Devon Blacksmiths
HEARDs of Devonshire
Robert HEARD [2594] and Jane nee SNELL [2595] had 12 children all born in Beaford. Robert died before any useful census was taken and so we do not know what his occupation was. We do however know that his sons were very practical tradesmen, two became gunsmiths, one a glazier and two were Blacksmiths.
William HEARD [6051] was born in 1792 Beaford the ninth child of Robert and Jane. He stayed in Beaford and was a Blacksmith from at least 1825 when this was his occupation at his daughter Betsey's baptism and on every census until 1861. William and his wife Elizabeth had 11 children all baptised in Beaford.
Their first child Robert [6175] was working as a blacksmith in Bridgewater Somerset in 1841 married Mary WESTLAKE later that year later he was an engineer working on land drainage in Weston Zoyland.
Their fourth child George [6114] married Susan GOODING. Georgre was a Blacksmith for all but a short time when he was a policeman in Bristol. His son Silas was born there in 1849. George was back in Beaford in 1861 and was joined in the smithy by his sons, Silas and William in 1871.
Silas [10757] continued working in Beaford and in 1881 had an apprentice, John PIPER, with him. His father George had died by 1891 and his widow Susan was a baker and grocer in the village. Silas was still in the smithy in 1901 joined by his 21 year old son Charles.
William [10758] is living with his widowed mother and widowed sister Ellen in 1901
Their fifth child, daughter Betsey [6115], married Thomas PETHERICK. One of her sons, Silas PETHERICK [10741] worked for his uncle John before moving to Swansea Glamorgan.
Their eighth child William [6074] was a blacksmith with his father in 1851 and may have joined the RMLI and on board the Royal Navy vessel Meander in 1861.
Their tenth child John [6100] stayed in Beaford all his working life he died in 1912. He trained at least two apprentices including his nephew Silas PETHERWICK. He is mentioned in Kelly’s directory for 1902. His son William born 1863 was working with him in 1891 and 1901. He married Julia WESTCOTT later in 1901.
Their eleventh child Edward [6101] was working with his father and brothers in 1861.
The youngest son of Robert and Jane was Edward [6053] born in1798 he moved to West Anstey and was the blacksmith in that village in 1841, 1851, 1861 and was a retired Blacksmith in 1871. His sons Thomas [10747], Edward [10749], William [10750] and George [10751] also became Blacksmiths. In 1861 Edward and sons Edward, William and George appeared together as blacksmiths in West Ansty.
Edward's oldest son Thomas [10747] was a journeyman blacksmith in Bedminster, Somerset in 1861, in Lucombe in 1871 and in Bishops Nympton Devon in 1881.
Edward [10749] married and took over his father in law's farm in Comberleigh 1881.
George[10751] married and was assistant Foreman Gas Works his unmaried brother
William[10750] was living with him in West Anstey and was still a blacksmith in 1871. By 1881 he was married and was a blacksmith in Bristol. In 1901 he was a retired Blacksmith in Bristol.
George HEARD [2473] was a younger brother of Robert HEARD [2594] he married Mary SAUNDERs and they had 7 known children in Beaford
Robert [2626] was the youngest child of George and Mary's children He lived in a Devon long house in Dolton at the cattle market. In 1841 he is listed as a publican and has Samuel Mitchell a Blacksmith living with him. In 1851 Robert was a Blacksmith..White’s History, Gazetteer & Directory of Devon, for 1850 lists him as smith & vict, at The Union. Inn. Robert was married to Ann FOLLAND and they had 10 children.
Richard [2631] married Charlotte STANDBURY and took over the smithy in Dolton sadly he died in 1864 and his widow Charlotte [4146] took over the smithy employing two men and a boy in 1871, one of the men was her son Robert who at 19 was newly married to Betsey FREIND and living with his wife’s parents.
Robert [10774] took over the smithy and was been found there on the 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses. His sons John [10811] and Alfred [10812] are both also Blacksmiths in 1901. Working with them is a Blacksmith's assistant Reuben CLEMENTS who went on to marry Robert's daughter Charlotte September Quarter 1906. Sons Walter and Ernest became cabmen operating from a barn adjacent to the Smithy. Later Ernest had a taxi service and Dairy round. Ernest married Amy HAM having a double wedding with her sister Fanny who married Archer SHORT.
More Devon Blacksmiths...
Henry HAMMETT [ 10976] married Jane WESTCOTT and was a smith in Beaford village in 1851. They moved and he was a smith in Ilsington near Newton Abbott in 1861. His son William[10979] was also a smith aged 15 on the same census.
John DYMENT [83] was a blacksmith in 1881 but as he was a visitor in Beaford it is not clear if that is where he was working He was a blacksmith in Crediton in 1891 but 10 years later he is producer gas engineer still in Crediton.
Bartholomew FULFORD [2546] in 1841 he was a blacksmith living with his first wife Harriet BALE in Buckland Brewer. Harriet died and he married her sister Prudence before emigrating to Canada. They were later joined by his brother in law, William in Ontario, Canada.
Henry FOLLAND [2733] worked in St Giles in the Wood he left a will in which he says that his nephew Henry FOLLAND [2740] was living with him assumably learning the trade. After Henry died in 1836 young Henry [2740] went to live with his mother’s brother in Upton Pyne and learned to become an agricultural Machine Maker.
Michael FOLAND [6199] worked in Merton 1841-
His son Thomas FOLLAND [6202] was working with him in 1851 but sadly it seems like he died before the next census.
William E JURY [12048] was working for his father who was a coach builder in Kingskerkwell, Devon in 1901