Great Great Half Aunt Florence Emily Chidgey (formerly Flay; nee Vernon)

My Great Great Half Aunt Florence (1911 - 1993) was a housewife, mother of three, and a younger half sister of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Florence was born on 1st February 1911 in Cheriton Bishop, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (40), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (about 35), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Florence had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971  (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John 1894 - 1895 (1)
• Frank 1896 - 1897 (6 months)

And nine full siblings (seven brother and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Henry)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

Florence was born was her family were living at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

1911 Census:

Around November 1911, the family moved to Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They moved again in May 1912 to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family live at Turnpike Gate or Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. A toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike road, was a cottage on which the charges for turnpike were often displayed.

Florence was only three, when the First World War began. Her older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced solder, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

Florence's young brothers, in their later years, recalled that around 1919, the family lived between Bow and Down St Mary. Sid remembered that, whilst the family live there, their father would often send young Florence and Sid (about eight and six at the time) into Bow to get cider and tobacco for himself.

By 1922, the family had moved to Westwood, between Exeter and Cullompton.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1928, Florence (17) married Albert William Flay (21) in Halberton.

Florence and Albert had one daughter:

• Kathleen Sylvia Florence  1929 -  

Between 1928 and 1932, they lived at Burlescombe and Langford, near Cullompton.

Florence and Albert's marriage was short-lived. On New Year's Day 1932, Florence (20) left their home, leaving Albert (24) a letter. She had left him for Somerset-born William George Chidgey (25), whom she had reportedly "been friendly with" before she married Albert.

Two weeks later, Albert posted a statement, in the local newspaper, that he would no longer be responsible for debts incurred by his absent wife.

From the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 15th January 1932:

Still, when Albert sought divorce later that year, he stated he believed their marriage to have been a "happy" one, and before Florence left "had no idea she intended to go away". Albert was granted divorce and custody of their daughter Kathleen, in November 1932.

From the Western Times of 11th November 1932:

Florence was pregnant by William at the time of her divorce from Albert.

Florence and William would have two daughters (one born before their marriage):

• Marlene B  Jan/Feb/Mar 1933 - likely 1933 (likely as a very young baby)
• Marlene B  Oct/Nov/Dec 1933 - 

In Apr/May/Jun 1933, Florence (21 or 22) married William (27), in the district of Tiverton. Florence was pregnant with her third daughter, when she married.

I cannot find a record of death for the older Marlene, but it is likely she passed away soon after her birth, early in 1933, for Florence to fall pregnant and give birth to another daughter with the same name before the year was out.

The 1939 Census shows Florence living in Tiverton, seemingly with the younger Marlene, as well as her widowed mother Ellen. Ellen is described as 'incapacitated' - I wonder if Florence cared for her mother. Notably William doesn't seem to be with them. Also Florence is unemployed - are the three females getting by only on Ellen's pension?

1939 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1976, William passed away, aged seventy, in the district of Tiverton.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1993, Florence passed away, aged eighty-two, in the mid-Devon district.

Great Great Half Uncle William Harwood Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle William (1908 - 1972) was a clay mine worker, father of six, and a younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

William was born on 26th June 1908 in Dunsford, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (39), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (32), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

William had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971  (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John 1894 - 1895 (1)
• Frank 1896 - 1897 (6 months)

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Henry)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

William was born when he family lived briefly in Dunsford. Some of his older siblings attended the school there until July 1908, when the family moved about five miles east to Holcombe Burnell.

Around 1909, William's older siblings Mabel, George, Ernest and Henry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

Around November 1911, they family moved to Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They moved again in May 1912 to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family lived at Turnpike Gate or Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. A toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike road, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike were often displayed.

William was six, when the First World War began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experience soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1935, William (26) married Dorothy Brock (about 22) in the district of Okehampton.

Sadly, William and Dorothy's marriage was short-lived. In Oct/Nov/Dec 1935, Dorothy passed away, aged only twenty-two, in the district of Barnstaple.

William soon remarried. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1936, William (28) married Edna Bassett (23) in the district of Okehampton.

William and Edna had 6 children (three girls and three boys):

• Barbara J  1937 -
• William H  1940 -
• Michael J  1941 -
• Donald R  1950 - 
• Marion  1953 - 
• Shirley A  1956 -  

The 1939 Census shows William, Edna and their eldest daughter living at Stockleigh Barton, Okehampton.

1939 Census:

William and Edna's eldest three children were born in the district of Okehampton in the late 1930's and 1940's. However, by 1950, it looks like the family had moved northward to Bideford, for there their fourth child Donald was born. Within a few years, they seemingly moved again, just over the border into Cornwall, for their fifth child Marion was born in Launceston in 1953. Finally they moved the the south coast of Devon - their youngest child Shirley was born in Plymouth in 1956.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1972, William passed away, aged sixty-four, in Plymouth.

Great Great Half Uncle Isaac 'Henry' Harry Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle Henry (1906 - 1964) was a machinist as a label works, father of nine, and the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Henry was born (according to different sources on 8th, 12th or 14th) April 1906 in Crediton, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (36), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (30), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Henry was baptised on 1st August 1906 in Crediton. Though named at birth and then baptised 'Isaac Harry', likely after his father, on nearly all later records he seems to go by 'Henry'. In one of his brother Ernest's letters to my father in the 1990's, he too lists his brother as Henry.

Henry had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971  (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John 1894 - 1895 (1)
• Frank 1896 - 1897 (6 months)

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Henry)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

Around the time Henry was born, his older siblings Fred, Mabel and George attended Sandford School. On their school record, their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford). They stayed at the school until July 1907, when the family moved about three miles to Crediton.

Around February 1908, baby Henry and his family moved about nine miles south of Crediton to Dunsford. Henry's older siblings Fred, Mabel and George attended the primary school there until July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holcombe Burnell, where the older siblings again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and young Henry too attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In November 1911, George, Ernest and Henry began attending Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Cheriton Bishop). At the time, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, when they moved to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family lived at Turnpike Gate or Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. A toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike road, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike were often displayed.

Henry was eight, when the First World War began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1928, Henry (22) married Edith Mary Williams (18) in the district of Tiverton. 

Henry and Edith's had nine children:

• Maurice H  1931 - 
• Marguerite A  1934 -
• Kenneth H  1935 -
• David J  1937 -
• Rose M  1945 - 
• Dennis J  1948 - 
• Barry M  1949 - 
• Pamela J  1950 - 
• Julie A  1956 - 

Henry was thirty-three, when the Second World War began. At the time, he was working as a machinist for a labels works, living with his wife and eldest four children in Tavistock. Though not a very young man, Henry would have been of the age to be called up to fight. I wonder if he was.

1939 Census:

Henry and Edith's first five children were born in Tavistock. The family may have moved to Exeter sometime between 1945 and 1948, for their sixth child Dennis was born there in 1948. It looks likely they soon moved again to Plymouth - their next two children Barry and Pamela were born there in 1949 and 1950 - before returning to Exeter by 1956 - their youngest child Julie was born in the city in 1956.

At some point in the late 1950's or early 1960's, Henry and Edith made the move from their native Devon over the border to Launceston in Cornwall.

There, Henry passed away, aged fifty-eight, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1964.

Great Great Half Uncle Ernest Isaac Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle Ernest (1904 - 1997) was an innkeeper, taxi driver, father of one, and the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Ernest was born on 10th January 1904 in Upton Pyne, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (34), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (27), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Ernest was baptised on 7th August 1904 in Upton Pyne. At the time of his baptism, the family resided at Nettacott, Upton Pyne.

Ernest was named for his uncle of the same name, who was tragically killed at an accident at a level crossing, in July 1903.

Ernest had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971  (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John 1894 - 1895 (1)
• Frank 1896 - 1897 (6 months)

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Harry like his father, or Henry)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

Ernest's earliest months were spent in Upton Pyne. However, the family soon moved about seven miles north-west to Sandford. From 25th June 1904, Ernest's older siblings Fred, Mabel and George attended Sandford School. On their school record, their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford). They stayed at the school for three years, till July 1907, when the family moved about three miles to Crediton. There Mabel and George attended Crediton Hayward School, as their older half siblings had done before them.

Then from February 1908, Fred, Mabel and George began attending Dunsford County Primary School, which is about nine miles south of Crediton where they last lived. They left the school only five months later, in July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holcombe Burnell ,where they again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and Harry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In November 1911, George, Ernest and Harry began attending Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Chariton Bishop). At the time, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, when they moved to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 to 1915, the family lived at Turnpike Gate or Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. A toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike toad, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike road were often displayed.

Ernest was ten, when the first world war began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experience soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

On 27th March 1926, Ernest (22) married Blanche Murch (25) in Exeter.

Ernest and Blanche had one son:

• Frederick 'Freddie' Ernest 1928 -

Touchingly: did Ernest name his only son Frederick for his elder brother who died in the First World War?

The Express & Echo of 27th March 1996 reports that Ernest "in 1928 cut the first tuft at Exeter Golf and County Club".

