William BLACKMORE

  General Notes:

William's date of birth is stated in a prayer book that originally belonged to his mother's first husband (see Ann Baker for details). This prayer book explains that his mother was originally Ann Baker, daughter of John and Joan Baker.

Baptism is listed on Burrington Parish registers for 1826
May 21 1826, William son of, William and Ann Blackmore, living at Town, occ Schoolmaster, J Buckingham vicar
- by inspecting other entries that state "Town" and comparing with the 1841 census, it appears this meant the centre of the village, rather than Town Bridge

Marriages Mar 1851 Barnstaple X 55
At the Parish Church, Fremington on 8 February 1851 by Banns
William Blackmore, of full age, Bachelor, Laborer, Bickington. Father William Blackmore, Schoolmaster
Ann Muxworthy, under age, Spinster, Servant, Bickington. Father William Muxworthy, Servant
Witnesses were Grace B Blackmore (sister) and Henry Molland

William was a witness at his sister's wedding (Grace Baker Blackmore)

Death registered Jun 1920 Barnstaple 5b 524 William Blackmore
17 May 1920 at 15 Westbourne Grove, Ilfracombe.
William Blackmore, Male, 94, Formerly Railway Inspector (Permanent Way).
The informant was L G Garnish, daughter, of 11 Belmont Road Ilfracombe on 17 May 1920. (This is Lucy Grace Blackmore, born 1865)

1841 census
HO107/244/12 F4 P2
Gammaton Moor, Wear Gifford
All born "in county"
William Blackmore, 50, Schoolmaster
Ann Blackmore, 50,
William do, 15,
Grace do, 12,
---
Sarah Guard, 13, F.S.


1851 census
HO107/1893 F478 P16
Bickington, Fremington, Devon
William Blackmore, Head, Mar, 24, Farm Lab, Devon Burrington
Ann do, Wife, Mar, 19, Glover, Devon Fremington

1861 census
RG9/029 F101 P50
8 Town Meadows, Sands End, Fulham
William Blackmore, Head, Mar, 34, Railway Labourer, Wevonshire Burrington (sic)
Ann do, Wife, Mar, 30, , do Fremington
Eliza Ann do, Daugh, Un, 9, Scholar, do Fremington
William Hy do, Son, Un, 6, Scholar, do Fremington
George F(?) do, Son, Un, 4, Scholar, Suffolk Martlesham
Samuel J do, Son, Un, 1, , Norfolk Worthwold

1871 census
Found wife and family + previously unknown children. William not there. Possibly already overseas

1881 Census
- a separate William Blackmore family (indexed as BACKMORE) in Fremington was found, but this has been found to be his cousin. - Not found William at all (he was abroad).

Birth certificate of daughter Eliza Ann shows mother as Ann, formerly MUXWORTHY

Marriage certificate of daughter Eliza Ann gives occupation of father as Railway Inspector and she was living in Bickington, Fremington

1891 census (indexed under Blackmon)
RG12/1777 Folio 30 P13
South Street, Braunton Devon
William Blackmore, Head, M, 64, Living on own Means, Devon Burrington
Florence Mary do, Daur, S, 18, Housekeeper, London Middlesex

1901 Census (indexed as Blackman)
RG13/2149 Folio 93 P 28
15 Westbourne Grove, Ilfracombe, Devon
William Blackmore, Head, M, 74, retired Railway Construction Foreman, Devon Burrington
Blanche Hunt, Serv, S, 25, , Devon Braddon Hessary
(full name Eva Blanche Hunt - see will of William Blackmore)

1911 census (indexed as Blackmere)
RG14PN13365 RG78PN775 RD284 SD4 ED15 SN149
15 Westbourn Grove, Ilfracombe, Devon
William Blackmore, Head, 84, Widower, Retired Railway Ganger, Devon Burrington
Blanche Hunt, Servant, 34, Single, , Devon Bratton Fleming
The house had 5 rooms

From Holy Trinity Churchyard, Ilfracombe MIs (info from Ilfracombe Museum). Because of the state of the churchyard it was not possible to see the gravestone in 2004, even though I got to within a few feet of its position). The grave location is D40
Clearance work has now been carried out and a photograph of the grave was supplied by Ilfracombe Museum. I visited the grave in February 2007 and the inscription etc is as previously described.

Memorial Inscription
In Loving Memory
Elizabeth Ellen, the dearly beloved daughter of
William and Ann Blackmore
who fell asleep in Jesus November 10^th 1899
aged 32 years.
"Him that cometh unto me I will
in no wise cast out"
Also
William Blackmore
father of the above
who died
May 17^th 1920 aged 94 years
and
Ann Blackmore
his beloved wife
who died
December 17^th 1876 aged 45 years.

William was buried 20th May. (previously living at 15, Westbourne Avenue, Ilfracombe).
No details on burial date of Elizabeth. Ann is not buried there - she was buried in Fremington churchyard on 21 Dec 1876.

IGI for Burrington only goes up to 1812

Apparently William worked abroad for many years, as a Civil Engineer, building railways, returning to the UK in about 1886 - no wonder I couldn't find him on the 1881 census!

As his daughter, Lucy Grace, married in 1888 at South Molton, and William was a witness, then it is likely that he was living there at that time (New Road, South Molton)

North Devon Journal May 27th 1920
Funeral of Mr W Blackmore
By the death of Mr. W. Blackmore of 15 Westbourne Grove on Monday Morning, May
17th at the great age of 94, the town has lost its oldest inhabitant. For the
past four or five years Mr Blackmore was confined to the house and for nine
months to his bed. During the latter period he suffered much, but towards the
end the pain abated, and he passed away very peacefully. The deceased was for
many years a familiar figure in the town, and was greatly respected. He was
born in 1826, and as a young man was drawn to the work of railway making,
which at that time was rapidly going on. He followed this for all his working
life, and assisted in the construction of the following English Railways :-
Barnstaple to Torrington (L. and S.W.R.) Barnstaple to Taunton (Devon and
Somerset) Bury and Thetford (G.E.R., West London Extension), Addison - Road to
Richmond (L. and S.W.R.). His activities in this work took him abroad, and he
was engaged in constructing a line from Lima (Peru) to the highest point of
the Andes then reached, also Sala to Santa Rosa (Uruguay) and Nawalapitiya to
Namioya (Ceylon). During his stay in South America he learned to speak
Spanish like a native. At the age of 60 he returned to his native country, where he spent the remainder of his life. He left three daughters and four sons to mourn his loss. One daughter died twenty-one years ago. The funeral took place at the Parish Churchyard on Thursday afternoon, and was conducted by Rev H Babb. The family present were Messrs W H Blackmore (Bath), G F Blackmore and S J Blackmore (London), and T A Blackmore (Barnstaple, sons) Mrs F Garnish (Daughter), and Mr Reg Garnish (Grandson), and Mr T Thorne (Barnstaple), Mr W Pearce made the funeral arrangements.
- note that Eliza Ann and Florence Mary did not attend
- apparently Addison Road is now called Kensington (Olympia) station. The line to Richmond was opened in 1869 (http://www.abandonedstations.co.uk/ and http://www.starfury.demon.co.uk/uground/cutncover.html) but was closed in around 1910
- The first track was laid in January 1846 from Fremington to Barnstaple. North Devon's first railway was a goods line operated by horses and was 30 miles away from the "main line" railhead at Crediton. An extension to Umberleigh had started but due to lack of capital the track work was unfinished. In an effort to expand the company repackaged itself as the North Devon Railway and projected a broad gauge passenger and goods line from Barnstaple to Crediton. (see http://www.bidefordrail.co.uk/birg_history.htm)
- The Bideford Extension Railway Act was passed in 1853. The railway opened to
Bideford (from Barnstaple) in late-1855. So building would have been
late-1853 to mid-1855. It was extended to Torrington by the London and South-Western Railway and opened in mid-1872. In Feb 1872 it was described as "nearly completed". It
was definitely delayed - in 1869 the company was planning to have it
finished by July 1871, but in August 1871 it was hoped to be completed by
the end of 1871. So building would have been during much of 1871 and early
1872. It may even have started in 1870 (so William probably only worked on the first section).

