Mary Ann TONKIN b1815 - Stoke Damerel, Devon

[johnszymala]

I seem to have hit a brick wall with Mary Ann Tonkin b 1815. She was baptised 24 Dec 1815 at Stoke Damerel, Devon and her father is shown as William (labourer). She married a John Letcher b1815 St Agnes on 6 October 1838 at St Agnes, Cornwall where her father is shown as William Tonkin (miner). She had two children by that marriage.

I am unable to find anything of her family history prior to her baptism in Stoke Damerel and would appreciate any information or direction.

John

[janbooth]

There is this family in the 1841 census of St Agnes Cornwall:

HO107/149/2, folio 47, page 1
Goonreth

William TONKIN 60 Tin Miner
Agnes do 55
William do 30 Tin Miner
Mary do 15
George do 15
Agnes do 14

All born in the county.

Janet

Census records courtesy TNA

[janbooth]

Not sure the above census is the correct William TONKIN as Mary Ann's baptism at Stoke Damerel shows her mother to be Mary. Have you noticed that there are 2 baptisms for a Mary Ann TONKIN at Stoke Damerel one on 4 July 1813 to a William & Mary Tonkin, Miner and the other on 24 December 1815 to a William & Mary TONKIN, Labourer - could these be two different William TONKINs? Ah, probably not as there is a burial at Stoke Damerel on 11 September 1814 of a Mary Ann TONKIN aged 1 year 4 months. (all sources Devon Family History Society records)

Looking at the 1851 census for John & Mary Ann LETCHER, they appear to have 6 children and are living in Calstock, Cornwall (HO107/1901, folio 163, page 57) James, John, William, Thomas, Rachael & Charles H. They are still in Calstock in the 1861 census with the addition of sons Stephen & William H although daughter Rachael has now become Jackolia!

And could this be Mary Ann's parents in the 1851 census of St Agnes:

HO107/1909, folio 610, page 27
Trevellas Coomb

William TONKIN Head Mar 63 Tin Miner Cornwall St Agnes
Mary do Wife Mar 52 do do
George do Son Un 23 Tin Miner do do
Emelia do Daur Un 18 Household Duties do do
William H do Son Un 15 Tin Miner do do
Mary do Daur Un 13 Tayloress do do
Elisha do Son 10 Scholar do do
Paul do Son 7 do do do

The family are in the 1841 census of St Agnes with the addition of a daughter Prudence aged 15 born Cornwall.

Janet

Census records courtesy TNA

[pippycat]

I think this is John and Mary Letcher in 1841 - the same family Janet mentions in thread 3

1841 Wales census: 1420 book 2 f7 p8
Crown Nanty Yard? Cefenpenmar, Aberdare, Glamorgan

John Letcher 1816 Collier not born in county
Mary 1816 not born in county
James 1840 not born in county
John 10 months, born in Glamorgan.

Living next door:

Stephan? Tonkin 1811 Collier
Jane 1816
William 1835
Mary 1837
Stephan 1839
none are born in Glamorgan.

1841 Wales census: 1420 book 2 f9 p11
Tin founders? Cefenpenmar, Aberdare - not far from John.

William Letcher 1811 Collier
Mary 1816
not born in Glamorgan.

This William, with surname transcribed as "Liteker" is living in Devon in 1851...I thought he might be John's brother?

1851 census: 1883 f48 p32
St Giles, Beerferris, Devon

William Liteker 1814 St Agnes. Miner
wife: Mary 1816 St Agnes. Miner
dau: Ann 1843 Aberdare, Wales
son: James 1845 Aberdare
dau: Mary 1848 Beerferris, Devon
dau: Elizabeth 1850 Beerferris

The image does read Letcher for the surname.


John, I don't even know if its 'your' family, but I'll plough on regardless - if they don't belong to you, might be of benefit to someone else

Think this is Mary, with her son Thomas in 1891 census: 4322 f19 p32
Red Hill, Millom, Cumberland

Thomas Letcher 1851 St Ann's, Cornwall. Lead Miner
wife: Cathrine 1854 Almwych? Denbigh?
mother: Mary Annie Letcher 1814 Devonport, Devon
dau: Mary Ellen 1875 Millom
dau: Lillian Jane 1888 Millom
nephew: Wm Thompson 1883 Almwych?

Thomas and Catherine still at same place in 1901 (with Mary) and 1911 (no Mary).
details if you wanted them.


Im guessing: I think John Letcher died by 1881 - Mary is a widow on 1881 Wales census:
5482 f54 p14
Kings Head yard, Llanidloes, Montgomery

Mary Ann Letcher 1815 Devonport, Devon. Wid. Charwoman (probably in the Kings Head pub next door!)

Rebecca

[johnszymala]

Rebecca, Thank you I think you are on the right track as they did settle in Millom, Cumberland and Mary Ann Letcher died there in 1910. I had details of the following census (1841, 1851, 1861) but not 1881 or 1891 so thank you. A lot of information for me to explore. John

[johnszymala]

Janet, Thank you for that lead which I will look at and try to make the connection with St Agnes census of 1851 which is not immediately obvious. If I am reading you correctly I need to look at the 1861 census and link in William H. ( sorry I am slow at times). John

[janbooth]

No worries, John. I just meant that John & Mary Ann are still in Calstock in the 1861 census but that the census showed that they had two more children by then, Stephen & William H. They got about a bit, didn't they.

Janet