Great x4 Grandmother Frances Fisher (formerly Abbott; nee Keal)

My Great x4 Grandmother Frances (1807 - 1892) was a housewife, charwoman, and mother of eight.

Frances was born around 1807 in Bishop's Tawton, Devon, to William Keal (about 31), a farmer and farm labourer, and Elizabeth Keal (nee Lee) (about 29).

Frances was baptised on 18th February 1807 in Bishop's Tawton.

Frances seems to have been an only child.

On 27th April 1830, Frances (about 23) married Robert Abbott (about 24), a yeoman, in Swimbridge, four miles east of her native Bishop's Tawton. Robert is described as of North Molton; whilst Frances is of the parish of Swimbridge. Both Frances and Robert were able to sign their name.

Signature as Frances Keel, 1830

Sadly, Frances and Robert's marriage was short-lived. In early 1831, Robert passed away, aged about twenty-five. He was buried on 15th February 1831 in North Molton.

Frances and Robert had one daughter:

• Elizabeth Jane  1831 -

Frances was likely around five months pregnant, when her young husband passed away. Elizabeth Jane was baptised on 24th June 1831, in Goodleigh, four months after her father's death.

A few years later, Frances remarried. On 26th October 1834, Frances (about 27), a widow and mother of one, married John (about 33), an agricultural labourer, in Landkey. On their record of marriage, his place of residence is listed as Tawstock; whilst Frances' is Landkey. Whilst John left only his mark, implying he could not write, Frances was able to once more sign her name.

Signature as Frances Abbott, 1834

The couple's eldest son, John (likely named for his father) was baptised less than one month later, on 23rd November 1834, in Landkey. Frances would have been heavily pregnant, when they married.

Frances and John had seven children (six sons and one daughter):

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel  1842 - 1850  (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 -
• Henry  1847 - 1847  (2 months old)
• James  1847 - 1847  (less than 2 months old)

(The 1841 Census shows Frances' eldest daughter, Elizabeth Jane, the only child from her first marriage, after her father's premature death and her mother's beginning a new family, lived with her maternal grandparents, William and Elizabeth Keal, in Goodleigh.)

Sometime between 1834 and 1837, Frances and her new family moved about five miles south-west from Landkey to Eastacombe. There they lived at the time of their daughter Mary's 1837 baptism. And can still be found in the hamlet come the 1841 Census.

1841 Census:

Sometime between 1841 and 1845, the growing family moved from Eastacombe to Goodleigh. There the couple's youngest three children were baptised.

Alas three of Frances and John's children passed away young. Firstly their youngest children, twins Henry and James, in 1847. They were baptised on 21st September 1847. Less than two months later, James was buried on 14th December 1847; and then Henry, perhaps just two months old, was buried on 23rd December 1847. Both were baptised and buried in Goodleigh. There in 1850, their fourth child Samuel passed away, aged eight. He was buried on 27th November 1850 in Goodleigh.

In 1851, when Frances was about forty-four, her father William passed away, aged about seventy-five. He was buried on 7th December 1851, in Goodleigh.

Sometime around 1851, the family moved about three and a half miles from Goodleigh to Swimbridge.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the 1850's, Frances and her family moved about ten miles north from Swimbridge to Blackmore Gate.

By the 1860's, Frances' husband John wasn't simple just an agricultural labourer. On the 1861 Census, he is listed as a shepherd of 600 acres (just under one square mile).

1861 Census:

Sometime in the early 1860's, Frances and her family moved again. This time about four miles east, from Blackmore Gate to Challacombe.

In 1862, when Frances was about fifty-five, her widowed mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about eighty-five. Elizabeth was buried on 4th January 1862, in Goodleigh.

In March 1866, when Frances was about fifty-nine, her husband John tragically passed away, aged about sixty-five, in an accident at work. He was instantaneously killed, when, whilst turnip picking, he accidentally drove the 'butt' in which he was riding against a wall, causing it to capsize and himself to fall under the shaft.

John was buried on 24th March 1866 in Parracombe. Touchingly, their son Richard would name his next born child John, likely after his late father. Widowed, Frances would move in with their son Richard and his young family, at the new family home of Westland Cottage, in Challacombe. This would be a real home. The family would live there for over sixty years!

1871 Census:

Perhaps to support herself and her family, Frances worked as a Charwoman, in her widowhood.

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

In early 1892, Frances passed away, aged about eighty-five, in the district of Barnstaple. She has been an invalid in her later years, likely looked after by her son Richard and daughter-in-law Bessie/Betsy.

Great x4 Grandfather John Fisher

My Great x4 Grandfather John (1801 - 1866) was an agricultural labourer, later a shepherd of 600 acres (which is just less than one square mile), and father of seven.

John was born around 1801 in the Barnstaple area, to ? and Mary Fisher.

Annoyingly, two John Fishers were baptised (one in Barnstaple, and one in Pilton, a village just outside Barnstaple) in 1801. The mothers of both John's were called Mary, so we at least know his mother's name. Either way, he was one of several children.

On 26th October 1834, John (about 33), an agricultural labourer, married widow and mother of one, Frances Abbot (nee Keal) (about 27) in Landkey. On their record of marriage, his place of residence is listed as Tawstock; whilst Frances' is Landkey. Whilst Frances was able to sign her name, John left only his mark, implying he could not write. The couple's eldest son, John (likely named for his father) was baptised less than one month later, on 23rd November 1834, in Landkey. Frances would have been very heavily pregnant, when they married.

John and Frances had seven children (six sons and one daughter):

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel  1842 - 1850  (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 -
• Henry  1847 - 1847  (2 months old)
• James  1847 - 1847  (less than 2 months old)

Sometime between 1834 and 1837, John and his family moved about five miles south-west from Landkey to Eastacombe. There they lived at the time of their daughter Mary's 1837 baptism. And can still be found in the hamlet come the 1841 Census.

1841 Census:

Sometime between 1841 and 1845, the growing family moved about six miles from Eastacombe to Goodleigh. There the couple's youngest three children were baptised. Notably on this baptism records, John is listed as a yeoman, as apposed to a labourer (the reverend is making the differentiation on the records of baptism, as fathers as labourers are listed, alongside yeomen). John may then have been more than a simple labouring cottager.

Alas three of John and Frances' children passed away young. Firstly their youngest children, twins Henry and James, in 1847. They were baptised on 21st September 1847. Less than two months later, James was buried on 14th December 1847; and then Henry, perhaps just two months old, was buried on 23rd December 1847. Both were baptised and buried in Goodleigh. Then in 1850, their fourth child Samuel passed away, aged eight. He was buried on 27th November 1850 in Goodleigh.

Sometime around 1851, the family moved about three and half miles south from Goodleigh to Swimbridge.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the 1850's, John and his family moved about ten miles north from Swimbridge to Blackmore (now Blackmoor, though originally named for the Blackmore family) Gate.

By the 1860's, John was certainly more than just an agricultural labourer. On the 1861 Census, he is listed as a shepherd of 600 acres (just under one square mile).

1861 Census:

Sometime in the early 1860's, John and his family moved again. This time about four miles east, from Blackmore Gate to Challacombe.

In March 1866, John tragically passed away, aged about sixty-five, in an accident at work. He was instantaneously killed, when, whilst turnip picking, he accidentally drove the 'butt' in which he was riding against a wall, causing it to capsize and himself to fall under the shaft.

His death was reported in the local newspaper. From the North Devon Journal of 29th March 1866:

John was buried on 24th March 1866 in Parracombe. Touchingly his son Richard would name his next born child John, likely after his late father. John's widow, Frances, would move in with their son Richard and his young family.

Great x3 Grandfather Richard Fisher

My Great x3 Grandfather Richard (1845 - 1929) was a agricultural labourer, horseman on a farm, and father of three.

Richard Fisher was born around 1845 in Goodleigh, Devon, to John Fisher (about 44), an agricultural labourer and later a shepherd of 600 acres (which is just less than one square mile), and Frances Fisher (formerly Abbott; nee Keal) (about 38), later a charwoman.

Richard was baptised on 13th April 1845 in Goodleigh.

Richard had one older half sister from his mother Frances' first marriage to a Robert Abbott:

• Elizabeth Jane  1831 -

The 1841 Census shows young Elizabeth, after her father's premature death and her mother's beginning a new family, went to live with her maternal grandparents, farmer William Keal and his wife Elizabeth, after whom she may have been named, in Goodleigh.

Richard was the fifth of seven children (six sons and one daughter) born to John and Frances:

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel 1842 - 1850 (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 -
• Henry  1847 - 1847 (2 months old)
• James  1847 -  1847 (less than 2 months old)

When Richard was two, his younger siblings, twins Henry and James, sadly passed away very young. They were baptised on 21st September 1847. Less than two months later, James was buried on 14th December 1847; and then Henry, perhaps just two months old, was buried on 23rd December 1847. Both were baptised and buried in Goodleigh.

In 1850, when Richard was five, his older brother Samuel, aged eight, also passed away. He was buried on 27th November 1850 in Goodleigh.

Sometime around 1851, young Richard and his family moved about three and half miles south from Goodleigh to Swimbridge.

1851 Census:

Sometime in the 1850's, Richard and his family moved again, about sixteen miles north to Parracombe.

The 1861 Census shows Richard (16) and his future wife Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' Brownscombe (18) both living and working at East Middleton Farm, in Parracombe, for farmer Philip Dovell. There Richard worked as a carter and Bessie/Betsy as a house and general servant. Richard's parents were their neighbours.

1861 Census:

On Christmas Eve 1863, Richard (18) married Bessie/Betsy (20) in Parracombe. At the time of their marriage, both still resided at East Middleton. Both were able to sign their name on their marriage certificate.

Richard Fisher's Signature, 1863

Richard and Bessie/Betsy had three children (two daughters and one son):

• Mary  1865 -
• John  1866 -
• Alice Brownscombe  1868 - 1929 (60 years old)

In 1866, when Richard was twenty, his father John tragically passed away, aged sixty-five, in Parracombe, in a accident at work. He was instantaneously killed, when, whilst turnip picking, he accidentally drove the 'butt' in which he was riding against a wall, causing it to capsize and himself to fall under the shaft.

John was buried on 24th March 1866 in Parracombe. Richard would name his next born child John, likely after his father.

Richard's widowed mother Frances would move in with Richard and his young family.

Also around 1866, Richard and his family moved a few miles south from Parracombe to Challacombe. There the family lived at Westland Cottage. Westland Cottage would be a real home. The family would live there for over sixty years!

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

In early 1892, when Richard was about forty-six, his widowed mother Frances, aged about eighty-five, passed away in the district of Barnstaple. She had been an invalid in her later years, looked after by Richard and Bessie/Betsy.

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

Sadly illness kept elderly Richard to his bed for the last six years of his life, from about 1923 to 1929. He was cared for by Bessie/Betsy.

On 26th May 1929, Richard's widowed daughter Alice passed away, aged sixty, at Westland Cottage.

From the North Devon Journal on 30th May 1929:

Less than three months later, Richard himself passed away, aged eighty-four, on 5th August 1929, at Westland Cottage.

From the North Devon Journal on 8th August 1929:

His funeral, held on Saturday 10th August 1929 at Challacombe, was reported on. An short eulogy in the newspaper gives a lovely description of Richard's character and career.

Of his character: "A man of a bright and happy nature, he had a smile and a kindly word for all".

Of his career: "Mr Fisher lived in the same cottage for over 63 years... He was employed by the late Mr F.L. Smyth and sons of Westland Pound for over 50 years, being a keen horseman and an expert with the plough and other farm implements. He was well known at Southmolton, Barnstaple and Combe Martin in the old liming days, where he met and made many friends on his journeys with three horses and a wagon."

From the North Devon Journal on 15th August 1929: