James Wood and Mary Ann Melhuish

Kentisbeare : St Mary's Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4771675

James Wood, son of James Wood and Harriet Gollop, married Mary Ann Melhuish on 20 May 1883 at St. Mary’s church, Kentisbeare. 

James' elder brother, Henry Wood, had married a Mary Jane Melhuish, which seems an incredible coincidence. Henry's wife, Mary Jane had said she was from Plymouth, while Mary Ann lists herself as being from Clayhidon. But in neither case can I find a birth for either of them individually, much less find any connection between them. That's another mystery for another day.

James and Mary Ann had 11 children:

1. Robert Wood born 1883, bap. 12 Jul 1885 in Kentisbeare *
2. Sarah Ann Wood bap. 12 Jul 1885 in Kentisbeare
3. Edith Maud Wood b. 24 Jul 1887, bap. 14 Aug 1887 in Kentisbeare
4. Harriet Mary Wood b. 23 Nov 1888, bap. 13 Jan 1889 in Kentisbeare
5. George Wood born 30 Aug 1890, bap. 5 Oct 1890 in Broadhembury
6. Unnamed male Wood born Q1 1893 (Died in the same quarter)
7. Eldred James Wood born 15 Mar 1894, bap. 1 Apr 1894 in Broadhembury. Eldred J Wood served in the Devonshire Regiment during World War I.
8. Mabel Wood bap. 8 Aug 1896 in Kentisbeare (Died at 21 days old, buried 23 Aug 1896, also in Kentisbeare)
9. Roland Ashford Wood b. 25 Jan 1898, bap. 13 Mar 1898 in Kentisbeare. Roland A Wood married Cicely Butt 1939. That year they were living at Bodmiscombe Wood, where Roland was a Farmer on his own account. Roland Ashford Wood died on 28 Feb 1975.
10. Reginald Leonard Wood b. 8 May 1901, bap. ? 1901 in Blackborough
11. Mabel Frances Wood b. 1904 (Died at 26 days old, buried 17 Jan 1904 in Blackborough)

* Baptism record for Robert Wood notes that he was 18 months old. That way, hopefully nobody noticed how soon after the wedding he'd arrived! :) 

In 1891 the family were living in Broad Road, Broadhembury, Honiton with James Wood (32) Agricultural Labourer, Mary A (29), Robert (7), Sarah A (5), Edith M (3), Harriet M (2) and George (0).

But by 1901, they were back in Kentisbeare at Hollis Green, with James Wood (43), Mary A (39), Edith (13), Harriet M (12), George (10), Eldred J (7) and Roland A (3). I've been unable to find either Robert or Sarah Ann in 1901. 

In 1911, at Cobblers Hall, Kentisbeare, were James Wood (53), Mary Ann (49), Sarah Ann Wood (25) Domestic Servant Cook, and Reginald Leonard Wood (9).

James Wood died in 1918, aged around 61.

In 1939, Mary Ann Wood, Widow, was living at 15, Blackborough with her youngest son, Reginald Leonard who was then employed as a Rabbit Trapper. 

Reginald Leonard Wood of 15 Blaydon Cottages, Blackborough, died on 18 Jun 1954 at Tiverton and District Hospital. As he left his effects to his widowed mother, Mary Ann Wood, we can probably conclude that he had not married. 

Mary Ann Wood died in 1955, aged 91.

Broadhembury
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Stowell - geograph.org.uk/p/6855