Tiverton : Gold Street cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1658721 |
Wednesday 6 March 2024
James Prescott and Mary Ann Stone
Wednesday 24 January 2024
Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway
Church of St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/5104522 A plaque near The Ancient Yew of Ashbrittle declares, "Generations of local people have cherished this tree, one of the oldest living things in Britain." |
- Frederick James Stone bap. 25 Dec 1854
- Henry William Stone bap. 13 Jul 1856
- John Stone bap. 23 May 1858
- Mary Ann Stone bap. 5 Feb 1860
- Tom Stone b. 11 Dec 1861, bap. 4 Feb 1862
- Harriet Stone bap. 2 Apr 1865
- Francis Stone b. 1 Feb 1867, bap. 3 Mar 1867
- Charles Stone b. 8 Apr 1869, bap. 9 May 1869
- Lucy Jane Stone b. 11 Apr 1872, bap. 26 May 1872
Court Place, Ashbrittle cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/3819462 |
In 1871, with their address merely given as Cottage, Ashbrittle, were Henry and Mary with Mary Ann (12), Tom (9), Harriet (6), Francis (3) and Charles (1). The first three boys having left home already. Living next-door-but one was the family of John Ridgeway (relatives of Mary's, obviously) and then that of John Vickery. These three families remain intrinsically linked. In 1871, Frederick (16) was already working, as a servant, described as an 'Ag Lab Indoor', for Henry Oxenham at Chevithorne, Tiverton. The mind boggles at how you do agricultural labour indoors, but I'm sure they mean lives inside the farmer's main accommodation, rather than outside in a cottage.
In 1875, the family were living in Hill, Huntsham, according to son Francis Stone's school record, when he was enrolled at Huntsham County Primary School that year. At the time he left school in 1879, Francis was attending school in Chevithorne, so presumably the family had relocated there.
By 1881, the family had moved to Lands Mill, Uplowman with Henry (51) and Mary (49), Harriet (16), Francis (14), Charles (11) and Lucy Jane (8), granddaughter, Ellen Snow (2) and widowed Sister-in-Law, Jane Vickery (43). Visiting were Mary Ann Tarr (27) and Jane Tarr (22), General Servants.
Lands Mill (now demolished) was part of the Widhayes estate, so assuming Henry was employed by Edward Chave at Widhayes Farm. The stable block, barn, linhay, gate house and farmhouse at Widhayes are Listed Buildings.
Some of the listed buildings at Widhayes |
Mary Stone died, aged 52, on 28 Dec 1885 and was buried on 3 Jan 1886.
In 1891, Henry Stone (63), Widower, was living at Greengate Cottage in Uplowman, with daughter Harriet (25), son Francis (23), granddaughter, Ellen Snow (12) (Henry's daughter) and grandson Francis (3) (Harriet's son).
In 1901, Henry (71), Widower (listed incorrectly as Henry Ridgway), working as a Labourer on Roads, was still living at Greengate, Uplowman, this time in the household of James Ridgway (34), who was married to Harriet Stone.
Henry Stone died, aged 72, on 26 Nov 1901 and was buried on 30 Nov 1901 at Uplowman. Both Henry and Mary have been buried in the same plot in Uplowman Churchyard along with their son, John, who had died in 1882.
Grave of John, Mary and Henry Stone in Uplowman Churchyard. |
Wednesday 17 January 2024
William Thomas Jarvis and Sarah Ann Wilton
Watling Street, Thaxted All of the buildings here are listed at grade II. |
William Thomas Jarvis married Sarah Ann Wilton (b. 1842), daughter of Joseph Wilton and Ann Thurlbourn, in Great Dunmow, on 17 Jan 1866. On the marriage record, William Thomas Jarvis is listed as the son of John Jarvis, a Grocer, but I've been unable to find a grocer called John Jarvis anywhere. It's a bit suspect that Sarah worked for a grocer and he 'coincidentally' choses this and feels to me like another case of a father invented for the marriage certificate. There are plenty of those. Neither have I found a record of a birth or baptism of William Thomas Jarvis, because he doesn't appear on any census in this period either to get clues to verify when or where he was born.
Whoever he was, nevertheless, the couple had two children:
- Kate Jarvis b. 1867 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Vol 04A Page 392
- William Thomas Jarvis b. 1868 M Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 387. Died aged 17, on 4 Oct 1885 (1885 D Quarter in CHELMSFORD Volume 04A Page 209) and was buried on 9 Oct 1885, in Chelmsford, with father listed as Thomas Jarvis.
By 1871, Sarah Jarvis (28), Dressmaker, was listed as widowed - although I've been unable to find a record of William Thomas Jarvis' death - living with her two children and her sister Clara Jane in High Street, Great Dunmow.
Sarah Ann Jarvis died, aged just 31, in 1874 M Quarter in DUNMOW.
In 1881, [William Thomas] Tom Jarvis (13) Cashier Clerk, Nephew was living with two of his maiden aunts, his mother's sisters, Eleanor Wilton (29) and Clara Wilton (27) at 3, Duke Street, Chelmsford, Essex.
Then William Thomas Jarvis died on 4 Oct 1885, aged 17.
There were two girls called Kate Jarvis born 1867 in Dunmow |
Monday 20 November 2023
John King and Dinah Doe
St Martin's Church, Little Waltham, Essex cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Wayland Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/7173888 |
- John King bap. 7 Apr 1811 in Little Waltham, Essex
- Elizabeth King bap. 21 Mar 1813 in Little Waltham, Essex
- James King bap. 14 Jan 1816, died aged 1 and was buried on 20 May 1818, both events at St Mary & St Lawrence, Great Waltham, Essex
- George King bap. 5 Jul 1818 in Great Waltham, Essex
Monday 6 November 2023
George Hockley and Eliza Crow and William Bloomfield
St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow, Essex - Chancel cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1304114 |
George Hockley, son of Daniel Hockley and Sophia Mason, married Eliza Crow, daughter of William Crow and Judith Doe on 6 Nov 1843 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow. The marriage record shows that George, as well as both fathers' were labourers and witnesses were John and Jane Burton.
George and Eliza's children included:
- William Crow bap. 17 Nov 1842 at St Mary the Virgin, Great Dunmow
- Tamer (sic) Hockley b. 1844 (Tamar as a female given name)
- Daniel Hockley b. 1845, bap. 12 May 1850
- Elizabeth Hockley b. 1847, bap. 9 Aug 1857
- James Hockley b. 24 Apr 1849, bap. 10 Jun 1849
- Emma Hockley b. 1851, bap 13 Apr 1851
- Lucy Hockley b. 1852, bap. 8 Aug 1852
- Charles Hockley b. 1854, bap. 9 Jul 1854
- Alice Hockley b. 1855, bap. 11 Nov 1855
- Sarah Ann Hockley b. 1857, bap. 9 Aug 1857
Sunday 29 October 2023
Charles Stone and Emma Middleton
Interior of St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Voller - geograph.org.uk/p/3683165 This church is famous (or infamous depending on your point of view) in that upon its organ, seen left of picture, was played for the very first time, the tune that was destined to send shivers up the spine of many a strong man. It was of course ... (intake of breath) "The Wedding March". On June 2nd 1847, at a wedding ceremony here, Felix Mendelssohn's composition ushered the bride and groom out of the church as man and wife. The couple were, I believe, friends of the composer. |
Charles Stone (b. 8 Apr 1869 in Ashbrittle, Somerset), son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married Emma Middleton (b. 6 Aug 1862 in West Anstey, Devon), daughter of Jane Middleton, on 29 Oct 1896 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton and were my great-grandparents. They both gave their address as 111 Chapel Street, Tiverton, which was that of Charles' younger sister, Lucy Jane and her husband, William Bridle, who were their witnesses.
No idea why she later chose to change her name from Emma to Emily (fashion perhaps?), but she didn't seem to be trying to hide her son William Henry's illegitimate status, but might have been trying to play down her own, because Emma (Emily) "invented" a father called William Middleton for the marriage certificate. As we now know Middleton was not only hers, but also her mother's maiden name, so that couldn't be her father's name. Emma (Emily) had an older brother and an uncle William Middleton, both of whom she never met as they died as infants, whose name she was clearly borrowing.
Well, I say she wasn't trying to hide William Henry's true origins, but clearly someone came up with a story later, because my father was always under the mistaken impression that William Henry Middleton, his "Uncle Bill", was the product of Emily's "first marriage". Of course there was no such alliance.
1 Silver Street, Tiverton where my grandfather was born on 6 Jun 1898 |
Charles and Emma (Emily) Stone added four more children:
- Charley Stone b. 6 Jun 1898 at 1 Silver Street, Tiverton (1898 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 401), bap. 20 Jul 1898 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, clearly listed as son of Charles and Emma.
- Albert Stone b. 18 Jan 1900 (1900 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 399)
- Emily Stone b. 2 May 1901 (1901 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 387)
- Henry Stone b. 17 Nov 1902 (1902 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 375)
Charles and Emma with their children: Charley (rear right), Albert (rear left), Emily, (front right) and Harry (front left) |
4 Hayne Lane, Bolham in 2016 |
Tuesday 10 October 2023
Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land
Bampton (Devon), Church of St Michael & All Angels cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ben Brooksbank - geograph.org.uk/p/5006885 |
Frederick James Stone (b. 1854 in Stawley, Somerset), son of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, married the delightfully-named, Loveday Jane Land (b. 1864), daughter of James Land and Rose Anna Beamer. Frederick (26) and Loveday (17) were married on 10 Oct 1881 at St Michael & All Angels, Bampton, Devon. Loveday's father, James Land, made his mark as witnesses to the marriage (and, no doubt, had his shotgun in his other hand.)
In 1891, Frederick James (36) and Loveday (27) were at Noblelimdrance, Rock, Halberton. And they'd begun to acquire quite a brood:
- Rose Anna Land Stone b. 2 Aug 1880, bap. 13 Aug 1882 in Uplowman
- Bessie Ann Stone b. 18 Jul 1882, bap. 13 Aug 1882 in Uplowman
- Loveday Jane Stone b. 6 Apr 1884, bap. 27 Apr 1884 in Uplowman
- Mary Ann Stone b. 1886 in Uffculme (seem to have missed baptism)
- Frederick James Stone b. 27 Mar 1888, bap. 27 May 1888 in Uplowman
- John Charles Stone b. 18 Jun 1890, bap. 27 Jul 1890 in Uplowman
- Florence May Stone b. 26 Sep 1894, bap. 18 Oct 1894 in Halberton
- Laura Alice Stone b. 9 Apr 1898, bap. 22 May 1898 in Uplowman
- Irene Venetta Stone b. 15 Jul 1900, bap. 19 Aug 1900 in Uplowman
- Stanley William Stone b. 7 Jan 1903, bap. 15 Feb 1903 in Uplowman
- Phillip Alfred Stone b. 14 Jun 1909, bap. 11 Jul 1909 in Uplowman
Saturday 2 September 2023
Jane Middleton and William Flew and John Howe
Church of St Peter, Knowstone cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/3465881 |
- Robert Middleton, b. 1850 S Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 10 Page 199, bap. on 3 Mar 1854, record marked 'dead' (abode 'Union', i.e. Workhouse) and buried on 6 Mar 1854 in Knowstone, aged 4 years.
- William Middleton, b. 1853 S Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 05B Page 416, bap. 9 Feb 1854, record marked 'dead' (abode given as 'Union', i.e. Workhouse), buried 5 Mar 1854 in Knowstone, aged 8 months.
- Frederick Middleton, b. 1856 D Quarter in SOUTHMOLTON Volume 05B Page 430. Buried 20 Jan 1858 at St Peter’s Church, Rose Ash, Devon, and bap. (posthumously) 3 Oct 1858 in West Anstey.
- Emma Middleton, b. 6 Aug 1862, bap. 5 Oct 1865, in West Anstey.
St Margaret's Church, Stoodleigh cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper geograph.org.uk/p/2448281 |
Manley Bridge, Grand Western Canal, from the west cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Christine Johnstone - geograph.org.uk/p/4085587 |
Monday 3 July 2023
William Stone and Mary Thorne and Elizabeth Sprague
Langford Budville : St Peter's Church cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4028563 |
William Stone (son of Thomas Stone and Dolly Carpenter, bap. 3 Nov 1799) married Mary Thorne on 3 Jul 1820 at St Peter's Church, Langford Budville, Somerset. William and Mary Stone were some of my 3rd great-grandparents. Witnesses were Ann Waygood and William Bridges. The groom is described as a 'Sojourner' - temporarily residing in the parish - a blow in - which makes sense, as we know he was from Kentisbeare, over the border, in Devon.
Records show they had three children, all baptised in Langford Budville:
- William Stone bap. 1 Apr 1821
- Thomas Stone bap. 4 Jan 1824
- Henry Stone bap. 26 Oct 1828
Mary Stone (née Thorne) died - the burial record says she was aged 33 (b. 1799) - and was buried on 9 Sep 1832 at Langford Budville. Given her age and the timing, I'd imagine there's at least an evens chance that Mary died having a fourth child, although I've not found a relevant record to support this.
William Stone then remarried Elizabeth Sprague, from Ashbrittle, 10 years his junior, on 5 Feb 1834, also in Langford Budville. They had one daughter:
- Mary Ann Stone, baptised 25 Dec 1834 in Langford Budville.
Court Place, Ashbrittle cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/3819462 |
"Richard Barton was born in Churchstanton, Somerset, in about 1817. I think that he was baptised at Otterford with his brother John Barton on 16th March 1817. He married Martha Surridge in Tiverton Registration District during 1841 and they were probably living at Langford Budville, Somerset, until at least 1844. At the time of the 1841 census Richard was farming at Higher Wellesford, Langford Budville. He was described as a twenty-year-old farmer, not born in the county of Somerset, and his wife, Martha, was aged twenty and born in that county." - Pedigree of the Bartons
In 1851, William and Elizabeth were living at Trace Bridge, Ashbrittle with Mary Anne (16), who has become a 'Nurse Woman' and Henry Sprague (6), lodger, born in Exeter, while Henry (21) was a servant (Farm Servant/Ag Lab) to James and Elizabeth Talbot at Appley, Stawley, Wellington, Somerset.
In 1861, William Stone (62), Agricultural Labourer, and Betsy Stone (53) are living in a Private Cottage at Court Place, Ashbrittle, "Court Place Farm has been a feature of Somerset’s Tone Valley for centuries. Some of its pastures still bear the names they were given over five hundred years ago."
William Stone was buried on 7 Feb 1869 at St John the Baptist, Ashbrittle.
Saturday 20 May 2023
John Jerred and Frances Ann Orchard
Thorverton: Cherry Tree cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/404160 |
- Lewis Jerrad (sic) b. in the 2nd quarter of 1863
- Frances Mary Jerrad (sic) b. 3 May 1869, in St Thomas, Exeter
Friday 28 April 2023
Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns
St. Bartholomew's Tower, Heigham cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Graham Hardy - geograph.org.uk/p/182191 |
Francis Stephen Blazey married Hannah Minns, daughter of Robert Marsh Minns and Mary Kett, on 28 Apr 1832 at this now lost church of St Bartholomew's, in Heigham, Norwich, Norfolk. Francis Stephen Blazy (or Blazey), born 26 Dec 1810, was baptised on 30 Dec 1810 at the church of St Martin at Oak, Norwich, son of Susanna Blazy and the baptism record makes it clear he was 'illegitimate born'. (Francis' mother married a John Maycock, also at St Martin at Oak, on 17 Jul 1811, but Francis never took this stepfather's name, so I do not think this was his natural father.)
Francis and Hannah too appear to have used microwave gestation:
- Harriet Blazy, bap. 8 May 1832 at St Martin at Oak (see note below)
- Francis Robert Blazey b. 1 Aug, bap. 4 Aug 1833 at St Martin at Oak
- Samuel Blazey b. 13 Jul 1836, bap. 17 Jul 1836 at St Martin at Oak
- Harriet Blazey b. 11 Jan 1839, bap. 13 Jan 1839 at St Martin at Oak
- Hannah Blazey b. 17 Jun 1845, bap. 17 Oct 1860 at St Bartholomew's
- Elizabeth Blazey b. 1847, bap. 17 Oct 1860 at St Bartholomew's
- Eliza Blazey b. 1851, bap. 21 Oct 1863 at St Bartholomew's
- William Blazey b. 7 Nov 1853, bap. 17 Nov 1867 at Holy Trinity
- Alice Blazey b. 6 Nov 1858. bap. 2 Oct 1867 at Holy Trinity
Sunday 9 April 2023
Francis Stone and Frances Mary Jerred
Cottages, High Street, Halberton cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Roger Cornfoot - geograph.org.uk/p/1177578 44 High Street, Halberton, is the blue cottage in the centre |
Grave of Francis Stone and Frances Mary Jerred in Uplowman Churchyard |
Monday 3 April 2023
Thomas Clark and Sarah Wilton
Part of the carriage drive in Southwark Park cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/2649163 |
Thomas Clark, son of Claudius Clark and Hannah Cornell, married Sarah Wilton, daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, on 3 Apr 1839 in Royston, Hertfordshire. Thomas was baptised on 15 Mar 1818 in Great Dunmow (where his parents were married on 27 May 1817). Claudius was a wheelwright. Thomas, like Sarah's brothers, was a Harness Maker.
Thomas and Sarah had at least ten children:
- Thomas Clark Wilton b. 1839 in Royston
- Ann Clark b. 1841 in Dunmow
- Emma Clark b. 1842 in Dunmow
- Sarah Wilton Clark b. 1845 in Braintree
- Alfred Clark b. 1847 in Braintree
- Robert Clark b. 1849 in Southwark
- Caroline Clark b. 1851 in Camberwell
- Elizabeth Clark b. 1854 in Camberwell
- Thomas William Clark b. 1857 in Camberwell
- Walter Edward Clark b. 1862 in Camberwell