Samuel John BEST

  General Notes:

Births Sep 1851
Best Samuel John St Thomas 10 223
- mother's name Parker on new GRO index

Birth Certificate
In the Exmouth sub district of St Thomas District in the county of Devon
Twelfth August 1851 Fore Street Littleham, Samuel John, Boy, James Best, Harriett Best formerly Parker, Tailor.
Registered by James Best, Father, Fore Street Exmouth, on Eighteenth September 1851

Marriages Jun 1875 St. Thomas 5b 122
BEST Samuel John
Cawley Henry Richard
HOOPER Elizabeth Jane
Moss Amelia Susannah

Marriage Certificate
on Fifth May 1875 at Glenorchy Chapel Exmouth (district of St Thomas in the county of Devon)
Samuel John Best, 24 years, Bachelor, Tailor, Fore Street Exmouth. Father James Best, Tailor.
Elizabeth Jane Hooper, 24 years, Spinster, Servant, Alexandra Terrace Exmouth. Father Benjamin George Hooper, Tailor.
Witnesses were James Best (probably groom's father), Harriet Perriam (groom's sister)
- both bride and groom were actually 23 years old

Death Dec 1938
Devon Central 5b p40 BEST Samuel J, aged 87

Death Certificate
Died on Twenty fifth November 1938 at 8 Albion Street, Withycombe Raleigh, Exmouth
Samuel John Best, Male, 87 years, Master Tailor.
Registered by S J Best, Son, In attendance, of 8 Albion Street Exmouth, 26 November 1938.
- S J Best (son) - Samuel John, my "Uncle John"

Church records show burial in plot E6-4 at St John in the Wilderness, Exmouth and refer to his full name. Give burial date as 29/11/1938
The insciption on grave is :

In Loving Memory of
Elizabeth Best
Died October 9th 1934
Aged 83 years
A beloved mother
Also Samuel John Best
Husband of the above
Who died Nov 25th 1938
Aged 87 years

Probate Index 1938
Best Samuel John of 8 Albion Street Exmouth died 25 November 1938 probate 29 December 1938 to Samuel John Best tailor, son of the deceased. Effects £530 10s 4d (£494 18s 6d net).
In his will dated 15 October 1934, the executors were his daughter and son, Ada Tuck Best and Samuel John Best. He stated that all of the furniture and effects in 8 Albion Street were the property of Ada and that all stock, stock-in-trade, the shop and trade fixtures and fittings previously owned by him had been sold to his son Samuel John Best. All property belonging to him to be divided equally between all the children who were then still living (by my reckoning there were 9 - all except George and Kate).
NB The will was signed just three days after the funeral of his wife.


1861 census
Fore Street, Exmouth (Littleham), Devon
RG9/1382 F19 P14
Henry Parker, Head, Wid, 36, Painter, Devon Exmouth
Henry Parker, Son, , 10, , Devon Exmouth
Mary J Parker, Daur, , 9, , Devon Exmouth
George Parker, Son, , 7, , Devon Exmouth
---
Joseph Parker, Lodger, Wid, 80, Cooper, Devon East Budleigh
---
James Best, Head, M, 50, Tailor, Devon Exmouth
Harriet Best, Wife, M, 50, , Devon Exmouth
Harriet Best, Daur, Un, 14, Honiton Lace Maker, Devon Exmouth
John Best, Son, , 10, , Devon Exmouth
George Best, Son, Mar, 24, Tailor, Devon Exmouth

1871 census
RG10/2047 F87 P12
Fore Street, Exmouth (Littleham), Devon
James Best, Head, Mar, 60, Tailor, Devon Exmouth
Harriet do, Wife, Mar, 60, , Devon Exmouth
John do, Son, Unm, 19, Tailor, Devon Exmouth
James Perriam, Grandson, , 2, , Devon Exmouth
William Shute, Boarder, Unm, 20, Shoe Maker, Devon Exeter

1881 Census - George St is a turning off Albion Street
confirmed address from birth certificate of Harriet Louisa
Dwelling:13 George St
Census Place: Exmouth (Withycombe Rawleigh), Devon, England
Source:FHL Film 1341516 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2139 Folio 47 Page 14
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
John BESTM29 MExmouth, Devon, England
Rel:Head
Occ:Tailor
Elizabeth BESTM29 FTopsham, Devon, England
Rel:Wife
Rose BEST 3 FExmouth, Devon, England
Rel:Daur
Occ:Scholar
Alfred BEST 1 MExmouth, Devon, England
Rel:Son
Note that name is just "John" on census

1891 Census
RG12/1676 F56 P34
13 George Street, Exmouth (Withycombe Raleigh), Devon
Samuel J Best, Head, M, 40, Tailor, Devon Exmouth

Elizabeth J do, Wife, M, 40, , Devon Topsham
Rose M do, Daur, , 14, , Devon Exmouth
Alfred J do, Son, , 12, Scholar, Devon Exmouth
Kate do, Daur, , 10, Scholar, Devon Exmouth,
Emily E do, Daur, , 8, Scholar, Devon Exmouth
James A do, Son, , 6, Scholar, Devon Exmouth
Harriet L do, Daur, , 5, Scholar, Devon Exmouth

Eliza do, Daur, , 1, , Devon Exmouth
Jessie H do, Daur, , 1m, , Devon Exmouth

1901 Census
RG13/2029 F69 P13
7 George Street, Exmouth (Withycombe Raleigh), Devon
Samuel J Best, Head, M, 49, Master Tailor (employer), Devon Exmouth
Elizabeth J do, Wife, M, 49, , Devon Topsham
Alfred J do, Son, S, 21, Tailor (working at home), Devon Exmouth
Kate do, Daur, S, 19, Shop Assistant, Devon Exmouth
Emily do, Daur, S, 17, (working at home), Devon Exmouth
James do, Son, S, 15, Tailor (working at home), Devon Exmouth
Louisa do, Daur, , 14, , Devon Exmouth
Eliza do, Daur, , 12, , Devon Exmouth
Jessie do, Daur, , 10, , Devon Exmouth
Ada do, Daur, , 8, , Devon Exmouth
John do, Son, , 6, , Devon Exmouth
- Daughter Rose was living away as a nurse in Exminster at the Devon County Lunatic Asylum see RG13/2040 F145 P6, Schedule 20

1911 census
RG14PN12578 RG78PN722 RD270 SD1 ED7 SN45
8 Albion Street, Exmouth, Devon
Samuel John Best, Head, 60, Married, Tailor, Exmouth Devon, working on own account, at home
Elizabeth Jane Best, Wife, 60, Married, Assisting in the Business, Topsham Devon
Harriett Louisa Best, Daughter, 24, Single, Assisting in the Business, Exmouth Devon
Eliza Best, Daughter, 21, Single, Assisting in the Business, Exmouth Devon
Jessie Hooper Best, Daughter, 20, Single, Assisting in the Business, Exmouth Devon
Ada Tuck Best, Daughter, 18, Single, Corset Maker, Exmouth Devon
against Samuel John - married 36 years, 11 children born alive, 10 living, 1 died - should be stated against the wife
The house had 6 rooms
- no infirmities shown in the final column of the form

The family had a tailoring business at 8 Albion Street with a workshop above. Some of the family worked there and also had a deaf/dumb worker (called "Dummy") who worked, sewing garments, sitting cross legged on the table - apparently a common way that tailors worked.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Tailor, 5 May 1875, Exmouth, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Tailor, 4 Dec 1886, Exmouth, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Master Tailor, 25 Nov 1938, Exmouth, Devon, England.

• Occupation: Tailor, 17 May 1910, Exmouth, Devon, England.

Samuel married Elizabeth Jane HOOPER, daughter of Benjamin George HOOPER and Eliza ROW, on 5 May 1875 in Exmouth, Devon, England.¹ (Elizabeth Jane HOOPER was born on 3 Jan 1852 in Topsham, Devon, England ⁴, baptised on 21 Apr 1852 in Topsham, Devon, England, died on 9 Oct 1934 in Exmouth, Devon, England ⁵ and was buried on 12 Oct 1934 in St John In The Wilderness, Withycombe, Exmouth, Devon, England.)