DEVON-L Archives

From: "mary" <>
Subject: New Member's Interests
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2000 16:12:17 +0100

Hello! I'm a new subscriber to the List, researching the surnames JARVIS
and THACKRAY/THACKERAY.
My Great Great Grandfather was THOMAS JARVIS, who was a "Sawyer" aged 44
at the time of the 1851 Census, living in the parish of St. Sidwell, Exeter,
but born in Plymouth. In 1834 he had married ELIZABETH BRAY, born at
Kilkhampton, Cornwall (source: IGI) at St. Mary Major Church, Exeter. They
had seven children listed at the time of the Census, but four years later my
Great Grandmother, SOPHIA, was born. As JARVIS is an uncommonly common name
in Devon, I am wondering how on earth I can trace THOMAS'S forebears!
Suggestions welcomed!
SOPHIA was first married to someone called DOWNIE, but in 1884 she was
a widow, and married my Great Grandfather, EZRA THACKRAY, a Corporal in the
Royal Marines, born in Derbyshire. Ezra became a Sergeant, and spent all
his Service career at East Stonehouse Barracks as a gunnery instructor. He
and Sophia had six children, including my Grandfather, EZRA HARRY, who spelt
his name THACKERAY, and laid claim to William Makepeace as an uncle!
However, as Ezra Senior's Mother was a tailoress who had to make a mark
instead of signing her name on his birth certificate, any connection with
W.M. Thackeray the author seems highly unlikely!
All efforts to trace descendents of my Grandfather's brothers and
sisters have so far failed. Is there anyone out there with any knowledge of
Herbert Frank, Florence Beatrice, Thomas William, Teresa Jessie or Charles
Edwin - all born at East Stonehouse in the 1880's and 90's? (or their
descendents, of course)

Mary Gray. DFHS No.9599

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• New Member's Interests by "mary" <>