William Melhuish and Sarah Lake

Stoke Damerel Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © High View 
geograph.org.uk/p/1111563

William Melhuish (bap. 27 Aug 1820 in Uffculme, Devon), son of Henry Melhuish and Elizabeth Fry, married Sarah Lake (bap. 7 Apr 1822 in Kentisbeare), daughter of John and Sarah Lake, at Stoke Damerel Parish Church on 13 Oct 1844. William Melhuish, Marine, gave his address just as 'Barracks' (in 1841 he was listed at the Royal Marine Barracks Stonehouse) and his father as Henry Melhuish, Mason. Sarah, then of 22 Moon Street, listed her father as John Lake, Labourer. Their witnesses were John Symons and Grace Alger.

William's brother Robert Melhuish married Sarah's sister, Jane Lake, in Exeter in 1846, which means both couple's children have the same mother's maiden name. By elimination, it seems William and Sarah had at least the following seven children:

1. John Thomas Melhuish b. 1845 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 09 Page 335
2. Mary Jane Melhuish b. 1847 D Qtr in EAST STONEHOUSE Vol 09 316
3. William Melhuish b. 1850 S Qtr in EAST STONEHOUSE Vol 09 Page
4. Sarah Ann Melhuish b. 1853 J Quarter in EAST STONEHOUSE Volume 05B Page 281 
5. Eliza Melhuish b. 1857 J Qtr in EAST STONE HOUSE Vol 05B Page 269
6. Elizabeth Melhuish b. 1862 M Qtr in EAST STONEHOUSE Vol 05B 317
7. Lucy Melhuish b. 1866 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 470

The mother's maiden name was LAKE on all of the birth registrations.

In 1851, at 6, Brownlow Place, East Stonehouse, Devon, were Sarah Melhuish (27), John Melhuish (5), Mary J Melhuish (3) & William (0).

Have not [yet] found any of the family members in 1861.

From being at the Royal Marines Barracks in 1841, to still being there when the penultimate child was registered in East Stonehouse in 1862, it's clear that William Melhuish had a long career in the Royal Marines. Unfortunately, I've not [yet] found a Marines, nor a pension record for him.

In 1871, living 'Near the Beacon, Kentisbeare' (guessing Blackborough Beacon), were William Melhuish (49), Sarah Melhuish (46), William Melhuish (19), Eliza Melhuish (15), Elizabeth Melhuish (9) and Lucy Melhuish (5). Mary Jane Melhuish (23) Servant, was living with Mary Ann Melhuish (68) of Independant Means at 134 Hight Street, Crediton. Sarah Ann Melhuish (18) from Plymouth, was a Servant, living in the household of Joseph Radford (76) Assistant Overseer, in Kentisbear.

In 1881, at Poncheydown Village, Kentisbeare with Blackborough, we find William Melhuish (59) Agricultural Labourer, born in Uffculme, Devon; Sarah Melhuish (57), Elizabeth Melhuish (20) and Lucy Melhuish (15).

William Melhuish must have died between 1881 and 1891, but sadly, once again, so far I haven't found a record of a death or burial for him.

In 1891, Sarah Melhuish (65) Widow, Mother, was living with her youngest daughter, Lucy Canniford (Lucy Melhuish married John Canniford in 1887) at Village, Broadhembury, Honiton, Devon.

In 1901, Sarah Melhuish (76) Widow, Pauper was living in Wood Lane, Broadhembury with Jane Canniford (12) Granddaugher.

In 1911, Sarah Melhuish (89) Old Age Pensioner, was living with her daughter Elizabeth Symons (Elizabeth Melhuish had married John Symons in 1881) at Higher Downlands Blackborough Kentisbeare. (The "Old Age Pension" was introduced in 1909 in the United Kingdom, 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) 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.)

Sarah Melhuish, relict of William Melhuish, née Lake, of Downlands, Kentisbeare, died in 1914 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 519 and was buried on 23 Oct 1914, in Kentisbeare. The record keeper at the church has helpfully even cross-referenced the burials of her two sisters, so we can have no doubt of who she was and her connections. She was 92.