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 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.
Thursday 1 February 2024
John William Stone and Rosina Sweeney
St Dunstan & All Saints, Stepney cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3477079 |
- Rosina Dorothy Stone b. 1906 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 393. Died 1906 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 263
- May Ena Stone b. 10 May 1907 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 388
- Violet Rosina Stone b. 26 Nov 1910 (1911 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C 315)
- William John Arthur Stone b. 15 Jan 1913 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 623
- George Albert Stone b. 1915 M Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 607
- Rosina Stone b. 1916 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 516
- Daisy Stone b. 1920 J Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C 786
- Albert Stone b. 1925 M Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C 524
- Doreen Stone b. 1926 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 401
- Ronald Stone b. 1929 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 323
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. |
Tuesday 26 December 2023
Harry Stone and Ellen Minnie Loud
Axminster: Church of St Mary and WWI War Memorial cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mr Eugene Birchall - geograph.org.uk/p/3423250 |
Harry Stone (b. 17 Nov 1902), youngest son of Charles Stone and Emma Middleton, married Ellen Minnie Loud (b. 6 Sep 1904), 13th child of George Alfred Loud and Tryphena Davis, on 26 Dec 1929, in Axminster.
In 1939, Harry Stone, General Labourer and Ellen M Stone, Ironer (Laundry) lived at 12, North Street, Axminster. Living with them was Amelia M Stratchcombe (b. 1918), Domestic Servant. My feeling is that she was most likely to have been a boarder or lodger who worked elsewhere.
Harry and Ellen had one son in 1948 (afaik, still living).
Ellen M Stone died on 1 Mar 1966, aged 62.
Harry Stone died in 1982, aged 80.
Saturday 25 November 2023
Leslie Victor Stone and Lilian Letts
Stainforth Packhorse Bridge and the River Ribble cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John S Turner - geograph.org.uk/p/433349 |
Leslie Victor Stone (b. 21 Feb 1901 in Devonport), son of Tom Stone and Margaret Knapman, married Lillian Daniel, in the district of Thorne, South Yorkshire, in 1939. Born Lilian Letts on 15 Jun 1903 and registered in Cardiff, she was the illegitimate daughter of Edith Emily Letts, who was then 16.
In 1911, Lilian Letts was living with her great-grandmother, Julia Ann Founds, although listed as her grandchild, at Swan Court, Cross St, Northam, Devon. In 1921, Lilian Letts (18) Laundry Maid was living with her grandparents, Alfred and Mary Hannah Letts, in Fore Street, Northam. (Lilian's mother, Edith Emily Letts, married a Frederick George Stone (b. 25 Dec 1873 in Bideford) in 1911. He seems not to be related to the rest of my Stone family.)
Lilian Letts had first married Norman Daniel in Bideford, Devon, in Q2 of 1923 and they had one child, Joan Daniel b. 24 Sep 1923 D Quarter in BIDEFORD Volume 05B Page 656. Norman Daniel died, at 25, in 1930.
In 1939, Leslie Victor Stone, Agricultural Land Worker, Lilian Stone and Joan Daniel were living at 16, Long Grove, Stainforth, North Yorkshire.
Leslie and Lilian had 3 further children: 2 daughters in 1941 and 1943, and a son, Anthony Michael Stone b. 17 Apr 1946, who died, at just 25, in 1971.
Leslie Victor Stone died, at 63, on 5 Jun 1964, in Fishlake, Yorkshire.
Lilian Stone died, in Doncaster, in 1984.
Monday 20 November 2023
John Charles Stone and Elsie Alberta Wright
Blackchurch rock looking across Mouthmill beach. cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Andrew Bolton - geograph.org.uk/p/1701554 |
- Frederick Charles Stone b. Q4 1911 in Exeter (Died 1949, aged 37.)
- Kenneth John Stone b. 23 Mar 1915, bap. 28 Apr 1915 in Revelstoke, Plympton (Died 1932, aged 17, see below.)
- Burgess William Stone b. 29 Jan 1918, bap. 2 Feb 1918 in Newton Ferrers. (Died Q1 1918, aged 0.)
Saturday 11 November 2023
George Norman and Ellen Stone Snow
St Peter's Church, Tiverton |
- Frank Norman b. 7 Apr 1903
- George James Norman b. 16 May 1909, bap. 17 May 1909 at the Tiverton, Wesleyan Methodist Church. (Buried 22 May 1909.)
- William Henry Norman b. 16 May 1909, bap. 17 May 1909 at the Tiverton, Wesleyan Methodist Church. (Buried 5 Aug 1909.)
- Frank Norman married Amy Cleeve, in 1924. In 1939, they were living at No 3 Council House, Uplowman, Devon with their two children: i. William George Norman (b. 4 Apr 1924, d. 5 Mar 2000) and ii. Doris Elizabeth Norman (b. 26 Oct 1926, d. 2003, in Exeter), m. Leslie Lewis Hutchings (b. 30 Dec 1922 d. 2005), in 1953. Frank Norman died on 9 Jun 1976, aged 73 and is buried in St. Peter's Churchyard, Uplowman. Amy Norman died on 8 Jan 1992, aged 89 and is buried with her husband.
Thursday 2 November 2023
James Shopland and Loveday Jane Stone
Bridge and Uplowman church cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/4097757 |
- Frederick James Shopland b. 19 Nov 1905, bap. 17 Dec 1905 at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, as the family's address at the time was 3 Adam's Court, Barrington Street, Tiverton. In 1927, he married Elizabeth A P Cox and in 1939, they were living at 131 Eden Grove, Bristol. Frederick James Shopland died in 1971, in Weston-super-Mare.
- Loveday Jane Shopland b. 14 Feb 1907, bap. 17 Feb 1907 at Cove. In 1928, Loveday Jane Shopland married Leonard Southcott in Bristol. Their address in 1939 was 34 Pylle Hill Crescent, Bristol. Leonard Southcott died, aged 47, in 1950, in Bristol and in 1952, Loveday Jane Southcott remarried to a James J Basten-Rank. James J B Rank died, aged 68, in 1966, in Weston-super-Mare. Despite this, her death in 1995, in Taunton Deane, is registered under Loveday Jane Southcott.
- Albert Geoffrey Shopland born 21 Jul 1908. In 1930, Albert Geoffrey Shopland married Annie Richards in Bristol and in 1939 were living at 3 Chessington Avenue, Bristol. Albert G Shopland died, in Bristol, at 35.
- Sidney Arthur Shopland bap. 27 Feb 1910 at Bickleigh. On 13 Jun 1929, Sidney Arthur Shopland enlisted in the Royal Artillery. Unable to find a marriage, but Sidney A Shopland died, aged 58, in 1968, in Bristol.
- John James Shopland born 1911. There is more than one John Shopland in the relevant areas and none specifically listed as John James, so it hasn't yet been possible to isolate subsequent records for him.
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 |
Thursday 26 October 2023
Charles John Northcott and Emily Stone
Tiverton : The Barley Mow cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/1601875 |
Monday 16 October 2023
William Bridle and Lucy Jane Stone
St Peter’s Church, Uplowman cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2510457 |
111 Chapel Street, Tiverton (with the white door) |
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
Tuesday 5 September 2023
Thomas Stone and Dolly Carpenter
Fore Street, Kentisbeare cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/2793712 |
The earliest Stone ancestors I can document a link to in Devon are Thomas Stone (b. 1766) who married Dolly Carpenter (bap. 15 Jul 1764), daughter of Edward Carpenter and Mary Winter, at St Mary's, Kentisbeare, Devon, on 5 Sep 1787. These were a pair of my 4th great-grandparents.
There are records for nine children, all baptised in Kentisbeare:
- Sally Stone bap. 20 Apr 1788
- John Stone, b. 6 Jan 1790, bap. 22 Jan 1792
- Henry Stone bap. 22 Jan 1792
- Hugh Stone bap. 25 Jul 1793 (buried 19 Nov 1802)
- William Stone bap. 26 Apr 1795 (buried 4 Apr 1796)
- Mary Stone bap. 2 Apr 1797 (buried 11 Apr 1813)
- William Stone bap. 3 Nov 1799
- Hugh Stone bap. 15 Feb 1803 (buried 13 Jan 1804)
- Elizabeth Stone bap. 7 Sep 1806
Dorothy Stone died, aged 49, and was buried at Kentisbeare on 9 May 1813.
Thomas Stone remarried, also in Kentisbeare, on 17 Apr 1814 to Mary Hill (probably born around 1773-6). Witnesses to this marriage were Thomas Farnell and Elizabeth Hill. Thomas and Mary had three more children.
- Robert Stone bap. 16 Oct 1814
- John Stone bap. 10 Mar 1816
- Thomas Stone bap. 13 Sep 1818
Thomas Stone Sr died in 1838, aged 72 (from exhaustion, I shouldn't be surprised), and was buried in Kentisbeare on 26 Jan 1838.
In 1841, Mary Stone (65) was living in "Kentisbeer Village" with her sons Robert (30), John (26) and Thomas (23). And Mary Stone (78), Widow, Pauper, was still living in the village in 1851, but disappears after that.
In 1799, the year my 3rd great-grandfather, William Stone, was born in the village, Betty Limpany was executed in Exeter for burning down the house of her master, William Leech of Kentisbeare. According to Trewman's Exeter Flying Post of April 11th 1799, "She acknowledged her guilt, was very penitent, and behaved in a manner becoming her unhappy situation."
Monday 7 August 2023
Albert Stone and Agnes Jones
Tiverton : King's Crescent cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/3053842 On Bert's Marines record, Agnes' address is given as King's Crescent, Tiverton. |
- HMS Ramillies 15 Jan - 1 Sep 1921 with the Atlantic Fleet.
- HMS Cairo 19 Nov 1921 - 7 Mar 1924 on the East Indies Station
- HMS Thunderer cadet training ship, 4 Jun 1924 - 30 Jun 1925
- HMS Adventure minelaying cruiser, 6 May 1927 - 16 Apr 1928
- HMS Hood 24 Apr 1928 - 16 May 1929, Mediterranean Fleet
- HMS Comus 10 Jan 1930 - 13 Apr 1930 in Devonport
- HMS Rodney 7 Jan 1933 - 30 Aug 1934 when Rodney became the temporary fleet flagship, for a winter cruise to British West Indies.
- HMS Leander 30 Apr 1935 - 25 Apr 1937