Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway

Church of St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/5104522
A plaque near The Ancient Yew of Ashbrittle declares, "Generations of local people
have cherished this tree, one of the oldest living things in Britain."

Henry Stone (bap. 26 Oct 1828 in Langford Budville, Somerset), son of William Stone and Mary Thorne, married Mary Ridgeway (bap. 22 Dec 1833 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), daughter of James Ridgeway and Mary Ann Lock, at her parish of St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle, on 24 Jan 1854. Witnesses were George Churly and Mary Ann Churly (who had married in 1853). Mary Ann Stone, as was, was Henry Stone's half-sister.

Henry and Mary Stone, a pair of my 2nd great-grandparents, had nine children. Frederick James was born in Stawley and the rest in Ashbrittle, Somerset. All were baptised at St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle.

1. Frederick James Stone bap. 25 Dec 1854
2. Henry William Stone bap. 13 Jul 1856 
3. John Stone bap. 23 May 1858 (Died, aged 24, on 27 Aug 1882)
4. Mary Ann Stone bap. 5 Feb 1860 
5. Tom Stone b. 11 Dec 1861, bap. 4 Feb 1862
6. Harriet Stone bap. 2 Apr 1865 
7. Francis Stone b. 1 Feb 1867, bap. 3 Mar 1867
8. Charles Stone b. 8 Apr 1869, bap. 9 May 1869
9. Lucy Jane Stone b. 11 Apr 1872 (1872 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 374), bap. 26 May 1872

Lucy Jane's birth was the only one that was registered at the GRO and upon which her mother's maiden name was confirmed as RIDGWAY.

Court Place, Ashbrittle
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/3819462

In 1861, Henry (31) and Mary (27) were also living in a Private Cottage at Court Place, as were Henry's parents at that time. With Henry and Mary were the four children born to date; Frederick (6), Henry (4), John (3) and Mary Ann (1), along with Jane Ridgeway (28), Sister-in-Law (Mary's sister).

In 1871, with their address merely given as Cottage, Ashbrittle, were Henry and Mary with Mary Ann (12), Tom (9), Harriet (6), Francis (3) and Charles (1). Frederick Stone (16) Ag Lab Indoor', was working for Henry Oxenham at Chevithorne, Tiverton. Henry Stone (13), Indoor Agricultural Labourer working for Richard Poole (62) a Farmer at Bathealton, Somerset.

In 1873, aged 15, John Stone, was arrested and taken to the Devon County Prison, on 2 Jun, accused of "Attempting to ravish and carnally know Maria Disney on the 28th May, 1873, at Hockworthy." The committing magistrate was J. C. New, Esq., of Cullompton, but John wasn't tried: the bill was ignored for assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and assault. No further details or clues as to why the case did not proceed, but as Peter Calver of Lost Cousins suggests, securing a conviction was difficult in those times. (On the 1871 census, Mariah Disney (then 12, so 14 at the time of the alleged assault), daughter of John Disney, farm labourer, was living at Hockford Barton, Hockworthy. John's sister, Harriet Stone, married their first cousin, James Ridgway. James Ridgway's mother was Ann Tooze, who's mother was Eliza Disney, so John was also "keeping it in the family"!)

In 1875, the family were living in Hill, Huntsham, according to son Francis Stone's school record, when he was enrolled at Huntsham County Primary School that year. At the time he left school in 1879, Francis was attending school in Chevithorne, so presumably the family had relocated there.

Some of the listed buildings at Widhayes

By 1881, the family had moved to Lands Mill, Uplowman (Now demolished, Lands Mill, was part of the Widhayes estate, so assuming Henry was employed by Edward Chave at Widhayes Farm. The stable block, barn, linhay, gate house and farmhouse at Widhayes are Listed Buildings) with Henry (51) and Mary (49), Harriet (16), Francis (14), Charles (11) and Lucy Jane (8), granddaughter, Ellen Snow (2) and widowed Sister-in-Law, Jane Vickery (43). Visiting were Mary Ann Tarr (27) and Jane Tarr (22), General Servants. Widening the area of search, I eventually found John Stone on the 1881 census living in the household of Henry Payne, Railway Tunnel Miner, at Railway Hut, Hurst Green, Oxted, Godstone, Surrey. Living there were Henry Payne (31), his wife, four children aged 5 to 11, as well as nine men, all boarders, all railway tunnel labourers. And at the bottom of the long list was John Stone (22), Tunnel Miner's Labourer, born in Somerset. The Oxted Tunnel - on the Oxted line, which passes under the North Downs in two tunnels, and then splits into two branches at Hurst Green, adjoining Oxted in Surrey - opened in 1884. Living in such horrendous conditions, with so many people crammed into an overcrowded space, lacking in facilities, will have been a perfect environment for transmitting infectious diseases ...

Because one year later, John Stone, "Labourer on Railway", died, aged just 24, on 27 Aug 1882, in Uplowman. His sister, Mary Ann Prescott, was present at his death. Wondering if he'd been killed in an accident, I'd ordered his death certificate, but John had died of the all-too-common Phthisis (Tuberculosis). He was buried, on 3 Sep 1882, in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Mary Stone died, aged 52, on 28 Dec 1885 (1885 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 306) and was buried on 3 Jan 1886, also in Uplowman. 

In 1891, Henry Stone (63), Widower, was living at Greengate Cottage in Uplowman, with daughter Harriet (25), son Francis (23), granddaughter, Ellen Snow (12) (Henry's daughter) and grandson Francis (3) (Harriet's son).

In 1901, Henry (71), Widower (listed incorrectly as Henry Ridgway), working as a Labourer on Roads, was still living at Greengate, Uplowman, this time in the household of James Ridgway (34), who was married to Harriet Stone.

Henry Stone died, aged 72, on 26 Nov 1901 and was buried on 30 Nov 1901 at Uplowman. Henry and Mary are buried together in Uplowman Churchyard along with their son, John. Finding their grave was something I came across quite by accident online, thanks to the magnificent work of Janice Dennis, contributing at Find A Grave. We'd even been to the church and didn't bother to look, because we didn't expect the family to have had the resources.

Grave of John, Mary and Henry Stone in Uplowman Churchyard.

Benjamin Searle Sparrow Masters & Sage Boulton Ayres

St Mary's Churchyard Gardens, Rotherhithe
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Robin Stott - geograph.org.uk/p/7794520

Benjamin Searle Sparrow Masters (b. about 1786) married Sage Boulton Ayres (bap. 2 Jun 1786 at St Mary's, Rotherhithe), daughter of Elnathan Ayres and Elizabeth Perry, in the parish of St Mary, Newington, London (A History of the Parish of St. Mary Newington) on 24 Jan 1808.

They had six children, baptised at St Mary's, Rotherhithe:

1. Benjamin Masters bap. 13 Nov 1808 (Assume died in infancy)
2. George Sparrow Masters b. May 1811, bap. 26 May 1811 
3. Ann Masters b. 28 Jul 1813, bap. 18 Aug 1813. (Died 27 Nov 1816)
4. Emma Masters b. 12 Feb 1816, bap. 6 Mar 1816. (Died 10 Dec 1816)
5. Benjamin Masters b. 1 Dec 1817, bap. 21 Dec 1817
6. Charles Masters b. 26 Mar 1820, bap. 16 Apr 1820

Sage Masters, 35, widow of Benjamin Masters of Rotherhithe petitioned Trinity House for support after her husband's death. The details of the petition tell us that Benjamin Masters, Shipwright, was carpenter in several ships in the West India Trade [1], finally the 'New Phoenix' (assume Phoenix (1810). He died at Trinidad, West Indies in January 1820, leaving Sage and three children unprovided for: George Sparrow Masters aged nine, b. May 1811; Benjamin Masters two years six months, b. Dec 1817 and Charles Masters aged four months, b. Mar 1820 (therefore a posthumous child).

[1] The "West India trade" primarily referred to the transatlantic slave trade, where European powers like Britain and the Netherlands transported enslaved Africans to their Caribbean colonies to work on sugar plantations, exchanging them for goods like sugar, rum, and molasses, creating a triangular trade route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. [Source]

Sage Boulton Masters later married Uriah Wackrill (bap. 22 Aug 1802 in Danbury, Essex), son of Uriah Wackrill and Susannah Stone, again in the parish of St Mary, Newington on 26 Apr 1833. (Son George Sparrow Masters married later that year, so I suspect Sage waited until he had reached majority before remarrying to maintain their assistance from Trinity House.)

In 1841, Uriah Wackrill (35) Gardener was living at Knights Hayes Farm, Tiverton, Devon with Sage B Wackrill admitting to being 45 - she was then actually 55 - along with George Branfield (15) M.S. [Male Servant].

Published in the London Gazette and local press of the time: "Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership between the undersigned, Uriah Wackrill and John Gath, in the trade or business of Brewers and Maltsters, Tiverton, in the county of Devon, and elsewhere, under the firm of Wackrill and Gath, was this day dissolved by mutual consent; and in future the business will be carried on by the said Uriah Wackrill on his separate account; and who will pay and received all debts owing from and to the said partnership in the regular course of trade." 25 Oct 1845. (Wackrill & Gath (& brewers), were in Bampton Street, Tiverton, according to Pigot's Directory of Tiverton in 1844.)

In 1851, Uriah Wackrill (47) Gardener from Danbury, Essex was living in Battersea Rise, Battersea, Wandsworth, with Sage B Wackrill (then claiming to be 52, but she'll have been 65); Hannah Wackrill (9) Niece (daughter of Uriah's brother Evan Wackrill and Hannah Bradbery), plus a K Austin (24) Visitor, Governess (presumably for Hannah), from Honiton, Devon.

Sage Boulton Wackrill died, age estimated as 71 (close, 73), in 1859 S Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 281.

In 1861, Uriah Wackrill (58) Head Gardener was living at Bolingbroke Farms, Battersea Rise, Battersea, Wandsworth with Hannah Wackrill (19) Niece.

In 1871, Uriah Wackrill (68) Widower, Estate And House Agent, from Chelmsford, was a boarder in the household of David R Adsley in Battersea.

Uriah Wackrill of 2 Lime Cottage, Battersea, died aged 69, on 2 Feb 1872 (1872 M Quarter in WANDSWORTH Volume 01D Page 377) and was buried, in Battersea, on 7 Feb 1872. He left his effects to his brother, Edward Stone Wackrill of Cox Green, Bray, Berkshire, Gardener.

Richard Tooze and Eliza Disney

No.46 Timewells, Holcombe Rogus
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Andrew Riley - geograph.org.uk/p/5833994

Richard Tooze (bap. 24 Jul 1803), son of Thomas Tooze and Joan Potter, married Eliza Disney (b. ~1807 in Thorne St Margaret, Somerset), at St John the Baptist Church, Sampford Peverell, on 22 Jan 1827. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find a baptism nor identify the parents of Eliza Disney. 

Richard and Eliza had nine children: 

1. Caroline Tooze bap. 22 Feb 1829
2. Samuel Tooze bap. 17 Feb 1831 
3. James Tooze bap. 2 Feb 1834 (Buried on 22 Nov 1835)
4. Richard Tooze bap. 10 Jul 1836
5. James Tooze b. ~1839, bap. 5 Dec 1841
6. Emma Tooze b. 1841 D Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10 Page 464, bap. 5 Dec 1841
7. Ann Tooze b. 1844 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10 Page 477, bap. 21 Mar 1844 
8. George Tooze b. 1847 S Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10 Page 406, bap. 22 Aug 1847 (Death registered 1849 M Quarter in WELLINGTON UNION SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10  Page 345, although he had been buried 30 Sep 1848)
9. Elizabeth Tooze b. 1851 D Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10 Page 468, bap. 25 Mar 1853

All of the baptisms were at All Saints' Church in Holcombe Rogus and every one of the records lists Richard Tooze' trade as Chairmaker.

In 1841, at Tinckham, Holcombe Rogus, are Richard Tooze (35) Chairmaker, Eliza Tooze (30), Caroline (12), Samuel (9), Richard (5) and James (2).

In 1851, at Twitchen, Holcombe Rogus, we find Richard Tooze (47) Chairmaker, Eliza Tooze (44), Samuel Tooze (19) Chairmaker, Richard Tooze (14) Chairmaker, James Tooze (10) Errand boy, Emma Tooze (9) and Ann Tooze (7). Caroline Tooze (22), in 1851, was working as a General servant to Sarah Shackell (67) Widow, Butcher in Lower Town, Sampford Peverell.

In 1861, Richard Tooze (56) Chairmaker, Eliza Tooze (54) Lace Mender with birthplace listed as Thorne St Margaret, Somersetshire, and Elizabeth Tooze (9), were living at Timewells Cottage, Holcombe Rogus.

Still at Timewells Cottage, Holcombe Rogus, in 1871, were Richard Tooze (67) Chairmaker and Eliza Tooze (64). 

Eliza Tooze died, aged 72 (1879 J Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 253), and was buried on 18 May 1879, in Holcombe Rogus. Richard Tooze died the following year, aged 77 (1880 J Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 243), and was buried, on 2 May 1880, also at All Saints, Holcombe Rogus.

Family History Holcombe Rogus Devon

Benjamin Blackmore and Mary Goff

Culmstock : The Culm Valley Inn
The former Railway Hotel, now the Culm Valley Inn
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/7381769

Benjamin Blackmore (bap. 3 Feb 1856 in Kentisbeare, Devon), Blacksmith, son of Samuel Blackmore and Elizabeth Jeffery, married Mary Goff (bap. 6 Nov 1859 in Kentisbeare), daughter of Charles Goff and Elizabeth Lock, at the parish church of St Mary's, Kentisbeare, on 11 Jan 1882.

Witnesses were John Goff and Hannah Goff, latter who was most likely to have been Mary's younger sister, Anna - she was also listed as Hannah on the 1881 census. The marriage record is on the same page and is therefore presumably the first wedding celebrated in the church since that of Mary's brother, William Goff and Sarah Jane Rowe, the previous September.

Ben and Mary had four daughters:

1. Lilian Elizabeth Blackmore b. 9 Mar 1882 (1882 J Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 334) Couldn't find a baptism, presumably because of the proximity to the wedding.
2. Florence Annie Blackmore b. 18 Oct 1885 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Vol 05C Page 310, bap. 15 Nov 1885 at All Saints Church, Culmstock
3. Amy Goff Blackmore b. 1889 M Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 313, bap. 7 Apr 1889 at All Saints Church, Culmstock
4. Gladys May Blackmore b. 17 Sep 1890 S Quarter in WELLINGTON Vol 05C Page 307, bap. Gladys Mary, 19 Oct 1890 at All Saints, Culmstock

The three baptism records all list their father's occupation as Blacksmith.

In 1886, Benjamin Blackmore of Culmstock won a prize for skill in shoeing.

In 1891, Benjamin Blackmore (34) General smith, was living in Station Road, Culmstock, with Mary Blackmore (32), Lilian Elizabeth Blackmore (9), Florence Annie Blackmore (5), Amy Goff Blackmore (2), Gladys May Blackmore (0) - 6 months - and William Windson (19) Apprentice.

R. D. Blackmore, the famous novelist best known for Lorna Doone, lived in Culmstock from 1835-1841 [Source], while his father, John Blackmore, was Curate of All Saints Church, Culmstock. In 1894, "Culmstock became the Perlycross in Blackmore's novel of that name. Perlycross includes detailed descriptions of local places and living conditions at that time." [Source] 

In Gregory's Directory of Culmstock, also of 1894, Ben Blackmore, is listed as "smith & machinist". In Richard Doddridge Blackmore's 1894 novel, "The only man with a clue to the mystery is a blacksmith who has been called up late at night by a mysterious party with a cart." Was there any link between Benjamin Blackmore and R D Blackmore? :) That would be research for another day.

(The Project Gutenberg EBook of Perlycross - Perlycross, R.D. Blackmore - Culmstock, Devon - Literary Sites on Waymarking.com)

In 1901, Benjamin Blackmore (45) was Innkeeper and Blacksmith at the Victoria Hotel, Culmstock with Mary Blackmore (42), Florence Blackmore (15), Amy Blackmore (12), Gladys Blackmore (10), Edith Brown (19) General domestic servant; Jonas Hooper (22) Blacksmith and Samuel Blackmore (17) Nephew, Blacksmith Apprentice. Lilian E Blackmore (19) Dressmaker, was a boarder at the Girls Friendly Society Lodge, 32, East Southernhay, Exeter.

Mary Blackmore died, aged 45, in 1905 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET & DEVON Volume 05C Page 197 and Mary Blackmore (née Goff), wife of Benjamin Blackmore, Innkeeper, of The Railway Hotel, Culmstock, was buried, on 5 Apr 1905, in her native Kentisbeare.

So, Benjamin Blackmore (49), Widower, Licensed victualler, son of Samuel Blackmore, Farm Bailiff, married Clara Blackmore (47) Widow, daughter of Charles Dennett, in Wellington, Somerset on 23 Sep 1908. Clara gave her address as 26 Rockwell Green, Wellington (this address is a Post Office). Another Blackmore! That can't just be coincidence, can it? 

Clara Dennett bap. 21 Apr 1861, at Gussage All Saints, Dorset, daughter of Charles Dennett and Eliza Robertson, had married her first husband, John Tom Blackmore (b. 1860 in Gillingham, Dorset), son of Charles Blackmore and Mary Ann Wadman, at Gussage All Saints on 16 May 1887. 

In 1891, listed as Thomas Blackmore (33) Coachman from Gillingham, Dorset and Clara Blackmore (30), they were living at 114, Pavilion Road, Chelsea, (a mews just off Sloane Square). In 1901, Thomas Blackmore (40) Coachman and Clara Blackmore (40) were listed, along with a long list of coachmen, grooms, etc., at 1, Blue Ball Yard, St James Westminster. "The earliest reference to Blue Ball Yard itself dates to when the site was sold by King Charles II in 1672, by which time it was already a developed site of stables and housing, probably for servants working in the palace." It's clear from the addresses that John Tom Blackmore had worked in some high places.

Then John Tom Blackmore died, aged 45, in 1905 D Quarter in HATFIELD Volume 03A Page 360 and was buried, on 11 Dec 1905, in The Parish of Bishops Hatfield (St Etheldreda), Hertfordshire. This church is in the old village of Hatfield, "close to the walls of Hatfield House, once a royal palace [...] so is exceptionally grand for a parish church." His abode was listed as Hatfield Park. One assumes he'd brought dignitaries there. He may have been in the employ of James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury.

But what link there could be between the Dorset Blackmore families and their Devon counterparts, if there was one, I've not found anything to indicate it.

In 1911, Benjamin Blackmore (53) Hotel Proprietor was at the Railway Hotel Millmoor, Culmstock with Clara Blackmore (50), Amy Blackmore (22) Draper's Assistant; Gladys Blackmore (20) Miliner; Rose Troake (16) Servant and Thomas Walls (29) Stonemason, Boarder. Florence Blackmore (28) was a Domestic cook in the household of Maurice Michael (58) Watch importer at 19 Lydford Road, Cricklewood NW, London.

In 1921, Benjamin Blackmore (60) Hotel Proprietor & Clara Blackmore (58) were at the 17th Century Coaching House, the The White Hart Hotel in Wiveliscombe, with Lydia Mary Furze (41) and John Reginald Furze (11) Visitors and Violet Gladys Chandler (25) & Ivy May Taylor (22) Servants.

Clara Blackmore died, at 66, in 1927 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 307. And Benjamin Blackmore died the following year, at 69, in 1928 M Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 329.

• Lilian Elizabeth Blackmore married George Henry Hansford, in Wellington (Somerset), in 1906. That same year, they emigrated to Canada. They appear to have had two children. Lilian Elizabeth Hansford died, at 92, in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1975.
• Florence Annie Blackmore married William Herbert Owen Denness in Hendon, Middlesex, in 1912. They had three children. In 1939, William H O Denness, Hotel Proprietor, Florence A Denness were at 10-11 St George's Place, Llandudno - a quite grand, sea front location. Their younger daughter, Gladys, was Hotel Receptionist; also living in were a Hotel Boots, two Waitresses, a Chambermaid and a Cook. Florence Annie Denness died, aged 73, on 2 Dec 1958 and was buried, on 5 Dec 1958 in Llanrhos, Caernarvonshire.
• Amy Goff Blackmore married Douglas Wilfred Brentnall, in Wellington (Somerset), in 1917. They had one son quite late after their marriage, John Douglas Brentnall (1934-2010). Amy G Brentnall died, aged 77, in Weston-Super-Mare, in 1967.
• Gladys May Blackmore married Henry Cowper Giles (b. 12 Aug 1889, in Bristol), son of Francis Frederick Giles and Florence Maria Avent, in Wellington (Somerset), in 1917. They had one son, Roland Henry Giles (1918-1968). In 1939, Henry C Giles, Sports Outfitter and Gladys May Giles were living at 56 Chepstow Road, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. Gladys May Giles died on 11 Apr 1992, at the grand old age of 101 years 6 months and is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Christchurch Road, Newport, Wales.

William Edgar Farthing and Ivy May Hepworth and Lieutenant Commander Derrick William Graham RN OBE

Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/3699730

Ivy May Hepworth (b. 3 Nov 1892), daughter of Vincent Hepworth and Mary Ann (Annie) Rogers, married William Edgar Farthing (b. 23 Dec 1892), son of Frederick William Farthing and Emily Maud Gidley, on 10 Jan 1913, at the church of Saint James the Less, Plymouth. They had one son:

1. Edgar Grahame Farthing, b. 15 Nov 1913 (1913 D Qtr in PLYMPTON Vol 05B Page 333), bap. 16 Apr 1914 at St Mary's Church Plympton. 

William Edgar Farthing, formerly a clerk at the Great Western Railway, who enlisted in July 1914 in the Royal Garrison Artillery, husband of Ivy May Farthing of 22 Atheneaum St, The Hoe, Plymouth, Devon was invalided home and died at the London Hospital, Whitechapel on 8 Feb 1917, aged 24, of a disease contracted while on active service. Second Lieutenant William Edgar Farthing is buried at Ford Park Cemetery (Plymouth Old Cemetery). 

Ivy May Farthing remarried, on 29 May 1925, to Derrick William Graham. 

Derrick William Graham b. 8 Aug 1900, was the elder son of Charles William Graham a Silk Merchant born in Melbourne, Australia and his wife Edith Eleanor Clodd (m. 1899 in the City of London). In 1911, Derrick (10) and his younger brother, Geoffrey Edward (9) were boarders at Doon House Preparatory School for Boys, Canterbury Road, Westgate-on-Sea. He entered service with the Royal Navy in May 1913, as an officer cadet, at Britannia Royal Naval College, at Dartmouth, Devon. 

Derrick and Ivy had two sons:

1. David William Graham b. 1926 D Quarter in DEVONPORT Vol 05B Page 423. Died 1926 D Quarter in DEVONPORT Vol 05B Page 395
2. Michael William Graham b. 5 Jan 1929 in MEDWAY Vol 02A Page 1189

Derrick William Graham made Sub-Lieutenant in 1919; Lieutenant in 1921 and Lieutenant-Commander in 1929. His service record places him in Malta in 1928 and Ivy May Graham and son Michael, of 109 Broadfield Road, Catford, SE6, sailed to Malta with RMS Viceroy of India, in 1931.

In 1939, at West Lodge, Villiers Road, Portsmouth, were Ivy M Graham, listed with a birth year of 1896 - it was 1892 - admitting to be four years older than her husband, but not all eight, while Derrick W Graham RN, at that time, was attached to HMS Dolphin (shore establishment), home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service from 1904 to 1999, at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport.

On 1 Jan 1944 Acting Commander Derrick William Graham, Royal Navy (Portsmouth) was listed in The London Gazette, having been mentioned in despaches. His record states "Mentioned in Despaches for zeal, patience and cheerfulness in dangerous waters, and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to duty, upholding the high traditions of the Royal Navy."

Graham got his OBE (which him indoors tells me stands for "Other Buggers' Efforts") in 1946 for distinguished services during the war in the Far East.

Acting Commander Derrick William Graham reverted to the retired list on 30 Jul 1948. The marriage between Derrick and Ivy was disolved on 23 Feb 1951 and Derrick William Graham immediately remarried, on 17 Mar 1951, to Margaret Hamilton Sterling in Natal, South Africa. Derrick William Graham of St. Paul Road, Vacoas, Mauritius died, at 59, on 28 Apr 1960.

Ivy May Graham died on 20 Oct 1978 in Portsmouth, just days short of turning 86. She is buried in the churchyard at St Nicholas Church, Durweston, Dorset, where her sister, Ida Lily Soppit, is also buried. Dorset Monumental Inscriptions lists her as "Mother of Grahame & Michael GRAHAM".

