Great x3 Uncle John Fisher

My Great x3 Uncle John (1866 - 1933) was an agricultural labourer, father of two, and the older brother of my Great Great Grandmother Alice Brownscombe Easterbrook (nee Fisher) (1868 - 1929).

John was born around October 1866 in the district of Barnstaple, Devon to Richard Fisher (about 20), an agricultural labourer and horseman on a farm, and Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' Fisher (nee Brownscombe) (about 22), a work woman on a farm.

John was likely named after her paternal grandfather, also called John Fisher, who sadly passed away suddenly, due to an accident whilst turnip picking, earlier in 1866.

John was baptised on 2nd October 1866 in Challacombe, Devon. At the time, the family resided at Westland Cottage, Challacombe. John and his siblings spent their whole childhoods there, and their parents would live there for many years more. Their cottage was a real home for over sixty years! John's father Richard worked as a skilled farm labourer at the Smyth family farm at nearby Wistlandpound for over fifty years!

It seems John's father Richard was a lovely man. In a eulogy to Richard in the North Devon Journal on 15th August 1929, he is described as: "A man of a bright and happy nature, he had a smile and a kindly word for all".

John was the second of three children (two daughters and one son):

• Mary  1865 - between 1881 and 1929 (at least 16 years old)
• John  1866 - 1933 (66 years old)
• Alice Brownscombe  1868 - 1929  (60 years old)

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

From his teens, John worked as an agricultural labourer.

In his twenties, he bordered with fellow agricultural labourer Josiah Parker and his family at New Mills, Shirwell.

1891 Census:

In Apr/May/Jun 1892, John (25), an agricultural labourer, married Lucy Hutchings (about 27), formerly a dairy maid and then domestic cook, in the district of Barnstaple.

They had 2 children:

• Alfred Richard  1895
• Blanche Mary  1897 - 1925  (28 years old)

1901 Census:

On 1st May 1904, John's wife Lucy passed away, aged thirty-nine, in Lower Loxbore, in the district of Barnstaple. She was buried on 4th May 1904 in Loxhore.

John was left a widower, with two children - aged eight or nine and six.

1911 Census: 

His only son Alfred moved to Canada, aged eighteen, in 1913.

Alfred served in the Canadian army during the First World War. Thankfully he survived.

Alfred's Attestation Papers give a brief physical description of John's only son. At eighteen, Alfred was 5' 11 1/2'', had a dark complexion, dark brown hair and grey eyes. He was also a Methodist. Was John a Methodist too? Did Alfred look like his father?

Twelve years after his first wife's death, John remarried. In Jul/Aug/Sep 1916, John (49), an agricultural labourer, married Lilian Elizabeth Stribling (33 or 34), a dressmaker, in the district of Barnstaple.

1921 Census:

At some point in the 1920's, John, his second wife Lilian, daughter Blanche, son-in-law Albert, and young grandchildren moved to and lived at 23 Charles Street, Barnstaple.

On 24th July 1925, John's only daughter Blanche died, aged twenty-eight. She left behind two young children, Lucy (2) and Reginald 'Reggie' (not yet 1).

John, family and friends attended Blanche's funeral at United Methodist Church, Barnstaple, on 28th July 1925

From the North Devon Herald of 6th August 1925:

In 1929, John faced too more losses: his younger sister Alice and father Richard passed away.

And in 1932, his mother Bessie/Betsy passed away.

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1933, John himself passed away, aged 66, in the North Devon Infirmary.

He was buried on the 9th March 1933, in Loxhore Churchyard.

From the North Devon Journal of 9th March 1933:

Like his children, Alfred and Blanche, John was a methodist. He was a member of the church and superintended of the Sunday School. 

Whilst he was a farm labourer and carter earlier in life - for example in the employ of Mr Yendell at Loxhore Barton - he later ran a boot and shore repairing business in Brayford.

From the North Devon Journal of 16th March 1933:

John's son Alfred 'Alf' was living in Canada at time of his sister Blanche's death in 1925. The next year, he named his third daughter after his sister.

By the time of his father's death in 1933, Alfred was a driver on the Isle of Man.

John's widow Lilian, widowed son-in-law Albert, and grandchildren Lucy and Reggie, were still living at the family home of 23 Charles Street, Barnstaple, at the time of the 1939 Register.

Lilian outlived her husband by fourteen years. She passed away, aged sixty-four, in Jan/Feb/Mar 1947, Barnstaple.

Great x3 Aunt Mary Fisher

My Great x3 Aunt Mary (1865 - 1???) was the older sister of my Great Great Grandmother Alice Browncombe Easterbook (nee Fisher) (1868 - 1929). 

Mary was born in Mar/Apr/May 1864 in the district of Barnstaple, Devon to Richard Fisher (20), an agricultural labourer and horseman on a farm, and Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' Fisher (nee Brownscombe) (22), a work woman on a farm.

Mary was baptised on 5th June 1864 in Parracombe, Devon. 

Mary and her younger siblings spent their childhoods at the family home of Westland Cottage in Challacombe, and their parents would live there for many years more. Their cottage was a real home for over sixty years! There is a Westland Farm in Challacombe still today. I wonder if Mary's parents and later her brother worked as labourers at Westland Farm.

It seems Mary's father Richard was a lovely man. In a eulogy to Richard in the North Devon Journal on 15th August 1929, he is described as: "A man of a bright and happy nature, he had a smile and a kindly word for all".

Mary was the oldest of three children (two daughters and one son):

• Mary  1865 - between 1881 and 1929 (at least 16 years old)
• John  1866 - 1933 (66 years old)
• Alice Brownscombe  1868 - 1929  (60 years old)

1871 Census:

As a teenager, Mary lived at and worked as a domestic servant at Wistlandpound farm in Kentisbury. Mary's father Richard also worked there, for the Smyth family, for over fifty years! Mary and Richard's employer was Frederick Smyth, a farmer of 1000 acres and the manager of the Exmoor estate owned by the Knight family.

1881 Census: 

Wistlandpound Farmhouse

Wistlandpound Farmhouse from above

Sadly, I am presently struggling to find Mary on records after her teenage years. Hopefully I will find something in the future.

 

What we do know is that Mary predeceased her father Richard, who died in 1929, as his death was reported in the local newspaper and his only surviving child is given as his son John.

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

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

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

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

Frances seems to have been an only child.

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

Signature as Frances Keel, 1830

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

Frances and Robert had one daughter:

• Elizabeth Jane  1831 -

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

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

Signature as Frances Abbott, 1834

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

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

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel  1842 - 1850  (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 - 1929  (84 years old)
• Henry  1847 - 1847  (2 months old)
• James  1847 - 1847  (less than 2 months old)

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

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

1841 Census:

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

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

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

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

1851 Census:

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

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

1861 Census:

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

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

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

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

1871 Census:

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

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

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

Great x4 Grandfather John Fisher

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

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

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

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

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

• John  1834 -
• Mary  1837 -
• William  1840 -
• Samuel  1842 - 1850  (8 years old)
• Richard  1845 - 1929  (84 years old)
• Henry  1847 - 1847  (2 months old)
• James  1847 - 1847  (less than 2 months old)

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

1841 Census:

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

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

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

1851 Census:

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

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

1861 Census:

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

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

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

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

Great x3 Grandmother Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' Fisher (nee Brownscombe)

My Great x3 Grandmother Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' (1843 - 1932) was a house servant, work woman on a farm, housewife, and mother of three.

Records consistently give Bessie or Betsy as her first name, leading me to infer she may have gone by both, and so I refer to her as Bessie/Betsy in this post.

Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' Brownscombe was born in January 1843 in Bratton Fleming, Devon, to Thomas Brownscombe (about 23), a sawyer, and Maria Brownscombe (nee Popham) (about 23), a charwoman and later a domestic cook.

Bessie/Betsy was baptised on 8th January 1843 in Bratton Fleming.

Bessie/Betsy was the eldest of three daughters:

• Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy'  1843 -
• Mary Ann  1846 -
• Katherine 'Kitty'  1850 -

Betsy and her younger sisters grew up in their native Bratton Fleming.

1851 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1859, when Bessie/Betsy was sixteen, her father Thomas passed away, aged about forty, in the district of Barnstaple. Bessie/Betsy's widowed mother Maria found work as a domestic cook for the household of Rev. Humphrey Senhouse Pinder, the generous Rector of Bratton Fleming, whilst her young daughters worked as domestic servants on local farms.

As a young woman, Bessie/Betsy worked as a house and general servant for farmer Philip Dovell at East Middleton in Parracombe, about six miles south Bessie/Betsy's native Bratton Fleming. Also living and working there was Bessie/Betsy's future husband carter Richard Fisher.

1861 Census:

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

Bessie/Betsy Brownscombe's Signature, 1863

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

• Mary  1865 - between 1881 and 1929 (at least 16 years old)
• John  1866 - 1933 (66 years old)
• Alice Brownscombe  1868 - 1929  (60 years old)

Bessie/Betsy's mother-in-law Frances Fisher, after being widowed in 1866, moved in with Bessie/Betsy and her son Richard Fisher and their young family.

Around 1866, Bessie/Betsy and her family moved a few miles south from Parracombe to Challacombe. There the family lived at Westland Cottage. Westland Cottage would be a real home. The family would live there for over sixty years!

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1899, when Bessie/Betsy was fifty-six, her mother Maria passed away, aged about eighty, in the district of Barnstaple.

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

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

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

From the North Devon Journal on 30th May 1929:

Less than three months later, Bessie/Betsy's husband Richard passed away, aged eighty-four, on 5th August 1929, at Westland Cottage.

From the North Devon Journal on 8th August 1929:

His funeral, held on Saturday 10th August 1929 at Challacombe, was reported on. An short eulogy in the newspaper gives a lovely description of Richard's character and career. This was the man Bessie/Betsy married and lived with for over sixty years: a bright, happy, smiley, kind, friendly and hardworking man.

From the North Devon Journal on 15th August 1929:

Bessie/Betsy passed away three years later, aged eighty-nine, in Jan/Feb/Mar 1932 in the district of Barnstaple.

Great x3 Grandfather Richard Fisher

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

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

Richard was baptised on 13th April 1845 in Goodleigh.

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

• Elizabeth Jane  1831 -

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

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

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

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

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

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

1851 Census:

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

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

1861 Census:

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

Richard Fisher's Signature, 1863

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

• Mary  1865 - between 1881 and 1929 (at least 16 years old)
• John  1866 - 1933 (66 years old)
• Alice Brownscombe  1868 - 1929  (60 years old)

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

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

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

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

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

1891 Census:

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

1901 Census:

1911 Census:

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

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

From the North Devon Journal on 30th May 1929:

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

From the North Devon Journal on 8th August 1929:

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

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

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

From the North Devon Journal on 15th August 1929: