Richard Flew and Jane Wright

Rackenford: All Saints church
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/234495

Richard Flew Jnr (bap. 29 Sep 1765 in Rackenford, Devon), of this parish, Husbandman, son of Richard Flew and Joan Thorne, married Jane Wright, Spinster, sojourner (a temporary resident), on 11 Oct 1787 at All Saints Church, Rackenford. Unfortunately, it doesn't say where Jane came from, although there was a Jane Wright bap. 4 Dec 1768 in Rose Ash, daughter of Thomas Wright, who is possibly the most likely candidate. Witnesses were John Way and John Ganzery. The Jnr suffix was needed as Richard's father, Richard Flew Snr, had married for the third time earlier in the same year and that marriage was recorded on the same page of the church records.

Richard and Jane Flew had at least ten children, baptised in Rackenford:

1. Richard Flew bap. 24 Mar 1788, buried on 30 Mar 1788
2. Thomas Flew bap. 24 Mar 1788
3. Jane Flew bap. 20 Jun 1790, died at 23, buried on 16 May 1813
4. John Flew bap. 22 Apr 1792
5. Richard Flew bap. 29 Jun 1794
6. William Flew bap. 29 May 1796
7. George Flew bap. 11 Nov 1798
8. Robert Flew bap. 21 Jun 1801
9. Loveday Flew bap. 14 Oct 1804
10. Samuel Flew bap. 27 Aug 1809

Richard Flew and Thomas Flew, baptised together in 1788 could have been twins, but my gut feeling is that Richard was born previously and, to record the right surname, they waited until after marriage to baptise them both. 

There was also a Jane Flew baptised on 7 Mar 1813 in Rackenford, also listed as the daughter of Richard and Jane Flew, but, I wonder. To me it's doubtful they would name a child Jane again while the earlier one was still alive. Jane was baptised in 1790, so its not the late baptism of a dying adult, so the most likely explanation, I believe, is that the Jane born in 1813 is the illegitimate child of Jane born in 1790, who the grandparents intend to bring up.

Loveday Flew, was apprenticed to William Webber Gent, in 1818.

Jane Flew died at 56 and was buried, in Rackenford, on 17 Feb 1822.

Richard Flew died at 69 and was buried, in Rackenford, on 23 Jul 1835.

Thomas Phillips and Mary Ann Wright

St Margaret’s Church, Barking
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Richard Rogerson - geograph.org.uk/p/1562917

Thomas Phillips, son of Joseph Phillips and Ann Clarke, brother of Isaac Phillips, married Mary Ann Wright on 23 Apr 1826 at St Margaret's Church, Barking, where his brother married six years later. The census records from 1841 to 1881, show these brothers were living next door to one another. 

Thomas and Mary Ann had six children, all of whom were also baptised at the church of St Helen and St Giles, Rainham:

1. Hester Maria Phillips bap. 8 Mar 1829
2. William Thomas Phillips bap. 21 Aug 1831
3. Richard Wilkinson Phillips bap. 16 Mar 1834
4. Angelina Caroline Phillips born 1837, bap. 1 Sep 1837
5. Ellen Jane Eliza Phillips born 1841, bap. 31 Jan 1841
6. Joseph Phillips born 1844, bap. 3 Mar 1844

Again, the use of Wilkinson as a second name makes me think this is probably Mary Ann's mother's maiden name. And the fact that they named a son Joseph in 1844, also makes me more convinced that the death of a Joseph Phillips in Orsett in that same year, was indeed Thomas and Isaac's father.

In 1841, in Rainham, was Thomas Phillips (35) Ag Lab, Mary (35), Hester (12), William (10), Richard (8), Angelina (4) and Ellen (0). Living with them were an Esther Wilkinson (40) who I'd guess was a relative of Mary Ann's; Martha Ward (50) and William Marlow (35) Ag Lab.

In 1851, address listed as Upminster Road, Rainham, there were Thomas Phillips (46) Ag Lab, Mary Ann (45), William Thomas (19) Ag Lab, Richard (17) Ag Lab, Angelina (13), Ellen (10) and Joseph (7). They have two lodgers: Edmund Earnel (38) and Hezekiah Dowset (26), both Ag Labs.

In 1861, Thomas Phillips (56) Ag Lab, at Fran House, Cottage, Rainham, with Mary Ann (55) and just Joseph (17) Ag Lab still at home. So a third lodger: James Wood (32), George Whitbread (22) and John Simpson (18), Ag Labs.

In 1871 at Back Street Cottage, Rainham, Thomas Phillips (66) Ag Lab, Mary (65) have Mary Ann Searles (12) and William Searles (10), granddaughter and grandson, living with them. (Angelina had married a George Searls in 1858.)

Then in 1881, at the infamous Village Back Street, Rainham, Thomas Phillips (75) General Labourer and Mary (74), had their grandson Edward Turben (22) Labourer in Manure Factory, living with them, as well as James Whiting (22) and Alfred Whiting (19), lodgers. (Edward Turben was the son of Ellen Jane Eliza Phillips, who had married Henry Turben in 1858.)

Mary Ann Phillips died, aged 77 and was buried on 30 Mar 1884 in Rainham.

Thomas Phillips died, aged 81, and was buried on 21 Jul 1887.

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

John Charles Stone (Jack), of 2 Stafford Terrace, Heavitree, Exeter, son of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, married Elsie Alberta Wright, of 5 Regent Street, St Thomas, Exeter, daughter of Henry Wright and Elizabeth Baker, at the Church of St Thomas, St Thomas, Exeter on 20 Nov 1911. Elsie Alberta Wright was baptised in Bickleigh, Mid Devon on 11 Dec 1892. Her father's name is listed as Albert Henry on both the record of her admission to Cadbury School in 1898 and on her marriage certificate, but in 1901, when Elsie (8) was at home with her family in Hayne Lane, Bolham, her father, listed as Henry Wright, was employed as a Carter on Farm.

On the 1911 census, John Stone (20) Police Constable, was residing at the Devon County Constabulary Exeter, while Elsie (19) was employed as a General domestic servant in the household of Retired Army Officer Major Frederic Smyly at 1 Milverton Lodge, [22 The Avenue], Tiverton.

Jack and Elsie had three sons, all of whom pre-deceased them:

1. Frederick Charles Stone b. Q4 1911 in Exeter (Died 1949, aged 37.)
2. Kenneth John Stone b. 23 Mar 1915, bap. 28 Apr 1915 in Revelstoke, Plympton (Died 1932, aged 17, see below.)
3. Burgess William Stone b. 29 Jan 1918, bap. 2 Feb 1918 in Newton Ferrers. (Died Q1 1918, aged 0.)

We get a wealth of information on this family - and confirm some of the other family marriages - from the very detailed newspaper reports of the time.

The Western Times, Friday, September 23, 1932

Clovelly Fatality

MR KENNETH STONE LAID TO REST

Parish Loses a Popular Young Man

The funeral of Mr Kenneth Stone, younger son of Police Constable J C Stone and Mrs Stone, who was drowned while bathing at Mouth Mill, took place at All Saints' Church on Wednesday week. The Rector (Rev. Somers Cocks) officiated.

Deceased was a quiet, unassuming, courteous young man of sterling character, and he was very popular in the parish, having a host of friends, His sad death cast a great gloom over the district, and there was a large number of sympathising friends and parishioners present in the church and at the graveside. The utmost sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Stone, Mr Frederick Stone and the relatives in the loss they have sustained.

The family mourners were:- Police Constable J C and Mrs Stone (father and mother); Frederick C Stone (brother); Mrs L J Stone, Cruwys Morchard (grandmother); Mrs R Southwood, West Anstey, Mrs F Hitchcock, Bishops Lydeard, Mrs L Baker, Coombe Florey and Mrs F Harford, Chevithorne (aunts); Mr Phillip Stone, Coombe Florey (uncle); Mr W Southwood junr, West Anstey, Mrs L Baker, West Anstey, Mr W and Mrs R Watts (cousins), Mrs R Anstey, Messrs. W Bale, E Martin, R Arnold, E Moore, S Leach, A Ackland, B Bridgeman, Mesdames L Stacey, R Blight, W Bale, C Ayres, T Vanstone, T Martin, L Ackland, Misses C Ackland, M Blight and E Ackland (friends from Shebbear), and Wilfred John Wheaton (fellow employee at Clovelly Court.)

The bearers were officers of the "A" Division, Devon Constabulary, in charge of Seargeant Stuart (Hoops) and Inspector Rendell (Bideford). They were Police Constables Butt (Instow), Morcombe (Hartland), Hooper (Horns Cross), Beavis (Bideford). The coffin was of unpolished oak with brass fittings, and the breastplate was inscribed: "Kenneth Stone, aged 17 years, died 9th September, 1932."

The following were among the general public:- Messrs A E Bushell, T Bale, J Crase, R Anstey, J T Moss, H Braund, E Braund, A Holloway, W Elliott, H Patton, S Williams, F Cleave, J Heal, H Tuke, J Stuart, O May, G Reilly, G Prince, F Robbins, J Headon, W Gist, L Gist, W Jewell, F Littlejohn, W Pengilly, J Whitefield, W Hamlyn, W Cruse, H Carpenter, H Taylor, C Braund, W Braund, G Lamey, J Johns, J Dunn, P Dunn, C Badcock, T Squire, A Dayman, A Beer, J Beer, F Found, E Found, C Prouse, C Pennington, E Rowe, S Wilson, G Attwood, T Jennings, W Jennings, M Beer, G Dark, F Pickett, F Day, W Thomas, J Jennings, L Symons, G Wonnacott, D Cook, W Cook, Capt. Burnard, Capt. H Jenn and Police Constable Cole (Bovey Tracey). Mesdames Hillsdon, D Hilton, E Moss, C Jenn, A May, H Taylor, L Cook, D Cook, J Babb, S Beer, Clements, F Johns, M Johns, M Lamey, A Dunn, N Colwill, M Badcock, E Shackson, F Badcock, H Braund, J Parsons, E Bragg, E Pengilly. Misses Doughton, Falconer, Anstey, F Gist, G Beer, E Johns and H Cook. There was a large number of floral tributes.

Kenneth John Stone (1915-1932)

(Though I did chuckle to see a Beavis and Butt among the bearers.)

The Western Times, Friday, June 5, 1936

WITHERIDGE HOTEL: PROTECTION ORDER GRANTED

A protection order in respect of the Hare and Hounds Hotel, Witheridge, was granted at South Molton Petty Sessions on Tuesday to Mr John Charles Stone, now a police constable at Clovelly, who is retiring from the force on June 24th. The order will not take effect until the constable's retirement, Supt. E C Parr pointing out that a police officer could not be the holder of a licence.

Jack Stone retired from the police in 1936 and became landlord of the Hare and Hounds (see image - undoubtedly Jack behind the bar, as the family resemblance is glaring), which was in the then pretentiously named Trafalgar Square in Witheridge, Devon. Nowadays it's just the junction of Fore Street and Church Street, where the B3137 is intersected by North Street and West Street. The pub has been turned into a residential cottage, so if you drive past, you'd have no idea of it's previous use, as we have on several occasions.

This is confirmed in the 1939 Register, where John Charles Stone (b. 18 Jun 1890) Police Pensioner Now Licenced Victualler and wife Elsie A Stone (b. 28 Oct 1892) are listed at the Hare & Hounds Public House, Witheridge.

John Charles (Jack) Stone died in 1960, aged 70.

Elsie Alberta Stone (née Wright) died in 1973. She will have been 81.

Witheridge, Trafalgar Square And Hare And Hounds Inn