• Having joined The Royal Regiment Of Artillery in 1933, Edgar Grahame Farthing married Kathleen Lucy Downs (b. 29 May 1914), in Windsor, Berkshire, in 1949 and on 17 May 1957, they and their two children, of Officers Married Quarters, Andover, sailed to Canada on the RMS Empress of Britain. Edgar Farthing died on 3 Jan 2000 (aged 86) and is buried at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cemetery, North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. Kathleen Farthing died on 17 Nov 2004 and is buried with her husband.
• Michael William Graham, formerly a Director of Rookery Estates Co, property management company, in Maidstone, Kent, married Rachel M Norman in 1952. He died at 69, in 1998.

Derrick William Graham's father, Charles William Graham, had also died at a relatively early age, 52, in London on 14 Jan 1924. The Probate record quotes him as being of 42 Gutter Lane, London and Mirabelle, Carshalton, Surrey. 42 Gutter Lane was the address of Messrs Courtauld and Co.

William Edgar Farthing's father, Frederick William Farthing, died in 1936 and his obituary in the Western Morning News was interesting: Former G.W.R. Inspector Dies at Plymouth. As well as detailing his 49 year career with the railway, it mentioned a son (Frederick Arthur) who was in the Customs at Southampton and that his wife's sisters, Alice and Lilian Gidley, were formerly headmistresses at Stonehouse. As my father, who had left Plymouth in 1936, had been to school in Stonehouse, means there's a possibility my father's headmistress had been a very distant relative by marriage to my mother.

James Bray and Jane Taylor

Photo © John P Reeves (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Andrew's Church in Cullompton, Friday, 11 February, 2022

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

James Bray married Jane Taylor at St Andrew's Church, Cullompton on 6 Jan 1763. There are no records that clearly confirm either of their origins. Taking a guess from the records we do have, it may be reasonable to imagine, but not guarantee, that James was from Uffculme and Jane was from Cullompton.

James and Jane Bray had nine children, baptised at St Mary's, Uffculme:

1. Mary Bray bap. 18 Feb 1766. Buried 28 Jul 1771 also in Uffculme.
2. John Bray bap. 13 Jul 1767. Buried 15 Oct 1769 also in Uffculme.
3. James Bray bap. 27 Mar 1769
4. William Bray bap. 8 Dec 1770. Buried 11 Aug 1771 in Uffculme.
5. John Bray bap. 11 Jun 1772
6. Mary Bray bap. 7 Nov 1773
7. Thomas Bray bap. 9 Apr 1776
8. Jane Bray bap. 8 Jul 1777
9. William Bray bap. 14 Apr 1780

Jane Bray, wife of James Bray was buried on 2 Apr 1788, in Uffculme.

James Bray was buried in Uffculme on 22 Dec 1799.

Archibald Robertson and Mary Ann Thomas Butters

Devonport Dockyard - Figureheads
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/3856679

Archibald Robertson married Mary Ann Thomas Butters on 1 Jan 1861, in the parish of St James, Devonport. On the marriage certificate, Archibald Robertson, Stoker RN, age is given as 20 and his residence as HMS Indus, said to be son of Archibald Robertson, Iron Moulder. Mary Ann, who was 19 and lived at 8 Moon Street, Devonport, had no father listed. Archibald made his mark to sign the register, but Mary Ann was able to scrawl a signature. One of the witnesses to the marriage was a Daniel Pellew.

Archibald and Mary Ann had three children:

1. Mary Ann Robertson b. 17 Mar 1862 J Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 344, bap. as Mary Ann Pellew Robertson on 18 Feb 1875 at Devonport, St James the Great
2. Archibald John Robertson b. 18 Jun 1863 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 298, bap. as Archibald John Pellew Robertson on 18 Feb 1875 at Devonport, St James the Great
3. Margaret Robertson b. 6 Jul 1865 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 298, bap. 22 Sep 1870 at Devonport, St Stephen.

In 1861, Mary Ann Roberson (sic) (19) Seaman's Wife, was living at 6, Joll's Cottages, Devonport.

Mary Ann Robertson died, aged 23, on 16 July 1865 S Quarter in STOKE DAMEREL Volume 05B Page 199. Given the date, I think we can guess what the cause of death was. Mary Ann Robertson of 47 Monument St, Devonport was buried on 20 July 1865, in the Parish of Stoke Damerel.

When he enlisted in the Royal Navy, on 26 Jan 1860, as a Stoker, Archibald Robertson said that he was born on 9 Jul 1837, in Glasgow. He was 5 ft 3 in tall, with a fresh complexion, red hair and hazel eyes. From 26 Jul 1860 to 6 Jul 1861, he was indeed assigned to HMS Indus. He then spent four years, until 1 Jun 1865, with HMS Geyser, Storeship at Devonport, a few months back with HMS Indus in 1865, and HMS Greyhound until 2 Nov 1866, when, at the end of the last line of his record in the cause of discharge column, it says "Ran at St Helena", which indicates that he deserted at St Helena. Where he went after that is anybody's guess, but it's unlikely he will have stayed long on the small island and far more reasonable to assume he jumped ship there and then lived somewhere far off, under a different name.

On their baptisms, all were listed as children of Archibald and Mary Ann, but were clearly baptised later by their respective foster families. On Mary Ann and Archibald's baptism, their address was listed as 9 Moon Street - Daniel Pellew's address. Margaret was living at 7 Mount Street and one of the Street family, baptised at the same time, was also listed at that address.

In 1871, Mary A Robertson (9) and Archibald J Robertson (8) were described as Orphans, living in the household of Daniel Pellew (63) Naval Pensioner and his wife, Charity, in Morice Town, Devonport. Meanwhile, Margaret Robertson (5) was a Boarder in the household of Sarah Organ (64) at 7 Mount Street, Stoke Damerel, along with her daughters, one of whom was Margaret Street.

In 1881, Mary A Robinson (19) Laundress and Archibald J Robinson (17) General Porter, were again living in the household of Daniel Pellew (70) Naval Pensioner and his wife, Charity, at 9, Moon Street, Devonport Stoke-Damerel. This time they were described as his granddaughter and grandson. That year Margaret Robertson (15) General Domestic Servant, was living in the household of Margaret Street (41) Widow, Charwoman at 21, Cross Street, Devonport Stoke-Damerel, described as her Foster Daughter.

Archibald John Pellew Robinson enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 17 Aug 1881, giving his date of birth as 2 March 1866. Making himself three years younger, 15 instead of 18, probably meant he was accepted for training. He rose to the rank of Petty Officer, before being Discharged Dead at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia on 4 Nov 1898, from a Tumour of the Brain. He is buried at Rookwood General Cemetery.

Who was Daniel Pellew? He claims to have been from Gillingham, Kent, although the only baptism record of a Daniel Pellew is in 1812, at St Mary's Church, Portsea, son of William Pellew and Elizabeth Keeler. 

Daniel Pellew, Able Seaman, married Elizabeth Pike, in Northfleet, Kent on 26 Dec 1844. Daniel Pellew, Widower, Mariner HMS Bellerophon, then married Ann Leach, Widow, who lists her father as James Butters, Fisherman, in Stoke Damerel, in September 1851. Daniel Pellew, Widower, Mariner HMS Impregnable, married for the third and final time to Charity Horn on 16 Dec 1855, in Stoke Damerel. Mary Ann Thomas Butters, bap. 27 Mar 1842 in Torpoint, Cornwall, was the illegitimate daughter of Daniel's second wife, Ann Leach (née Butters) and therefore, he was step-grandfather to Mary Ann and Archibald John, who he brought up and who added Pellew to their names at baptism. Without blood ties (and many times even with), others would have sent those children to the workhouse. Despite three wives, Daniel Pellew, seems to have no biological children, which might explain why.

Daniel Pellew (73) of 9 Mount Street, died on 17 Mar 1882 and was buried on 25 Mar 1882, in Stoke Damerel. In 1891, Charity Pellew (68) Widow, Laundress, was still living in Moon Street. Charity Pellew (70), of 11 Moon Street, died on 1 Dec 1894 and was buried on 4 Dec 1894.

Thomas Tooze and Mary Summers

Halberton Church (St Andrew's)
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/2860942

Thomas Tooze (b. 1801), son of Thomas Tooze and Joan Potter, married Mary Summers (b. 1804), daughter of John Summers and Sarah Middleton, at St Andrews Church, Halberton on Boxing Day, 26 Dec 1823.

This Thomas and Mary Tooze had 10 children:

1. James Tooze bap. 16 May 1824 in Holcombe Rogus
2. John Tooze bap. 16 Sep 1826 (Buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1827)
3. Charles Tooze bap. 30 Mar 1828 in Holcombe Rogus
4. Fanny Tooze bap. 16 Nov 1830 in Holcombe Rogus
5. John Tooze bap. 26 May 1833 (Buried in Holcombe Rogus in 1833)
6. Stephen Tooze bap. 20 Jul 1834 in Holcombe Rogus
7. John Tooze bap. 9 Feb 1840 in Holcombe Rogus
8. Jesse Tooze b. 1844 M Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10 Page 501, bap. 4 Jan 1844 in Holcombe Rogus
9. Sarah Ann Tooze b. 1846 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 10 Page 509 (No baptism record found)
10. Eliza Tooze bap. 5 Aug 1849 in Holcombe Rogus

All of the baptisms list their father as Thomas Tooze, Thatcher.

The civil birth registrations of Jesse and Sarah Ann - the only two for whom these records exist - both show their mother's maiden name as Summers.

In 1841, Thomas Tooze (40) and Mary Tooze (35) were living at Tinckham, Holcombe Rogus - as was Thomas' younger brother, Richard Tooze, the Chairmaker - with Charles Tooze (12), Fanny Tooze (10), Stephen Tooze (7) and John Tooze (1). Eldest son, James Tooze (15) was living with his grandmother, Joan Tooze (70) by the New Inn, Holcombe Rogus. 

In 1851, Thomas Tooze, Thatcher, and Mary Tooze were in Holcombe Rogus with Stephen Tooze (17) Ag Lab; John Tooze (11) Thatcher's Boy; Jesse Tooze (7), Sarah Ann tooze (4) and Eliza Tooze (1). 

In 1861, Thomas Tooze (61) Thatcher, Mary Tooze (58) Lace Mender and John Tooze (21) Thatcher, were living at Rull Cottage, Higher Besley [Farm], Holcombe Rogus. Jesse Tooze (19) Carter, was employed by Mark Brown (24) Farmer at Higher Besley. And Eliza Tooze (12) was a servant in the household of Robert Brown (53) Inn Keeper at Halfway House, Willand.

Thomas Tooze died in 1868 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 255, age estimated to 68, buried on 22 Nov 1868, in Holcombe Rogus.

In 1871, Mary Tooze (68) Widow, Pauper, Mother-in-Law was living in the household of Henry Hawkins (25) Carpenter at Durley Moor Cottage, Holcombe Rogus. (Henry Hawkins had married 'Jessie' Tooze, in 1868, so we can only conclude that this is what Sarah Ann was calling herself.)

In 1881, Mary Tooze (78) Widow, Pauper, Mother-in-Law, was living in the household of Robert Gillard (34) Ag Lab in Fore Street, Holcombe Rogus. (Robert Gillard had married youngest daughter, Eliza Tooze.) On this census it incorrectly says that Mary was from Uffculme, however, this still makes sense as it's where her parents married and her elder siblings were born.

Mary Tooze died in 1884 M Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 253, with age estimated to 82.

Harry Stone and Ellen Minnie Loud

Axminster: Church of St Mary and WWI War Memorial
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mr Eugene Birchall - geograph.org.uk/p/3423250

Harry Stone (b. 17 Nov 1902), youngest son of Charles Stone and Emma Middleton, married Ellen Minnie Loud (b. 6 Sep 1904), 13th child of George Alfred Loud and Tryphena Davis, on 26 Dec 1929, in Axminster.

In 1939, Harry Stone, General Labourer and Ellen M Stone, Ironer (Laundry) lived at 12, North Street, Axminster. Living with them was Amelia M Stratchcombe (b. 1918), Domestic Servant. My feeling is that she was most likely to have been a boarder or lodger who worked elsewhere. 

Harry and Ellen had one son in 1948 (afaik, still living).

Ellen M Stone died on 15 Feb 1966, aged 61. 

Harry Stone died on 12 Apr 1982, aged 79.

Arthur Flew and Sarah Hines

Swimbridge: East Kerscott
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/441946

Arthur Flew (bap. 16 Sep 1789 in Rackenford), son of Richard Flew and Ann Kingdom, married Sarah Hines (reputedly b. around 1781 in Exeter. The only available baptism record is for a Sarah Hines bap. 11 Jun 1775, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Hines, but I've been unable to confirm this is her), on 26 Dec 1814, in Tiverton (exact venue is not specified).

Records exist for three children of Arthur and Sarah, baptised in Rackenford:

1. James Flew bap. 26 Aug 1818 
2. Charlotte Flew bap. 3 Feb 1822
3. Eliza Flew bap. 18 Oct 1829

In 1841, Arthur Flue (sic) (55) Ag Lab; Sally Flue (sic) (55) and Eliza Flue (sic) (12) were at Kerscott, Swimbridge. James Flew, listed as 20, was an Ag Lab in the employ of George Bexley, Farmer at South Coombe, Templeton; Charlotte Flew, listed as 15, was a Female Servant to Thomas Lake in Thelbridge.

In 1851, Arthur Flew (60) Ag Lab, Father-in-Law from Rackenford; Sarah Flew (70) Mother-in-Law, from Exeter and John Flew (8) Nephew, from Rose Ash, Devon. (John Flew bap. 23 Apr 1843 in Rose Ash, Devon was the base - illegitimate - son of Charlotte Flew) were living in the Village, Swimbridge, Barnstaple, Devon, in the household of Thomas Wilkey (28).

Sarah Flue (sic) died aged 72 in 1853 M Quarter in BARNSTAPLE UNION Volume 05B Page 350 and was buried in Swimbridge, Devon.

Arthur Flue (sic) died age estimated as 75 in 1859 M Quarter in NEATH Volume 11A Page 351 and was buried in Llangynwyd, Glamorganshire, Wales, where daughter Eliza and son-in-law Thomas Wilkey had moved to.

Robert Ware and Amelia Land

Church of St Thomas, Chevithorne
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/5109963

Robert Ware (b. 5 Jul 1869, bap. 25 Jul 1869 at St Thomas, Chevithorne) son of Thomas Ware and Harriet Ridgeway, married Amelia Land (b. 23 Oct 1869, bap. 14 Nov 1869), daughter of Robert Land and Amelia Ware at St Thomas, Chevithorne, on 25 Dec 1891. Witnesses were John Land and Emily Land.

Robert and Amelia had seven children:

1. Robert Ware b. 1892 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 385, bap. 1 Dec 1892 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton
2. Ada Ware b. 1896 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 395, bap. 20 Jan 1896 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. Died, aged 3, in 1899 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 306.
3. Alfred Thomas Ware b. 10 Oct 1897 (1897 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 387), bap. 28 Nov 1897 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. Killed in Action on 29 Apr 1918 in Ypres, Belgium.
4. Winifred May Ware b. 8 Nov 1899 (1899 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 386), bap. 25 Dec 1899 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton
5. Frederick John Ware b. 5 May 1901 (1901 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 382), bap. 26 Jun 1901 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton
6. Willie Ware b. 26 Aug 1902 (1902 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 371), bap. 5 Oct 1902 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton
7. Florence Edith Ware b. 14 Jan 1904 (1904 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 387), bap. 14 Feb 1904 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. Died aged 18 in 1922 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 492

All of the birth registrations show the mother's maiden name as LAND, except in the case of Ada Ware, which is erroneously transcribed as LAAD.

On the baptism records of Robert, Ada and Alfred Thomas, the family's address was Martin's Lane - the alley off Barrington Street - and Robert's occupation was listed as Labourer. On all the subsequent baptisms from Winifred May's in 1899 onwards, their address was given as the Bampton Inn, Tiverton, with Robert's occupation listed as either Inn Keeper or Publican.

In 1901, at the New Bampton Inn, 29, Townsend, Tiverton were Robert Ware (30) Innkeeper; Amelia Ware (30), Robert Ware (8), Thomas Ware (3) and Winnie Ware (1) with Martin Burke (60) Groom from Ireland and George Reed (37) General Labourer from Tiverton, both Boarders.

The Western Times of 9 July 1907 reported that Mrs Amelia Ware, wife of Robert Ware gave evidence in a case brought against Frederick Wright (36), accused of stealing from a fellow servant at Knightshayes Court, as the previous week Wright had been lodging in her house, the Bampton Inn.

Robert Ware died, aged 40, on 4 Feb 1909 (1909 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 311) and was buried on 8 Feb 1909 in Tiverton. 

In 1911, Amelia Ware (41) Charwoman, Widow, was living at 14 Belmont Road, Waterloo Cottages, Tiverton with Alfred Thomas Ware (13), Winifred Ware (11), Frederick John Ware (9), Willie Ware (8) and Florence Edith Ware (7). This record confirms that Amelia Ware had seven children, of whom six were then still alive and one had died. Robert Ware (18) Groom was a servant to William Stewart Harrison at Lansdown, Tiverton, Devon.

Private Alfred Thomas Ware #106769 Royal Army Medical Corps, 57th Field Ambulance (Field Ambulances in the First World War), was Killed in Action on 29 Apr 1918, presumably during the Battle of the Lys, also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, and is commemorated on Panel 160 of the Tyne Cot Memorial. Confusingly, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have him listed as the son of the late Thomas Samuel and Harriet Ware (he was their grandson); as aged 34 - he was 20; and one record, his birthplace as London. We'll never know what information he gave when he enlisted nor where the errors occurred, but he was the son of Robert and Amelia Ware.

In 1921, Amelia Ware (52) Charwoman, Widow, was still living at 14, Waterloo Cottages, Belmont Road, Tiverton, with Winifred May Ware (21) Lace Folder for Heathcoat & Co; Florence Edith Ware (17) Dressmaker (Out of Work); Willie Ware (18) Dental Apprentice and Florence May Hill (23) General Domestic Servant, Boarder. Robert Ware (28) Groom, who had married in 1919, was living in Mill Street, Uffculme; Frederick John Ware (20) Bread Baker, was a Boarder at 22, Quay Terrace, Newton Abbot.

In 1939, Amelia Ware, Old Age Pensioner, was still living, this time alone at 14 Waterloo Cottages Belmont Road, Tiverton. (Her birth date was listed on the 1939 register as 16 Oct 1869. On her baptism, it was quoted as 23 Oct 1869 and I'm more apt to believe that than any later recollection.)

