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| Kentisbeare : Priest Hill cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/3707225 |
John Rookley married Mary Ayres on 24 May 1820 in Kentisbeare, Devon, although I cannot find baptisms for either of them. Baptism records in Kentisbeare do suggest John and Mary had at least 12 children:
- Mary Ann Rookley bap. 8 Oct 1820 (Residence: Picksey Pool)
- John Rookley Jnr b. 1822 (No baptism found)
- Jane Ayres Rookley bap. 18 Jan 1824 (Residence: Little Silver)
- James Rookley bap. 20 Aug 1826 (Residence: Crosses)
- Elizabeth Ruckley (sic) bap. 13 Feb 1831
- William Rookley bap. 3 Feb 1833 (Residence: Town)
- Sarah Ruckley (sic) bap. 24 May 1835 (Residence: Little Silver)
- Henry Ruckley (sic) bap. 18 Jun 1837 (Residence: Crosses)
- Thomas Rookley b. 1839 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 257 bap. 14 Apr 1839.
- Thomasin Rookley b. 1841 M Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 258 bap. 28 Feb 1841
- Eliza Rookley b. 1843 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 250 bap. 30 Apr 1843
- Anna Rookley b. 1845 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 266 bap. 1 Jun 1845
All Civil Birth registrations list the surname as Ruckley (as a result of illiteracy and Devon accent, I suspect - on William's baptism the curate has even written "Rookley, or as they say Ruckley") and the mother's maiden name as Ayres.
On the baptisms of Mary Ann, Jane Ayres and James, John Rookley's occupation is described as a Husbandman (a person who cultivates the land; a farmer), obviously employed casually and moves around a lot, but on those of Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Henry, Thomas, Thomasin, Eliza and Anna, he is a Labourer.
In 1841, John Ruckley (45), closely agrees with his age given at other times, is languishing in the Devon County House Of Correction, in St David's, Exeter. He had earned a 6 month holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure for Larceny. Mary and the children do not appear anywhere on this census that I can find.
We find the family in 1851, when they are listed, unhelpfully, as living in "Village, Kentisbeare". John Rookley (56) is a Farmer of 22 Acres, with the household consisting wife Mary (52), William (19) and Henry (12) Employed on the farm; Thomas (10), Thomasin (8), Eliza (6) and Hannah (Anna) (4).
Mary Rookley died, age given as 59, in 1859 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 282 and was buried on 27 Apr 1859 in Kentisbeare churchyard.
In 1861, listed as John Rockley (sic) (67), widowed, Retired Farmer, was living at Gaddford Hills, Kentisbeare, Devon.
In 1871, John Rookley (78), Farm Labourer, was living at "Moor, Kentisbeare" (Kentis Moor) in the household of James and Thomasin Ridgeway.
John Rookely died, aged 78, and was buried on 14 May 1871.