Tuesday, 21 April 2026

William White and Susan Lynes

St John the Baptist & All Saints, Lakenham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Graham Hardy - geograph.org.uk/p/153352

William White (b. 1834, bap. 26 Jun 1836 in Mattishall), son of William White and Ann Francis, married Susan Lynes, on 21 Apr 1856, at St John the Baptist, Lakenham, Norwich. Susan lists her father as Thomas Lynes, Gamekeeper. In 1851, Susan Lynes, then giving her age as 26, from South Creake, Norfolk was Servant to the Curate of Thorpe, Thorpe St Andrew

William and Susan had three children:
  1. Alice White b. 27 Feb 1857 (1857 M Quarter in NORWICH Volume 04B Page 126), bap. 3 May 1857 in Thorpe Hamlet
  2. Henrietta Frances White b. 1860 J Qtr in NORWICH Vol 04B Page 155
  3. William Francis White b. 1862 M Qtr in NORWICH Vol 04B Page 143
In 1861, William White (27) Market Gardener; Susan White (32 ish) from South Creake, Norfolk and Alice White (4) were living in the household of William Watson (27) in King Street, St Julian, Norwich. (William Watson was married to Mary Ann White, William White's older sister.)

In 1871, William White (36) Gardener; Susan White (claiming to be only 39), Alice White (14), Henrietta White (11) and Francis White (9) were living in Trory Street, Lakenham, Norwich.

Susan White died, said to be 54, on 7 Mar 1881 M Quarter in NORWICH Volume 04B Page 102 and Susan the wife of William White, was buried at Rosary Cemetery, Norwich (along with Francis Martyn, the husband of William's sister Ann White.)

In 1881, William White (45) Widower, Gardener from Mattishall, Norfolk; Alice White (24) Labourer Gardener; Henrietta White (21) Housekeeper and William F White (19) Gardener were living at Ivory Street, Norwich Lakenham, Norwich.

William White died, at 50, in 1885 J Quarter in NORWICH Volume 04B Page 95.

William George S Broome and Louisa Adcock Soppit

Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/6466193
English Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square. There has been a church on the site since at least the medieval period. It was at that time located in the farmlands and fields.

William George Sommers Broome (b. 1884), Marine Engineer, son of William Sommers Broome and Mary Ann Dunbar, married Louisa Adcock Soppit (b. 26 Oct 1887 in Bromley, Kent), daughter of John Soppit and Louisa Tompson at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, on 21 Apr 1913. Witnesses were John Soppit, bride's father and Mary Ann Broome, presumably groom's mother.

William and Louisa had two children:
  1. Margaret Broome b. 1914 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Vol 1D Page 2122 (Died aged 1, in 1915 D Quarter in LAMBETH Vol 01D Page 509)
  2. John Sommers Broome b. 19 Nov 1915 D Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1946
In 1921, William Broome (37) Laundry Proprietor from West Norwood, London; Louisa Broom (33), John Broome (5) and Mary Broome (71) William's mother, were living at 57, Ladywell Road, Lewisham.

William George Sommers Broome died, aged just 38, on 19 Mar 1923 (1923 M Quarter in LEWISHAM Volume 01D Page 1098). Probate was granted to his widow, Louisa Adcock Broome, on 25 Jul 1924.

In 1939, Louisa A Broome, Laundry Director, Widow, was still living at 57 Ladywell Road, Ladywell, Lewisham. Living with her was her sister-in-law, Rachel Soppit (widow of Joseph Daniel Soppit) and her three children.

Louisa Adcock Broome died, aged 76, in December 1963 and was buried on 24 Dec 1963 at Ladywell Cemetery.

(Son John Sommers Broom died on 18 Jul 2004, aged 89.)

Monday, 20 April 2026

Robert Stokes and Susanna Judd

St Mary, Great Canfield - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/5059305

Robert Stokes (b. ~1765 no clues yet as to where he was from) married Susanna Judd (bap. 24 Jun 1764 in Great Canfield), daughter of John and Susanna Judd, on 20 Apr 1784 at her parish of St Mary, Great Canfield

Robert and Susanna Stokes had five children:
  1. Jane Stokes bap. 29 Aug 1784 in Great Canfield
  2. John Stokes bap. 5 Nov 1786 in Great Canfield
  3. William Stokes bap. 8 Nov 1789 in Great Canfield
  4. Joseph Stokes bap. 25 Sep 1792 in Great Canfield
  5. James Stokes bap. 28 Aug 1796 in Little Canfield
Robert Stokes died, aged around 75, in 1840 S Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 52, and was buried on 11 Aug 1840 in Great Dunmow.

