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Hello,
My name is Noel Swalling from Adelaide, South Australia.
I am trying to find more information about Ann Down who was
born, i believe, in Sampford Spiney, Devon c.1816.
Her parents were Richard Down,a labourer and Mary Kennard.
Mary was about 15 when Ann was born. Ann married a Levi
Shaw from Keighley in Yorkshire on 15 August 1943 in the
Parish Church, Stoke Demarel, Devon. In 1847 they migrated
to Adelaide, South Australia in 1847. Levi died in October 1854
in an omnibus accident in Hindley Street, Adelaide when a horse
bolted and he tried to jump free as the horses took off in panic.
Ann lived until 1898 and died in Port Augusta at the top of St,
Vincent`s Gulf aged 82.
If anyone can help me find more info on Richard or Mary`s
families it would be much appreciated.
Sincerely, Noel Swalling

??? Ann Down with family in the 1841 Census?????

1841 Census

Name: Ann Down
Age: 24
Estimated birth year: abt 1817
Gender: Female
Where born: Devon, England
Civil Parish: Sampford Spiney
Hundred: Roborough
County/Island: Devon
Country: England

Registration district: Tavistock
Sub-registration district: Buckland Monachorum

Piece: 241
Book: 1
Folio: 11
Page Number: 17

Richd Down 40 Ag Lab
Mary Down 40
Ann Down 24 Wool Dresser
John Down 15
Charles Down 10
Mary Down 10
Jane Down 5

Address:- Green


NOTE:- all ages were supposed to be rounded down to nearest 5 on the 1841.

???? children of Ann and Levi??

SHAW, FREDERICK DOWN mmn DOWN
GRO Reference: 1844 J Quarter in TAVISTOCK UNION Volume 09 Page 500

SHAW, MARY JANE mmn DOWN
GRO Reference: 1845 D Quarter in TAVISTOCK UNION Volume 09 Page 465

Richd Down 40 Ag Lab
Mary Down 40
Ann Down 24 Wool Dresser
John Down 15
Charles Down 10
Mary Down 10
Jane Down 5


There is a big age range between the children.

The marriage to Mary Kennard took place on 11 January 1826

I'm going to propose that Mary Kennard was Richard's second wife, and that Ann (and possibly John) was the child of the first wife who may or may not have been called Mary


This supposition may or may not be helped by the fact that the 1851 Census shows another child, Danial. Richard is a widower..........

1851 Census

Name: Richard Down
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1801
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Milton Abbot, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Sampford Spiney
County/Island: Devon
Country: England

Registration district: Tavistock
Sub-registration district: Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 6

Household schedule number: 74
Piece: 1883
Folio: 212
Page Number: 21

Richard Down Widower, Ag Lab
Danial Down 30 b.ca 1821, Whitchurch, Devon, Ag Lab
Charles Down 24 b.ca 1827, Whitchurch, Ag Lab
Jane Down 17 b.ca 1834, Helston, Cornwall

Address:- Honabridge


By 1861, Richard appears to have re-married

1861 Census

Name: Richard Down
Age: 60
Estimated birth year: 1801
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Maryam Down
Gender: Male
Where born: Milton Abbot, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Sampford Spinney
County/Island: Devon
Country: England

Registration district: Tavistock
Sub-registration district: Buckland Monachorum
ED, institution, or vessel: 12d

Household schedule number: 91
Piece: 1458
Folio: 54
Page Number: 21

Richard Down 60
Maryam Down 50 <<<<<<<<<<<<<< Maryann on image
Henry Down 16
Mary Down 13
Louisa Down 7
William Herdina 45 Lodger
Thomas Hellings 50 Lodger

Address:- Green


from FindMyPast ..........


Devon Marriages

First name(s) Richard
Last name Down
Denomination Anglican
Age 55
Birth year 1797
Marriage year 1852
Marriage date 20 Apr 1852
Marriage place Sampford Spiney
Father's first name(s) Simon
Father's last name Down
Spouse's first name(s) Mary Ann
Spouse's last name Down
Spouse's age 42
Spouse's birth year 1810
Spouse's father's first name(s) John
Spouse's father's last name Mortimore
County Devon
Country England
Page 23
Archive Plymouth & West Devon Record Office
Record set Devon Marriages
Category Life Events (BDMs)
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Collections from England, United Kingdom


from image ...............

