John Northcott and Sarah Ann Collins

Photo © Philip Halling (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Branscombe church, Sunday, 1 April, 2012

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

John Northcott (bap. 2 Dec 1832 in Branscombe, Devon), Bachelor, Labourer, son of Silas Northcott and Mary Ann Hatsley, married Sarah Ann Collins (bap. 23 Nov 1834 in Branscombe, Devon), Spinster, Lace Maker, illegitimate daughter of Martha Collins, at St Winifred's Church, Branscombe on 10 Mar 1853. John gave his address as the somewhat amusing 'Hole Bottom'. There's a Hole House (Hole Farmhouse) and a Hole Mill in Branscombe, so perhaps he was working at one of those properties. Sarah gave her residence as 'Church', i.e. living near it, and listed her father as James Gosling. This may be almost true, but certainly her mother married an Isaac Gosling in 1835, who, in 1841, was going by the name James. After her mother's marriage Sarah was known by the surname Gosling, until she reverted to Collins upon marriage. Both of them were then minors. Neither could write and made their mark. Witnesses were John Otton and Joanna Peyton (who married in 1854). 

John and Sarah Ann Northcott had four children:

1. William Collins Northcote (sic) registered as William Northcote in 1853 J Quarter in HONITON Volume 05B Page 29, with the mother's maiden name COLLINGS (sic), bap. on 25 May 1853 at St Winifred's Church, Branscombe. Died, aged 10 months in 1854 M Quarter in HONITON Volume 05B Page 19 and buried on 13 Mar 1854, in Branscombe
2. Harriet Ann Northcott b. 12 Jul 1859 (1859 S Quarter in HONITON Volume 05B Page 26), bap. 31 Jul 1859 at St Winifred's, Branscombe
3. William John Northcott b. 24 Nov 1867 (1867 D Quarter in HONITON Volume 05B Page 28), bap. 25 Dec 1867 at St Winifred's, Branscombe
4. James Charles Northcott b. 5 Sep 1875 (1875 S Quarter in HONITON Vol 05B Page 28), bap. 26 Sep 1875 at St Winifred's, Branscombe

The births are considerably spaced, but there's no evidence of any other children to this couple. On the birth registrations for Harriet, William and James the mother's maiden name is GOSLING. Clearly, they knew Collins was strictly correct, but I guess it depends on what was asked. If Sarah was asked what name she used previously, she will indeed have said Gosling.

In 1861, living [near the] Church, Branscombe, Honiton, Devon, were John Northcotte (sic) Agricultural Labourer; Sarah A Northcotte (sic), Lace Maker, whose birthplace was listed as Uffculme (there is no evidence to account for this); and Harriet A Northcotte (sic) (1). Living next door were Isaac and Martha Gosling (Sarah Ann's mother, also a Lace Maker.)

(Honiton lace is a highly intricate, hand-made bobbin lace originating from East Devon, England. Famous for its delicate floral designs and fine thread, it famously adorned Queen Victoria's wedding dress and veil in 1840.)

In 1871, with their address listed merely as Cottage, Branscombe, Honiton, Devon, were John Northcott (38) Labourer; Sarah A Northcott (37) Lace Maker still listing her birthplace as Uffculme; with Harriet A Northcott (11) already also working as a Lace Maker and William J Northcott (3). 

In 1881, Nr the Church, Branscombe, Honiton, Devon, were John Northcott (48) Ag Lab; Sarah Ann Northcott (48) Lace Maker finally birthplace listed as Branscombe, Devon; James C Northcott (5) and Martha Gosling (69) Mother-in-Law, Widow, Lace Maker. (Harriett had married in 1878; William Northcott (~12) Ag Lab was listed in the household of Elija S Maeer (46) Farmer of 290 Acres at Higher Chelstone Farm, Salcombe Regis, Honiton, Devon.)

The Western Times of 5 Oct 1883, reporting on the court proceedings relating to THE BRANSCOMBE MURDER - the fatal shooting of 67-year-old farm laborer John Perryman on September 8, 1883, in the Devon village of Branscombe - tells us that "Sarah Ann Northcott, a neighbour, proved that Dowell [one of the accused] came into her house shortly after his return from Honiton, and again between half-past seven and eight o'clock the same evening". This, it appears, was vital evidence towards establishing his alibi. Suspicion had fallen upon William Dean Dowell, his sister Eliza Williams and their neighbour Amos French, but with a lack of evidence or witnesses, the bench declined to commit them and they were all discharged. The crime shocked the local community and remains an unsolved mystery. 

In 1891, still living Near Church, Church Row, Branscombe, Honiton, Devon, were John Northcott (56) Farm Labourer; Sarah A Northcott (55) this time her birthplace was listed as Talaton, Devon (seems very specific); and James C Northcott (15) Farm Labourer. William Northcott (listed as 19, but was 23) Blacksmith, was a lodger at The White Hart, Fore Street, Cullompton.

Sarah Ann Northcott died, aged 62, in 1896 S Quarter in HONITON Volume 05B Page 8 and was buried on 8 Aug 1896 at St Winifred's, Branscombe.

In 1901, John Northcott (65) Father, Widower, Agricultural Labourer was living with his youngest son, James C Northcott (25) Market Guardener and his wife at Bank, Branscombe, Honiton, Devon.

In 1911, John Northcott (78) Widower, Old Age Pensioner, was still living with his youngest son and his family, in Church Road Branscombe.  (The "Old Age Pension" was introduced in 1909 in the United Kingdom (which then included all of Ireland). Following the passage of the Old-Age Pensions Act 1908 a pension of 5 shillings per week (25p, equivalent, using the Consumer Price Index, to £26 in present-day terms), or 7s.6d per week (equivalent to £39/week today) for a married couple, was payable to persons with an income below £21 per annum (equivalent to £2200 today), The qualifying age was 70, and the pensions were subject to a means test.)

John Northcott died, at 86, on 31 May 1919 (1919 J Quarter in HONITON Vol 05B Page 18).

George Collins and Martha Thompson

St. Andrew's church, Cransley
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jonathan Thacker - geograph.org.uk/p/6663331

George Collins (bap. 25 Mar 1827 in Kingsthorpe, Northamptonshire), Carpenter, resident of Broughton, son of William Collins and Elizabeth Turland, married Martha Thompson, daughter of Solomon Thompson Jnr and Maria Willis, at St Andrew's, Cransley, on 8 Nov 1847. Martha's father isn't listed (he was deceased, but should still have been named), but it's clear this is her, because the witnesses include Solomon Thompson, Martha's brother; Maria Blackett, Martha's sister and also one of the Bottrell/Botterill 'clan' (Martha's eldest sister, Mary, had married Stephen Bottrell).

George and Martha had a son, George Collins, b. 1848 J Qtr Vol 02 Page 127 in St George in the East, but there are no further records for this child.

Then Martha Collins died, aged just 24, in 1850 D Qtr Vol 02 Page 82.

In 1851, George Collins (24), Carpenter, Widower, was lodging with John and Maria Blackett at Wellington Place, Back Road, Saint George in the East.

Unable to find him in 1861, it appears George Collins died, aged 36, in 1863 S Quarter in NORTHAMPTON UNION Volume 03B Page 41) and was buried on 21 Sep 1863 at St John the Baptist, Kingsthorpe. There is a note on the burial record giving his residence as 'Northampton NTH' and my fear and feeling is that he'd become ill and was sent back to the Workhouse to the north east of Northampton, from where he'd probably be sent to his native parish to be buried at the request of family, or at the parish's expense.

John Palmer and Esther Collins

Winchester - St John The Baptist Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Talbot - geograph.org.uk/p/2386190r

John Palmer (b. ~1776 in Bridestowe, Devon) married Esther Collins (bap. 15 Aug 1790 at St Bartholomew, Winchester), daughter of Benjamin Collins and Mary Heamer, at St John the Baptist, Winchester on 26 Aug 1811. 

John and Esther Palmer, it seems, had at least these four children:

1. Charles Palmer b. 12 Jul 1812, bap. 24 Jul 1812 at St Mary's Church, Hinckley, Leicestershire. As unlikely as that location seems, on the 1851 census, Charles' birthplace is listed as 'Ionkley, Lancashire', which is surely a mis-transcription of Hinckley, Leicestershire. 
2. James Palmer bap. 16 Sep 1821 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
3. Elizabeth Palmer bap. 25 Nov 1827 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth
4. Henry Palmer bap. 18 Jul 1830 at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth

On James', Elizabeth's and Henry's baptisms, John's occupation is Tanner.

It's extremely likely there were other children born between those, but it's difficult to confirm, not knowing when or where and being too early for them appear on census returns together as a family for confirmation. 

In 1841, John Palmer (60) was living in York Street, Plymouth (as was son Charles, in a separate household), with Esther Palmer (50), Elizabeth Palmer (14) and Henry Palmer (11). There is a James Palmer (20), resident at Plymouth Citadel, in 1841, presumably there with the military.

In 1851, John Palmer (75) Tanner, from Bridestowe, Devonshire and Esther Palmer (61), from Winchester, were in Richmond Street, Plymouth.

John Palmer died, aged 78, in 1855 M Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 251. He is buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.

In 1861, Esther Talmer (sic) Tanner's mother, widowed, from Winchester, Hampshire, was living in Vauxhall Street, Plymouth in the household of her son Charles - who it appears had taken over the trade from his father.

Esther Palmer died, aged 79, in 1868 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 145. She is also buried at Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth.