Embedded Files
Plumpton Family History Summary - with Foster Links
Peter Plumpton (1852-1914) and Emma Pring (1853-1926) were married in 1875.
Peter and Emma lived at 'Escott', 25 Higher St, Cullompton, Devon and had four children: James (1880-1949), William (1886-1966) , Emma (1878-1950) & Elizabeth Mary (Bessie) Plumpton (1875-1940).
This page is mainly about James and his younger brother William as I know very little about their sisters except to state that records show that Emma Plumpton married Murray Toogood Foster in April 1899. They had two children, one was Enid Amy Foster who married William Cann. I do know that the Foster family ran the Cullompton chemists. I have been informed that Murray Foster ran the chemist and had a quirky private museum which my Father Joe visited as a young lad. It sounds like he made the most of being there as he remembers playing with an old flintlock style pistol pointing it at his school friend through the window, accidentally cutting his sister Carol's leg with a sword and falling off a penny farthing which was on display in the museum!. I wonder if anyone else remembers this little museum?! (See the article further down this page to find out about the museum).
James Plumpton (1880-1949) was born in Kentisbeare, Devon and married Amy Plumpton (1876-1932) from Islington in 1918. They lived in 'The Walronds' Cullompton through the 1920's & early 30's. Amy's Godfather was the businessman Sir William Dunn, Lord Mayor of London 1916-17.
James and Amy lived in Cullompton but had property in London. Amy died while James was away in Costa Rica in 1932. Thereafter details are a little vague but James relocated to British Guiana around 1935 . A newspaper report in 1939 about the sinking of the SS France suggested that he was married then with a 9 month old son in Georgetown. James died in ~1949. I understand that he was buried in Demerara, Georgetown, British Guiana. (I do not know exactly when or where).
Amy Plumpton already had a fostered son Phillip Aldersley, and two children with James Plumpton. These were Peter O' Keefe Plumpton (1920-1995) and Guiguette (Giggs) Marie Theresa Plumpton (1919-1978).
Peter O' Keffee Plumpton was a Corporal in the RAF, with active service until 1975. He played Rugby for Cullompton, Exeter & Devon County and won 2 England Caps during WW2 playing as a Forward. Peter Plumpton married Joan Foster (1917-2002) in 1941 and had three children - twins Susan Elizabeth Plumpton (1947-2018) and Christine Diane Plumpton (1947-2006), also Penny Plumpton (TBC)
James' younger brother William Plumpton (1886-1966) born in Kentisbeare, married Flora May Bromfield (1885-1972). They had one daughter Amy Marie Plumpton (1918-2018). Amy married Malcolm Goss Grant in 1939. Malcolm died in a tragic accident in 1942. Amy re-married in 1946 to Hugh McGregor Ross and they had a daughter, Clare Mary Ross (1951-2009).
James & Amy Plumpton - Cullompton
James Plumpton
Engineer / Sailor
James was raised in Cullompton but eventually emigrated to British Guiana where he was buried.
James & Amy Plumpton were distant cousins. Amy ran an orphanage in Kensington, London. They got married in Kensington in 1918 but moved to James Plumpton's Hometown of Cullompton Near Exeter in South Devon.
Plumpton Gravestone - Cullompton
Plumpton Gravestone - Cullompton
My Grandfather Charles Langran commissioned this headstone when my Grandmother Guiguette Marie Theresa Langran passed away in 1978. He felt it appropriate to devote a part of it to Amy & James Plumpton, Guiguette's parents. As far as I am aware Amy did not have a headstone when she passed away in 1932. I expect this was possibly because her husband James was at sea and when he did return many months later, he was insolvent due to the financial crash and emigrated to British Guiana to seek work.
From left to right is Peter Plumpton, (my Great Great grandfather and Father of James Plumpton), and next to him with the tam’o’shanter is his father, Loyal Jim or Jim the Loyal. The two guys in bowler hats are almost certainly plumbers, this type of hat being their traditional head gear, a custom that has not survived. Peter died around the start of the First World War so this photo could date from the late 1800s.
