Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Showing posts with label Southcott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southcott. Show all posts

Saturday, 7 September 2024

John Hurley Coombe and Mary Jane Southcott

East side of St Peter's Church, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jaggery - geograph.org.uk/p/6219976

John Hurley Coombe (b. 1845 in Tiverton, Devon), son of James Coombe and Sarah Hurley, married Mary Jane Southcott (b. 1854 in Tiverton), daughter of William Southcott and Temperance Cosway, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, on 7 Sep 1869. On the marriage certificate both are listed as being of 'full' age, however, Mary Jane, registered in the 2nd quarter of 1854, may have been 15. Witnesses to the marriage were James Coombe and Mary Bawden.

John and Mary Jane had six children:

  1. John William Southcott Coombe b. 1869 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 439. (Died at 7 in 1876 S Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 270)
  2. Sarah Jane Coombe b. 7 Nov 1871 D Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 133, bap. 19 May 1872 at St John the Baptist, Hoxton. (Died aged 5, in 1876 S Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 89, and was buried on 19 Sep 1876 at Victoria Park Cemetery, Hackney.)
  3. Fanny Maria Coombe b. 1874 M Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C P 125
  4. Frederick Coombe b. 1876 J Qtr in SHOREDITCH Vol 01C P 127
  5. Charles Henry Coombe b. 1878 D Qtr in HOLBORN Vol 01B P 677
  6. James Coombe b. 1883 S Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 659 (Died 1884 M Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 435)
In 1871, John H Coombe (24) Tailor, Mary J Coombe (18) and John H S Coombe (1) were living in Kiddles Court, Tiverton, Devon, with his father, James Coombe, who married Mary Jane's mother, Temperance, in 1866.

In 1881, John Hurley Coombe (35) Journeyman tailor from Tiverton, Devon, Mary Jane Coombe (28), Fanny Maria Coombe (7), Frederick Coombe (5) and Charles Henry Coombe (3) were at 10, Green Street, St Andrew Holborn. 

Then Mary Jane Coombe (née Southcott) died, aged 33, in 1887 J Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 01B Page 408.

In 1891, John H Coombe (45) Widower, was in Leigh Street, Holborn, with Fanny Maria Coombe (17) Packer soap factory, Frederick Coombe (14) Printer's boy and Charles H Coombe (12).

In 1901, John H Coombes (sic) (55) Tailor Journeyman was living in Great Queen Street, Bloomsbury, London, with Frances Maria Coombe (26) Packer in soap factory; Fredrick Coombe (24) Porter Hotel kitchen and Charles H Coombe (22) Tailor journeyman.

In 1911, John Coombe (68) Tailor, Widowed was an Inmate of Holborn Union Workhouse, Mitcham, Surrey. (Dining Hall, Holborn Union Workhouse)

John Hurley Coombe died in 1913 J Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 469.

Sunday, 24 March 2024

William Southcott and Temperance Cosway

Fore Street, Tiverton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/6875609

William Southcott (bap. 24 Feb 1822 in Witheridge), 'Base Child' (illegitimate) of Mary Southcott, married Temperance Cosway (bap. 9 Apr 1819 at St Andrew'sClayhidon), daughter of Thomas Cosway and Mary, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, on 24 Mar 1845. One of the witnesses was Mary Cosway. Temperance Cosway's father is listed as Thomas Cosway, Yeoman (other records list him as a Farmer). There was a Thomas Cosway of the right vintage, aged 60 (b. ~1780), buried on 19 Apr 1840 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, who would fit the circumstances. A note on the burial record says, "destroyed himself", could they mean suicide? (One wonders also if they may have been poor relations of the Tiverton-born portrait painter of the Regency era, Richard Cosway. The town even has a Cosway Road.) 

William and Temperance Southcott had six children:
  1. William Southcott b. 7 Jan 1846 (1846 M Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 300), bap. 24 Feb 1846 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died at 6 in 1852 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 315 and was buried 11 Apr 1852)
  2. Walter Southcott b. 1847 D Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 246. (Died, aged 18, in 1864 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 332)
  3. Robert Southcott b. 1849 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Vol 10 Page 252. (As Richard Southcott (for whom there was no birth record), aged 1, died in 1850 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 10 Page 189.)
  4. Frederick Southcott b. 1851 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 10 Page 267
  5. Mary Jane Southcott b. 1854 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 411
  6. Lucy Southcott b. 1856 S Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 376. (Died, aged 2, in 1859 M Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 343.)
In 1841, in Fore Street, Tiverton in the household of Mary Cosway (60) Dairy Keeper had been Mary Cosway (25) (conceivably a sister); Temperance Cosway (21), Elizabeth Cosway (2), Eliza Copp (25) Dressmaker (a lodger, perhaps) and Elizabeth Harmer (65) 'Ind' (Independant). The baptism record reveals that the 2 year old Elizabeth Cosway, b. 22 Feb 1839 and bap. on 19 May 1839, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, was the illegitimate daughter of Temperance Cosway. Sadly, the infant Elizabeth Cosway died, aged just 3 in 1842 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 185, and was buried, on 18 Aug 1842, also at St Peter's Church, Tiverton.

