Great x3 Aunt Ellen Yeo

My Great x3 Aunt Ellen (1869 - 1937) was a domestic servant, and a younger sister of my Great Great Grandmother Annie Sandford (nee Yeo) (1868 - 1948).

Ellen was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1869 in the district of Okehampton, Devon, to George Yeo (35), an agricultural and quarry labourer, and Ann Yeo (nee Gliddon) (about 30), a housewife.

Ellen was the fifth of six children (one son and five daughters):

• Thomas 'Tom'  1863 - 1904  (40 or 41 years old)
• Mary 'Mary Anne' Gliddon  1864 - 1941  (76 years old)
• Emily Ann  1867 - 1872  (5 years old)
• Annie  1868 - 1948  (80 years old)
• Ellen  1869 - 1937  (68 years old)
• Harriet  1872 - 1893 (21 years old)

Ellen also had an older half brother, Joseph Gliddon (1860 - 1928) (67 years old), her mother Ann's illegitimate son born before her marriage. Joseph lived with his maternal grandparents.

1871 Census:

In October or November 1872, when Ellen was only three, her older sister Emily Ann passed away aged only five years old. Emily Ann was buried on 8th November 1872, in Okehampton. About three months later, Ellen's father George passed away, aged thirty-nine, in 1873, in Okehampton. He was buried on 30th January 1873, in Okehampton. And about three months after that, Ellen's mother Ann also passed away, aged thirty-three or thirty-four. She was buried on 30th April 1873 also in Okehampton. I wonder if they all succumbed to the same disease. 

Unless relatives took them in, Ellen and her five remaining siblings (aged zero to nine) would likely have ended up in the workhouse. Indeed, in the next census (1881 Census), Ellen (11) and Harriet (9) can be found living in the Union Workhouse in Okehampton. I wonder if the other older siblings also entered the workhouse after their parents' early deaths, but by thirteen years old were deemed old enough to go out and work. 

1881 Census:

As a young woman, Ellen lived and worked as a domestic servant for the Rich family, headed by farmer Richard Rich, at Westlake Farm, Inwardleigh. Her older brother Tom had previously lived and worked at Westlake Farm for Richard Rich, and can be found there on the 1881 Census.

1891 Census:

I can't presently find Ellen on the 1901 Census; however, by the 1911 Census, she was still (or once more) working for the Rich family, though now at Loveland Farm, Northlew.

On 1st August 1904, when Helen was about thirty-five, her older brother Tom, aged forty or forty-one, was sadly killed in a road accident. Having reportedly had a few drinks, Tom was riding his bike from their sister Annie's house in Bow, Devon; making his way to the Eggesford Flower Show with friend and fellow cyclist Thomas Rice. Whilst going down a steep decline, the pair met with a pair of horses being taken to the smith by a young farm lad. Rice road past the horses without issue; unfortunately one of the horses then became restive and Tom collided with it. He was throw violently from his bike onto the hard ground, striking his head, which rendered him unconsciousness. Rice quickly went to his friend and the young lad went to the doctor. Tom was taken back to Bow, but never regained consciousness, passing away about twelve hours after the accident.

1911 Census:

Two of Ellen's nephews served and died/were killed in the First World War.

Her half nephew James Henry Gliddon (the eldest son of her older half brother Joseph Gliddon) served as a seaman in the Royal Navy. He had enlisted before the war, in 1910, serving on many ships. He passed away in 1916, aged twenty-six, of cirrhosis of the liver, on board the hospital ship Somali.

Her nephew William Wallace Yeo (the son of her older brother Tom) served as private in the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion of the Royal Marine Light Infantry Plymouth Division. He had also enlisted before the war, in 1913. He served for two and half years on board the H.M.S Donegal, from late 1914 to early 1917; he also served with the Victory Brigade (or RM Brigade) in Belgium. He was killed in action in 1917, aged twenty-three, in Belgium.

Ellen never married. In newspaper articles of 1937, she is described as a spinster, late of Loveland Farm, Northlew. 

On 8th September 1937, Ellen passed away, aged about sixty-eight, at Loveland Farm. 

From the Western Times of 10th September 1937:

Having been orphaned as a toddler, spent her childhood in the workhouse, and then worked as a domestic servant on farms, it is unexpected that Ellen left an estate. There are newspaper notices to inform of such, which are replied to by her sister Annie Sandford (nee Yeo) and her nephew Leon Thomas Yeo (the eldest surviving son of her older brother Tom). 

From the Western Times of 17th September 1937:

From the Western Times of 12th November 1937:

Great x3 Uncle Thomas 'Tom' Yeo

My Great x3 Uncle Tom (1863 - 1904) was a farm servant, general labourer, a nursery garden, father of about five, and the older brother of Great Great Grandmother Annie Sandford (nee Yeo) (1868 - 1948).

Tom was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1863 in the district of Okehampton, Devon, to George Yeo (29), an agricultural and quarry labourer, and Ann Yeo (nee Gliddon) (about 24), a housewife.

Tom was the eldest of six children (one son and five daughters) and the only son:

• Thomas 'Tom'  1863 - 1904  (40 or 41 years old)
• Mary 'Mary Anne' Gliddon  1864 - 1941  (76 years old)
• Emily Ann  1867 - 1872  (5 years old)
• Annie  1868 - 1948  (80 years old)
• Ellen  1869 - 1937  (68 years old)
• Harriet  1872 - 1893 (21 years old)

Tom also had an older half brother, Joseph Gliddon (1860 - 1928) (67 years old), his mother Ann's illegitimate son born before her marriage. Joseph lived with his maternal grandparents.

Tom and his younger siblings grew up around Meldon, just outside Okehampton.

1871 Census:

In October or November 1872, when Tom was eight, his younger sister Emily Ann passed away aged only five years old. Emily Ann was buried on 8th November 1872, in Okehampton. About three months later, Tom's father George passed away, aged thirty-nine, in 1873, in Okehampton. He was buried on 30th January 1873, in Okehampton. And about three months after that, Tom's mother Ann also passed away, aged thirty-three or thirty-four. She was buried on 30th April 1873 also in Okehampton. I wonder if they all succumbed to the same disease. 

Unless relatives took them in, Tom and his five remaining siblings (aged zero to nine) would likely have ended up in the workhouse. Indeed, in the next census (1881 Census), Tom's youngest sisters Ellen (11) and Harriet (9) can be found living in the Union Workhouse in Okehampton. I wonder if Tom and the other older siblings also entered the workhouse after their parents' early deaths, but by thirteen years old were deemed old enough to go out and work. 

Seventeen year old Tom can be found on the 1881 Census, living and working as an indoor farm servant at Westlake Farm in Inwardleigh, for farmer of 120 acres Richard Rich and his family.

1881 Census:

On 26th April 1886, Tom (22), a farm servant and labourer, married Elizabeth Ann Vallance (20), in Okehampton.

Elizabeth Ann had given birth to a son called Edgar, in January or Febuary 1886, in her native Northlew. On the 1891 Census, Edgar is described as Tom's son and has his surname of Yeo; however, when Edgar passed away, aged only eight, in October or November 1894, in Okehampton, his name was given on his record of death and burial as Edgar Yeo Vallance.

Tom and Elizabeth Ann had five or six sons (including Edgar):

• Edgar  1886 - 1894  (8 years old)
• Leon Thomas  1889 -
• Evelyn Stanley  1891 -
• Charley 1892 -
• William Wallace  1893 - 1917  (23 years old)
• Cecil  1896 -

Their middle son Charley only appears on the 1901 Census and, unlike his brothers, I cannot find record of his birth and he doesn't appear on any later censuses. It might well be passed away as a child; or the 1901 Census was incorrectly recorded, and 'Charley', given his age, was actually his own brother Evelyn.

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

In October 1901, when Tom was thirty-seven, his wife Elizabeth Ann passed away, aged only thirty-five, in Okehampton. Elizabeth Ann was buried on 25th October 1901, in Okehampton. Her burial was certified by Tom.

Newspaper articles from 1904 described Tom is his forties as working a nursery or jobbing gardener.

