James Ridgeway and Thomasin Rookley

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.

James Ridgeway (bap. 25 Oct 1835 in Ashbrittle), son of James Ridgeway and Mary Ann Lock, married Thomasin Rookley (bap. 28 Feb 1841), daughter of John Rookley and Mary Ayres, on 12 Nov 1859, at St. Mary’s, Kentisbeare.

The only child of this marriage was:

1. James Ridgway b. 1866 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 430, bap. 25 Dec 1866 at St. Mary’s Church, Kentisbeare. He died, aged 6 months in 1867 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 287 and was buried, also in Kentisbeare churchyard, on 5 May 1867.

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

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

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.

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

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

In 1911, still at Lower Hele, 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 a visitor staying with them. (The "Old Age Pension" was introduced in 1909 in the United Kingdom (which then included all of Ireland). 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, aged 78 in 1913 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 492.

Thomasin Ridgeway died at 76 in 1918 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 503.

Bradninch and Hele

John Rookley and Mary Ayres

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

John Rookley (bap. 9 Jan 1797 in Kentisbeare, Devon), son of James Rookley and Thomazin Salter, married Mary Ayres (bap. 13 Jun 1800 in Kentisbeare), daughter of Zachariah Ayres and Mary Farnell, on 24 May 1820 at St Mary's Church, Kentisbeare. Witnesses were William Ayres and Charles Knight.

Records suggest John and Mary Rookley had 13 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. Emma Rookley bap. 1829 in Kentisbeare
6. Elizabeth Ruckley (sic) bap. 13 Feb 1831
7. William Rookley bap. 3 Feb 1833 (Residence: Town)
8. Sarah Ruckley (sic) bap. 24 May 1835 (Residence: Little Silver)
9. Henry Ruckley (sic) bap. 18 Jun 1837 (Residence: Crosses)
10. Thomas Rookley b. 1839 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 257 bap. 14 Apr 1839.
11. Thomasin Rookley b. 1841 M Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 258 bap. 28 Feb 1841
12. Eliza Rookley b. 1843 J Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 250 bap. 30 Apr 1843
13. 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's a Labourer.

In 1841, John Ruckley (45) was in the Devon County House Of Correction, St David's, Exeter, having earned a 6 month sentence for Larceny. Mary and the children don't appear anywhere on this census that I can find.

We do 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 at 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, still said to be aged 78, in 1871 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 279 and was buried on 14 May 1871, in Kentisbeare.

John Hartley and Anna Rookley

Shops in Terrace Road, Plaistow
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/4132776

John Hartley (b. 1846 in Bow, Middlesex), son of John Hartley and Mary Blundell, married Anna Rookley (b. 1845 in Kentisbeare, Devon), youngest daughter of John Rookley and Mary Ayres, at St Stephen's Church, Tredegar Road, Bow (damaged during WW2 and demolished) on 9 May 1869.

Records suggest that John and Anna Hartley had four children:

1. Arthur John Hartley b. 1869, died aged 0. Death registered 1869 D Qtr in GREENWICH Volume 01D Page 595. Birth shows in the next quarter, 1870 M Qtr in GREENWICH Vol 01D Page 839.
2. Walter James Hartley b. 16 May 1872 (1872 J Qtr in PORTSEA ISLAND Vol 02B Pg 435), bap. 4 Jul 1875 at St Mary's Church, Kentisbeare, Devon. Died in 1891 M Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Pg 34, at 18.
3. Elias John Hartley (as it was on his birth registration) b. 14 Oct 1873 (1873 D Qtr in SOUTH SHIELDS Vol 10A Page 795), bap. John Elias Hartley on 4 Jul 1875 at St Mary's Church, Kentisbeare
4. Alice Anna Hartley b. 1878 M Qtr in PEMBROKE Vol 11A Page 870, bap. 13 Mar 1878 at St John the Evangelist, Pembroke Dock

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

Walter James Hartley and John Hartley were enrolled at Bradninch National School in 1880, a note next to their names on the school register says, "on a visit to Bradninch from London". Their aunt and uncle James Ridgeway and Thomasin Rookley (Thomasin was Anna's sister), lived in Bradninch.

In 1881, John Hartley (35) Engine Fitter from Bow, London, wife Anna (36) from Devon and Alice A (4) born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, were living at 4, Edward Street, West Ham, London. Walter Hartley (8) from Portsmouth and John Hartley (7) from Wales (clearly confused his birthplace with his sister's) were still visiting James and Thomasin Ridgeway, in Bradninch.

John Hartley was again registered at Bradninch National School in 1885, this time with James Ridgeway of Hele listed as his parent/guardian.

In 1891, at 4, Randolph Road, West Ham, were John Hartley (43) Marine Engineer; Annie Hartley (44), John Hartley (17) Smith and Alice Hartley (13).

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.

John Hartley (b. 1873 in Newcastle, Northumberland) enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, at 22, on 11 Nov 1895, at Horse Guards, London. The record lists his previous occupation as Blacksmith, his father John, mother Anna and sister Alice (the family's address listed as 26, Freemasons Road, Custom House); that he was then 5ft 9in with a fair complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair, with a small scar on his right cheek. Recalled in 1899; convicted of Drunkenness and spent 5 days in prison from 22nd to 27th Jun 1899; served in South Africa from 21 Oct 1899 to 21 Jul 1902 (for the entirety of the Second Boer War); re-transferred to the Army Reserve on 17 Mar 1903; reengaged in 1907 and finally discharged in 1911.

In 1901, Anna Hartley (55) from Kentisbeare, Devon, listed as married rather than widowed, was living in the household of her son-in-law, John Watson Bell (32) Shipping Clerk at 104, Terrace Road, Plaistow (West Ham), with Alice Bell (23), Alice (5), Grace (4), John (2) and Beatrice (0).

Anne (sic) Hartley died in 1909 S Quarter in ROCHFORD Volume 04A Page 290, with age (under) estimated as 62. She was buried, on 28 Aug 1909, at St Mary's Church, Great Ilford.

In 1911, Jack [John Elias] Hartley (38) born in Jarrow, Newcastle, a Ship Worker at the Docks, was a boarder in Plaistow. John Elias Hartley died, at 71, in 1945 S Quarter in ESSEX SOUTH-WESTERN Vol 04A Page 128.