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 x4 Grandmother Sarah (1802 - 1868) was a housewife and mother of eight.
Sarah Prout was born around 1802 in South Molton, Devon, to William and Margarett Prout.
Sarah was baptised on 30th May 1802 in South Molton.
Unfortunarely, beyond her baptism giving the names of her parents, Sarah's childhood remains a mystery. I can neither find a likely marriage record for her parents, nor baptisms of any likely siblings. We are left with several possibilities: Sarah may have been an only child; records may have been lost or events (such as births of siblings) may not have been recorded in the first place; her parents may not have been native to South Molton and records of their marriage or baptisms of other children may be further afield. We cannot say for certain. But we can say Sarah either remained in South Molton from her earliest years, or soon returned there, for there she married as a young woman.
On 26th September 1824, Sarah (about 22) married William Vernon (about 30), a labourer, in South Molton. On the record of their marriage, whilst William was about to sign his name, Sarah left only her mark, implying she could not write. They are both described as native to the parish of South Molton.
Sarah and William had eight children (five sons and three daughters):
John 1827 - 1855 (28 years old)
William 1829 -
Mary 1831 - 1845 or 1847 (13 - 16 years old)
James 1833 -
Henry 1835 -
Elizabeth 1839 -
Thomas 1841 -
Sarah Bray 1843 -
Records of baptism of their eldest sons, John and William, list the young family as residing on East Street in South Molton in the late 1820s.
Around 1830, Sarah, William and their two infant children moved from South Molton, about twelve miles south west, to Ashreigney. Sadly, they resided for some time in the poorhouse there. Their children, Mary and James, were born in Ashreigney poorhouse.
It seems the family managed to leave behind the poorhouse by the mid 1830s. The 1835 baptism record of their next and sixth child Henry lists their abode of Hayes. Hayes was likely around today's Little Hayes Plantation, a wooded and laked area, and Hayes Moor, both just to the south west of Ashreigney.
The 1841 baptism record of Sarah and William's son Thomas shows the family were back living on East Street up in South Molton. William had lots of family living on East Street.
The couple's eldest daughter Mary passed away as a teenager in either 1845 or 1847 in South Molton. (There are records of death for a Mary Vernon in South Molton in both years, and there isn't a way to find out which is our Mary, as there is no age given, unless I purchase the documents)
By the time of the 1851 Census, Sarah and her family were back living in Hayes, which is then described as a hamlet, and their home called Clarkes Hayes. Though not back in the workhouse, the family were alas again struggling. William and their eldest son John were described as paupers, their middle sons were away from home working as servants and labourers on farms (and were maybe sending money home), bu the only individual bringing in money at home seems to have been Sarah's young daughter, twelve-year-old glover Elizabeth.
1851 Census:
In 1855, Sarah's eldest son John passed away, aged twenty-eight, in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash. He was buried on 25th March 1855, in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash. Sadly his abode was listed as Torrington Union Work House.
Sarah's husband William passed away, in his mid sixties, in 1860. He was buried in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash on 25th November 1860.
Soon after William's death, the 1861 Census shows Sarah, a widow, remained at Hayes with her two youngest children: her son Thomas, a labourer, and daughter Sarah, a glover. As different records show Sarah's daughters Elizabeth and Sarah both worked as glovers as teenaged girls, I wonder if they learnt this trade from their mother. Also living with the family at the time was three-year-old Elizabeth Ann, the illegitimate daughter of one of Sarah's daughters. It's nice she stayed with the family.
1861 Census:
Sarah herself passed away, aged about sixty-six, in 1868. She was buried in Ashreighney or Ring's Ash on 21st August 1868.
My Great x4 Grandfather William (1794 - 1860) was a labourer, husbandman, pauper, and father of eight.
William Vernon was born around 1794 in South Molton, Devon to William Vernon (about 22), a labourer and gardener, and Mary Vernon (nee Bray) (about 22).
William was baptised on 16th March 1794 in South Molton. William's parents had only married three months earlier on New Years Day 1794, implying Mary was pregnant with William when she married. William, being the couple's firstborn son, was named for his father.
William was the eldest of seven children (five sons and two daughters):
William 1794 -
Elizabeth 1799 -
Arthur 1803 -
James 1806 - 1841 (34 years old)
John 1809 -
Henry 1813 -
Mary 1815 -
All seven children were baptised in South Molton.
On 26th September 1824, William (about 30), a labourer, married Sarah Prout (about 22) in South Molton. On the record of their marriage, whilst Sarah left only her mark, implying she could not write, William was able to sign him name. They married in the presence of William's younger brother Arthur Vernon.
Signature of William Vernon, 1824
William and Sarah had eight children (five sons and three daughters):
John 1827 - 1855 (28 years old)
William 1829 -
Mary 1831 - 1845 or 1847 (13 - 16 years old)
James 1833 -
Henry 1835 -
Elizabeth 1839 -
Thomas 1841 -
Sarah Bray 1843 -
Records of baptism of their eldest sons, John and William, list the young family as residing on East Street in South Molton in the late 1820s.
Around 1830, William, Sarah and their two infant children moved from South Molton, about twelve miles south west, to Ashreigney. Sadly, they resided for some time in the poorhouse there. Their children, Mary and James, were born in Ashreigney poorhouse.
It seems the family managed to leave behind the poorhouse by the mid 1830s. The 1835 baptism record of their next and sixth child Henry lists their abode as Hayes. Hayes was likely around today's Little Hayes Plantation, a wooded and laked area, and Hayes Moor, both just to the south west of Ashreigney. Interestingly, William and Mary baptised baby Henry in an independent church (rather then a Church of England church) in nearby Chumleigh. Does this baptism show a shift in their Christian belief?
Perhaps not, for the couple baptised their younger children once more in C of E churches. The baptism record of their next son Thomas, from January 1841, interestingly shows that the family were back living on East Street up in South Molton. The 1841 Census shows William's parents and younger sister Elizabeth living on East Street; also further up the street were William's younger brother Henry and his wife Ann; however, I cannot find William and his family there on the 1841 census.
When William was about forty-seven, his younger brother James passed away, aged thirty-four, in January 1841. He was buried on 31st January 1841 in South Molton. His abode was also listed at East Street. East Street in South Molton seems to have been a real base for the Vernon family from at least the 1820s through into the 1850s.
Colourised Photograph of East Street, South Molton, c 1900
William's eldest daughter Mary passed away as a teenager in either 1845 or 1847 in South Molton. (There are records of death for a Mary Vernon in South Molton in both years, and there isn't a way to find out which is our Mary, as there is no age given)
By the time of the 1851 Census, William and his family were back in Hayes, which is then described as a hamlet, and their home called Clarkes Hayes. Though not back in the workhouse, the family was alas again struggling. William and his eldest son John were described as paupers, William's middle sons were away from home working as servants and labourers on farms (and were maybe sending money home), but the only individual bringing in money at home seems to have been William's young daughter, twelve-year-old glover Elizabeth.
1851 Census:
William's relationship, or rather lack of, with his father of the same name is hinted to in the latter's 1854 will. William is left by his father "the sum of five pounds, to be paid by my executors hereinafter named, six months after my decease; likewise I give unto my son William all my wearing apparel except my watch, to be delivered after my funeral." After William's widow mother Mary's death, remaining unnamed items were written to be sold and the money raised to be divided between the children with one exception: "share and share alike, except my son William who shall have nothing therewith to do." Whilst William's younger surviving three brothers, Arthur, John and Henry, were left, along with household items, each a dwelling house with a garden, and named as executors, pauper William was left very little. Why?
In 1855, William's eldest son John passed away, aged twenty-eight, in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash. He was buried on 25th March 1855, in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash. Sadly his abode was listed as Torrington Union Work House.
William's younger brother Henry emigrated to Australia. Henry's Australian descendant Norman did a great deal of research on the Vernon family tree in the 1980s, and was in correspondence with my father in the 1990s. Each shared their research with the other; and Norman even shared a small photograph of Henry. I wonder: did brothers Henry and William look alike?
Photograph of William's younger brother Henry
William passed away, in his mid sixties, in 1860. He was buried in Ashreigney or Ring's Ash on 25th November 1860.
My great x3 grandfather William (1829 - 1917) was a farm apprentice, husbandman, agricultural labourer, and father of twelve.
William was born around 1829 in South Molton, Devon to William Vernon (about 35), a labourer and pauper, and Sarah Vernon (nee Prout) (about 27).
William was baptised on 12th April 1829 in South Molton. At the time, the family lived in East Street, South Molton.
William was the second of eight children (five sons and three daughters):
John 1827 - 1855 (28 years old)
William 1829 -
Mary 1831 - 1845 or 1847 (13 - 16 years old)
James 1833 -
Henry 1835 -
Elizabeth 1839 -
Thomas 1841 -
Sarah Bray 1843 -
Around 1830/1831, when William was a baby or toddler, it seems he and his family moved from South Molton to Ashreigney. Sadly, they resided for some time in the poorhouse there. William's younger siblings Mary and James were born in the poorhouse.
Young William, aged only twelve on the 1841 Census, lived with and worked as an apprentice for the Ley family, headed by farmer John Ley, at Redland, Ashreigney.
1841 Census:
By 1851, William, then a young man, lived with and worked for the Tout family as a farm labourer, at Westyard, Ashreigney. His older brother John had worked there previously, appearing at Westyard in the 1841 Census. Whilst William worked for the Tout family, his father and older brother John were alas paupers
1851 Census:
On 20th October 1853, William (24), an agricultural labour, married Martha Dyment (20), a glover, in Martha's native Dolton. Neither William nor Martha was able to sign their name on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.
William and Martha had twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):
Susan 1855 -
Thomas 1857 -
William Robert 1859 -
Sarah Ann 1860 -
Silas 1862 -
Mary 'Jane' Jane 1864 -
Arthur John 1865 -
Isaac 'Harry' Harwood 1869 -
Martha 1871 -
Louisa 1872 - 1874 (16 months)
Samuel 'Sam' Reuben 1875 -
Ernest 1878 - 1903 (25 years)
1861 Census:
In the late 1860s, William and his family moved from Moorwater, Ashreigney to Fowl House, Iddesleigh.
1871 Census:
Around 1874, the family moved again to Hatherleigh. There, when William was about forty-five, his youngest daughter Louisa passed away, aged only 16 months.
By 1875, when William's son Sam was born, they had moved to Brushford; and by 1878, when his youngest son Ernest was born, they were living in Wembworthy.
Sometime in the late 1870s, they moved again to Stopgate, Zeal Monachorum.
1881 Census:
By 1891, they had moved again to Coldridge. Only William and Martha's youngest child, Ernest, remained at home with his parents. The rest each left home at an early age to work on different farms around mid Devon.
1891 Census:
Soon Ernest too left home, whilst William and Martha remained at Coldridge.
1901 Census:
By 1901, it seems the elderly William was no longer working. How then did the elderly couple support themselves?
In Apr/May/Jun 1903, when William was about seventy-four, his wife Martha passed away, aged about sixty-nine, in the district of Crediton. Alas a short time later, on 10th July 1903, their youngest son Ernest, aged twenty-five, was tragically killed by a train at Stafford level crossing, a few miles from Exeter. What a sad time this must have been for William.
Sometime in the 1900s, William moved in with his eldest daughter Susan and her family at their cottage at Hollow Tree, near Chawleigh.
1911 Census:
On 1st October 1917, William passed away at Hollow Tree, with his eldest daughter Susan at his side. The cause of death was recorded as senile decay. Though on his death certificate, William's age at death was recorded at eighty, we know he was baptised in 1829, meaning he would have been in fact eighty-eight.
Whilst alive, William had been a religious man. My father's family tree research from the mid 1990s says William was "thought to be a minister at Aller Bridge (Allerbeare) Chapel at Coldridge." His son Harry also "used to preach when younger, he knew all the bible references etc... Sidney [son of Harry] thinks these were drummed into him by William".
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:
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