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

Showing posts with label Wright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wright. Show all posts

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
John Charles Stone (Jack) (b. 18 Jun 1890), son of Frederick James Stone and Loveday Jane Land, married Elsie Alberta Wright (bap. 11 Dec 1892 in Bickleigh, Devon), daughter of [Albert] Henry Wright and Elizabeth Baker, at the Church of St Thomas, Exeter on 20 Nov 1911

Elsie's father's name is listed as Albert Henry Wright 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.)
In 1921, John Charles Stone (31) Police Constable was at Sticklepath, Northleigh, Devon. (In Sticklepath village Mill House was used as a bakehouse, then as the Police Station in the early 1900's until the 1930's). Frederick Stone (9) and Kenneth Stone (6) were hen living in the household of Walter Hurford (34) at Sickerleigh Cottage, Halberton, Devon, described as his nephews. (Walter Hurford married Florence Wright, Elsie Alberta's older sister, in 1909). There's no sign anywhere of Elsie Alberta Stone.

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 Devon and Exeter Gazette of Friday, 16 Sep, 1932, reported:
BATHING FATALITY
Clovelly Youth's Cries for Help
Companion Goes to Aid But is Exhausted
CLERGYMAN HELPS IN RESCUE
INQUEST VERDICT
    A youth was drowned while bathing at Clovelly on Friday afternoon and a companion was only saved by the help of visitors after he had become exhausted by his effort to save his colleague.
    The lad who was drowned was Kenneth John Stone, aged 17, son of P.C. Stone, stationed at Clovelly and his companion, Walter James Wheaton. Both are employed at Clovelly Court. They were bathing at Mouth Mill near Clovelly, and had been swimming for about five minutes when Wheaton heard calls for help. Looking round he saw his companion was in difficulties. He swam to him and tried to keep him up, but Stone pulled him under the water and then released his hold.
    When Wheaton came up again assistance was forthcoming from some visitors on the beach, who had noticed them struggling in the water. They were Stephen S. Gill, of Barnstaple, Mr Lionel Bruce Taylor, of Purley, Surrey, his brother Mr Christopher Douglas Taylor, and their brother-in-law, the Rev Henry Bunny, of the Vicarage, Cullompton. They rescued Wheaton, who by that time was in an exhausted condition, and afterwards swam about in an endeavour to locate Stone, but failed to find any trace of him.
    The search was continued until dark and resumed on Saturday morning, when the body was recovered near the spot where the young man drowned.

THE INQUEST
    At the inquest a verdict of "Accidental drowning" was returned by the North Devon Coroner (Dr Ellis Pearson).
    P.C. Stone said his son, who was 17, was a footman employed at the Clovelly Court, and was only a beginner at swimming. Witness heard during the afternoon of Friday that his son had go into difficulties while bathing in the sea and had been drowned. A search was made until dark that night, but it was not until Saturday morning that William Braund, a Clovelly fisherman, found the body.
    Wilfred John Wheaton, also an employee at Clovelly Court, stated that on Friday he went to bathe with Stone at Mouth Mill. He could swim, but Stone was not much of a swimmer. There was a strong under-current, and the water was rather rough. The tide was going out. Witness swam out towards the rocks, and Stone then appeared to be about ten yards from the shore.
    Hearing someone shouting for help, witness turned around, and, realising that Stone was in difficulties, swam back to him. He reached him in an exhausted condition, and put his arm around him as he sank. It was a dead weight, and witness was pulled down as well.
    Stone slipped free, and a man named Stephen S. Gill, of Barnstaple, helped witness ashore.
    Lionel Bruce Taylor, or Purley, Surrey, a visitor, said he was at Mouth Mill that day with his brother and brother-in-law. They were paddling when he heard calls, but could not distinguish whether it was one bather calling to another or not. His brother, who was on the hill behind, came down to the beach and said a man was calling for help, and another man in a bathing costume asked them to help him in reaching the swimmers. They went into the water and witness was surprised to see only one swimmer - the other had disappeared.
    Wheaton was got to the shore in an exhausted condition, and witness and the others swam to the spot where Stone had disappeared, and dived two or three times, but failed to find him.
    Constable Stone thanked the visitors who had attempted to save his son, and the local fishermen who helped in recovering the body.

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.)

Witheridge, Trafalgar Square And Hare And Hounds Inn

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 did retire 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 died in 1973, at 81.

Wednesday 11 October 2023

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.

Sunday 23 April 2023

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 GilesRainham:
  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.