My Great x3 Aunt Louisa (1872 - 1874) was a younger sister of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).
Louisa was born in Oct/Nov/Dec 1872, in the district of Okehampton, Devon, to William Vernon (about 43), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 39), a housewife.
Louisa was the tenth of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):
Susan 1854 - 1930 (75 years old)
Thomas 1857 - 1916 (about 59 years old)
William 'Robert' Robert 1859 - 1939 (about 80 years old)
Sarah Ann 1860 - 1901 (about 40 years old)
Silas 1862 - 1933 (71 years old)
Mary 'Jane' Jane 1864 - 1930 (66 years old)
Arthur 'John' John 1865 - After 1881 (At least 16 years old)
Isaac 'Harry' Harwood 1869 - 1934 (65 years old)
Martha 1870 - 1947 (76 years old)
Louisa 1872 - 1874 (16 months old)
Samuel 'Sam' Reuben 1875 -
Ernest 1878 - 1903 (25 years old)
Sadly Louisa's life was a short one. In Jan/Feb/Mar 1874, Louisa passed away, at only sixteen months old, in the district of Okehampton. She was buried on 1st March 1874, in Hatherleigh.
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.
My Great x4 Grandmother Sarah (1765 - 1841) was a housewife and mother of nine.
Sarah was born around 1765 in Hatherleigh, Devon, to Richard Westlake (about 34) and Eleanor Westlake (nee Lake) (about 36).
Sarah was baptised on 3rd April 1765 in Hatherleigh.
Sarah was the sixth of eight children (three sons and five daughters)
Mark 1754 - 1768 (13 years old)
Eleanor 1756 -
Richard 1758 -
Mary 1760 -
Margaret 1762 -
Sarah 1765 -
Robert 1768 -
Elizabeth 1773 -
All eight siblings were baptised in Hatherleigh - their father's hometown.
In 1768, when Sarah was about three years old, her eldest brother Mark passed away, aged about thirteen. He was buried on 25th May 1768 in Hatherleigh.
On 5th September 1786, Sarah (about 21) married Thomas Easterbrook (about 21) in her native Hatherleigh. On their record of marriage, each left only their mark, implying neither could write. They married in the presence of William Westland, maybe an uncle or cousin of Sarah.
The young couple settled less then five miles away in Thomas' native Exbourne. There all their children was baptised.
Sarah and Thomas had nine children (four daughters and five sons):
Betty 1787 - 1802 (about 15 years old)
Walter 1789 -
Mary 1782 -
Sarah 1795 -
Jane 1798 -
John 1800 -
Thomas 1802 - 1809 (about 6 years old)
William 1807 -
Thomas Westlake 1810 -
Sadly two of their children passed away young. Their eldest child, Betty, passed away, aged about fifteen, in 1802. She was buried on 26th April 1802 in Exbourne. And their seventh child, Thomas, passed away, aged about six, in 1809. He was buried on 7th March 1809 in Exbourne.
Alas I know little about the middle of Sarah and Thomas' married life. They seemingly spent most of it in his native Exbourne. She was likely a housewife, and looked after their many children; whilst he likely worked as an agricultural labourer or had a rural trade, like his son Walter, who was a thatcher.
In 1841, Sarah passed away, aged about seventy-six. She was buried on 16th August 1841 in Exbourne.
My Great x4 Grandfather Thomas (1765 - 1848), was a father of nine.
Thomas was born around 1765 in Exbourne, Devon to Philip Easterbrook (about 39) and Elizabeth Easterbrook (nee Gypson).
Thomas was baptised on 7th July 1765 in Exbourne.
Thomas was the seventh of eight children (two daughters and six sons):
Elizabeth 1748 -
John 1754 -
Philip 1756 -
Mary 1759 -
William 1761 -
Richard 1763 -
Thomas 1765 -
Walter 1767 - 1768 (about 13 months)
In 1768, when Thomas was about three, his younger brother Walter passed away, about only thirteen months old. Walter was buried on 12th September 1768 in Exbourne.
On 5th September 1786, Thomas (about 21) married Sarah Westlake (about 21) in her native Hatherleigh, which is less than five miles from Thomas' native Exbourne. On their record of marriage, each left other their mark, implying neither could write. They married in the presence of William Westlake, likely a close relation of Sarah.
Thomas and Sarah had nine children (four daughters and five sons):
Betty 1787 - 1802 (about 15 years old)
Walter 1789 -
Mary 1792 -
Sarah 1795 -
Jane 1798 -
John 1800 -
Thomas 1802 - 1809 (about 6 years old)
William 1807 -
Thomas Westlake 1810 -
In 1793, when Thomas was about twenty-eight, his father Philip passed away, aged about sixty-seven. Philip was buried on 30th October 1793 in Exbourne.
In 1798, when Thomas was about thirty-three, his mother Elizabeth passed away, likely in her seventies. Elizabeth was buried on 13th November 1798 in Exbourne.
Sadly two of Thomas and Sarah's children passed away young. Their eldest child, Betty, passed away, aged about fifteen, in 1802. She was buried on 26th April 1802 in Exbourne. And their seventh child, Thomas, passed away, aged about six, in 1809. He was buried on 7th March 1809 in Exbourne.
Alas I know little about the middle of Thomas' life. He seemingly spent most of his life in his native Exbourne, and likely worked as an agricultural labourer or had a rural trade, like his son Walter, who was a thatcher.
In 1841, when Thomas was about seventy-six, her wife Sarah passed away, aged about seventy-six. She was buried on 16th August 1841 in Exbourne.
In 1848, Thomas passed away, aged about eighty-three. He was buried on 3rd July 1848, in Exbourne.
My Great x4 Grandmother Jane (1804 - 1855) was a housewife and mother of eight.
Jane was born around 1804 in Sandford, Devon, to William Godsland and Jane Godsland (nee Maunder).
Jane was baptised on 8th January 1804 in Sandford as Jenny, though on all later records she is called Jane. Perhaps the nickname was to differentiate her from her mother of the same name.
Jane was the fifth of six children (two daughters and four sons):
Ann 1794 -
Richard 1796 - 1798 (about thirteen months old)
William 1799 - 1800 (about eleven months old)
John 1801 -
Jane 'Jenny' 1804 -
William 1808 - 1808 (as a very young baby)
Although the siblings were baptised in Sandford with their surname spelt as Gosland (without the d), on their father's marriage certificate and on Jane's own marriage certificate, father and daughter both spell it as Godsland.
Sadly three of Jane's siblings passed away as babies. Six years before Jane was born, her older brother Richard passed away, aged about only thirteen months old. He was buried on New Years Day 1798. Two years later, Jane's older brother William passed away, aged about only eleven months old. He was buried on 4th May 1800 in Sandford. And in December 1808, when Jane was about four years old, her younger William (second of his name) passed away, as a very young baby. He was buried on 27th December 1808 in Sandford.
On 15th March 1827, Jane (about 23) married John (about 35), a ropemaker, in his native South Molton. Both Jane and John were able to sign their name. They married in the presence of Sarah Bennett (likely a relative of John) and John Godsland (likely Jane's brother).
Signature of Jane Godsland, 1827
Their first child Mary was baptised in August 1827, meaning Jane was about four months pregnant when they married.
Jane and John had eight children (three daughters and five sons):
Mary 1827 -
John 1829 -
Jane 1831 -
William 1834 -
Robert 1836 -
Emma 1839 -
James 1842 -
Samuel 1845 -
Around 1828, Jane and her family moved, over twenty miles south, from South Molton to Hatherleigh. Their children John, Jane and William were baptised there. The family moved again, around 1835, about twenty-five miles east, from Hatherleigh to Upton Pyne. Their younger children Robert, Emma, James and Samuel were baptised there.
1841 Census:
1851 Census:
In 1855, Jane passed away, aged about fifty-one, at Upton Pyne. She was buried on 29th April 1855 in Upton Pyne.
My Great x4 Grandfather John (1792 - 1859) was a ropemaker and father of eight.
John was born on 3rd April 1792 in South Molton, Devon, to John Bennett, a ropemaker, and Mary Bennett.
John was privately baptised two days after his birth, on 5th April 1792; however, he was later, alongside his next younger sister Lydia, received into the church on 26th December 1794, in South Molton.
John was the eldest of seven children (five sons and two daughters)
John 1792 -
Lydia 1794 - 1795 (about ten months old)
Lydia 1796 - 1806 (9 years old)
Henry 1799 -
Charles 1800 -
Giles 1802 -
Robert 1805 - 1806 (about 20 months old)
Interestingly, John and his sisters (both called Lydia) were privately baptised a few days after their birth, then later received into the church. And John's next three younger brothers were baptised together on the same day in 1803.
