William Henry Hill and Wife Ann Thomas

[Seztratt]

Hi All,  I am new to the site, I am trying to research William Henry Hill born 1853 Barnstaple Devon died 1941 taw stock Devon.  I cannot seem to locate where he is buried.  He married Ann Thomas born ? In Landkey Devon.  They were married in 1827 the certificate states the bible Christian chapel in Barnstaple.  I have no further information on Ann and cannot locate her grave.  I believe the only way forward is to find a grave to try and establish further info.  The marriage cert states she is 19 so that would put her as born 1853. Her father is listed as John Thomas Labourer.  Can anyone help further?

Sez

[lizdb]

Hi, and a warm welcome to Rootschat

You may need to recheck your dates - if William was born 1853 he could not have married Ann in 1827!

I think the way forward will be to find the couple on  censuses after their marriage. That will hopefully give an age and place of birth for Ann.

Im not sure finding where she is buried will necessarily be of any help. Only a small proportion of graves have headstones, and theinfo on them is often very limited, in my experience.

If you want help looking for the census info, then  do ask, but do clarify the date of marriage, and also let us know what children the couple had that you know of, as that info might help locate the correct family.

[lizdb]

1881 at RG 11 2252 59 5

Living at Tawstock
William 28 farm labourer bn Tawstock
Ann 24 bn Landkey
Martha 7
William 5
Mary 2
John 3 mths  children all bn Tawstock
Jospeh  50 married boarder? Late carpenter bn Tawstock

Is this them?

[stanmapstone]

  They were married in 1827
Sez

Marriages Sep 1872  Barnstaple    5b   830

Stan

[Graham47]

lizdb,

Interesting that you say only a small proportion of graves have headstones because I have had a heck of time trying to find the graves of some of my ancestors in one graveyard in particular that holds many with the right surname, but the 'wrong' forename.

I just assumed most folks would end up with a marked grave of some sort. Does this mean I wonder that only those that could afford them had the honour whereas those that could not were laid to rest in a quiet corner somewhere in the churchyard?

I'm intrigued.

[lizdb]

A headstone was an expensive luxury only a few could afford.

There will still be a grave, but it will not be marked.

If the 1881 census I quoted is the correct family, I see he is a farm labourer. Highly unlikely he would have a headstone.
There will still be a record of the burial in tbe parish records of the appropiate church. And the plot will still be there, not necessarily in a quiet corner, but wherever it happened to be - presumably whatever bit of churchyard was being used at that time.

I think it is something we've all done - started our research by thinking we can wander around a churchyard and find all our ancestors lined up. But it doesnt (or rarely) actually happen that way!

[wilcoxon]

I don`t know what you have as regards census but  this may be Ann and William working together before their marriage.
1871 Week ? Farm Tawstock .
Thomas Moore 55 farmer
William Hill 18 b Tawstock
Richard Hill 12 b Tawstock
Ann Thomas 16 b Landkey

1861 Little Pill ? Tawstock
William Hill 35 ag lab b Eastleigh
Maria Hill 36 b Tawstock
William Hill 7 b Tawstock
Richard Hill 2 b Tawstock
 


 

 


 

[wilcoxon]

Ann Thomas ?

I can only find these and they may be wrong, but this is the closest to Ann Thomas .

1861.Landkey
Ann Thomas 51 widow b Charles Devon.
Mary Ann Thomas 7 b Landkey

1851 Landkey
Joshua Thomas 46  ag lab b Swinbridge ?
Ann Thomas 40 b Charles
Henry Thomas 6 b Landkey

1841 Landkey
Joshua Thomas 30
Ann Thomas 30
John Thomas 3

Only one death between 1851 and 1861

Deaths Jun 1858   
Thomas  Joshua    Barnstaple  5b 317

 


 

 
 


 

 

[Seztratt]

Hi Sorry the marriage date is 1872 not 27!  I have the marriage cert that states Ann Thomas is 19 so dob would be 1853 born landkey. Cannot find her in births. Her father is John Thomas. Witness was Elijah Thomas so assume he was a brother or uncle.  I can't seem to find any death record for her either.cant find a John or Ann in census before marriage date either. Thanks for everyone's help

Sez