2 December 2011 - Tracing the family history!

Right, as promised, this will now be done with Mum. She has a couple of household chores that the animals and I end up causing her all the additional work in the house, and that, in combination with her cleanliness obsession, is going to keep her occupied for a little while; which will then give me a chance to upload all the relevant photos that I need to caption or write about.

It also means that I will now have to rewrite much of what was written on this page yesterday in order for it to make more sense and to be more accurate.

So, on the Friday morning of my stay in Somerset, after a good breakfast, John, Shirley and I all bundled ourselves into John and Shirley's car, with John navigating and Shirley driving - and between the two of them making something of an awesome tag-team! We were off to Taunton and environs to go and see places from my grandmother's ancestry.

We headed straight for Taunton, and there we stopped at a War Memorial where two of my great-uncles have their names engraved in the memorial. In the pic you get a sense of the actual memorial, and then a closer image of John and Shirley pointing out the names. These two were my grandmother's brother and half-brother - Hugh and Tom Clatworthy, who both died in the First World War.

The war memorial from a distance with Shirley and John pointing out where the two brothers' names are engraved

A little difficult to see the names properly, but they are there! ;-)

As you can see there are still the wreaths from the Poppy Day events - and that was something that was also so much more poignant in the UK than the somewhat half-hearted attempts at it that we have in South Africa -and I think I worked out why.

It wasn't until Dee spoke to me about the guards who were at Windsor Castle during the "Changing of the Guards" ceremony that I started to see things through different lenses, I guess one could say! She mentioned that the guards were serving members of the armed forces - or had been - and some were just young, young men. And then she also spoke of the fact that they were people who could have served in Afghanistan and/or Iraq, and so they were people who were currently fighting wars (no matter one's moral feelings on the matter), and so were actively involved. People who die in these wars are not the people referred to in so much of the "War Poetry" that we cover in the syllabi at school - dating back in time, these are young people who are sometimes putting their lives on the line now! This also caused a sudden whiplash back to the days that my own brother, all of eighteen (and to me such a young, young man) who was now being put in the unenviable position, like so many others, to be able to take the life of another human being during his days of conscripted army duty.

This also gave me an added emotional impetus particularly concerning the two young Clatworthys on the stone memorial remembered for being in "The Great War" (which I recall from my history days at school, where people believed there could never be another world war of such proportions and involving so many - and they say we learn from history?) - makes one wonder all over again about the pointless nature of war!!!

Okay, enough with the philosophising for the time being.

Whew! This is a mission. It started off with me trying to get things in place according to my pics, and after Mum and I spending a good hour or more grappling with all the facts and figures, I think I am going to have to do this a little differently, incorporating extractions from family trees and history where possible. Those who are not at all interested in all the complications - and it does get very complicated and convoluted, please do not feel obliged to read on! :-)

The 1861 Census lists family at Cutsey - so the farm was in existence then and was a working farm. (John has since confirmed that the Blakes have been at Cutsey since at least 1700, as there is reference in Robert Blake of Pitminster's will of 1710 to items at Cutsey.)

While Cutsey was a working farm, there were times that the ironmongery business (as mentioned below) probably subsidised the farm to an extent. (I had gathered and portrayed a rather more dire situation, and as John mentioned in his email to me, "if the largest farm in the Parish of Trull was non-self-supporting, then agriculture as a whole in the UK in the first half of the twentieth century must have been in a bad way (perhaps it was!) But I (John) think think that Cutsey suffered from debts incurred by our multi-great uncle Thomas Blake (died 1880). In his will he left legacies totalling £18 000 but liquid assets of only £9 000.  Land had to be sold or mortgaged to meet the difference and some of that mortgage still existed when my grandmother died in 1940.")

Into Taunton proper we stopped off at what seems to be 10 High Street, Taunton - the ironmongery apparently called, "Clatworthy and Cooke". The rooms above formed the family home for a good while, as the family then lived above the shop. (Again, updates from John: "The ironmongery went through various names, "Clatworthy & Co", "Clatworthy & Son" and finally "Clatworthy, Cooke & Co".)

This is probably what would have formed the ironmongery - the red door and the one window below - with the family living in the rooms above. The 1881 census lists ELAND CLATWORTHY and MARY CLATWORTHY (both aged 30 and listed as husband and wife), living there with MARY P. COOMBS, a 22 year old servant. Eland Clatworthy would have been my great grandfather (Courtesy John once more - this MARY, is Eland's first wife, and this my step great grandmother) - and were children to Thomas and Frances Clatworthy mentioned below.

John contemplating in front of what he thinks was ironmongery and home at one time. As you will see, over time this has been completely changed and now houses a department store which would cover a large number of shop/homes

In the same 1881 Census, the records reflect other members of the family living at Mount Villa, 13 Mount Street.

13 Mount Street - and thus I gather what used to be Mount Villa. The Census has living here: THOMAS CLATWORTHY (Head of the House and aged 74); FRANCES CLATWORTHY (Wife and aged 70); ANNIE CLATWORTHY (Daughter and aged 39); PHOEBE CLATWORTHY (Daughter and aged 33); ROSE CLATWORTHY (Daughter and aged 26); MARY NUTT (Cook and aged 64) and HELEN COMBS (Housemaid and aged 20).

Now, I have no factual proof in all of the records that Mum has, and am trying to recall what John told me during this trip and my muggy head. This home is almost opposite Mount Villa, and if I recall correctly was the home to the three daughters mentioned above at a later stage. These were known as the "three aunts" - and never married, so it would make sense that they would have lived in one abode together, while the other members of the family were in their own homes. I stand to correction on this however - and am sure that John or someone else will let me know :-)

And, as I hoped, John has been able to fill in the banks for me. From him: "It is Hawthorne Cottage (20 Mount Street). In the 1891 Census Eland, Mary I and Thomas were living there.  After Eland married Mary Corner he moved to Hovelands on the south side of Taunton, presumably to be nearer Cutsey, and then, after the death of Mary Corner, to Fairlawn, where the family was in 1901.  In that Census Frances and two of "the three aunts" are living in Mount Street (I have "number not given" but I must recheck) and the aunts did go on living there until their respective deaths.  In File DD/CT/65 (which I must send to your mother shortly) there is an interesting letter about how Hawthorne Cottage came to be in family ownership."

Then it was to the Taunton graveyard where members of this part of the family could be found buried.

The first pic is a distance shot of the graveyard as a whole.

A view from across the road to what I think is a beautiful and tranquil setting for the departed family members!

John has done a good deal of work with both Rosie and Pat to try and track down the various sites of our ancestry. At one stage they were trying to track down the various grave sites, as they had no clear indication sense of where was what.

Eventually, I think it was John who contacted the local authorities, and he was able to get a map as to where the graves ought to be. He was also told that the authorities thought that he would not find the actual graves as such, as many of the graves in this grave yard had fallen into disrepair and so the authorities had cleaned up the place, and in the process they might have removed most, or all, of the grave/s in question and so the chances are that they might have a site that was just grass and a number.

However, much to their happiness, they discovered that there were indeed graves that were fairly "intact". Since then, between the four of them (John, Shirley, Rosie and Pat), they have tried to keep things a little tidier, and more in keeping with a reflection of how they feel the family ought to be remembered.

Shirley and John looking at the grave site that has a total of 5 grave and memorial stones. You can see the broken cross in the centre of the "patch"

Below is the memorial stone of my great grandfather's first wife, Mary Jane, and then an inscription making reference to him dying at the good age of 90! He died just before Granny got married and they did not want to upset her, and so kept this to themselves until after her marriage. Her mother then wrote to her after the marriage and informed her of his death. I have just discovered that Gran then lost her mother at the end of May - her father dying the day before she married in April and her mother at the end of May.

The stone that is to the left hand side at the front of the burial plot and reads:
"In loving memory of MARY JANE wife of ELAND CLATWORTHY who fell asleep December 23rd 1892. Aged 42 years.
And of ELAND CLATWORTHY who passed away April 26 1940. Aged 90 years" 

Mary Jane Clatworthy's manner of being recorded as dying has apparently incensed (mildly, I gather), Teazle. She actually died in childbirth. None the less. She was the first wife of my great grandfather, and they sired Thomas who died during the First World War in 1916. His memorial stone can be found at this grave site as well, as can be seen below. Where he is buried - if at all, I cannot say. (Again from the meticulous John: "Thomas Eland was buried where he died in 1916.  The actual site is lost although Eland did write to the War Office asking if they knew where it was.")

"In loving memory of their son THOMAS ELAND CLATWORTHY who joined the Territorial Forces in September 1914 and served in the ranks with the 1st 5th Somersets at Ambala till he received his majesty's commission in the Indian Army in July 1915 and was killed in action at the Battle of Sheikh Saad, Mesopotamia January 6th 1916. Aged 30 years"

Then to the left of the cross in the picture above is the following shield memorial stone to Hugh Clatworthy, brother to my grandmother and his death in the First World War.

"In loving memory of HUGH ELAND CLATWORTHY 4th Batt South Staffs Regiment. Second son of ELAND MARY CLATWORTHY who was taken prisoner in France May 27th 1918, and died in Darmstadt Prisoner of War Hospital Oct 3rd 1918. Aged 19 years."

On the right hand side, the following shield is found that then indicates the death of my great grandmother - mother. Once again, living to no mean age when one considers the fact that people always speak of how we are living longer lives now in comparison to what the situation was in times gone by!

"In loving memory of MARY wife of ELAND CLATWORTHY, who passed away May 31st 1940. Aged 70 years"

The four (John, Shirley, Rosie and Pat) have also said that they plan to return soonish to try and clean the place a little more and even possibly try and mend the cross that is obviously meant to be a part of the plot. It is good of them - and with Dee's interest piqued in the family history, I would imagine that this will mean that we can ensure that our family does have some sort of "positive" "evidence trail" as it were.

Then it was back into the car and off to All Saints Church in Trull. This is apparently the main church associated with my maternal side of the family in days of yore, and besides the war memorial (standing tall in the centre of the pic), it contains quite a bit of the family history in the graveyard, on plaques on the walls, and even in the three stained glass windows that you can see to the right of the pic (right of the lamp).

I have given captions, and at the end of all the pics I will endeavour to try and make sense of the confusion of names and such like to try and assist people who are trying to follow this muddle of our family history.

All Saints Church, Trull

A rather unclear pic of the war memorial, but it gives a sense of what it looks like a little closer.

The inscription on the side of the war memorial - remembering Thomas and Hugh once again.

Here you can see a collection of the three graves that are found in the graveyard. These are also in dire need of some cleaning, and "the cousins" have said that they intend doing this, which will be great. However, since there is no way you can read this, John kindly transcribed the information and sent it to Mum a while back. So, herewith the inscriptions on the graves.

Grave 1:

"In memory of THOMAS BLAKE late of Cutsey in this Parish who died November 2nd 1880. Aged 49 years"

"In memory of ELEANOR widow of THOMAS BLAKE of Cutsey in this Parish who died April 20th 1918. Aged 83 years"

On the end pitch

"ELIZABETH BLAKE died November 30 1901. Aged 67 years"

Grave 2:

"In memory of JAMES BURSTON CORNER who died at Fairlawn in this Parish December 10th 1876. Aged 55 years"

"I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me though he be dead yet shall he live"

"Also of MARY CORNER his wife who died at Fairlawn November 7th 1899. Aged 63 years"

"Neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away"

Grave 3:

"In memory of WILLIAM BLAKE of Cutsey in this Parish who died 9 January 1864. Aged 66 years"

"Also of MARY his wife who died September 13 1876. Aged 70 years"

Inside the Church, to the left of the stained glass windows I referred to above, and which you can see a little more clearly below, are additional plaques.

