I am a retired GP and a Granny, with an interest in family history and a One Place Study about Sticklepath near Okehampton Devon (only started September 2020).
The retail price apples is causing considerable surprise in many parts of Devonshire, which prides itself upon being an apple county. There is a very decent crop this year, but no wonder the general public are looking forward with pleasure to the advent of imported fruit in the hope that it will be obtainable at a less charge than the home-produced article. In some cases, the difference between the rate received by the producer and the amount charged in the shops calls for some explanation. A grower on the outskirts of Exeter declared to me a day or two since that he received 2d a lb. for apples which were subsequently offered to the public by the retailer at l0d! Apples can bought cheaper in London than in Devonshire, where the fruit is grown at our doors.
Apples on a tree
British Columbia is expecting to ship 5,000 carloads of apples containing 3,750.000 boxes in 1921. This quantity will be double the amount of the shipments last year and constitutes the largest export the province has ever effected. A partial realisation of the development of the British Columbia apple industry may be reached when one considers the fact that 20 years ago the province was importing this fruit.
With grateful thanks to Anthony Marr (@ChalfontR) and Rebecca Probert (@ProfProbert), gurus on marriage registration and law, from whom I have learnt most of this. I strongly recommend attending their lectures and reading Prof Probert’s books given a chance. Pharos also run helpful courses eg regards non-conformity.
(The photo above is the wedding of Fred Taylor and Nell Bowden 1913, note it includes the minister, and next to him the only photo I have of Emanuel Bowden my great grandfather. )
1920 Ralph Finch married “Lynette” (Violet Maude Lucy Shaw)
Many of us are aware of changes in the marriage laws which have taken place in our own lifetime – it is only since 1994 that a wide variety of wedding venues could be licensed. In 2005 Civil Partnerships became legal, followed in 2014 by Same Sex Marriages. Most recently, in 2021 there were changes to the information on the marriage certificate, including the mothers’ names for example and changes to the system of recording. Additionally certificates are now printed, unlike the handwritten copies our parents and ancestors received.
Look at all the details on this certificate.
Understanding some of the history can help us make the most of marriage records, understand and take note of all the details, and help us understand our ancestors marriage experience. Historically in England the Church governed marriage through ‘Canon law’ from 1700 until parliament stepped in with Hardwicke’s Marriage Act 1753. This stated that, with the exception of Jews and Quakers, marriages had to be within the Church of England, in the parish of residence. (The Clandestine Marriages Act 1753 etc etc are beyond this brief summary).
All family historians are aware that civil registration became a legal requirement for marriages from 1 July 1837. The 1836 Act also stated who could marry a couple, and that marriages could be outside the Anglican Church, but had to be in ‘a registered place of worship’. To apply to be registered, dissenting churches had to worship in ‘a separate building’, and needed 20 householders to state this was their regular place of worship.
Ideally a couple would be married in their usual place of worship. If that was not registered they could get married in a different church in the same district (from 1840 it could be a different district but was then required to be the usual place of worship of the couple). Alternatively a registered church of a different denomination could be used. So you could, for example, find baptists being married in a Methodist chapel or vice versa.
Marriages were only allowed between 8am and 12 noon, which is why some registers state the time. A minister was not legally required, but the presence of a Registrar was.
The marriage register, held by the local Registration Office, had to be completed in special non-fading Registrar’s blue/black ink, and a copy sent to the General Register Office. A copy of the entry was given to the couple and that is what we think of as the marriage certificate.
Tom Hill and Elsie May Bowden 1923
For a marriage to be valid the couple had to both be of age, or have parents consent and be above the minimum age. They each had to freely consent to the marriage. They should not already be married to each other or anyone else, and should not be too closely related (e.g. siblings). Notice was to be given, banns read or a licence purchased.
The initial declaratory vow the bride and groom make during the wedding ceremony states that they fulfil these criteria “I know of no lawful impediment why I (name) may not be joined in matrimony to (name)”.
The second vow is the contract – “I take thee to be my lawful wedded husband or wife”, which must be formally witnessed by at least 2 people. These witnesses may have been members of the church, perhaps strangers at times, but often were relatives of those getting married, so genealogists ignore the witness names at their peril. The Minister or even the registrar may also have been well known to our ancestors, as many people’s social life centred around their church or chapel.
So, after lengthy discussion and numerous re-wordings of the Act, when parliament did finally agreed to legalise non-conformist marriages, we might expect to find the Methodists rushing to register their chapels so they could perform their own marriage ceremonies. But this did not happen. By 1851 only about 1 in 20 was registered. Why? Methodism’s founders including John Wesley (1703-1791), did not see themselves as a dissenting group, they were within the Anglican Church. By 1837 Methodism had broken away, but perhaps still did not really consider themselves to be true dissenters. They did not have any specific theological differences regards marriage, so had not actively campaigned for the law to be changed, unlike other dissenting groups. Whatever the reason, the Methodist Conference (the hierarchy) was happy for marriages to continue to take place in the Anglican Church.
Couples also had the option of a Registry Office wedding, and for the first two decades religious statements were allowed in those ceremonies, unlike today.
The “First Annual Report of the Registrar-General on Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England, in 1837-8″ published in the Journal of the Statistical Society of London tells us that 11,481 marriages were registered in that first year (1st July 1837 – 30th June 1838) and gives an idea of the proportions of marriages in different places.
(Jul., 1839, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 269-274, published online by Wiley for the Royal Statistical Society Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2337712)
107,201 Anglican marriages
4,280 Other marriages, of which:
2,976 in a Registered Place of Worship
1,093 in the Office of a Superintendent Registrar
76 were Quaker ceremonies
135 were Jewish ceremonies.
.
The Anglican marriages are further subdivided:
9 by Special License
13,677 by License
68,410 by Banns
493 by Certificate from a Superintendent Registrar
(24,612 not stated)
.
The initial annual report (accessed https://archive.org/details/sid14148170 ) only included 82 Methodist registered places of worship out of 1,257 registered buildings, although Methodists were about 50% of dissenters by that time.
However, it was clear Methodist ministers did not have the same status or authority as Anglicans, and perhaps it was this that meant Methodists did become involved in subsequent campaigns to change the law. From 1898 non-conformist churches could apply to have their own “Authorised Person” to carry out marriage registration, so a registrar no longer needed to attend. Unfortunately the law’s division into registration districts that meant each Methodist Minister, to be an authorised person in the churches across their area, would have had to become an “Authorised Person” with each registration district their circuit covered.
Sticklepath Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
Sticklepath Wesleyan Methodist Chapel registered in 1839, not among those first 82, but ahead of most. When a place of worship was registered this was gazetted, published in The London Gazette, which can be freely searched online.
Notice is hereby given, that a separate building, named the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, situated at Sticklepath, in the parish of Sampford Courtenay, in the county of Devon, in the district of Okehampton, being a building certified according to law as a place of religious worship, was, on the 18th day of February 1839, duly registered for solemnizing marriages therein, pursuant to the act of 6th and 7th William 4, Chap 85. Witness my hand this 20th day of February 1839, Henry Hawkes, Superintendent Registrar.
The Chapel’s Register was duly started by the same Henry Hawkes
(yes there are those who think this was the Harry Hawkes who went to Widecombe Fair… along with Tom Pearse who we will find on the next page…)
Scan of original document held by South West Heritage Trust Devon Archive in Exeter Ref 1812D/2/1 (extract) scanned 2021
The first marriage is documented on 9th July 1839, between Richard Jessop, ironmonger, and Elizabeth Malins, a spinster, both of Okehampton. The service was led by Rev. James Stote and the Registrar in attendance was Henry Newton.
Marriage Register of Sticklepath Wesleyan Chapel original held at South West Heritage Trust, Exeter Archive Ref 1812D/2/1 (extract) scanned 2021
The Marriage was announced with no fuss in the Western Times on Saturday 13th July, just mentioning it was “in the presence of Mr Newton the Registrar and other respectable persons of the neighbourhood”.
I note the first witness was Thomas Pearse, a woolen mill and serge factory owner in Sticklepath who by 1848 was himself a Registrar. He perhaps wanted to relieve the burden on Henry Newton, and would have enjoyed an excuse to visit chapels around the circuit.
Look carefully at any marriage certificate and related register entries to understand exactly when (in relation to marriage laws) and where the couple were married and question why there. This couple came from Okehampton, presumably because no Methodist Chapel was registered there at the time. This Chapel register does not include father’s names or occupations, but some have extra information or notes in the margin. For non-conformist weddings always check the wording on the certificate of the type of ceremony, where it took place and the name of the registrar or authorised person who made the ceremony legal. Make a note of the witnesses and consider how they may have been chosen. Glancing through the Chapel register you may see the names repeated if they were church members that were chosen, or repeated names may suggest links between family members.
Henry Newton attended all 26 weddings in Sticklepath from July 1839 – July 1848, and more after that too. An average of 3 weddings per year in the chapel.
Look again at all the details on this certificate.
13th May 1898 would be before there was an ‘Authorised person’ who could conduct marriages. So we can see Seth Harry Registrar was present. Thomas Trethewey conducted the service but was not a legally necessary person. He lived in Sticklepath with his daughters who ran a dame school and would have been very well known to Albany and Georgina who both attended Sticklepath Chapel regularly (when Albany, a local preacher was not preaching elsewhere).
Did you spot that they were married in Sticklepath Wesleyan chapel according to the rites and ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodists, by certificate. Sticklepath, Sampford Courtenay (parish) and registration district Okehampton. The witnesses are siblings of the bride. This document is actually a later copy, written out 8th October 1898, by Deputy Superintendent Registrar S Hawkin, certified to be a true copy of the entry in the Register Book of Marriages. I wonder why they wanted a copy then?
There is much more history to learn, for example, there was also a time when divorced Anglicans got re-married in non-conformist chapels, but perhaps we’ll leave that for another day.
Helen Bowden (soon to be Shields!) and Roger Bowden
How did your bride get to church? This one walked through Sticklepath in July 1986, while a policeman parted the heavy tourist traffic on its way to Cornwall to allow her across the road!
Signing the Register in Sticklepath Wesleyan Chapel 1986, this is the entrance between chapel and the Sunday school room.
Questions arising – When did taking a photograph of signing the register become a thing?
Sticklepath Chapel is now closed. Who were the last couple to get married there? and when?
2 ministers seems a little greedy! Rev Ian Young was the circuit minster, friend of the bride’s parents. The younger Rev Paul Martin a friend of the bride and groom.
Any questions, comments, notes of inaccuracies, or answers will be welcomed!
When Charlie Bowden married Muriel Ching Finch in 1929, they lived initially in Ladywell House, Sticklepath, renting some furnished rooms from Miss Warne. As they saved money and were able to get some furniture together they moved into some unfurnished rooms in Foundry House. Then Auntie Kate, Muriel’s step-mother became ill, so Charlie and Muriel moved back to Cleave House to look after her and run the house. When Auntie Kate recovered baby Anne was on her way, so Charlie and Muriel didn’t move out again.
Charlie and Muriel Bowden with baby Anne ~1932
Katherine Anne Finch Bowden, was born on the 12th August 1931 in Okehampton, most likely in a little private nursing home run by an ex-district nurse. She lived with her parents, and grandparents (Albany Finch and Auntie Kate) in Cleave house, Sticklepath. Muriel recalled how Anne would cry at night and that Auntie Kate spent many hours walking up and down with her to calm her and allow all the other adults to sleep – this often included other family members as well as guests, as Cleave House was run as a guest house for people coming to take the Dartmoor air.
Anne at the seaside
Toddler Anne with a parasole
Soon a little brother, Roger, joined them. This was a time when home photography allowed a regular record of the children as they grew.
Roger and Anne Bowden
Anne and Roger ar Cleave House gate
Roger and Anne (note the wrinkled woolen stockings)
Anne and Roger
Roger and Anne at Cleave House
The 1939 census reminds us of the outbreak of war, as an evacuee Roy Young was staying. The children will have enjoyed playing with their new friend, here seen dressing up.
Brother and sister either side of Roy Young evacuee, c.1939, dressed up (as per first world war).
Anne attended the Sticklepath Council Primary School. Frank Richards, the village school headmaster, was a close neighbour and little Anne presented his 60th birthday retirement present.
Sticklepath School 1937 Can you spot Anne? 2nd row third from the right.
PRESENTATION TO RETIRING STICKLEPATH SCHOOLMASTER On the occasion his 60th birthday, and on his retirement from the headmastership of Sticklepath Council School, Okehampton, opportunity was taken to present Mr. Fk. Richards with, two suitable mementoes recognition of his services. The ceremony took place in Sticklepath Village Hall last night. The gifts took the following form: A clock from the late scholars, which was handed to Mr. Richards by Miss V. Mallett, one of the recipient’s first pupils; and a smoking cabinet from the present scholars, this being presented by little Miss Anne Bowden.
Western Times – Friday 07 February 1936 Accessed via BritishNewspaperArchive.co.uk August 2022 (A smoking cabinet was used to smoke fish, for example, to preserve it).
After attending senior school at Edgehill College, Methodist girl’s school in Bideford, Anne returned home to help with household duties. The Methodist Chapel and Village Hall formed the centres of family social activities, especially the very active Women’s Institute.
Anne, the young WI member on front row
Music was part of that social life too, and Anne learned to play the organ, no doubt practising on the chapel harmonium and taught, at least in part, by Muriel.
1950s Anne preparing the harvest celebration. The harmonium can be seen behind her.
Brought up before any mobile phones, microwaves or even TV, Anne learned all the skills required to be a model housewife. Flower arranging, baking, jam making and bottling to make the most of seasonal fruits and vegetables, catering for large family meals. Housework took a lot of time and effort before the luxuries of modern conveniences. No washing machine so, with old fashioned materials, clothes had to be soaked, washed clean, rinsed, starched, dried, ironed and aired. Cleaning too was more arduous, and with coal fires more dirt accumulated. Those fires had to be cleared and re-laid each day too. Without a fridge shopping was needed daily, but much had to be sourced from a well-tended garden.
All through her life she had a passion for cooking and baking. I remember a Kenwood Chef being a luxury prized possession. She entered many competitions, such as Sticklepath Flower Show, winning her first prize at the age of 7. Cakes, scones and marmalades, etc., etc., she used her cooking skills to supply innumerable coffee mornings and ‘bring and buy’ sales. For Church Harvest Suppers, her mousses were a favourite. Sugar craft and cake decoration were also on her list of accomplishments, as indeed was producing delicate Honiton lace.
She knew all those tricks of the trade used to remove stains or to iron fragile and awkward garments. She learned knitting and crochet and sewing. This was a time when village jumble sales were searched for hand knitted items that could be unpicked and the wool washed and re-used. Waste not want not. Left overs were knitted into squares to make colourful blankets. A time of making lavender bags, hankies transformed into tiny umbrellas, soap sewn into a fish-shaped foam to sell at local events and raise money for charities. Early on it was often the Methodist Missionary Society which was top priority as her Auntie, Phyllis Finch was a missionary in China and Ghana and later worked for the Society in International House, in Liverpool and London. War time must have been distressing when her father was at war and Auntie Phil was an internee throughout the war in Hong Kong, but there was very little communication to confirm or let the family know if they were safe. Anne would have been aware of many other relations and friends in the village suffering through war too.
Village Hall Christmas Party 1950s, Anne stood back corner, serving her neighbours.
A gentle lady Anne would do anything to help others, often found quietly busy in the background. She volunteered for the Devon Air Ambulance in Okehampton and Hospice Care in Crediton. She played the organ for services in North Tawton Methodist Chapel, helped at ‘Toddlers’ in North Tawton and volunteered with meals-on-wheels for many years. In later life she could be found in the back room of Okehampton Red Cross shop ironing the donated clothes, but it was her time as Tawny Owl with the South Zeal Brownies that is recorded, through their guard of honour in her wedding photos.
In 1954 at the age of 22 she married Gordon Gibbons, a partnership which would last almost 38 happy years.
Leaving Cleave House with father Charlie
Leaving Sticklepath Chapel with Brownie guard of honour. 1954
Anne and Gordon walk across the road to their reception, Guides guard of honour
The bride and groom, I love the delicate open bouquet.
Leaving on honeymoon
They began their married life in North Tawton at 11 Exeter Street and lived there for 26 years, bringing up two daughters. In 1979 they moved to Moor View at the top of the town. Widowed in 1991, she stayed there for 41 years. Sadly, due to failing health, she had to move again, for her final few months. At the time of Covid, a difficult time to be in a care home, and very distressing for her family whose visits were greatly restricted.
Anne with brother Roger, husband Gordon and father Charlie at Sticklepath Village Hall 1986
Family was of utmost importance to Anne. She always visited her parents at least weekly. She supported her brother and his family in many ways, attending his concerts whenever possible (he was a tenor soloist and choir member), always interested and attentive to all the family members and supporting village events both in Sticklepath and North Tawton. In many different ways she was a part of Sticklepath life for almost 90 years.
Anne with her girls and Granny Gibbons
Above all Anne made it her life ambition to be a loving and devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. A smile lit up her face whenever she spoke of them, but no photo can capture her characteristic cheeky chuckle that punctuated nearly every conversation.
Happy birthday Auntie Anne, you are greatly missed.
Sticklepath a Village and its People 