Great x3 Half Aunt Patience Easterbook

My Great x3 Half Aunt Patience (1811 - 1811) was an older half sister of my Great Great Grandfather Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook (1839 - 1920).

Patience was born around 1811 in Exbourne, Devon, to Walter Easterbrook (about 22), an agricultural labourer, and Ann Easterbrook (nee Ballamy), a housewife.

Patience was baptised on Christmas Eve (24th December) 1811, in Exbourne.

Patience was the youngest of three children (two girls and one boy):

• Ann  1810 -
• Thomas  1810 - 1811 (0 years old)
• Patience  1811 - 1811 (0 years old)

Sadly Patience's older brother Thomas died young. He was buried seven months after he was baptised. Assuming he was baptised as a young baby, he was probably not yet one year old, when he passed away. On 4th April 1811, Thomas was buried, in Exbourne. 

Eight months later, Patience herself also passed away as a very young baby. 

On 27th December 1811, Patience was buried, in Exbourne. She had only been baptised three days before!

Then Patience's mother Ann passed away.

On 14th October 1812, Ann was buried, in Sampford Courtenay (about two and half miles from Exbourne, where Thomas was baptised).

Later in life, Patience's father Walter had another son.

Patience had one younger half brother:

• Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook 1839 - 1920  (80 years old)

On a personal note, I love the name Patience.

Great x3 Half Uncle Thomas Easterbook

My Great x3 Half Uncle Thomas (1810 - 1811) was an older half brother of my Great Great Grandfather Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook (1839 - 1920).

Thomas was born around 1810 in Exbourne, Devon, to Walter Easterbrook (about 21), an agricultural labourer, and Ann Easterbrook (nee Ballamy), a housewife.

Thomas was baptised, alongside his sister Ann, on 12th August 1810, in Exbourne, Devon. They may have been twins.

Thomas was one of three children (two girls and one boy):

• Ann  1810 -
• Thomas  1810 - 1811 (0 years old)
• Patience  1811 - 1811 (0 years old)

Sadly Thomas died young. He was buried seven months after he was baptised. Assuming he was baptised as a young baby, he was probably not yet one year old, when he passed away.

On 4th April 1811, Thomas was buried, in Exbourne. 

Eight months later, Thomas's younger sister Patience also passed away as a young baby. On 27th December 1811, Patience was buried, in Exbourne.

Then Thomas's mother Ann passed away.

On 14th October 1812, Ann was buried, in Sampford Courtenay (about two and half miles from Exbourne, where Thomas was baptised).

Later in life, Thomas' father Walter had another son.

Thomas had one younger half brother:

• Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook 1839 - 1920  (80 years old)

Great x 3 Half Aunt Ann Easterbrook

My Great x3 Half Aunt Ann (1810 - ?) was an older half sister of my Great Great Grandfather Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook (1839 - 1920).

Ann was born around 1810 in Exbourne, Devon, to Walter Easterbrook (about 21), an agricultural labourer, and Ann Easterbrook (nee Ballamy), a housewife.

Ann was named for her mother.

Ann was baptised, alongside her brother Thomas, on 12th August 1810, in Exbourne, Devon. They may have been twins.

Ann was one of three children (two girls and one boy):

• Ann  1810 -
• Thomas  1810 - 1811 (0 years old)
• Patience  1811 - 1811 (0 years old)

An infant herself, Ann lost both of her siblings.

On 4th April 1811, Thomas was buried, in Exbourne. 

On 27th December 1811, Patience was buried, in Exbourne.

Then Ann's mother passed away.

On 14th October 1812, Ann's mother of the same name was buried, in Sampford Courtenay (about two and half miles from Exbourne, where Ann was born). 

Ann's father Walter was left, in his early twenties, a widower, with little daughter Ann. 

What happened to baby Ann?

Presently, alas, I am struggling to determine, but I will try again to research in the future. 

Later in life, Ann's father Walter had another son.

Ann had one younger half brother:

• Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook 1839 - 1920  (80 years old)

Great x4 Grandmother Sarah Easterbrook (nee Westlake)

My Great x4 Grandmother Sarah (1765 - 1841) was a housewife and mother of nine.

Sarah was born around 1765 in Hatherleigh, Devon, to Richard Westlake (about 34) and Eleanor Westlake (nee Lake) (about 36).

Sarah was baptised on 3rd April 1765 in Hatherleigh.

Sarah was the sixth of eight children (three sons and five daughters)

• Mark  1754 - 1768 (13 years old)
• Eleanor  1756 -
• Richard  1758 -
• Mary  1760 -
• Margaret  1762 -
• Sarah  1765 -
• Robert  1768 -
• Elizabeth  1773 -

All eight siblings were baptised in Hatherleigh - their father's hometown.

In 1768, when Sarah was about three years old, her eldest brother Mark passed away, aged about thirteen. He was buried on 25th May 1768 in Hatherleigh.

On 5th September 1786, Sarah (about 21) married Thomas Easterbrook (about 21) in her native Hatherleigh. On their record of marriage, each left only their mark, implying neither could write. They married in the presence of William Westland, maybe an uncle or cousin of Sarah.

The young couple settled less then five miles away in Thomas' native Exbourne. There all their children was baptised.

Sarah and Thomas had nine children (four daughters and five sons):

• Betty  1787 - 1802  (about 15 years old)
• Walter  1789 -
• Mary  1782 -
• Sarah  1795 -
• Jane  1798 -
• John  1800 -
• Thomas  1802 - 1809  (about 6 years old)
• William  1807 -
• Thomas Westlake  1810 -

Sadly two of their children passed away young. Their eldest child, Betty, passed away, aged about fifteen, in 1802. She was buried on 26th April 1802 in Exbourne. And their seventh child, Thomas, passed away, aged about six, in 1809. He was buried on 7th March 1809 in Exbourne.

Alas I know little about the middle of Sarah and Thomas' married life. They seemingly spent most of it in his native Exbourne. She was likely a housewife, and looked after their many children; whilst he likely worked as an agricultural labourer or had a rural trade, like his son Walter, who was a thatcher.

In 1841, Sarah passed away, aged about seventy-six. She was buried on 16th August 1841 in Exbourne.

Great x4 Grandfather Thomas Easterbrook

My Great x4 Grandfather Thomas (1765 - 1848), was a father of nine.

Thomas was born around 1765 in Exbourne, Devon to Philip Easterbrook (about 39) and Elizabeth Easterbrook (nee Gypson).

Thomas was baptised on 7th July 1765 in Exbourne.

Thomas was the seventh of eight children (two daughters and six sons):

• Elizabeth  1748 -
• John  1754 -
• Philip  1756 -
• Mary  1759 - 
• William  1761 -
• Richard  1763 -
• Thomas  1765 -
• Walter  1767 - 1768 (about 13 months)

In 1768, when Thomas was about three, his younger brother Walter passed away, about only thirteen months old. Walter was buried on 12th September 1768 in Exbourne.

On 5th September 1786, Thomas (about 21) married Sarah Westlake (about 21) in her native Hatherleigh, which is less than five miles from Thomas' native Exbourne. On their record of marriage, each left other their mark, implying neither could write. They married in the presence of William Westlake, likely a close relation of Sarah.

Thomas and Sarah had nine children (four daughters and five sons):

• Betty  1787 - 1802  (about 15 years old)
• Walter  1789 -
• Mary  1792 -
• Sarah  1795 -
• Jane  1798 -
• John  1800 -
• Thomas  1802 - 1809  (about 6 years old)
• William  1807 -
• Thomas Westlake  1810 -

In 1793, when Thomas was about twenty-eight, his father Philip passed away, aged about sixty-seven. Philip was buried on 30th October 1793 in Exbourne.

In 1798, when Thomas was about thirty-three, his mother Elizabeth passed away, likely in her seventies. Elizabeth was buried on 13th November 1798 in Exbourne.

Sadly two of Thomas and Sarah's children passed away young. Their eldest child, Betty, passed away, aged about fifteen, in 1802. She was buried on 26th April 1802 in Exbourne. And their seventh child, Thomas, passed away, aged about six, in 1809. He was buried on 7th March 1809 in Exbourne.

Alas I know little about the middle of Thomas' life. He seemingly spent most of his life in his native Exbourne, and likely worked as an agricultural labourer or had a rural trade, like his son Walter, who was a thatcher.

In 1841, when Thomas was about seventy-six, her wife Sarah passed away, aged about seventy-six. She was buried on 16th August 1841 in Exbourne.

In 1848, Thomas passed away, aged about eighty-three. He was buried on 3rd July 1848, in Exbourne.

Great x3 Grandmother Dinah Herd (nee Bennett)

My Great x3 Grandmother Dinah (1805 - 1869) was a servant, housekeeper, and mother of two.

Dinah Bennett was born around 1805 in Sampford Courtenay, Devon, to William Coombe (about 23) and Loveday Bennett (about 19), a female servant.

Dinah was illegitimate. She was baptised Dinah Coombe, on 11th August 1805 in Sampford Courtenay, but would later go by Dinah Bennett. Her father William Coombe was ordered by the parish to pay maintenance. He was the son of Loveday's employer, Simon Coombe, who Loveday, back when about eleven-years-old, was apprenticed to in 1794.

On 4th November 1811, when Dinah was six, her mother Loveday married George Turner, a labourer, in Stoke Damerel, near Plymouth, which is over thirty-miles south of Dinah's native Sampford Courtenay.

Soon Dinah gained nine younger half siblings (six sisters 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 -

Sometime between 1822 and 1825, the family moved back northwards to Jacobstowe, which is only three miles west of Dinah's native Sampford Courtenay.

On 9th January 1826, Dinah (about 20) married William Herd, a sawyer, in St Mary Steps, Exeter. Whilst William left only his mark, implying he could not write, Dinah was able to sign her name.

Dinah Bennett's Signature, 1826

Sadly, less than six months later, two of Dinah's younger half sisters, Eliza and Susan, passed away in infancy. 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. Touchingly, Dinah, who was about one or two months pregnant with her first child at the time, would name that child, a daughter, after her sisters. Eliza Susan Herd was baptised on 26th February 1827 in Jacobstowe. Eliza Susan was Dinah and William's only child.

Just over one year later, another of Dinah's young siblings sadly passed away in infancy. George was only four months old, when he passed away, in 1828. He was buried on 9th March 1828 in Jacobstowe. George had been his mother's eighth child, but her first son - I imagine his death was felt acutely.

Around 1834, Dinah's husband William went to America. He had been absent over three years, when on 19th July 1839, Dinah (about 34) gave birth to an illegitimate son, Ezekiel, in Exbourne, which is only about one and half miles from Jacobstowe. Ezekiel was baptised on 25th August 1839 in Exbourne. Ezekiel's birth certificate would acknowledge his father to be widower Walter Easterbrook (about 50), an agricultural labourer and thatcher. On Ezekiel's baptism record and when a baby on the 1841 census, his surname is given as Herd (his mother Dinah's married name); however, on all later records, Herd is listed as his middle name, Easterbrook is listed as his surname, and Walter is listed as his father.

Though Dinah and Walter would never marry - likely because she was still married, though to an absent husband - they would live together for many years, with their son Ezekiel. On censuses, Dinah's given relationship to Walter is inconsistent: she is listed as his servant, housekeeper and visitor.

In 1841, when Dinah was about thirty-five, her step-father George Turner passed away, aged about fifty-four. He was buried on 21st February 1814 in Jacobstowe. Dinah's widowed mother Loveday would find work as a servant.

1841 Census:

On 16th November 1847, Dinah's daughter Eliza (about 20) married labourer and excavator Walter Chapman (about 28), in Stoke Damerel. Meanwhile, Dinah remarried in Exbourne.

1851 Census:

In 1854, when Dinah was about forty-nine, her mother Loveday passed away, aged about sixty-eight, in Jacobstowe. She was buried on 25th June 1854 in Jacobstowe.

On 7th March 1859, Dinah's son Ezekiel (19), a blacksmith, married glover Mary Saunders (22) in her native Highampton. Mary moved in with Ezekiel and his parents. Two years later, in 1861, the family could be found living in Brooks Cottage, Towns End, Okehampton.

1861 Census:

In January 1862, when Dinah was about fifty-six, Walter Easterbrook, the father of her son, passed away, aged seventy-two, in Exbourne. He was buried on 24th January 1862 in Exbourne.

In July 1869, Dinah herself passed away, aged about sixty-four, in Exbourne. She was buried on 23rd July 1869 in Exbourne.

Great x3 Grandfather Walter Easterbrook

My Great x3 Grandfather Walter (1789 - 1862) was an agricultural labourer, thatcher, beerhouse keeper, and father of four.