1939 Census:

When my father started his family tree research in the mid 1990's, it was his Great Half Uncle Ernest, though by then in his nineties, who answered his letters with kind words, invitations and information about the family. It is personally touching to read the two men discuss "the baby", for that baby was me!

An extract from a letter by Ernest of 12th August 1995 (three months before I was born):

"We [Ernest and Blanche] are so pleased that everything is going alright with Julie [my mother] and the baby [me]. The baby seemed to be very strong - a very good sign. She [my mother] must not do any lifting, and, as you say, rest all she can. Whether it is a boy or a girl, they all bring their love. We often wish we had had a second one. Hoping it would have been a girl as well for Aunt Blanche. We think everyone who has a boy and a girl are very lucky."

On 27th March 1996, Ernest and Blanche celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary! Such made the Express & Echo of 27th March 1996. Of their marriage, Ernest said:

"People expect too much from married life. We have always seen what we could put into our marriage, whereas others seem to see what they could get out of it. We have had our ups and downs, but throughout it all we shared and cared and that is what it is about."

Ernest and Blanche, in their nineties, 1996

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1997, Ernest passed away, aged ninety-three, in the district of Honiton. His wife Blanche passed away in the same quarter, aged ninety- six.

Great Great Half Uncle George Henry Vernon

My Great Great Half Uncle George (1901 - 1973) was the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

George was born on 20th September 1901 in the Thorverton, Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (31), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (24), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

George and his older brother Fred were baptised together on 5th April 1903 in Brampford Speke. George was likely named for his older brother of the same name, who had passed away, aged only zero to three months old, the year before George Henry was born.

George had four older half siblings (one half sister and three half brothers) - the children of his father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971  (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John 1894 - 1895 (1)
• Frank 1896 - 1897 (6 months)

And nine full siblings (seven brothers and two sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months old)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Harry like his father)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

At some point between 1901 and 1904, the family moved to Upton Pyne, for there George's older half siblings Edith and Walter attended school for a time; and George's next younger brother Ernest was born in Netticott, Upton Pyne, in January 1904.

From 25th June 1904, George, with his older siblings Fred and Mabel, attended Sandford School. On their school record, their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford). They stayed at the school for three years, till July 1907, when the family moved about three miles to Crediton. There George and Mabel attended Crediton Hayward School, as their older half siblings had down before them.

Then from February 1908, George, along with Fred and Mabel, began attending Dunsford County Primary School, which is about nine miles south of Crediton where they last lived. They left the school only five months later, in July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holcombe Burnell, where they again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and Harry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In November 1911, George, Ernest and Harry began attending Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Cheriton Bishop). At the time, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, when they moved to Whiddon Down, a hamlet just to the west of Drewsteignton.

Around 1912 or 1913, the family moved about three miles east to South Tawton. There, at their home of Turnpike Gate, George's younger brother Sidney was born in April 1913. But the family had moved back towards Whiddon Down, within a few years: in February 1915, George's youngest brother Percy was born at their home of Toll Bar House in Whiddon Down. On a second look, they might not have moved at all, for a toll-house, which often had a gate across the turnpike road, was a cottage on which the charges for the turnpike road were often displayed. Also Whiddon Down is within the district of South Tawton.

During my father in his family tree research of the 1990's, he met with George's younger siblings, by then old men, he Great Half Uncles Sid and Percy. Sifting through some his research now, I just found scribbled that Sid (and presumably George and the rest of the siblings also) was "brought up at Barnstaple Cross, near Crediton".

George was twelve when the First World War began. His older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

Alas I know next to nothing of George's adult life. My father's research puts his death year as 1973 (though I cannot confirm where he got this information from). There was a George Henry Vernon who married, had children, and then died in Staffordshire in 1973 (born around 1901); however, there was also a George Henry Vernon born in Staffordshire in 1901, so the death is more likely of this George and not ours.

Our George may well not have stayed in Devon or perhaps he didn't get married or have any children, meaning he comes up less frequently in records.

Great Great Half Aunt Mabel Ellen Harris (nee Vernon)

My Great Great Half Aunt Mabel (1898 - 1993) was a housewife, mother of two, and the younger half sister of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Mabel was born on 25th November 1898 in Tolleys, Crediton Devon, to Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (29), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Vernon (nee Tonkins) (22), a former domestic servant and now a housewife.

Mabel was baptised on 19th February 1899 in Thorverton.

