Emails from people looking for info or friends and Emails to us and questions

People looking for info and contacts, can you help? (if you can help please contact them. Maybe let me know so I can add the answer below, or later delete some) Please send your letters, PLEASE state if you want your email address or your phone number shown here. If not YOUR MESSAGE WILL NOT BE SHOWN, how else will they be able to contact you back? Thank you email Webmaster Greg

OR GO TO OLDER EMAILS, PAGE 2

My husband, Victor Cook, is trying to find out information about the school he was sent to with his sister, and cousins, during the second war. It was called The Elms School, Salterton Road, Exmouth, and he was there for quite a while. This would have been between 1940 and 1944. He remembers the teacher telling the children to get under the table quickly, because a german plane was seen, a bomb dropped and the windows shattered. He cannot track down any record of this building being a school, so probably was one of the "private" establishments that took in evacuees. He thinks he was sent from London, although he originally came from Kent. If this can gain any help, it would be most welcome. Best wishes Julie Cook
Vereth@talktalk.net

Hi there

I am wondering if anyone remembers the Exmouth Convalescent Children's Home. This is the name that is on my doctor's medical notes from when I was a child. I attended the Home for a month in 1950 when a small child.

I remember a large detached house standing in its own grounds with a couple of outbuildings. Each Sunday morning, we would all walk for around fifteen minutes to a little church for service and in the afternoon, would be walked to the nearest part of the river leading to the sea, where there was a high retaining wall at the shoreline. We would jump down onto the beach from there.

I'd be grateful if there is anyone who can remember such a place please?
Please display my email address so that I can be contacted.
Thank you, June Wayland

Does anyone have a record of moore family members born in Exmouth between 1812 and 1820.Frederick Pidgley Moore,my g.g.g.grandfather and his siblings,Richard,samuel and Mary were born to Benjamin and Jane in Exmouth during this time.They moved to Tyne and Wear before 1840 but Frederick returned to Exmouth in 1885 and married Sarah Copp who was 34 years his junior!!!!!! Any replies to janfeist@hotmail.com Thanks Jan

Dear Sir,

I was serving on HMS Battleaxe 1952/'53 and remember a number of my shipmates were involved in tragic accident when the last 'liberty boat' was returning to the ship and it capsized and a number of ratings were lost [drowned] I think it was around May or June when visiting Exmouth.
I did hear that a commemorative plaque was put on the cliff spot, adjacent to where this accident happened.
I would be interested to hear if there is any newspaper records of this and of the names of the sailors who died in this accident.
Many thanks for any information, or to whom I could contact to find out what actually happened.
With regards
Mr R Jackson [ex RN]

Hi Greg

I'm descended from George Frederick Long who was born in Littleham in 1813. He married Iset Higerty (alternatively Hagerty) in St David's Exeter in 1835. They had six children, all born in Exmouth. They lived in various places, mainly Queen St, Queen St Court and Bond St. Listed as a shipwright for most of his career, George Long progressed to owning his own ship until he died in the Newport cholera epidemic of 1849 (presumably having taken his ship there). his widow Iset then became a grocer in Bond Street (1851) then a schoolmistress (1861) and by 1871 was a 'bootbinder'. At least four of his five daughters were lacemakers before they married, and I suspect that Iset was a school mistress at the Exmouth Lace School. They might have been related to Mary Ann Long,who kept the Lace School through the 1860s and 70s. I'm still working on that bit!

George Long's sister, Maria Norman, also had a grocer's shop, possibly in Queen St Court in 1861, then in Withycombe Raleigh in 1871. She retired to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Isabella and William Cooper at 1 Beacon Place. My grandmother recalled visiting them as a child in the 1890s. William Cooper was a builder, and I gathered from my grandmother that they were rather well-off, so I suspect that he built quite a few houses in Exmouth.

I have a picture of George Frederick if you would be interested in a copy for your collection. Come to that, I also have a picture (rather dark) of his daughter, Isabella, my great-grandmother, although it might be of her mother, Iset)
George's mother, Mary (born in Woodbury Salterton) is listed in the 1851 census as a 'pilot's widow' and I assume this was one of the Exmouth pilots. I think he was also called George.
The Higertys were also an Exmouth family, although they moved from Exeter towards the end of the Napoleonic wars.