Amelia Ware died, at 88, in 1957 D Qtr in EXETER Vol 07A Page 421.

Waterloo Cottages, Belmont Road, Tiverton
These cottages as numbers 8-14 Belmont Road are now Grade II listed.

Lewis William Kerslake and Beatrice Hoare

Tiverton : Bampton Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/6474556

Lewis William Kerslake (b. 16 Nov 1885), son of John Kerslake and Mary Ann Beedell, married Beatrice Hoare (b. 1888), daughter of Samuel Hoare and Mary Elizabeth Noble, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton on 25 Dec 1908. Witnesses to their marriage were Samuel Hoare and Laura Hoare.

The couple had one daughter:

1. Beatrice Gwendolen Kerslake b. 16 March 1909 (1909 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 385), bap. 19 Jun 1909, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, daughter of Lewis William Kerslake, Tailor.

In 1911, William Kerslake (25) Tailor, Beatrice Kerslake (22) and Gwendolen Kerslake (2) were living with Beatrice's parents at 1 Richards Buildings, [Bampton Street], Tiverton. However, Beatrice Kerslake died, aged 23, in 1911 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 477.

In 1921, Lewis W Kerslake (34) was living back with his widowed mother at 1, The Works, Tiverton, while his daughter, Gwendoline B Kerslake (12) was still living with and brought up by her maternal grandparents, Samuel and Mary Hoare, at 1, Richards Buildings, Bampton Street, Tiverton.

Electoral Registers confirm that Louis William continued to live with his widowed mother, Mary Ann Kerslake, at The Works, Tiverton and was still there in 1930. At the same time, the 1930 Kelly's Directory listed Kerslake, Lewis Wm. tailor, at 72a, Bampton Street & 1 Newport Street, Tiverton.

Lewis William Kerslake remarried to Nellie Bridle, only child of William Bridle and Lucy Jane Stone, in Tiverton, in 1931. Their only child was: 

1. William John Bridle Kerslake b. 21 Apr 1932 (1932 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 528). Died, aged 17, in 1949 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 07A Page 637 (see reports below).

In 1939, Lewis W Kerslake, Air Ministry Contractor Fabric Work - he was a materials inspector, undoubtedly working on parachute fabrics at the Heathcoat factory - Nellie Kerslake and William J B Kerslake, were living with Nellie's widowed mother, Lucy J Bridle, at 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton.

Then on 24 Aug 1949, their only son, Billy Kerslake, died, as reported on the front page of the Western Morning News, 25 Aug 1949:

TIVERTON BOY DIES IN LEAT

WENT FOR BATHE 

"A shock from an electric cable is believed to have caused the death last night of 17-year-old William Kerslake, son of Mr and Mrs L W Kerslake, of 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton. Kerslake in a bathing costume, was in a fairly shallow part of the leat running behind the old Heathcoat School, Tiverton, when he was seen to collapse. Mr Tom Pook, of Kings Crescent, Tiverton and Mr W Copp, of 2 Bridge Buildings, Tiverton, went fully clothed to his rescue and tried artificial respiration. Dr G Lowe and Dr P F Haggart were summoned but it was found that the boy was dead. Assistance was also given by Constable D F Levett."

The subsequent newspaper report after the inquest and funeral took up almost four columns. Much was made of it being private property. Today, I feel, emphasis would be placed on why was a live, broken, unmaintained, dangerous electrical cable dangling in water where kids could access.

TRAGEDY IN LEAT

YOUNG BATHER IS ELECTROCUTED

CORONER'S WARNING TO PARENTS

William John Bridle Kerslake, 17-year old shop assistant, 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton, was killed instantaneously when he grasped a live 230 volt electric cable while bathing, on Wednesday evening, in the Factory Leat of Messrs. John Heathcoat and Company Ltd. At the inquest at the Tiverton and District Hospital on Saturday morning, the dangers of swimming in the Leat were stressed by the Coroner (Mr J A Young), who said, "Quite apart from the fact that it is private property, it is not a suitable playground for anybody, as there are other dangers quite apart from the unusual danger which caused this tragedy. Parents should prevent children from going there."

Sadly, the boys seemed to have first though that it was an electric eel: Giving evidence at the inquest, Billy Kerslake's friend, Thomas Percival Stratford, said, "An eel came by me where the electricity was and touched my legs. I nearly fell over. I said to Bill that I had felt something like an electric eel and he laughed." "He saw the wire hanging down ... the end of it was in the water. He said 'Perhaps that is causing the trouble?' He started to pull the wire up ... he must have touched a bare spot. He screamed and shot up into the air."

THE FUNERAL

Many tokens of sympathy

William was the only son of Mr and Mrs L W Kerslake. He took a leading part in many local organisations. He was a Patrol Leader of the 1st Tiverton Scouts and a member of the Tiverton Platoon of the Devon Army Cadet Force. A good athlete, he was a member of the Tiverton Harriers and the Tiverton Swimming Club. He was a member of Elmore Church, of which he was formerly a choir-boy. Chapel Street was in mourning for the funeral on Saturday [27 Aug 1949]. A service, conducted by the Rector (the Rev W E Lane), assisted by Mr E Penny, was held in Elmore Church. The cortege was met at the cemetery gate by a guard of honour of the Tiverton Platoon of the Devon Army Cadet Force and Councillor H Lee and Messrs B Homer and G Woodward, representing the Tiverton Swimming Club. At the grave side was a guard of honour of the 1st Tiverton Scouts under Scoutmaster J Gollop. [...] Chief mourners included: Mr and Mrs L W Kerslake (parents); Mr H Kerslake (uncle); Tom Stratford (friend); Mr & Mrs C Burt, Mr and Mrs E Kerslake and Mrs J Bowden and Mrs C Kerslake (uncles and aunts); Mr C Ridgeway, Miss J Burt and Mrs and Miss Northcott (cousins). Mrs Kerslake (grandmother) was unable to attend. [She was 91 by then.] Her floral tribute read, "Till we meet again", with fondest love from Gran and Auntie Jenny (Jane Bowden).

Lewis William Kerslake of 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton, died on 18 Dec 1971. 

Nellie Kerslake of Belmont Hospital, Tiverton, Devon, died on 15 Aug 1982.

111 Chapel Street, Tiverton (with the white door)