Mabel had four older half siblings (one half sister, and three half brothers) - the children of her father Harry and his first wife Lucy James - :

• Edith Ellen  1891 - 1971  (79)
• Walter Charles  1892 - 1965  (73)
• William John 1894 - 1895 (1)
• Frank 1896 - 1897 (6 months)

And nine full siblings (eight brothers and one sister):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1993  (94)
• George  1900 - 1900  (0 - 3 months old)
• George Henry  1901 - 1973  (71)
• Ernest Isaac  1904 - 1997  (93)
• Isaac Harry (went by Harry like his father)  1906 - 1964  (58)
• William Harwood  1908 - 1972  (64)
• Florence Emily  1911 - 1993  (82)
• Sidney 'Sid'  1913 - 2004  (91)
• Percy  1915 - 2002  (86)

The fact that the family moved around mid-Devon a lot, likely as Harry sought farm work, is revealed in the children's different places of birth and their attending different schools...

Mabel's birth certificate shows that though she was born in Crediton, her mother Ellen's residence was Shobrooke, which is two miles west of Crediton. At some point, around this time, Mabel's elder half siblings Edith and Walter attended school in Thorverton, which is four and a bit miles east of Shobrooke. Mabel herself was baptised in Thorverton in February 1899.

1899 saw baby Mabel and the family move, about four and a bit miles, this time from the Thorverton area to East Coombe. Whilst the family resided there, Edith and Walter attended nearby Stockleigh Pomeroy Church of England School from the October. 1900 saw them move again: that year from East Coombe, about three miles east, to West Bowley, Cadbury. Edith and Walter attended Cadbury School from the 12th March to the 7th September, when the family left the area.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1900, when Mabel was only twenty to twenty-two months old, her younger brother George passed away as a very young baby - only zero to three months old. Their parents would name their next son George also, likely after their lost child.

The 1901 Census shows the family had moved back to Thorverton:

At some point between 1901 and 1904, the family moved three and a half miles south to Upton Pyne, for there Edith and Walter attended school for a time, before returning to Crediton in 1904.

Did Mabel's older half siblings like apart from their father and step family for a time? Notably, whilst Edith and Walter attended Crediton Hayward School and their address is listed as Chapel Down in Crediton in October 1904; their younger half siblings Fred, Mabel and George began attending Sandford School from 25th June 1904, and their address is given as Priorton Mill (a mile north of Sandford, and three and a bit miles north of Crediton). These three stayed at Sandford School for three years, till the family left the area in July 1907. Also Walter appeared to be staying, neither in Crediton nor Sandford, but with his grandfather in Chawleigh in the summer of 1905, when, aged twelve, he made attempt to steal a silver water and chain. He was soon discovered and sent to an industrial school. This and the army were said to have reformed his character.

The family moved next back to Crediton, where Mabel and George attended Crediton Hayward School, like their older half siblings had done before them. Then from February 1908, they and Fred began attending Dunsford County Primary School, which is about nine miles south of Crediton where they last lived. They left the school only five months later, in July 1908, when the family moved again - this time, five miles east, to Holombe Burnell, where they again attended the local school.

Around 1909, Mabel, George, Ernest and Harry attended school in Longdown (only a mile west of Holcombe Burnell where they previously attended), before the family moved about ten miles to Hittisleigh - the children attended the school there from September 1910. At the time they lived at Beer or Beara Cottage, which was seemingly about half way between Hittisleigh and Cheriton Bishop.

The family were still there a year later at the time of the 1911 Census:

In January 1812, Mabel joined her younger brothers George, Ernest and Harry at Drewsteignton Primary School (Drewsteignton is only about four miles from their previous home in Cheriton Bishop). Whilst the three brothers had begun attending the school in November 1911 and their previous school is listed as Hittisleigh, Mabel for a short time attended school in Whiddon Down, a hamlet to the west of Drewsteignton. Whilst the siblings attended Drewsteignton School, the family lived at Tenants Piece (or Tenantspiece) Cottage in Drewsteignton. They left the school in May 1912, with a return to Whiddon Down.

Mabel was fifteen when the First World War began. Her older half brother Walter and older brother Fred both served in the war. Whilst Walter, an experienced soldier, survived; teenage Fred was not so lucky. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, during (or just after) the Battle of Loos, aged only eighteen. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial.

On 16th August 1920, Mabel (21) married John 'Jack' Harris (20), a labourer, in Monkton. The young couple married in the presence of Mabel's father Harry and brother Ernest.

Mabel and John had two children:

• Richard H J  1923 -  
• Nancy (adopted)  19?? -

Richard's birth shows the small family in the district of St Thomas in the early 1920's.

Alas I know little of Mabel's long life beyond this point, other than its close.

In Jul/Aug/Sep 1993, Mabel passed away, aged ninety-four, in the district of Teignbridge.