Regards

Angela Marks

Hi,

My name is Andrew Vaughan, used to live in Exmouth. I'm looking for Vickey Blakey, an old friend. Can anyone help?

Cheers

Greg,

A very interesting web site, I wish I had found this before I visited Littleham on Sunday the 21st Jan 07. It was only a quick stop and I plan to visit again. I am researching my family history and have traced ancestors of mine back to Devon.
I have found one name of Ellen HOCKINGS born 11/11/1863 and on her birth certificate it stated that her place of birth was (Quay, Littleham, Devon). Would this be the Manchester Quay shown in the drawing on your site?.

(Greg: NOT SURE WHERE ,BUT LITTLEHAM IS NOT BY THE RIVER, BUT ON THE WAY TO SANDY BAY)

Also the name Edward CROFT born circa 1823, the info I have shows him living at Strand Court, Littleham, Devon what was this address?
Also Louisa Elizabeth Squires CROFT born 5/10/1884 Lower Street, Littleham, Devon. and her mother living in Chapel Street, Littleham, Devon in 1861.
Unfortunately the museum was closed on Sunday but I would love to know if anyone could suggest any books that would show what these places used to look like, or any postcards etc. Also old maps of the area would be interesting to get hold of.
Any help on any of the above would be very much appreciated.

Regards
Graeme GUTHRIE
Sandhurst, Berkshire.

Hi , this is a wonderful website for Exmouth , and I have enjoyed it very much..........you wouldn`t happen to know if the Assembly rooms were once known as Sugg`s Assembly rooms ? and is there a picture of the building please ..........I am compiling a small book on the Hon Mark Rolle and his coming of age banquet was held in the Market house , picture if you have one please, and then after the main dinner the participants, 500 estimated, went on to Sugg`s Assembly rooms ............lovely stuff , yrs Elizabeth Howard, who was once an inhabitant at Portland Avenue !!

My great grandparetnts lived at 120 Egremont Road and
today we went looking for the house but can only find up to 70 we havechecked the street directorys and the house seemed to be there until about 1950 does it have something to do with the Marine way. does anyone know of a map from about 1920 to 1950 so that I can see where they lived.

Thank you. Kay Cooper

Can't wait.Thats my news
David Jutson

Dear Sirs, 1974 I spent 4 wonderful weeks at the home of Mrs. Ann Redmore in Exmouth.
If I remember right, the address of her house was "2 the Broadway". In case she or somebody of her familly has an e-mail address, please let me know. For your support many thanks in advance

kind regards
Uwe Vierlinger
Dr.-Eckener-Platz 16
D-63263 Neu-Isenburg/Germany

Does anyone recall people by the name of PINE ? Many generations of this family have lived in Exmouth. Many of the men were seaman but on census returns their wives and children are often located in the town.

In 1901 WILLIAM ROBERT PINE was at sea but his wife Charlotte was at home with four children, William b1893, Hilda b1894, George Walter b1896 and Elsie May b1897.

Then there was William Robert Pine's brother, GEORGE WALTER PINE. He married Florence and their children born at Exmouth included Cyril George b1896, Gladys Gertrude b1898 and Evelyn Ethel b1904. Like many other PINE families this one migrated to Liverpool where George Walter became a dock gateman and further children were born Arthur William Robert b 1905 and Florence Edith b1908.

I would love to share information about this family and information of previous PINE families of Exmouth including JOHN PINE, one time ferryman from Exmouth to Starcross.

King Regards Anne

Hi, It seems that my grandmother came from Exmouth or Littleham (the old parish of St Thomas). Her name was Jane Holwell (b c1846) and suspect that she was the daughter of Simon Pincombe Holwell (perhaps Pincombe was mother's maiden name), and maybe an Elizabeth Skinner who was a lacemaker and family roumor has it that her mother Elizabeth Holwell had some part in making Queen Victoria's veil.

Elizabeth Howell appears to be a victim of the cholera epidemic in 1871 and died aged 27. Her daughter Jane Holwell (my grandmother) was in an Industrial School in Exeter after her death.

She married a Henry Lord late 1800's and her 2 elder children were born in Wales before the family moved to Devonport Plymouth where her other children were born.

