William Francis and Mary Gunn

St Peter’s, Mattishall Burgh

William Francis and Mary Gunn, a pair of my 5th great-grandparents, were married, on 1 Jan 1771, at the church of St Peter’s, Mattishall Burgh.

Records exist for the baptisms, also in Mattishall Burgh, of three children: 

1. John Francis bap. 19 Apr 1772
2. William Francis bap. 14 Nov 1773
3. Mary Francis bap. 28 Mar 1779

William and Mary were buried at All Saints' Church, Mattishall. Mary was buried on 14 Apr 1816. The record states that she was 73 and born in 1743. William was buried little more than a year later, on 18 May 1817. His burial record says he was 76, born in 1741, but I haven't located baptisms.

Churchyard at All Saints' Church, Mattishall

Robert Marsh and Hannah Piggin

A Fine Day in February (Hellesdon) - John Middleton (Before 1856)

The earliest record of a marriage of my ancestors in Norfolk are of a pair of 6th great-grandparents, Robert Marsh and Hannah Piggin, who married in Hellesdon on 25 Feb 1758. Let's hope it was a fine day for them.

Haven't been able to find a baptism for Robert, nor Hannah, and there is actually more than one Hannah Piggin in Norfolk at around that time. Most likely, I think, to have been one of those born in around 1733 to 1735.  

St Mary's church - view east
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak - geograph.org.uk/p/850777
St Mary's church - C14 baptismal font
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak - geograph.org.uk/p/850796

However, Robert was recorded to have been a widower at the time of his marriage to Hannah. Records show the burial of the wife of Robert Marsh, Sarah Marsh, in Hellesdon, on 24 Dec 1755, with whom he had several children, all also baptised in Hellesdon, Norfolk, including: 

1. Keziah Marsh bap. 7 Jan 1738 
2. Samuel Marsh bap. 27 Oct 1740
3. Robert Marsh bap. 6 Sep 1741
4. Kerenhappuch Marsh bap. 5 Mar 1744

Keren-happuch (Hebrew: קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ‎ Qeren Happūḵ, "Horn of kohl") was the youngest of the three beautiful daughters of Job, named in the Bible as given to him in the later part of his life, after God made Job prosperous again. Keren-happuch's older sisters are named as Jemima and Keziah. [Clearly, they knew their bible.] (Had to look, but I didn't find a record for a Jemima.)

Robert Marsh's second marriage only seems to have produced one child: 

1. Hannah Marsh bap. 18 Feb 1759

Parish Church of St Mary, Hellesdon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Evelyn Simak - geograph.org.uk/p/850769

Henry Bridle and Emma Lucas

Interior of St Thomas a Becket's Church, Thorverton, Devon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/4038111

The parents of William Bridle, Henry Bridle and Emma Lucas, married in 1870, in Emma's parish at Thorverton. Henry Bridle, born 1844 in Rockbeare, Devon, was son of Thomas Bridle, Farm Labourer, and his wife Elizabeth Wills. 

In 1871, Henry Bridle (26), employed as an Agricultural Labourer, wife Emma (21) and William (1) were living in Brampford Speke, where their son William was born. Then in 1881, they had moved to Lilly Road, Newton St Cyres, Crediton and Henry (36) had changed occupation to Railway Labourer. 

The births of their four sons are widely spaced, but I found no others:

1. William Bridle born 1871 in Brampford Speke
2. Mark Bridle born 1876 in Newton St Cyres
3. John Lucas Bridle born 1879 in Newton St Cyres
4. Harry Bridle born 1888 in Stoke Canon

In 1891, we find them living in Stoke Canon, where 4th son, Harry was born. Henry, listed as William Henry (45), was once again working as an Agricultural Labourer, wife Emma (40), with Mark (14), John L (11) and Harry (3).

In 1901 in the very small village or hamlet of Nether Exe (24 households in 1086), are Henry (56), Emma (51), with just Harry (13) still left at home. 

And in 1911, back in Stoke Canon, William Henry Bridle (66), Farm Labourer, and his wife, Emma (62), were living in the household of their son Mark and his wife, Maud Lucy Medcalf (who he married in St Pancras, London in 1905), along with Mar's nephew, Harry (3) and Elizabeth Deroney (72), boarder. 

Henry Bridle died in 1928, aged 84. Emma Bridle died in 1937, aged 88.

Stoke Canon Bridge
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/137735

William Bridle and Lucy Jane Stone

St Peter’s Church, Uplowman
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2510457

Lucy Jane Stone, 9th and youngest child of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married William Bridle, eldest son of Henry Bridle and Emma Lucas.

William Bridle was born in early 1871, in Brampford Speke, where he was living with his parents at the time of that year's census. Lucy Jane, born 11 Apr 1872, in Ashbrittle, Somerset, first appears on the census of 1881, aged 8, with her parents and siblings in Lauds Mills, Uplowman. 

Newton St Cyres
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © J.Hannan-Briggs - geograph.org.uk/p/5489812

By 1881, the Bridles had moved to Lilly Road, Newton St Cyres, where William (10)'s younger brothers: Mark (5) and John (1) are born. 

In 1891, there is a William Bridle (20), Horse Driver, living as a boarder in the household of Mary Jennings in Westexe South East Side, Tiverton. While Lucy Stone, that year, was employed as a General Servant in the employ of Charles E Tutton, Chemist, in Gold Street, Tiverton.

William Bridle (24) and Lucy Jane Stone (23) married in her parish at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman, on 16 Oct 1895. Witnesses were Lucy's brother, Francis Stone and her niece, Ellen Stone. William Bridle's parish was given as Tiverton and the Banns were read there on 8th, 15th and 22nd Sep. 

The couple had just one child, a daughter, Nellie Bridle, born 20 Feb 1898, and baptised on 7 Apr 1898 at St George's Church, Tiverton. Interesting that both sisters, Harriet and Lucy Jane named their daughters Nellie within a year of each other. Was this due to the popularity of the name at that time, or could it be taken as an indication that the sisters were very close?

111 Chapel Street, Tiverton (with the white door)

In 1901, William Bridle (29), Coal Yard Labourer, Lucy Jane (28) and Nellie (3) were living at School Board House, 111, Chapel Street, Tiverton. (111 Chapel Street was also the address given by Lucy's brother Charles at the time of their marriage in 1896.) There was a school, where there is a green bush, just beyond these rows of houses, on the map of the area in 1890.

In 1911, all three are at the same address, with William (40) now employed as a Carter, with Lucy Jane (38) and Nellie Bridle (13) was still at school. 

William Bridle died relatively young, at 55, on 5 Aug 1926. 

By 1939, Nellie had married and she and her husband, Lewis William Kerslake and their son William were all living with the widowed Lucy Jane, who was undertaking Sewing and Domestic work, still at 111 Chapel Street. 

Lucy Jane Bridle died on 18 Apr 1944, aged 72. Probate was granted on 8 Jun that year, to her daughter, Nellie Kerslake. Lucy Jane left effects valued at £1912 15s 2d, worth approximately £85,345 today.

Chapel Street, Tiverton in 1890

Charles Stone and Emma Middleton

Woodgates, Lower Washfield, Tiverton, their address in 1901

Charles Stone, 8th child of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married Emma Middleton, 4th and only surviving child, daughter of Jane Middleton. Charles and Emma (or Emily as she later preferred) were my great-grandparents.

Emma was born on 6 Aug 1862 and baptised on 5 Oct 1865 in West Anstey, Devon and Charles was born in Ashbrittle, Somerset on 8 Apr 1869. In 1871, Emma (8) was a boarder in the household of William Short at Molland, where her mother was employed as Housekeeper. The one year old Charles was then with his parents in Ashbrittle and was still at home with his parents in 1881, at Lauds Mills, Uplowman. Emma by then would have been 18, but I've not found where she was living and working at that time.

Mid Devon : West Spurway Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/3998369

In 1891, Emma Middleton (26) was working as a Domestic Servant for William Heywood (27), Farmer (son of Robert Heywood of Spurway Barton), at West Spurway Farm, West Mildon, Oakford, Devon. While Emma's son, William Henry Middleton, born in 1889, was living with his grandmother and her husband, Jane and John Howe, in Stoodleigh. Charles Stone (20), was Farm Servant to William Gale (69), at Courtney Farm, Washfield, Devon. 

Interior of St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/3683165
This church is famous (or infamous depending on your point of view) in that upon its organ, seen left of picture, was played for the very first time, the tune that was destined to send shivers up the spine of many a strong man. It was of course ... (intake of breath) "The Wedding March". On June 2nd 1847, at a wedding ceremony here, Felix Mendelssohn's composition ushered the bride and groom out of the church as man and wife. The couple were, I believe, friends of the composer.

At some point, their paths must have crossed, because Charles Stone and Emily Middleton married on 29 Oct 1896 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton. 

No idea why she chose to change her name from Emma to Emily (fashion, perhaps?) Emma (Emily) certainly wasn't trying to hide her son William Henry's illegitimate status, but might have been trying to play down her own, because Emma (Emily) "invented" a father called William Middleton for the marriage certificate. As we know Middleton was not only hers, but also her mother's maiden name, that couldn't be her father's name. Emma (Emily) had an older brother and an uncle William Middleton, both of whom she had never met as they died as infants, whose name she was clearly borrowing.

Well, I say she wasn't trying to hide William Henry's true origins, but clearly someone must have come up with a story later, because my father was under the mistaken impression that William Henry Middleton, his "Uncle Bill", was the product of Emily's "first marriage". Of course there was no such alliance.

Emma (Emily) claimed to be 32 at the time of her marriage: she was 34. Charles was 26. They both gave their address as 111 Chapel Street, which was the address of Charles' younger sister, Lucy Jane and her husband, William Bridle, who were the two witnesses to the marriage. 

The couple added four more children: 

1. Charley Stone born 6 Jun 1898 at 1 Silver Street, Tiverton, and baptised on 20 Jul 1898 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, son of Charles and Emma.
2. Albert Stone born 18 Jan 1900
3. Emily Stone born 2 May 1901
4. Harry Stone born 18 Nov 1902

In 1901, Charles (30), Agricultural Labourer, and Emily (33 - the gap between fiction and reality is getting bigger) were living at Woodgates, in Lower Washfield, with their two sons, Charley (2) and Albert (Bert) (1).

Charles and Emma with their children:
Charley (rear right), Albert (rear left),
Emily, (front right) and Harry (front left)

Then in 1911, we find them in Hayne Lane, Bolham. Charles (40) is then a Carter on Farm. Emily has lost another couple of years to reach 41 (actually 49) and they've added another two children: Emily and Harry.

The photo (right) was taken at the side of the house at 4 Hayne Lane, Bolham. 

These cottages were originally built for the workers on the Knightshayes Estate - Home Farm, Knightshayes is at the end of Hayne Lane - for whom Charles then worked. I imagine the image was probably taken for the bosses to show their loyal servants with their lovely new accommodations. Pity people didn't do happy in photos then! 

4 Hayne Lane, Bolham in 2016

Charles Stone died on 13 Jun 1930, aged 61. Emily Stone died 2 Jun 1936.

Lewis Jerred and Mary Elizabeth Williams

Angel Hill, Tiverton

The son of John Jerred and Frances Ann Orchard and elder brother to Frances Mary Jerred, Louis Jerred (as he was often listed), born in Silverton, Devon, was actually registered as Lewis Jerrad (sic) in the 2nd quarter of 1863.

In 1871, aged 8, he was with the family in Sowton, but in 1881, Louis Jerred (18) was a Baker's Apprentice to George Hannabus, Master Confectioner, in Angel Hill, Tiverton. (George Hannabus was from Cadbury, Devon, which might have been a good name for a confectionery business ...) 

Chapel Hill, St Erth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bill Boaden - geograph.org.uk/p/4062395

In 1888, Louis Jerrad (sic) married Mary Elizabeth Williams (born in St Erth, Cornwall), in Christchurch, Hampshire (now Christchurch, Dorset). Most likely, I feel, is that this is Mary Elizabeth, a Domestic, the daughter of John Williams, a Tin Miner, and his wife Honor, living at 2, Greenwich, St Erth, Penzance, Cornwall in 1881. His subsequent change of occupation probably explains the reason why Louis at least was so far from home.

Louis and Mary Elizabeth are elusive in 1891, but their first child had been born the year previously, in Boscombe, historically in Hampshire, but today in Dorset, and by 1901, they've moved back down to the south west to settle at Loddiswell, near Kingsbridge in Devon. There in 1901, listed as Lewis Jerred (36), he's become a Railway Labourer. And the family is growing: 

1. Ernest J Jerred born 1890 in Boscombe, Hampshire
2. Arthur Jerred born 1893 in Loddiswell
3. Ethel M Jerred born 1896 in Loddiswell
4. Albert W Jerred born 1899 in Loddiswell
5. Honor Frances Jerred born 1901 in Loddiswell
6. Violet Mary Jerred born 1904 in Loddiswell

In 1911, still in Loddiswell, and Lewis Jerred (46) is still employed as a Railway Labourer. In 1939, the family are living at 36 Wallingford Road, Kingsbridge. Given the amount of hard work that Lewis and several other of my relatives have put into building and maintaining the railways in the 19th Century, I've now gained a renewed dislike of Richard Beeching and his cuts in the 1960s. The Great Western Railway (GWR) opened the Kingsbridge branch line in 1893 and it was closed in 1963. Lewis Jerred, who had died in 1951, at the age of 88, thankfully, I think, won't have seen the closure. 

Loddiswell railway station opened 1893, now disused and converted to a private dwelling
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/1297064

John Jerred and Frances Ann Orchard

Thorverton: cherry tree
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/404160

The parents of Frances Mary Jerred, John Jerred and Frances Ann Orchard, were married on 20 May 1862 at the Parish Church of St Thomas a Becket, in the village of Thorverton, Devon, as both of them resided in the parish at that time. John's occupation was listed on the marriage certificate as Cooper. 

John Jerred was born in Thorverton in approximately 1833, to Joseph Jerred and Sarah Elsworthy. While Frances Ann Orchard was the daughter of James Orchard and Elizabeth How, christened 3 Jul 1831 in Dulverton, Somerset. 

In 1841, John Jerred (6) was living with his parents and siblings; James (4) and Maria (1), at Willses, Thorverton. At that time, Frances (10), was living at West Broford, Dulverton, with her grandparents, Joseph and Mary How. 

Lynch Farm, west of Thorverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rob Purvis - geograph.org.uk/p/1467315

By 1851, John (16) had left home and was employed as a farm servant to Samuel Kingdon, Farmer of 150 Acres, at Lynch House, Thorverton. Lynch Farm, to the west of the village still exists. While, Frances Ann (19), described as a House Servant, was still living in the household of her grandfather, Joseph How, Farmer of 180 Acres, at West Broford, Dulverton.

Unfortunately, neither of them is showing up on the 1861 census. 

There are no obvious clues either why Frances made the journey from Somerset to Thorverton to marry, considering that marriages more usually took place in the bride's parish and not the bridegrooms as in this case. 

After their marriage in 1862, John and Frances have two children: 

1. Lewis Jerrad (sic) born in the 2nd quarter of 1863
2. Frances Mary Jerrad (sic) born 3 May 1869, in St Thomas, Exeter

In 1871, the family are living in Sowton, Devon, with John (35) employed as a gardener. But, in 1881, the Jerreds have moved to Church Cottage, Halberton and John (46) has gone back to being an Agricultural Labourer. Daughter Frances Mary was still at home, but her brother had left home.

In 1891, with both children having flown the nest, John (56), still working as an Ag Lab, and Frances Ann were living at Court Cottage, Corner, Halberton. 

In 1901, John (66), once more working as a gardener, and Frances Ann (69), had moved into the centre of Tiverton to 12, Hammetts Square. 

In 1911, John (78), with No Occupation, and Frances (79), were living at 1 The Homes, Old Blundell's, Tiverton. This sounds like Alms Houses. 

John Jerred died in the 2nd quarter of 1911, aged 78.

St Thomas a Becket's church, Thorverton, Devon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/4038157

Francis Stone and Frances Mary Jerred

Sampford Peverell: above Middle Pitt
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/1925373

Francis Stone, (Frank) 7th child of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married Frances Mary Jerred, always known to my father as "Aunt France", although if we were being pedantic, she was his father's aunt, thus his great-aunt. 

Frances was born on 3 May 1869 in St Thomas, Exeter and in 1871 was living with her parents, John Jerrad (sic), a gardener, and Frances Ann (née Orchard) and her elder brother, Louis, in Sowton, Devon. (Now absorbed into Exeter.) Francis Stone was then living with his parents and siblings in Ashbrittle. 

Francis Stone, born 1 Feb 1867, was enrolled at Huntsham County Primary School in 1875, with his family's address at that date given as Hill, Huntsham. In 1879, Francis attended school in 1879, in Chevithorne. 

By 1881, the Jerreds have moved to Church Cottage, Halberton. Francis Stone was with his family at Lauds Mills, Uplowman. Then in 1891, Francis (23), working as an Agricultural Labourer, was still at home with his widowed father at Greengate, Uplowman. Frances, meanwhile in 1891, was working as a Servant to Alfred T Gregory in Alsa Terrace, Tiverton - the same Alfred T Gregory who Francis' sister Mary Ann had worked for ten years earlier.

Number 1 and 2 Middle Pitt Cottages
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/5195909

In 1901, Francis (33), was living in the household of his brother-in-law, James Ridgeway (married to his sister, Harriet). While, Frances (31) was working as a Cook for Rev. Donald M Owen, Clergyman in the Church of England, at 25, Bampton Street, Tiverton. (That address is now an ugly modern building in use as the Royal Mail Tiverton Delivery Office.)

The couple married at St Peter’s Church Tiverton on 9 Apr 1902. Witnesses were the bride's father, John Jerred and Bessie Louisa Corrick. Francis and Frances, at 34 and 33, respectively, married late by the standards of the day, and this may have been a factor toward the couple not having children.

In 1911, they were living at Middle Pitt, Sampford Peverell, with Frank again working as a Farm Labourer. Frank Stone died on 18 Nov 1937, aged 70, and Probate was granted to his widow, Frances Mary Stone on 8 Feb 1938. Francis Stone, of Middle Pitt Cottage, Sampford Peverell, had managed to accumulate £517 13s 11d - worth approximately £35,450 today. 

In 1939, Frances Mary Stone, Old Age Pensioner, was living at 2 Sunnidale, Willand, Devon.

Cottages, High Street, Halberton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/1177578
44 High Street, Halberton, is the blue cottage in the centre

Frances Mary Stone, of 44 High Street, Halberton, Devon died on 11 Aug 1962 at the ripe old age of 93. She didn't have much money left (~£75). 

Francis and Frances are buried together in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Grave of Francis Stone and Frances Mary Jerred

Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze

Holcombe Rogus View
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/2803413

Thomas Ridgway, born 1844, was the son of James Ridgeway and Mary Ann Lock and the younger brother of my 2x great-grandmother, Mary Ridgeway. Thomas Ridgeway married Ann Tooze, also born in 1844, daughter of Richard Tooze, Chair Maker, and his wife, Eliza Disney, of Holcombe Rogus.

Thomas and Ann were also the parents of James Ridgeway, who married his first cousin, Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's daughter, Harriet Stone. 

In 1851, both 7, Ann Tooze lived with her family in Holcombe Rogus, while Thomas Ridgway lived in Ashbrittle Village with his. By 1861, Ann had left home, but I've been unable to find her. Thomas Ridgeway (18), had also left home and was employed as a Carter at Holcombe Barton, Holcombe Rogus. (Holcombe Barton Farm was part of the Manor of Holcombe Rogus of Holcombe Court, "the finest Tudor house in Devon.")

Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze were, however, married, on 27 Mar 1865, at St Peter’s Church Tiverton. Witnessing this marriage were Thomas Vickery and Jane Ridgway (Thomas and Mary Ridgway's sister), who themselves were married, also at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, in May of that same year.

By 1871, Thomas and Ann Ridgway were living at Lowman Cross, Uplowman.

1. James Ridgway born 1867
2. Tom Ridgway born 1869 (died 1881)
3. John Ridgway born 1871
4. William Ridgeway born 1874
5. Henry Ridgeway born 1876
6. Frank Ridgeway born 1878
7. Bessie Ann Ridgeway born 1880
8. Sydney Ridgway born 1882
9. Charles Ridgway born 1884
10. Ellen Ridgeway born 1886

In 1881, residing at Whitnage, Uplowman, Thomas Ridgeway (37) and his wife, Ann (37) are joined by their growing brood of John (10), William (7), Henry (5), Frank (3) and Bessie Ann (1), as well as Thomas' twice widowed mother, Mary Ann Mash, formerly Ridgeway, née Lock (74). James had already left home and Tom died in 1881, aged just 12.

In 1891, still at Whitnage, Uplowman, with Thomas (47) and Ann, were James (24), Frank (13), Bessie (11) and another three younger siblings.

In 1901, living at Greenend, Uplowman, are Thomas Ridgway (57), General Farm Labourer, and Ann (56). William Ridgway (27), Carter on Farm, has returned home, but the only other of their children left living at home is the youngest, Ellen (15). Then Ann Ridgway died, aged 63, in 1907, in St Thomas, Exeter, where there was the Workhouse hospital.

