| THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH in Wonford, Exeter We left this family with William Loosemore aged 6 years when his father returned from 7 years in the Army service. We cannot fill in the next 28 years - we presume he went with his Mother and her daughter Sarah Blamey, possibly to Ide to the South west of Exeter. The next sighting is on May 2nd 1847 when William aged 34 years marrying Elizabeth Counter aged 25 both of whom employed at Hills Court, St. Edmunds. He was a labourer (gardener) and she a servant. From the marriage certificate it is clear that he could neither read or write for he gave the name of Lusmore, the Devon phonetic equivalent of Loosemore. They were married in the parish church of St. David's Exeter 2nd May 1847 In the census of 1851 they had a house of their own, 6, Fishers Cottages Exeter' William was 37 and Elizabeth 29 and a son William aged 1 year. They did not live long in Fishers Cottages as they set out on a venture to start a laundry in Heavitree. A second child Elizabeth, was born in 'Old Abbey' Heavitree in 1853. There followed two sons George b1856 and Thomas James b1858. From the 1861 Census In the household of Old Abbey, were two servants one of whom was Elizabeth Cornish. Elizabeth Cornish was the daughter of Sarah Blamey Loosemore, the illegitimate daughter of Mary Loosemore (nee Rowe), mentioned in the previous chapter.. This may support the idea that William went with his mother and Sarah Blamey to Ide when Samuel returned from his service in the Army. The other servant, Susan French was born 1841 and is described as a laundress. William (47) was classed as a labourer and Elizabeth his wife (39 as a laundress employing two women . There were children William (11) Elizabeth (8) and George (5) all classed as scholars and the youngest Thomas James aged 3 years. From the 1871 Census The family had moved to Cypress Cottage, Wonford. William was now classed as a Gardener, Elizabeth his wife as a laundress. William now aged 21 was a carpenter/joiner and Elizabeth (18) as a laundress. Neither George (15) nor Thomas James (13) were at Cypress Cottage when the census was taken . George was living as a farm hand (apprentice) in Cullumpton and Thomas James who became a blacksmith may have been an apprentice also.another son Frank (9) had been born in 1862 and was a scholar. There were two servants a Sarah Cavill (20) a laundress and Caroline Griffin (19). Sarah's inclusion in the household was significant because the eldest son William was to marry this Sarah four years later. 1874 saw two weddings in the family of William and Elizabeth, and early in 1974. Their daughter Elizabeth (21) married William Gregory. Their son William (25) had travelled to Bournemouth where the new town was being rapidly built up and there was much demand for joiners. On Christmas Day 1874 William and Sarah Jane Cavill were married at St. Michael Church, Heavitree. They returned to, and set up their home, in Spring Cottage, Victoria Road, in the Springborne District of Bournemouth In 1878 George enlisted in the Royal Artillery. He signed up for 12 years Physical details: Height 5;6", chest 3'1",fair complexion, grey eyes, no distinctive marks, C of E. Details of Service: Woolwich 3rd January 1877: Newcastle 22 June 1877:H.M.S Troopship Malabar 23rd November 1877: Landed in India: Moolton 12 December 1877, Multun, Indus Valley, Jullunder 27 March 1879 ague (malarial fever) on several occasions: Ranal Pindi 23 Dec 1879 Hospital .No admission - several times diaorrhea: Mooltan 21 November 1983. H.M.S Malabar 6 Jan 1885 ague. Woolwich 3 February 1885 Record. Attested Gunner 30 December 1876 Promoted 30 November 1880 a/bombardier Promoted 2 July 1882 bombardier Tried and Reduced 27 February 1883 Gunner forfeited pay Promoted 11 August 1884 a/bombardier Reduced 5 February 1885 misconduct Army reserve 1 Dec 1885 attested at Exeter to complete engagement Campaigns Afghanistan 1878, 1879 Medals Decorations Afghanistan 1878, 1879, 1880 Extra Qualifications Course in Equitation On the 30 October 1878 William (64) died in South Wonford and his will was proved by his wife Elizabeth with effects under £200. Everything was left to his widow and then to their children equally. From the Census 1881 The household was depleted and only Elizabeth (59) and Frank, her son (19) described as a Paperhanger, were