Gempton Family Burials

Gempton Family Burials

 Acknowledgment :- The list of burials below has been produced as a result of the work of the Cowtown St Mary’s Grave Yard Project 1850-1900. The purpose of this document is to celebrate the “lives” and the “memories” of the Gempton family that are buried there rather than being just anonymous names on a list.

From our origins in the village of Galmpton, our family history can be traced back to the late 1500’s living, in more recent times, in Churston Ferrers and Brixham. Many of them were Mariners, owners and crew of sailing trawlers that played their part in the fishing industry that thrived throughout the 1800’s and early 1900’s. Many of the fishing families were joined by marriage and the Gempton’s forged links with the Blackmore, Holland, Johnson, Mills, Mudge, Pillar, Pocock, Sanders, Vittery and other families.

Note: Previous to the Census of 1841, it was not easy to identify where individuals or family members lived, how many children were born or any of the family occupations. Whilst the Census went some way to provide this information, the early Census only showed streets and not house numbers – hence the difficulty in pinpointing exactly where our ancestors lived.

1. Joseph, Sarah and their son George Blackmore Gempton. (Plot 1 X06)

Relationship to me:- My g.g.Grandfather.

Joseph Gempton was born in 1824, the youngest of 6 children born to John Gempton (1785 -1868) and Mary Cross (1785-1845). His siblings were, William Boone (1822-1877), Samuel (1821-1875), Elizabeth (1818 -1885),John (1815 - ?) and Eliza (1814-?). On 27th December 1849 he married Sarah Blackmore in St Mary’s Parish Church, Brixham. 

Sarah’s brothers, Samuel Pearce (1800-1843), George (1803-1858) and Alexander Johns (1814-1885) were fishermen, born in Brixham, who took their trawlers and families to Ringsend in Ireland to develop their fishing communities.                                                    

Joseph appears in early census reports as a fisherman, fish merchant and Master of the Brixham Navigation School. He was listed as the owner of the Lively, Sabrina, Liberty & Esmeralda all early sailing trawlers.

The 1861 Census shows Joseph (34) and Sarah (34) living with his father John Gempton (76 now head of house) - Furzeham Street. John's profession (although 76 years of age) is still listed as a Ropemaker. Joseph is shown as a Schoolmaster. Children are listed as Sarah Elizabeth (9) John (5) and Samuel (2). Records show that by 1849 he was also the part owner of the Sailing Trawler, Liberty.

From Whites Devonshire Directory 1850 - “and near the beach is a large building, erected in 1848, by Messrs. Green and Vittery, (trawler owner families) and used as an auction mart, a sailors' school, etc;"  This building was to become known as the Market House and was located on the corner of the Strand and Quay known as York Square. It is likely that this was the Brixham Navigation School and Joseph was the Schoolmaster there. He is listed in the 1851 Census as a Schoolmaster living in Furzeham Street with his wife Sarah and their daughter Elizabeth. 

His father, John age 66, is shown to be living with them and is listed as a Journeyman Ropemaker. The term Journeyman is defined as a “competent workman (often apprenticed), qualified to work at his trade in the employment of another”.  

                                                                                      Early Images of Brixham Fish Market

By 1871, the Census shows Joseph (45) Sarah (45) living in Quay St. and listed as a Fish Salesman. Children are listed as (Sarah) Elizabeth (19) Samuel (12) Bertha (9) George (3) and Ernest (1). John would have been 15 years of age but was expected to leave school aged 12 to become an apprenticed fisherman.

The 1871 Census shows Joseph living next door to the Victory Inn. There are four Inns listed on the pages that relate to Quay Street - The Carey Arms, The Dolphin Inn, The Victory Inn & The Prince of Wales Inn. The premises are not numbered and as all four Inns no longer exist it is not possible to identify the exact dwelling. There were 2 more Inns on Quay Street that are listed in the Census - The Crown & Anchor and the Commercial Inn. These Inns still exist although the Commercial Inn has been renamed the Sprat and Mackerel.