In 1841, the widowed Susan Stokes (78) was living with her son-in-law and daughter, John and Jane Byatt, in Hickeys Lane, Little Canfield. 

Susan Stokes died in 1852 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 218 was buried, on 1 Mar 1852, at All Saints, Little Canfield. The GRO death registration over estimated her age to 94, but she'll have been 88.

Harry Sampson and Ellen Ridgeway

Rectory House and Church at Sampford Peverell
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tony Atkin - geograph.org.uk/p/2227593

Harry Sampson (25), son of James Sampson and Sarah Jane Ponsford, married Ellen Ridgeway (22), daughter of Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze, at St John the Baptist ChurchSampford Peverell on 20 April 1908. Witnesses to the marriage were William Ambrose Quick, husband of Ellen's sister Bessie Ann, and Mary Sampson, Harry's younger sister.

In 1911, Harry Sampson (28) Waggoner on farm and Ellen Sampson (25) were living at Middle Pitt, Burlescombe. (Living at Middle Pitt at that same time were Frank Stone, Ellen's first cousin, and his wife Frances.)

In 1921, Harry Sampson (38), Carter on Farm and Ellen Sampson (35) were living at 2, Putson Cottages, [Blundells Road], Tiverton, Devon.

Harry Sampson died, at 55, in 1938 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 547.

In 1939, Ellen Sampson was living with her brother-in-law and sister, William and Bessie Quick, at 104, Barrington Street, Tiverton.

In 1947, Ellen Sampson remarried, at 61, to John William Salway. 

John William Salway (b. 1884), was the son of Charles Salway and Sarah Ann Galpin. In 1909, John William Salway had married Ellen Taylor, who had died in 1940. He was in no danger of getting his wives' names confused!

Ellen Salway (formerly Sampson, née Ridgeway) died, aged 71, in 1957 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 07A Page 706. 

John William Salway died on 11 Mar 1972.

Sunday, 19 April 2026

William Parsons and Mary Ann Stone

Tyne Cot Cemetery. PhotoMike Thurston Some rights reserved

William Parsons (b. 4 Jul 1882 in Bampton, Devon), son of John Parsons and Emma Burrows, married Mary Ann Stone (b. 1886 in Uffculme) daughter of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman, on 19 Apr 1906. Witnesses were the bride's father, Frederick James Stone and James Parsons, the groom's elder brother.

On 21 Oct 1899, William Parsons from Shillingford, Bampton, Devon, adding a year to his age and saying he was 18, had joined the Devonshire Regiment at Exeter. He was then 5ft 5⅝in, weighing 126 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was, however, discharged on 30 Jun 1900. In 1901, William Parsons was Stockman at Mill Head, Bampton, but by the time of his marriage, he'd become a Railway Platelayer, residing in Landkey.

William and Mary Ann had two children: 
  1. William James Parsons b. 1906 D Qtr in BARNSTAPLE Vol 05B 407
  2. Olive Mary Parsons b. 1908 M Qtr in BARNSTAPLE Vol 05B 421
In 1911, William Parsons (28) Railway Platelayer, Mary Ann (24), William James (4) and Olive Mary (3) were living at 2 Abyssinia Terrace, Barnstaple.

Corporal William Parsons of 1st Bn., Devonshire Regiment, was killed in action during the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 Oct 1917, aged 35, and is buried at Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, located outside Passendale, near Zonnebeke in Belgium, Plot LXIII. D. 12. (The Battle of Broodseinde was part of the Third Battle of Ypres – a major Allied offensive in Flanders which became known as Passchendaele.) The Western Times of 9 Nov 1917 reported on his death: "Corpl Parsons, who in peace time was engaged on the G.W.R. at Bristol, leaves a widow and two children."

In 1919, Mary Ann Parsons married Sydenham Charles Brunt (b. 1871), son of John Brunt and Fanny Carpenter, in Keynsham, Somerset. Sydenham was a widower, having first married Hannah Elizabeth "Bessie" Carey, in 1891, with whom he had two children. Hannah Elizabeth Brunt died, at 45, in 1917.

In 1921, Sydenham C Brunt (49) Time Keeper working for G.W.R. at Bristol (he'd previously been a Railway Policeman), was living at 72, Repton Road, Brislington, Bristol, with Mary Ann Brunt (35), William J Parsons (14) Step-son, Messenger and Olive Mary Parsons (13) Step-Daughter.

Sydenham Charles Brunt died, at 58, in 1929 M Quarter in BRISTOL.

Mary Ann Brunt of 72, Repton Road, Brislington, died, at 44, on 15 Dec 1930 (1930 D Quarter in BRISTOL Volume 06A Page 117), leaving her effects to William James Parsons, Railway Porter and Olive Mary Parsons, Spinster.

Saturday, 18 April 2026

Richard Land (Trafalgar veteran) and Mary Rookes

The Opening Engagement at Trafalgar; H.M.S. 'Royal Sovereign' raking the
stern of the Spanish flagship 'Santa Ana'. James Wilson Carmichael

Richard Land (bap. 24 Oct 1784 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton, Devon) son of John Land and Sarah Melhuish, married Mary Rookes (b. 7 Jan 1791, bap. 15 May 1791 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton), daughter of Thomas and Mary Rooke, at St George's Church, East Stonehouse, on 18 Apr 1811.

Richard and Mary Land had five children:
  1. Mary Land b. 26 Jun 1812, bap. 20 Sep 1812 at St Peter's, Tiverton
  2. Sarah Land bap. 8 Oct 1815 in Tiverton
  3. Richard Land bap. 25 Dec 1817 in Tiverton
  4. Elizabeth Land bap. 24 Apr 1820 in Tiverton
  5. Fanny Land bap. 16 Feb 1823 in Tiverton
The baptisms from 1815 onwards list Richard's occupation then as Labourer and so many were just that, but this certainly doesn't reflect his whole story:

The records of Royal Navy Allotment Declarations - seamen and marines were able to send (allot) part of their wages to support next of kin at home - lists Richard Land from Bampton, Drummer, in 1805-10 with HMS Hibernia (1804) at which time he allotted part of his pay to his mother, Sarah. Then, when he was with HMS Ocean (1805) in 1811-12, to his wife, Mary.

Marine Drummer Richard Land served at the Battle of Trafalgar (confirmed here), being a drummer serving on HMS Royal Sovereign (1786), the flagship of Admiral Collingwood and the first ship of the fleet in action at Trafalgar on 21 Oct 1805. She led one column of warships; Nelson's Victory led the other. Royal Sovereign lost her mizzen and mainmasts in the battle. Richard Land's station on the ship will have been up on the poop deck, an exposed spot (in a bright red uniform), probably to one side of the [by then missing] mizzen mast, so it's pretty much a bloody miracle he survived at all. 

"Royal Marine Drummers were first mentioned in the 1664 Convening Order, at the formation of Corps and so pride themselves as being the oldest Branch in the Corps." - Royal Marines Band Service
On his pension records, Richard Land's service in the Royal Marines is listed as being 14 years, 1 month, 2 weeks and 6 days. If he left the service in 1816, it's more that likely he had enlisted in 1802 at 18. He was granted a pension, at the age of 32, from 16 May 1816, of £8 8s per year, for life. 

St Andrew Street, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jaggery 
geograph.org.uk/p/6242815
In 1841, Richard Land (55), Mary Land (50), Mary Land (3) and Thomas Rooks (80) were living in St Andrew Street, Tiverton. The three year old was their granddaughter, born Mary Elizabeth Gould Land bap. 29 Apr 1838, in Tiverton, the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Land (and someone whose surname was Gould?). Thomas Rooks (sic) was Richard's father-in-law. 

Mary Land died, aged 58, in 1849 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 10 Page 194, and was buried on 10 Jun 1849, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton.

In 1851, Richard Land (66) Masons labourer (Greenwich pensioner) was still in St Andrew Street, Tiverton, with Mary Land (12) Grand child, Scholar.

Richard Land (72) 5' 4", Widower from Bampton Devon, Labourer, last ship HMS Ocean, Marine was admitted to Greenwich Hospital, London on 21 Dec 1855. (Just in time to be "regaled with plum pudding and roast beef" on Christmas Day.) The Royal Hospital for Seaman, as it was originally called, now the Old Royal Naval College, once described as the "poshest pensioners home that ever was". Life as a Greenwich Pensioner. In the column, "If wounded", it said NO, but underneath was written "Trafalgar".

This Description In 1855 is fascinating in describing their diet, clothing and facilities. It boasts that, "Their food is of the best description, varied daily by a new and liberal arrangement of diet introduced in 1853." (If a bit heavy on roast or boiled beef and mutton.) "Two pints of excellent beer is the daily allowance throughout the year, except on four days set apart as festival days, when each man is supplied with two quarts of strong ale." 

Also in 1855, it was said, "The clothing has been somewhat changed of late. The original dress corresponded with that in common wear at the beginning of the last century; but the knee-breeches have been exchanged for trousers, and round hats have been allowed for daily wear. Cocked hats are issued, however, as before, and are worn on Sundays and on ceremonial occasions."

"By all accounts the ‘Greenwich Geese’ as locals referred to them were a rowdy bunch and barely resembled our modern image of elderly pensioners." (Not resembling any image of elderly pensioners is a good aim, IMHO!)

Richard Land, Navy Pensioner, died on 25 Dec 1866 (1866 D Quarter in CAMBERWELL Volume 01D Page 405), at the pretty grand old age of 82, at 3 Walsingham Place, Summer Street, Peckham, London from Senectus and diarrhoea (3 weeks certified). An E Pruitt was present at his death. (Senectus is the Latin word for "old age" and is not a disease, but an historical term for a cause of death that indicates age-related decline.) Richard Land was buried on 1 Jan 1867 at Camberwell Old CemeterySquare 37, Grave 2647.

Private Robert John Ridgeway

When we first visited St Peter’s Church, Uplowman, in 2016, I'd noticed this cross in remembrance of Private Robert John Ridgeway and took the photo as a reminder to research him to see how we might be related. Many of my Ridgeway ancestors had ended up in Uplowman: my 2x great-grandmother, Mary Ridgeway, daughter of James Ridgway, was born in Ashbrittle and is buried in Uplowman churchyard; Mary's brother, Thomas Ridgway, also came to Uplowman and had no less than ten children there. Perhaps, I thought, Robert John Ridgeway will have 'belonged' to one of them. Now that I've worked my way through them, however, I discover he does not and actually exists in a parallel universe:


Private Robert John Ridgeway, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the parish website informs us, "... died in November 1945, after the war in Europe had ended, in a road accident when the armoured Ford Lynx scout car that he was a passenger in, tried to overtake another vehicle in a convoy and left the road striking a tree on Watling Street, Shenstone in Staffordshire." Robert John Ridgeway died on 6 Nov 1945, is buried in Uplowman churchyard and is remembered inside the church.


Robert John Ridgeway, who was born on 18 Mar 1927, was at home in 1939, at Uplowman Cross Cottage, Uplowman. Is that the same as 1 Crosses Cottage, Uplowman, where my relative, Frederick John Ponsford, son of Charles Ponsford and Bessie Ann Stone, was living in 1970? Or 2 Crosses Cottages, Uplowman, where Elsie Tremlett, daughter of William Ridgeway and Florence Louise Finnimore, was living in 1979? Or even Lowman Cross, Uplowman where Thomas and Ann Ridgway were living in 1871?

The parish website also says that "Robert lived a large part of his life at Wallflower Cottages, Uplowman." Several of my relatives have been residents at Wallflower Cottages, Uplowman: William and Florence Ridgeway and George and Ellen Norman in 1911, and Herbert Ridgeway in 1988. These were most likely tied cottages, so it suggests they were all working for the same farms, but is no particular indication that they're related.

Sarah Ridgway 
|
John Ridgway bap. 27 Nov 1825 - Mary Parker b. 1831
|
James Ridgway bap. 25  Apr 1858 - Eliza Vickery b. 1861
|
Robert John Ridgeway b. 7 Sep 1898 - Louisa Baker b. 10 Dec 1899
|
Robert John Ridgeway b. 18 Mar 1927 - d. 6 Nov 1945

Robert John Ridgeway's parents were Robert John Ridgeway (b. 7 Sep 1898) and Louisa Baker (b. 10 Dec 1899), who had married, in Tiverton, in 1924.

In 1911, Robert John Ridgeway Snr (12), born in Holcombe Rogus, was living with his widowed mother, Eliza (48), sister Florence Alice (9) and brother, Herbert Percy (6) at Passmore's Court, Halberton. In 1910, this Robert John Ridgeway had attended Halberton School. In 1901, living at Ford, 90, Holcombe Rogus, were James Ridgway (43) Cattleman on farm, from Stawley, Somerset, wife Eliza (39), Beatrice (13), Edith (11), Eliza (9), William (7), Lillie (5) and Robert John, listed simply as John (3).

Records suggest that James Ridgeway had married Eliza Vickery in the second quarter of 1887, in the Wellington, Somerset registration district.

The baptism for James Ridgway on 25 Apr 1858, in Stawley, Somerset, listed his parents as James and Mary Ridgway, however, in 1861, we find the 3 yr old, living at Parkley, Stawley, Wellington as the son of John Ridgway (33) Agricultural Labourer, with wife Mary (30) and John (8), Mary Ann (6), Sarah Jane (4), James (3), Charles (1) and Mary Cotter (12) Housemaid. In 1871, John Ridgeway (46) and wife Mary (40) were living at Stones Cottage, Stawley, Wellington, with John (18), Mary Ann (16), Sarah (14), James (13), Elizabeth (10), Emily (8), Thomas (6), Edwin (4) and William Henry (2).

John Ridgway married Mary Parker, on 18 Apr 1851, at St Michael & All Angels, Stawley. One of the witnesses was William Vickery. Mary Parker's father is listed as James Parker, while the name of John Ridgeway's father isn't listed ... which stacks up with the baptism of John Ridgway in Ashbrittle, on 27 Nov 1825, son of Sarah Ridgway, described as 'single - base'.

These earliest records of Baptisms, Burials & Marriages, were transcribed from the "Bishop's Transcripts", which were in poor condition. There aren't any further records to prove if we have a common ancestor. But, to be having an illegitimate child in 1825, there's a fair chance that Sarah Ridgway was born around 1805, give or take. My 3x great-grandfather, James Ridgway was born around 1806. They are from the same hamlet - the population in 2014 was only 225 - with the same surname. Their descendants all turn up in the same locations. They could be siblings. They could be first cousins. It would be much more difficult to accept that they were not at all related.

Friday, 17 April 2026

Thomas Fuller and Mary Farrant

St Mary’s Parish Church Woodford 1812
St Mary’s Parish Church and Woodford History

Thomas Fuller (b. ~1750), married Mary Farrant (bap. 9 Jul 1749 at St Michael's, Aveley), daughter of George and Mary Farrant at St Mary's Church, Woodford on 17 Apr 1775. Witnesses to the marriage were Thomas Renn and John Row. The transcriptions for this marriage, at both Ancestry and FindMyPast list her as Mary Tarrant. The original parish record, a copy of which was shared to Ancestry by my cousin, Tony Crompton, is feint and quite difficult to read, however, the style of the writer's script makes it impossible to distinguish between their capital Ts and their capital Fs. Their T for Thomas and F for Fuller appear to be identical shapes. The only record for a Mary Tarrant in the right period and area is this marriage, which doesn't mean there wasn't such person, but the baptism of Mary Farrant does seem reasonable and acceptable, although I can see no way to categorically prove it. 

(An alternative baptism of a Mary Tarrant on 29 Sep 1752, allegedly at St Gregory by St Paul, London (unlikely, as that church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666), the child having been born 3 days previously on 26 Sep 1752. Questionable in so many ways, I feel safe discounting it.)

One of the witnesses was listed as a Thomas Renn, but names were often written down as heard. Son Robert Fuller later married Elizabeth Bass, whose mother was Elizabeth Wren. Is it possible that these were related?

Thomas and Mary Fuller appear to have at least the following children:
  1. Sarah Fuller bap. 28 May 1775 at St Mary's Church, Woodford
  2. Thomas Fuller bap. 29 Mar 1778 at St Mary's Church, Chigwell
  3. John Fuller bap. 19 Mar 1780 at St Mary's Church, Chigwell
  4. Sarah Fuller bap. 26 May 1782 at St Mary's Church, Chigwell
  5. Robert Fuller bap. 10 Sep 1785 at St Mary's Church, Chigwell
  6. Mary Fuller bap. 30 Dec 1787 at St Mary's Church, Chigwell
All list the parents as Thomas and Mary. Presumably the first daughter died in infancy for another to be given the name Sarah in 1782. Neither can I find a death for Thomas born 1778, nor find records of him reaching adulthood.

There are three possible further children who could be of this family:
  1. Thomas Fuller bap. 3 May 1795 at St Mary's Church, Woodford. Died 8 Sep 1795 and buried on 12 Sep 1795 at St Mary's Church, Chigwell
  2. James Fuller bap. 28 Aug 1796 at St Mary's Church, Woodford
  3. Thomas Fuller bap. 10 Jun 1798 at St Mary's Church, Woodford
On these three, I can neither categorically confirm nor discount them. The swaps back and forth between churches in Woodford and Chigwell are not an issue and indeed persuade me it's likely these probably are the children of this couple; there is no other marriage of a Thomas Fuller and a Mary in the area, whose children they could be otherwise. The eight year gap isn't impossible, but does slightly suggest they are of a different family. Although further children being named Thomas would support the death in infancy of Thomas born 1778. But, if we have the right baptism for Mary Farrant, this would make her 49 at the time of the last birth. Again, not impossible, but it is pushing the limits a bit. Alternatively, the then 16 year old daughter, Sarah, could have had a child in 1798 and it was often a custom to name illegitimate children after one's own father, but here I may be casting aspersions.

Mary Fuller is alleged to have died in Waltham Abbey, Essex in 1814, but I have found no record nor circumstances to substantiate this.

Thomas Fuller, aged 86, calculating to a year of birth of 1750, residence Work House (Woodford parish workhouse was set up in 1723 and became part of the West Ham Poor Law Union in 1836), was buried in the parish of Chigwell on 27 Nov 1836. A burial of someone from the Workhouse, often at the parish expense, would tend to suggest that this was his parish of birth.

Another two sisters marry two brothers: For further research later, but it's interesting to note that Sarah Fuller married John Chumley on 25 Dec 1802, at Woodford. Her sister Mary Fuller married John's brother, Joseph Chumley, also at St Mary's, Woodford, on 23 Feb 1805.

Charles Palmer and Mary Amelia Oxford

Maker Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © jeff collins - geograph.org.uk/p/3634359

Charles Palmer, son of John Palmer and Esther Collins, married Mary Amelia Oxford, daughter of John Oxford and Elizabeth Lang, at St Mary's and St Julian's ChurchMaker, Cornwall on 17 Apr 1835

Charles and Mary had seven children:
  1. Esther Elizabeth Palmer b. 27 Mar 1836, bap. 12 Jun 1836 at Buckwell Lane Rehoboth Chapel -Independent, Plymouth.
  2. Benjamin Charles Palmer b. 1838 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 387. (No baptism and no further records found.)
  3. James Lang Palmer b. 1840 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 371, bap. 11 Oct 1844 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
  4. Edward Oxford Palmer b. 31 May 1844 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 409, bap. 11 Oct 1844 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
  5. Elizabeth Colwill Palmer b. 1846 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 378, bap. 7 Oct 1846 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth, died aged 1, in 1848 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 245
  6. Charles Palmer b. 1848 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 365
  7. Mary Palmer b. 17 November 1848 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 09 Page 365, reputedly born at 16 Catte Street, Plymouth.
It's clear that the last two were twins. On James and Edward's baptism, Charles' occupation in listed as Labourer. On Elizabeth Colwill's baptism, he is listed as a Porter and the family's address as Catte Street.

In 1841, Charles Palmer (25) was living in York Street, Plymouth St Andrew with Mary Palmer (25), Ester Palmer (5), Benjn Palmer (3), James Palmer (1) and a Margert Charter (20). All spellings as (badly) written/transcribed.

In 1851, Charles Parmer (sic) (39) Sub Bailliff (sic) with birthplace suggested as Ionkley (sic), Lancashire - there is a Charles Palmer born in Hinckley, Leicestershire - was living in Vauxhall Street, Charles The Martyr, Plymouth with wife Mary Parmer (39) from Devonport, Devonshire; Benjamin Parmer (13), Edward Parmer (11), James Parmer (7) - clearly they have transposed James and Edward's ages - Charles Parmer (2) and Mary Parmer (2). 