Less the three years after his wife's death, on the afternoon of Wednesday 1st August 1904, Tom himself was killed, aged only fortyor forty-one, whilst riding his bike near the farm of Clannaborough Barton, Bow. He was on his way from visiting his younger sister Annie Sandford (nee Yeo) in Bow, and making his to the Eggesford Flower Show with friend and fellow cyclist Thomas Rice. Annie thought Tom had been drinking, but could not say he was drunk; she had asked him not to go. The two men were descending a steep decline near Clannaborough Barton, when they met a couple of horses being taken to the smith by a lad called Cecil Ward. Cecil was riding one horse and leading the other; when he saw the cyclists coming, he pulled in. Rice was in front and passed the horses safely. One of the horses then became restive, and our Tom, unable to stop his bike it time, ran it straight into the horse, his petal reportedly getting caught one of the horse' hind legs. Tom was throw violently onto the hard ground, striking his head, rendering him unconsciousness. Rice immediately went to assist his friend and young Cecil went for the doctor, but it was all too late: though taken to Bow, where he received every attention by Dr Haycroft, Tom never regained consciousness and passed away about twelve hours later.

From the Western Evening Herald of 2nd August 1904:

The above article says Tom leaves a widow and four young children; however, records show Elizabeth Ann pre-deceased Tom, and I cannot find record of Tom remarrying. It might well be that only four of his sons were alive on his death: if the Charley recorded on the 1901 Census, was not in fact an additional son, but his other son Evelyn mis-recorded.

From the Western Times of 3rd August 1904:

From the Western Times of 5th August 1904:

Tom's death left his surviving sons, aged eight to fifteen, orphans. It seems a sad case of history repeating itself, as Tom and his siblings had themselves been left orphans, thirty years before, when their parents passed away at a similar age. Whilst back in the 1870's, Tom's younger siblings had ended up in the workhouse, and the older siblings were separated, sent out to work on different farms; thankfully in the early 1900's, Tom's sons were taken in by their maternal grandparents, Thomas and Selina Vallance. Thomas was a farmer at Heath Farm, at Northlew. The 1911 Census shows Thomas and Selina have many of their grandchildren living with them in the farm, including Leon, William and Cecil Yeo, who are shown to work on the farm.

Over a decade after Tom's death, his son William would serve and sadly be killed in the First World War. He had enlisted before the start of the war, on 26th August 1913, as a private (service number Ply/16358) in the 2nd Royal Marine Battalion of the Royal Marine Light Infantry Naval Division. On 1st January 1914, he transferred to the Plymouth Division. From 27th to 31st August 1914, he was with the Plymouth Division at Ostend, a coastal city in Belgium. From 7th October 1914 to 6th February 1917, he served on the H.M.S Donegal. He was back with the Plymouth Division from 7th February to 8th May 1917. On 9th May 1917, he joined the Victory Brigade (or RM Brigade). He was killed on 26th October 1917 in Belgium, aged twenty-three. His name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Zonnebeke, Arrondissement leper, West Flanders, Belgium. After his death, his medals were issued to his older brother Leon.

His Service Record gives a physical description of William as a young man: he was 5'3 1/4'', had a fresh complexion, fair hair and blue eyes. His character is repeatedly described as 'very good' and his ability 'satisfactory'. I wonder if William was like his father.

Great x4 Grandmother Loveday Turner (nee Bennett)

My Great x4 Grandmother Loveday (1785 - 1854) was a farm servant, housewife, and mother of ten.

Loveday was born around 1785 in North Tawton, Devon to James Bennett (about 27), and Sarah Bennett (nee Skinner) (about 30).

Loveday was baptised on 20th November 1785 in North Tawton.

Loveday was the fourth of seven daughters:

• Joanna  1782 -
• Sarah  1784 - 1784  (about 3 weeks old)
• Susanna  1784 - 1784  (about 3 weeks old)
• Loveday  1785 -
• Dinah  1788 -
• Mary  1790 -
• Mahlah  1793 - 1797  (3 or 4 years old)

In 1784, the year before Loveday was born, her older sisters, twins Sarah and Susanna, passed away, only a few weeks old. Together they were baptised on 4th April and buried on 21st April in North Tawton.

In the late 1780's the baptisms of the girls show, the family lived in North Tawton. In the early 1790's, the family moved from North Tawton back to Sampford Courtney, where Loveday's youngest sister, Mahlah was baptised in 1793.

In 1793, when Loveday was about seven, her father James passed away, aged about thirty-five. James was buried on 10th September 1793 in Sampford Courtenay. In the same year, Loveday's widowed mother, Sarah, along with her four youngest daughters, were ordered to be removed from Belstone back to Sampford Courtenay.

In early 1797, when Loveday was about ten, her youngest sister Mahlah passed away, aged about only three or four. Mahlah was buried on 5th February 1797 in Sampford Courtenay.