In 1883 Kelly's Directory lists Joseph Gempton (aged 57) as a Fish Merchant and his wife Sarah Gempton as a Shopkeeper. Both were listed as living in Fish Street which was another name for the Quay. In the 1889 Kelly’s Directory, Joseph’s business is listed as a Dining Room / Eating House owner. This was the last entry before his wife Sarah died in 1890.

The following photo was taken in the early 1880’s before the Prince of Orange Statue was erected (in1889) when the Strand was known as the Beach. Joseph’s cousin Ann Gempton had a Haberdashers shop next door to the Buller’s Arms on Beach Street with her daughter Millicent Gempton listed as a draper.

In the 1891 Census, Joseph Gempton is shown still living on the Quay next door to the Prince of Wales. His wife Sarah died in 1890. Children listed as living at home were Elizabeth (38) and Ernest (21).

The above photos show scenes of the Quay and Fish Market in the late 1800’s. The property I originally thought was the family home which became Bigwood’s Ice Store has since been shown to be incorrect. I have since been informed that the deeds for the Bigwood’s building show that it once was the Prince of Wales Inn/Hotel. Joseph Gempton and the family would have lived next door. In the images below, the Bigwood's building is listed as an Ice Store.

The above photos are the only ones that I have seen to date that clearly show the position of the Victory Inn and Prince of Wales (courtesy of John Holden – Brixham in Pictures) The first photo dates to c 1891 following the erection of the statue in 1889 and before the completion of the embankment which started in 1895. The second image is enlarged from the first.

In 1901 Joseph Gempton is shown living with his son-in-law George Bath Johnson and daughter Bertha. Joseph died in June 1903. (1824-1903). George Johnson had moved his family from Grotto Terrace to Killiney - a house further along Mount Pleasant Road. His son, Samuel Gempton was living in Grotto Terrace.

Photo of Grotto Terrace showing the fisherman's cottages. Cavern Steps lead down to Fore Street which is then a short walk to the harbour. Many of the sailing trawlers that gave Brixham its' fishing legacy can be seen with their sails raised inside the breakwater. The sails were manufactured using a red ochre die to give them a distinctive appearance which set them apart from trawlers from other ports.

On 21st January 1888 George Blackmore Gempton, aged 19, was swept from the deck of the trawler BM18 Annie. The trawler was owned by his brother Samuel Gempton.  There was another brother named George Blackmore Gempton who was born in Brixham in1866 but died less than one year old in 1867. The Western Times reports on 31st January that 3 Brixham trawlers set out at the request of George’s mother to look for the body of but with no success.

Joseph died in 1903 at the age of 73 and was buried alonside his wife Sarah, who died in 1890 and their son George Blackmore who died at the age of 19 in 1888. They were buried at St Mary’s Churchyard, Brixham.

2. John and Mary (Plot 6 F25)

Relationship to me:-  My g.grandfather.

John Gempton was born in 1856 to Joseph Gempton and Sarah Blackmore. His early life is detailed in section 1. Joseph and Sarah above..

In March1882 he married Mary Sarah Stibbs Halliday born in 1857 in Plymouth. They were married in St Andrews Church, Plymouth. Her family, like John’s, were fishermen and owners of sailing trawlers in Plymouth.

They moved to Brixham and between them had 7 children :- Ethel Mary (1883-1926), Ellen (1884-1971),Sarah Elizabeth (1888-1975), John (Jack 1890-1975), James Henry (1892-1981), William Joseph (1895-1981) and Mary Janie (1897). Like their father, the boy’s would go on to be fishermen and mariners.

John was the owner of 6 Sailing Trawlers :- Ethel 1886, Excel 1895, Ethel 1903, Zephyr 1904, Thistle 1911 and Bittern 1919. In 1917, the Thistle’s ownership was transferred to his wife Mary.

A section in the book “ Brixham in Devonia” by Charles Gregory, details “ the gallant rescue by the Excel, Brixham trawler owned by John Gempton of Ranscombe Road, which took place off the Port of Plymouth on the night of Tuesday, the 5th of November, 1895”. (See list of Trawlers owned by members of the Gempton Family below).

William John Browse Harley was the skipper of the Excel, who, with his crew went to the aid of the Plymouth trawler “Aunt Mary” during a serious gale, having lost her trawl and suffering from a broken mast was drifting perilously towards rocks with a real danger of being broken up. After trying for 4 hours to get ropes onboard the stricken trawler, Harley took a decision to ram the vessel giving the skipper Samuel Briggs and his crew to scramble on board. At a civic ceremony in Plymouth, the Mayor of Plymouth handed each of the crew “ a handsome marble clock, suitably inscribed and a purse containing £1.

By 1891, they were living at 13 Ranscombe Road and John was listed as a Fisherman. He was already the owner of Sailing Trawlers. In the 1901 Census, John was Master and Owner of the trawler Excel.

By 1911 the family had moved to 49 King Street, Brixham with Elizabeth 22 and Janie 13 still living at home.

John Gempton was to become one of the pioneers of the Bristol Channel Fisheries Company and the fishing grounds off the south coast of Ireland. Whilst it was obvious that he was a serious and dedicated fisherman he was also a keen sportsman who regularly showed off his sailing skills at the many regattas around the coast racing against other sailing trawlers.

The “Ibex” beaten into second place was built at Upham’s Yard in 1896 and was owned by the Upham family. Over time, it proved to be the fastest of all Sailing Trawlers taking 29 first places out of the 33 races that it was entered into. In 1902, the “Unity” owned by John’s brother in law, George Bath Johnson, also beat the Ibex at the Brixham Regatta.

List of Brixham Sailing Trawlers owned by the Gempton Family.

The above newspaper cutting show that life was nothing but complicated for a Trawler Owner and their actions were scrutinised by the laws of the land.

John died in April 1932 at the age of 75 years and was buried in St Mary’s Church, Brixham. In the 1939 register, Mary was still living at No.49 King Street with her daughter Mary Janie who in July 1922 had married William J Pocock. Mary died in December 1939 at the age of 82 and was buried with her late husband John in St Mary’s Church, Brixham.

3. James and Joanna.

James Gempton was born in Brixham in 1779, the son of James Gempton (1749-1839) and Hannah Taprell (1740-1816) Hannah was born in Brixham. In 1804, James married Joanna Goodman (born in Cornworthy in 1781) in St Mary’s Church, Brixham. Between them they had 8 children :- John (1807-1829), James (1808-1845), Maria Goodman (1810-1812) William Taprell (1814-1827), Caleb Stower (1816-1817), Richard Taprell (1818-1828) Caleb Stower (1821-1823) and Hannah Taprell (1825).

In the (Ist) Census of 1841, James and Johanna are shown living in Horsepool Street, Brixham. James is listed as a Cordwainer. A Cordwainer was a leather worker who made leather goods including shoes and boots as opposed to a Cobbler who only mended shoes. Their daughter  Hannah was shown living with them at the age of 15 years. As James and Joanna are shown as 60 years of age, they would have their last child at the late age of 45 years. 

By the Census of 1851, James is no longer shown as he died in 1848 and was buried at St Mary’s, Brixham. His wife Joanna is still living in Horse Pool at the age of 73. In 1841 her age was shown as 60 ? She is listed as the “proprietor of houses”. Hannah is shown still living at home at the age of 25 and is listed as having Domestic Duties.  Joanna’s grandaughter Rhoda is living with them aged 7. Rhoda is the daughter of son James (b.1808) and his wife Ann. Joanna died in 1860 and was buried with her late husband James in St Mary’s Brixham.  

George was born in Brixham in 1765, son of George Gempton (1738) and Mary Laverance (1766 – 1845) His siblings were, Mary (1759), Thomas (1762) and William (1770). 

 In 1792 he married Sarah Martin in Brixham. Sarah was born in Brixham to George Martin (1738) and Sarah Davis (1744). Between them they had five children :- Sarah (1793-1880), George Elliott (1797) Mary (1801-1801), Mary (1805-1868) and Elizabeth (1806-1868).

