Willis)'s first husband William Gill.

1911 Census:

All the male relatives Jane lived with worked in the Welsh mining industry.

The previous occupants of Jane's home of 4 Margaret Street was the family of her maternal Aunt Mary Ann Gill (nee Willis), who then moved five doors down to no. 9. Moving to a new country, it must have been comforting to have family so close.

Margaret Street from no. 4 (left) to no. 9 (right)

Margaret Street with the beautiful hills behind it (no. 4 on right)

4 Margaret Street

9 Margaret Street

Jane's younger brother Harry served and was sadly killed in the First World War. Her nephew, Arthur Harry Gill, the son of her older half sister Mary Pike (formerly Gill; nee Willis) also served and was killed in action.

Her brother Harry, having served as a private in the early 1900's (service number 6687), was re-conscripted as a corporal (service number 3/6687) in the 8th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. He was listed as wounded on the casualty list of 31st January 1915 and again on the casualty list of 28th February 1915. He was killed in action on 25th March 1917, aged thirty-three. Harry's name appears on the Bow War Memorial; as well as at the Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Her nephew Arthur (service number 71781) was a private in the 5th Battalion (Territorials) of the Devonshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 27th September 1918, less than two months before the end of the war, aged twenty-three or twenty-four. Arthur's name appears on the Eggesford War Memorial; as well as on the Vis-en-Artois (British Cemetery and) Memorial at Haucourt, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Jane and Edward, though they had no children of their own, often had nieces and nephews living with them. The 1921 Census, shows Archibald Sandford living with them - he was an illegitmate son of Jane's younger sister Alice. As well as niece Beatrice 'Beaty' M Pyke - the daughter of Edward's younger brother William. Beaty's mother Elizabeth had passed away, when Beaty was a toddler. And niece Gwendoline M Gill - the daughter of Jane's half sister Mary.

1921 Census:

In 1930, Jane passed away, aged fifty-seven, in Pontypridd, Wales.

Jane's widower Edward continued to live at 4 Margaret Street. On the 1939 Census his name is given as John E. Lodger Harold Rugg was still living at the address. Also living there - likely lodging too - were a young married couple, Elwyn and May Cronin.

In 1951, Edward passed away, aged seventy-four, in Pontypridd, Wales.

Great x3 Half Aunt Mary Pike (formerly Gill; nee Willis)

My Great x3 Half Aunt Mary (1867 - 1937) was a housewife, mother of three, and an older half sister of my Great Great Grandfather Mark Sandford (1872 - 1945).

Mary was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1867 in Colyton, Devon, the illegitimate daughter of Sarah Ann Willis (later Sandford) (about 27), a lacemaker.

Mary was baptised on 12th July 1868 in Colyton, Devon.

Mary was the second of two illegitimate children born to Sarah Ann, before her marriage:

• William Willis  1864 - 1922  (58)
• Mary Willis  1867 - 1937  (69)

Young Mary and William lived with their maternal grandparents, Sarah Ann's parents, James, a blacksmith, and Mary Willis, a lacemaker. The couple also took in another daughter Mary Ann's illegitimate son William John James Willis.

1871 Census:

On 7th May 1871, Mary's mother Sarah Ann (30), a lacemaker and single mother of two, married George Anley Sandford (27), a farm labourer, in Colyton. Before they married, George had lodged with Sarah Ann, her parents and family.

Mary had five younger half siblings - the legitimate children of his mother Sarah Ann and George Sandford - :

• Mark Sandford  1872 - 1945  (73)
• Jane Mary Sandford  1873 - after 1911  (at least 38)
• Alice Sandford  1877 - 1943  (65)
• Susan Sandford  1882 - after 1939  (at least 57)
• Henry 'Harry'  1884 - 1917  (32 or 33)

1881 Census:

In February 1885, when Mary was seventeen, her only full sibling, her twenty-one year old older brother William, left their grandparent's home of Parkhayne Cottage in Colyton, to enlist as a gunner in the Royal Artillery. He would serve for twelve years, including six years (from 1886 to 1893) in Gibraltar.

His Army Service Record gives us a physical description of Mary's brother as a young man: he was just short of 5'8'', ten stone, had a fair complexion, light brown hair and blue eyes. His character is described as 'exemplary'. His habits and conduct are 'regular, very good, temperate'. I wonder if Mary was like her brother in looks or temperament.

Whilst William was away in the army, their guardians/grandparents passed away. In 1886, when Mary was about nineteen, her maternal grandfather James passed away, aged about seventy-six, in the parish of Axminster. Two years later, in 1888, when Mary was about twenty, her maternal grandmother Mary passed away, aged about seventy-five, in the parish of Axminster.

I am yet to find Mary on the 1891 Census, but by late 1891 she had seemingly found her way all the way to Pontypridd in Wales, where she married.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1891, Mary (24) married her first cousin William Gill (27), in the district of Pontypridd, Wales.

Within a few years, they had moved back down to Devon, living around the Zeal Monachorum and Bow area.

Mary and William had at least two children:

• Arthur Harry  1894 - 1918  (23 or 24)
• Gwendoline Mary  1897 - 1922  (25)

Both of these children were born in Zeal Monachorum, Devon.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1897, when Mary was about thirty, her mother Sarah Ann passed away, aged fifty-seven, in the district of South Molton.

Only a few months later, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1897, Mary's husband William also passed away, aged only thirty-three, in the district of Crediton.

Widowed, Mary sought relief from the parish to support herself and her young children. Come the 1901 Census, they lived with her widowed step-father George Sandford. Though no records confirm the identity of Mary's biological father, George may have been the father figure in her life. For example, on the 1901 Census, Mary is simply described as his daughter, and her children as his grandchild.

1901 Census:

Living Mary, her children, step-father George and younger half-brother Harry on the 1901 Census, is a William George Sandford, who is described as George's grandson. William was born Jan/Feb/Mar 1895, in the district of Crediton - his mother's maiden name was Sandford. One of Mary's younger unmarried half sisters - either twenty-one year old Jane or seventeen year old Alice - was William's mother; however, William seems to have remained closer to his Aunt Mary Pike, for it is Mary, rather than Jane or Alice, whom he puts as his next of kin on his World War One Army Service Record.

Mary's younger half brothers, Mark and Harry Sandford, also served in the army. In 1896, twenty-four year old Mark enlisted as a private in the 4th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. He served for three years. In 1901, eighteen year old Harry enlisted as a private, also in the 4th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment.

Mark and Harry seemingly looked alike as young men: both had fresh complexions, fair hair and blue eyes.

A decade after her first husband's death, Mary remarried. In Jan/Feb/Mar 1908 (40), Mary married Samuel James Pike (or Pyke) (28) the younger brother of her half-sister Jane Mary Pyke (nee Sandford)'s husband Edward Pyke.

Mary was twelve years older than Samuel; however, on the 1911 Census her age is given as the same as his. I wonder if Samuel really knew how much older his wife was than him.

Mary and Samuel had one daughter:

• Ruby J  1910 -

1911 Census:

(I have since realised I made a typo in the above census transcript: Ruby was born in 1910, not 1901)

On the 1911 Census, the family live at 6 Four Ways, Eggesford. But by 1937, the family home would be three doors down at 9 Four Ways, Eggesford.

Mary's only son Arthur and younger half-brother Harry both served and were sadly killed in action during the First World War.

Harry, having served as a private in the early 1900's (service number 6687), was re-conscripted as a corporal (service number 3/6687) in the 8th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. He was listed as wounded on the casualty list of 31st January 1915 and again on the casualty list of 28th February 1915. He was killed in action on 25th March 1917, aged thirty-three. Harry's name appears on the Bow War Memorial; as well as at the Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Arthur's service number was 71781. He was private in the 5th Battalion (Territorials) of the Devonshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 27th September 1918, less than two months before the end of the war, aged only twenty-three or twenty-four. Arthur's name appears on the Eggesford War Memorial; as well as on the Vis-en-Artois (British Cemetery and) Memorial at Haucourt, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

During the First World War, as well as losing her only son and younger half-brother, Mary's step-father George passed away. In Apr/May/Jun 1917, George passed away, aged seventy-four, in the Crediton district.

Mary's nephew William George Sandford (the illegitimate son of one of her younger half sisters, Jane or Alice Sandford) also served in the First World War, but survived. He was a private (service number P/15805) in the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regimant. He had actually enlisted before the start of the war. He served at 'Home' from 28th March 1914 to 25th July 1916; then from 26th July 1916 to 8th August 1917, served in the British Expeditionary Force; and finally from 9th August 1917, served at 'Home' again. He was awarded the British Medal for Bravery in the field in 1917. In 1918, he had transferred to the Military Foot Police, in which he served until January 1920.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1920, Mary's eldest daughter Gwendoline sadly also passed away, aged only twenty-five, in the district of Crediton.

