THE FAMILY OF JOHN AND ELIZABETH in Brampford Speke
Thomas married Sarah Lendon in Stoke Cannon in 1806. They had a son William in the year of their marriage but he lived just six months. A second child Sarah was born in 1808. They lived in Bramford Speke but the mother died in 1816 at the age of 45. Thomas, with his young daughter, moved to Exeter St. Thomas where Thomas died in 1825 and his daughter in 1838, unmarried. So this line was lost. SAMUEL LOOSEMORE The continuation of the Loosemore line then rested upon Samuel who was 9 years old at he turn of the century. One wonders on the choice of the name Samuel. Is it too much to conjecture that his name came from an earlier Samuel Loosemore, carpenter and organ builder on the 17th century, whose name and stone could have been seen in Exeter Cathedral? We know quite a lot about the military activities of Samuel but the background to his adventurous life is a mystery. On the 30 January 1813 he married Mary Rowe in Bramford Speke. She is described as sojourner. We have been unable to trace either the date or her place of birth. On the 16th March, just 6 weeks after the marriage Samuel joined the 1st(East) Devon.Regt. of Militia whose HQ was stationed at Berry Head, Barracks. It must have been about that time that a child was conceived William. He may have been recruited close to his home parish. The militia was organized on a county basis with officers appointed by the |Lord Lieutenant. Volunteers and conscripts from each parish assembled each year and were liable for service anywhere in the British Isles but not overseas. Was it poverty, lack of employment, conscription or desire to serve his country which led to his decision to enlist?. William, born of this marriage was baptised on November 1813. By then Samuel was in the Regular Army, and to our knowledge did not return to his native village until 1919 One can imagine the trouble in the household. upon his return. During this six years, his wife Mary had an illegitimate child, Sarah Blamey now 4 years old His own son William was 6 years.. His father, John aged 62, died just two months after he returned. We cannot find any further reference to Mary. Did she leave Bramford Speke with the children?. We can only glimpse into the next 17 years during which Samuel remarried to a Mary Matthews in 1822 at Silverton, where an uncle of his William had been born . Again there are blanks in the record for the next thing we find was Samuel in the workhouse of St. Thomas, Exeter suffering from dropsy with another wife Elizabeth Harris. Here a son was born and named John in June 1837. Samuel died 5 months after John's birth at the age of 47 years. SAMUEL LOOSEMORE MILITARY RECORD from Ronald Loosemore) 1) 1 Samuel Loosemore Birth: 1791, Brampford Speke DEV[1] Bap: 1 May 1791, Brampford Speke DEV[2] Death: 18 Nov 1837, St Thomas RD [3],[4] Father: John Loosemore (1757-1819) Mother: Elizabeth Chambers (1749-) Samuel Loosemore's military career began on 16th March 1813 when he joined the 1st (East) Devon Regt. of Militia, whose HQ was stationed at Berry Head Barracks, on the south side of Torbay, near Brixham. It is uncertain whether he was recruited at the barracks or closer to his home parish of Brampford Speke, as recruiting details have not survived. His service as a volunteer militiaman was limited to no more than 19, or perhaps 26, days. According to the Pay Lists, he was one of 9 men who volunteered to join the regular army on 10th April, although his attestation record clearly states that he was enlisted at Langport on 3rd April, as a volunteer from the 1st Devon Militia, for 7 years service. He was posted to 9 Company, 2nd Battalion of the 88th Rgt of Foot. In the battalion's Description Book he was described as 5ft 5ins tall, of fair complexion, with light hair, hazel eyes, and long visage. He carried a sore on his right leg, 5 warts on his left hand and was 'much freckled on breast'. He was born in the parish of Brampford Speke, was by now aged 20, a labourer. If Samuel had been baptized not long after birth, as was customary, he would actually have been about 23 years old at enlistment, but one should probably not attach much significance to the discrepancy. The army would not have felt it necessary to check depositions; Samuel may have been genuinely uncertain about his birth date. The 2nd Bn was stationed at Exeter up to September 1812, at Berry Head up to December; by March 1813 it was at Ottery Barracks. Samuel Loosemore's name first appears in the pay list for Mar/May 1813, assigned to 9 Company, credited with 44 days service from 11th Apr - 24th May at 1s. per diem. At the end of the quarter a Table headed 'Militia Volunteers' contains the entry:
Bounty payments were normally offered as an inducement to volunteer. Samuel's, equivalent to 105 days pay, must have been a powerful inducement. Samuel remained with the 2nd Bn for the remainder of the quarter to June 1813 (paid £1.11s.0d for 31 days), and the following one to September 1813 (£4.12s.0d for 92 days), during which time the battalion was stationed at Berry Head. For several periods away from barracks troops, including Samuel, were billetted with various inn-keepers, who were paid for necessary expenses incurred. It is likely that the 2nd Battalion was used for recruiting and as a training unit for recruits, since on 24th October 1813, after 6 months service, Samuel was transferred to the 1st Battalion. The 1st Bn, 88th Foot had been stationed in Portugal near Lisbon from before January 1813, with troops detached in Lisbon, Peniche, Coimbra, Viseu, and other towns in the area. They remained there until April, after which they moved back into north-eastern Spain. In May 1813 they reached Vimeiro, and by June were in north-east Spain near Huarte, close to Pamplona. The long summer march across Spain must have been taxing. In July they were c30km to the north, near Olaguë; they reached Oyarzun in August. September saw them at Iriscuri and by October they were camped just inside France near the small border village of Zugarramurdi, south-south-west from St Jean de Luz. Also in October the 2nd Bn was on board the North Ash transport in Cove of Cork. 20 men joined from recruiting parties so this ship probably transferred a larger number of recruits, including Samuel, to the 1st Bn, at a rendezvous perhaps at San Sebastian. The 20 men joined from recruiting parties so this ship probably transferred a larger number of recruits, including Samuel, to the 1st Bn, at a rendezvous perhaps at San Sebastian. The 1st Bn Pay List for the quarter ending December 1813 records his arrival, listing among the privates 'Lesmore, Samuel, 7 Company, pay from 23 October, 63 days @ 6d per diem, £1.11s.6d', with a note 'From 2nd Battn 23 October'. Presumably his daily pay was reduced from 1s. to 6d because in an operational unit he would not be regarded as fully effective without further training. There can be no doubt that it was reduced: in subsequent quarters he regularly received £2.5s.0d for a quarter of 90 days, £2.5s.6d for 91 days, £2.6s.0d for 92 days, etc. He appears in all subsequent 1st Bn Pay Lists, spelled 'Lesmore' except in June 1815 when he is 'Louesmore', and September and December that year when he becomes 'Lousmore'. He remained with 7 Company until his discharge. The battalion stayed in this part of south-west France, based in November at St Barbe (a headland immediately north of St Jean de Luz), in December at Urcuray (a hamlet just east of Cambo); by January 1814 they were at Hasparren, some 15km i 1st Bn Pay List for the quarter ending December 1813 records his arrival, listing among the privates 'Lesmore, Samuel, 7 Company, pay from 23 October, 63 days @ 6d per diem, £1.11s.6d', with a note 'From 2nd Battn 23 October'. Presumably his daily pay was reduced from 1s. to 6d because in an operational unit he would not be regarded as fully effective without further training. There can be no doubt that it was reduced: in subsequent quarters he regularly received £2.5s.0d for a quarter of 90 days, £2.5s.6d for 91 days, £2.6s.0d for 92 days, etc. He appears in all subsequent 1st Bn Pay Lists, spelled 'Lesmore' except in June 1815 when he is 'Louesmore', and September and December that year when he becomes 'Lousmore'. He remained with 7 Company until his discharge. The battalion stayed in this part of south-west France, based in November at St Barbe (a headland immediately north of St Jean de Luz), in December at Urcuray (a hamlet just east of Cambo); by January 1814 they were at Hasparren, some 15km inland from Bayonne. A steady incidence of casualties in hospital, not all of whom are classified 'sick', suggests that they may have met isolated groups of French troops, though a major battle is unlikely. In February and March they moved eastwards to Sauveterre, c25km east of Hasparren and Amou, in a direct line between Sauveterre and Grenade, until in April they were at the small riverside village of Grenade, south of Mont-de-Marsan. By the following month they were encamped at Blanquefort, north of Bordeaux close to the Gironde estuary. It was probably from this neighbourhood that in June 1814 the battalion embarked on board the Lord Cathcart transport, making ready to sail for the Americas. July 1814 saw them still at sea, but in August they were at Chainbly (Charny?), near Quebec. From September 1814-March 1815 they were based at William Henry, a name repeated several times but unidentified, moving to St John's, Newfoundland for April and May. By June they were at sea again, on the Mary transport, arriving at Ghent in July, northwest of Brussels. The battalion was at Ouverville(?) in August, arriving at Montmartre on the outskirts of Paris in September 1815. By December the 88th had withdrawn to Romanville; the following month they moved northeast to Compiègne and by February 1816 arrived at Valenciennes, near the Franco-Belgium border, where they remained for the next 12 months. From December 1815 the Monthly Returns cease to mention separate battalions: references are simply to movements of the 88th Regiment of Foot. During this stay Samuel spent two short periods in hospital, in March and May 1816, though he was present at the June muster. By March 1817 the battalion were at Loupe 'near Calais', in April they were at sea aboard the Fanny transport bound for Leith, Edinburgh. The 88th's tour of duty overseas was ended. Pay Lists suggest that the battalion embarked at Calais on 30th March, disembarking at Leith on 7th April, whereas the Monthly Returns imply that the main body of men were still en route towards the end of April. Perhaps the early arrivals were an advance party of officers with some troops. During all his time abroad with 1st Bn, Samuel was paid at 6d per diem. However, from 8th April 1817, the day after his arrival at Edinburgh if the Pay List is correct, his pay was increased to 1s. per diem, and he continued to be paid at this rate for the rest of his service. Although the regiment was based in Edinburgh Castle until June 1819, Samuel spent much of his remaining service farther north. By the end 1818, 7 and 10 Companies had been detached to Fort George, an important garrison post at the head of the Firth of Inverness. At the same time 3 Company was detached to Aberdeen (later being rMonthly Returns cease to mention separate battalions: references are simply to movements of the 88th Regiment of Foot. During this stay Samuel spent two short periods in hospital, in March and May 1816, though he was present at the June muster. By March 1817 the battalion were at Loupe 'near Calais', in April they were at sea aboard the Fanny transport bound for Leith, Edinburgh. The 88th's tour of duty overseas was ended. Pay Lists suggest that the battalion embarked at Calais on 30th March, disembarking at Leith on 7th April, whereas the Monthly Returns imply that the main body of men were still en route towards the end of April. Perhaps the early arrivals were an advance party of officers with some troops. During all his time abroad with 1st Bn, Samuel was paid at 6d per diem. However, from 8th April 1817, the day after his arrival at Edinburgh if the Pay List is correct, his pay was increased to 1s. per diem, and he continued to be paid at this rate for the rest of his service. Although the regiment was based in Edinburgh Castle until June 1819, Samuel spent much of his remaining service farther north. By the end 1818, 7 and 10 Companies had been detached to Fort George, an important garrison post at the head of the Firth of Inverness. At the same time 3 Company was detached to Aberdeen (later being redeployed to Perth), and 6 Company to Berwick-on-Tweed. The Regiment's garrison duties must have covered much of Scotland. 7 Company left Fort George on 21st August 1819, arriving at Rochdale, still on detached duty, on 25th September, a march of 36 days. The company remained there for two months but by December 1819 had moved to Blackburn. For the first part of this quarter Samuel was still at Blackburn, until it is recorded that 'Louismor Samuel, to 22nd Apr, 29 days, £4.19.8d, discharged 22nd April after 7 years from 25th March,' with an unstated allowance home. As 29 days pay @ 1s. per day totals £1.9s.0d, he may have been allowed about £3.10s.0d for his journey, excluding deductions. We now return to a son of Samuel who was born in the Workhouse soon before the death of his father, Samuel . THE HISTORY OF JOHN AND ELIZABETH LOOSEMORE in Teignmouth Elizabeth Loosemore remarried after the death of her husband, Samuel.Loosemore in 1837 She remarried a John Cawley in 1843. In the 1851 Census John Cawley aged 38 was a 'cordwainer' ( a worker in leather, most likely shoemaker), while Elizabeth aged 45 was classed as a charwoman. Her son John .Loosemore (14) was recorded in the census with the surname Cawley However on his marriage certificate. when he was aged 21 he was stated a tailor, axnd that his father was William (not Samuel) Loosemore, a soldier. As he was baptized only 5 months before his father died he would have known nothing about his father. As his age is 'right' and he knew that his natural father was a soldier, it is believed that the error in his father's forename was a genuine mistake and that he is the son of Samuel of the 88th Regiment of Foot. Furthermore it seems that he was not until after he was 13 years old that he was told the name of his natural father, and as his nearest living relative was William Loosemore his half brother who was 48 years older than he was and was living in Exeter he may have presumed he was his father., John Loosemore married on 17th August 1857 to Elizabeth Mary Phillips, a young bride of just 17 years at St. Mary Arches, Exeter. Their first child, Eliza Jane was born in the same year..They soon to moved to Saxe Street, West Teignmouth where twins Emily and Frederick John were born., but Emily died soon after her birth.. They then moved to Park St, West Teignmouth; in Mar 1868; and were there for the 1871 census.. John still a tailor and his wife described as a lacemaker., They had four children, Eliza, Frederick, Frank and John . In the Census of 1881, the family had increased with the birth of a daughter Bella. Elizabeth is described as a 'Cook', Frederick as a 'Baker' and Frank as a Smithy, Eliza , the eldest had presumably left home and we have been unable to trace her In the Census of 1891, John now 52 and Elizabeth 50 had moved and were living at 55 Parson Street with two of their children still at home - John now a stone mason, and Bertha aged 17. The GRO death index gives John's age as 88 years at his death at Newton Abbot in 1924. It was remarkable life. Born in a workhouse of an old soldier who died of dropsy when he was four months. Brought up by his mother who married again. Discovered his rightful father's name after he was 13. Married at the age of 21 to a young girl of 17. Became a tailor by trade. A father to nine children Only Eliza Jane, Frederick John, Frank Henry, John, and Bertha were alive at the turn of the century 1899-1900. As for the name Loosemore, it was lost to this family line but his progeny still exists through the female lines. |
