John Summers and Sarah Middleton

Uffculme: The Square and St Mary’s church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/839640

John Summers married Sarah Middleton, both of them born in Devon around 1774, at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Uffculme, on 28 May 1799. 

Records suggest that John and Sarah Summers had four children:

1. Elizabeth Summers bap. 21 Jul 1799 in Uffculme
2. John Summers bap. 17 Aug 1801 in Uffculme
3. Mary Somers (sic) b. 10 Jun 1804, bap. 25 Dec 1804, in Halberton
4. Richard Summers b. 13 Aug 1807, bap. 25 Dec 1807, in Halberton

In 1841, we find John Summers (65) Agricultural Labourer, Sarah Summers (65) and Richard Summers (30), living at Telgers, Halberton.

John Summers died, age given as 70, in 1844 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 182.

In 1851, Sarah Summers (76) Widow, Pauper, was living in Uffculme with her eldest daughter, Elizabeth Tidborough (51) Widow, Worsted Warper.

Sarah Summers died in 1854 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 255.

Benjamin Bussey and Elizabeth Bowen

The first Portsea Parish Church (St. Mary's) Built 1170 Demolished 1843.

Benjamin Bussey (b. 1781) married Elizabeth Bowen (b. 1796) at the first St Mary's Church, Portsea, on 28 May 1821. (Benjamin was a widower at the time of this marriage, having first married Sarah Deed at that same church on 31 Aug 1806, who had died, aged 37, and buried on 17 Nov 1820.)

Benjamin and Elizabeth had five children: 

1. Benjamin Bussey bap. 22 Mar 1822 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
2. James Wilmot Bussey bap. 24 Mar 1824 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
3. Caroline Bussey bap. 6 Aug 1826 at St Mary's Church, Portsea
4. Hannah Bussey b. 1828
5. Susannah Bussey b. 1832

There don't appear to be baptisms for the last two girls.

Benjamin Bussey of Hereford St, Landport died on 10 Dec 1835 and was buried on 17 Dec 1835, the record says, at Portsea Cemetery. 

In 1841, Elizabeth Bussey (45) was living in Chandos Street, Portsea with Benjamin (19), James (18), Caroline (15), Hannah (13) and Susannah (9).

In 1851, Elizabeth Bussey (56) widow, washer woman, was living with son Benjamin (28) cattle drover, and staying with her were her then married daughter, Hannah Tubb (21) and her granddaughter, Elizabeth Tubb (0). James had married in 1845; Caroline Bussey (24) was that year a housemaid at Greenwich Hospital, London - permanent home for retired sailors of the Royal Navy. Susannah isn't listed anywhere that I can find.

Benjamin Bussey Jnr, aged 34, died or was buried on 7 Dec 1855, in Portsea.

In 1861, Elizabeth Bussey (66) widow, was living alone at Landport View.

Elizabeth Bussey died, aged approx. 69, in 1867, in Portsea.

Isaac Horn and Maria Agnes Thaxter

St. George-in-the-East
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Williams - geograph.org.uk/p/3844118

Isaac Horn (b. 1803, bap. 3 Aug 1806 in Thatcham, Berkshire), son of John Horn and Lucy Buckeridge, married Maria Agnes Thaxter at Christ Church Watney Street, St George in the East, in 1842. Born 6 Jan 1824 and bap. 21 Mar 1824 at St George in the East, Stepney, Maria was the daughter of William Thaxter, Labourer in the East India Docks and his wife, Maria. 

Isaac and Maria had seven children:

1. William Horn b. 14 Oct 1842 D Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 103, bap. 13 Nov 1842 at St George in the East
2. John Isaac Horn b. 18 Jul 1845 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 109, bap. 31 Aug 1845, as John Isaac Robert Horn
3. George James Horn b. 16 Feb 1848 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 02 Page 132, bap. 5 Mar 1848. Died before his 1st birthday in 1849 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 02 Page 99
4. Edmund Horn b. 1851 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 128. Died, aged 2, in 1853 M Quarter Vol 01C Page 340
5. Isaac Richard Horn b. 4 July 1856 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 01C Page 406, bap. 27 Jul 1856 at St George in the East
6. Lucy Ann Horn b. 1858 M Qtr in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Vol 01C 452
7. Maria Lucy Horn b. 1862 J Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 452. Died in 1862 J Quarter Volume 01C Page 314

On all of the baptisms, Isaac Horn is listed as a Plumber. 

On William's baptism in 1842, their address was 39 Lower Cornwell St and on John's in 1845, 29 Lower Cornwell St. On George's baptism in 1848, their address was 5 Back Road and on Isaac's in 1856, it was 5 China Place. 

In 1851, at China Place, Back Road (so the addresses on George's and Isaac's baptisms was the same place), were Isaac Horn (46) Plumber, although it gave his birthplace a Chippenham, Wiltshire; Maria Horn (27) Coffee Shop Keeper; William Horn (8), John Horn (5) and Edwin [they mean Edmund] (0).

