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 x4 Grandmother Mary Manning (nee Westcott)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (c 1796 - 1840's) was a housewife and mother of eight.

Mary was born around 1796 in Devon.

On 14th November 1821, Mary (about 25) married William Manning (about 26), an agricultural labourer, in Alphington, near Exeter. Both left only their mark, implying neither could write. Mary was about six weeks pregnant when they married - their first child Samuel being born on 27th June 1822.

Mary and William had eight children (four sons and four daughters):

• Samuel  1822 -
• Eliza  1823 - 1824 (1 year old)
• Harriot  1825 -
• Mary Ann  1826 -
• Benjamin  1828 -
• William  1830 -
• Thomas  1831 -
• Eliza  1834 -

Mary, William and their young family lived in the area of Alphington, Holcombe Burnell and Longdown (there is only a few miles between them). Their abode is listed as Longdown Cottage on the baptism record of their eldest son Samuel, who was baptised in Holcombe Burnell on 8th July 1822. Whilst the 1823 baptism record of their second child, Eliza, lists their abode as Longdown End, Alphington. Eliza was also baptised in Holcombe Burnell, on 12th October 1823.

Around 1824, they moved around five miles south-west to Dunsford. Their second child, Eliza, sadly passed, aged abour only thirteen months old. She was buried on 5th November 1824, in Dunsford. On her burial record, the family's abode is listed as North Midwinter. This unusual name was likely the name of their cottage, as my research has found there was also a South Midwinter Cottage in Dunsford at the time.

The family lived at Midwinter for about three years, from 1824 to 1827. Their abode is listed as such on the baptism records of their next two children, Harriot (born 1825) and Mary Ann (born 1826). Both girls were baptised in Holcombe Burnell.

Aroun 1828, Mary and her young family moved around ten miles north-west, making the return to her husband William's native Spreyton. Their next child, Benjamin, was baptised there on 12th October 1828. The couple's last three children were also baptised in Spreyton, showing the family remained in the village, throughout the early 1830's.

Sadly the 183 baptism record of their youngest child, Eliza, lists the family's abode as the Poor House. Thankfully by the time of the 1841 Census, seven years later, their abode is no longer listed as the Poor House, but simply Spreyton Village.

1841 Census:

Two key things happened to the Manning family in the 1840's: firstly, at some point, Mary passed away, in her late forties or early fifties, as her husband William is listed as a widower on the 1851 Census; also the family, at some point, moved from Spreyton about sixteen miles east to Exeter.

Great x4 Grandfather William Manning

My Great x4 Grandfather William (1795 - after 1881) was an agricultural labourer and father of eight.

William was born around 1795 in Spreyton, Devon, to Thomas and Grace Manning.

William was baptised on 26th April 1795 in Spreyton, Devon.

William was the second of three sons:

• William  1792 - 1794  (about 14 months)
• William  1795 -
• George  1797 -

William was the second of his name. His elder brother of the same name passed away, aged about fourteen months old, in January 1794. He was buried on 21st January 1794 in Spreyton.

On 14th November 1821, William (about 26), an agricultural labourer, married Mary Westcott (about 25) in Alphington, near Exeter, some sixteen miles east of his native Spreyton. Both left only their mark, implying neither could write. Mary was about six weeks pregnant when they married - their first child Samuel being born on 27th June 1822.

William and Mary had eight children (four sons and four daughters):

• Samuel  1822 -
• Eliza  1823 - 1824 (1 year old)
• Harriot  1825 -
• Mary Ann  1826 -
• Benjamin  1828 -
• William  1830 -
• Thomas  1831 -
• Eliza  1834 -

William, Mary and their young family lived in the area of Alphington, Holcombe Burnell and Longdown (there is only a few mile between them). Their abode is listed as Longdown Cottage on the baptism record of their eldest son Samuel, who was baptised in Holcombe Burnell on 8th July 1822. Whilst the 1823 baptism record of their second child, Eliza, lists their abode as Longdown End, Alphington. Eliza was also baptised in Holcombe Burnell, on 12th October 1823.

Around 1824, they moved around five miles south-west to Dunsford. Their second child, Eliza, sadly passed away, aged about only about thirteen months old. She was buried on 5th November 1824, in Dunsford. On her burial record, the family's abode is listed as North Midwinter. This unusual name was likely the name of their cottage, as my research has found there was also a South Midwinter Cottage in Dunsford at the time.

The family lived at Midwinter for about three years, from 1824 to 1827. Their abode is listed as such on the baptism records of their next two children, Harriot (born 1825) and Mary Ann (about 1826). Both girls were baptised in Holcombe Burnell.

Around 1828, William and his young family moved around ten miles north-west, making the return to William's native Spreyton. Their next child, Benjamin, was baptised there on 12th October 1828. The couple's last three children were also baptised in Spreyton, showing the family remained in the village, throughout the early 1830's.

Sadly the 1834 baptism record of their youngest child, Eliza, lists the family's abode as the Poor House. Thankfully by the time of the 1841 Census, seven years later, their abode is no longer listed as the Poor House, but simply Spreyton Village.

1841 Census:

Two key things happened to the Manning family in the 1840's: firstly, at some point, William's wife Mary passed away, in her late forties or early fifties, as he is listed as a widower on the 1851 Census; also the family, at some point, moved from Spreyton about sixteen miles east to Exeter.

The 1851 Census shows the family living on Smythen Street in Exeter's poor West Quarter. The homes of Smythen Street were mainly late medieval timber-fronted buildings, beautiful in their time, but by the Victorian era long-weathered and their inhabitants poor.

The top part of Smythen Street was known as Butchers' Row, where one side of the street was lined with many butchers' shops. The opening of the Lower Market in 1836, a purpose built space for the butchers of Exeter, marked the beginning of the end for Butchers' Row; however the 1851 Census shows that when William and his family lived there, some fifteen years after the opening of the Lower Market, many of their neighbours were still butchers.

1851 Census:

Neighbouring households were quite small, with only families, but the labouring Manning family appear to have been part-letting their home or running a lodging house, for they have ten persons listed as lodgers, including two small families, the Prideauxs and the Belworthys.

Unfortunately I cannot find William on the 1861 Census. It seems likely he remained in Exeter, working as a labourer.

In the 1850's and 1860's, his youngest sons William and Thomas served as privates in the army, likely serving in the Crimean War.

By the time of the 1871 Census, an elderly William lodged with his son Thomas, a wagoner, and his Irish wife Ann, a charwoman, at their home at 2 Old Brewery Place, Haven Banks, near Exeter's quay.

1871 Census:

In his very old age, William stayed living with his son and daughter-in-law. By the time of the 1881 Census, they lived on Eneings Street, St Mary's Steps, Exeter.

1881 Census:

I cannot find a record of death or burial for William; however, we know he lived a long life, surviving into his late eighties or even nineties.

Great Great Half Uncle Frederick 'Fred' Tonkins (later Vernon)

My Great Great Half Uncle Frederick 'Fred' (1897 - 1915) was a private in the First World War, and the younger half brother of my Great Grandfather Walter Charles Vernon (1892 - 1965).

Fred was born in Apr/May/Jun 1897, in the district of Crediton, Devon, the illegitimate son of Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (28), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, and Ellen Tonkins (21), a domestic servant and later a housewife.

When Fred was conceived, his father Harry was still married to his first wife Lucy James. Lucy was dying of TB and would pass away on 25th March 1897 - less than a month to three months before Fred was born.

On New Year's Eve 1897, when Fred was six to eight months old, his parents married. On their Banns, Harry is described as being Ellen's lodger. At the time, the couple lived, likely along with baby Fred, in Chawleigh. After this, on all records, Fred is acknowledged to be Harry's son and takes his surname of Vernon.

Fred had four older half siblings - the legitimate offspring of 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 younger full siblings (7 brothers and 2 sisters):

• Frederick 'Fred' (born Tonkins, later Vernon)  1897 - 1915  (18)
• Mabel Ellen  1898 - 1994  (95)
• 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...

Having spent his first months in Chawleigh, by 1898, Fred and his family could be found in Crediton. There his younger sister Mabel was born in Tolleys on 25th November, and his elder half sister Edith attended Crediton Hayward School for one week from 28th November. Mabel's birth certificate shows that though she was born in Crediton, her mother's residence was Shobrooke, which is two miles west of Crediton. At some point, around this time, his elder half siblings Edith and Walter attended school in Thorverton, which is four and a bit miles east of Shobrooke.

1899 saw Fred and the family move again, about four and a bit miles, this time from Thorverton 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 Fred was three, his younger brother George passed away as a very young baby - only zero to three months old. His 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 Fred's older half siblings live 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 sibling 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 their grandfather in Chawleigh in the summer of 1905, when, aged twelve, he made attempt to steal a silver watch 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. By this time, the family were living at Sowton Cottage, in Dunsford, 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 Bera 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; however, Fred was not with them, and had seemingly stopped attending school with his younger siblings. Had he left home to work?

Fred disappears from records as a teenager. Did he live and work on farms around Devon, as did most of his male relatives?

His older half brother Walter had joined the army, after leaving the industrial school. The First World War saw Fred follow in his older brother's footsteps. Fred's army service record doesn't seem to have survived, but we know Fred didn't survive the war. His name appears on the Men of Dunsford war memorial. Devon Heritage gives his army details: no. 14895, Private Fred Vernon, of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. He was killed on Thursday 30th September 1915, aged only eighteen.

He is memorialised also in France at the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery, at Loos-en-Gohelle, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. His Plot is Panel 35 to 37. His Memorial ID: 15761976.

Fred's Army Medical Card states he arrived in France on 27th July 1915. It appears he saw action for the first and last time in the Battle of Loos. From The Keep Military Museum website:

"In early August 1915 the 8th and then the 9th [Devonshire Regiments] joined 20 Brigade in the 7th Division in Frances. After the briefest experience in the line, both Battalions were hurled into the Battle of Loos on 25th September. Despite German shelling and British gas blowing back on them during the attack, the 8th pressed on leading the attack and captured the German position. The 9th followed in support and lost a great many men to machine gun fire as they crossed No Man's Land to join the 8th in their stretch of German trench. The survivors of the two Battalions held the position until the evening of 26th September, when they were withdrawn. In this single battle the 8th suffered 639 casualties and the 9th 476."

Andrew Rawson, in Battleground Europe, describes how they were "shot to pieces before they had reached the Gun Trench".

Yet Fred's death is recorded as some days later. Did he survive the Battle of Loos, only to be killed or die on the 30th, a 'quiet day' when only "intermittent shelling went on throughout the day" (from 9th Devonshires Forum)? Or perhaps he did not actually survive the battle, and his body wasn't recovered, or his death wasn't recorded, until the 30th. Indeed, rather than stating his death of date, his Medical Card words it as his 'death regarded [or 'recorded' - its hard to read]: 30.9.15'

For his service, he was awarded the Victory, Britain and 1915 Star Medal, though whether he ever saw these, seems unlikely.