On 8th May 1937, Mary herself passed away, aged sixty-nine, in the Exeter district. She was survived by her second husband Samuel and younger daughter, Ruby.

Her funeral on 11th May 1937 at All Saints Church, Eggesford, appears to have been highly attended by family and friends.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 14th May 1937:

From the Western Times of 14th May 1937:

A year later, and she was still greatly missed by her husband Samuel and their daughter Ruby.

From the Western Times of 6th May 1938:

Samuel and Ruby posted the same notice a year later in the Western Times of 5th May 1939, two years after Mary's passing. 

Great x3 Half Uncle William Willis

My Great x3 Half Uncle William (1864 - 1922) was a blacksmith, labourer, private and gunner in the Royal Artillery, railway plate-layer (for L&SWR), and an older half brother of my Great Great Grandfather Mark Sandford (1872 - 1945).

William was born in January or February 1864 in Colyton, Devon, the illegitimate son of Sarah Ann Willis (later Sandford) (about 23), a lacemaker.

William was baptised on Valentine's Day 1864 in Colyton.

William was one of two illegitimate children born to Sarah Ann, before her marriage:

• William Willis  1864 - 1922  (58)
• Mary Willis  1868 - 1937  (69)

Young William and Mary lived with their maternal grandparents, Sarah Ann's parents, James, a blacksmith, and Mary Willis, a lacemaker. The couple also took in their daughter Mary Ann's illegitimate son William John James Willis.

1871 Census:

On 7th May 1871, William's mother Sarah Ann (30), a lacemaker and single mother of two, married George Anley Sandford (27), a farm labourer, in Colyton. Before they married, George had lodged with Sarah Ann, her parents and family.

William had five younger half siblings - the legitimate children of his mother Sarah Ann and George Sandford - :

• Mark Sandford  1872 - 1945  (73)
• Jane Mary Sandford  1873 - after 1911 (at least 38)
• Alice Sandford  1877 - 1943  (65)
• Susan Sandford  1882 - after 1939  (at least 57)
• Henry 'Harry' Sandford  1884 - 1917  (32 or 33)

1881 Census:

As a teenager, William worked as an assistant to his maternal grandfather James, who was a blacksmith. By 1885, a twenty-one year old William gives his occupation as a blacksmith.

Having previously belonged to the Devonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, on 10th February 1885, William enlisted at Exeter as a private and gunner in the Royal Artillery. For some reason he gives his age as eighteen, when he was actually just turned twenty-one. He would serve for twelve years.

From 10th February 1885 to 10th November 1886, William served at 'Home', for one and half years. During this first year in the Royal Artillery, he suffered a bout of measles. He was in hospital for twenty days, from 19th April to 8th May 1886. From 11th November 1886 to 8th December 1893, he served in Gibraltar, for six years. And finally from 9th December 1893 to 9th February 1897, at again served at 'Home', for four years.

His Army Record gives us a physical description of William as a young man: he was just short of 5'8'', 10 stones, had a fair complexion, light brown hair and blue eyes. His character is described as 'exemplary'. His habits and conduct are 'regular, very good, temperate'.

Whilst William was in the army, his guardians/grandparents passed away. In 1886, when William was twenty-two, his maternal grandfather James passed away, aged about seventy-six, in the parish of Axminster. Two years later, in 1888, when William was twenty-four, his maternal grandmother Mary passed away, aged about seventy-five, in the parish of Axminster.

On 3rd September 1894, William (30), a gunner and labourer, married Emily Hepper (25), in Heanton Punchardon, Devon. William and Emily didn't have any children.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1897, when William was thirty-three, his mother Sarah Ann passed away, aged fifty-seven, in the district of South Molton.

After leaving the army, William went on to work as a plate-layer for the London & South Western Railway,

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

By 1922, William and Emily were living at 2 Railway Cottages at Chawleigh.

On Thursday 8th June 1922, William passed away, aged fifty-eight, at work. He complained of feeling 'done up' to a colleague, Robert Sampson, before sitting down. Just after Robert saw William's head fall backwards; he went over to him, but William passed away almost immediately. The locum tenens found 'a marked degeneration of the heart muscle, caused by extensive disease of the arteries supplying the heart' and 'a certain amount of inflammation of the stomach of fairly long standing'. William's death was attributed to 'a syncope [loss of consciousness caused by drop in blood pressure] following heart disease and indigestion'.

