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| 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. |
Charles Stone (b. 8 Apr 1869 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married Emma Middleton (b. 6 Aug 1862 in West Anstey, Devon), daughter of Jane Middleton, on 29 Oct 1896 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton and became my great-grandparents. They both gave their address as 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton, which was that of Charles' younger sister, Lucy Jane and her husband, William Bridle, who were their witnesses.
Emma Middleton came to the marriage with a son:
- William Henry Middleton, b. 10 Dec 1888 (1889 M Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 435), birth certificate says he was born at and his mother, Emma Middleton, Domestic Servant, was living (and presumably working) at, Haldridge Mill, Stoodley. Presumably Aldridge Mill (photos: Aldridge Mill, Aldridge Mill Farm) a historic former corn mill (now off-grid wild camping site) nestled in a sheltered valley in Devon, between the villages of Oakford and Stoodleigh, near Tiverton.
No idea why she later chose to change her name from Emma to Emily (fashion perhaps?), but she didn't seem to be 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 now know Middleton was not only hers, but also her mother's maiden name, so that couldn't be her father's name. Emma (Emily) had an older brother and an uncle William Middleton, both of whom she never met as they died as infants, the name she was borrowing. Well, I say she wasn't trying to hide William Henry's true origins, but clearly someone came up with a story later, because my father was always 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.
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| 1 Silver Street, Tiverton where my grandfather was born on 6 Jun 1898 |
Charles and Emma (Emily) Stone added four more children:
- Charley Stone b. 6 Jun 1898 at 1 Silver Street, Tiverton (1898 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 401), bap. 20 Jul 1898 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, clearly listed as the son of Charles and Emma.
- Albert Stone b. 18 Jan 1900 (1900 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 399)
- Emily Stone b. 2 May 1901 (1901 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 387)
- Henry Stone b. 17 Nov 1902 (1902 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 375)
All of the GRO registrations list the mother's maiden name as MIDDLETON.
Only Charley was baptised, most probably because they moved out to Lower Washfield, which would have been a very long walk to any church.
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| Woodgates, Lower Washfield, Tiverton, their address in 1901 |
In 1901, Charles (30), Agricultural Labourer, and Emily (33 - really 39 - the gap between fiction and reality getting bigger) were living at Woodgates, Lower Washfield, with their two sons, Charley (2) and Albert (Bert) (1). Oh, but before you think this looks like a nice abode, the house you are seeing is the farmhouse. The lady who owned it when we visited in 2016, was of the opinion that the farm workers - in this case my great-grandparents - will have lived in the outhouse / shack that you can see (with the wheel on the wall) in the foreground. William Henry Middleton (13) Agricultural Labourer was working for John Hussey (38) Farmer at Wood & Honeyland, Tiverton.
The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 7 Sep 1904 reported that: "A summons against Frank Raymond, farmer's son, of Washfield, for assaulting Emma Stone, a married woman, of Washfield, on August 30th, was dismissed at the Tiverton Sessions yesterday. From the evidence it appeared that there was a family quarrel, brought about by a son aged 17 years, going back home to reside. The father objected to the lad staying at home, and asked Raymond to assist him to remove the youth's box from the house, which he did. Mrs Stone attempted to stop the father from removing the box, and, in consequence, Raymond held her while he was doing so." (The age of the 'youth' mentioned corresponds with that of Charles' step-son, William Henry Middleton.)
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| 4 Hayne Lane, Bolham in 2016 |
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| Charles and Emma with their children: Charley (rear right), Albert (rear left), Emily, (front right) and Harry (front left) |
In 1921, Charles Stone (51) General Farm Labourer was living in West Manley, Tiverton, Devon, working for Mr A Farrant, Farmer of West Manley Farm. Emily Stone was claiming to be 31 - she was actually 59 - with just Harry Stone (18) General Roadman For District Council, still at home. William Henry Middleton had married in 1918 and was living in Ash Thomas, Devon; Charley Stone (24) [i.e. still maintaining he was a year older than he really was], Corporal RMLI, was with the Royal Navy, Armed Forces Overseas (he was in Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland); Albert Stone (21) Private RMLI was with H.M.S. Ramillies in Cawsand Bay, Plymouth and Emily Stone (20) was a General Domestic Servant in the household of the Managing Secretary of the Cooperative Society Ltd, at 27, St Andrew Street, Tiverton.
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| Centre, now one building, 43 (left) and 41 (right) Gold Street, Tiverton |
At some point, Charles and Emily must have moved back into town in Tiverton, perhaps once they were able to draw a pension, to 43 Gold Street, Tiverton. This was most likely to a flat, or probably more precisely rooms, above a shop (see here with a shop at number 43 circa. 1900). Nowadays, the 17th Century Grade II listed building is home to the Frou Frou Bistro. Many's the time we've sat and eaten in the left hand end of this delightful restaurant, not knowing that my great-grandparents had lived and, what's more, both expired there.
Charles Stone (60) Farm Labourer, died on 13 Jun 1930 (1930 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 467) at 43 Gold Street, Tiverton, from a) Cerebral Embolus and [probably caused by] b) Auricular fibrillation (more commonly known as atrial fibrillation (AFib). His death was registered by C Stone, Son, In Attendance, of 11 Durnford Street, Plymouth.
Emily Stone, age listed as 68 - in her 74th year - widow of Charles Stone, Farm Labourer, died on 2 Jun 1936 (1936 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 492), at 43 Gold Street, Tiverton from a) cerebral haemorrhage and b) arteriosclerosis. Once more the informant was C Stone, Son, Present at the death and gave his address also as 43 Gold Street, Tiverton.