Wednesday, 16 April 2025

James Potter and Jane Stone

All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Smith - geograph.org.uk/p/5100720

James Potter (b. 1741) married Jane Stone (bap. 3 Jul 1744 in Holcombe Rogus), who was the daughter of William Stone and Temperance Hitchcock, at All Saints Church, Holcombe Rogus, on 16 Apr 1770

James and Jane had two daughters, baptised in Holcombe Rogus:
  1. Joan Potter bap. 21 Jan 1771
  2. Agnis Potter (sic) bap. 17 Dec 1775
James Potter died, at 39, in 1780 and was buried in Holcombe Rogus.

Jane Potter later remarried to James Dunn of Chipstable, in Holcombe Rogus, on 13 May 1796. Witnesses to this marriage were Joan Blackmore and Samuel Tooze. James Dunn, bap. 8 Sep 1732 in Chipstaple, son of John and Joan Dunn, had previously married Ann Langdon on 6 Feb 1757 and on the record of this marriage, we discover that James Dunn was a Shoemaker. The couple had one child, a daughter, Ann Dunn bap. 17 Sep 1760. James first wife, Ann Dunn, died in 1782. James Dunn died in Chipstable, in 1802. 

Jane Dunn died in 1828 and was buried in Holcombe Rogus.

  • William Heyward (bap. 3 Jun 1757 in Huish Champflower), son of John and Elenor Heyward, married Ann Dunn, daughter of James Dunn and Ann Langdon, in Chipstable, on 14 Mar 1785. William and Ann had six children: William Heyward bap. 19 Feb 1786 in Huish Champflower; Ann Heyward bap. 28 Sep 1788; Sylvia Heyward bap. 18 Mar 1792; Elinor Heyward bap. 9 Apr 1795; James Dunn Hayward bap. 24 Mar 1798 in Chipstable; and Fanny Heyward b. 8 May 1804, bap. 15 May 1804 in Huish Champflower. Anne Heyward (née Dunn) died, aged 79, in 1840 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 167 and was buried in Huish Champflower. In 1841, William Heyward was living in the household of Robert and Fanny Stone. Robert Stone, son of William Stone, Miller had married Fanny Heyward, daughter of William Heyward, Shoemaker - thus it appears she is William's daughter. (Please don't ask me what relation Robert Stone is to Jane Stone, but they inevitably are.) William Heyward died, aged 87, in 1843 S Quarter in TIVERTON AND DULVERTON Volume 10 Page 1660 and was also buried in Huish Champflower.
  • William Heyward (bap. 19 Feb 1786 in Huish Champflower), son of William Heyward and Ann Dunn, meanwhile, married Agnes Potter (bap. 17 Dec 1775 in Holcombe Rogus), daughter of James Potter and Jane Stone, on 26 Nov 1809, in Chipstable. Records exist for three daughters: Sylvia Heyward bap. 27 Nov 1809, Harriott Heyward bap. 8 Nov 1811 (buried in Chipstaple in 1813) and Agnes Heyward bap. 9 Jan 1815, all baptised in Chipstable. The last of these baptisms shows her father's occupation as a Cordwainer (a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather.) William Heywood (50) Journeyman Shoemaker and Agnes Heywood (60) were living on Golden HillWivelscombe in 1841. In 1851, still on Golden Hill, were William Hayward (65) Pauper Shoemaker and Agnes Hayward (75). Agnes Heyward (née Potter) died, at 84, in 1858 J Quarter in WELLINGTON-SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 251 and was buried in Wivelscombe. In 1861, William Hayward (75) Widower, Shoe Maker, was a boarder in the household of John Richards (45) and Sylvia Richards (52) - clearly William's eldest daughter - at Routine Row, Russells Buildings, Wivelscombe. William Heyward died, at 80, in 1861 D Quarter in WELLINGTON - SOMERSET AND DEVON Volume 05C Page 258 and was also buried in Wivelscombe.
Once more, the Devon family tree is a complicated monkey puzzle! :)

James Land and Jane Flew

Church of St Michael and All Angels, Bampton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Rob Purvis - geograph.org.uk/p/6807505

James Land (b. 1828) son of John Land and Loveday Flew, married Jane Flew (b. ~1826), daughter of Robert Flew and Mary Cottrell (Robert Flew was the brother of Loveday Flew, so the couple were first cousins), at the parish church of St Michael and All Angels in Bampton, on 16 Apr 1854.

James and Jane had one son:
  1. George Land b. 1855 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 374, bap. 9 Dec 1855, in Bampton, Devon. Died 1856 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 304.
Jane Land died, aged 30, in 1856 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 304. Those deaths may have occurred at the end of 1855 and registered in early 1856 and, it would appear likely that Jane died giving birth to their son.

James Land, widower, married Rose Anna Beamer (b. 1823), widow, on 19 Apr 1863 at St Michael and All Angels, Bampton. Rose Anna Beamer gave her father's name as Isaac Smith, Labourer. (Not found hers, but I've found a baptism on 1 Feb 1824 for a Mary Smith, daughter of Isaac and Hannah Smith at All Saints, Norton Fitzwarren, who may have been her sister.)

In 1861, James Land (32) Quarry Labourer was a Lodger in the household of Ann Beamer (38) from Norton, Somerset, along with four of her children: Mary (10), Alfred (8), James (6) and Lindy (2). The civil birth registration for James in 1855, confirms that Rose Anna's maiden name was SMITH.

With a two year old in 1861, one might assume that Rose Anna (Ann) had only recently been widowed, but the only record of a death that may be that of her husband - I haven't been able to find the earlier marriage, but son Alfred Beamer's marriage gives his father's name as James Beamer - is that for a James Beamer, aged 37, in the last quarter of 1854. That would make James Beamer, born 1855, a posthumous child. Although, it would also make Lindy Beamer the child of another liaison. Not exactly unheard of.

John and Rose Anna Land had at least three further children together:
  1. George Land Beamer b. 1862 D Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 461, registered George Beamer, no mother's maiden name. Death registered as George Land Beamer in 1863 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 335.
  2. Loveday Jane Land b. 1864 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 455, mother's maiden name this time was listed as SMITH.
  3. John Land b. 3 Feb 1866, in Stoodleigh, Devon (No GRO reg.)
In 1871, in High Street, Bampton, we find James Land (41) and Rosannah (46), with just Loveday J (7) and John (5). Not one of Rose Anna's family are living with their mother. It's not the first time I've seen a first family "disappear" when their parent remarries. Rose Anna's daughter, Mary (b. 1850), I've been unable to find any mention of; Alfred Bimmer (sic) (19) was working as a [Farm] Servant for Thomas Chave in Morebath; James Beamer (16) Masons Labourer was lodging, with Henry Beamer (21) Ag Lab, elsewhere in Bampton; there are no other records of Lindy Beamer.

In 1881, at Westbrook Cottage, Bampton, at a guess, on Westbrook Farm (PDF), were James Land (54) Ag Lab; Ann Land (58); Jane Land (18) Domestic (Out of Service) - just given birth; John Land (16) Gen Labourer; Henry Beames (sic) (8) Grandson and Rosana Land (0) Granddaughter.

James Land died, at 56, in 1884 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 297.

There is a death of a Rose Anne Land in 1889, with her age estimated as 40 (1889 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 273). This would be a 20 year discrepancy, but is a typical lie about a woman's age and her name is uncommon enough for me to be persuaded this does most likely relate.

In 1891, John Land (24) Private in the Royal Marines Light Infantry was at Fort Stamford, Plymstock, Devon. He had enlisted on 3 Jan 1885, served for 21 years until Jan 1906 and then again in 1914-15. That latter period, mostly, at Plymouth Division, but from 12 Sep - 3 Dec 1914, on HMS JupiterWhen World War I broke out in August 1914, Jupiter was transferred to the 7th Battle Squadron of the Channel Fleet. During this service, she covered the passage of the British Expeditionary Force from England to France in September 1914. In late October 1914, Jupiter was reassigned to serve alongside her sister ship Majestic as a guard ship at the Nore. On 3 November 1914, Jupiter and Majestic left the Nore and relieved their sister ships Hannibal and Magnificent of guard ship duty on the Humber. In December 1914, Jupiter moved on to guard ship duty on the Tyne. On his Marines Record, John describes his sister Loveday Jane's daughter, Rose Anna Southwood (née Land) as his sister, whereas, in reality she was his niece. This might suggest that the illegitimate child was brought up by her grandparents long enough for him to believe / consider her as such.

In 1911, John Land (45) Horse Man on Farm, who never married, was boarding with his niece Rose Anna (30) and her husband, William Henry Southwood (34) at Chieflowman Cottage, Uplowman.

In 1921, John Land (56) Royal Marine Pensioner was still boarding with William Henry Southwood (45) Farmer at Bungsland, West Anstey.

John Land died, aged 58, in 1924 S Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON.

Old Toll House, Briton Street, Bampton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Milestone Society - geograph.org.uk/p/6114414

James Beamer (b. 1855), son of James Beamer and Rose Anna Smith, brother of Alfred Beamer and half-brother of Loveday Jane Land and John Land, married Mary Jane Snell (b. ~1857) - that's the maiden name listed on several of their children's birth registrations - in Exeter, in 1876. The transcript of the marriage record lists them as James Bemer and Mary Jane Smale, which made this record difficult to find. Only because, in 1911, they said they'd been married for 34 years, was there finally a clue to the period to look in.

Mary Jane is listed on census records as being from Devonport, Plymouth, but it hasn't been possible to find records of her birth or early years.

James and Mary Jane had at least seven children:
  1. Mary Jane Beamer born Q2 1884 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. (Died and was buried, on 13 Apr 1884, in Bampton).
  2. Ethel Anna Beamer (no civil reg), bap. 26 Apr 1885 in Bampton.
  3. (Unnamed male child) Beamer born Q3 1886 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. (Died in the same quarter, age 0.)
  4. Sarah Jane Beamer born Q3 1887 in Tiverton, mother's name SMALE
  5. Tom Beamer born Q3 1890 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name listed as SUELL. Bap. 3 Aug 1890 in Bampton.
  6. Rosanna Beamer born Q1 1893 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name SNELL. Bap. as Rose Anna Beamer, on 30 Apr 1893, in Bampton. (Died, aged 16 months and was buried, on 22 Aug 1894, in Bampton.)
  7. Mary Ann Beamer registered Q1 1896 in Tiverton, mother's maiden name listed as SNELL. Bap. 29 Dec 1895 in Bampton. (Died in Q2 1901, aged 5. Buried on 27 Apr 1901 in Bampton.)
There could be other children, particularly given the number of discrepancies in the information, such as the mother's maiden name, which could be errors in transcription, or registrars writing down what they heard. The parents don't help, because on the 1911 census they say they have only had 3 children with 3 then living, but various corroborating records prove that to be untrue.

In 1881, James Beamer (25) Railway Labourer and Mary Beamer (23) were living at Rose Cottage, Bampton, Devon.

Ethel Ann Beamer (3) "British King" from Liverpool

This curious record relates to an Ethel Ann Beamer, then age 3, sailing on the "SS British King" from Liverpool, arriving in Philadelphia on 29 May 1888. Their intended destination was Chicago. Taken alone, I'd have ignored this and assumed that this was another Ethel Ann Beamer entirely. HOWEVER, in the box at the top right, it says "Accompanied by" Sarah Jane 8 months and Mary Jane 30, both of which fit exactly. I've also found an equivalent record for Sarah Jane and both children appear on the passenger list, along with Mary Jane. It's hard to imagine them being able to afford to go to the US - and come back again - but equally hard to imagine the combination of those three names and ages cropping up together more than once. It's a mystery.

In 1891, James Beamer (39) Agricultural Labourer, wife Mary (35), Ethel A (6), Sarah J (3) and Tom (0), were living in Briton Street, Bampton

On 16 Oct 1894, James and Mary Beamer were both charged and bailed, accused of "Wilfully neglecting Rose Anna Beamer, a girl under the age of 16 years, to wit, 16 months, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering and injury to health, at Bampton, on 15 August 1894, and on various other dates." They were found not guilty and acquitted. 

In 1901, James Beamer (48) General Labourer, Mary Jane (42), Ethel (15), Tom (9) and Mary A (5), were living on the Tiverton Road, Bampton. Sarah Jane (14), was employed as a General domestic servant, in the household of Henry Early, Watchmaker and jeweller, at 12, Angel Hill, Tiverton

In 1911, we find the family has "emigrated" ... to Wales. James Beamer (53) from Bampton, Devon was then a Coal miner hewer living at 4 Price Street, Pentre in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorganshire with Mary (49), Tom (20) also working as a Coal miner hewer; Ethel Cappell (25), William Cappell (25) Son-in-law, and grandchildren, William (3) and Ethel (1). (Ethel Ann Beamer had married William David Cappell on 24 Apr 1907, in Bampton.)

In 1921, James Beamer (69) Labourer (Surface) Ocean Cal Company Out Of Work; Mary Jane Beamer (63), William David Cappell (35) Labourer Corys Broks Coal Company Out Of Work; Ethel Ann Cappell (38), William David James Cappell (13), Ethel Ann Cappell (11) and Lawrence Earnest Cappell (5) were living at 1, Price Street, Pentre, Rhondda, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Mary Beamer died, aged 70, in 1927 in Taunton, Somerset. 

James Beamer died, in 1931, aged 77, also in Taunton. 

(William and Ethel Cappell lived in Rowford, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton in 1939. No further records for Sarah Jane after 1901 nor Tom after 1911.)

Sunday, 13 April 2025

John Lynch and Ann Wiltshire

Altab Ali Park, Whitechapel, Wednesday, 9 April, 2008
Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.
This open space, to the south of Whitechapel Road, was originally the site of the 'White Chapel', St Mary Matfelon (Church of St Mary, Whitechapel, London, 1831)

John Lynch (b. 15 Mar 1806, bap. 30 Mar 1806 at St George in the East), son of James and Jane Linch (sic), married Ann Wiltshire - the marriage record spells her name Wilcher - (b. 3 Oct 1806, bap. 27 Oct 1813 at St Mary Whitechapel), daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Wiltshire (there's a marriage of Richard Wiltshire and Elizabeth Todd, in Shoreditch on 13 Oct 1806 that may relate), at St Mary Matfelon (St Mary Whitechapel) on 13 Apr 1828.

Records suggest that John and Ann Lynch had nine children:

  1. Charlotte Lynch b. 21 May 1829, bap. 14 Jun 1829 at St George in the East
  2. Elizabeth Harriet Lynch b. 20 May 1831, bap. 19 Jun 1831 at St George in ...
  3. John Edward Lynch b. 22 Sep 1833, bap. 13 Oct 1833 at St George in the East
  4. Francis Lynch b. 13 Nov 1835, bap. 27 Dec 1835 at St George in the East
  5. James Linch (sic) b. 8 Mar 1838 (1838 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLE Volume 02 Page 127 - mother's maiden name WILCHERE), bap 15 Apr 1838 at St George in the East. Died, aged 1, in 1839 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 84.
  6. Ann Elizabeth Lynch b. 22 Jun 1840 (1840 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 02 Page 114 - mother's maiden name WILTCHER), bap. 19 Jul 1840 at St George in the East
  7. Richard Lynch b. 27 Apr 1842 (1842 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 108 - mother's maiden name WILCHER), bap. 22 May 1842 at St George in the East
  8. Robert Gordon Lynch b. 2 May 1845 (1845 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 116 - mother's maiden name WILTSHIRE), bap. 1 Jun 1845 at St George in the East (as Robert Lynch) and bap. again on 17 Aug 1845 (as Robert Gordon Lynch) at Christ Church, Watney Street, Shadwell. The transcriptions in the London, Docklands And East End Baptisms says Christ Church, Jamaica Street, but that church didn't open until 1877. Suspect the second baptism was because his middle name was missed on the first one.
  9. Alfred James Lynch b. 26 Feb 1852 (1852 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 01C Page 456 - mother's maiden name listed as WILLSHER), bap. 21 Mar 1852 at St George in the East.

The various spellings of the mother's maiden name on the GRO birth registrations are undoubtedly as a result of clerks writing down what they heard, which the parents couldn't spell out to them, but it's clear they're all meant to be Wiltshire. All of the baptisms list John's occupation as a Butcher. On Charlotte's baptism, the family address was Upper Chapman Street (see on map); on Elizabeth Harriet's and John Edward's baptisms their address was Lower Cornwall Street (now Cornwall Street formerly Upper (western part) and Lower (eastern part) Cornwall Street, it's just north of and parallel to Cable Street.) On Francis' baptism the address is just Cornwell Street, but that's probably the same place as before. On James, Ann Elizabeth and Richard's baptisms, the address is transcribed as Lower Cornwell Street. On Robert Gordon and Alfred James' baptisms, it was specified as 7 Lower Cornwell Street. I'm sure this is all still Lower Cornwall Street.

Haven't been able to locate any record of the family on the 1841 census.

In 1851 and still living at 7 Lower Cornwall Street, Saint George in the East, were John Lynch (45) Butcher Journeyman; Ann Lynch (44), Charlotte Hanson (21) (Charlotte Lynch had married Adolph Hanson in 1850), John Ed[ward] Lynch (17) Messenger; Francis Lynch (15) Coach painter apprentice; Ann Elizabeth Lynch (10), Richard Lynch (8) and Robert G Lynch (6). (Cannot confirm any further records for Elizabeth Harriet and need further clues.)

In 1861, at 143 High Street, Shadwell we find John Lynch (55) Butcher; Ann Lynch (55) Laundress with her birth place listed as Aldgate (which makes sense as it's yards from where she was baptised in Whitechapel); Ann Lynch (20); Richard Lynch (18) Warehouseman; Robert G Lynch (15) Errand Boy; Alfred J Lynch (9); Catherine Lewis (30) Servant Housemaid; and two boarders: William Honeyford (20) from Middlesex and George Thompson (19) from Sunderland, Durham, both list their occupation as Blacksmith.

In 1871, Ann Lynch (64) was living at 15 Sidney StreetMile End Old Town, she was listed as the head of the household and married. Living with her were Robert G Lynch (25) Smith; Alfred J Lynch (19) Factory Hand; Sarah J Hanson (15) Granddaughter, Domestic Servant; and Ann Twyman (30) Lodger. Meanwhile, John Lynch (65) Oil refiner, Married, birthplace Wapping (St George in the East, was historically known as Wapping-Stepney) was less than half a mile away as a Patient in The London Hospital, Whitechapel Road. (The current Tower Hamlets Town Hall, opened in 2023, incorporates the façade of the old London Hospital which is a Grade II listed building.)

John Lynch (66) Oil refiner, died on 17 Dec 1872 (1872 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 332) at 15 Sidney Street, of 'Dropsy' 10 days, certified. The informant was R G [Robert Gordon] Lynch, present at death, of 15 Sidney Street. (Dropsy is an archaic term for edema, a medical condition characterized by the accumulation of excess fluid in the body's tissues, causing swelling. Dropsy is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying condition, including heart, liver, or kidney failure.) The change of occupation from butcher to oil refiner was at first confusing, but the address in Sidney Street where he died, as well as the name of the informant on his death certificate confirm that these are the correct records.

Ann Lynch (née Wiltshire) died, aged 72, in 1880 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 340.

Charles Awton and Mary Maurice

St Michael, Awliscombe, Devon - East end
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1726261

Charles Awton (bap. 1735 in Broadhembury, Devon) married Mary Maurice (b. 1737) at the church of St Michael and All Angels, Awliscombe, East Devon on 13 Apr 1762. The family name was probably, and it certainly became, Horton, but I'll reproduce what was written undoubtedly as a result of the Devonshire accent and the precedent set by the spelling of the village name.

Charles and Mary had at least ten children, all baptised in Awliscombe:
  1. Betty Awton bap. 6 Jun 1762
  2. John Awton bap. 7 Apr 1765 (John, son of Charles and Mary, was buried on 10 Feb 1782. He will have been 16.)
  3. William Awton bap. 22 May 1768
  4. Charles Awton bap. 9 Sep 1770
  5. Mary Awton bap. 18 Apr 1773
  6. Nancy Awton bap. 2 Jul 1775
  7. Jenny Awton bap. 19 Apr 1778 (Later calling herself Jane)
  8. Henry Awton bap. 14 Jan 1781 (Presume died as an infant)
  9. John Awton bap. 11 Feb 1782
  10. Henry Awton bap. 9 Jan 1785
Charles Awton reputedly died in 1810, however, I've found no evidence.

There is a burial of a Mary Auten (sic), on 21 Jun 1837 - the day after Queen Victoria ascended to the throne - in Awliscombe, who had lived to 100. 

Reenactors in the uniform of the 33rd Regiment of Foot (Wellington's Redcoats), who fought in the Napoleonic Wars between 1812 and 1816. (Slightly later than William Horton's time.)
“The 33rd Regiment was unquestionably the best trained regiment in the British Army at this time (1765 -1795).” [SourceWyrdLight.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Most of the Awtons/Hortons I've been unable to trace forward, however, William Horton, living with his sister, Jane Gollop, in Widworthy, in 1841 and 1851, described as a Chelsea Pensioner, who had served with Marquess Cornwallis' 33rd Regiment of Foot (the real one, not the reenactors, but this does help to visualise him in his red coat, looking like an extra in a Jane Austen drama). He was discharged on 21 Apr 1796: William Horton, Private of the Aforesaid Regiment, born in the parish of Orliscomb (sic), in or near the Market Town of Honiton, in the county of Devon, aged twenty-six years (ish) and by Trade a Labourer, hath served honestly and faithfully in the said Regiment, five years and eight months, but being lame of the right arm from a Wound received at Bois-de-duk (sic) on the 15th October 1794, which renders him unfit for service ... The regiment took part in the disastrous Flanders Campaign during the French Revolutionary Wars (War of the First Coalition). In 1794, Bois-le-Duc (French) ('s-Hertogenbosch a.k.a. Den Bosch, Netherlands) was taken by French troops of the newly created young republic. The Siège de Bois-le-Duc (1794) took place from 23 Sep to 5 Oct 1794, so it's clear that William Horton was there around that time.

Despite this, William Horton lived until the age of 84 and was buried, on 27 Mar 1853, in the churchyard of St Cuthbert's church in Widworthy.

Friday, 11 April 2025

Hugh Flew and Mary Wood

Rackenford : Village Road
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Lewis Clarke - geograph.org.uk/p/4637008

Hugh Flew (bap. 28 Feb 1779), son of Richard Flew and Elizabeth Thomas, married Mary Wood (bap. 26 Dec 1780), daughter of George Wood and Elizabeth Tucker, at All Saints Church, Rackenford on 11 Apr 1805.

Hugh and Mary had ten children, all baptised in Rackenford:
  1. William Flew bap. 29 Sep 1805
  2. Elizabeth Flew bap. 28 Feb 1808
  3. John Flew bap. 28 Jan 1810. (Buried on 26 Sep 1835.)
  4. Mary Flew bap. 26 May 1812
  5. Ann Flew bap. 5 Jun 1814
  6. Sarah Flew bap. 1 Sep 1816
  7. Jane Flew bap. 1 Jan 1820
  8. George Flew bap. 1 Jan 1822
  9. Thomas Flew bap. 11 Jan 1824
  10. Susanna Flew bap. 21 May 1826. (Buried 26 Oct 1828.)
In 1841, living in the Village, Rackenford, South Molton, Devon, were Hugh Flew (60), Mary Flew (60), William Flew (30), Ann Flew (27), Sarah Flew (25) and Thomas Flew (15). Also in the household were Mary Wood (35), Mary Ann Wood (10) and Elizabeth Wood (2), as well as John Baker (25). Elizabeth Flew (32) was a Female Servant in the household of Thomas Tanner, Farmer, at Creacombe Barton and in the same household was John Flew (3), who was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Flew, Spinster, baptised in Rackenford on 4 Feb 1838; Jane Flew was a Female Servant at Little Hensley, Tiverton; there was a George Flew (15) Apprentice at Lower Thorne, Rackenford.

Hugh Flew died at 74 in 1850 J Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 10 Page 163 and was buried in Rackenford on 2 May 1850.

In 1851, with address merely listed as Cottage, Rackenford, were Mary Flew (70) Widow and George Flew (29) Agricultural Labourer. Elizabeth Flue (sic) was still Servant to Thomas Tanner, Retired Farmer, in Witheridge with her son John Flue (sic) (13) still living with her.

In 1861, Mary Flew (80) Widow, Lodger and Pauper, was living with her son-in-law James Chamberlain (50) at Cottages on Village, Rackenford.

Mary Flew died, age estimated at 83, in 1862 S Quarter in SOUTH MOLTON Volume 05B Page 268 and was buried on 4 Oct 1862, in Rackenford.

  • John Flew married Susanna Wood in Rackenford on 31 Mar 1834
  • James Chamberlain m. Mary Flew in Rackenford on 27 Oct 1839
  • John Baker m. Sarah Flew at St Peter's, Tiverton on 28 Jun 1841
  • William Chamberlain married Ann Flew in 1843
  • William Flew married Sarah Fewings in Q1 1845
  • John Baker married Jane Flew on 11 Nov 1847 in Creacombe
  • Thomas Flew married Maria Yendell on 7 Nov 1850 in Creacombe

It's clear James Chamberlain and William Chamberlain are brothers, so we have yet another pair of brothers, marrying two sisters in the family.

The John Baker who married Sarah Flew in 1841 was a Carpenter, bachelor, listed as son of Wm Baker. The John Baker who married Jane Flew in 1847, was also a Carpenter, listed as a bachelor, son of Robert Baker. It was allegedly this latter John Baker who was lodging with the family in 1841. Further research is needed, but were these perhaps the same person?