In 1861, Charles Talmer (sic - this is certainly a transcription error) (48) Tanner and Mary Talmer (sic) Wife of Tanner are still living in Vauxhall Street with the twins, Charles (12) and Mary (12), as well as Esther Talmer (70) from Winchester, Hampshire, Widowed, 'Tanner's Mother', Edmund Drake (3) - daughter Esther's step-son - and William Barry (0) Boarder. Charles' father, John Palmer, who had died in 1855, had been a Tanner, so it would appear that Charles had taken over his trade (or at least attempted to do so).

Mary Amelia Palmer died, aged 55, in 1867 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 208 and was buried in Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

There is a Charles Palmer (age estimated to 61), Widowed, Porter, birthplace Plymouth, Devonshire, listed in Charles, Devon in 1871.

Charles Palmer died, aged 61, in 1874 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 170. He is also buried in Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

Thursday, 16 April 2026

James Potter and Jane Stone

All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/5100720

James Potter (b. 1741) married Jane Stone (bap. 3 Jul 1744 in Holcombe Rogus), who was the daughter of William Stone and Temperance Hitchcock, at All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus, on 16 Apr 1770

James and Jane had two daughters, baptised in Holcombe Rogus:
  1. Joan Potter bap. 21 Jan 1771
  2. Agnis Potter (sic) bap. 17 Dec 1775
James Potter died, at 39, in 1780 and was buried in Holcombe Rogus.

Jane Potter later remarried to James Dunn of Chipstable, in Holcombe Rogus, on 13 May 1796. Witnesses to this marriage were Joan Blackmore and Samuel Tooze. James Dunn, bap. 8 Sep 1732 in Chipstaple, son of John and Joan Dunn, had previously married Ann Langdon on 6 Feb 1757 and on the record of this marriage, we discover that James Dunn was a Shoemaker. The couple had one child, a daughter, Ann Dunn bap. 17 Sep 1760. James first wife, Ann Dunn, died in 1782. James Dunn died in Chipstable, in 1802. 

Jane Dunn died in 1828 and was buried in Holcombe Rogus.

  • William Heyward (bap. 3 Jun 1757 in Huish Champflower), son of John and Elenor Heyward, married Ann Dunn, daughter of James Dunn and Ann Langdon, in Chipstable, on 14 Mar 1785. William and Ann had six children: William Heyward bap. 19 Feb 1786 in Huish Champflower; Ann Heyward bap. 28 Sep 1788; Sylvia Heyward bap. 18 Mar 1792; Elinor Heyward bap. 9 Apr 1795; James Dunn Hayward bap. 24 Mar 1798 in Chipstable; and Fanny Heyward b. 8 May 1804, bap. 15 May 1804 in Huish Champflower. Anne Heyward (née Dunn) died, aged 79, in 1840 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 167 and was buried in Huish Champflower. In 1841, William Heyward was living in the household of Robert and Fanny Stone. Robert Stone, son of William Stone, Miller had married Fanny Heyward, daughter of William Heyward, Shoemaker - thus it appears she is William's daughter. (Please don't ask me what relation Robert Stone is to Jane Stone, but they inevitably are.) William Heyward died, aged 87, in 1843 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 1660 and was also buried in Huish Champflower.
  • William Heyward (bap. 19 Feb 1786 in Huish Champflower), son of William Heyward and Ann Dunn, meanwhile, married Agnes Potter (bap. 17 Dec 1775 in Holcombe Rogus), daughter of James Potter and Jane Stone, on 26 Nov 1809, in Chipstable. Records exist for three daughters: Sylvia Heyward bap. 27 Nov 1809, Harriott Heyward bap. 8 Nov 1811 (buried in Chipstaple in 1813) and Agnes Heyward bap. 9 Jan 1815, all baptised in Chipstable. The last of these baptisms shows her father's occupation as a Cordwainer (a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather.) William Heywood (50) Journeyman Shoemaker and Agnes Heywood (60) were living on Golden HillWivelscombe in 1841. In 1851, still on Golden Hill, were William Hayward (65) Pauper Shoemaker and Agnes Hayward (75). Agnes Heyward (née Potter) died, at 84, in 1858 J Quarter in WELLINGTON-SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 251 and was buried in Wivelscombe. In 1861, William Hayward (75) Widower, Shoe Maker, was a boarder in the household of John Richards (45) and Sylvia Richards (52) - clearly William's eldest daughter - at Routine Row, Russells Buildings, Wivelscombe. William Heyward died, at 80, in 1861 D Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 258 and was also buried in Wivelscombe.
Once more, the Devon family tree is a complicated monkey puzzle! :)