Kennerleigh & District Heritage Group

Thursday 30 August 2018

Pierre Léon Serph

I'm off to track down his family in Civray.

Friday 4 September 2015

On 28th March 1806 the French Corvette "Néaque" was one of a convoy of four ships that left Lorient heading towards the waters around Iceland to attack British whaling vessels. Néaque could not keep up with the other ships and the same evening was captured by the British frigate Niobe. There were no casualties and Néarque was taken into Plymouth. Amongst the crew of about 100 was a surgeon, Pierre Léon Serph, aged 25.

He had been born to a medical family in Civray in Vienne, Poitou-Charentes.

In 1813 Ann's mother died in Welshpool and was buried in St Mary's churchyard. Pierre Serph applied for naturalisation - "denization" - in 1820, stating that he had disposed of all his property in France and intended on investing the proceeds in Britain, and desired to become "a permanent subject of His Brittanic (sic) Majesty". He was succesful although it cost him £50.

In 1827 he described a patient with recurrent bladder stones.

The Serphs had no children; Ann died in 1837 and was buried with her mother. In her will she left everything, including her property in Devon, to her husband. The following year he sold the farm near Chagford for £1,100.

Wednesday 19 August 2015

BBC Radio Devon comes to Kennerleigh to find out about poor Broadband and Mobile

Firstly, huge thanks to everyone who has signed the Petition for Faster Broadband Rollout and better Mobile Phone Signal Coverage. Almost 200 signatures at the moment.

Secondly, our plight has attracted the attention of BBC Radio Devon and their reporter Harriet Bradshaw would like to come to Kennerleigh Stores and PO tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 11 o'clock to get the views of local people on how it is affecting their lives and the rural economy. For example, how difficult is it to run an Internet business or local holiday or farming outlet with such slow speeds? What about making online job applications etc?

Would you be able to come over about 11 to have your say? Or could you let others know by passing on this request? Thank you.

My feeling is that the more coverage we get, the more likely we are not to be fobbed off later!

Come to Kennerleigh Stores this Thursday at 11 am and let the BBC know how we are affected by the poor provision of this vital service.

Posted with Blogsy

Sunday 26 July 2015

Crediton’s Waterloo Heroes are Remembered: Bicentenary 18th June 2015

Crediton’s Waterloo Heroes are Remembered by local historian on the Bi-Centenary of the famous battle.

Captain Charles Holman, Major Welsford, Sergeant John Manley and Sergeant Samuel Darch, Privates Cross ad Holsgrove

Two hundred years ago the Battle of Waterloo was fought over three days on the Belgian battlefield and the victory of Wellington’s troops spelled the final downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte and the end of war with France which had raged over 20 years across Europe, Africa, America and Asia. Over 55,000 men were killed or wounded in the battle and survivors were rewarded with a Waterloo Medal and clasps of honour. Every following year on the 18th June, “Waterloo Day” was held to celebrate the victory and commemorate lost brothers in arms and this tradition continued more or less until the end of the 19th century.

Crediton had every reason to celebrate its Waterloo Day, too, because our town boasted 20 survivors of the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaign who would all meet together yearly for a grand meal and listen to rousing military music as guests of one of Crediton’s bravest heroes, Captain Charles Holman who was a Lieutenant in the 52nd Light Infantry at Waterloo and after his return to Crediton he continued to lead the First Devon Militia and also to become the Deputy Lieutenant of Devonshire.

The story of the role of the 52nd Light Infantry at Waterloo is almost legendary because they are reputed to have withstood terrible gunfire, cannon and grapeshot from the French Imperial Guard before they executed a cunning manoeuvre through enemy lines and causing great disarray to the French ending in the defeat of the Gardes and the capture of Napoleon. Ensign Leeke of the 52nd wrote about the battle later, remarking that: ‘the 52nd endured a heavy bombardment, of which afterwards "the old officers, who had served during the whole of the Peninsular War, stated that they were never exposed to such a cannonade as the 52nd squares had to undergo on this occasion for 2½ hours from French artillery ½ mile to the front". While the 52nd's squares stood waiting, British artillery fired over their heads.

After the advance towards the end of the battle Leeke, who carried the King's colour, found a foot and a half of the pole wet with blood; Lt. Charles Holman had three musket balls through his sword blade, and wore it for many years with great pride through the streets of Crediton.’ ( D. H. Parry) The 1/52nd were the largest battalion at Waterloo, and one of the few British battalions operating at full strength. Of the 1,130 men and officers present, 168 were wounded, and 38 killed.

Family Background of Charles Holman (thanks to Dr Peter Selley’s excellent website http://medicalgentlemen.co.uk/aboutthedoctors/holmans)

In about 1803 a new doctor and his family arrived in Crediton. The Holmans had come from North Tawton, about 10 miles away to the west.

Henry Holman was born in Milverton, Somerset in about 1760, the son of Andrew Holman, also a surgeon and apothecary. Henry had moved to North Tawton when he was about 26 and had been living at “Stoats” with his wife (Edith nee Holloway) and their seven children. In May 1794, he entered into a bastardy bond of £300, indemnifying North Tawton Parish against the costs of maintenance of Jane Cross’s child. "Jane Cross, spinster, great with child" soon had a baby, William, who was baptised in North Tawton on 28 September 1794. In Crediton he was an ensign and later a lieutenant in Captain Buller’s Volunteer Infantry.

After his wife Edith died in 1806, Henry returned to Milverton where the following year he married Deborah Camplin, the daughter of the Archdeacon of Taunton, and sister of his brother Charles’s wife.He died in Milverton in 1817, aged 57.

Henry Holman's children:

His eldest son William Henry Holman (1789-1824) also worked as a surgeon in Crediton. He married his cousin Sarah Elizabeth Holman. Their son Charles Henry Holman was later a surgeon on the Isle of Wight. William Holman died in Crediton aged 35.

Another son, Thomas Holloway Holman MD (1791 -1866), served in the Royal Navy and later became a commander of the coastguard service. In 1819 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev John Rudall, who was for 43 years Vicar of Crediton. Thomas Holman’s son, Rev William Henry Holman, born in Crediton (1826-1901) was a Naval Chaplain, who in 1852-3 was the clergyman on Pitcairn Island. (One of Fletcher Christian's great-grandsons, born in 1853, was named William Henry Holman Christian, and baptised by Rev Holman.) Another of Thomas's sons, John Rudall Holman, was a naval surgeon who at the time of his death aged 59 in 1883 was Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets of the Royal Navy.

Charles Holman 1793-1866

Henry's third son, Charles Holman (1793-1866) served in the 52nd Regiment of Foot and fought at Waterloo. He then joined the 1st Devon Regiment of Militia and married Elizabeth Pidsley of Great Wotton, Colebrooke in 1822; their daughter Mary married Crediton solicitor William Cornish Cleave. In 1831 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. He became paymaster of his Regiment in 1855. Captain Holman was buried in Crediton.

The Last Charge of the 52nd Light Infantry by JC Sadler

The Battle of Waterloo

On 26 June, 1852 the Western Times reported that ‘ Captain Holman as a Lieutenant in the 52^nd Light Infantry at Waterloo gave according to his annual custom a very handsome treat to the veterans of Crediton on 18^th June. The gallant captain although advanced in years was still looking healthy and strong – every inch a soldier – and we are sure he would be willing to enter the battlefield again to contend against the enemies of his country.’ This was during the time of the Crimean War.

On 29^th September 1855, the death of Crediton’s Major Welsford at Redan was reported and also mentioned that Crediton still had five living Waterloo veterans who have retired on their pensions:-

Sgt. Darch, Privates Cross and Holsgrove,’ although we are sorry to say that Holsgrove who is now over 80 years old has only 3/6 (three shillings and sixpence or 18 pence) a week to live on. Captain Holman and Sgt Manley are still serving their country in the First Devon Militia. Sgt Manley was recently seen in Exeter proudly riding on horseback alongside the wounded heroes of the Crimea.’

On 13^th April 1861 he could still march many a mile to the heart-stirring sound of military music according to the Western Times.

!865 was the 50^th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and Waterloo Day was celebrated in Crediton as in former years by several old veterans who had fought in that memorable battle on 18^th June. Captain Holman led the parade and it was always his habit to show hospitality to his brothers in arms who residd in the Crediton area, who had numbered a dozen. Of the old boys, only Darch and Manley survive along with Holman now.

Sadly on the 8^th December 1866, Charles Holman died suddenly at home in the High Street of Crediton at the age of 74. Only the previous day, he had been out walking through the town where he was well known and respected. He was over 6’ 4” in height and usually wore his medal and carried the sword with the cannon shot holes.