Calendar of Wills 1920
Blackmore William of 15 Westbourne Grove Ilfracombe Devonshire died 17 May 1920 Probate London 4 June to George Frederick Blackmore civil engineer and Lucy Grace Garnish widow. Effects £1853 7s 7d

The Will of William Blackmore
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
of me WILLIAM BLACKMORE of 15 Westbourne Grove Ilfracombe in the County of Devon
Gentleman I HEREBY REVOKE all former wills and testamentary dispositions at any time heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last will and testament I appoint my son George Frederick Blackmore and my son in law Frederick Garnish of Ilfracombe aforesaid (hereinafter called my trustees) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my will and I GIVE to each of them the sum of five pounds free of duty as an acknowledgment to each for his trouble in accepting and executing the trusts of my will and to the said George Frederick Blackmore a further sum of five pounds to provide for the extra expense he will be put to in acting in this capacity
I GIVE AND BEQUEATH the following legacies namely To Eva Blanche Hunt if she shall be in my service at the date of my death the sum of twenty five pounds free of duty To my daughter Eliza Ann Thorne the sum of ten pounds To my son George Frederick my gold ring with grapes on it and one pair of sleeve links made of Ceylon silver money Barclays Dictionary and the sum of ten pounds To my son Samuel John Blackmore my gold ring with sapphire in it one pair of sleeve links made of Peruvian silver money and the sum of ten pounds To my daughter Florence Mary Boxall my silver pencil case and the sum of ten pounds To my daughter Lucy Grace Garnish my large illustrated Family Bible my gold pencil case and the sum of ten pounds To my son William Henry Blackmore my pestle and mortar and to my grandson Clive Blackmore son of Samuel John Blackmore my metal Waltham Watch I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all my real property and the rest residue and remainder of my personal property wheresoever and whatsoever unto my trustees Upon trust that my trustees shall sell call in and convert into money the same or such part thereof as shall not consist of money and shall with and out of the proceeds of such sale and with and out of my ready money pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this my will or any codicil hereto and shall stand possessed of the residue thereof as to one sixth part thereof In trust to invest the same and to pay the income arising therefrom unto my daughter Eliza Ann Thorne during her life for her, separate use and after her decease to stand possessed of the said share and investments for the time being representing the same and the income arising therefrom in trust for all the children or any child of the said Eliza Ann Thorne who shall attain the age of twenty one years and if more than one in equal shares And as to one other equal sixth part thereof In trust for my son William Henry Blackmore absolutely And as to one other equal sixth part thereof In trust for my son George Frederick Blackmore absolutely And as to one other equal sixth part thereof In trust for my son Samuel John Blackmore absolutely and as to one other sixth part in trust for my daughter Lucy Grace Garnish absolutely and as to the remaining one equal sixth part thereof In trust for my daughter Florence Mary Boxhall absolutely PROVIDED ALWAYS that if any of the said children shall die in my lifetime leaving a child or children who shall survive me then and in every such case such last mentioned child or children shall take and if more than one equally between them the share which his her or their parent would have taken under this my will if such parent had survived me PROVIDED ALWAYS that in the event of the failure or determination of the trusts hereinbefore declared concerning any share in the said trust promises such share as well as any share or shares accruing or added thereto by virtue of this proviso and the income thereof or so much thereof respectively as shall NOT have been applied or disposed of under the trusts or powers herein contained or by law vested in my trustees shall go and accrue by way of addition to the other share or shares in the said trust promises if more than one in equal proportions and every such accruing share shall be held Upon the same trusts as the original share to which the same shall be added I DECLARE that my trustees may apply the whole or any part at their discretion of the income or the capital of the share (whether original or accruing) to which any minor shall for the time being be entitled in expectancy and would if of full age be entitled in possession under the trusts hereinbefore declared for or towards his or her maintenance or benefit and shall invest the surplus income (if any) in augmentation of the capital of such share AND I DECLARE that my trustees may postpone the sale and conversion of any part of my real and personal estate for so long as they shall think fit and that the rents profits and income to accrue from and after my decease of and from such part of my estate as shall for the time being remain unsold and unconverted shall after payment thereout of all incidental expenses and outgoings be paid and applied to the person or persons and in the manner to whom and in which the income (or capital as the case may be) of the proceeds of such sale and conversion would for the time being be payable or applicable under this my will if such sale and conversion had been actually made AND WHEREAS my son Thomas Albert Blackmore is indebted to me in various sums of money Now I forgive all moneys owing to me by the said Thomas Albert Blackmore IN WITNESS whereof I have
hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of March one thousand nine hundred and
fourteen
SIGNED AND ACKNOWLEDGED by the said William Blackmore the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us both being present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses (plus signature of William Blackmore)

(signatures)
E J SLEE Solicitor Ilfracombe
R J LEES Ilfracombe SolicitorsClerk.


THIS IS A CODICIL to the last will and testament of me
WILLIAM BLACKMORE of No 15 Wellbourne Grove Ilfracombe in the County of Devon which
will bears date the twenty eighth day of March one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
Whereas by my said will I appointed my son George Frederick Blackmore and my son in law Frederick Garnish to be the Executors and Trustees thereof and gave to each of
them a legacy of five pounds for their trouble in acting in the trusts thereof.
And whereas the said Frederick Garnish has since died and I am desirous of appointing an executor and trustee in his stead Now I the said William Blackmore by this codicil do hereby revoke the appointment of the said George Frederick Blackmore and Frederick Garnish as executors and trustees of my said will and do revoke the legacy of five pounds given to the said Frederick Garnish and I appoint the said George Frederick Blackmore and my daughter Lucy Grace Garnish widow of the said Frederick Garnish to be the executors and Trustees of my said will and of this my codicil
And I give and bequeath unto the said Lucy Grace Garnish a legacy of five pounds for her trouble in acting in the trusts of my said will I also confirm the legacy of five pounds given to my son the said George Frederick Blackmore for his trouble in acting as aforesaid
And in all other respects I hereby confirm my said will IN WITNESS whereof I have to this Codicil hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September one thousand nine hundred- and fourteen - WILLIAM BLACKMORE - Signed by the said William as a Codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us both being
present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses the word Frederick in the 15th and 21st lines having been first struck out and interlined after the word George in the said 15th and 21st lines
E J SLEE Solicitor Ilfracombe
A N WILSON Ilfracombe Solicitors Clerk.

THIS IS A CODICIL to the last will and testament of me William Blackmore of No 15 Westbourne Grove Ilfracombe in the County of Devon Gentleman which will is dated the 28th day of March 1914 and to a Codicil thereto dated the 17 day of September 1914 Whereas by my said will I have given a legacy of twenty five pounds to my housekeeper Eva Blanche Hunt Now I hereby revoke the said gift or legacy and in lieu thereof I give and bequeath to the said Eva Blanche Hunt a legacy of fifty pounds absolutely free of legacy duty I also direct that my executors and trustees shall within one month after my decease offer to sell my dwellinghouse and premises in which I now reside being No 15 Westbourne Grove aforesaid to my daughter Lucy Grace Garnish at the price of two hundred pounds and if she shall within a month thereafter accept such offer my trustees shall thereupon convey the said premises to the said Lucy Grace Garnish for such sum which shall fall in and form part of my residuary estate Provided always and I declare that if the said Lucy Grace Garnish shall desire the purchase money of the said premises to be paid out of her share of my estate my trustees shall retain the same out at her share accordingly In all other respects I confirm my said will IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17 day of July one thousand nine hundred and sixteen - WILLIAM BLACKMORE -
Signed and acknowledged by the said William Blackmore as a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us both being present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
E J SLEE Solicitor Ilfracombe
D G MANNING Springfield Rd Ilfracombe Clerk.

THIS IS A CODICIL to the last Will and Testament of me -
WILLIAM BLACKMORE of No 15 Westbourne Grove Ilfracombe in the County of Devon and to my two previous codicils thereto the said will being dated the 28th day of March 1914 and the Codicils the 17 day of September 1914 and the 17th day of July 1916 respectively I revoke the legacy of fifty pounds given by the last mentioned codicil to my housekeeper Eva Blanche Hunt and in lieu thereof I give her a legacy of twenty pounds In all other respects I confirm my said will and codicils AS WITNESS my hand this 23rd day of March 1918 - WILLIAM BLACKMORE -
Signed by the said William Blackmore as a third Codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us both being present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
A E HOPPER Solr Ilfracombe
D G MANNING "Cora Lyn" Springfield Rd Ilfracombe.

On the 4th day of June 1920 Probate of this will with three Codicils
thereto was granted to George Frederick Blackmore and Lucy Grace Garnish the
executors.

note E J Slee is in Kelly's 1941 Directory for Barnstaple as Ernest J Slee, Solicitor, 22-23 High Street (Barnstaple). He was a 19 year old Solicitors Clerk living in Braunton in 1901. There are current solicitors in Barnstaple called Slee Blackwell and they used to have offices in Ilfracombe. But don't have any papers that old.

note : it appears that Lucy Grace took up the offer to buy his house at 15 Westbourne Grove as that is the address on her death certificate in 1934.

Apparently, Eliza Ann Thorne (daughter) persuaded the trustees to eventually give her the legacy in cash and she counted it all out on her lap. Her father had left it in trust so she didn't squander it as he knew she would - but having got her hands on the money, that is presumably exactly what she did!

The Pestle and Mortar bequeathed to William Henry still exists and is with the Skyrme family. It is engraved "W^m Blackmore 1788". This presumably refers to his father, William Blackmore baptised Nov 1789.

The Skyrme family also have several photographs which are mounted in glass and sealed. But it is stated that there were inscriptions written on the back and these have been recreated on cards on the front. One picture frame has a picture of William Blackmore, taken in 1917 when he was 91. This is the same photo that I have a poor copy of.
With it is one, reputedly of his wife, Ann Guard. This photograph was taken in 1907 when she was 56. It states she was born in 1852. The photograph looks as if it is from a much earlier period and is of a much younger woman. I was also sure that I had seen this picture before. The surname Guard does appear occasionally in the Blackmore family and so it might be a cousin of William Henry Blackmore. Or, it is Ann Muxworthy and the picture was taken very much earlier. But the inscription does not match this hypothesis. Finally, did William marry again? If so, there is no reference to her in his will, dated 1914 and she wasn't living with him in 1901 or 1911. Obviously she was very much younger than William if this was the case as in 1907 William was 81.
Since discovered the other copy - with my cousin Geraldine.
It seems that the Skyrme family obtained a birth certificate for a William Henry Blackmore - with parents William and Ann (nee Guard). This probably explains the inscription, but it was the wrong William Henry. I suspect that the photo was actually taken around 1870 when this person was about 20 and so is likely to be his daughter Eliza Ann, who was indeed born in 1852.

Kelly's Directory 1914
P851 Devonshire Private Residents (P54 in bottom right hand corner)
Blackmore William, 15 Westbourne grove, Ilfracombe
Blackmore William Henry, 79 St Brannock's Road, Ilfracombe
P975 Devonshire Trades - Carpenters & Joiners
Blackmore Thomas A. 96 Pilton st Pilton Barnstaple

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Farm Labourer, 1851, Fremington, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Labourer, 1 Mar 1852, Fremington, Devon, England. from birth cert of daughter Eliza Ann

• Occupation: Agricultural Labourer, Mar 1857, Martlesham, Suffolk, England.

• Occupation: Railway Labourer, 17 Oct 1864, Fremington, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Labourer, 1 Oct 1867, Hammersmith, Middlesex, England.

• Occupation: Labourer, 13 Sep 1872, Hammersmith, Middlesex, England.

• Occupation: Railway Inspector, 31 Mar 1878. from marriarge certificate of Eliza Ann

• Occupation: Retired Railway Inspector, 8 Mar 1888. From Marriage certificate of Lucy Grace

• Occupation: Living on own means, 1891, Braunton, Devon, England.

• Occupation: retired Railway Construction Foreman, 1901, Ilfracombe, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Formerly Railway Inspector (permanent way), 17 May 1920, Ilfracombe, Devon, England.

• Grave, 20 May 1920, Ilfracombe, Devon, England.

William married Ann MUXWORTHY, daughter of William MUXWORTHY and Ann MOLLAND, on 8 Feb 1851 in Fremington, Devon, England.^{1 2} (Ann MUXWORTHY was born in 1831 in Bickington, Fremington, Devon, England ⁸, baptised on 24 Apr 1831 in Fremington, Devon, England,⁸ died on 17 Dec 1876 in Bickington, Fremington, Devon, England ^{9 10 11} and was buried on 21 Dec 1876 in Fremington, Devon, England ¹².)