Great x3 Uncle Francis Robert James

My Great x3 Uncle Francis (1886 - 1962) was a cow boy, rabbit dealer, farm carter, step father of 1, father of 2, and a younger brother of my Great x2 Grandmother Lucy Vernon (nee James) (1868 - 1897).

Francis was born on 30th August 1886 in Morchard Bishop, Devon, to Henry James (about 49), an agricultural labourer, and Louisa James (nee Edwards) (about 37), a housewife.

Francis was the seventh of eight children (four daughters and four sons):

• Lucy  1868 - 1897  (29 years old)
• Bessie  1869 - 1945 or 1956  (77 or 86 years old)
• Edwin  1875 - 1896  (21 years old)
• Louisa  1878 - 1966  (87 years old)
• Emily Maude  1880 - 1967  (86 years old)
• Charles  1883 - 1965  (82 years old)
• Francis Robert  1886 - 1962 (76 years old)
• Gilbert 1889 -

Francis and his siblings grew up in Morchard Bishop.

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

As a teenager, Francis worked with cattle on a farm, meaning he is amusingly recorded in the 1901 Census as a cow boy. 

As a young man, Francis was working as a rabbit dealer. His older brother Charles - the sibling closest to Francis in age - worked as a rabbit trapper/catcher/dealer his whole life. I wonder if Charles inspired Francis to follow him in his work and/or trained up Francis in catching rabbits.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1910, Francis (about 23), a rabbit dealer, married young single mother of one Mary Squire(s) (about 20), in the district of Torrington.

Mary was only seventeen and an inmate of Crediton Workhouse, when she gave birth to her illegitimate son, Henry Harris Squire(s) in 1907. The father was one Joseph Noyes, a stableman, whom she summoned to court for child maintenance. Though Noyes failed to appear - purportedly working away in Hampshire - he was ordered to pay '2s a week, and payment of the usual expenses, in addition to advocate's fee'.

By the time of the 1911, the young couple, with three-year-old Henry, were living at Bolts [farm or cottage?] in Ashreigney. Francis dealing in rabbits, Mary looking after her young son.

1911 Census:

With Francis, Mary had two more children (one son and one daughter):

• Charles  1915 -
• Margaret E  1931 -

By 1939, Francis had changed job and was now working as a farm carter.

1939 Census:

Francis' stepson Henry Harris Squire served as a seaman in the navy. He enlisted, aged eighteen, in 1925, for a period of twelve years. His service records gives a brief physical description: as a young man, Henry was 5'7'', with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His character is repeatedly given as 'very good'. He served until 1938, but was either called up to serve again or volunteered to serve in the Second World War. He was a Petty Officer Telegraphist, when he was killed at sea, on 8th June 1940, aged thirty-two, when the ship he was serving on - HMS Glorious - was lost to enemy action.

Francis passed away in Oct/Nov/Dec 1962, in the district of Barnstaple, aged seventy-six.

His wife Mary outlived Francis by two years, passing away in Oct/Nov/Dec 1964, in the district of Barnstaple.

Great x3 Uncle Arthur John Vernon

My Great x3 Uncle Arthur (1865 - after 1881), was a farm servant and an older brother of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).

Arthur was born in Jul/Sep/Oct 1865, in the district of Torrington, Devon, to William Vernon (about 36), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 32), a housewife.

Arthur was the seventh 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 -
• 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)

1871 Census:

As a teenager, Arthur lived with and worked as a farm servant for the Kingdon family at East Leigh Farm House, Coleridge.

1881 Census:

Unfortunately I am presently unable to find Arthur on any later records. The 1881 Census indicates he might have gone by his middle name of John - a very common name. He may well have moved from Devon (perhaps abroad?).

Great x3 Uncle Silas Vernon

My Great x3 Uncle Silas (1862 - 1933) was a inn servant, labourer, coal press maker, overlooker, yardsman on a farm, clayhole worker at brick works, debtor, father of seven, and an older brother of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).

Silas was born in Jan/Feb/Mar 1862, in the district of Torrington, Devon, to William Vernon (about 33), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 29), a housewife.

Silas was the fifth 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 -
• 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)

1871 Census:

As a teenager, Silas lived with and worked for the Spreadbury family, headed by innkeeper William Spreadbury, at the Yeo Vale Hotel, an inn in Lapford, as a general inn servant. At the time of the 1881 Census, Silas was the only live-in servant.

1881 Census:

Following in the footsteps of his older brother Thomas, Silas moved up to Wales, as a young man.

On 2nd October 1887, Silas (25), a labourer, married Welsh Ann Evans (about 19), in Llangyfelach, a village a little north of Swansea, Wales. At the time, both parties resided in Graig Trewyddfa, Swansea. Neither bride nor groom was able to sign their marriage certificate, leaving only their marks, implying they could not write. 

Silas and Ann had seven children (four daughters, two sons and one unknown):

• Martha Ann  1890 -  
• Margaret Jane  1892 - 
• Susannah  1894 -  
• ????  possibly born between 1895 - 1898 and passed away before 1901
• Frederick 'Freddy' William  1899 -  
• Mary Elizabeth  1902 - 
• David Thomas  1904 -

The 1911 Census confirms Silas and Ann had seven children - six still alive at the time of the census. I am struggling to find the name of that child, who must have passed away young, as: the family moved around a bit, I can only find evidence of one their children's baptisms, and the child does not appear on any census. It seems most likely they were either the couple's first child, born at the beginning of their marriage, between 1887 and 1889, and passing away before the 1891 Census; or in the five year gap between the births of siblings Susannah and Freddy, between 1894 and 1899, meaning they could have been born anywhere between Manchester (where Susannah was born) and Devon (where Freddy was born), and passed away before the 1901 Census; or were the youngest child, born after David in 1904, and passed away before the 1911 Census.

Having looked a little more, it seems more likely they were born between Susannah in 1894 in Manchester and Freddy in 1899 in Morchard Bishop, Devon. The child may not have lived long enough to be named, and Silas and Ann may have not even registered their birth; yet when asked how many children had been born living for the 1911 Census, they remembered that lost child. 

The couple's eldest two children, Martha and Margaret, were born in their mother's native Swansea. The young family moved briefly from Wales to Manchester, where daughter Susannah was born in 1894, before moving down to Silas' native Devon by 1900, where son Frederick was born and where the family can be found on the 1901 Census. However, by 1902, they had moved back up to Swansea - where children Mary and David were born, and where the family can still be found on the 1911 Census.

Silas' occupation changed as the family moved around: when he married in 1887, he was simply described a labourer; on the 1891 Census he was a coal press maker in Swansea; at the time of daughter Susannah's 1894 baptism, he was an overlooker in Manchester; by the 1901 Census he was a yardsman on a farm in Devon; then by the 1911 Census, a clayhole worker at a brick works in Swansea.

1891 Census:

The 1891 Census mistakenly gives Silas' wife's name as Eleanor. I have corrected it to Ann. I feel I can confidently do this as there is no other evidence of his having a wife called Eleanor; and the only record of marriage for a Silas Vernon (as his name is rare, it is literally the only one) is for his marriage to Ann.

The 1891 and 1911 Censuses also reveal Ann was bilingual - she was able to speak both Welsh and English. But the children were brought up to only speak English.

Swansea Prison records show Silas struggled with debt. There was three incidents - in 1893, 1905 and 1911 - which brought him to the attention of the law, two of which resulted in time in prison.

Unfortunately the 1893 record is damaged, but he would have served so many days imprisonment or have had to have paid a fine - considering his crime was debt, it seems unlikely he would have been able to pay an additional fine, meaning he likely served time in prison. The common length for such crimes was fourteen days. Indeed the dates match this: his 'date of discharge' is given as 2nd October 1893, and underneath is written 'sentence to reckon from date of arrest viz 19th September 1893'.

Was it debt and prison that made Silas and his family decide to leave Swansea for Manchester in 1893/1894?

By 1905, Silas was back in Swansea and back in debt. Now there were three commitments occurring twice on 2nd May and once on 20th June, to which the sentence was three lots of fourteen days imprisonment (forty-two days in all) or to pay three separate fines of £1 9d, 13s 1d and 8s 7d (amounting to £2 2s 6d). Again he appears to have gone to prison, rather than have been able to pay the fine. His release date is given as 17th September 1905, implying he entered prison on or about 6th July (if my maths if right and if he served his forty-two days).

In 1911, it seems Silas was finally able to pay the fine, though again charged with debt, rather than go once more to prison. His sentence was again fourteen days imprisonment or pay a fine of - it appears to say - '26/3'. Now I'm no expert of old money: should that be read as 26s 3d? But there's twenty shillings in a pound, so wouldn't they have put £1 6s 3d, if that was the case? Either way, Silas paid the fine promptly on 12th September 1911 - the day after he was arrested.

Silas' prison records give us a brief physical description of him. He was about 5'3'' or 5'4''. In 1893, his hair was dark, but by 1905 it had turned grey. His shifting religion is also listed: in 1893, he was Baptist, by 1905 he had changed to Salvation Army, and by 1911 was Church of England.

1901 Census:

The South Wales Daily Post of 9th June 1909 reports that Silas, amongst many others, was fined (in his case 7s 6d) for drunkenness.

1911 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1921, when Silas was fifty-nine, his wife Ann passed away, aged about fifty-three, in Swansea. A year and a half later, Silas remarried. In Apr/May/Jun 1923, Silas (61) married Elizabeth A Brown, in Swansea.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1933, Silas passed away, aged seventy-one, in Swansea.

Great x3 Aunt Sarah Ann Ware (nee Vernon)

My Great x3 Aunt Sarah Ann (1860 - 1901) was a housewife, mother of eight, and an elder sister of my Great Great Grandfather Isaac 'Harry' Harwood Vernon (1869 - 1934).

Sarah Ann was born in Jul/Aug/Sep 1860, in the district of Torrington, Devon, to William Vernon (about 31), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 27), a housewife.

Sarah Ann was the fourth 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 -
• 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:

1871 Census:

Unfortunately I can't find Sarah Ann on the 1881 Census, when she would have been a young woman.

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1882, a twenty-two year old Sarah Ann gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, whom she called Mary Ann, in the district of Crediton. In the same quarter, Sarah Ann (about 22), a ?, married William Henry Ware (about 18) (often known by Henry or Harry), an agricultural labourer and farm carter, also in the district of Crediton. It seems likely William was the father of Sarah Ann's daughter - on later censuses he is certainly listed as Mary Ann's father.

Including Mary Ann, Sarah Ann and Henry had eight children (four daughters and four sons):

• Mary Ann  1883 -
• William  1884 -
• John  1886 - 1887  (17 months old)
• Emily  1887 -
• Edwin John  1890 - 1890  (0 - 6 months old)
• Annie  1891 -
• Edith 'Alice' Alice  1895 -
• Henry 'Charles' Charles  1900 -

Sadly, the couple's third child, John, passed away, at only seventeen months, in 1887. He was buried on 20th March 1887 in Crediton. They would give their next born son, Edwin, the middle name of John, perhaps after his older brother. Sadly, Edwin too passed away young. He passed away, aged between zero to six months, in 1890.

1891 Census:

1901 Census:

In Apr/May/Jun 1901, Sarah Ann passed away, aged only about forty, in the district of Exeter. She left behind a husband, and six surviving children, the eldest about seventeen and youngest not yet one.