George was a Master Mariner. From the Morning Post 7th February 1803, Letters from Brixham:- 

“ In a violent storm last Sunday, the schooner from St John’s Newfoundland, George Gempton, Master, laden with fish and oil, ran in the dead of night ashore on Goodrington Sands (near Paignton) where she bilged and went to pieces; schooner and cargo lost, master and crew saved.”

There was no mention of the ship’s name in the article but he would have been aged 38 at the time. George was clearl unlucky as he was listed as having drowned off of Cadiz, Spain, in 1809 from the brigantine ship Indian Lass. He died aged 45 and was buried in St Mary’s church Brixham eventually to be joined by his wife Sarah, his daughter Mary who died at the age of 3 months and his daughter Elizabeth aged 63.

5. Ann and William

Anne Gempton was born Anne Down in 1808 in the town of Winkleigh, Devon. She was the daughter of Richard Down (b.1777) and Joanna Saunders (1776-1857). In December 1836 she married James Gempton in Bideford. James is listed as a Grocer from Torrington, North Devon.

James and his sister, Hannah Taprell, carried on the tradition of Gempton Shipowners by becoming part owners of a Brigantine “Diana” and a Schooner “Totnes” in the 1840’s. Unlike  the later owners of locally built Sailing Trawlers for the fishing industry, to understand the trade of a schooner, the following description was taken from the book “Brixham in Devonia” by Charles Gregory (1896).

“Iron Ore was discovered in the parish in 1840 at Upton and Furzeham, that at Upton being equal in richness to the Lancashire ore yielding 55 to 60 per cent of metal. That at Furzeham yielded about 45 per cent. Ten years later large quantities of ore were discovered at Sharpham Point, when a considerable number of schooners engaged in the fruit trade of the Mediterranean and Azores were owned by Brixham people, and a very good trade it was. These swift schooners brought home in the winter, cargoes of fine fruit and during the other parts of the year would load iron ore to Shields, Newcastle and Neath, and come home with coal. They were also engaged in taking miscellaneous cargoes to Newfoundland and bringing home fish. It did not take long to find out that to own one of these vessels meant to make money, and as a result was that between 1860 and 1870, some 70 or 80 vessels were built especially for this trade”.

We can only speculate if any of the goods that returned to the U.K. were sold from his shop in Torrington. In a newspaper advert dated 19th July 1832, Joseph is listed as a Grocer in Torrington.

In the 1841 Census, Anne (aged 30) is seen living with her husband James (aged 30) in South Street, Torrington together with their children, Mary 2 and James 1.

By the 1851 Census, Ann is shown as a widow still living in South Street, Torrington. James had died in 1845 and Ann was carrying on the business as a Grocer/Chandler. James their son born in 1840 died in 1851 before the census and is not listed. Mary 12, Millicent 8 and William 6 are shown as scholars living at home. Another daughter Rhoda, born in 1846 in Torrington, is shown living with her grandmother in Brixham. (see section 3, James and Joanna above)

By 1854, adverts in several newspapers shows that Ann had put the business up for sale.

By the 1861 Census, Ann is shown as a widow and “head of house” having moved to Brixham with her family and is listed living on Beach Street, next door to the right of the Bullers Arms. Her daughter Mary 22 and William 16 are shown to be living with her. Ann is shown as a Draper with Mary a Drapers Assistant. Her daughters, Millicent 18 and Rhoda 17 are shown living in Horsepool which, we presume, was their late grandmother’s Joanna’s house having died in 1860. They are both listed as Grocer/Dressmaker.

By the 1871 Census, William is no longer shown as he died, in 1866, “lost at sea (circumstances unknown). Ann is listed as still living in Beach Steet as a Haberdasher with Millicent shown as her assistant.

Ann Gempton’s Haberdashers shop is shown on the right of the Buller’s Arms.

In the 1881 Census, Ann is shown still living in the Beach and is still listed as a Haberdasher. Her daughter Millicent 38 is now shown as a Dressmaker. Ann died in 1882 at the age of 74 and was buried alongside her son William in St Mary’s Churchyard, Brixham.

