James Prescott and Mary Ann Stone

Tiverton : Gold Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1658721

James Prescott (b. 1858 in Washfield, Devon), son of John Prescott and Jane Gage, married Mary Ann Stone (b. 1860, in Ashbrittle, Somerset), daughter of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, at St Peter's, Tiverton, on 6 Mar 1882. Witnesses were Henry Stone and Harriet Stone, Mary Ann's sister.

By 1881, Mary Ann (21) had left home and had been working, as a General Domestic Servant, for Alfred T Gregory, Newspaper Proprietor, in Gold Street, Tiverton, hence marrying in the town. (Alfred Gregory was publishing titles such as the Tiverton Gazette and East Devon Herald, Western Observer and affiliated papers for South Molton and Crediton. (The Tiverton and District Directory for 1894-5 lists them as, Gregory, Son, and Tozer.)

However, this couple were married for little more than a year, when Mary Ann Prescott died, tragically aged just 23, on 14 Apr 1883, in Chapel Street, Tiverton, from Acute Phthisis Pulmonalis (Tuberculosis (TB) 18 days - I'd suspected this when reading that Mary Ann had been present at the death of her brother, John Stone, when he had died from Phthisis, in the August of 1882. Her mother-in-law, Jane Prescott, was present at Mary Ann's death. 

Not unsurprisingly, James Prescott remarried quite quickly, to a Jane Davey in the 1st quarter of 1884, also in Tiverton. Then, in the 3rd quarter of 1884, they had a son Charles, who, it appears was their only child. 

My connection was broken once Mary Ann died, but one can't help being curious: In 1891, James Prescott (32), Labourer, wife Jane and son Charles were living in Eglwysilan, Glamorganshire, Wales; in 1901, we find the trio - with James a Navvy Ganger - in Staines, Middlesex and then, in 1911, with James Prescott (56) Dock Labourer, at 15 Unicorn St, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Jane Prescott (57) and five other dock labourers in the household, presumably boarders. Son Charles, also living in Unicorn Street, Portsmouth and a Railway Labourer, was by then married. You wouldn't expect labourers at that time to have moved around so much or so far.

James' parents, John and Jane Prescott, meanwhile, then aged 78 and 83, respectively, were still alive and still living in Tiverton in 1911.

James Prescott was buried on 22 Oct 1913, in Uplowman.

Lewis Jerred and Mary Elizabeth Williams

Boscombe, St. Clement's
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Faherty - geograph.org.uk/p/3127895

Louis Jerrad (sic) (b. 19 Mar 1863 in Silverton, Devon), son of John Jerred and Frances Ann Orchard, married Mary Elizabeth Williams (b. 1861 in St Erth, Cornwall), who listed her father as John Williams (deceased), Farmer at St Clement's Church, St Clements Road in Boscombe on 25 Dec 1888. Only one witness signature is on the marriage certificate, John Burt.

Lewis and Mary Elizabeth Jerred had six children: 

1. Ernest John Jerred b. 27 Feb 1891 in Bournemouth, Hampshire
2. Arthur Jerred b, 1893 M Qtr in KINGSBRIDGE Vol 05B Page 194
3. Ethel May Jerred b. 1896 M Qtr in KINGSBRIDGE Vol 05B Page 189
4. Albert William Jerred b. 9 July 1898 in KINGSBRIDGE Vol 05B 184
5. Honor Frances Jerred b. 1900 J Qtr in KINGSBRIDGE Vol 05B Page 169
6. Violet Mary Jerred b. 15 July 1903 in KINGSBRIDGE Vol 05B Page 164

In 1891, Lewis Jerred (28) Baker, from Silverton, Devon; Mary E Jerred (30) from St Erth, Cornwall and Ernest J Jerred (1) were visitors in the household of Charles H Halloway (20) Cab Driver from Ringwood, Hampshire, at Pinewood Cottage, 1, West Road, Pokesdown.

By 1893, they'd moved back to the south west to settle at Loddiswell, near Kingsbridge in Devon. There in 1901, listed as Lewis Jerred (36), Railway Labourer, with Mary E Jerred (38), Ernest J Jerred (11), Arthur Jerred (8), Ethel M Jerred (5), Albert W Jerred (2) and Honor F Jerred (0).

In 1911, still in Loddiswell, Devon, were Lewis Jerred (46) Railway Labourer; Mary Elizabeth Jerred (48), Ethel May Jerred (15), Alfred William Jerred (12), Honor Frances Jerred (10) and Violet Mary Jerred (7). Ernest John Jerred (20) had joined the Royal Navy in 1909, as a Stoker, and was with the Royal Navy At Sea And In Ports Abroad with HMS Edgar (1890). Not found Arthur.

In 1921, Lewis Jerred (56) Railway Labourer for the Great Western Railway Company was living at Quarry Park, Loddiswell, Devon with Mary Elizabeth Jerred (58), Albert William Jerred (22) Farm Labourer Out of Work and Violet Jerred (17) who was employed doing garden work at a nursery. 

Mary Elizabeth Jerred died in 1931 S Qtr in KINGSBRIDGE.

In 1939, Lewis Jerred was living at 36 Wallingford Road, Kingsbridge with daughter, Honor F Jerwood and her husband, Moysey Jerwood. 

The Great Western Railway (GWR) had opened the Kingsbridge branch line in 1893 and it was closed in 1963. Lewis Jerred, who died in 1951 J Quarter in KINGSBRIDGE, at the age of 88, thankfully, won't have seen the closure. 

Loddiswell railway station opened 1893, now disused and converted to a private dwelling
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/1297064

William Henry Bridle and Emma Lucas

Interior of St Thomas a Becket's Church, Thorverton, Devon
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/4038111

William Henry Bridle (b. 1844 in Rockbeare, Devon), son of Thomas Parsons Bridle and Elizabeth Wills, married Emma Lucas (bap. 2 Sep 1849 in Thorverton, Devon), daughter of William Lucas and Eliza Bamsey, at St Thomas a Becket's Church, Thorverton, on 14 Aug 1870. 

The births of their four sons are widely spaced, but I found no others:

1. William Bridle b. 1871 in Brampford Speke
2. Mark Bridle b. 9 Jan 1876 in Newton St Cyres
3. John Lucas Bridle b. 11 Jun 1879 in Newton St Cyres
4. Harry Bridle b. 7 Aug 1887 in Stoke Canon

In 1871, Henry Bridle (26), Agricultural Labourer, Emma Bridle (21) and William Bridle (1) were living at Pound Cottage, Brampford Speke. 

In 1881, in Lilly Road, Newton St Cyres, were Henry Bridle (36) Railway Labourer; Emma Bridle (31), William (10), Mark (5) and John (1).

In 1891, at Barrow Cottages, 4, Barrow Road, Rewe, Stoke Canon, were William Henry Bridle (45) Agricultural Labourer; Emma Bridle (40), with Mark Bridle (14), John L Bridle (11) and Harry Bridle (3). William Bridle (20), Horse Driver, was a boarder in a household in Westexe South, Tiverton.

In 1901, at Hill Cottages, Netherene Village, Nether Exe (24 households in 1086), were Henry Bridle (56), Emma Bridle (51), and Harry Bridle (13). 

In 1911,  in Stoke Canon, William Henry Bridle (66), Farm Labourer, and his wife, Emma (62), were living in the household of their son Mark and his wife, Maud Lucy Medcalf (who he married in St Pancras, London in 1905), along with Mark's nephew, Harry (3) and Elizabeth Deroney (72), boarder. 

In 1921, William H Bridle (76) described as 'Blind Retired' and Emma Bridle (71) were still living in Stoke Canon, Devon.

[William] Henry Bridle died, aged 84, on 22 Dec 1928 (1928 D Qtr in EXETER Vol 05B 114) and is buried at St Mary Magdalene, Stoke Canon. 

Emma Bridle died, aged 88, on 21 Jul 1937 (1937 S Quarter in EXETER Vol 05B Page 73) and was buried at St Mary Magdalene, Stoke Canon.

Robert Middleton and Mary Pyke

Interior Warkleigh Church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Brinicombe - geograph.org.uk/p/4455623

Robert Middleton (bap. 4 Jun 1826 in Knowstone), son of Robert Middleton and Elizabeth Baker, married Mary Pyke (b. 1831), daughter of William Pyke, Husbandman, on 7 Aug 1855, at the church of St John, Warkleigh, Devon. Robert made his mark, while Mary Pyke,  with a Y, was able to scrawl her signature. Witnesses to their wedding were John Beer and Sarah Ford.

Mary Pyke already had an illegitimate daughter, Selina Ann Pyke, b. 1852 M Quarter in OKEHAMPTON Volume 05B Page 369, bap. (as Selina Ann Pike, listed as daughter of Mary) on 28 Mar 1852 in Sampford Courtenay.

Robert and Mary Middleton had a further eleven children:

1. Sarah Middleton b. 1856 M Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 432. Died aged 3 in 1859 J Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 305 and buried on 22 Apr 1859 in Warkleigh, Devon.
2. Samuel Middleton b. 1857 J Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 423, bap. 2 Apr 1857 privately, in Warkleigh, Devon. Died 1857 J Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 299.
3. Emily Middleton b. 1858 S Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 402, bap. 12 Sep 1858 in Warkleigh, Devon
4. James Middleton b. 1860 J Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 425, bap. 10 Jun 1860 in Warkleigh, Devon
5. Thomas Middleton b. 9 Oct 1862 D Qtr in OKEHAMPTON Vol 05B 410
6. Sarah Ann Middleton b. 1864 S Qtr in OKEHAMPTON Vol 05B 395
7. Robert Middleton b. 29 Aug 1867 S Qtr in OKEHAMPTON Vol 05B 409
8. Mary Middleton b. 1870 (No GRO registration found)
9. William Middleton b. 3 Jan 1873 M Qtr in OKEHAMPTON Vol 05B 408
10. John Middleton b. 1874 J Qtr in OKEHAMPTON Vol 05B Page 393. Died aged 19 and was buried on 19 Sep 1893 in Okehampton
11. Charles Middleton b. 1876 D Qtr in OKEHAMPTON Vol 05B Page 359, bap. 3 Dec 1876 in Okehampton. Died aged 2 in 1879 M Quarter Vol 05B Page 295 and was buried on 7 Jan 1879 in Okehampton

All of the births registered in South Molton have the mother's maiden name spelled as PYKE. On Sarah Ann's and Robert's registrations, it's also PYKE, however, on those of the remaining four boys: Thomas, William, John and Charles, registered in Oakhampton, it was spelled PIKE.

On earlier baptisms their address was Little Shortridge "... the census records show that the population at Little Shortridge briefly peaked between the 1850s and the 1880s, with up to five households of farm workers and their families who presumably lived within subdivided accommodation."

In 1861, Robert Middleton (36) Ag Lab was living at Chapel, Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton, with Mary Middleton (29), Emily Middleton (2), James Middleton (11 mo), Selina Pyke (9) listed as Daughter-in-law (they mean Step-daughter) and in the next household, but it appears lodging with them, were Ann Pyke (65) Widow (Mary's mother? It appears that Mary's father, William Pike (sic), had died, aged 68, in 1860) and Samuel Pyke (25) (Mary's brother). In fact, it looks as if Robert and Mary have moved into Mary's parent's home as this was previously their address, where, as was customary, he became the "man of the house" and head of the family.

In 1871, Robert Middleton (46) Ag Lab, was living in Lower Ajustment, Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton, Devon, with Mary Middleton (40), James Middleton (11), Thomas Middleton (9), Sarah [Ann] Middleton (7), Robert Middleton (4) and Mary Middleton (1). Selina Ann Pyke (19) late a Servant was living in the household of John Easterbrook (33) Farm Labourer at Lower Treecott, Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton, listed as a First Cousin. Emily Middleton (12) from Warkleigh, Devon, was a Domestic Servant to Willmote Coombe (59) [Female] Farmer at Cliston, Sampford Courtenay.

In 1881, at Brightley, Okehampton, were Robert Middleton (56) Railway lab packer; Mary Middleton (50), Robert Middleton (14), Mary Middleton (12), William Middleton (8) and John Middleton (7). James Middleton was with the Army in Southern Afghanistan; Thomas Middleton (18) from Sampford, Devonshire was with the Royal Navy aboard the 4th Class Corvette, HMS Tenedos (1870), At Sea Off Antigua Long 61' 17' W Lat 16' 56' N; Sarah Ann Middleton (17) Domestic Servant was in the household of Charles Henry Child (57) Farmer and Gentleman at Goldburn, Inwardleigh, Okehampton.

Robert Middleton died, aged 63, in 1889 S Quarter in OKEHAMPTON Volume 05B Page 253 and was buried on 20 Jul 1889, in Okehampton.

In 1891, Mary Middleton (62) Widow was listed as a Lodger in the household of John Lang (who had married daughter, Mary Middleton), at Brightly Hamlet Cottage, Station Road, Okehampton; William Middleton (18) Agricultural Labourer was employed by Richard Sloman (35) Farmer at Knowle Farm, Station Road, Okehampton; John Middleton (16) was a Lodger with his older brother, James Middleton at Brightly Cottage, Station Road, Okehampton.

In 1901, Mary Middleton (70) Mother-in-law, living in North Street, Okehampton with John and Mary Lang, was a Monthly nurse.

In 1911, Mary Middleton (82) Mother-in-law, Widow, still lived with John and Mary Lang at 38 North Street, Okehampton.

Mary Middleton, with aged estimated as 84, died in 1912 D Quarter in OKEHAMPTON Volume 05B Page 466.

John Stone: Attempting to ravish and carnally know

Hockworthy: Hockford Cottage
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/164609

John Stone, the third of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's children, born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1858, may have been a bit of a rogue. 

In 1861, John (3), like his older brothers, was at home with his parents at Court Place, Ashbrittle. I've not been able to locate him in 1871, when he will have been around 13, but he'd already left his parents' home. Undoubtedly employed as a farm labourer, his employer probably didn't know much about him, so he may well appear on the census, but with details they guessed.

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 suggested, 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. We may assume she was the young lady in question. 

[NOTE: John's sister, Harriet Stone, married their first cousin, James Ridgway. James Ridgway's mother was Ann Tooze, who's own mother was Eliza Disney, so there's no doubt that John was also "keeping it in the family"!]

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. It doesn't take much imagination, therefore, to work out what John must have been working on in 1881. Living in what must have been horrendous conditions, with so many people crammed into an undoubtedly 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 or even a revenge attack, I'd ordered his death certificate, but John had, in fact, died of the all-too-common at that time, Phthisis (Tuberculosis). 

John Stone was buried, on 3 Sep 1882, in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Grave of John Stone and his parents, Mary and Henry Stone, in Uplowman Churchyard