That motherless baby would go on to serve in the Royal Navy at the end of the First World War. Charles enlisted less than a month after he turned eighteen. He joined as a stocker on 14th August 1918. Though he originally signed up for a period of twelve years, he was invalided out on 6th October 1920, serving two years. He served on several ships, including: Vivid II, Apollo, Columbine and Impregnable. His character is repeatedly given as very good, his ability satisfactory. As brief physical description is also given of Charles as a young man: he was only 5'2 1/2'', had light brown hair, blue eyes, and a fresh complexion. I wonder if he resembled his mother is any way.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Dyment (nee Cudmore)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1799 - 1877) was a housewife and mother of nine.

Mary Cudmore was born around 1799 in Dolton, Devon, to Richard Cudmore (about 33), a husbandman and agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Cudmore (nee Williams) (about 30).

Mary was baptied on 31st March 1799 in Dolton.

Mary was the third of eleven children:

• Elizabeth  1796 -
• Joan  1797 -
• Mary  1799 -
• William 1801 -
• John  1802 -
• Jane 1806 - 1806 (about one week old)
• George  1807 -
• James  1809 -
• Richard  1811 -
• Thomas  1813 - 1815 (about eighteen months old)
• Christopher  1816 -

In April 1806, when Mary was about seven, her baby sister Jane passed away. Jane was baptised on 6th April and buried on 13th April in Dolton, making her only about one week old when she passed away.

In May 1815, when Mary was about sixteen, her little brother Thomas passed away, aged about eighteen months. He was buried on 11th May 1815 in Dolton.

On 2nd June 1822, Mary (about 23) married Robert Dyment (about 26), an agricultural labourer, in Dolton. Each left only their mark on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Mary and Robert had nine children:

• Robert  1824 -
• Thomas  1825 -
• William  1828 - 1849 (21 years old)
• Mary  1830 -
• Elizabeth  1832 - 1842 (10 years old)
• Martha  1833 -
• Susan/Susanna  1836 - 1853 (18 years old)
• Joanna  1839 - 1853 (14 years old)
• John  1841 -

All nine children were baptised and grew up in Mary's native Dolton. Sadly four of their children passed away young.

1841 Census:

Alas the 1840's saw for Mary the deaths of her parents and two of her own children...

In 1841, when Mary was about forty-two, her mother Elizabeth passed away, aged about seventy-two, in Dolton. She was buried on 6th June 1841 in Dolton.

The next year, Mary's daughter also called Elizabeth - likely after Mary's mother - also passed away, aged only ten years old. Elizabeth was buried on 16th August 1842 in Dolton.

In 1847, when Mary was about forty-eight, her father Richard passed away, aged about eighty-one, in Dolton. He was buried on 8th April 1847 in Dolton.

In 1849, when Mary was about fifty, her son William also passed away, aged twenty-one. William was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton.

On the records of burial for Mary's children Elizabeth and William, their residence is listened as alas Torrington Union [Work]House. Poor families often used local workhouses for cheap or free health care. These young persons may have been receiving medical care in the workhouse before their premature deaths there. The Censuses imply the family were not living in the workhouse, or if they did it was not for long.

In middle age, Mary's husband Robert seemingly changed career from agricultural labourer to road contractor. Mary and Robert's second son Thomas followed in his father's new trade - on later Censuses he is listed as a roadman.

1851 Census:

In 1853, Mary's eighth child Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen. She was buried on 11th March 1853 in Dolton.

And later that same year, her seventh child Susan passed away, aged eighteen. She was buried on 28th August 1853 in Dolton.

Mary's closest sibling in age, her younger brother William, as well as being a agricultural labourer, like most of the men in Mary's life, we learn from newspaper articles that in the 1850's he was also a poacher and more surprisingly a musican.

William had a local rival musican, Thomas Dymond. Now the only Thomas Dymond/Dyment I can find living in Dolton in the 1850's in Mary's own son Thomas! Was William's rival then his own nephew? It seems likely. Their rivaly made the local newspapers, when it turned violent. From the North Devon Journal of 15th June 1854:

In late 1858, William attempted to poach on the land of a local lord, Lord Clinton. Such was reported in the North Devon Journal of  9th December 1858:

A year later, in 1859, William was again caught attemping to poach - this time on land belonging to the local reverand. From the Exeter Flying Post of 13th October 1859:

Sometime in the late 1850's, Mary, Robert and their youngest child John moved from Dolton to Torrington. Also living with the family was Mary and Robert's grandson William, the illegitimate son of their fourth child and eldest daughter Mary. It's nice William stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

In 1871, when Mary was around seventy-two, her husband Robert passed away, aged about seventy-four. He was was buried on 31st January in Dolton.

It seems Robert spent the last years of his life back in Dolton, for there he was buried and there Mary, widowed, and their grandson William can be found living together, back by the brook, in the 1871 Census.

1871 Census:

Mary herself passed away in late 1877. She was buried on 9th December 1877 in Dolton.

Great x4 Grandfather Robert Dyment

My Great x4 Grandfather Robert (1796 - 1871) was an agricultural labourer, husbandman, later a road contractor, and father of nine.

Robert's family surname varies on different records, such as: Dyment, Diment, Dymont, Dymond, Dimond.

Census records imply Robert was born around 1796 in Beaford, Devon. Annoyingly two Robert Dyments were baptised in Beaford around the same time: firstly a Robert Dyment on 22nd February 1795 to Robert and Sarah; and secondly a Robert Dyment on 12th February 1797 to Francis and Martha. It is difficult, if not impossible, to work out which is ours.

On 2nd June 1822, Robert (about 26), a labourer, married Mary Cudmore (about 23), in Mary's native Dolton. Each left only a mark on their marriage certificate, implying neither could write.

Robert and Mary had nine children:

• Robert  1824 -
• Thomas  1825 -
• William  1828 - 1849 (21 years old)
• Mary  1830 -
• Elizabeth  1832 - 1842 (10 years old)
• Martha  1833 - 
• Susan/Susanna  1836 - 1853 (18 years old)
• Joanna  1839 - 1853 (14 years old)
• John  1841 -

All nine children were baptised in Dolton and grew up there. Sadly four of their children passed away young.

1841 Census:

In 1842, when Robert was in his mid forties, his fifth child Elizabeth passed away, aged only ten years old, in Dolton. She was buried on the 16th August 1842 in Dolton.

Seven years later, in 1849, his third son William also passed away, aged twenty-one years old, in Dolton. He was buried on 12th August 1849 in Dolton.

On Elizabeth and William's records of burial their residence is listened as alas Torrington Union [Work]House. Poor families often ussed local workhouses for cheap or free health care. These young persons may have been receiving medical care in the workhouse before their premature deaths there. The Censuses imply the family were not living in the workhouse, or if they did it was not for long.

In middle age, it appears Robert changed career: whilst the 1841 Census lists his occupation as a simple labourer, by the time of the 1851 Census he was recorded as a road contractor. Later Censuses also list Robert's second son Thomas as a Roadman - it seems he followed in his father's trade.

1851 Census:

In 1853, Robert's eighth child Joanna also passed away, aged only fourteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 11th Marth 1853.

And later that same year, his seventh child Susan passed away, aged eighteen years old, in Dolton. She was buried on 28th August 1853.

Sometime in the late 1850s, Robert, his wife Mary and youngest child John moved from Dolton to Torrington. Also living with the family was Robert and Mary's grandson William, the illegitimate son of their fourth child and eldest daughter Mary. It's nice William stayed with the family.

1861 Census:

Robert passed away, aged about seventy-four, in 1871. He was buried on 31st January 1871 in Dolton.

It seems Robert spent the last years of his life back in Dolton, for there he was buried and there his widow Mary and grandson William can be found living together, back by the brook, in the 1871 Census.