His obituary was carried in every regional and national newspaper and referred to his exploits in the Peninsular Campaign and Waterloo. He was present at the storming of Badajos and received a medal personally from the King of Portugal and many clasps from the British Government for his valiant service. The newspapers remarked that he was one of the last of many in the neighbourhood who fought at Waterloo.

On 25^th August 1868, Sgt Samuel Darch died in Barnstaple aged 87 years and as a native of Crediton, his body was brought back to be buried in Crediton Churchyard with bemedalled former soldiers and pensioners Shopland, Galliver, Bailey, Trotman and Hubber leading the cortege.

On 25^th April 1872, the North Devon Journal reported that the final link with Crediton and Waterloo was lost with the death of Sgt John Manley aged 83 years of Magdalen Road in Exeter. He was described as a native Kyrtonian who had enlisted in 1814 and fought at Waterloo and although he was wounded in his right hand he went on to storm Cambray and was present at the occupation of Paris receiving a share of the prize money for capturing the capital city. In 1817 he returned to Crediton and worked as a mason until 1834 when he was appointed Sergeant of the Devon Militia in Exeter until 1856 when he retired. He only received 9d or 4p a day until it was increased to 16d by his Colonel 9 months before his death. Manley who was twice married, left a widow and several children and it was noted that he had provided a comfortable pension for his widow.

Judi Binks

Sheraton House

Kennerleigh

Crediton EX17 4RS

2015

Tuesday 20 January 2015

1841Tithe map

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Judi’s research throws light on village families in 19th century

MID Devon villagers are studying maps of their parishes and researching the histories of families who lived there in the 19th century.

A talk entitled A Detailed Look at the 1841 Kennerleigh Tithe Map: field names and families' was enjoyed by around 30 people at a gathering in the village hall.

Resident Judi Binks had produced an annotated version of the original map by adding all the original field names and researching the family history of people living there at the time. A future presentation will follow more closely the fate and fortunes of these residents from 175 years ago, using local newspaper notices, recollections and diaries.

Most of the village field names were descriptive, but often lost to the modern world, Mrs Binks said. Fascinating examples are Glitter Field and Glitter Bottom, Coney Field, Journey and Purry, but thanks to locals in the audience, light was shed on those terms; glow worms in the hedges accounted for 'glitter', rabbits being the derivation of 'coney' and the pear cider perry possibly producing the name of Purry field. 'Journey' is so named because it took one day's journey to collect the crops from the field.

Most of the surveying and mapping was carried out by 1839 by local Crediton firm of Warren, Luckraft, Reaney & Warren.

The Tithe Commissioners assessed the tithe equivalent value of Kennerleigh at £95 a year, based on a formula of the average price of wheat barley and oats over a seven-year period.

In 1839, the area of Kennerleigh parish was 627 acres: of which, arable land was 384 acres; pasture was 73 acres; woodland 84 acres; moorland and furze 70 acres and 16 acres of orchards.

Sir Stafford Northcote owned almost all the land. But the Rev John Hole owned Creedy Mill and Kennerleigh, with Kennerleigh Woods. Farms such as Upton, Langham, Staple Green, Woodbear and Leycotte were leased to tenant farmers William Snow, William Squire, Isaac and James Brown, John Elworthy, James Lang and William Daw.

Delves Cottage, now known as Virginia Cottage, was a public house called the Hare and Hounds.

The population was 94 in 1801 and dropped to 80 by 1901, whereas the 1841 Census shows 118 people and a total of 20 dwellings, some of which accommodating more than one household such as farm servants living in the outbuildings of a farm.

Notable exceptions to the map were the Rectory and Manor Farm which were not built until 1842.

Judi has now embarked on a similar project with the 1841 Tithe maps for Washford Pyne and Woolfardisworthy East and is keen to for local parishioners to participate in the work.

The best part of the proceedings was the general conversation and discussion which continued well into the evening. It's just what Judi wanted as she was able to offer up the bare bones of the map for the members of the audience to add their local wisdom and knowledge. Judi is very grateful for all the help she received from Adrian and Julia Miller and Brian and Margaret Baker and from all the contributors on the night.

Future talks by Judi include The impact of First World War on Women and Farming in Devon, at Newton St Cyres on April 8, and The Correspondence of St Boniface and the role of Women at Kennerleigh in May.