William DYER

  General Notes:

details from Christopher Morris

It is possible that William was the son of Francis & Elizabeth, but the following points argue in favour:
a. There were no other DYERs in the Trusham registers before the arrival of William.
b. Subsequent generations lived in Trusham and Chudleigh (Francis and Elizabeth's son, William, was bap in
Chudleigh).
c. William called his second son "Francis" (presumably after his father) - not a particularly common name
at the time.
d. Chudleigh parish registers contain no other DYERs during the periods checked (1750-1800 for baptisms,
1770-1800 for burials).
Francis and Elizabeth's daughter, Mary, also appears to have moved to Trusham (marriage 1803).

A William DYER age 66 (ie born 1773/4 if age is correct) was buried at Chudleigh on 31 Jan 1840; he was of "Union Workhouse". This could, nevertheless be the same William, as ages are particularly dubious when individuals live so long, especially in the workhouse. A GRO death certificate might indicate a relationship, former abode or possibly even a different age.

Deaths Mar 1840
DYER William Newton Abbot 10 125


A search of the [reputedly complete] Devon FHS marriage index for the period yielded only one marriage of a William DYER to a Johanna : to Johanna MARTIN on 2 Dec 1798 at Plymouth Charles. Since both were born in Chudleigh, the Plymouth connection is surprising. Perhaps the actual marriage entry shows a different spelling of "Johanna" and therefore didn't trigger a computer response.

He Died in Trusham and was buried there on 5th May 1835 aged 59 years (Trusham Burials 1750 - 1837 Devon Family History Society refers).

William married Joanna (DYER). (Joanna (DYER) was born circa 1774 in Chudleigh, Devon, England.)