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William THORNE
Ann or Elizabeth
Edmund EVANS
(Cir 1793-1864)
Mary NICHOLLS
(1792-1872)
John THORNE
(1800-1886)
Mary EVANS
(1822-1895)
William THORNE
(1839-1892)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Rebecca WILKS
2. Rebecca WILKS

William THORNE

  • Born: 11 Apr 1839, Tawstock, Devon, England
  • Baptised: 24 Aug 1847, Barnstaple, Devon, England
  • Marriage (1): Rebecca WILKS on 2 Jul 1868 in Chatham, Kent, England
  • Marriage (2): Rebecca WILKS on 22 Aug 1868 in Brompton, Kent, England
  • Died: 10 Feb 1892, Bickington, Fremington, Devon, England aged 52
  • Buried: 16 Feb 1892, Fremington, Devon, England
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bullet  General Notes:

There were several possible birth registrations for William Thorne, complicated by the possibility that he might have been registered under the name Evans (parents only married in 1856)
Birth - South Molton Mar 1838 10 203 - wrong. Parents of this William were Henry and Mary (nee Thorne) in South Molton
Births Sep 1838 Evans William Henry Herring Barnstaple 10 20 - nothing to suggest middle names
Birth Barnstaple Dec 1838 10 31 EVANS William
Birth Barnstaple Jun 1839 10 33 Thorn William - mothers name wasn't Evans according to GRO
Birth Barnstaple Jun 1839 10 44 Thorne William - mother's name not Mary according to GRO
Birth Barnstaple Mar 1840 10 33 Thorn William (probably page 35 - image unclear)
Birth Barnstaple Jun 1840 10 51 Thorne William
Birth Barnstaple Jun 1839 10 19 Thorne William *** (on the new GRO indexes the mother's name is Evans)

The last one, for which the GRO issued a certificate, was found to be the correct entry.

Birth Certificate
Born on Eleventh of April 1839 at Tawstock (sub-district of Bishops Tawton, county of Devon)
William, Boy, John Thorne, Mary Thorne formerly Evans, Labourer.
Registered my Mary Thorne (Mother), Roundswill Tawstock, 15th April 1839 - Mary made her mark

Baptisms at Holy Trinity, Barnstaple
Page 8 of Baptisms at Holy Trinity Barnstaple in the year 1847
The entries are for August 24th 1847
Entry 57, William illegitimate child, Mary, Evans called Thorne, Hardaway Head, occupation High.....,
Entry 58, Elizabeth Ann illegitimate child, Mary, Evans do, Hardaway Head, do,
Entry 59, John illegitimate child of, Mary, Evans do, Hardaway Head, do,

A very unusual occurrence - two marriage entries for the same couple
Marriages Sep 1868 Medway 2a 645 (first marriage)
Jarrett Martha
Skeggs William
Thorne William
Wilks Rebecca

Marriages Sep 1868 Medway 2a 619 (second marriage)
Taylor Mary Ann
Taylor William
Thorne William
Wilks Rebecca

No banns were called at St Paul but banns were called at St John on May 31st 1868, June 7th and June 14th, both parties noted as "of the parish". The banns are overwritten with the note "married 2 July 1868"

Marriage Certificate
Married, after Banns, at The Parish Church of St Paul Chatham in the County of Kent. On behalf of the Parish of St John Chatham, the church of that parish being closed for repairs.
July 2nd 1868
William Thorne, 29, Bachelor, Private 29th Regiment, Chatham Barracks. Father John Thorne, Gardener
Rebecca Wilks, 29, Spinster, - , Chatham. Father William Wilks, Gardener
The witnesses were Thomas Batty and Elizabeth Wilks (sister)
The ceremony was conducted by Alex Joseph, Rector of St Johns

The church copy of the above marriage is in the register of St John, Chatham and looks identical in content

The above marriage may have been declared null and void as the next ceremony was only 6 weeks later. The likely problem was that William did not have permission of his CO in the army, and without that permission his wife wouldn't be taken "on strength" and so wouldn't be eligible for a pension. The marriage itself, according to the registrar, would have been totally legal i.e. they were properly married after the first ceremony. Other reasons are possible such as an irregularity in the Banns or that the vicar wasn't licensed to conduct marriages in another church, but I have heard of other occurrences of two marriages of army personnel which makes the first reason the more likely.

The Banns register for Holy Trinity (the Parish Church) have been lost.

Marriage Certificate
Married, after Banns, at The Parish Church in the parish of Brompton in the County of Kent.
August 22 1868
William Thorne, 29, Bachelor, 29th Regiment, Brompton. Father John Thorne, Gardener
Rebecca Wilks, 29, Spinster, - , Brompton. Father William Wilks, Gardener
The witnesses were Thomas Batty and Charlotte Cook (who made her mark)
The ceremony was conducted by F. Russell Rawes
- All, except Charlotte Cook, were able to sign the register.
- the church was next to the Barracks in Chatham

The church copy of the above marriage is in the register of Holy Trinity, Old Brompton and looks identical in content

Deaths Mar 1892
Thorne William 50 Barnstaple 5b 447

Death Certificate
Registered in the Bishops Tawton sub-district of the Barnstaple district in Devon
Died on Tenth February 1892 at Bickington, Fremington
William Thorne, Male, 50, Army Pensioner.
Registered by Mary Thorne, Mother, Present at the Death, of Bickington Fremington, on Twelfth February 1892
- This record is the final "proof" that it is the correct William that has been traced

Burial at Fremington, 1892, page 98, entry 777 (clarified from image on Findmypast)
William Thorn, Dipford New Houses, February 16th, 50 years


There is a gravestone in Fremington (on gravestonephotos.com)
John Thorne aged 31 who died in 1875
and his brother William who died aged 50 in 1892
- William was son of John & Mary Thorne and so John must be another son
- my notes for the grave
William Thorne
10 Feb 1892
aged 50
and John (brother)
27 Aug 1875 aged 31 years
-The photograph of the grave has
In loving memory of
William Thorne
Who died Feb'y 10th 1892
Aged 50 years
... verse...
Also
John
Brother of the above
Who died August 27th 1875
Aged 31 years
- it appears that John died in 1876 and this entry on the grave was obviously added much later, probably after William's death

1841 Census (indexed as Thonn)
HO107/221/18 F4 P3 & F5 P4
Kinnacott, Tawstock, Devon
John Thorn, 30, Ag Lab, in county
Mary do, 20, , in county
William Thorn, 2, , in county
- surrounding properties were referred to as Roundswil
- There is a current place called Roundswell which is presumably Roundswil on this census.

1851 census
HO107/1893 F485 P31
Mile End Quarry, Fremington, Devon
John Thorne, Head, Mar, 48, Lime-Burner, Devon South Molton
Mary do, Wife, Mar, 34, , Devon Braunton
William do, Son, , 13, Scholar, Devon Tawstock
Elizabeth do, Daur, , 6, Scholar, Devon Barnstaple
John do, Son, , 4, , Devon Barnstaple
Edmund do, Son, , 8mo, , Devon Fremington

In 1861, William was in the army and based in Aldershot (see Army Index below). Therefore, although looking unlikely, it is possible that this entry is him.
RG9/431 F222 P37
1st Battalion Tenth Regiment of Infantry, Aldershot, Surrey
William Thorn, Private, U, 19, Farm Servant, Wolverhampton Stafford

1871 census (poor match, but fairly likely)
RG10/1136 F94 P41
Cambridge Barracks, High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire
William Thorn, Head of Family, Mar, 32, Private, Worcester Cheltenham
Rebecca Thorn, Wife, Mar, 32, Soldiers Wife, Kent Maidstone

This was the first entry found for him after the 1851 census
1881 census
RG11/2930 F86 P4
Norton Barrack, Worcester, Pershore, Worcestershire
William Thorne, Head of Family, Married, 41, Pte soldier 29' Regiment, Devonshire Firmington
Rebecca Thorne, Wife, Married, 41, Wife of Above, Wiltshire Corrsam
Samuel Belcher, Nephew, , 10, Scholar, Gloucestershire Bishopsclure
- Samuel is son of Rebecca's sister Mary

1891 census (indexed as Thomas)
RG12/1780 F40 P1
Dipford, Fremington, Devon
William Thorne, Head, M, 50, General Labourer, Tawstock Devon
Rebecca Thorne, Wife, M, 50, Laundress, Copsome Wiltshire
Laura Kate Boyles, Niece, S, 10, , Cheltenham Gloucestershire
James Howard Webb, Boarder, S, 26, Classical Teacher, Wellington Salop
- Laura's name should be Byles, the married name of Rebecca's sister

Chelsea Pensioner record (on Findmypast)
British Army Service Records 1760-1913
First name(s): William
Last name: THORNE
Calculated year of birth: 1839
Parish of birth: Tawstock
Town of birth: Barnstaple
County of birth: Devon
Age at attestation: 21 years 11 months
Attestation date: 2 June 1860
Attestation corps: 29th Foot
Attestation soldier number: 604
Discharge rank:
Discharge corps:
Discharge soldier number:
The National Archives reference: WO97 / 2121 / 66
There are 5 images available for this soldier
-this would suggest a birth in July 1839, but birth certificate gives April.
The detailed images show :
Enlistment Papers (no. 604)
William Thorne
Born in the Parish of Tawstock, nr Barnstaple, Devon
age 21 years and 11 months
Farm Labourer
not an apprentice
not married
agreed to be attested to serve in the 29th Foot regiment for 10 years
Enlisted at Barnstaple on 2nd June 1860 at 2pm by Sgt James Lally
He signed on for a Bounty of two pounds and free kit having previously served in the 1st Devon Militia from 6th July 1859 to 4th June 1860
William Thorne 5ft 4½in, fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. No distinctive marks
Attestation papers
All the details were as per the above enlistment papers.
The oath of attestation was taken on 5th June 1860 at 11am and William Thorne made his mark
The document was completed on 12th June 1860 at Devonport when it was agreed to enrol him on the Regimental Register with the number 604
Record of Service No. 604 William Thorne
29th Foot, Private 5th June 1860 to 16 Decr 1867 (7yrs 195 days)
Reengaged at Rochester for 13 170/365 yrs to complete 21 years
17th Decr 1867 to 24 June 1881 (13 yrs 190 days)
G.C. Pay at 2d 5th June 1868
G.C. Pay at 3d 5th June 1872
G.C. Pay at 4d 4 June 1876
Awarded a Medal and Gratuity of £5 for ong service and good conduct
Granted 5d G.C. Pay 5th June 1881
Total service 21 yrs 20 days
Certified correct record of service to 24th June 1881
Military History Sheet
Service
United Kingdom 5th June 1860 to 19th June 1865 (5yrs 15 days)
Malta 20 June 1865 to 23 Feby 1867 (1yr 249 days)
United Kingdom 24 Feby 1867 to 24 June 1881 (14yrs 121 days)
Campaigns - Nil
Wounded - No
Effects of wounds - Nil
Special instances of gallant conduct - Nil
Medals and Decorations - Medal & Gratuity of £5 for long service and good conduct
Injuries - Nil
Married - Rebecca Wilks at Chatham 22 August 1868
Classes of Instruction - Nil
Certificates of education - Nil
Character on being discharged - Very Good
Place of discharge - Worcester
Cause of Discharge - In consequence of him having claimed it on termination of his second period of limited engagement
Militia Certificate
1st Devon Regiment of Militia
To certify that No. 1805 William Thorne was enrolled in the 1st Devon on 6th July 1859 and released on condition he enlists into the 29th Foot and on paying the sum of Nil
Dated 4th June 1860

1861 Worldwide Army Index (on Findmypast)
First Name(s) William Last Name Thorne Number 604 Rank Private Unit 29th Foot (Worcestershire) Regiment Stationed at: Aldershot National Archives reference: WO12 / 4545


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William married Rebecca WILKS, daughter of William WILKS and Rebecca HARRIS, on 2 Jul 1868 in Chatham, Kent, England. (Rebecca WILKS was born circa 1839 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England, baptised on 21 Apr 1839 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England and died on 27 Dec 1918 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.)


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William next married Rebecca WILKS, daughter of William WILKS and Rebecca HARRIS, on 22 Aug 1868 in Brompton, Kent, England. (Rebecca WILKS was born circa 1839 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England, baptised on 21 Apr 1839 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England and died on 27 Dec 1918 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.)


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