If anyone can help or give me any leads on this family please email me. Regards Tony Lord

Greg, Thank you for creating such a great website for Exmouthians to greet each other and find out the latest developments in our hometown.
I have been gone from Exmouth for 46 years, but I have many wonderful memories of growing up with my grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Hall (nee Edwards). She was the wife of William Hall, a town Councilman in the 1930's and 1940's. Some may have read last year of the death of my mother, Annie Emma Hall, here in the U.S. She was Exmouth's first G.I. war bride. She married another Hall, Ernest P. from Kansas. So, I have Hall's on both sides of the Atlantic ocean in my family tree. Anyway, I have done research on my family for many years, but as with most of us, I have come up to some brick walls.
My mother told me she had many relatives who visited her home when she was young, but she couldn't keep them straight in her memory. So, I will mention a few names here in the hope that some reading this will be descendants or friends of those listed and might like to correspond with me and help me see where they may fit into my family puzzle.
EDWARDS: The name of my great grandfather, John William (on his marriage certificate), but John James (on his birth certificate). A Stonemason before becoming a Dairyman of the Marpool Dairy, lived in George Street. His father was named Matthew EDWARDS, but I have no knowledge of him (Matthew) after 1871. He probably died before the 1871 Census. He was a Sawyer by profession. This is one of my "brick walls." Further information may point to Matthew having another name of George, but evidence for this is sparse.
Other EDWARDS names that may relate are: Annie Edwards (about John's age) who had two daughters: Mariah and Annie; one of which may have been involved with a nursing home. Could have lived in Egremont Road.
There was an EDWARDS who was a submariner in WWI who became blind after his submarine was torpedoed. His first name could have been George, Albert, Joseph or possibly Harry.
PYLE: Emma Jane PYLE was John Edwards wife, and daughter of James PYLE (an Ostler) who seems to have come from Whitchurch, Somerset, but it could be Whitechurch, Devon also. Another mystery! They lived in Chapel Street. James PYLE's father could have been John PYLE and his mother may have been Esther (nee COX). James may have had an older sister, Harriet, who married a man named MACKEY. Other siblings born in Withycombe are: Maria, Mary Ann, Jane and William Harry.
Emma had several brothers and sisters: William: (Wheelwright) -married twice and may have adopted a daughter May NOBLE. Lived in George Street. May have been member of Church of the Brethren.
Elizabeth: who married William BOWERMAN (Dairyman) lived in Union Street, but she died in Lympstone.
James John: Died in a workhouse in Exeter.
Infants: Anna Maria and Carry.
Fred: Married 1st GILBERT and 2nd Julia Mary DURSTAN. Lived in Exmouth until 1908 then had the Politmore Dairy in Exeter. One son, Fred, lived in Cranford Road in 1976. He (son) was married to Dorothy Lillian London and had daughter Dorothy Phyllis, who married Peter BOOBYER and son, John Richard, married to Janet Bray who have daughters Katrina and Susan.
DOBLE: Elizabeth (nee DOBLE) Pyle, was Emma Jane's mother. Her family came from Feniton, Devon. Her father was Robert and mother was Mary RADFORD. She had sisters: Sarah and Jane, also brother Thomas, but I don't know anything about them. But, a more recent DOBLE is William that my mother spoke of, except I don't know how he fits in. He is said to have lived in Canada several years where he and his wife, Louise, raised her sister's children there. They came back to Exmouth before WW II.
Other names of relatives noted by my mother are:
Winnie and Percy HART who owned the bus service between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton. They had a daughter named Kathleen, and an adopted son, Dennis.
Elizabeth (nee DOBLE) married Frank NORTON, who had a pub "The Royal Oak" in Exmouth. Annie NEWSTEAD, married to William.
Nellie SKANES, who had a daughter named Trixie, lived in Withycombe, and a son, who lived in Park Road.
Edie VALLANCE, married to George, who had a grocery store in Albion Street.
Any help that present Exmouthians may have about these past residents of our town would be most appreciated by me. Thanks, Janet (nee HALL) Doi of St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.

Dear Greg, I spent some time in Exmouth during WW 2 and was well aquainted with the Ash family who lived on Egremont Rd. particularly, Joan Elise Ash she went to Exmouth Grammer School, she had a sister, I believe her name was Nancy and a brother whose name I have forgotten. Her father was a tailor who passed away in the thirties and her mother married again in the early forties to a man named Osbourne. I have oftened wondered whether Joan was still alive and what had transpired over the years. I live in Toronto, Canada and would be pleased to hear from anyone in this regard. John Montague.

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