Great x3 Aunt Susan Palmer (nee Vernon)

My Great x3 Aunt Susan (1854 - 1930) was a farm servant, housewife, mother of ten, and the eldest sister of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).

Susan was born in Oct/Nov/Dec 1854 in Dolton, Devon, to William Vernon (about 25), a husbandman, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 21), a housewife.

Susan was baptised on 28th January 1855 in Dolton.

Susan was likely named after her maternal aunt, Susan/Susanna Dyment, who alas passed away, aged only eighteen, in 1853 (the year before the younger Susan was born).

Susan was the eldest of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):

• Susan  1854 - 1930  (75 years old)
• Thomas  1857 -
• William Robert  1859 -
• 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:

By sixteen, Susan had left her family home to work as a general servant for the large Raymont family, headed by farmer Richard Raymont, at Barwisk Farm, Iddlesleigh.

1871 Census:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1874, when Susan was nineteen, her younger sister, Louisa, passed away, at only sixteen months, in Hatherleigh.

On Christmas Day 1875, Susan (about 21), a farm servant, married Samuel Palmer (23), an agricultural labourer, in Hatherleigh. 

Though Samuel left his signature on their record of marriage, Susan left only her mark, implying she could not write. Thomas and Sarah Ann Vernon acted as witnesses to the marriage - these were likely Susan's younger siblings. Again they left only their marks. I know my Great Great Grandfather Harry, their younger brother, couldn't read or write. I daresay none of the older Vernon children were ever taught to read or write. They may have never even attended school, as school attendance was only made compulsory in England and Wales until the age of ten in 1880. Susan's youngest four siblings - Martha, Louisa, Sam and Ernest - may then have attended school, as they were the only Vernon siblings of this generation who would have been under ten years old in 1880.

Susan and Samuel had ten children:

• Mary Jane  1876 -
• ?
• ?
• Robert William S  1881 -
• Henrietta 'Etta'  1883 -
• Frederick John  1884 -
• Ellen  1887 - 1895  (8 years old)
• George  1889 - 1895  (6 years old)
• Lucy  1890 - 1892  (12 - 18 months)
• Emily Martha  1893 -

The 1911 Census confirms that Susan and Samuel had ten children born alive (five at that point still alive). I have discovered the names of the above eight Palmer children, with a gap between 1877 and 1880. Unfortunately I cannot find the family on the 1881 Census which might have helped to fill the gap. The two following children, who alas passed away in infancy, are the two most likely missing Palmer children. Both were born and died in the district of Crediton. Ordering their birth certificates would confirm the identities of their parents (and I may do this at some point).

Their possible other two children:

• Male  1878 - 1878  (0 - 3 months)
• Ernest  1879 - 1881  (12 - 18 months)

The couple's possible second child, a boy, was not named. However, he must have been born alive to receive records of birth and then death. He may have lived only a few hours or days.

Apart from their eldest daughter, Mary Jane, who was born in the district of Okehampton, the rest of Susan and Samuel's children were born in the district of Crediton. The couple didn't have any of their children christened (at least I cannot discover any baptism records for the ten children).

According to the 1891 Census, their middle children - Robert, Etta, Frederick and Ellen (born 1881 to 1887) were born in Lapford. Susan and her family must have lived in Lapford for the majority of the 1880's, before moving to Chawleigh around 1889 (her next born children, George, was born in Chawleigh in 1889). The family would live at Rodgements, Chawleigh, from around 1889 to at least 1901.

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

In Apr/May/Jun 1903, when Susan was forty-eight, her mother Martha passed away, aged about sixty-nine, in the district of Crediton. Alas a short time later, on 10th July 1903, Susan's youngest brother Ernest, aged twenty-five, was tragically killed by a train at Stafford level crossing, a few miles from Exeter. This must have been a sad time for the family.

Sometime in the 1900's, Susan's widowed father William moved in with her and her husband, and their youngest daughter, at their new home of Hollow Tree, near Chawleigh.