In 1851, William Southcott (29) Carpenter, Temperance Southcott (30), William Southcott (5), Walter Southcott (3), Maria Trump (20) House Servant and John L Dunsford (34) Lodger, were all living in Becks Square, Tiverton.

Then William Southcott died at the age of 33 in 1856 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 264. 

Temperance Southcott married Francis Thomas Beedell (b. 30 Jul 1823, bap. 17 Aug 1823), son of William and Elizabeth Beedell at the Chapel of St John the BaptistCove, Devon, on 15 Jul 1860. (Francis had previously married Elizabeth Tucker, daughter of Robert Tucker, on 29 Oct 1852 at the parish church in Butterleigh. They'd had one child, Henry Robert Beedell, in 1853 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 393, but Elizabeth Beedell died in 1854 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 300, aged 24.) 

In 1861, Francis J Beedell (35) Tailor, Temperance Beedell (36), Walter Southcott (14) Carpenter's Apprentice, Frederick Southcott (9), Mary Jane Southcott (7) - Wife's sons and Wife's daughter - and Ann M Limborough (29) House Servant, were at Vercoc's Court, Fore Street, Tiverton. 

Francis Thomas and Temperance Beedell added one son: 
  1. Francis Southcott Beedell, b. 1862 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 437.
Then Francis Thomas Beedell died, aged 42, in 1865 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 299. 

Temperance Beedell married for a 3rd time in Q4 1866 to James Coombe

James Coombe (b. 1811), Butcher, son of John Coombe, previously married Sarah Hurley, daughter of John Hurley, Carpenter, on 22 Mar 1838, at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. James was in Newport Street, Tiverton, in 1841. In 1851 and 1861, he was a Dairyman in Frog Street, Bampton. Sarah Coombe died, at 53, in 1866 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 308.

In 1871, at Kiddles Court, Fore Street, Tiverton, were: James Coombe (59) Dairyman; Temperance Coombe (50); John H Coombe (24) Son, Tailor; William H Coombe (22) Son, Whitesmith (unemployed); Mary J Coombe (18) Daughter-in-law (wife of John H Coombe); Mary A Coombe (22) Daughter-in-law (wife of William H Coombe); Frederick Southcott (19) Son-in-law (Step-son) Dairyman's assistant; Frederick Coombe (13) Son, Errand Boy; Francis T Beedle (sic) (8) Son-in-law (Step-son); John H S Coombe (1) Grandson (Son of John Hurley Coombe and Mary Jane Southcott); William H Coombe (0) Grandson (Son of William Henry and Mary Ann Coombe, born 20 Jan 1870, bap. 26 Dec 1870 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. Mother's maiden name Land.) Finding this blended family in 1871, led me to investigate, as on that census return, the 19 year old unmarried Frederick Southcott was described as Son-in-law (to the head of the household) and that didn't make sense at all. Clearly, he is James Coombe's step-son. However, there's no wonder they were confused, because James Coombe and Sarah Hurley's son, John Hurley Coombe (b. 1845) had married Mary Jane Southcott, daughter of William Southcott and Temperance Cosway, in 1869. She was then both James Coombe's step-daughter AND his daughter-in-law.

James Coombe died, at 65, on 16 Jun 1876 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B 328.

In 1881, the now thrice-widowed Temperance Coombe (62) Dairy woman, was still living in Kiddles Court, Tiverton, with her son from her first marriage, Frederick Southcott (29) Milk carrier and his wife Eliza (25), as well as her son by her second husband, Francis Beedell (18) also a Milk carrier. 

Temperance Coombes (sic) died in 1882 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 291. Despite her age being listed / transcribed as a wildly inaccurate under-estimate of 51, I have little doubt that this record relates to her.

Wednesday, 14 February 2024

Loveday a girl's name meaning "beloved day"

Loveday is the Middle English form of the Anglo-Saxon name Léofdæg, derived from the Old English lēof ' "dear, loved"+ dæġ 'day'. Léofdæg was in use before the Conquest of 1066 and managed to survive to good use in the Middle Ages as Loveday and with the alternative pronunciation Lowdy. 

The term "loveday" is also a literal translation of dies amoris, a day of reconciliation on which enemies met to settle disputes and the name was sometimes given to babies who were born on such a day. By the 16th century, the given name was predominantly used in Cornwall and Devon and mostly for girls. Over the course of the 19th century, Loveday was fairly consistent in use, averaging around eight births per year. It declined by the 1930s.

The earliest record I have [so far] for a Loveday in the family was Loveday Flew, daughter of Richard and Jane Flew, who was baptised in Rackenford, Devon in 1804. She married John Land and they named one of their daughters Loveday Land. They were also the parents of James Land, who, with Rose Anna Beamer, named their daughter Loveday Jane Land (b. 1864).

Loveday Jane Land, along with her husband (my great-grand uncle), Frederick James Stone, named their third daughter Loveday Jane Stone (b. 1884). 

And in turn, Loveday Jane Stone, with her husband, James Shopland, named their only daughter, Loveday Jane Shopland, born on 14 Feb 1907. The name is nothing to do with Valentine's Day, but that was a happy accident.

Loveday Jane Shopland married Leonard Southcott. Their daughter, Loveday Jane Southcott, born in 1930, was probably one of the only ones by then.

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris

Tiverton : Former Belmont Hospital
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4587272
Now known as Perreyman Court, this used to be a hospital and workhouse.

Frederick Southcott, son of William Southcott and Temperance Cosway, married Eliza Harris in Tiverton, in 1879. They had five children:

  1. Lucy Southcott b. 30 Aug 1880, bap. 13 Sep 1880 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died in the first quarter of 1881, aged 0.)
  2. Alice Southcott b. 22 Mar 1882, bap. 14 Apr 1882 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died 1 Feb 1885, aged 3.)
  3. Arthur Southcott b. 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter's.
  4. Frederick William Southcott b. 27 Feb 1886, bap. 28 Mar 1886 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton. (Died 30 Mar 1886, aged 0.)
  5. Bessie Southcott b. 1889, bap. 12 Feb 1892 at St Peter's, Tiverton.

In 1881, Frederick Southcott (29) Milk Carrier (these listings of Victorian Occupations 'helpfully' says this is "Someone who carries milk". No doubt from dairy to customer in a hand cart as shown here) and Eliza (25) were living in Kiddles Court, off Fore Street, Tiverton.

However, on the 1886 baptism, under what is usually the father's occupation, was listed "Inmate of Workhouse". And on Bessie's baptism in 1892, their address was also given as Tiverton Union, i.e. Workhouse.

In 1891, Frederick, Eliza, Arthur and Bessie were all Inmates at The Tiverton Union Workhouse, as the records explain that Frederick Southcott, former milk carrier, had become "Blind not from birth".

Without buying all the death certificates, it's not possible to know for sure, but the fact that two of the children died around the same time, in 1885 and 1886, tends to suggest that disease, rather than accident, was implicated. Smallpox was a common killer in nineteenth century Britain, and was responsible for a third of all human blindness. The risk of death after contracting the disease was about 30%, with higher rates among babies.

Arthur went to sea, joining the Royal Navy in March 1899, when he will have been 15½. While Bessie was enrolled in Elmore School in 1899, with her address on the school records once again listed as "Workhouse".

Bessie and her parents were still in the Workhouse in 1901, after which she just disappears. Art Southcott (17), in 1901, was a Boy 1st Class, part of the crew of HMS Nile, while she was the coast guard ship at Devonport.

Frederick Southcott died in 1906, undoubtedly still in the Workhouse. 

Arthur served in the Royal Navy until 4 Jun 1908, when he was Invalided, so by 1911, Arthur Southcott (27) was back in the Tiverton Union Workhouse. Eliza was still in the Workhouse in 1911 and died in 1913.

Utterly heart-breaking that accident or illness had consigned them to what was undoubtedly a miserable existence for the rest of their lives.

Saturday, 9 January 2021

William Northcott and Emma Jane Wood

Fore Street, Cullompton with the grade II listed White Hart
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen McKay - geograph.org.uk/p/5497724

William Northcott (b. ~1871 in Branscombe, Devon) married Emma Jane Wood (bap. 3 Sep 1871 in Kentisbeare, Devon), daughter of Henry Wood and Mary Jane Melhuish, in Tiverton District, in the second quarter of 1896. 