In 1911, the widowed Thomas Ridgway (67), Farm Labourer, was living with his son William Ridgway and his wife, Florence Louisa Finnimore, at Wallflower Cottage, Halberton.

Thomas Ridgway died in the 1st quarter of 1927, aged 83.

Whitnage Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/2826469

James Ridgeway and Harriet Stone

Inside the Grade II* Listed St Peter’s Church in Uplowman

Harriet Stone, the 6th child and 2nd daughter of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married her first cousin, James Ridgeway, who was the son of her mother's younger brother, Thomas Ridgeway and his wife, Ann Tooze. 

Harriet was born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1865 and was there, aged 6, on the census of 1871. In 1881, the family had moved to Lauds Mills, Uplowman, Devon. Harriet (16), listed as a General Servant, is by then the oldest of Henry and Mary's offspring still living at home. After her mother's death in 1885, in 1891, Harriet had become her father's Housekeeper at Greengate, Uplowman. Francis Stone (3), grandson to the head of the household, is Harriet's child.

Meanwhile, James Ridgway (4), in 1871, was at home with his parents at Lowman Cross, Uplowman. By 1881, James (15) was working as a Farm Servant for Rachel Chave, Widow, in Halberton. While, in 1891, he was back home at Whitnage, Uplowman, employed as an Agricultural Labourer.

Harriet Stone and James Ridgeway married, on 1 Apr 1895, at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman. Harriet was 29 and James 27. Witnesses were Harriet's younger sister, Lucy Jane Stone and Francis Stone (undoubtedly her younger brother, not her 7 year old son.) But the marriage was not before Harriet had a second son, Charles Stone, registered in the same quarter of that year. 

Greengate Cottage, Uplowman

Whether those two boys were James Ridgway's sons or not, in 1901, they're both listed with the surname Ridgway on the census of that year. This may be a simple case of the enumerator getting carried away with Ditto marks. The family are still at Greengate, Uplowman, but James Ridgway (34), Farm Labourer, has become the head of the family and with James and Harriet and their growing brood is Harriet's father, Henry (71) (also listed incorrectly as Ridgway), now working as a Labourer on Roads, asF well as Harriet's brother, Francis. 

Children of this blended family include: 

1. Francis Stone born 25 Dec 1887, bap 10 Feb 1888 at Uplowman. He's described on the baptism record as the "Base born" son of Harriet Stone, Labourer's daughter. In 1939, Francis Stone, Road Labourer, was living at Pead Hill Cottage, Chevithorne. He died, in Tiverton, in 1965. 
2. Charles Stone bap. 1 May 1895 at Uplowman. The record lists him as son of "Harriet Stone alias Ridgway. Married after birth of child." (Yes, but this does not mean that she married the child's father, as James doesn't acknowledge him.) Found no records for Charles after 1911. 
3. Nellie Ridgway born 7 Jan 1897, bap. 28 Feb 1897 at Uplowman.
4. Emily Ridgway born 31 Aug 1899, bap. 29 Oct 1899 (died, aged 3, buried 3 Aug 1903, in Uplowman)
5. James Ridgway born 10 Feb 1904, bap. 1 Apr 1904 at Uplowman. In 1939, he was a Farm Carter, living at Rose Cottage, Stag Mill, Uplowman with wife Evelyn S (b. 30 Jul 1901). Evelyn Laura Ridgway or Ridgeway, married woman, of Rose Cottage, Stag Mill, Uplowman, died at Tidcombe Hall, Tiverton, on 1 Oct 1960, aged 59. James Ridgeway died in 1976.

In 1911, with their address listed as Road Crosses, Sampford Peverell, Tiverton, are James Ridgway (44), Farm Labourer, Harriet (46), Nellie (14), Domestic Servant, James Ridgway (7). However, Frank Stone (23) and Charles Stone (16), were relegated the bottom of the list and both described as James' stepsons.

James Ridgway died, aged 62, in 1929 and Harriet, in 1936, aged 71.

[According to my dad's notes, James Ridgeway died on 28 Feb 1928.]

Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman

Royal Marines' Stonehouse Barracks, Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth

And so we come to the 5th of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's offspring, Tom Stone, who was born on 11 Dec 1861, in Ashbrittle, Somerset. 

In 1871, aged 9, Tom Stone was living at home with his parents and siblings in Ashbrittle. Then, aged 18, in 1880, Tom enlisted in the Royal Marines and, in 1881, aged 19, he is listed on the census as a Private R M L I - Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) - at what was then called Stoke Damerel.

At 18, Tom was 5' 6¾", fair complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes.

Confusingly, there is a record of a marriage, in the 1st quarter of 1889, between Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman. However, according to the British Royal Marines Marriage Registers, the date they married was not until 5 Apr 1893 and they list the place of marriage as the Register Office, East Stonehouse. However, I discover that there was no such thing as a Register Office (not until after 1929), so I wonder if this took place in Stonehouse Barracks. There appear to be civil registrations for both dates too.

Either marriage was a little on the late side: 

1. Archer Henry Stone (Archie), born 28 Mar 1889 in Plympton, Devon, bap. 21 May 1889, at the Wesleyan Methodist church, Tamerton Foliot
2. Frederick Thomas Stone, born 20 Jan 1892
3. Beatrice May Stone, born 14 Mar 1894, in Plympton (nothing after 1911)
4. Bertram Charles Stone, born 24 Feb 1899 (died 2nd quarter of 1899)
5. Leslie Victor Stone, born 1901. On 11 Apr 1919, aged 18, Leslie Victor Stone joined the Royal Tank Corps, but nothing further after that.
6. Rosina Kathleen Stone, born 14 Apr 1903

In 1901 the family are living at 9, St Paul Street, East Stonehouse, with Tom Stone (39) listed as a Marine Pensioner. (Tom served in the Royal Marines for 21 years (+ 2 days), from 11 Mar 1880 until 13 Mar 1901, and then enlisted in the Royal Fleet Reserve on 3 Jul 1901.) Also listed were Margaret (35), along with children; Archie (12), Frederick (9), Beatrice (7) and Leslie (0). 

Archer Henry Stone enlisted in the Royal Marines, aged 14, on 11 Nov 1903.

Tom Stone, General Labourer and Marine Pensioner, died, aged 43, on 2 May 1905, from Pulmonary Tuberculosis, at 3 Ashley Place, Plymouth.

Then just two years later, on 11 Nov 1907, Archie Stone died at the Royal Naval Hospital (Medway Maritime Hospital) in Gillingham, Kent, of a Tubercle of the lung (Tuberculosis again) and cardiac failure. He was just 18.

In 1911, Margaret Stone, widowed and in receipt of Parochial Relief, was living in East Stonehouse, with her two youngest children, Leslie V (10) and Rosina K (7). Frederick had enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1907 and Beatrice (17) had also left home by then and at that time was working as a Servant for Samuel Reed, Hairdresser and Tobacconist, in Devonport.

Margaret Erne Stone died, on 1 Sep 1921, at around 55 years, and probate was granted to her son, Frederick Thomas Stone, on 24 Dec 1921.

St Paul Street, Plymouth (number 9 is the darkest caramel coloured one)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2333440

James Prescott and Mary Ann Stone

St Peter's Church, Tiverton, noted for the first performance of the
organ arrangement of Mendelssohn’s ‘Wedding March’.

Mary Ann Stone, fourth child and eldest daughter of Henry and Mary Stone, a pair of my 2nd great-grandparents, was born in Ashbrittle, Somerset in around 1860. She is, of course, at home with her parents and older brothers at Court Place, Ashbrittle, in 1861 and, at 12, becomes the oldest child still living at home - address merely listed as Cottage, Ashbrittle - in 1871. 

However, by 1881, Mary Ann (21) has left home and at that date is working, as a General Domestic Servant, for Alfred T Gregory, Newspaper Proprietor, in Gold Street, Tiverton. Alfred Gregory was publishing titles such as the Tiverton Gazette and East Devon Herald, Western Observer and affiliated papers for South Molton and Crediton. (The Tiverton and District Directory for 1894-5 lists their proprietors as, Gregory, Son, and Tozer.)

In 1882, Mary Ann Stone married James Prescott, at their parish church of St Peter's, Tiverton. Banns were published on 5th, 12th and 19th of Feb.

John Prescott, born in Washfield, Devon, in 1858, was living at home in 1881, at Middle Marsh, Tiverton, with his parents, John Prescott from Luxborough, Somerset, and his wife, Jane Gage (m. 1852). James Prescott (23), at that time was a "Labourer on Railway", as were James' father, John, his younger brother, Robert (18) and the family's lodger, James Parker (20). 

However, this couple were married for little more than a year, when Mary Ann Prescott died, tragically aged just 23, on 14 Apr 1883, in Chapel Street, Tiverton. The cause of her death was Acute Phthisis Pulmonalis (The old name for Tuberculosis (TB) 18 days - I had suspected this might be the case when reading that Mary Ann had been present at the death of her brother, John Stone, when he had died from Phthisis, in the August of 1882. 

Her mother-in-law, Jane Prescott, was present at Mary Ann's death. 

Tiverton : Gold Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1658721

Not unsurprisingly, James Prescott remarried quite quickly, to a Jane Davey in the 1st quarter of 1884, also in Tiverton. Then, in the 3rd quarter of 1884, they had a son Charles, who, it appears was their only child. 

My connection, of course, was broken once Mary Ann had died, but one can't help being curious and it's what they did next that was surprising. In 1891, James Prescott (32), Labourer, wife Jane and son Charles were living in Eglwysilan, Glamorganshire, Wales; in 1901, we find the trio - with James working as a Navvy Ganger - in Staines, Middlesex and then, in 1911 - with James employed as a Dock Labourer - in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Son Charles, living in Portsmouth and a Railway Labourer, was by then married. You wouldn't expect labourers to have moved around so much or so far.

James' parents, John and Jane Prescott, meanwhile, then aged 78 and 83, respectively, were still alive and still living in Tiverton in 1911.

John Stone: Attempting to ravish and carnally know

Hockworthy: Hockford Cottage
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/164609

John Stone, the third of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's children, born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1858, may have been a bit of a rogue.

In 1861, John (3), like his older brothers, was at home with his parents at Court Place, Ashbrittle. I've not been able to locate him in 1871, when he will have been around 13, but he'd already left his parents' home by then. 

Some time ago, Peter Calver of Lost Cousins asked the uncomfortable question, "Was your ancestor a rapist?" Hummmm ....

In 1873, aged 15, John Stone, was arrested and taken to the Devon County Prison, on 2 Jun, accused of "Attempting to ravish and carnally know Maria Disney on the 28th May, 1873, at Hockworthy." The committing magistrate was J. C. New, Esq., of Cullompton, but John wasn't tried: the bill was ignored for assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and assault. There are no further details or clues as to why the case did not proceed, but as Peter suggested, securing a conviction was difficult in those times.

On the 1871 census, Mariah Disney (then 12, so 14 at the time of the alleged assault), daughter of John Disney, farm labourer, was living at Hockford Barton, Hockworthy. We may assume she was the young lady in question. 

[NOTE: John's sister, Harriet Stone, married their first cousin, James Ridgway. James Ridgway's mother was Ann Tooze, who's own mother was Eliza Disney, so there's no doubt that John was also "keeping it in the family"!]

Hockworthy: lane in the Lowman valley
The Lowman - running in the ditch by the hedge - defines the parish boundary with Uplowman
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/65739

Widening the area of search and including the keyword "railway", I found John on the 1881 census living in the household of Henry Payne, Railway Tunnel Miner, at Railway Hut, Hurst Green, Oxted, Godstone, Surrey. Living there were Henry Payne (31), his wife, four children aged 5 to 11, as well as nine men, all boarders, all railway tunnel labourers. And at the bottom of the long list is John Stone (22), Tunnel Miner's Labourer, born in Somerset.

The Oxted Tunnel - on the Oxted line, which passes under the North Downs in two tunnels, and then splits into two branches at Hurst Green, adjoining Oxted in Surrey - opened in 1884. It doesn't take much imagination, therefore, to see what he must have been working on in 1881. 

Such hard work and what must have been horrendous conditions, with so many people crammed into an undoubtedly a crowded space, lacking in facilities: a perfect environment for transmitting infectious diseases ...

Because one year later, John Stone, "Labourer on Railway", died, aged 24, on 27 Aug 1882, in Uplowman. His sister, Mary Ann Prescott (she had married earlier that year), was present at his death. Wondering if he'd been killed in an accident or even a revenge attack, I ordered his death certificate, but John had, in fact, died of the all-too-common at that time, Phthisis (Tuberculosis). He was buried, on 3 Sep 1882, in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Grave of John Stone and his parents, Mary and Henry Stone, in Uplowman Churchyard