In 1797, when Loveday was ten or eleven, she was apprenticed to Simon Coombe of Sampford Courtenay.

In 1801, when Loveday was about fifteen, her mother Sarah passed away, aged about forty-six. Sarah was buried on 12th September 1801 in Sampford Courtenay.

In 1805, when Loveday was about nineteen and working as a servant, she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, fathered by William Coombe. Their daughter was christened Dinah Coombe, on 11th August 1805 in Sampford Courtenay, but would later go by Dinah Bennett. William was ordered by the parish to pay maintenance. William may well have been the young son of Loveday's employer, Simon Coombe. I wonder if Loveday and William's relationship was short-lived and reached its end before Dinah's birth.

On 4th November 1811, Loveday (about 26) married George Turner (about 24), a labourer at Plymouth Dock, in Stoke Damerel, near Plymouth, which is over thirty-miles south of Sampford Courtenay, where Loveday lived for most of her younger years. Whilst George was able to sign his name (interestingly he spelt it without the first e, eg 'Gorge'), Loveday left only her mark, implying she could not write.

'Plymouth [Dock], from Mount Edgcumbe' painted by JMW Turner in the 1810's

Loveday and George have nine children (six daughters and three brothers):

• Mary  1813 -
• Loveday  1816 -
• Rebecca  1818 -
• Elizabeth  1821 -
• Susan  1822 - 1826  (3 years old)
• Eliza  1825 - 1826  (1 year old)
• George  1827 - 1828  (4 months old)
• George  1829 -
• William  1832 -

The baptism records of the couple's eldest five children give the young family's address as Plymouth Dock. Though the couple's first two daughters was baptised into the Church of England; interestingly, when the couple had their third, fourth, and fifth daughters baptised, they chose to have them baptised into the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Does this signify a change in religious belief?

Sometime between 1822 and 1825, the family moved back northwards to Jacobstowe, which is only three miles west of Loveday's former home of Sampford Courtenay. There, the couple's youngest four children were baptised, once more into the Church of England. George continued to work as a labourer, but no longer at the docks - was he now a farm labourer?

In 1826, when Loveday was about forty-one, her infant daughters passed away. Eliza (1 years old) passed away first - she was buried on 30th June - followed by Susan (3 years old) - she was buried, less than a week later, on 6th July - both in Jacobstowe. Touchingly, Loveday's eldest daughter Dinah, who was about one to two months pregnant with her first child at the time, would name that child, a daughter, after the girls: so Loveday's first grandchild was christened Eliza Susan Herd, on 26th February 1827, in Jacobstowe.

Just over one year later, Loveday's son, George, passed away, aged four months old. He was buried on 9th March 1828 in Jacobstowe. George had been Loveday's eighth child, but her first son - I imagine his death was felt acutely. George had likely been named for his father. George and Loveday would named their next born child, another son, George also.

In early 1841, when Loveday was about fifty-five, her husband George passed away, aged about fifty-four. He was buried on 21st February 1841, in Jacobstowe. On his burial record, his abode is listed as Exbourne, which is only one and a half miles from Jacobstowe. He is also described as being a pensioner, implying he was in receipt of a military pension - in other words, a Chelsea pensioner. George would have been a young man at the time of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815). Had he served in that war, before working as a labourer at Plymouth Dock (today Devonport)? Had he been a sailor? Was it his service that brought him to the navel town in the first place?

Widowed, Loveday lived and worked once more as a servant on farms. Meanwhile her youngest two sons - George, about twelve, and William, about nine - lived and worked as labourers on different farms in the Okehampton area. Whilst her adult daughters had long left home, with at least Dinah, Loveday (junior) and Rebecca married.

The 1841 Census shows Loveday, living with agricultural labourer Thomas Bolt and his family at Bude (Farm), Monkokehampton, which is less than three miles north of Exbourne, where Loveday's husband George had passed away earlier that year.

1841 Census:

Come the 1851 Census, Loveday, now in her mid sixties, is listed as a visitor, living with widow Catherine Piper and her daughters at Folly Gate, Inwardleigh, which is about eight miles south of Loveday's last address in Monkokehampton.

1851 Census:

In 1854, Loveday passed away, aged about sixty-eight, in Inwardleigh. She was buried on 25th June 1854 in Jacobstowe.