6. Ida, Susan Anne, Samuel John, Albert Stooks.

7. Phyllis and Polly.

Albert Stooks Gempton was born in Brixham 1859, son of Samuel Gempton (1821-1875) and Sarah Susan Pillar (1883-1884). Albert had 6 siblings, Sarah (1843-1903), Mary Ann Cross (1847-1855), Fanny Elizabeth Lewis (1850-1935), Joseph Pillar 1852-1854), Marcus pillar (1857-1936) and Clara (1863-1903).

Albert, by family tradition, was a fisherman, crew member and owner of Sailing Trawlers. In the 1881 Census he was shown, at the age of 20 as Mate on the trawler Telegram owned by his brother-in-law George Henry Sheriff.

In 1889, Albert married Susan Ann Tucker who was born in Brixham in 1867. Between them they had 4 children, Ida (1887-1889), Albert George (1893-1972), Samuel John (1896-1921) and Doris Tucker (1899-1963). 

In the 1891 Census, Albert and Susan were living at No 5. Ranscombe Road (also known as Belle Vue Terrace) 

By the 1901 Census, Susan and Albert (not on the list) were still  living at No 5 Belle Vue Terrace. Ida had been born in 1887 but died 2 years later in 1889. Albert 8, Samuel 5 and Doris 2 were living there. Albert was shown on his trawler, Gratitude in Cornwall.

By the 1911 Census, Albert is listed as a Widower as his wife Susan had died in 1909. She was buried along with her late daughter Ida (1887-1889) in St Mary’s Churchyard, Brixham. Albert was on his trawler Gratitude in Appledore, North Devon. His son Albert together with Samuel and Doris were shown as living in the family home at 16 Wood View, Mount Pleasant, Brixham.

In March 1915, Albert married Mary Elliott Pillar Dart (nickname Polly) and in 1917 they had a daughter Phyllis M. Gempton.

From 1888 to 19118 Albert was the owner of BM25 Gratitude and from 1918 to 1929 was the owner of BM366 Florrie. In 1929 the Florrie, the ownership passed to his wife Polly and fished until 1934. Like other Brixham Trawler Owners, Albert was always ready to go to the aid of stricken ships that he came across and won several awards for his actions. The following were taken from various articles that detailed some of the events in Albert’s life.

“December 6th 1910, Skipper Gempton and his Third Hand HenryTidmarsh launched their small boat to go to the aid  of the stricken Frienship BM244 severely damaged in the 1910 gale in the Bristol Channel. After several hours, they took off the two surviving crew, Skipper and Second Hand having been lost overboard. Later with the BM43 Varuna they towed the battered hulk to Milford Haven”  

“May 1906. The apprentice David Webb stole the provisions and fabricated a story of being pushed overboard by a bearded man . Fined a total of four guinees.”

“October 18th 1907. Rescued and towed the French Ketch Celte from Bigbury Bay where she was helpless and certain to go ashore”

“Gratitude was badly damaged in collision with BM247 Elsie May at the moorings in a heavy Easterly Gale warped to the lee of breakwater in sinking condition and later got into harbour.”

Both Albert Gempton and Henry Tidmarsh were awarded silver “Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society Medals” for their heroics on 16th December 1910. The 2 men also received “Citations for Gallantry” from the Shipwreck Mariners Society

On the 4th January 1918, 8 miles SE by E from Berry Head, BM25 Gratitude was captured by a U boat and was sunk by explosives. The crew, 3 men and a boy were able to take to their boat before the Gratitude was scuppered and were questioned by the Germans foe some time before being allowed to reach safety.

Note:- From the Times 30/03/1934.

“Mr Albert Gempton owner of the “Florrie” the last smack to be moored in Brixham Harbour. She is for sale. He had lost his gear 25 miles of the Start as the steam capstan had broken down and the crew were unable to heave the gear aboard with the hand winch. During the last 3 years he has lost 9 sets of gear each costing £90/£100. So gross earnings of £1000 a year would not cover expenses. Grounds were full of wrecks and Belgians were using power with small mesh nets.” 

30/10/1935. Trawler Florrie no longer fishing.

Taken from Totnes Weekly Times 04/07/1891.