William and Emma's children (not necessarily together) had included: 
  1. Frederick James Wood b. 1891 S Qtr in HONITON Vol 05B Page 21, bap. 8 Jun 1892 in Kentisbeare, clearly listed as the son of Emma Jane, Single Woman. Died at 20 months in 1893 M Qtr in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 318 and was buried on 9 Mar 1893 in Kentisbeare
  2. Maud Wood, Emma's illegitimate daughter, b. 19 Dec 1893 (registered 1894 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 397), bap. 19 Feb 1895, at 14 months old, in Kentisbeare. (Not seen after 1901.)
  3. William Henry Northcott b. 8 Mar 1897 (1897 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 381) (Not found again after 1912)
  4. Arthina Northcott b. 14 Oct 1898 (1898 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 362), bap. 2 Nov 1898 in Cullompton
  5. Elizabeth Northcott b. 1900 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 389 (Died 1900 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 354)
  6. Charles John Northcott b. 23 Feb 1902 (1902 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 368), bap. 23 Mar 1902 in Cullompton
  7. Albert James Northcott b. 30 Aug 1903 (1903 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 361), bap. 16 Sep 1903 in Cullompton (Died 1904 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 308)
  8. Florence Northcott b. 25 Oct 1907 (1907 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 353), Emma's illegitimate daughter
The Crediton Gazette, 30 Jan 1886 reported on "A DISHONEST SERVANT GIRL. Emma Wood, servant, aged 15 years, was summoned for stealing a sovereign and a jet chain, together of the value of 32s, the property of Mr Henry Brown, farmer of Aylesbeare, Kentisbeare. Mrs Caroline Brown, wife of the prosecutor, said that on Saturday week she heard a noise at the top of the stairs, and saw the prisoner coming out of her bedroom without her boots, and with a lamp in her hand. She had no suspicions of the girl, and locked her door and returned downstairs. On the Thursday following her husband asked her for some money, and on looking in the box she found a sovereign, which she had placed there, missing. On making further search she missed the jet chain from her jewel case. She questioned the girl, who persistently denied all knowledge of the matter, but subsequently she admitted her guilt to her mother, who was, witness believed, innocent of any previous knowledge of the affair. The girl had been with her only a week. She said she had burnt the chain. PC Clatworthy said the girl had told him she burnt the chain in a kitchen fire, and on being questioned she said he had similarly destroyed the sovereign, and had seen it melt. [UNLIKELY: The melting point of gold is 1064°C, whereas the average house fire, or household wood fire, burns at around 600°C.] The ashes had been sifted, and he had found amongst them the fragments produced which appeared to be jet. Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr J Frost said he knew the girl's father to be a hard working man, and he believed he had a large family. The chairman pointed out to the girl the serious nature of the charge, and cautioned her as to her future conduct. She was fined £1, and the girl's mother was allowed a month for payment."

With respect to the paternity of her first child, The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 15 Sep 1891 had reported that at the Cullompton Sessions, "Emma Wood, a domestic servant of Kentisbeare, sought an order against Frederick Selley, a young carter, of the same place ..." This appeared to be the 2nd time that the defendant had failed to appear in this matter, so "An order to contribute 2s 6d weekly for 13 years was made upon Selley." Although this requirement will undoubtedly have died along with the child. However, The Western Times of 1 Sep 1891 had identified the putative father as Frederick Sully (21), who it appears was born in Hockworthy (1869 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 480). He died, listed as Frederick Sulley, aged 25, in 1894 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 266.

Maud Wood was registered at school in Cullompton in 1897 as Maud Northcott. The mother's maiden name on the births from William Henry onwards is WOOD. Dates of birth are on their school registrations. 

In 1891, William Northcott (19) Blacksmith, had been a lodger at The White Hart, Fore Street, Cullompton, but his previous whereabouts are unknown.

In 1901, William Northcott (31) Blacksmith Journeyman from Branscombe, Devon (not identified relevant birth), wife Emma Jane (30) from Kentisbeare, along with Emma's daughter, Maud Wood (7); William Henry Northcott (4) and Arthenia Northcott (2) were living at Church Cottages, Cullompton.

William Northcott (33) died in 1904 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 256 and was buried on 15 May 1904, in Cullompton.

In 1905 Charles John Northcott was at Cullompton school. His date of leaving that school was 13 Dec 1907 with reason given 'left Cullumpton'. 

The Tiverton Gazette of 1 Oct 1907 reported, "RATE EXEMPTON FOR A WIDOW. Emma Northcott, widow, of Cullompton, was summoned for the non-payment of rates amounting to 4s 4d. The Assistant Overseeer (Mr Baker) said defendant had been repeatedly asked to appear before the Court and apply for an exemption from payment of the rates, but until that day she had (despite frequent promises) failed to do so. Asked by the Chairman why she had not appeared before, defendant replied that she did not like to come into Court. She was unable to pay the rates on account of sickness of herself and family. The Chairman told defendant if she paid the cost of the summons (2s) within a fortnight, she'd be exempt in future from paying rates.

However, on 13 Jan 1908, Charles John Northcott was registered at Elmore School, in Tiverton, with his address listed as Elmore Workhouse and his mother's simply as 'Workhouse' (Belmont Road, Tiverton).

In 1911, Emma Northcote (sic) (37) Widow, Laundress was living at 7 Rices Court, West Exe South, Tiverton with her four surviving children: William (14) Errand Boy; Arthina (12), Charles (9) and Florence (3). 

From the Tiverton Gazette of 26 Nov 1912, "AMENDMENT PROMISED. Mrs Emma Northcott, widow, of 3 Jarman's Court, pleaded guilty to not sending her son Charles, aged ten, regularly to the Elmore School. Attendance Officer McDermott produced the head teacher's certificate showing that the boy had only made 57 attendances out of a possible 72. Asked if he knew the reason why the boy had been kept home, Mr McDermott replied: A certain amount of idleness, not altogether the fault of the boy himself; he is a nice little fellow. Mr F B Fisher: Is he in ill-health? Mr McDermott: Oh no, he is a fine lad. Defendant admitted that she kept the boy home occasionally, but did not give the reason. She had four children; the two oldest had left school. The Mayor: Do you understand that it is of the utmost  importance that this boy should be sent to school regularly? Defendant (weeping) Yes, sir. The Mayor: If you will undertake to send the boy regularly to school we will adjourn the case for a month. Will you undertake to do that? Defendant: Yes, sir. The Mayor: Then we adjourn it, but if you do not obey the law, we shall be obliged to inflict a penalty when next you appear. Defendant: I'll do it, sir."

The above report confirming that Emma then had four children - the four listed in 1911 - suggests that she had lost her daughter Maud between 1901 and 1911, however I've found no death or burial record to confirm this.

In 1917, Emma Jane Northcott remarried to Arthur Southcott. What were the chances? Arthur Southcott, born 30 Jul 1883, bap. 9 Aug 1883 at St Peter’s Church Tiverton, therefore 12 years younger than his wife, was the son of Frederick Southcott and Eliza Harris

The Western Times of 22 Mar 1918 reported, "At Tiverton County Police Court, Tuesday, Charles Northcott, aged 16, labourer, of Bartow's Causeway, Tiverton, for using obscene language at Washfield, was fined 10s."

Charles John Northcott (17) joined the Royal Tank Corps on 19 Aug 1919.

In 1921, Arthur Southcott (39) Married, Private in the Army 4th Defence Battalion Devon Regiment, was at 5, Homefield Place, Fore Street, Exeter. Emma J Southcott (48) Married, was living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Florence Northcott (13) Daughter; Ivy M Wood (6) Grandchild [for whom I've not found a birth registration, nor under Northcott] and Dorothy F Wood (4) Grandchild - born Dorothy Florence Northcott b. 16 Nov 1916 (1916 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 563), with mother's maiden name Northcott, presumably Arthina's illegitimate daughter). There was a Dorothy Evans (23) Married, born in Cullompton, Devon as a Domestic Servant at the Half Moon Hotel, Fore Street, Tiverton (Arthina Northcott had married Ernest F J Evans in 1918 and later uses Dorothy); Charles John Northcott (19) Army Private was at Hare Park Camp, Curragh, Ireland.

Arthur Southcott died in 1935 D Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 503.

In 1939, Emma Jane Southcott, Widowed, was again living at 7 Bartows Causeway, Tiverton with Dorothy A Evans, Laundress, and Dorothy Florence Northcott, who worked at the Lace Factory and one other person. 

Emma Jane Southcott died, at 75, in 1947 J Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 07A 713. 

These pages are my notes on work in progress. Follow That Page can monitor changes, as further research is done. Where something is unconfirmed, I've tried to make this clear, but include the information as it may provide further clues.

General Register Office (GRO) references for births and deaths, where appropriate, are quoted, so that you can more easily locate certificates. I do not routinely purchase certificates for any, other than my direct ancestors, which I'm willing to share.

If you have information, certificates, etc., you can offer, please get in touch.