Sadly three of John's younger siblings passed away in childhood. In August 1795, when John was three years old, his younger sister Lydia passed away, aged only about ten months. Lydia was buried on 28th August 1795 in South Molton. In April 1806, when John was fourteen, his next younger sister Lydia passed away, aged about nine years old. Lydia was buried on 23rd April 1806. In October 1806, his youngest brother Robert passed away, aged only about twenty months. Robert was buried on 26th October 1806 in South Molton.
On 15th March 1827, John (about 35), a ropemaker, married Jane 'Jenny' Godsland (about 23) in his native South Molton. Both John and Jane were able to sign their name. They married in the presence of Sarah Bennett and John Godsland, likely relatives of groom and bride.
Signature of John Bennett, 1827
Their first child Mary was baptised in August 1827, meaning Jane was about four months pregnant when they married.
John and Jane had eight children (three daughters and five sons):
Mary 1827 -
John 1829 -
Jane 1831 -
William 1834 -
Robert 1836 -
Emma 1839 -
James 1842 -
Samuel 1845 -
Around 1828, John and his young family moved, over twenty miles south, from South Molton to Hatherleigh. Their children John, Jane and William were baptised there. The family moved again, around 1835, about twenty-fives miles east, from Hatherleigh to Upton Pyne. Their younger children Robert, Emma, James and Samuel were baptised there.
1841 Census:
1851 Census:
In 1855, when John was sixty-three, John's wife Jane passed away, aged about fifty-one, at Upton Pyne. She was buried on 29th April 1855 in Upton Pyne.
A few years later, in 1859, John himself passed away, aged sixty-seven. He was buried on 22nd Mary 1859 in Upton Pyne.
My Great Grandfather William (c 1882 - 1939) was a railway worker, farm labourer, blacksmith, and father of four.
Alas, despite my best efforts in researching William, his early life and origins remain a mystery...
Pre 1923
Later records imply he was born around 1882 (age given as 46 on May 1928 marriage certificate and as 57 on October 1939 death certificate) or even 1st Oct 1883 (date of birth given 1939 register, just over a fortnight before William died). As William was near death at the time of the 1939 register, it is unlikely he gave his personal information - likely his younger wife Dinah did.
However, looking at records of births from this timeframe has yet to determine a William which we can confirm is ours.
His marriage certificate also states his father was called John, a farmer and deceased before 1928.
Family legend says William came down to Devon laying roads and/or railway lines, possibly from Birmingham or the midlands; whilst, a newspaper article from the 1920s, says he was a native of Oxford.
Mine and my mother's DNA is presently (2026) coming up as 100% Devon and Somerset. However, this does not mean William, my great grandfather and her grandfather, was from Devon and/or Somerset. My mum would share approximately 17% to 34% with her maternal grandfather, but she very much looks like her paternal side. Presently, I would assume William was British, most likely English.
What we know of William's life is from 1923 onwards...
William the Navvy
From around February to July 1923, William was hired as a workman for the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway, to help construct the line from Halwill to Torrington in North West Devon. It is reported by the Colonel Stephens Society that "unemployed men had been shipped in for construction but lacked either skills or willingness, and in June 1923 rowdiness turned to a fairly nasty fracas".
What was this fracas? On Saturday 23rd June 1923, many of the company's workers spent the evening in Hatherleigh, dancing to the music of the Town Band in the square. Unfortunately, several were unhappy when police encouraged them to return to their camp at the end of the evening. Things quickly grew violent and two policemen were attacked. We know William was not one of the main culprits, but he could have known the men involved.
After what is reported as a 'short holiday', William returned to that area of North Devon on Monday 30th July 1923, arriving by train at Okehampton Station. Could the working class man afford to go on a short holiday or did he purposely leave the area after the fracas?
What we do know is that day (30th July 1923) at Okehampton Station, William's life changed forever...
The Accident
From the station, William got a lift in a lorry belonging to Mr J. H. Treneman of Hatherleigh. The lorry, driven by Frederick Northcott, carried six further railway workmen, and heavy iron and steel girders for use in the construction of the railway bridge over the River Torridge.
At the top of the hill, chains on the lorry broke, causing it to become a runaway. The driver shouted to the other men to jump, whilst he tried to control the vehicle. All the men, apart from William, managed to escape. The lorry quickly gained speed, reaching about fifty miles an hour. At the bottom of the road, it crashed into the garden wall of the police station. William Weeks was at work there at the time and was instantaneously killed. Our William and the driver were thrown forward, and the girders hurled through the air, landing on and around them. They were rendered unconscious and seriously injured. William sustained broken ribs and a fractured jaw.