“ For steadiness under fire while in action, Sergt. Albert G. Gempton, elder son of Mr A.S.Gempton  smack owner of Brixham has been awarded the Medaille Militaire by the President of the French Republic. No definate details are to hand. Sergt Gempton’s name appeared in the honours list  about a fortnight ago.A letter received from Pvte Neale has made a brief reference to the award. Sergt.Gempton is in one of the Devon Battalions on active service in Mesopotania. He joined uo his old Company, the St Lukes College Company, at the outbreak of war, and went with his battalion to India and subsequently to Mesopotamia. He was formerly a pupil teacher at the Brixham National Boys’ School, and after training at Exeter College had an appointment at the Wolborough Boy’s School, Newton Abbot, from whence he proceeded on active service. He was a very promising recruit for the “All Whites” Rugby Club. Sergt.Gempton is the first Brixhamite to receive war recognition from the French Government in connection with the war.”

Algert George Gempton was to spend many years as the headmaster of Dawlish Secondary School and in 1955 was awarded the MBE for his services to education.

Albert Stooks died at the age of 85 in April 1945 and was buried in St Mary’s Brixham with his first wife Susan Ann, daughter Ida and son Samuel John. Second wife Polly died in August 1945 and was burried alongside their daughter Phyllis who died in 1924.

8. Samuel, Samuel, Sarah and Marquis (Marcus)

Samuel Gempton was born in 1821, one of 6 children born to John Gempton (1785 -1868) and Mary Cross (1785-1845). His siblings were, William Boone (1822-1877), Joseph (1824-1903), Elizabeth (1818 -1885),John (1815 - ?) and Eliza (1814-?). In July 1842 he married Sarah Susan Pillar in St Mary’s Parish Church, Brixham. Susan was born in Brixham in February 1823 to parents Joseph Pillar (1790) and Sarah Stooks (1793).

In the 1851 Census, Samuel and Sarah were living in Higher Street with their children, Sarah 8 (1847-1903), Mary Ann Cross 4 (1847-1855) and Fanny Elizabeth Lewis 1 (1850-1935). In the family tradition, Samuel is listed as a Fisherman .

Samuel was shown in 1846 as Capt of the sailing trawler “Jane Burrow”. He became the owner in 1851 of the “Charles”, 1858 “Saucy Lass and 1864 “Telegram.”

In 1861, Samuel 40 and Sarah 35 were living in Furzeham Street with their children, Sarah 18, Marcus Pillar 4 (1857-1936) and Albert Stooks 2 (see section 6 above). Daughter Mary Ann Cross died in 1855. Fanny Elizabeth Lewis was 11 years of age but is not shown living with them.

In 1881, Sara is listed as living with her daughter Sarah Sherriff at Furzeham. In July 1863 Sarah married George Henry Sherriff. Sarah died in July 1884 at the age of 59 and was buried with Samuel together with their grandson Samuel, Marcus’s son who died in 1877. Samuel’s son Marcus was clearly the “Black Sheep” of the family and his main claim to fame seemed to be getting arrested for being under the influence of alcohol. In 1891 he was summoned along with his sister Fanny Elizabeth Lewis who married Thomas Hodder in October 1867. There were several other local paper clips documenting his exploits.

Western Times 3rd December 1891. Sadly, Fanny Hudder/Hodder also summoned was his sister.

Marcus, like his father and brother was a fisherman. In the 1881 Census he was a lodger in Mill Tie Alley. In the 1891 Census he was shown aboard the Trawler “Gratitude” which was owned by his brother Albert Stooks. In the 1901 Census aged 43 he was shown living as a boarder on the Quay.  

In November 1891 he is shown as the owner of the Brixham Trawler “Acalia”

There is no further census records for 1911. Marcus had 2 children, Samuel (1876-1877) who was buried with his grandfather Samuel and grandmother Sarah, and Albert (1886-?) There is no record of a wife or the mother of his children.

Marcus died in June 1936 at the age of 80 and was buried in the family Plot 8, V09,at St Mary’s Church along with his Mother Sarah, Father Samuel and Son Samuel.