CREDITON WORKHOUSE - BIG PROBLEM

[jleewood]

My gg grandfather, John HOLCOMBE, is in the Union Workhouse, with three of his 9 children [Eliza 12 yrs, Samuel 9 yrs and Edwin 6 yrs - listed as scholars] in the Census for 1851 and again in 1861.

In 1861 Eliza [working I gather] missing but John 6 yrs now with him and Samuel and Edwin.

This lead me to believe that his wife, Sarah Ann LUXTON, had died but no so. Can't find her in Devon in 1851, but she turns up again in 1861 visiting her brother, John, in Crediton. And again in 1871, living on her own.

John dies in 1865, but she keeps going until 1884 living in Crediton on her own.

My problem [or should I say problems] are:

Where was Sarah Anne in 1851? Did she run away from home with John. Mind you there were other younger children, that I haven't found where they were in 1851.

Why was he in the Workhouse so long - illness making work impossible?

Why were the younger children with him and not her?

Where was young John, b1836, in 1851 - with his mother?

Anybody got any suggestions, ideas, theories - I'd be happy to hear any ideas.

Janice Lee Wood

[Astoria]

There is a John Holcombe born Crediton 1837 aged 14 working as a servant n 1851

Class: HO107; Piece: 1887; Folio: 108; Page: 21

[Astoria]

Sarah Holcombe born c1807 Crediton age 44 working as a servant but listed as unmarried, also James holcombe aged 23. 1851.

Class: HO107; Piece: 1886; Folio: 280; Page: 11

[DOB7]

Possible daughter Sarah HOLCOMBE in 1851:
Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
Robert HARVEY Head M 24 M Butcher Exeter-Devon
Julia HARVEY Wife M 24 F --- Exeter-Devon
Julia HARVEY Daur - 2 F --- Exeter-Devon
Sarah HOLCOMBE Serv - 16 F --- Crediton-Devon
Thomas GOLLOP Serv U 18 M --- Honiton-Devon
Address: Smyther Street, ---
Census Place: Exeter St Olave Exeter, Devonshire
PRO Reference: HO/107/1869 Folio: 342 Page: 48 FHL Film: 0221017

and another daughter Jane:
Name Relationship Mar Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
Marianne TRAER Wife(Head) M 41 F Wife of Hop Merchant Lambeth-MID
James R. TRAER Son U 18 M Medical Student Truro-CON
Ellen TRAER Daur - 13 F Scholar at Home Falmouth-CON
Jane HOLCOMBE Serv U 21 F House Servant Newton St Cyres-DEV
Address: 6 York Buildings, ---
Census Place: Exeter St Sidwell Exeter, Devonshire
PRO Reference: HO/107/1868 Folio: 229 Page: 3 FHL Film: 0221016

[19margie]

Hello! Hope you're there after all this time. John Holcombe was also my gg grandfather! His daughter Eliza, my great grandmother, who was in the workhouse with him in 1851, had married George Elston of Crediton by the time of the next census, and her sister Sarah married George's brother William. Both couples migrated to Australia - NSW - in the early 1860s.
We think they were in the workhouse because for some reason he lost his job as a tenant farmer. Possibly his wife Sarah and older daughter Jane were in service, I.e. had work, so didn't need to go the the workhouse.