From the Western Times of 9th June 1922:

Three years later, in Apr/May/Jun 1925, his wife Emily passed away, aged fifty-six, in the district of Crediton.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Willis (nee Richards)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1813 - 1888) was a lacemaker, housewife and mother of fourteen.

Mary Richards was born around 1812 or 1813 in Colyton, Devon, to William Richards (about 27), a journeyman papermaker, and Mary Richards (nee Shoard) (about 33).

Mary was baptised on 10th January 1813 in Colyton. She was named after her mother.

Mary was the eldest of two girls:

• Mary  1813 -
• Martha  1816 -

In 1824 or 1825, when Mary was about eleven or twelve, her mother passed away, in her early forties. She was buried in Colyton.

When Mary was about thirteen, her father remarried. On 15th May 1826, widower William Richards (about 40) married young Somersetian lacemaker Leah Weston (about 18) in Colyton.

From this marriage, Mary and Martha gained a younger half-brother:

• William  1829 -

Sadly, their father William soon passed away, aged about forty-three. He was buried on 27th December 1829 in Colyton.

A little over a year later, Mary's stepmother Leah remarried. On 29th January 1831, Leah married stone mason's labourer William Hill in Colyton. Leah and William Hill would go on to have many children, and Mary's younger half-brother William would live with the Hill family.

On 22nd September 1831, Mary (18), a lacemaker, married James Willis (21), a blacksmith, in Colyton. Mary was about seven and half months pregnant when she married.

In November 1831, Mary gave birth to her first child, a son called William Richards Needs Willis. It looks likely Mary named her firstborn son after her late father, William Richards.

Mary and James would have a grand total of fourteen children (four sons and ten daughters):

• William Richards Needs  1831 -
• John Needs  1833 -
• Clara Elizabeth  1834 -
• Mary Ann  1839 -
• Sarah Ann  1840 -
• James  1843 -
• Keziah  1845 -
• Judith Maria  1846 -
• Susan Armenia  1848 -
• Leah  1850 - 1859 (2 weeks)
• Emily  1851 - 1852 (1 year)
• Eliza Ann  1854 -
• Catherine  1856 -
• Philip Henry  1856 - 1857  (8 months)

Their youngest two children, Catherine and Philip Henry, were twins.

Sadly three of their children passed away in infancy: little Leah, who was likely named after Mary's stepmother, at only two weeks, in 1850; followed by one-year-old Emily in 1852; and their youngest Philip Henry, at eight months, in 1857.

Records show Mary and her family lived in and around the town of Colyton and, only two or so miles north, the village of Shute.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

Whilst their sons followed in their father's footsteps and became blacksmiths, the censuses show many of their daughters followed in Mary's footsteps and became lace-makers. Lace-making was a common occupation for labouring women in east Devon till recent history. It requires great skill and was often taught to girls from a young age. I can picture Mary and her daughters, with other local women and girls, gathered round a single lamp, on little stools, lace-making.

1861 Census:

In it interesting and lovely to see that James and Mary seem to take in and raise their young daughters' illegitimate children, including Mary Ann's son William John James Willis (as shown living with them on the 1861 and 1871 censuses) and Sarah Ann's children William and Mary William (also shown living with them on the 1871 and 1881 censuses).

When Mary was forty, her son James, aged nineteen, was put on trial, along with his younger friend and fellow blacksmith, sixteen-year-old Joseph Boles, for demanding by force the money of local elderly postman James Gosling, at Shute, on 2nd February 1863. The Western Times of 27th February 1863 reported on the 'highway robbery': as he [Gosling] was on his way there [Colyton Railway Station for newspapers], on the day named, the prisoners approached him from a hedge, and said, in commanding tones, "Yield up your money or your life." On telling them that he had no money, they pushed him into the hedge, and in doing so tore his cape." The lads were found guilty and James junior, being the older prisoner, was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

1871 Census:

The family's lodger, George Anley Sandford, would soon marry Mary's daughter Sarah Ann, a single mother of two, in her early thirties. Her two children born before marriage would stay living with her parents.

1881 Census:

It seems Parkhayne Cottage in Colyton became a family home for Mary and her family, as they can be found living there over several censuses.

In 1886, when Mary was about seventy-three, her husband James passed away, aged about seventy-six, in the parish of Axminster. (Colyton and Shute are within this parish)

Mary passed away two years later, aged about seventy-five, in 1888, also in the parish of Axminster.

Great x4 Grandfather James Willis

My Great x4 Grandfather James (1809 - 1886) was a blacksmith and father of fourteen.

James Willis was born on 21st November 1809 in Colyton, Devon, to James Willis (about 27), a blacksmith, and Elizabeth Willis (nee ?) (about 26).

James was baptised on 23rd December 1810 in Colyton. He was the couple's first born and named for his father.

James was the eldest of five children (four sons and one daughter):

• James  1809 -
• Mary Anne  1816 - 
• John Needs  1819 -
• Henry Needs  1823 - 
• Philip Needs  1828 - 1848 (20 years old)

All five were baptised in Colyton, and survived into adulthood.

On 22nd September 1831, Richard (21), a blacksmith like his father, married Mary Richards (18), in Colyton. Mary was about seven and half months pregnant when they married.

James and Mary would have a total of fourteen children (four sons and ten daughters):

• William Richard Needs  1831 -
• John Needs  1833 - 
• Clara Elizabeth  1834 -
• Mary Ann  1839 -
• Sarah Ann  1840 -
• James  1843 -
• Keziah  1845 -
• Judith Maria  1846 - 
• Susan Armenia  1848 - 
• Leah  1850 - 1850 (2 weeks old)
• Emily  1851 - 1852 (1 year old)
• Eliza Ann  1854 -
• Catherine  1856 - 
• Philip Henry  1856 - 1857 (8 months old)

Their youngest two children, Catherine and Philip Henry, were twins.

Sadly three of their children passed away in infancy: little Leah, at only two weeks, in 1850; followed by one-year-old Emily in 1852; and their youngest Philip Henry, in 1857. It looks likely Philip Henry had been named after James' youngest brother Philip, who had passed away aged only twenty in 1848. Young Philip Henry was James' first son born since his younger brother's death, eight years before.

Records show James and his family lived in and around the town of Colyton and, only two or so miles north, the village of Shute.

1841 Census:

In January 1842, when James was thirty-two, his mother Elizabeth, aged about fifty-nine, passed away. She was buried on 13th January 1842 in Colyton.

1851 Census:

In their youth, James and his brothers learnt their family trade by being apprentice to their blacksmith father. The 1851 Census shows James now had an apprentice blacksmith of his own - his second son John. And in the 1861 Census, he gains another apprentice in his younger son James; and later in the 1881 Census, an blacksmith assistant in his grandson William. His smithy was a family business.

In January 1861, when James was fifty-one, his father the same name passed away, aged about seventy-nine. James senior was buried on 31st January 1861 in Colyton.

1861 Census:

It is interesting and lovely to see that James and Mary seem to take in and raise their young daughters' illegitimate children, including Mary Ann's son William John James Willis (as shown living with them on the 1861 and 1871 censuses) and Sarah Ann's children William and Mary Willis (also shown living with them on the 1871 and 1881 censuses).

When James when fifty-four, his son of the same name, aged nineteen, was put on trial, along with his younger friend and fellow blacksmith, sixteen-year-old Joseph Boles, for demanding by force the money of local elderly postman James Gosling, at Shute, on 2nd February 1863. The Western Times of 27th February 1863 reported on the 'highway robbery': "as he [Gosling] was on his way there [Colyton Railway Station for newspapers], on the day named, the prisoners approached him from a hedge, and said, in commanding tones, "Yield up your money or your life." On telling them that he had no money, they pushed him into the hedge, and in doing so tore his cape." The lads were found guilty and James junior, being the older prisoner, was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

1871 Census:

The family's lodger, George Anley Sandford, would soon marry James' daughter Sarah Ann, a single mother of two, in her early thirties. Her two children born before marriage would stay living with her parents.

1881 Census:

It seems Parkhayne Cottage in Colyton became a family home for James and his family, as they can be found living there over several censuses.

James passed away, aged about seventy-six, in 1886, in the parish of Axminster.

Great x4 Grandmother Sophia Anley Sandford (nee Brice)

My Great x4 Grandmother Sophia (1821 - 1896) was a servant, lacemaker, housewife, and mother of eight.

Sophia Anley Brice was born around 1821 in Culmstock, Devon, to John Anley Brice (about 18), a husbandman and labourer, and Sarah Brice (nee Guppey) (about 25).