left of the family in Cypress Cottage.. Elizabeth must have carried on the laundry business for she had a laundry maid, living in, namely Eliza Force. Apart from Elizabeth and her son Frank, William and Sarah Jane had set up home in Bournemouth and they were still living in Spring Cottage , Victoria Avenue. William continued his trade as a Joiner and Elizabeth as a laundress. They now had three children , Ellen Elizabeth,(5) William Frank (3) and George (2) Elizabeth and William Gregory were living in Wonford, next door to her mother , Thomas James was following his career as a blacksmith and George was still in the Royal Artillery Thomas James Loosemore In 1881 he was in service in Doddiscombleigh parish, living in Inchpool Cottage as an apprentice to George Smallbridge who was ,married, aged 36 blacksmith Devon, Dunsford., George's wife, . one son and 5 daughters. James was described then as a servant to a blacksmith aged 24 years. In 1883 Thomas James married Mary Harriet Tuck and they had a son Thomas Samuel, born 5th December 1883. Was Samuel his grandfather remembered by the name given to his son.? In 1891 he and his family were living in S Wonford, Heavitree parish, census return, : South Wonford, Heavitree psh, 2 Milford Cottages,
In Exeter Thomas James (Blacksmith) married Mary Harriet Tuck in 1883( first quarter) and on 3rd December 1883 a son Thomas Samuel was born. Two deaths within one week On January 4th 1894 Elizabeth (aged 74) died at South Wonford and on 9th January 1894 her son George (aged 38) died in the Devon and Exeter Hospital. For Elizabeth the Administrator was William Loosemore, carpenter and joiner, from Bournemouth and her effects were £98. The sureties were Thomas James, S. Wonford (Smith) and Frank Loosemore (painter and paper hanger) now living in Summerton Street Exeter , .. For George probate was given to Elizabeth Gregory (wife of William Gregory) Effects £32. For William and Sarah Jane in Bournemouth the family increased. : Ernest Edwin was born June 12th 1881, Frederick James was born 10th December 1882, Albert Victor was born November 9th 1883 and Annie Florence was born 24th December 1887 At the turn of the century 1900. in Exeter The Loosemore name was held by Thomas James Loosemore a blacksmith, his wife Mary Harriet and his son Thomas Samuel (7) Frank Loosemore, Painter and Decorator. with his wife Alice and daughter Vera Dorothy. In Bournemouth William and Sarah with their family Ellen Elizabeth, William Frank*, , Ernest Edwin, Frederick James*, Albert Victor and Annie Florence. George Loosemore now in the Hampshire Regiment and serving in India *There is a doubt about William Frank being in Bournemouth on January 1st 1900. The legend is that he went to Australia to find work and then returned to marry Frances M Burge on 8th August 1901 in Christchurch RD. There is also a doubt about Frederick James being in Bournemouth on January 1st 1900 On January 18th 1900 he was attested into the Hampshire Regiment without his parent's knowledge, giving his age as 18 years 11months (actually he was 18 and 1 month) Description Height 5ft 6 ins., Complexion - fresh, Eyes - Hazel , Hair - Brown, Tattooed L.F.A. Flag and other mark on arm From years 1900 to 1918 Exeter Branch Mary Harriett, wife of Thomas James, (blacksmith) died in 1915 A son for Thomas Samuel and his wife Florence, Percy W. Loosemore was born in 1912 Frank and Alice with daughter Vera Dorothy continued to live in Exeter From years 1900 to 1918 .-The Bournemouth Branch William Frank Loosemore William returned from Australia and married Francis M Burge on August 8th 1901 .They remained in Bournemouth until the first child William Charles was born on 10th June 1902 It is not known when they sailed for Australia, but a child , Keith,was born in Redfern, a suburb of Sydney Australia in 1915, but he died in the same year. They had two other children. Raymond Frank who was born 17th August 1916 at Redfern. They then moved into a house , 68 Wilson Street, Botany, which I believe was built by William and friends as was the custom in Australia in those times. George Loosemore . born 13th January 1879 Born St Clements parish, Bournemouth, labourer, age 19yrs when previous service in 3rd Dorset Regt, discharged by purchase. Age 20yr; height 5' 6"; weight 128 lb; chest 34/35½"; complexion fresh; eyes grey; hair fair; religion C of E.
He died by an accident in 1915. Fell from a ladder and had a broken spine. He was critically ill for some time and finally died. Ernest Edwin Loosemore He was a carpenter before the 1st World War Enlisted into Regular Army Royal Engineers on 5th November 1914, at Bournemouth aged 33years and 4 months Trade - Carpenter , height 5 feet 6 ½ inches. Weight 10stone 11 lbs. Chest 36 ½ inches. Military History: Carpenter (very superior) 2/- Joined 89th field company 22nd February 1915 Appointed Lance Corporal 16th December 1915 Promoted 2nd Corporal 15th July 1916 Promoted Sergeant 7th December 1916 Service Home from 5th November 1914 - 20th May 1915 Service in France from 21 May 1915 Arrived at R.E. Base Depot from front 7th December 1917 15 days leave from 4th March 1918 Appointed vice Company Sergeant Major 9th March 1919 Discharged 18th July 1919 Medals 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal During his service he had 3 spells in hospital 14th March 1916 to 17th March 1916 18th August to 20th August 1916 28th August 1916 Wounded at duty no record of stay in hospital Frederick James Loosemore He continued to serve in the Hampshire Regiment from January 1900 until 27th January 1914 In the Army records it gives that before enlistment he was a 'carman'. During his service he had been employed as first a 'carman' then a cook in the Officers Mess, and later a carpenter - employed in the pioneers shop. The Regiment returned to England from Pretoria in February 1910 He possessed a 3rd Class Certificate of Education and served in the South Africa Campaign 1902. MEDALS aad DECORATIONS the Queens medals + 4 clasps namely South Africa 1902, Transvaal , Orange Free State and Cape Colony . He also won a medal in 1902 as a member of the unit football team winners. During his 15 years service he spent 7 years overseas..and was discharged on 27th January 1914
Frederick was discharged from the regular Army in January 1914. Then in August 1914 war was declared against Germany. On 24th October 1915 he enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps. as a private but on 5th November 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and Sergeant on 21st, March 1916.when he went to France on active service landing at Rouen on 27th March 1916. He was to spend the next three years in the war zone in France, driving or supervising transport for troops and supplies. He had 10 days leave from 24th January 1917. His next leave was for 14 days from 7th to 21st February 1918. The war ended on 11th November 1918 and Frederick was discharged with the rank of acting Warrant .Officer . on 26 March 1919 MEDALS: War Medal 1914 - 1918. Victory Medal and Meritorious Service Medal Mentioned in dispatches. During the war years Annie was employed at Holton Heath Munitions factory. There was a reconciliation between herself and she moved to a house 63 Shelley Road, Boscombe next to her parents at 61, Shelley Road .She travelled to work to Hamworthy daily by train from Boscombe Station. A son was born on 5th November 1918 while he was still serving in the R.A.S.C.. There was quite a dispute about the name to be given He was finally christened Frederick Victor when his father returned from war service Frederick then regained his position as a driver for the Bournemouth Corporation Transport Albert Victor He married Alice Saxby in the first quarter of 1905. His occupation was a van driver. They had 3 children before 1918 - Kathleen Nellie born 1st July 1905, Frederick George, born 1st March 1908, and Doris M. born 1914. Albert was not called up for the war, because he did not pass the medical test. Annie Florence Annie married Thomas Peaty in 1908. Two girls were born , Florence Ann b 4th February 1909 and Elsie born 7th July 1913 both in Bournemouth.. Thomas Peaty had strong views of a pacifist nature and refused to be enlisted in war service. I think he spent some time in detention for his views. Later to be made a Town Councillor. for the Malmesbury Park Ward. |