1911 Census:

On 1st October 1917, when Susan was about sixty-three, her father William passed away, aged eighty-eight, at their home of Hollow Tree, Susan at his side. The cause of death was senile decay.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1919, when Susan was about sixty-five, her husband Samuel passed away, aged sixty-six, in the district of Crediton.

In August 1930, Susan passed away, aged seventy-five, at Hollow Tree. She was buried on the afternoon of Monday 25th August 1930 at Chawleigh parish churchyard.

From Western Times of 29th August 1930:

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Dyment (nee Cudmore)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1799 - 1877) was a housewife and mother of nine.

Mary Cudmore was born around 1799 in Dolton, Devon, to Richard Cudmore (about 33), a husbandman and agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Cudmore (nee Williams) (about 30).

Mary was baptied on 31st March 1799 in Dolton.

Mary was the third of eleven children:

• Elizabeth  1796 -
• Joan  1797 -
• Mary  1799 -
• William 1801 -
• John  1802 -
• Jane 1806 - 1806 (about one week old)
• George  1807 -
• James  1809 -
• Richard  1811 -
• Thomas  1813 - 1815 (about eighteen months old)
• Christopher  1816 -

In April 1806, when Mary was about seven, her baby sister Jane passed away. Jane was baptised on 6th April and buried on 13th April in Dolton, making her only about one week old when she passed away.

In May 1815, when Mary was about sixteen, her little brother Thomas passed away, aged about eighteen months. He was buried on 11th May 1815 in Dolton.

On 2nd June 1822, Mary (about 23) married Robert Dyment (about 26), an agricultural labourer, in Dolton. Each left only their mark on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Mary and Robert had nine children:

• Robert  1824 -
• Thomas  1825 -
• William  1828 - 1849 (21 years old)
• Mary  1830 -
• Elizabeth  1832 - 1842 (10 years old)
• Martha  1833 -
• Susan/Susanna  1836 - 1853 (18 years old)
• Joanna  1839 - 1853 (14 years old)
• John  1841 -

All nine children were baptised and grew up in Mary's native Dolton. Sadly four of their children passed away young.

1841 Census:

Alas the 1840's saw for Mary the deaths of her parents and two of her own children...

In 1841, when Mary was about forty-two, her mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about seventy-two, in Dolton. She was buried on 6th June 1841 in Dolton.

The next year, Mary's daughter also called Elizabeth - likely after Mary's mother - also passed away, aged only ten years old. Elizabeth was buried on 16th August 1842 in Dolton.

In 1847, when Mary was about forty-eight, her father Richard passed away, aged about eighty-one, in Dolton. He was buried on 8th April 1847 in Dolton.

In 1849, when Mary was about fifty, her son William also passed away, aged twenty-one. William was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton.

On the records of burial for Mary's children Elizabeth and William, their residence is listened as alas Torrington Union [Work]House. Poor families often used local workhouses for cheap or free health care. These young persons may have been receiving medical care in the workhouse before their premature deaths there. The Censuses imply the family were not living in the workhouse, or if they did it was not for long.

In middle age, Mary's husband Robert seemingly changed career from agricultural labourer to road contractor. Mary and Robert's second son Thomas followed in his father's new trade - on later Censuses he is listed as a roadman.

1851 Census:

In 1853, Mary's eighth child Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen. She was buried on 11th March 1853 in Dolton.

And later that same year, her seventh child Susan passed away, aged eighteen. She was buried on 28th August 1853 in Dolton.

Mary's closest sibling in age, her younger brother William, as well as being a agricultural labourer, like most of the men in Mary's life, we learn from newspaper articles that in the 1850's he was also a poacher and more surprisingly a musican.

William had a local rival musican, Thomas Dymond. Now the only Thomas Dymond/Dyment I can find living in Dolton in the 1850's in Mary's own son Thomas! Was William's rival then his own nephew? It seems likely. Their rivaly made the local newspapers, when it turned violent. From the North Devon Journal of 15th June 1854:

In late 1858, William attempted to poach on the land of a local lord, Lord Clinton. Such was reported in the North Devon Journal of  9th December 1858:

A year later, in 1859, William was again caught attemping to poach - this time on land belonging to the local reverand. From the Exeter Flying Post of 13th October 1859:

Sometime in the late 1850's, Mary, Robert and their youngest child John moved from Dolton to Torrington. Also living with the family was Mary and Robert's grandson William, the illegitimate son of their fourth child and eldest daughter Mary. It's nice William stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

In 1871, when Mary was around seventy-two, her husband Robert passed away, aged about seventy-four. He was was buried on 31st January in Dolton.

It seems Robert spent the last years of his life back in Dolton, for there he was buried and there Mary, widowed, and their grandson William can be found living together, back by the brook, in the 1871 Census.

1871 Census:

Mary herself passed away in late 1877. She was buried on 9th December 1877 in Dolton.

Great x4 Grandfather Robert Dyment

My Great x4 Grandfather Robert (1796 - 1871) was an agricultural labourer, husbandman, later a road contractor, and father of nine.

Robert's family surname varies on different records, such as: Dyment, Diment, Dymont, Dymond, Dimond.

Census records imply Robert was born around 1796 in Beaford, Devon. Annoyingly two Robert Dyments were baptised in Beaford around the same time: firstly a Robert Dyment on 22nd February 1795 to Robert and Sarah; and secondly a Robert Dyment on 12th February 1797 to Francis and Martha. It is difficult, if not impossible, to work out which is ours.

On 2nd June 1822, Robert (about 26), a labourer, married Mary Cudmore (about 23), in Mary's native Dolton. Each left only a mark on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Robert and Mary had nine children:

• Robert  1824 -
• Thomas  1825 -
• William  1828 - 1849 (21 years old)
• Mary  1830 -
• Elizabeth  1832 - 1842 (10 years old)
• Martha  1833 - 
• Susan/Susanna  1836 - 1853 (18 years old)
• Joanna  1839 - 1853 (14 years old)
• John  1841 -

All nine children were baptised in Dolton and grew up there. Sadly four of their children passed away young.

1841 Census:

In 1842, when Robert was in his mid forties, his fifth child Elizabeth passed away, aged only ten years old, in Dolton. She was buried on the 16th August 1842 in Dolton.

Seven years later, in 1849, his third son William also passed away, aged twenty-one years old, in Dolton. He was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton.

On Elizabeth and William's records of burial their residence is listened as alas Torrington Union [Work]House. Poor families often ussed local workhouses for cheap or free health care. These young persons may have been receiving medical care in the workhouse before their premature deaths there. The Censuses imply the family were not living in the workhouse, or if they did it was not for long.

In middle age, it appears Robert changed career: whilst the 1841 Census lists his occupation as a simple labourer, by the time of the 1851 Census he was recorded as a road contractor. Later Censuses also list Robert's second son Thomas as a Roadman - it seems he followed in his father's trade.

1851 Census:

In 1853, Robert's eighth child Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 11th Marth 1853.

And later that same year, his seventh child Susan passed away, aged eighteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 28th August 1853.

Sometime in the late 1850s, Robert, his wife Mary and youngest child John moved from Dolton to Torrington. Also living with the family was Robert and Mary's grandson William, the illegitimate son of their fourth child and eldest daughter Mary. It's nice William stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

Robert passed away, aged about seventy-four, in 1871. He was buried on 31st January 1871 in Dolton.

It seems Robert spent the last years of his life back in Dolton, for there he was buried and there his widow Mary and grandson William can be found living together, back by the brook, in the 1871 Census.

Great x3 Grandmother Martha Vernon (nee Dyment)

My great x3 grandmother Martha (1833 - 1903) was a glover, housewife, and mother of twelve.