Sophia was baptised on 16th September 1821 in Culmstock as Sophia Guppey (her mother's maiden name), though her young parents had married three months earlier on 4th June 1821, also in Culmstock. Some later records imply Sophia was born a few years earlier. It is possible, considering she was baptised with her mother's maiden name, though John and Sarah were married, and how young John was, that he wasn't her biological father; however, on all later records, he is listed as her father and she was brought up with him as her father.

The family's surname varies on documents: most often it is given as Anley/Anly (or Hanley/Hanly) and sometimes as Brice, with eventually some individuals, such as Sophia, using Anley as their middle name and Brice as their surname. Sophia's father John was the illegitimate son of an Elizabeth Brice. Was Anley his father's surname?

Sophia was the eldest of five children (four daughters and one son):

• Sophia  1821 -
• Ann  1823 -
• Sarah  1826 -
• James  1828 -
• Elizabeth  1830 -

All five siblings appears to have had survived into adulthood.

In 1831, when Sophia was about nine, her mother Sarah passed away, aged about thirty-six. She was buried on 3rd July 1831 in Culmstock. She left behind John, a widower in his early thirties, with five young children, all under the age of ten, with the youngest Elizabeth maybe not even one year old.

The motherless family soon relocated. They moved about twenty-five miles south-west, from Culmstock to Woodbury.

Five years later, when Sophia was about fourteen, her father John remarried. On 11th January 1836, widower John Anley Brice (33) married widow Frances Moore (nee Gittisham) (62) in Woodbury. Their age difference is surprising but appears, according to sources, to be correct.

Sophia had three stepmothers:

In addition to her four full younger siblings, through these following marriages of her father's, in her adulthood, Sophia gained fourteen younger step siblings:

• Martha Carter  1839 -

• Robert Watergate Hitchcock  1834 -
• James Hitchcock  1835 -
• Robert Watergate Hitchcock  1836 -
• Anna Hitchcock  1838 -
• Joseph John Hitchcock  1840 -
• Charlotte Hitchcock  1842 -
• Samuel Lockyear Hitchcock  1843 -
• Sarah Watergate Hitchcock  1845 -
• Henry Hitchcock  1846 -
• Charity Lockyear Hitchcock  1850 -
• Herman Hutchins Hitchcock  1852 -
• Harriet Hitchcock  1853 -
• Matilda Lockyear Hitchcock  1855 - 

On 3rd January 1841, Sophia (19), a servant, married William Broom Sandford (26), a tanner, in Woodbury.

1841 Census:

Sophia and William had eight children (five sons and three daughters):

• George Anley  1843 -
• Jane Mary  1847 -
• Job/Jobe  1850 -
• Mark  1852 -
• Mary Jane  1855 -
• Kate  1857 -
• Thomas 'Tom'  1859 -
• Harry  1862 -

All eight appear to have survived into adulthood.

Photographs of Church Stile, Woodbury, 1910. Sophia and her family lived here around 1840.

1851 Census:

1861 Census:

In the 1860s, Sophia, in her forties, and her family moved about 18 miles east, from Woodbury to Colyton.

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

In the 1851 Census, a young Sophia is listed as a lacemaker, a common occupation for labouring women in east Devon till recent history. Lace-making requires great skill and was often taught to girls from a young age. Later censuses list Sophia's daughters and granddaughters also as lace-makers. Did Sophia herself hand down her lace-making skills and knowledge to them?

In 1889, when Sophia was about sixty-eight, her husband William passed away, aged about seventy-five. He was buried on 12th August 1889 in Colyton. After William's death, a widowed Sophia moved about thirty-six miles west from Colyton to Morchard Bishop, where she moved in with their son George Anley and his family.

1891 Census:

Sometime in the early 1890's, an elderly Sophia moved from her native Devon to Somerset, there to live her her daughter Mary Jane Smith (nee Sandford) and her family at 6 Weir's buildings, New Cut, Bristol. There she passed away in October or November 1896, aged about seventy-five.

Her death was reported in the Bristol Mercury on 10th November 1896:

Wrongly named in the article with the surname 'Sims' rather than Smith, the Thomas William mentioned was Sophia's son-in-law (Mary Jane's husband), and the Florence her granddaughter (Mary Jane's daughter).

Though Sophia's death was sudden, for some time before she had been suffering from shortness of breath and became ill. It seems her death was one of old age, hopefully surrounded by some family.