William and Flora May Plumpton - Cullompton
William Plumpton (Brother of James Plumpton)
Engineer / Water Diviner
Born: 1886 Kentisbeare - Devon
Died: 1966 Cullompton - Devon
William Plumpton with his wife Flora May Plumpton. Together they ran the Plumpton & Sons Plumbing Engineers.
William and James both served at Gallipoli in WW1.
William Plumpton and his
Daughter Amy Marie Plumpton.
( See further down the page for more about William )
Perryclose - a nice house built by William Plumpton
William Plumpton, daughter Amy Marie and wife Flora May
William Plumpton with daughter Amy Marie
William Plumpton wearing his masonic regalia. His father Peter and brother James were also masons.
William Plumpton at Bisley. He often took part in shooting competitions and was a sharpshooter in the war.
William Plumpton wearing his war medals, He served at Gallipoli - WW1
William Plumpton canvassing with Flora May.
1940's ? Who was the Cullompton Politician?
William Plumpton walking his daughter Amy Marie in her wedding to Malcom Goss Grant at St Andrews Church Cullompton, on Feb 18th 1939.
(see newspaper cutting below about this lavish wedding which took place in Cullompton.)
After the wedding, the bride and groom flew from Exeter airport in a D.85 Leopard Moth G-ACLK to their residence in Croydon, Surrey.
Malcolm Grant was tragically killed in August 1942.
Peter Plumpton (1852-1914) - (Father of James & William) - Cullompton
The Plumpton family business in Cullompton, Devon.
The Plumpton family business in Cullompton, Devon.
Age 14 James Plumpton sold the shares in his own plumbing business to Father Peter Plumpton who traded as 'Plumpton & Sons' in 1894.
James's brother William and his wife Flora May ran the business from the 1920's onwards until 1965. William was a water diviner and could find hidden springs. Apparently, many of their windpumps installed around the Cullompton area displayed the 'Plumptons of Cullompton' slogan. James decided at an early age that he wanted to do something else with his life.
Peter Plumpton - A convincing bronze medal winner at Exonia Rifle Club. However, he wasn't awarded it because he won it the year before?!...that seems a little unfair! - It is to be confirmed which Peter Plumpton this is - i.e. Father or the Son...but it seems like he was pretty good at shooting. I wonder if a trophy still exists with P. Plumpton's name on it for the previous year.
Peter Plumpton - Weights & Measures charges dismissed!
Peter O' Keffee Plumpton (1920-1995) - Son of James Plumpton
Peter was in the RAF and was a good rugby player. He played for his local Devon team, also as a Prop for England and the RAF during WW2
The Foster family connection - Cullompton
Emma Plumpton, (sister of James Plumpton) was married to Murray Toogood Foster.
They had a daughter Enid Foster. She was married to William Cann. I found this article about their wedding
James' brother William played the organ at Cullompton Parish Church.
Marriage of Peter O'Keffee Plumpton to Joan Elizabeth Foster (1917-2002) in Exeter.
(Peter O' Keffee was the Son of James & Amy Plumpton). The bridesmaid was Guiguette Plumpton not Gimginette which is a bad typo!
This is an article about the death of William Cann who was married to Enid Foster (Emma Plumpton's daughter) . It is interesting that a photo of him was displayed in the newspaper office window from his Burma days during WW2. My Great Great Uncle Joe, also from Cullompton, served in the Royal Engineers in Burma and fought in the Battle of Kohima.
Murray Toogood Foster - Chemist, Historian, Author, Meteorologist and Collector - Cullompton
Other interesting documents about Cullompton
Cullompton Volunteer list 1798 - found under a floorboard -
Cullompton Fire Compensation list - William Plumpton is in the left column near the bottom
Date TBC
If you have any information to add or any comments, please drop me an email: jamesplumpton.history@gmail.com
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse