John Rookley and Mary Ayres

Kentisbeare : Priest Hill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/3707225

John Rookley married Mary Ayres on 24 May 1820 in Kentisbeare, Devon. 

Baptism records in Kentisbeare, suggest John and Mary had 12 children:

1. Mary Ann Rookley bap. 8 Oct 1820 (Residence: Picksey Pool)
2. John Rookley Jnr b. 1822 (No baptism found)
3. Jane Ayres Rookley bap. 18 Jan 1824 (Residence: Little Silver)
4. James Rookley bap. 20 Aug 1826 (Residence: Crosses)
5. Elizabeth Ruckley (sic) bap. 13 Feb 1831
6. William Rookley bap. 3 Feb 1833 (Residence: Town)
7. Sarah Ruckley (sic) bap. 24 May 1835 (Residence: Little Silver)
8. Henry Ruckley (sic) bap. 18 Jun 1837 (Residence: Crosses)
9. Thomas Rookley b. 1839 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 257 bap. 14 Apr 1839.
10. Thomasin Rookley b. 1841 M Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 258 bap. 28 Feb 1841
11. Eliza Rookley b. 1843 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 250 bap. 30 Apr 1843
12. Anna Rookley b. 1845 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 266 bap. 1 Jun 1845

All Civil Birth registrations list the surname as Ruckley (doubtlessly, as a result of illiteracy and the Devon accent - on William's baptism the curate has written "Rookley, or as they say Ruckley") and the mother's maiden name as Ayres. On the baptisms of Mary Ann, Jane Ayres and James, John Rookley's occupation is described as a Husbandman (a person who cultivates the land; a farmer), obviously employed casually, but on those of Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Henry, Thomas, Thomasin, Eliza and Anna, he is a Labourer.

In 1841, John Ruckley (45), closely agrees with his age given at other times, is languishing in the Devon County House Of Correction, in St David's, Exeter. He had earned a 6 month holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure for Larceny. Mary and the children do not appear anywhere on this census that I can find.

We find the family in 1851, when they are listed, unhelpfully, as living in "Village, Kentisbeare". John Rookley (56) is a Farmer of 22 Acres, with the household consisting wife Mary (52), William (19) and Henry (12) Employed on the farm; Thomas (10), Thomasin (8), Eliza (6) and Hannah (Anna) (4).

Mary Rookley died, age given as 59, in 1859 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 282 and was buried on 27 Apr 1859 in Kentisbeare churchyard.

In 1861, listed as John Rockley (sic) (67), widowed, Retired Farmer, was living at Gaddford Hills, Kentisbeare, Devon.

In 1871, John Rookley (78), Farm Labourer, was living at "Moor, Kentisbeare" (Kentis Moor) in the household of James and Thomasin Ridgeway. 

John Rookely died, aged 78, and was buried on 14 May 1871.

John Hartley and Anna Rookley

All Saints, Newby Place, Poplar - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/2636648

John Hartley (b. 1846), son of John Hartley and Mary Blundell, married Anna Rookley, youngest daughter of John Rookley and Mary Ayres, in Poplar, London in Q2 of 1869, the most likely venue being All Saints Church, Poplar. 

Records suggest that John and Anna had four children:

1. Arthur John Hartley b. 1869, died aged 0. Death registered 1869 D Quarter in GREENWICH  Volume 01D  Page 595. The birth didn't show up until the next quarter, 1870 M Quarter in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 839.
2. Walter James Hartley b. 1872 J Quarter in PORTSEA ISLAND Volume 02B Page 435. Died in 1891, aged 18, in West Ham.
3. Elias John Hartley b. 1873 D Quarter in SOUTH SHIELDS Volume 10A Page 795
4. Alice Anna Hartley b. 1878 M Quarter in PEMBROKE Volume 11A Page 870

In 1871, John Hartley (25) from Middlesex, England and Anna Hartley (25) from Devon, England, were lodging at Charlton Place, St Mary, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

In 1881, John Hartley (35) Engine Fitter from Bow, London, wife Anna (36) from Devon and daughter Alice A (4) born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, were living at 4, Edward Street, West Ham, London. Meanwhile, we find Walter Hartley (8) from Portsmouth and John Hartley (7) from Wales (clearly confused the children's birthplaces) visiting their aunt and uncle, James and Thomasin Ridgeway (Anna's sister), in Devon. This census is the only clue we have to John Hartley's occupation, which could explain the nomadic lifestyle and the assorted locations for the children's births. Each of those locations have ports, so he could be fitting engines to boats (or equally the railway, or in industry.)

Walter James Hartley died 1891 M Quarter in WEST HAM  Vol 04A Pg 34.

None of the family appear to be listed anywhere on the 1891 census.

John Hartley died, aged just 48, in 1895 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 87. And in the same quarter of the same year, their 16-17 year old daughter, Alice Anna Hartley married John Watson Bell, in Poplar.  

In 1901, Anna Hartley (55) from Kentisbeare, Devon, listed as married rather than widowed, was living in the household of her now married daughter and son-in-law in Terrace Road, Plaistow (West Ham): John W Bell (32) Shipping Clerk, Alice Bell (23), Alice (5), Grace (4), John (2) and Beatrice (0).

In 1911, John Watson Bruce Bell (40), who was born in Canada, had become a Wharfinger, the keeper or owner of a wharf - today a wharfinger is usually called a "harbourmaster" - living with wife Alice Anna Bell (34), daughter Alice Anna Bell (15) who has become a Shorthand Typist; Grace Bell (14), Beatrice May Bell (10) and Effie Bell (5). Meanwhile, Jack Hartley (38) - Elias John - born in Newcastle, Durham a Shop Worker, was a boarder in Plaistow. There is no sign of Anna Hartley, who may have died or could have remarried.

James Ridgeway and Thomasin Rookley

Approaching Kentismoor Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Anthony Vosper - geograph.org.uk/p/4852321

James Ridgeway, eldest son of James Ridgeway and Mary Ann Lock younger brother of my 2x great-grandmother Mary Ridgeway, married Thomasin Rookley (bap. 28 Feb 1841), daughter of John Rookley and Mary Ayres, on 12 Nov 1859, at the parish church of St. Mary’s, Kentisbeare. 

In 1861, James Ridgeway (25), Thomasin Ridgeway (20) and Samuel Rookley (4) Nephew, were living at Kentismoor [Farm], Kentisbeare. 

The only child I have been able to find of this marriage was the birth of James Ridgeway in 1866, baptised in Kentisbeare on 25 Dec 1866. He died, aged 6 months and was buried, also in Kentisbeare churchyard, on 5 May 1867.

James Ridgway (37), Thomasin Ridgeway (28), still living at the 'Moor' [Kentismoor Farm] in 1871, have Thomasin's father, John Rookley (78) still employed as a Farm Labourer, living with them. John Rookely died shortly afterwards, aged 78, and was buried on 14 May 1871.

Fields by Rhode Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2129894

By 1881, James Ridgeway (45) and Thomasin Ridgeway (35), had moved to Rhode [Farm], Bradninch. Two nephews were staying with them as visitors, Walter Hartley (8) from Portsmouth and John Hartley (7) from Wales.

Bradninch: Devon Valley Mill
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/71623
Also known as Hele Mill; there has been a paper mill here since at least 1765. These buildings date from the 20th century. The brick building carries a datestone of 1912. In previous centuries several other paper mills relied on the water power of the river Culm, seen here flowing under a bridge that may have once carried a siding into the works from the nearby railway.

In 1891, James Ridgway (50) Farm Labourer and Thomasin Ridgeway (45) now working at the paper mill, were living in Hele, Bradninch.

In Lower Hele, Bradninch, in 1901, are James Ridgeway (68) Agricultural Labourer and Tamsin (sic) Ridgeway (60) Rag cutter in a paper mill.

Still at Lower Hele in 1911, where James Ridgway (77) and Tomassie (sic) Ridgeway (70) were both described as "Old Age Pensioner". Mary James (67) Widow of No occupation from Plymtree, was staying with them as a visitor. 

Historically, the "Old Age Pension" was introduced in 1909 in the United Kingdom (which included all of Ireland at that time). 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. 

James Ridgeway died in 1913, aged 78.

As so often happens, there's no record of Thomasin Ridgeway's death, as there was probably nobody left around who knew or cared what to register.

Bradninch and Hele