James Land and Jane Flew

Church of St Michael and All Angels, Bampton

cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rob Purvis - geograph.org.uk/p/6807505

James Land (b. 1828) son of John Land and Loveday Flew, married Jane Flew (b. ~1826), daughter of Robert Flew and Mary Cottrell (Robert Flew was the brother of Loveday Flew, so the couple were first cousins), at the parish church of St Michael and All Angels in Bampton, on 16 Apr 1854.

James and Jane had one son:

1. George Land b. 1855 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 374, bap. 9 Dec 1855, in Bampton, Devon. Died 1856 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 304.

Jane Land died, aged 30, in 1856 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 304. Those deaths may have occurred at the end of 1855 and registered in early 1856 and, it would appear likely that Jane died giving birth to their son.

James Land, widower, married Rose Anna Beamer (b. 1823), widow, on 19 Apr 1863 at St Michael and All Angels, Bampton. Rose Anna Beamer gave her father's name as Isaac Smith, Labourer. (Not found hers, but I've found a baptism on 1 Feb 1824 for a Mary Smith, daughter of Isaac and Hannah Smith at All Saints, Norton Fitzwarren, who may have been her sister.)

In 1861, James Land (32) Quarry Labourer was a Lodger in the household of Ann Beamer (38) from Norton, Somerset, along with four of her children: Mary (10), Alfred (8), James (6) and Lindy (2). The civil birth registration for James in 1855, confirms that Rose Anna's maiden name was SMITH.

With a two year old in 1861, one might assume that Rose Anna (Ann) had only recently been widowed, but the only record of a death that may be that of her husband - I haven't been able to find the earlier marriage, but son Alfred Beamer's marriage gives his father's name as James Beamer - is that for a James Beamer, aged 37, in the last quarter of 1854. That would make James Beamer, born 1855, a posthumous child. Although, it would also make Lindy Beamer the child of another liaison. Not exactly unheard of.

John and Rose Anna Land had at least three further children together:

1. George Land Beamer b. 1862 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 461, registered George Beamer, no mother's maiden name. Death registered as George Land Beamer in 1863 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 335.
2. Loveday Jane Land b. 1864 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 455, mother's maiden name this time was listed as SMITH.
3. John Land b. 3 Feb 1866, in Stoodleigh, Devon (No GRO reg.)

In 1871, in High Street, Bampton, we find James Land (41) and Rosannah (46), with just Loveday J (7) and John (5). Not one of Rose Anna's family are living with their mother. It's not the first time I've seen a first family "disappear" when their parent remarries. Rose Anna's daughter, Mary (b. 1850), I've been unable to find any mention of; Alfred Bimmer (sic) (19) was working as a [Farm] Servant for Thomas Chave in Morebath; James Beamer (16) Masons Labourer was lodging, with Henry Beamer (21) Ag Lab, elsewhere in Bampton; there are no other records of Lindy Beamer.

In 1881, at Westbrook Cottage, Bampton, at a guess, on Westbrook Farm (PDF), were James Land (54) Ag Lab; Ann Land (58); Jane Land (18) Domestic (Out of Service) - just given birth; John Land (16) Gen Labourer; Henry Beames (sic) (8) Grandson and Rosana Land (0) Granddaughter.

James Land died, at 56, in 1884 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 297.

There is a death of a Rose Anne Land in 1889, with her age estimated as 40 (1889 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 273). This would be a 20 year discrepancy, but is a typical lie about a woman's age and her name is uncommon enough for me to be persuaded this does most likely relate.

In 1891, John Land (24) Private in the Royal Marines Light Infantry was at Fort Stamford, Plymstock, Devon. He had enlisted on 3 Jan 1885, served for 21 years until Jan 1906 and then again in 1914-15. That latter period, mostly, at Plymouth Division, but from 12 Sep - 3 Dec 1914, on HMS Jupiter: When World War I broke out in August 1914, Jupiter was transferred to the 7th Battle Squadron of the Channel Fleet. During this service, she covered the passage of the British Expeditionary Force from England to France in September 1914. In late October 1914, Jupiter was reassigned to serve alongside her sister ship Majestic as a guard ship at the Nore. On 3 November 1914, Jupiter and Majestic left the Nore and relieved their sister ships Hannibal and Magnificent of guard ship duty on the Humber. In December 1914, Jupiter moved on to guard ship duty on the Tyne. On his Marines Record, John describes his sister Loveday Jane's daughter, Rose Anna Southwood (née Land) as his sister, whereas, in reality she was his niece. This might suggest that the illegitimate child was brought up by her grandparents long enough for him to believe / consider her as such.

In 1911, John Land (45) Horse Man on Farm, who never married, was boarding with his niece Rose Anna (30) and her husband, William Henry Southwood (34) at Chieflowman Cottage, Uplowman.

In 1921, John Land (56) Royal Marine Pensioner was still boarding with William Henry Southwood (45) Farmer at Bungsland, West Anstey.

John Land died, aged 58, in 1924 S Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON.

Old Toll House, Briton Street, Bampton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Milestone Society - geograph.org.uk/p/6114414

James Beamer (b. 1855), son of James Beamer and Rose Anna Smith, brother of Alfred Beamer and half-brother of Loveday Jane Land and John Land, married Mary Jane Snell (b. ~1857) - that's the maiden name listed on several of their children's birth registrations - in Exeter, in 1876. The transcript of the marriage record lists them as James Bemer and Mary Jane Smale, which made this record difficult to find. Only because, in 1911, they said they'd been married for 34 years, was there finally a clue to the period to look in.

Mary Jane is listed on census records as being from Devonport, Plymouth, but it hasn't been possible to find records of her birth or early years.

James and Mary Jane had at least seven children:

1. Mary Jane Beamer born Q2 1884 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. (Died and was buried, on 13 Apr 1884, in Bampton).
2. Ethel Anna Beamer (no civil reg), bap. 26 Apr 1885 in Bampton.
3. (Unnamed male child) Beamer born Q3 1886 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. (Died in the same quarter, age 0.)
4. Sarah Jane Beamer born Q3 1887 in Tiverton, mother's name SMALE
5. Tom Beamer born Q3 1890 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name listed as SUELL. Bap. 3 Aug 1890 in Bampton.
6. Rosanna Beamer born Q1 1893 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. Bap. as Rose Anna Beamer, on 30 Apr 1893, in Bampton. (Died, aged 16 months and was buried, on 22 Aug 1894, in Bampton.)
7. Mary Ann Beamer registered Q1 1896 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name listed as SNELL. Bap. 29 Dec 1895 in Bampton. (Died in Q2 1901, aged 5. Buried on 27 Apr 1901 in Bampton.)

There could be other children, particularly given the number of discrepancies in the information, such as the mother's maiden name, which could be errors in transcription, or registrars writing down what they heard. The parents don't help, because on the 1911 census they say they have only had 3 children with 3 then living, but various corroborating records prove that to be untrue.

In 1881, James Beamer (25) Railway Labourer and Mary Beamer (23) were living at Rose Cottage, Bampton, Devon.

Ethel Ann Beamer (3) "British King" from Liverpool

This curious record relates to an Ethel Ann Beamer, then age 3, sailing on the "SS British King" from Liverpool, arriving in Philadelphia on 29 May 1888. Their intended destination was Chicago. Taken alone, I'd have ignored this and assumed that this was another Ethel Ann Beamer entirely. HOWEVER, in the box at the top right, it says "Accompanied by" Sarah Jane 8 months and Mary Jane 30, both of which fit exactly. I've also found an equivalent record for Sarah Jane and both children appear on the passenger list, along with Mary Jane. It's hard to imagine them being able to afford to go to the US - and come back again - but equally hard to imagine the combination of those three names and ages cropping up together more than once. It's a mystery.

In 1891, James Beamer (39) Agricultural Labourer, wife Mary (35), Ethel A (6), Sarah J (3) and Tom (0), were living in Briton Street, Bampton. 

On 16 Oct 1894, James and Mary Beamer were both charged and bailed, accused of "Wilfully neglecting Rose Anna Beamer, a girl under the age of 16 years, to wit, 16 months, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering and injury to health, at Bampton, on 15 August 1894, and on various other dates." They were found not guilty and acquitted. 

In 1901, James Beamer (48) General Labourer, Mary Jane (42), Ethel (15), Tom (9) and Mary A (5), were living on the Tiverton Road, Bampton. Sarah Jane (14), was employed as a General domestic servant, in the household of Henry Early, Watchmaker and jeweller, at 12, Angel Hill, Tiverton. 

In 1911, we find the family has "emigrated" ... to Wales. James Beamer (53) from Bampton, Devon was then a Coal miner hewer living at 4 Price Street, Pentre in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorganshire with Mary (49), Tom (20) also working as a Coal miner hewer; Ethel Cappell (25), William Cappell (25) Son-in-law, and grandchildren, William (3) and Ethel (1). (Ethel Ann Beamer had married William David Cappell on 24 Apr 1907, in Bampton.)

In 1921, James Beamer (69) Labourer (Surface) Ocean Cal Company Out Of Work; Mary Jane Beamer (63), William David Cappell (35) Labourer Corys Broks Coal Company Out Of Work; Ethel Ann Cappell (38), William David James Cappell (13), Ethel Ann Cappell (11) and Lawrence Earnest Cappell (5) were living at 1, Price Street, Pentre, Rhondda, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Mary Beamer died, aged 70, in 1927 M Quarter in TAUNTON Volume 05C Page 442. 

James Beamer died, in 1931, aged 77, also in Taunton. 

(William and Ethel Cappell lived in Rowford, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton in 1939. No further records for Sarah Jane after 1901 nor Tom after 1911.)

Thomas Stone and Mary Collard

Photo © Roger Cornfoot (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Peters Church, Clayhanger, Wednesday, 27 April, 2016

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Thomas Stone (bap. 4 Jan 1824 in Langford Budville, Somerset), son of William Stone and Mary Thorne, married Mary Collard (b. ~1828 in Bampton, Devon), at Cove Chapel, Cove, Devon (between Tiverton and Bampton) on 2 Apr 1854. Unbelievably, the marriage certificate just lists Thomas Stone, of full age, single, labourer, then resident in Tiverton, with no mention of who his father was. For Mary Collard, all that's listed is her name; no age, no status, no address, no father, no clues whatsoever. They were married by J Spurway. How on earth did he perform a legal marriage with so little detail? 

Worse, the next marriage on the same record page was equally devoid of detail. And yet, The Rev. John Spurway was a prominent 19th-century Rector of the Pitt Portion at St Peter's Church in Tiverton, Devon. Cove Chapel: In 1822, the Rev. J. Spurway was heavily involved in the local parish records and church development, overseeing the district that later became its own ecclesiastical parish. Cove Chapel (later St. John the Baptist) served the area, and Spurway had land ownership in the greater Tiverton/Halberton area. The only irregularity, that I know of, is that the couple had clearly already been in a relationship and living together as man and wife for at least four years. They already had two children, with a third imminently on the way. Perhaps, the Rev. Spurway was known locally as an "ask no questions" kind of guy.

Witnesses to the marriage were George Cornwall (who made his mark with an X) and an H Newton. Newton also witnessed the next marriage, in late May, so could have been a bloke who hung around churches witnessing marriages for a small consideration. Could have been. It all seems most strange.

Thomas's aunt, Elizabeth Stone, had married in this Chapel in 1827. At that date it was clear that the marriage must have taken place in the old Cove Chapel, said to be Medieval and also said to have dated from 1544, which is Tudor and reading between the lines, I think this infers that a Tudor version had been built over the site of a previous Medieval one already. 

White's Devonshire Directory of 1850 says, "Cove Chapel, in Pitt quarter, is an old dilapidated building, but it is in contemplation to rebuild it." In 1854, it is unclear if it will still have been the old Medieval/Tudor Chapel, or in it's replacement. Heritage Gateway lists, "Chapel of St John the Baptist, Cove (Correspondence). SDV354721. Chapel. 1854-5 by Edward Ashworth of Exeter." That would appear to be the date the new one was designed. Most sources suggest the new chapel was built in 1856 [1, 2, 3]. The old chapel was said to be demolished 'in the 1850s', but there is no clear date. 

An Act for legalizing certain Marriages solemnized in Cove (PDF) dated 13 Mar 1873, explains that, "in or about the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six the ancient consecrated chapel called Cove Chapel, situate in Pitt Portion in the parish of Tiverton in the county of Devon [...] was wholly taken down, in consequence of its dilapidated condition, and rebuilt on different site within the ancient chapel yard belonging thereto, but such new chapel was not consecrated or licensed for the solemnization of marriages ..." Basically, after the new chapel was built, somebody forgot to consecrate it, so Queen Victoria had to legislate to back-date the legalisation of those marriages.

In conclusion, I think the clue is that the new chapel was apparently built in a slightly different location on the plot than the older one, so the demolition was not necessarily done first. My feeling is that Thomas Stone and Mary Collard therefore married in the older, Tudor, chapel. Theirs may well have been one of the last marriages in that building. Maybe they were having a closing down sale, with money off for keeping details to a minimum!

The 'new' chapel was later deconsecrated and is now a private residence.

The bad news: we still have absolutely no idea who Mary Collard was.

This couple eventually had ten children:

1. Mary Jane Stone bap. 2 Jun 1850 at St Mary the Virgin, Burlescombe. I could find no GRO birth registration (under either surname), but she was baptised 'as if' she were legitimate, i.e. her parents lied in a church. :) On Mary Jane's baptism, her father was described as a Husbandman and the family's address was given as "at Amory's, Westcott." [1]
2. Elizabeth Collard b. 23 May 1852 at Clayhanger, Devon was registered at the GRO (1852 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 389) as the (illegitimate) daughter of Mary Collard, with no father listed. Nevertheless, she was baptised at St Peter, Clayhanger, Devon, on 4 Jul 1852, as Elizabeth Stone, once more 'as if' she were legitimate. Their address was simply 'Clayhanger' and her father listed as a Labourer.
3. William Collard Stone bap. 4 Jun 1854 at St Michael's, Stawley [2]
4. Emily Stone bap. 11 Jun 1856 at All Saints', Holcombe Rogus
5. Thomas Henry Stone bap. 22 May 1858 at All Saints', Holcombe Rogus
6. Benjamin Stone bap. 25 Nov 1860 at All Saints', Holcombe Rogus
7. Samuel John Stone bap. 10 May 1863 at All Saints', Holcombe Rogus
8. Ellen Rebekah Stone (sic) b. 12 Jan 1865, bap. 5 Feb 1865 at All Saints', Holcombe Rogus [3]
9. Caroline Ann Stone b. 7 Oct 1867, bap. 3 Nov 1867 at St Mary the Virgin, Burlescombe [3]
10. Eliza Stone, b. 12 Mar 1870 at Locks Cottage, Holcombe Rogus (1870 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 396), with her mother's maiden name listed as COLLARD; father Thomas Stone, Quarryman, bap. 10 Apr 1870 at All Saints', Holcombe Rogus.

Interesting that they suddenly registered the last child, because Thomas' brother, Henry Stone's youngest is also the only one they registered at the GRO in 1872. In 1870, the civil registration of births in England and Wales was technically required by law, but not actively penalized until the Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1874 made it strictly compulsory in 1875. Perhaps there had been warnings of what was coming around that time.

[1] Amory's Tenement is an agricultural property in the hamlet of Westcott, in the parish of Burlescombe, Devon. The property has roots tracing back to the 17th century. A counterpart lease dating to June 8, 1688, lists Thomas Amory (yeoman) as the tenant under Sir Edward Wyndham of Somerset.

[2] The very next baptism after William Collard Stone's is of Laura Churly, eldest child of George Churly and Mary Ann Stone, Thomas' half-sister.

Photo © David Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Webber's Church of England School, Holcombe Rogus, Wednesday, 31 August, 2016

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

[3] Dates of birth for Ellen Rebecca and Caroline Ann are from the records of their admissions, in 1876 and 1878 respectively, to Holcombe Rogus (Webber's) School (Webber's Church of England Primary School), a co-educational primary school located on Fore Street in the village of Holcombe Rogus, Wellington, Somerset. This school, endowed by a Mrs Webber of Bampton in 1823, is an important component in the centre of the village. Eliza Stone was also registered in 1876, and all list their father as Thomas Stone.

On William Collard, Emily and Thomas Henry's baptisms, their father was listed as a Labourer, but on Benjamin's, as a Quarryman. On Samuel John's and Ellen Rebekah's baptisms it was once again Labourer. In earlier years, Thomas had certainly been an Agricultural Labourer, but later, maybe he'd been a Labourer in a quarry. Equally, he could have swapped back to agriculture as jobs, such as farm servants & labourers, were live-in roles, and workers were hired on fixed six-month or annual verbal contracts. On Caroline Ann's and Eliza's baptisms, he was back to being a Quarryman.

During the 19th century, quarrying in Holcombe Rogus was dominated by limestone extraction for agricultural lime, building stone, and railway ballast. These sites — notably Barge and Perry quarries — were interconnected with the nearby Grand Western Canal via tramways and tunnels. What is now the massive Westleigh Quarry (stretching across the border into Burlescombe) was made up of several smaller 19th-century operations like Furlong, Sparkes Hill, and Pitcher Kiln quarries. These small entities were later consolidated. Eric G Rodwell's history of Tracebridge, Stawley (PDF), has a tremendous map that shows the relative positions of many of the villages and hamlets, as well as the route of the canal and the various quarries in the area.

In 1851, Thomas Stone (~25) Ag Lab from Langford [Budville], Somerset; with Mary Stone (24) 'Wife' from Bampton, Devon and Mary J Stone (0) born in Burlescombe, Devon, were living in Westleigh, Burlescombe, Devon.

In 1861, living in Road Longwood [Longwood Lane], Holcombe Rogus, were Thomas Stone (~39) Stone Quarrier from Langford Budville, Somerset; Mary Stone (33) Wife [this time she was] from Bampton, Devon; Mary J Stone (10) from Burlescombe; Elizabeth Stone (9) from Tiverton [Clayhanger, which is near Bampton, is within Tiverton District]; William C Stone (7) from Stawley, Somerset; Emily Stone (4), Thomas H Stone (2) and Benjamin Stone (5mts). Boarding with them was Thomas Needs (82) Widower, Ag Lab.

Photo © Roger Cornfoot (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Locks Cottage, on the Grand Western Canal, near Burnhill Farm, Holcombe Rogus

The remains of Lowdwells Lock in the foreground, this is now where the canal terminates. For more on this area, read Walking the Grand Western Canal

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

In 1871, living at Burnhill, Holcombe Rogus (which means almost certainly at Locks Cottage, since Eliza was born there the previous year) were Thomas Stone (48) Quarryman from Langford Budville, Somerset; Mary Stone (44) from Bampton, Devon; with Thomas Stone (13) Ag Lab; Samuel J Stone (8), Ellen R Stone (6), Caroline A Stone (3) and Eliza Stone (1).

Elizabeth Stone, servant, aged 23, died on 28 Oct 1875 at Burnhill, Holcombe Rogus. Her cause of death was Parturition (childbirth) Metritis (also known as childbed fever). Metritis is an acute, potentially life-threatening bacterial infection and inflammation of the entire uterus that typically occurs within the first 1 to 3 weeks postpartum. It is caused by an ascending bacterial infection (often E. coli or other polymicrobial flora) when the cervix remains open following parturition, an abortion, or obstetric manipulation. Risk factors include retained fetal membranes, dystocia (difficult labor), and unhygienic conditions. I'm including this information, because this has probably been the cause of death for so many women and, of course, in the days before antibiotics, the resulting sepsis undoubtedly did prove fatal. Clearly, Elizabeth had been pregnant with an illegitimate child, but I can find no corresponding record of a birth, baptism nor death, so I'm guessing the child was stillborn.

In 1881, living at Locks Cottage, Holcombe Rogus, Devon, were Thomas Stone (57), Quarryman from Langford [Budville], Somerset; Mary Stone (53) from Bampton, Devon; Benjamin Stone (20) Quarryman and Eliza Stone (11).

Thomas Stone (64) Quarryman died on 10 Aug 1888 (1888 S Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 187) at Locks Cottage, Holcombe Rogus, from Chronic Hepatitis and Hydrothorax. (Hepatic hydrothorax is the build-up of fluid in the chest cavity that affects people with cirrhosis and other serious liver issues.) Under the informant was 'The mark of Mary Stone, Widow of the deceased, present at the death'. Thomas Stone was buried on 19 Aug 1888 at All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus.

Mary Stone (née Collard) (62), Widow of Thomas Stone, Quarryman, died on 4 Sep 1890 in Llangibby (Llangybi, Monmouthshire, Wales) from Fatty disease of the heart, dropsy (oedema) and congestion of the lungs. The informant listed on her death certificate was E R Stone [Ellen Rebecca], daughter, present at the death. Mary Stone of Llangibby, Monmouthshire, was buried back at All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus on 10 Sep 1890.

Photo © Michael Garlick (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Holcombe Rogus, All Saints Church: Eastern aspect, Thursday, 1 October, 2020

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.