In 1861, at 5, Back Road, St George in the East, were Isaac Horn (56) Plumber and Painter, again with his birthplace listed as Chippenham, Wiltshire; Maria Horn (listed as 51, but she was only 37); William Horn (18) Plumber; John Horn (16) Plumber; Isaac Horn (5) and Lucy Horn (3).

Maria Horn died, at 39, in 1862 D Quarter Volume 01C Page 367.

In 1871, Isaac Horn (67) Widower, was Coffee House Keeper at 333 Cable Street. Living with him were William Horn (24) Plumber; Isaac Horn (15) Plumber and Lucy Horn (14). At one time each part of the street bore different names, with Back Road being one of them, so it seems likely they'd been in the same premises since at least 1848. This time, Isaac's birthplace is listed as Thatcham, Berkshire. Why it had previously been given as Chippenham, Wiltshire, isn't obvious, but twice isn't an error. The two places are around 50 miles apart, so if I had to speculate, perhaps Isaac was born in Chippenham, then (given the delay) baptised and brought up in Thatcham.

Coffee Houses were a thing of the 17th and 18th centuries, places that no “respectable” woman was able to enter and many were haunts for criminals and prostitutes. By the 19th century, coffee houses had declined.

Isaac Horn, age overestimated to 75, died on 20 Mar 1874 (1874 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 328).

Thomas Drake and Frances Poad

Ancient Dockyard
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © jeff collins - geograph.org.uk/p/1204244
This was the first Dockyard built at Devonport at a point just west of Mutton Cove.

Thomas Drake married Frances Poad (bap. 15 Jul 1764), daughter of John Poad and Honor Joll (m. 26 Nov 1760), at Stoke Damerel on 25 May 1784. There is a record which appears to be John Poad giving his permission for his daughter to marry, presumably as she was then 20 (i.e. under 21). 

Possibly the most likely candidate for this Thomas Drake is the one baptised on 24 Jul 1757 in Stoke Damerel, son of William and Patience Drake. What I can categorically say is that he isn't the Thomas Drake, born 1751, that had been attached to this family on one website, where it was quite clearly stated on the baptism record that the child had died within days. That appears to have been wishfully attempting to attach lineage to ancient history.

Thomas and Frances Drake appear to have had 11 children:

1. Thomas Drake bap. 2 Jan 1785
2. Frances Drake bap. 14 Oct 1787
3. George Drake bap. 7 Apr 1790
4. Elizabeth Drake bap. 29 Jan 1792
5. John Drake bap. 20 Jul 1794
6. Francis William Drake bap. 6 Mar 1796
7. James Drake bap. 10 Dec 1797. (Buried at 2 y 8 m on 19 Jul 1800.)
8. Hannah Drake b. 1799, bap. 3 Feb 1800 *
9. James Drake bap. 28 Dec 1801 *
10. Charles Drake b. 10 Oct 1802, bap. 15 Dec 1812
11. Mary Drake b. 20 Apr 1810, bap. 15 Dec 1812

* All were all baptised in Stoke Damerel, but the venue for the baptisms of Hannah and James in 1800 and 1801 was listed as Princes Street Independent, presumably the Princes Street Congregational Chapel.

The last sighting there is of Frances Drake (75) was in 1841, residing in Hill Street, St Helier, Jersey, with her youngest daughter, Mary and two of Mary's illegitimate children. One assumes that Thomas Drake had died by then. 

Frances Drake does not appear to be alive by the next census in 1851, but I have [as yet] been unable to isolate death records for either of them.

On Mary's marriage certificate in 1852, she lists her father as a Shipwright.

The other question, of course, is what, if any, link is there between this Drake family and the famous Devon-born slaver, pirate/privateer, bowls player and trouncer of the Armada, Sir Francis Drake? Absolutely no idea whatsoever. Can't disprove one [yet] either. What I discovered during this research is that Drake is a surprisingly common name around Devon. Reckon he had a bike!

William Stone and Temperance Hitchcock

Holcombe Rogus Scenery
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/2812924

William Stone married Temperance Hitchcock in Holcombe Rogus on 25 May 1728. Temperance bap. 30 Jan 1706 in Holcombe Rogus, was the base born (illegitimate) daughter of Jane Hitchcock. (Jane Hitchcock bap. 12 Oct 1679, daughter of John Hitchcock, was buried in Holcombe Rogus, in 1709.)

Will and Temperance had seven children, baptised in Holcombe Rogus:

1. William Stone bap. 16 Feb 1729 (Buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1730)
2. Agnes Stone bap. 24 Jul 1732
3. Mary Stone bap. 27 Dec 1739
4. Jane Stone bap. 24 Sep 1742 (Buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1743)
5. Jane Stone bap. 3 Jul 1744
6. William Stone bap. 15 Nov 1749 (Buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1749)
7. Joan Stone bap. 9 Sep 1751 (Buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1774)

William Stone (b. 1703) was buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1789. Temperance Stone died the following year and was also buried in Holcombe Rogus.