The pair were taken by motor ambulance to the Okehampton Workhouse Infirmary and treated by Dr Wright. A month later, they were still too ill to give evidence in the inquest of the death of William Weeks; however, our William was able to get out of doors.
Family legend states that William was subsequently unable or found it difficult to work due to his injuries.
1925 and 1926 electroral registers show William living at Sheepwash.
At Stockleigh Farm
Despite his injuries, William at some point between 1926 and 1928 managed to find a little work at Stockleigh Farm, which is about half way between Hatherleigh, where the fracas took place, and nearby Highampton.
Stockleigh Farm was owned by one John Isaac.
Also working at the farm, as a domestic servant, was young Dinah Bessie Easterbrook. Dinah had already had two children out of wedlock. Dinah was forced to give her eldest, Evelyn Mary (born 1920), up. But she was able to keep her second child, Donald Jasper (born 1924), who family legend says was the son of Dinah's employer, farmer John Isaac.
John Isaac passed away on 1st May 1928. Soon his funeral took place and principal mourners included William and Dinah.
In his will, John Isaac had left Dinah "a legacy of two hundred pounds... [and] for her absolute use my freehold cottage known as 'Legge Cottage' in the parish of Highampton with the land attached". He also left Donald "a legacy of five pounds". Despite this inheritance, Dinah and her family did not stay in Highampton. Family legend says Dinah had to sell Legge Cottage to get money to get by.
Days after John Isaac's funeral, William (his age is given as 46, implying he was born around 1881/1882) and Dinah (25) married, on 10th May 1928, in Highampton.
Marriage Certificate:
Their wedding was reported in the Western Times on 18th May 1928:
Husband and Father
That summer, John Isaac's brother sold Stockleigh Farm, meaning William and Dinah had to find work elsewhere.
After his marriage, William unofficially adopted Dinah's young son Donald. William and Dinah also had four more children:
Victor W J 1929 - 2016 (87)
Bessie 'Bette' Anne 1930 - 2010 (79)
Stillborn twin (or died shortly after birth) 1930 - 1930 (0)
Audrey Dinah 1934 - 2001 (66/67)
The pair, with their young children, moved around mid Devon following work.
The 1929 electorial register shows William at Cookbury.
The 1930 electorial register shows William at Bondleigh. His and Dinah's daughter Bette (and her twin who was either stillborn or died shortly after birth) was born there at Council Houses.
The 1931 electorial register shows William at Winkleigh.
On her marriage certificate, William's daughter Bette lists his occupation as blacksmith. As did his widow Dinah on his 1939 death ceritifcate.
Did he find work as a blacksmith during the 1930s? Or did he perhaps work as a blacksmith prior to working for the railway? By the 20th century, there was less call for traditional blacksmithing; however, if skilled and trained in working metals, he would have been ideal to replace the unskilled workmen originally brought in to construct the railway lines.
Alas William grew ill and by 1939 was incapacitated. By then the family were living in Town Cottage, West Worlington.
1939 Census:
Death
On 13th October 1939, William passed away, aged about fifty-seven, due to heart failure (cardiac syncope and mitral valvular disease), at Town Cottage, West Worlington.
Death certificate:
After William's death, their young daughter Bette was distraught. Dinah, not knowing what to do, sent Bette to live with an 'Aunt Braund' in a cottage near Meldon Quarry, near Okehampton. Bette didn't known if 'Aunt Braund' was a blood relation or family friend. It seems likely 'Aunt Braund' was a family friend, and likely a relation of the Walter Braund who was William's best man in 1928.
Dinah's eldest son, Donald, then only fifteen, became the breadwinner. He worked as a farm labourer, and found cottage homes for his mother and young siblings on or near the farms where he worked. Within a few years, younger brother Victor, was also working as a farm labour.
Still the family struggled to get by. Bette, remembered that because of their poverty, they often had to accept help from the church.
Bette adored her father. She fondly remembered him playing his piano accordion.
She also remember that, unusually for the time, William wore earrings.
Why? It may have been a blacksmith or navvy superstition to protect the wearer, or perhaps a sailor superstition. Or he may have had Gypsy, Eastern European or Mediterranean heritage?
Bette had near-black hair, hazel eyes, and skin that tanned to light olive in the summer. Did she inherit her colouring from William?
Whether he was a Gypsy or from mainland Europe, a English blacksmith or Midlands navvy, hopefully I will one day be able to determine his origins.
I like to picture him as a younger man, mop of dark hair, singing and playing his piano accordion, looking a bit like Alfie in Lark Rise to Candleford:
