Great x4 Grandfather William Vernon

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.

Great x4 Grandmother Martha Brealey (nee Hill)

My Great x4 Grandmother Martha (1805 - 1837) was a housewife and mother of three.

Martha Hill was born around 1805 in Coldridge, Devon, to George Hill (about 34), a husbandman and labourer, and Elizabeth Hill (nee Steer) (about 28).

Martha was baptised on the 12th May 1805 in Coldridge.

Martha was the fifth of eleven children (five sons and six daughters):

• John  1797 -
• Mary  1799 -
• Betsy  1802 -
• William  1803 - before 1812 (0 - 9 years old)
• Martha  1805 -
• Harriet  1811 -
• William  1812 -
• Thomas  1814 - 1823  (9 years old)
• Susannah  1816 - 1817  (19 weeks old)
• James  1818 - 1824  (7 years old)
• Susannah  1819 -

Martha lost four of her siblings young. Her older brother William passed away either before Martha was born or when she was very young.

In 1817, when Martha was about twelve years old, her younger sister Susannah passed away at only nineteen weeks old.

Two years later, in 1819, when Martha was fourteen years old, her father George passed away, aged about forty-eight, leaving behind a widow and ten children.

Another two years later, when Martha was sixteen, her mother Elizabeth remarried. On Christmas Day 1821, Elizabeth (44) married Philip Osborn, in Coldridge.

Around 1822, when Martha was about seventeen, she and her family moved about five miles south west from Coldridge to North Tawton.

In 1823, when Martha was eighteen, her younger brother Thomas passed away, aged only nine years old.

In 1824, when Martha was nineteen, her younger brother James passed away, aged only seven years old.

On 27th June 1830, Martha (25) married Richard (22), a carpenter, in his native North Tawton. Martha was about three months pregnant when they married.

Both were able to sign their name on their record of marriage.

Martha Hill's Signature, 1830

Martha and Richard had three sons:

• George  1830 -
• Robert  1833 -
• Richard  1835 -

In 1837, Martha passed away, aged thirty-two, in North Tawton. She was buried on 2nd December 1837 in North Tawton.

She left behind a widower in Richard and three infant sons - George (6), Robert (4) and Richard (2).

Great x4 Grandfather Richard Knight Brealey

My Great x4 Grandfather Richard (1808 - 1892) was a carpenter, wheelwright, and father of eight.

Richard Knight Brealey was born around 1808, in North Tawton, Devon, to George Brealey (22), a carpenter, and Elizabeth Brealey (nee Knight).

Richard was baptised on 17th January 1808 in North Tawton.

Richard was the fourth of nine children (five daughters and four sons):

• Betty  1802 -
• Lucy  1804 -
• Mary  1806 -
• Richard Knight  1808 -
• Ann  1812 -
• Henry  1814 - 1814 (10 days old)
• John  1815 -
• Henry  1818 -
• Margaret  1820 - 1844 (23 years old)

All nine were baptised in North Tawton.

In 1814, when Richard was six, his younger brother Henry passed away, aged only 10 days old.

On 27th June 1830, Richard (22), a carpenter, married Martha Hill (25), in North Tawton, Devon. Martha was about three months pregnant when they married.

Both were able to sign their name of their record of marriage.

Richard Knight Brealey's Signature

Richard and Martha had three sons:

• George  1830 -
• Robert  1833 -
• Richard  1835 -

In 1837, when Richard was twenty-nine, his wife Martha passed away, aged thirty-two, in North Tawton. Richard was then a young widower, with three infant sons.

Richard soon remarried. On 2nd September 1838, Richard (29) married Ann Hill (about 28) in St Edmund's Church, Exeter. They married in the presence of Ann's father George Hill. Again Richard signed his name, but Ann left only a mark. Though Martha and Ann both had the maiden name Hill, it looked unlikely they were closely related.

At the time of their marriage, both Richard and Ann resided in Edmund Street, Exeter.

Drawing of St Edmund's Church and Edmund Street, Exeter, c 1830's. Richard lived and married here in 1838.

Photograph of St Edmund's Church and Edmund Street, Exeter, c 1860's

Though Richard and Ann married in Exeter, they soon returned to his native North Tawton.

Richard and his second wife Ann had four children:

• John  1839 - 1845  (5 years old)
• William  1841 -
• Martha  1843 - 1845  (2 years old)
• Henry 'Harry'  1845 -

Richard may have named his daughter Martha after his first wife.

1841 Census:

In 1845, when Richard was thirty-eight, two of his infant children, John and Martha died of measles. Both were buried on 11th May 1845 in North Tawton.

Only two days later, Richard's youngest son Henry was baptised on 13th May 1845. He was born right in the middle of a local measles outbreak that killed two of his older siblings.

Six years later, in 1851, when Richard was forty-four, his second wife Ann passed away, aged forty-four, in North Tawton. She was buried on 6th September 1852, in North Tawton.

In his mid forties, Richard had lost two wives and two young children. He was a single father with five young sons, ranging from five to twenty years old.

1851 Census:

Three years after his second wife Ann's death, Richard married again for a third time. On 26th June 1854, Richard (46) married Agnes Evans (36), in North Tawton.

Richard and Agnes had one daughter:

• Selina  1856 -

1861 Census:

1871 Census:

1881 Census:

By the late 1880's, Richard's wife Agnes had grown blind.

Tragedy struck Richard and his family in 1889, when Richard was eighty-one years old.

Firstly, Henry 'Harry', Richard's youngest son from his second marriage, was charged with manslaughter, having hit his mistress Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Redway, who fell back, hit her head, and died. He was sentenced to ten days hard labour.

Secondly, William, Richard's second son from his second marriage, who was dying from stomach cancer, in great pain and suffering from depression, killed himself, slitting his throat with a razor.

1891 Census:

Interestingly, by the 1890's, an elderly Richard was able to keep a servant.

Many of Richard's sons followed him into carpentry, becoming carpenters, joiners and wheelwrights. Richard himself worked as a carpenter into his eighties.

In 1892, a about a week or two before his eight-forth birthday, Richard passed away. He was buried on 2nd January 1892 in North Tawton.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Havill (nee Parker)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1799 - 1875) was a laundress and mother of nine.

Mary Parker was born around 1799 in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, to John Parker, an innkeeper and maltster (about 28), and Betty Parker (nee Hill) (about 24).

Mary was baptised on 12th May 1799 in Wiveliscombe.

Mary was the eldest of seven children (five daughters and two sons):

• Mary  1799 -
• James  1802 -
• Betty  1804 - 1806  (about 18 months)
• Betty  1806 -
• Maria  1809 -
• Jane  1813 -
• John  1816 -

In 1806, when Mary was about seven, her younger sister Betty passed away, aged only about eighteen months.

Sometime as a girl or young woman, Mary moved about twenty-six miles south from Wiveliscombe to Aylesbeare, Devon.

On 24th March 1822, Mary (22) married John Havill (23), a farm labourer, in Aylesbeare. On their record of marriage, neither could sign their name.

Also in 1822, Mary's mother Betty passed away, aged about forty-seven, in Wiveliscombe. She was buried on 6th September 1822.

Mary and John had nine children (five sons and four daughters):

• Jane  1822 -
• Anna Maria  1826 -
• Elizabeth  1829 - 1829 (about one week old)
• George  1830 -
• James  1833 -
• William  1836 -
• Robert  1838 -
• Henry  1840 -
• Elizabeth  1843 -

In 1829, when Mary was about thirty, her third daughter, Elizabeth, passed away, aged about only one week, in Aylesbeare.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

1861 Census:

The Censuses show Mary and John took in Thomas, the illegitimate son of their eldest daughter Jane, and Walter, the illegitimate son of their youngest daughter Elizabeth.

On 1st November 1870, when Mary was seventy-three, her husband John passed away, aged seventy-two, in Exeter Hospital. His death was the result of a road accident. He fell off a wagon that turned a tight corner too quickly. He was buried on 9th November 1870, in Aylesbeare. After her husband's death, Mary moved in with her youngest daughter Elizabeth and her family.

1871 Census:

In 1875, Mary herself passed away, aged seventy-six, in Aylesbeare. She was buried on 13th May 1875, in Aylesbeare.

Great x4 Grandfather John Havill

My Great x4 Grandfather John (1798 - 1870) was a farm labourer and father of nine.

John Havill was born in 1798 in Aylesbeare, Devon, to John Havill, a labourer, and Elizabeth Havill (nee ?).

John was baptised on 4th November 1798 in Aylesbeare.

John was the second of five children (two daughters and three sons):

• Elizabeth  1796 -
• John  1798 -
• James  1801 - 1901 (about nine months old)
• James Russell  1807 -
• Mary Ann 1814 -

In 1801, when John was about three years old, his younger brother James passed away, aged only about nine months old.

On 24th March 1822, John (23), a labourer, married Somersetian Mary Parker (22), in his native Aylesbeare. Neither could sign their name on their record of marriage, but left their mark.

John and Mary had nine children (five sons and four daughters):

• Jane  1822 -
• Anna Maria  1826 -
• Elizabeth  1829 - 1829 (about one week old)
• George  1830 -
• James  1833 -
• William  1836 -
• Robert  1838 -
• Henry  1840 -
• Elizabeth  1843 -

In 1829, when John was about thirty-one, his third daughter Elizabeth passed away, aged bout only one week old, in Aylesbeare.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

1861 Census:

The Censuses show John and Mary took in Thomas, the illegitimate son of their eldest daughter Jane, and Walter, the illegitimate son of their youngest daughter Elizabeth.

On 1st November 1870, John passed away, aged seventy-two, in Exeter Hospital. His death was the result of a road accident. He fell off a wagon that turned a tight corner too quickly.

The accident was reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette Daily Telegrams of 5th November 1870:

John was buried on 9th November 1870, in Aylesbeare.

Great x4 Grandmother Mary Mutters (nee Marks)

My Great x4 Grandmother Mary (1797 - 1869) was a lacemaker and mother of five.

Mary Marks was born around 1796 in Woodbury, Devon, to Thomas Marks (about 24), a husbandman, and Mary Marks (nee Pearse) (about 29).

Mary was baptised on 4th January 1797 in Woodbury.

Mary was the third of nine children (three sons and six daughters):

• William  1792 - 1792 or 1806 (1 week or 14 years old)
• Sarah  1793 - 1810 (17 years old)
• Mary  1797 -
• Elizabeth  1799 -
• Maria  1803 -
• Thomas  1805 -
• Jemima  1807 - 1808 (11 months old)
• William  1809 -
• Sarah  1815 -

Three of Mary siblings passed away in childhood.

On 9th October 1825, Mary (28), a lacemaker, married John Mutters (20), a carpenter and sexton at Woodbury Church, in Woodbury. Mary was about eight months pregnant when she married.

Mary and John had five children (two sons and three daughters):

• George  1825 -
• Elizabeth  1827 - 1854  (26 years old)
• Mary Ann  1930 - 1848  (18 years old)
• William  1831 -
• Thomas Marks  1834 - 1838  (4 years old)

Mary's youngest son Thomas passed away in infancy, aged four years old. Her daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann, passed away as young women.

1841 Census:

1851 Census:

In 1862, when Mary was sixty-five, her husband John passed, aged fifty-seven, in Woodbury. He was buried on 14th September 1862, in Woodbury.

In 1869, Mary passed away, aged about seventy-two, in Woodbury. She was buried on 26th December 1869, in Woodbury.

Great x4 Grandfather John Mutters

My Great x4 Grandfather John Mutters (1804 - 1862) was a carpenter, sexton, and father of five.

John Mutters was born around 1804 in Woodbury, Devon, to George Mutters (about 41) and Grace Mutters (nee Fley) (about 41).

John was the couple's only child. He was baptised on 18th November 1804 in Woodbury.

On 9th October 1825, John (20), a carpenter, married Mary Marks (28), a lacemaker, in Woodbury. Mary was about eight months pregnant when she married.

John and Mary had five children (two sons and three daughters):

• George  1825 -
• Elizabeth  1827 - 1854  (26 years old)
• Mary Ann  1830 - 1848  (18 years old)
• William  1831 -
• Thomas Marks  1834 - 1838  (4 years old)

John's youngest son Thomas passed away in infancy, aged four years old. His daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann, passed away as young women.

In 1827, when John was twenty-two, his mother Grace passed away, aged about sixty-four, in Woodbury. She was buried on 4th October 1827.

In 1836, when John was thirty-one, his father George passed away, aged seventy-three, in Woodbury. He was buried on 5th June 1836.

1841 Census:

As he was the village carpenter, John likely made the coffins of his parents and three children who died young. As well as the village carpenter, John was sexton at Woodbury Church. A sexton's roles included digging graves, so he may have dug their graves as well.

Old Print of St Swithun's Church Woodbury. John was sexton here in the 1840's and 1850's.

In 1846, a new vicar came to Woodbury called Rev. Fulford. Fulford caused upset in the village as he preached the new Tractarianism (which later developed into Anglo-Catholicism) and not Church of England Protestantism.

An article in the Western Times from 22nd January 1848 shows John, here described as "respectable", standing up to Fulford by refusing to hand over the church keys.

1851 Census:

In 1862, John passed away, aged fifty-seven. He was buried on 14th September 1862, in Woodbury.