Richard
Widower
Labourer
Address:- Honabridge (??spelling)
Father:- Simon Down, Labourer

Mary Ann
Widow
no occupation shown
Address:- Honabridge (??? sp)
Father:- John Mortimore, Labourer

Witnesses:- William Howe and Jane Down

Bride, groom and both witnesses were unable to write.


NOTE:- In the 1851 Census Mary Ann Down lived next door to Richard ..........

1851 Census

Name: Maryann Down
Age: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Sampford Spiney, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Sampford Spiney
County/Island: Devon
Country: England

Registration district: Tavistock
Sub-registration district: Buckland
ED, institution, or vessel: 6

Household schedule number: 73
Piece: 1883
Folio: 212
Page Number: 21

Maryann Down 40
Sarah Down 17
Sophia Down 15
Francis Down 13
Elizabeth Down 11
Henry Down 5
Maryann Down 3



It looks as though Louisa age 7 on the 1861 Census could be Richard's child

Maryann's first husband .........


Devon Marriages

First name(s) Mary Ann
Last name Mortimore
Age -
Birth year -
Marriage year 1832
Marriage date 30 Sep 1832
Denomination Anglican
Place Plymouth, St Andrew
Residence Saint Andrews. Plymouth
Spouse's first name(s) Henry
Spouse's last name Down
Spouse's residence Saint Andrew. Plymouth
County Devon
Archive Plymouth & West Devon Record Office
Record set Devon Marriages
Category Life Events (BDMs)
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Collections from England, United Kingdom

from image:-

both of this Parish

Witnesses:- Joseph Kershaw and Catherine Lewis (her mark)

NOTE:- Both Henry and Mary Ann signed the Register

??????????????????////

Richard said his father's name was Simon on the marriage to Maryann

The birth year is too early, but could this possibly be his baptism?????


Devon Baptisms

First name(s) Richard
Last name Down
Birth year 1793
Birth date ? ? 1793
Baptism year 1793
Baptism date 30 Mar 1793
Denomination Anglican
Place Milton Abbot
Father's first name(s) Simon
Mother's first name(s) Grace
Mother's last name -
County Devon
Country England
Archive reference 797/4
Page -
Archive Plymouth & West Devon Record Office
Record set Devon Baptisms
Category Life Events (BDMs)
Subcategory Parish Baptisms
Collections from England, United Kingdom

Maryann with her first husband in 1841 .........

1841 Census

Name: Henry Down
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England
Civil Parish: Cullompton
Hundred: Hayridge
County/Island: Devon
Country: England

Registration district: Tiverton and Dulverton
Sub-registration district: Cullompton

Piece: 225
Book: 5
Folio: 19
Page Number: 32

Henry Down 30 Weaver
Mary Ann Down 30
Sarah Down 7
Sophia Down 6
Francis Down 3
Elizabeth Down 1

Address:- Cow or Crow Green

Think that could be below reference, from Genuki Devon...

Chris :)

large village of Horrabridge, which is partly in the parishes of Sampford-Spiney

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/BucklandMonachorum


http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/MiltonAbbot/MarriagesGrooms1754

23-Jul 1780 Banns Simon DOWN of this Parish Signed Grace RETH of this Parish

23-May 1805 Banns Simon DOWN Widower of this Parish Signed Margaret LARK Spinster of the Parish of Lanteglos Cornwall


(and looks like 12 children for them on below)

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/MiltonAbbot/Baptisms1724


http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/MiltonAbbot/Burials1653

6-Jan 1805 Grace DOWN

Hello Sylvialn & Chris Ho,

Thank you both for the information. i find it very helpful.
I find it curious that Richard Down and Mary Kennard did not
marry until 1826. I did find a marriage reference to a Mary
Kennard marrying a William Irish in 1816 which does put a
cat among the pigeons ! Perhaps this is another Mary Kenn
ard, hopefully time will tell.
Again, thank you both for your efforts.
Noel Swalling
Adelaide