Martha's family surname varies on different records, such as: Dyment, Diment, Dymont, Dymond, Dimond.

Martha was born around 1833 in Dolton, Devon to Robert Dyment (about 37), an agricultural labourer and later a road contractor, and Mary Dyment (nee Cudmore) (about 34).

Martha was baptised on 29th December 1833 in Dolton, Devon.

Martha was the sixth of nine children (four sons and five daughters):

• Robert  1824 - 
• Thomas  1825 -
• William  1828 - 1849 (21 years old)
• Mary  1830 -
• Elizabeth  1832 - 1842 (10 years old)
• Martha  1833 -
• Susan/Susanna  1836 - 1853 (18 years old)
• Joanna  1839 - 1853 (14 years old)
• John  1841 -

All nine siblings were baptised in Dolton and grew up there. Sadly half of Martha's siblings passed away young.

1841 Census:

In 1842, when Martha was about eight, her older sister Elizabeth passed away, aged only ten years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 16th August 1842 in Dolton. At the time of her death, Elizabeth's abode was Torrington Union [Work]House. No other evidence implies the family were in the workhouse; however, poor families often used local workhouses for cheap or free health care. This would make sense if young Elizabeth was ill and receiving medical care in the workhouse before her premature death there.

In 1849, when Martha was about fifteen, her older brother William also passed away, aged twenty-one years old, in Dolton. He was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton. Again, at the time of William's death, his abode was recorded as Torrington Union [Workhouse]. Again it seems likely he was receiving medical care there before he passed away.

As teenagers, Martha and her sisters worked as glovers.

1851 Census:

In 1853, when Martha was about nineteen, her younger sister Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen years old, in Dolton, She was buried on 11 March 1853.

Also in 1853, Martha's younger sister Susan passed away, aged eighteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 28th August 1853. Martha would name her eldest daughter Susan after her sister.

Less the two months later, on 20th October 1853, Martha (20), a glover, married William Vernon (24), an agricultural labourer, in her native Dolton. Neither Martha nor William was able to sign their name on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Martha moved with her new husband from Dolton to Ashreigney.

Martha and William had twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):

• Susan  1855 -
• Thomas  1857 -
• William 'Robert' Robert  1859 -
• Sarah Ann  1860 -
• Silas  1862 -
• Mary 'Jane' Jane  1864 -
• Arthur John  1865 -
• Isaac 'Harry' Harwood  1869 -
• Martha  1871 -
• Louisa  1872 - 1874  (16 months)
• Samuel 'Sam' Reuben  1875 -
• Ernest  1878 - 1903  (25 years)

1861 Census:

In the late 1860s, Martha and her family moved from Moorwater, Ashreigney to Fowl House, Iddesleigh.

In January 1871, when Martha was about thirty-seven, her father Robert passed away, aged seventy-four, in Dolton. He was buried on 31st January 1871 in Dolton.

1871 Census:

Around 1874, the family moved again to Hatherleigh. There, when Martha was about forty, her youngest daughter Louisa passed away, aged only 16 months.

By 1875, when Martha's son Sam was born, they had moved to Brushford; and by 1878, when her youngest son Ernest was born, they were living in Wembworthy.

In late 1877, when Martha was about forty-four, her mother Mary passed away, aged about seventy-eight, in Dolton. She was buried on 9th December 1877.

Sometime in the late 1870s, Martha and her family moved again to Stopgate, Zeal Monachorum.

1881 Census:

By 1891, they had moved again to Coldridge. Only Martha and William's youngest child, Ernest, remained at home with his parents. The rest each left home at an early age to work on different farms around mid Devon.

1891 Census:

Soon Ernest too left home, whilst Martha and William remained at Coldridge.

1901 Census:

By 1901, it seems the elderly William was no longer working. How then did the elderly couple support themselves?

In Apr/May/Jun 1903, Martha passed away, aged about sixty-nine, in the district of Crediton.