Walter Easterbrook was born around 1789 in Exbourne, Devon to Thomas Easterbrook (about 24) and Sarah Easterbrook (nee Westlake) (about 24).

Walter was baptised on 29th November 1789 in Hatherleigh, which is less than five miles from Exbourne, and his mother Sarah's hometown. All his siblings were baptised in Exbourne.

Walter was the second of nine children (four daughter and five sons):

• Betty  1787 - 1802 (about 15 years old)
• Walter  1789 -
• Mary  1792 -
• Sarah  1795 -
• Jane  1798 -
• John  1800 -
• Thomas  1802 - 1809 (about 6 years old)
• William  1807 - 
• Thomas Westlake  1810 -

Sadly two of Walter's siblings passed away young: in 1802, when Walter was about thirteen, his older sister Betty passed away, aged about fifteen; and in 1809, when Walter was about twenty, his younger brother Thomas passed away, aged about six.

On Valentine's Day 1810, Walter (21) married Ann Ballamy in Exbourne. Ann left only her mark on their marriage certificate, implying she could not write; however, Walter was able to sign his name.

Walter Easterbrook's Signature, 1810

Walter and Ann had three children (two daughters and one son):

• Ann  1810 - 
• Thomas  1810 - 1811 (0 years old)
• Patience  1811 - 1811 (0 years old)

Walter and Ann's oldest children, Ann and Thomas, were likely twins, being baptised together. Sadly Thomas and his younger sister Patience passed away as babies in 1811. Thomas was buried on 4th April, and Patience was buried on the 27th December, both in Exbourne.

Sadly it seems Walter's wife Ann soon passed away too. She was buried 14th October 1812 in Sampford Courtenay, which is about two or three miles east of Exbourne. The next registered burial on the register is that of a Jane Ballamy on 30th November. Was Jane perhaps a relative of Ann? Maybe an unmarried sister?

So Walter was left, in his early twenties, a widower, with little daughter Ann. What happened to her?

An Ann Mitchell alais Easterbrook married a Richard Knott of Sampford Countenay in Exbourne in 1831, when Walter's daughter Ann would have been in her early twenties. I looked for Mitchells in Exbourne and for a Mitchell/Easterbrook marriage. I found only a marriage between a Christopher Mitchell and Grace Easterbrook (somehow likely a relative of Walter) in Exbourne in 1809. Behold - the 1841 Census shows that Walter and Christopher's household were close neighbours. Christopher and Grace don't appear to have had a daughter called Ann, though they were having children around the time Ann was born, as proved by baptism records. I wonder if they took in little motherless Ann and raised her with their own children. The 1841 Census shows Ann Knott, born around 1811, with her husband Richard and their children in Sampford Countenay; the 1851 Census shows them there again and confirms Ann was born around 1810 in Exbourne. And the only Ann Mitchell or Easterbrook born around then and there was Walter's daughter.

Whilst his little girl was most likely cared for by his neighbouring female relation Grace Mitchell and her family, young widower Walter worked as an agricultural labourer and later a thatcher. He didn't remarry.

It was over nearly thirty years later, when Walter was around fifty, that his second family was born.

On 19th July 1839 in Exbourne, Dinah Herd (nee Bennett) (about 34), a servant and housekeeper, gave birth to Ezekiel Herd. Importantly Ezekiel's birth certificate acknowledges Walter (about fifty) as the father. On Ezekiel's birth certificate, Walter's occupation is listed as beerhouse keeper.

Walter and Dinah did not marry, but would live together for many years. Dinah was a married woman, whose husband William Herd, according to Ezekiel's baptism record, at the time of Ezekiel's conception and birth in 1839, was absent and had been in America above three years.

Ezekiel was baptised on 25th August in 1839 in Exbourne, with his mother's married name Herd; and when a baby on the 1841 Census he was again listed with Herd as his surname; however on all later records, Ezekiel is listed with Herd as is middle name, Easterbrook as his surname, and Walter as his father.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

In 1859, when Walter was about seventy, his son Ezekiel married. His young wife Mary would move in with the Easterbrook family, who around that time moved from Exbourne about five or six miles south to Okehampton. Ezekiel would work for many years as a blacksmith, which would have required an apprenticeship in youth. Did Walter secure his son an apprenticeship with the local blacksmith?

1861 Census:

In January 1862, Walter passed away, aged about seventy-two, in his native Exbourne. He was buried on 24th January 1862 in Exbourne.

Great Great Grandfather Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook

My Great Great Grandfather Ezekiel (1839 - 1920) was a blacksmith, farrier, innkeeper, and father of two.

Ezekiel Herd Easterbrook was born on 19th July 1839 in Exbourne, Devon to Walter Easterbrook (about 50), an agricultural labourer and thatcher, and Dinah Herd (nee Bennett) (about 34), a servant and housekeeper.

Notably Ezekiel's parents were not married, but would live together for many years. Dinah was a married woman, whose husband William Herd, according to Ezekiel's baptism record, at the time of his Ezekiel's conception and birth in 1839, was absent and had been in America above three years.

Ezekiel had four older half siblings. Three were the legitimate children of his father Walter and his wife Ann Ballamy:

• Ann  1810 - 
• Thomas  1810 - 1811 (0 years old)
• Patience  1811 - 1811 (0 years old)

And another legitimate one from his mother Dinah's marriage to William Herd:

• Eliza Susan 1827 -

Did Ezekiel know of his older half siblings?

Ezekiel was baptised on 25th August 1839 in Exbourne, Devon.

Ezekiel was baptised with his mother's married name Herd, and when a baby on the 1841 Census he was again listed with Herd as his surname; however, importantly, on Ezekiel's birth certificate, Walter Easterbrook is acknowledged to be his father. On all later records, Ezekiel would be listed with Herd as his middle name, Easterbrook as his surname, and Walter as his father.

Ezekiel grew up in Exbourne.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

On 7th March 1859, Ezekiel (19), a blacksmith, married Mary Saunders (22), a glover, in her native Highampton, Devon. At the time of their marriage, both were living in Highampton. It seems Mary could not write, as she left only her mark on her marriage certificate; however, Ezekiel could and did sign his name:

Ezekiel's Signature as a Young Man (aged 19), from 1859 Marriage Certificate

Ezekiel's Signature as an Old Man (aged 71), from 1911 Census

Mary moved in with Ezekiel and his parents. Two years later, in 1861, the family could be found living in Brooks Cottage, Towns End, Okehampton.

1861 Census:

In January 1862, when Ezekiel was twenty-two, his father Walter passed aged, aged seventy-two, in Exbourne.

In July 1869, as Ezekiel was just turning thirty, his mother Dinah passed away, aged sixty-four, in Exbourne.

Come the early 1870s, Ezekiel had taken on an apprentice blacksmith.

1871 Census:

Sometime in the 1870s, Ezekiel and Mary moved back to his native Exbourne.

1881 Census:

Around 1881, as well as working a blacksmith, it seems Ezekiel was also an innkeeper for a while.

From the North Devon Journal on 12th May 1881:

In the 1880s, Ezekiel and Mary moved again from Exbourne to Thornbury.

1891 Census:

In January 1901, when Ezekiel was sixty-one, his wife Mary passed away, aged sixty-four, in Thornbury.

1901 Census:

Ezekiel soon remarried. Some six to eight months after his first wife's death, in Jul/Aug/Sep 1901, Ezekiel (62) married Alice Brownscombe Fisher (32), a housekeeper, in the district of Holsworthy. Ezekiel was thirty years older than Alice!

On 21st July 1902, Ezekiel became a father for the first time, two days after his sixty-three birthday!

Ezekiel and Alice had two daughters:

• Dinah Bessie  1902 - 1976
• Alice Brownscombe  1904 - 1981

They would name their first daughter, Dinah Bessie, after her grandmothers, each of their mothers: Ezekiel's mother Dinah Herd (nee Bennett) and Alice's mother Elizabeth 'Bessie/Betsy' Fisher (nee Brownscombe). They would name their second daughter after her mother, Alice Brownscombe.

Both Dinah and Alice junior were born in Black Torrington, implying the family lived there in the early 1900s.

By 1907, Ezekiel and his young family had moved to Henwood Cottage in Broadwoodkelly.

By 1909, they had moved to Park View, also in Broadwoodkelly.

1911 Census:

In Apr/May/Jun 1920, Ezekiel passed away, aged eighty, in the district of Okehampton. At the time of his death, his unmarried seventeen year old daughter Dinah was between three and five months pregnant with her first child. Sadly family legend states Dinah was kicked out by her parents for falling pregnant before marriage.