John Ridgeway and Ellen Norman

Building at Widhayes Farm, Uplowman

John Ridgeway (b. 18 Jun 1870), son of Thomas Ridgway and Ann Tooze, married Ellen Norman (b. 23 Dec 1871), daughter of James Norman and Harriet Woodland at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman, on 3 Jul 1892. Witnesses were James Norman and William Norman, the bride's father and brother.

The couple probably met at Widhayes Farm (Grade II Listed), as in 1891, John Ridgeway (20) Agricultural Labourer, had been lodging with James Wood at Widhayes, Uplowman and at the same time, Ellen Norman (20) had been employed as a General domestic servant in the household of Edward Chave (39), a prosperous Farmer, at the Farm, Widhayes, Uplowman. 

John and Ellen had three children: 

1. William Henry Ridgway b. 1893 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Pg 407
2. Thomas Ridgway b. 1894 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 401 (Died 1894 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 261)
3. Annie Elizabeth Ridgway b. 26 May 1895 (1895 S Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 387), bap. 30 Jun 1895 at St Peter’s Church, Uplowman

The mother's maiden name on all three births was NORMAN.

In 1901, John Ridgeway (30) Cattleman on farm, Ellen Ridgeway (29), William H (8) and Annie E (6) were at Little Sellake, Halberton.

In 1911, still at Sellake, Halberton, were John Ridgway (40), Ellen Ridgway (39) and William Henry (18) Farm Labourer. The original census record confirms that the couple had three children - two living and one who had died - during their then 19 year marriage. Annie Ridgway (16) that year was working as a General domestic servant in the household of Retired farmer, Robert Pearce (89) at Locks House, Witnage, Sampford Peverell. 

In 1921, John Ridgway (50) Farmer was living at Whipcott, Holcombe Rogus with Ellen Ridgway (49).

In 1939, John and Ellen Ridgway, were living at Whipcott, Red Ball.

John Ridgeway of Whipcott, Holcombe Rogus, died on 22 Mar 1947 (1947 M Quarter in TAUNTON Volume 07C Page 340) at Gamlins, Greenham, Stawley. Probate was granted to Herbert John Howe, quarry proprietor and Arthur John Exton, solicitors managing clerk, leaving effects of £2282 12s.

Ellen Ridgway of Gamlins, Greenham, Somersetshire died, aged 80, on 11 Sep 1952 (1952 S Quarter in TAUNTON Volume 07C Page 179) at Mountbatten Nursing Home Taunton, leaving effects of £2942 9s 2d. Probate was again granted to Arthur John Exton, solicitors managing clerk.

• After joining the Australian Military in November 1916, William Henry Ridgeway married Gertrude Hannah Goodwin (b. 14 Jan 1892 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 16 Jan 1918, in Brisbane. William Henry Ridgeway died, at 84, on 29 Oct 1977 and was buried, on 1 Nov 1977, at Pinaroo Lawn Cemetery, Albany Creek, Queensland, Australia. Gertrude Hannah Ridgeway died on 18 Sep 1984 and was also buried, on 20 Sep 1984, at Pinaroo Lawn Cemetery. (There's also a Raymond Francis Ridgway b. 1926, d. 14 Jun 1921, at that cemetery. Was he their son?)
• Herbert John Howe (b. 31 Jan 1895), son of Walter Howe and Ann Hawkins, married Annie Elizabeth Ridgeway, in Wellington, in 1916. (Walter Howe, was a Carter on farm and general labourer, living in Holcombe Rogus village.) Herbert and Annie Howe had one son: Colin John Ridgway Howe b. 3 Feb 1933. In 1921, Herbert John Howe (26) Road Stone Quarrier, at Whipcott Quarries; and Annie Elizabeth Howe (26) were living at Whipcott, Holcombe Rogus. In 1939, Herbert J Howe "General Farmer, Quarts Owner, Haulage & Road Contractors & Quarrying", Annie E Howe "Assistant To Husband In Farming" and Colin J R Howe, were living at Gamlin's [Farm], Stawley, Somerset. Herbert John Howe (56) of Gamlins, Greenham, Somersetshire, died on 6 Dec 1951, leaving effects of £2796 2s to his widow, Annie Elizabeth Howe. Almost an entire column of the Crediton Gazette on 18 Dec 1951 was filled with the report on the funeral of Mr Herbert John Howe of Gamlins, "well known quarry owner and agriculturalist, who took a keen and active interest in local affairs", saying that "there was a large and representative gathering at Holcombe Rogus Parish Church." Annie Elizabeth Howe died, in 1970, at 75.

Stawley: Gamlins Farm
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/148474

George Churly and Mary Ann Stone

Stawley : St Michael's Church & House
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/3921235

George Churly (b. 28 Jun 1831, bap. 26 Jul 1831 in Silverton, Devon), son of William Churly and Melony Godfrey, married Mary Ann Stone (b. 17 Aug 1834, bap. 25 Dec 1834 in Langford Budville, Somerset), daughter of William Stone and Elizabeth Sprague, in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1853, in the district of Wellington, Somerset. (George and Mary Ann Churly were the witnesses at the marriage of my 2x great-grandparents, Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway, in 1854. Mary Ann was Henry's half-sister.)

Spellings of this surname are widely varied, often as Churley, sometimes Chorley and even Charley, but Churly is used on George's baptism, as well as his and Mary Ann's marriage, so I am considering that the correct one.

George and Mary Ann Churly had nine children:

1. Laura Churly bap. (as Laura Chorley) 30 Jul 1854 in Stawley, Somerset
2. Abel Asa Charley (sic) b. 24 Aug 1856 (1856 S Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 357), bap. (as Abel Asa Chorley) 3 Jan 1858 in Stawley, Somerset
3. Eli Churly b. 23 Sep 1858, bap. 5 Jun 1859 in Stawley, Somerset. Died, aged 35, in 1894 S Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 177 and was buried on 4 Sep 1894 at All Saints' Parish Church, Holcombe Rogus
4. Ada Churly b. 1861 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C Page 380, bap. (as Ada Charley) in 1863 in Holcombe Rogus, Devon
5. Obadiah Churly b. 17 Sep 1863, bap. 1869 in Holcombe Rogus, Devon
6. William Wilfred Churly b. 23 Oct 1866 (1866 D Quarter in WELLINGTON-SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 355), bap. (as William Wilfrid Chorley) 1869 in Holcombe Rogus, Devon
7. Levi Churly b. 1870 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 396, bap. (as Levi Chorley) in 1870 in Holcombe Rogus, Devon. Died, aged 4, in 1874 S Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 233 and was buried at All Saints' Parish Church, Holcombe Rogus
8. Frederick John Churly b. 1873 M Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 376, bap. 1875 in Holcombe Rogus
9. Levi George Churly b. 1875 J Quarter in WELLINGTON SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 359, bap. 1875 in Holcombe Rogus

On Laura's baptism, George's occupation is listed as Carpenter. There don't appear to be GRO civil birth registrations for Laura, Eli or Obadiah.

In 1861, George Churley (sic) (28) Sawyer from Silverton, Devon, was living in South Street, Holcombe Rogus with Mary Ann Churley (26) from Langford Budville, Somerset; Laura Churley (6); Abel A Churley (4); and Eli Churly (2).

In 1871, George Churley (sic) (39) was living in Fore Street, Holcombe Rogus with Mary Ann Churly (36); Eli Churly (11); Ada Churly (8); Obediah Churly (6); William Churly (4) and Levi Churly (1). Laura Chorley (sic) (16) from Stawley, Somerset, was a Servant in the household of William J C Browne (William James Caulfeild Browne) in Kittisford, Somerset (Rev. William J. C. Browne M.A. was rector of Kittisford 1862—91); and Abel Chorley (sic) (13) was a Servant to Thomas Cape, also in Kittisford.

In 1881, George Churley (sic) (49) Carpenter, was living in Fore Street, Holcombe Rogus with Mary Ann Churly (46); Obadiah Churly (16) Grocers assistant; Frederick Churly (8) and Levi George Churly (6). Laura married in 1878; Abel Asa Churly (23) Blacksmith was a Visitor in the household of his married sister Laura Downing (25) Wife of Ships Carpenter, in Cross Street, Northam, Devon. (There also was Mary Ann Fry (22) who Abel married in 1886 in Ontario, Canada); Eli Churly (22) Gunner RMA (Royal Marine Artillery) from Wellington, Somerset, was with HMS Audacious at Devonport Stoke-Damerel; Ada Churley (sic) (19) was Housemaid in the household of Elizabeth J Wilmot, Widow at Clevehouses (Clift Cottage), Northam, Devon and there also was William Churley (sic) (14) Stable Boy.

In 1891, George Churly (59) was once again living in Holcombe Rogus with Mary Ann Churly (56), Levi Churly (16) and Eli Churly (31). 

George Churly died, aged 60, in 1891 D Quarter in WELLINGTON, SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 249.

Eli Churly had enlisted in the Royal Marines at Taunton, Somerset on his 18th birthday, 23 Sep 1876. At that time he was 5ft 7¼in with a fair complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. On final discharge, in 1888, he'd grown to 5ft 10in. Much of his career was listed simply with R M Artillery. He was with HMS Audacious from 8 Aug 1879 and transferred to HMS Repulse on 15 Apr 1881, confirmed here as it states, "Portsmouth 21 Apr 1881 Crew of the Audacious, from Devonport, turned over to the Repulse, guardship in the River Humber." On 28 Aug 1882, during the Battle of Kassassin, Eli Churly suffered "gun shot wounds both thighs (severe)" and was transferred to To Hosp[ital]. There were several columns devoted to the action in the Portsmouth Evening News of 31 Aug 1882. However, Eli was back in service on 25 Sep 1882 for a further six years. From 1883 to 1885 he was with HMS Hercules, flagship of the reserve fleet from 1881 until 1890. Eli Churly was finally Discharged Invalided on 10 Oct 1888 and died, aged 35, in 1894.

In 1901, Mary A Churly (66) Widowed, was living alone in Holcombe Rogus.

Mary Ann Churly died, aged 71, in 1905 S Quarter in BIDEFORD Volume 05B Page 290 and was buried in Northam, Devon.