In situ in All Saints Church

"Sacred to the memory of WILLIAM BLAKE, Late of Cutsey in this Parish, who departed this Life September 2nd 1826. Aged 60 years.

Also BETTY, daughter of the aforesaid WILLIAM BLAKE and BETTY his wife, who departed this Life January 3rd 1798. Aged 3 years.

Also THOMAS, their son, who departed this Life, February 7th 1813. Aged 11 years.

Also BETTY, Relict, of the aforesaid WILLIAM BLAKE who departed this life November 18th 1840. Aged 70 years"

(By the way: "Relict" means "widow")

"To the ever dear memory of

THOMAS ELAND CLATWORTHY
Eldest son of ELAND CLATWORTHY who joined the Territorial Forces in September 1914 and served in the ranks with the 1st 5th Somersets at Ambala, till he received his Majesty's Commission in the Indian Army in July 1915 and was killed in action at the Battle of Sheikh Saad, Mesopotamia January 6th 1916. Aged 30 years.

HUGH ELAND CLATWORTHY
Second son of ELAND & MARY CLATWORTHY great great grandson of the above WILLIAM BLAKE who joined the Colours in May 1917, crossed to France on Easter Day 1918, was taken prisoner on May 27th and died in Darmstadt Prisoner of War Hospital October 3rd 1918. Aged 19 years."

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"     

The quote at the end of the inscription, for those of you interested comes from a poem by Wilfred Owen and translates "It is a sweet and fitting thing to die for your country" - and if you read the poem you will discover that Owen is protesting against the veracity of this statement - so maybe the quote, when placed on the gravestone actually comes from the Roman writer Horace in one of his Odes where he was encouraging people to fight in wars to defend one's country - in a time when warfare was very different in many ways!

In the central window, near the bottom you can see a section, which you can no doubt not read, so a transcription: "This window is given in memory of the Hawkins family of Sweethay, Trull"
The Hawkins family, from what I can gather farmed on part of Cutsey, and then when the farm was split up actually bought parts of the land - and again, from what I can gather, the family are still farming there.

The references to Fairlawn - this is the home - a beautifully kept and lovely looking home that is owned by someone else now, but she was more than willing to give John and his family a tour of the property a while back when they happened to be researching the family history and trying to find the actual pieces of concrete evidence. Mum has a particular interest in this, as it is where my grandmother was actually born!

One of the many signposts - and one I HAD to include as it has on it "Cutsey" - the home of my maternal grandmother and her siblings for many years, and then passed down to Pat, Rosie and Marianne's father (the eldest son - William Clatworthy), and finally was sold when the M5 highway came barrelling through the property and it seemed intelligent for the family to sell then since the three girls were not planning to do the whole farming "thing" and didn't fancy living on the side of the highway.

The entrance to the Estate now. 

One of those almost clichéd pics of rural England, except what you have here is Cutsey in the background with the sheep grazing happily in the foreground.  

Okay, so for all my family - and to some extent for me, let's try and get some of the family history above into some sort of perspective.

So, I think we need to start with William Blake - my great-great-great-great grandfather. In the family tree he is listed as "of Cutsey, Trull and Plymtree, Devon. Baptised Trull 11 June 1766. Died 2 September 1826". He was married to Betty Farrant who died at the age of 70 on 18 November 1840. They are the ones mentioned in the marble plaque in All Saints Church, with their daughter (aged 3) and son (aged 11) who both died at those ages.

They had only one surviving son, who I can work out from the family tree - and that was the next William Blake, who was baptised in Trull on 30 January 1797 and died on 9 January 1864. He was married to Mary Thomas, who died on 18 September 1876, aged 70. It is their grave (I would imagine they are buried there) that forms one of the three graves in the group in the churchyard at All Saints Church.

So this next William Blake would then be my great-great-great grandfather, and Mary my great-great-great grandmother. They had four children (quite a small family for those times!): Thomas, (another) William Blake (who died at 2), Elizabeth, who lived at Dipford (built by her father years before when he retired there and left Cutsey in the hands of Thomas) and their final child, Mary Blake.

Thomas Blake of Cutsey, Trull (Grave 1 in All Saints Church Grave Yard) with his wife, Eleanor. Thomas Blake then inherited Cutsey from his father. Thomas died when he was 49, but his wife was to live to the ripe old age of 83. (Gravestone 1 at All Saints Church above.) As a result of them apparently having no children, Eleanor moved out of Cutsey to "Broadlands", where she lived until her death.

(more information from John: "After Thomas Blake's death in 1880, Cutsey seems to have belonged to his two sisters, Elizabeth Blake and Mary Corner (who had married James Burston Corner in October 1864).  Elizabeth died unmarried and childless in 1901 and Mary Corner, who had only the one daughter, in 1899.  Mary Corner never actually lived at Cutsey, (except as a young girl) hence the reference to Fairlawn on her grave.  So Mary Clatworthy inherited Cutsey and disposed of it in her Will.  Who actually lived at Cutsey between 1880 and 1912 is uncertain (must check further).  In Kelly's Directory for 1894 there is reference to "Dredge, James, farmer, Cutsey", so presumably he was renting it.  In 1901 Marcus Kidner (Eland's nephew) was [disastrously] Bailiff at Cutsey.  I haven't checked the 1911 Census."

Cutsey then went to Mary Blake who was the second wife of James Burston Corner (Gravestone 2). However, in the citation it records both Mary and James, my great-great grandparents, as being of "Fairlawn". I know that John has been trying to puzzle together exactly who had been living at Cutsey during this time. There are census and other records that suggest that the two sister, Elizabeth and Mary were living at Cutsey at one stage, but it's all a bit of a conundrum.

Mary Blake and James Burston had just one daughter, Mary Corner - mentioned above in terms of No 10 High Street, as she married Eland Clatworthy, the ironmonger and later moving to Cutsey (from what I can work out).

I can recall Gran telling me stories of my great grandfather (also repeated by Mum, so I guess the memory of a "young lady's childhood" could be called into account here). He apparently always had a nap after Church, but this was the time when he obviously wished for absolute silence, and so he seated all his children (5 in all) at his feet and they were to remain sitting there silently until he awoke! My how times have changed!

My great grandfather, Eland, was first married to Mary Jane Bailey - reference the Trull grave yard entry - and they had Thomas - my grandmother's, half-brother. (He is also the one who was killed during the First World War.) Then my great grandfather married my great grandmother, Mary Corner (I guess marrying two women with the same name helped clear muddles in his own head).

So, my great grandfather and great grandmother - had 6 children (although my great grandfather apparently was the 12th of 14 children - so I guess when one looks at things they were cutting down the numbers!). Those children were, in order of their births: William Blake (Pat, Rosie and Marianne's father); Mary Frances (my aunt Sue, and the mother of Aunt Allie and Aunt Marney); Hugh Clatworthy (the one who was who died during the First World War in a Prisoner of War Hospital); James Edward (who was known as Uncle Ted and was the father to John, Richard and Teazle (Teresa)), Lilian Jessie (my grandmother - who was the mother of Mum, Uncle Dave, Uncle Jim and Aunt Wizz) and then maiden aunt - Aunt "B", who was more formally named Ella Phyllis.

And so there you have the complicated and convoluted family history as best as I have been able to put things together. There are a couple of other things that I would like to do some research and ferreting about with, but I am also conscious that this has taken the better part of the day to complete, with numerous interruptions to a very patient mother, and I think that I would like to call it quits here.

So for now people, all for the time being. Those who have managed to read it and possibly were interested, thanks - to the rest of you, I really cannot blame you - especially if there is no real vested interest in this. I will continue my trail a little later - either tomorrow or the next, I would imagine. In the mean time my second niece is flying to Brazil, where she and her friend are going to enjoy ten days or so with her friend's father, who lives there. Wonderful opportunity, and I do hope that she has a fabulous time!

I am now going to face the challenge on my cross stitch once more! Adieu!

(Thanks must go to John and Mum for their meticulous checking and comments in terms of putting this together!)