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Blackchurch rock looking across Mouthmill beach. cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Andrew Bolton - geograph.org.uk/p/1701554 |
John Charles Stone (Jack), of 2 Stafford Terrace, Heavitree, Exeter, son of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, married Elsie Alberta Wright, of 5 Regent Street, St Thomas, Exeter, daughter of Henry Wright and Elizabeth Baker, at the Church of St Thomas, St Thomas, Exeter on 20 Nov 1911. Elsie Alberta Wright was baptised in Bickleigh, Mid Devon on 11 Dec 1892. Her father's name is listed as Albert Henry on both the record of her admission to Cadbury School in 1898 and on her marriage certificate, but in 1901, when Elsie (8) was at home with her family in Hayne Lane, Bolham, her father, listed as Henry Wright, was employed as a Carter on Farm.
On the 1911 census, John Stone (20) Police Constable, was residing at the Devon County Constabulary Exeter, while Elsie (19) was employed as a General domestic servant in the household of Retired Army Officer Major Frederic Smyly at 1 Milverton Lodge, [22 The Avenue], Tiverton.
- Frederick Charles Stone b. Q4 1911 in Exeter (Died 1949, aged 37.)
- Kenneth John Stone b. 23 Mar 1915, bap. 28 Apr 1915 in Revelstoke, Plympton (Died 1932, aged 17, see below.)
- Burgess William Stone b. 29 Jan 1918, bap. 2 Feb 1918 in Newton Ferrers. (Died Q1 1918, aged 0.)
We get a wealth of information on this family - and confirm some of the other family marriages - from the very detailed newspaper reports of the time.
The Western Times, Friday, September 23, 1932
Clovelly Fatality
MR KENNETH STONE LAID TO REST
Parish Loses a Popular Young Man
The funeral of Mr Kenneth Stone, younger son of Police Constable J C Stone and Mrs Stone, who was drowned while bathing at Mouth Mill, took place at All Saints' Church on Wednesday week. The Rector (Rev. Somers Cocks) officiated.
Deceased was a quiet, unassuming, courteous young man of sterling character, and he was very popular in the parish, having a host of friends, His sad death cast a great gloom over the district, and there was a large number of sympathising friends and parishioners present in the church and at the graveside. The utmost sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Stone, Mr Frederick Stone and the relatives in the loss they have sustained.
The family mourners were:- Police Constable J C and Mrs Stone (father and mother); Frederick C Stone (brother); Mrs L J Stone, Cruwys Morchard (grandmother); Mrs R Southwood, West Anstey, Mrs F Hitchcock, Bishops Lydeard, Mrs L Baker, Coombe Florey and Mrs F Harford, Chevithorne (aunts); Mr Phillip Stone, Coombe Florey (uncle); Mr W Southwood junr, West Anstey, Mrs L Baker, West Anstey, Mr W and Mrs R Watts (cousins), Mrs R Anstey, Messrs. W Bale, E Martin, R Arnold, E Moore, S Leach, A Ackland, B Bridgeman, Mesdames L Stacey, R Blight, W Bale, C Ayres, T Vanstone, T Martin, L Ackland, Misses C Ackland, M Blight and E Ackland (friends from Shebbear), and Wilfred John Wheaton (fellow employee at Clovelly Court.)
The bearers were officers of the "A" Division, Devon Constabulary, in charge of Seargeant Stuart (Hoops) and Inspector Rendell (Bideford). They were Police Constables Butt (Instow), Morcombe (Hartland), Hooper (Horns Cross), Beavis (Bideford). The coffin was of unpolished oak with brass fittings, and the breastplate was inscribed: "Kenneth Stone, aged 17 years, died 9th September, 1932."
The following were among the general public:- Messrs A E Bushell, T Bale, J Crase, R Anstey, J T Moss, H Braund, E Braund, A Holloway, W Elliott, H Patton, S Williams, F Cleave, J Heal, H Tuke, J Stuart, O May, G Reilly, G Prince, F Robbins, J Headon, W Gist, L Gist, W Jewell, F Littlejohn, W Pengilly, J Whitefield, W Hamlyn, W Cruse, H Carpenter, H Taylor, C Braund, W Braund, G Lamey, J Johns, J Dunn, P Dunn, C Badcock, T Squire, A Dayman, A Beer, J Beer, F Found, E Found, C Prouse, C Pennington, E Rowe, S Wilson, G Attwood, T Jennings, W Jennings, M Beer, G Dark, F Pickett, F Day, W Thomas, J Jennings, L Symons, G Wonnacott, D Cook, W Cook, Capt. Burnard, Capt. H Jenn and Police Constable Cole (Bovey Tracey). Mesdames Hillsdon, D Hilton, E Moss, C Jenn, A May, H Taylor, L Cook, D Cook, J Babb, S Beer, Clements, F Johns, M Johns, M Lamey, A Dunn, N Colwill, M Badcock, E Shackson, F Badcock, H Braund, J Parsons, E Bragg, E Pengilly. Misses Doughton, Falconer, Anstey, F Gist, G Beer, E Johns and H Cook. There was a large number of floral tributes.
Kenneth John Stone (1915-1932)
(Though I did chuckle to see a Beavis and Butt among the bearers.)
The Western Times, Friday, June 5, 1936
WITHERIDGE HOTEL: PROTECTION ORDER GRANTED
A protection order in respect of the Hare and Hounds Hotel, Witheridge, was granted at South Molton Petty Sessions on Tuesday to Mr John Charles Stone, now a police constable at Clovelly, who is retiring from the force on June 24th. The order will not take effect until the constable's retirement, Supt. E C Parr pointing out that a police officer could not be the holder of a licence.
Jack Stone retired from the police in 1936 and became landlord of the Hare and Hounds (see image - undoubtedly Jack behind the bar, as the family resemblance is glaring), which was in the then pretentiously named Trafalgar Square in Witheridge, Devon. Nowadays it's just the junction of Fore Street and Church Street, where the B3137 is intersected by North Street and West Street. The pub has been turned into a residential cottage, so if you drive past, you'd have no idea of it's previous use, as we have on several occasions.
This is confirmed in the 1939 Register, where John Charles Stone (b. 18 Jun 1890) Police Pensioner Now Licenced Victualler and wife Elsie A Stone (b. 28 Oct 1892) are listed at the Hare & Hounds Public House, Witheridge.
John Charles (Jack) Stone died in 1960, aged 70.
Elsie Alberta Stone (née Wright) died in 1973. She will have been 81.