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)

Sidney George Burt and Fanny Jerwood

Tiverton : St Peter's Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1654824

George Burt (b. 4 Nov 1863 actually registered as Sidney George Burt), his father was listed on the marriage record as William Burt, but he was the son of Edward Burt and Mary Ann Prescott, married Fanny Jerwood (bap. 8 Nov 1865), daughter of John Jerwood and Sarah Davey, on 25 Dec 1884 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. George Burt's Rank or Profession was listed as Sailor. Witnesses were Edwin Reed and Jessie Hemmett.

George and Fanny Burt's only child:

1. Charles Edward Burt b. 4 Dec 1887 (1888 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 409)

George Burt, b. 4 Nov 1863, had enlisted in the Royal Navy, at 15, as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 Apr 1879. He served until 1 Nov 1901 and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 18 Aug 1902. He was brought back into service on 2 Aug 1914 until 18 Jul 1917, at shore establishments HMS Vivid (II and III). 

In 1881, George Burt (17) Boy 1st Class was with the 1st Class Iron Screw Ship HMS Superb (1875), moored in Valletta (Grand Harbour), Malta.

In 1891, Fanny Burt (27) and Charlie (3), were living at 150 Pembroke Street, Devonport. George was with HMS Amphion (1883) in the Pacific.

Young Charlie was then enrolled at Heathcote School in 1894, when his mother's address was Melbourne Street, Tiverton, even though George was predominantly in Devonport in 1894, first with HMS Himalaya (1854) and then at HMS Vivid II, joining HMS Grafton (1892) on 23 Oct 1894.

In 1901, George Burt (38), now a Leading Stoker, was again at HMS Vivid II, before being pensioned on 1 Nov that year. Fanny (37) was living at 2, Wellbrook Street, Prospect Place, Tiverton, with Charles (13) now a Silk lace maker and Sarah Jerwood (70) Widow, Boarder (Fanny's mother.)

In 1911, George Burt (48) Grocer and dealer, wife Fanny (47) Assisting in the business and son Charles Edward Burt (23) Lace machine hand, were living at 24 Wellbrook St, Tiverton.

In 1921, Sidney George Burt (75) Stoker R N (Retired), H M Navy, was living at 3 Prospect Place, Wellbrook Street, Tiverton, with Fanny Burt (57) and Charles Edward Burt (33) Silk Lace Machinist at J Heathcoat & Co.

George Burt died, aged 73, in 1937 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 624.

Fanny Burt died, aged 74, in 1938 S Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 400.

Alfred Beamer and Emily Luxton

Castle Street, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/6587133

Alfred Beamer (b. 28 Aug 1880 in East Stonehouse, Devon), Private RMLI of Cecil Street, Plymouth, son of Alfred Beamer and Mary Ann White, married Emily Luxton (b. 22 Jun 1882 in Tiverton), daughter of James Luxton and Hannah Maria Hawkins, on 14 Dec 1905, at St Paul's Church, Tiverton. Emily's address at the time was Heathcoat Square, Tiverton and her younger sister, Jessie Luxton, was one of witnesseses (bridesmaid perhaps).

Alfred and Emily had two children:

1. Alfred James Beamer b. 15 Mar 1908 (1908 J Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 241), bap. 29 Mar 1908 at St Peter’s Church, Stonehouse, Plymouth. But the infant died, in 1908 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 174, at bearly six months of age.
2. Evelyn Beamer b. 1909 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 365, who also died in 1909 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 227

Alfred Beamer, who had enlisted in the Royal Marines on 15 Aug 1896, just shy of his 16th birthday, was discharged, invalided, on 15 Oct 1908. On 7 Mar 1909, Alfred Beamer (29) Labourer of 40 Neswick St, Plymouth, was admitted to the Devon and Cornwall Sanatorium for Consumptives Didworthy. Consumption was another name for Tuberculosis. When he was discharged from the sanitorium on 15 Jun 1909, the record shows Alfred developed the disease 7 months previously, which ties in with the date he was discharged from the Royal Marines. In the notes it says, "light work - dead". What kind of light work the dead can do, is what I would like to know! Alfred Beamer died, at 29, in 1909 D Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 183. 

In 1911, Emily Beamer (28), widow, was living at 1 Melbourne Street, Tiverton and working at the Heathcoat Lace Factory, as a spinner. Although she was a widow, Emily helpfully completed the fields on this census to confirm that she had two children born alive and that both had died.

In 1912, Emily Beamer remarried to a John Heard, in Tiverton.

In 1921, John Heard (49) Labourer from Oakford Devon, Emily Heard (39), and John's two children from his previous marriage (to Lily Holmes in 1901, who died in 1911), Beatrice Lily Heard (19) Lace Folder (at Heathcoat) and Sidney John Heard (13) were living at 125, West Exe South, Tiverton.

John Heard died, aged 59, in 1930 D Quarter in EXETER Vol 05B Page 94.

In 1939, Emily Heard, widow, was living with a single lady, Beatrice E Gollop, at 26 Castle Street, Tiverton.

Emily Heard died, in Tiverton, in 1962, aged 79.

Sidney Ridgeway and Lucy Headford

St Andrew Street, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/1546985

Sidney Ridgeway (b. 24 Feb 1882), son of Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze, married Lucy Headford (b. 3 Jan 1886), daughter of George Headford and Ellen Baker, in Tiverton, in 1908. In 1901, Lucy, living at Cosways Buildings, 7, Westexe South, Tiverton, with her widowed mother and siblings, was working as a Wheelwinder, while her mother was a Silk hand and her sister a Silk winder, which suggests they were employed at Heathcoat Fabrics.

Sidney and Lucy had two children: 

1. Charles Ridgeway b. 29 May 1908
2. Beatrice Maud Ridgeway b. 21 Jun 1910

In 1911, Sidney Ridgeway (28) Woodman on estate, Lucy Ridgeway (24), Charles (2) and Beatrice (0) were living at 2 Langwood, Cove, Tiverton.

In 1921, Sidney Ridgeway (39) Colliery Repairer Underground at Gt Western Colliery Co; Lucy Ridgeway (35), Charles Ridgeway (13) and Beatrice Maud Ridgeway (11) were living at 48, Danygraig Street, Pontypridd, Wales.

In 1939, Sidney Ridgeway, 'Electric Wireman at the Municipal Electric Works', Lucy Ridgeway and Lily Headford, Incapacitated (Lucy's younger sister), were in Higher Rock Close, St Andrew Street, Tiverton. In a separate household in Higher Rock Close, were Malcolm G Huish, 'General Labourer Gas & Electricity Works', Beatrice Huish and daughter, Marion. Charles Ridgeway, 'Gas Worker' and Dorothy Ellen Ridgeway, lived at 9 Hammett Square.

Lucy Ridgeway died, in Tiverton, in 1949, aged 64. Sidney Ridgeway died, in Tiverton, in 1957, aged 75. Charles Ridgeway died, in Tiverton, in 1973, at 65, and Beatrice Huish, in 1975, at 65, in Sedgemoor, Somerset.

• Charles Ridgeway married Dorothy Ellen Lazarus in 1932.
• Beatrice Ridgeway married Malcolm Garfield Huish in 1935.

William Northcott and Emma Jane Wood

Fore Street, Cullompton with the grade II listed White Hart
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/5497724

William Northcott (b. ~1871 in Branscombe, Devon) married Emma Jane Wood (bap. 3 Sep 1871 in Kentisbeare, Devon), daughter of Henry Wood and Mary Jane Melhuish, in Tiverton District, in the second quarter of 1896. 

William and Emma's children (not necessarily together) had included: 

1. Frederick James Wood b. 1891 S Qtr in HONITON Vol 05B Page 21, bap. 8 Jun 1892 in Kentisbeare, clearly listed as the son of Emma Jane, Single Woman. Died at 20 months in 1893 M Qtr in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 318 and was buried on 9 Mar 1893 in Kentisbeare
2. Maud Wood, Emma's illegitimate daughter, b. 19 Dec 1893 (registered 1894 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 397), bap. 19 Feb 1895, at 14 months old, in Kentisbeare. (Not seen after 1901.)
3. William Henry Northcott b. 8 Mar 1897 (1897 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 381) (Not found again after 1912)
4. Arthina Northcott b. 14 Oct 1898 (1898 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 362), bap. 2 Nov 1898 in Cullompton
5. Elizabeth Northcott b. 1900 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 389 (Died 1900 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 354)
6. Charles John Northcott b. 23 Feb 1902 (1902 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 368), bap. 23 Mar 1902 in Cullompton
7. Albert James Northcott b. 30 Aug 1903 (1903 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 361), bap. 16 Sep 1903 in Cullompton (Died 1904 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 308)
8. Florence Northcott b. 25 Oct 1907 (1907 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 353), Emma's illegitimate daughter

The Crediton Gazette, 30 Jan 1886 reported on "A DISHONEST SERVANT GIRL. Emma Wood, servant, aged 15 years, was summoned for stealing a sovereign and a jet chain, together of the value of 32s, the property of Mr Henry Brown, farmer of Aylesbeare, Kentisbeare. Mrs Caroline Brown, wife of the prosecutor, said that on Saturday week she heard a noise at the top of the stairs, and saw the prisoner coming out of her bedroom without her boots, and with a lamp in her hand. She had no suspicions of the girl, and locked her door and returned downstairs. On the Thursday following her husband asked her for some money, and on looking in the box she found a sovereign, which she had placed there, missing. On making further search she missed the jet chain from her jewel case. She questioned the girl, who persistently denied all knowledge of the matter, but subsequently she admitted her guilt to her mother, who was, witness believed, innocent of any previous knowledge of the affair. The girl had been with her only a week. She said she had burnt the chain. PC Clatworthy said the girl had told him she burnt the chain in a kitchen fire, and on being questioned she said he had similarly destroyed the sovereign, and had seen it melt. [UNLIKELY: The melting point of gold is 1064°C, whereas the average house fire, or household wood fire, burns at around 600°C.] The ashes had been sifted, and he had found amongst them the fragments produced which appeared to be jet. Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr J Frost said he knew the girl's father to be a hard working man, and he believed he had a large family. The chairman pointed out to the girl the serious nature of the charge, and cautioned her as to her future conduct. She was fined £1, and the girl's mother was allowed a month for payment."

With respect to the paternity of her first child, The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 15 Sep 1891 had reported that at the Cullompton Sessions, "Emma Wood, a domestic servant of Kentisbeare, sought an order against Frederick Selley, a young carter, of the same place ..." This appeared to be the 2nd time that the defendant had failed to appear in this matter, so "An order to contribute 2s 6d weekly for 13 years was made upon Selley." Although this requirement will undoubtedly have died along with the child. However, The Western Times of 1 Sep 1891 had identified the putative father as Frederick Sully (21), who it appears was born in Hockworthy (1869 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 480). He died, listed as Frederick Sulley, aged 25, in 1894 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 266.

Maud Wood was registered at school in Cullompton in 1897 as Maud Northcott. The mother's maiden name on the births from William Henry onwards is WOOD. Dates of birth are on their school registrations. 

In 1891, William Northcott (19) Blacksmith, had been a lodger at The White Hart, Fore Street, Cullompton, but his previous whereabouts are unknown.

In 1901, William Northcott (31) Blacksmith Journeyman from Branscombe, Devon (not identified relevant birth), wife Emma Jane (30) from Kentisbeare, along with Emma's daughter, Maud Wood (7); William Henry Northcott (4) and Arthenia Northcott (2) were living at Church Cottages, Cullompton.

William Northcott (33) died in 1904 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 256 and was buried on 15 May 1904, in Cullompton.

In 1905 Charles John Northcott was at Cullompton school. His date of leaving that school was 13 Dec 1907 with reason given 'left Cullumpton'. 

The Tiverton Gazette of 1 Oct 1907 reported, "RATE EXEMPTON FOR A WIDOW. Emma Northcott, widow, of Cullompton, was summoned for the non-payment of rates amounting to 4s 4d. The Assistant Overseeer (Mr Baker) said defendant had been repeatedly asked to appear before the Court and apply for an exemption from payment of the rates, but until that day she had (despite frequent promises) failed to do so. Asked by the Chairman why she had not appeared before, defendant replied that she did not like to come into Court. She was unable to pay the rates on account of sickness of herself and family. The Chairman told defendant if she paid the cost of the summons (2s) within a fortnight, she'd be exempt in future from paying rates.

However, on 13 Jan 1908, Charles John Northcott was registered at Elmore School, in Tiverton, with his address listed as Elmore Workhouse and his mother's simply as 'Workhouse' (Belmont Road, Tiverton).

In 1911, Emma Northcote (sic) (37) Widow, Laundress was living at 7 Rices Court, West Exe South, Tiverton with her four surviving children: William (14) Errand Boy; Arthina (12), Charles (9) and Florence (3). 

From the Tiverton Gazette of 26 Nov 1912, "AMENDMENT PROMISED. Mrs Emma Northcott, widow, of 3 Jarman's Court, pleaded guilty to not sending her son Charles, aged ten, regularly to the Elmore School. Attendance Officer McDermott produced the head teacher's certificate showing that the boy had only made 57 attendances out of a possible 72. Asked if he knew the reason why the boy had been kept home, Mr McDermott replied: A certain amount of idleness, not altogether the fault of the boy himself; he is a nice little fellow. Mr F B Fisher: Is he in ill-health? Mr McDermott: Oh no, he is a fine lad. Defendant admitted that she kept the boy home occasionally, but did not give the reason. She had four children; the two oldest had left school. The Mayor: Do you understand that it is of the utmost  importance that this boy should be sent to school regularly? Defendant (weeping) Yes, sir. The Mayor: If you will undertake to send the boy regularly to school we will adjourn the case for a month. Will you undertake to do that? Defendant: Yes, sir. The Mayor: Then we adjourn it, but if you do not obey the law, we shall be obliged to inflict a penalty when next you appear. Defendant: I'll do it, sir."

The above report confirming that Emma then had four children - the four listed in 1911 - suggests that she had lost her daughter Maud between 1901 and 1911, however I've found no death or burial record to confirm this.

In 1917, Emma Jane Northcott remarried to Arthur Southcott. What were the chances? Arthur Southcott, born 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, therefore 12 years younger than his wife, was the son of Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris. 

The Western Times of 22 Mar 1918 reported, "At Tiverton County Police Court, Tuesday, Charles Northcott, aged 16, labourer, of Bartow's Causeway, Tiverton, for using obscene language at Washfield, was fined 10s."

Charles John Northcott (17) joined the Royal Tank Corps on 19 Aug 1919.

In 1921, Arthur Southcott (39) Married, Private in the Army 4th Defence Battalion Devon Regiment, was at 5, Homefield Place, Fore Street, Exeter. Emma J Southcott (48) Married, was living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Florence Northcott (13) Daughter; Ivy M Wood (6) Grandchild [for whom I've not found a birth registration, nor under Northcott] and Dorothy F Wood (4) Grandchild - born Dorothy Florence Northcott b. 16 Nov 1916 (1916 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 563), with mother's maiden name Northcott, presumably Arthina's illegitimate daughter). There was a Dorothy Evans (23) Married, born in Cullompton, Devon as a Domestic Servant at the Half Moon Hotel, Fore Street, Tiverton (Arthina Northcott had married Ernest F J Evans in 1918 and later uses Dorothy); Charles John Northcott (19) Army Private was at Hare Park Camp, Curragh, Ireland.

Arthur Southcott died in 1935 D Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 503.

In 1939, Emma Jane Southcott, Widowed, was again living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Dorothy A Evans, Laundress, and Dorothy Florence Northcott, who worked at the Lace Factory and one other person. 

Emma Jane Southcott died, at 75, in 1947 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 07A 713.