Page last updated 9th May 2008 by Sue Froud

CRUSE FAMILY TREE

SAMUEL CRUSE 1753 - 185- (info taken from IGI and 1851 census)

Samuel was born at Broadwoodkelly, about 1753. Samuel married Mary Bowden on 20th June 1772 at St Gregory's church Dawlish, they had a son Richard who was baptised 13th March 1774. I have found no more children, it is possible that Mary died and Samuel married again, or this Samuel is not part of my family tree.

Samuel married Mary Discombe on 12th December 1782 at Kenton, I believe they had 8 children, Mary Ann baptised 23rd May 1783, Samuel baptised 8th October 1786, Katherine baptised 22nd March 1789, Martha baptised 15th September 1793, another child a son was baptised 4th February 1796, John baptised 23rd June 1799, he died and was buried 1st February 1802. Ann baptised 20th November 1800 and Elizabeth baptised 28th November 1802, but she died aged 5, and was buried 6th August 1809.

In the 1841 census, Samuel aged 80 years, is to be found living with grandson John and his family.

Samuel lived to about 100 years old. At age 98, he was recorded on the 1851 census still living with his grandson John Cruse and family.

I have found some Monumental Inscriptions recorded with the Kenton Parish Registers transcripts. Entry no. 11965 Mary Cruse wife of Samuel of this parish died 14th May 1836 aged 71. ( The register gives her burial on 15th May 1836, address as South Town, and aged 73). Also Samuel  Cruse died 30th January 1834 aged 98. (I'm sure this is the right Samuel, and the transcription must be wrong in this case, (perhaps the date should be 1854?) as there is no burial recorded for him at this time.)

SAMUEL CRUSE 1786 - (info taken from IGI)

Samuel was I think the 2nd child of Samuel Cruse and Mary Discombe, he was baptised 8th October 1786 at Kenton. Samuel became a Blacksmith. He married Mary Baker on 14th February 1810 at Kenton, by Banns. One of the witnesses was Sarah Clash.  Their first child John Clash Cruse was born 26th August 1810 and baptised 19th September 1810, Mary Ann was born 31st July 1812, Samuel was born 14th August 1814, both Mary Ann and Samuel were baptised on 28th August 1814, their address was South Town. Robert was born 7th January 1817 and baptised 18th October 1818. Catherine was born 9th May 1819 and baptised 30th May 1819.

The 1851 census records Samuel aged 70, residing at Exeter Prison. His occupation is Smith Farrier. At present I have no more details.

JOHN CLASH CRUSE 1810 - 1887 (my thanks to Pat Arthurs for information about Elizabeth Towill nee Hayman)

John was the first son of Samuel Cruse & Mary Baker, he was born 26th August 1810 and baptised 19th September 1810 at Kenton. John became a Blacksmith and he married Sarah Pester on 23rd May 1831 at Saint Mary Steps in Exeter. They moved back to Kenton where their children were born. Henry Pester baptised at Kenton on 21st July 1833, he sadly died aged 2 and was buried 20th April 1836. John Pester baptised 28th February 1836, Mary Jane born 1839, Emily born 1841, she married Isaac Shelly.

The 1841 census records the family living in South Town Kenton. John aged 30, Smith. Sarah aged 30. Mary aged 3. Emily aged 1. Samuel aged 80, Ind. George Saunders aged 15 Smiths, Ap. John West aged 15, Smiths Ap.

Daniel Richard was born 15th August 1845 and George was born in 1851.

The 1851 census for Kenton shows John Cruse head of the family age 40, a Master Smith born at Kenton, his wife Sarah age 41, born at Whitestone, son John age 15 an Apprentice Carpenter, daughter Mary age 13 a scholar, daughter Emily age 10 a scholar, son George age 5months, (Daniel was staying with his grandmother Ann Pester), Grand Father Samuel Cruse a widow age 98, born at Broadwoodkelly, nephew Robert Cruse age 18 a Smith, and Edwin Bracknay a Servant age 36, a Smith Journeyman, born at Axminster.

John and Sarah stayed in Kenton all their lives. John's wife Sarah died age 59 on 21st February 1868. John married again, to Elizabeth Towill a widow aged 51, daughter of John Hayman. They married at Castle Street Chapel, Exeter 27th April 1871, witnessed by Kate Anetta Towill and James Towill. The 1881 census shows John age 70 a blacksmith employing 1 boy and 5 men, born at Kenton, his wife Elizabeth age 61 was born at Broadclyst, John's son George P. age 30 is unmarried and also working as a Blacksmith, born at Kenton. John died age 76 on 9th May 1887. Elizabeth died aged 74 on 5th August 1893, they are buried at Kenton. see gravestone inscriptions on Kenton page.

DANIEL RICHARD CRUSE 1845 - 1874

Daniel Richard was I believe the youngest child of John Cruse and Sarah Pester, he was born at Kenton on 15th August 1845. The 1851 census shows Daniel age 5, living at Olivers Tenements, Whitestone, with his grandmother Ann Pester and his aunt and uncles, he is attending school. Daniel became a Blacksmith like his father, and moved to Exeter, he was living in King's Street, when he married 24 year old Mary Jane Scanes who was also living in King's Street, they married at the Parish church of St John & St George, Exeter January 10th 1869. Witnesses were Frances Elizabeth Scanes and Joseph Hellier. Daniel Richard and Mary Jane moved to Crediton, where their son Alfred was born on Wednesday 4th August 1869 between 4 and 5 in the morning. The 1871 census shows that they had moved to Tedburn St Mary which is about 4 miles from Crediton. The address was Tremletts Cottages, Daniel put his occupation was Smith & Ironmonger. Their next child Agnes Lily was born here the following year, on Saturday 1st June 1872 between 4 and 5 in the morning. The family moved again to Ide where Mary Ellen was born on Saturday 18th July 1874 between 12 and 1 she was baptised 16th August 1874. At the time Daniel Richard was ill, he had Brights Disease, and went to live with his family in Kenton, where he died age 29 on 2nd September 1874, his brother George was present and he registered Daniels death. He is buried at Kenton. See gravestone inscriptions on Kenton page.

AGNES LILY CRUSE 1872 - 1966

Agnes Lily was the 2nd child of Daniel Richard Cruse and Mary Jane Scanes, she was born on Saturday 1st June 1872 between 4 and 5 in the morning at Tremletts Cottages, Tedburn St Mary. After she was born the family moved to Ide, and her sister Mary Ellen was born in July 1874, her father was ill, and went to stay with his family in Kenton, where he died. The next year her baby sister became ill and she died age 13 months in September 1875, Agnes was 3 years old.

The 1881 Census shows the family still living in Ide village. Her mother as head of the family age 35 is a grocer, they lived behind the shop, her brother Alfred age 11 and herself age 8 both at school, also her grand mother Mary Ann Scanes age 72 and Aunt Ellen Scanes age 32 who was a School Mistress. Ellen Scanes taught Agnes Lily the domestic skills of sewing, crotchet and knitting, expecting Agnes to copy other work exactly without using written patterns. Ellen was very strict with her niece. Agnes was only 17 years old when she married Charles Sercombe age 22, a Farmer, at St Gregory's church in Dawlish by banns, on 8th December 1889 both were living in the town at the time, and her mother Mary Jane Cruse was a witness, and so was a distant cousin William H. Discombe.

Agnes' mother Mary Jane married James Yendell in about 1890, they lived at the shop in Ide, and the 1891 census for Ide shows James Yendell age 55, General Shopkeeper, born at Chumleigh, Mary Jane Yendell his wife age 46, and Agnes Lilly Sercombe his step daughter age 18 and married, living with head of family.

Agnes and her husband went to live in Ide, Agnes worked in the shop and Charles was a Market Gardener with an address in Exeter. Their first child Madeline Eugenie was born 2nd August 1892, then 10 years later another child Phyllis Margaret was born 4th June 1902. The family were quite well off, and well respected in the village, until Charles died. He didn't come home one night in December, his horse found it's way, but no sign of Charles, all through Christmas 1916 the family worried and waited for news. Then on 19th January 1917 his body was pulled from the river Exe at Mill Leat, Countess Wear at Topsham. The Coroner gave a verdict of "Accidental by drowning". The family could not understand what had happened, Charles had been an excellent swimmer and horseman, and he knew the route home like the back of his hand.

The villagers said he must have been drunk, but there was no evidence for this and Charles did not drink to excess. They had to sell up the shop, suppliers demanded to be paid immediately, and the family could not ask the large houses to pay their credit off. No headstone was erected for Charles, as there was no money for one. The family moved around finding work, one of the places was Bath, and I have been told that Mary Jane Scanes died there. They moved East and found themselves in Ash, Surrey. Agnes got a job at Winchfield Hospital, she had been told never to open the windows, one very hot humid night, one of the patients pleaded with her to open the window, Agnes gave in under pressure and opened one window, when she looked back a few minutes later the patient was half way out of the window, she had to struggle to get them back in again, needless to say she never let it happen again.

Agnes married again to a carpenter named Loughton, the marriage only lasted about 6 months, and Agnes went to live with her daughter Phyllis Margaret and her husband Arthur Stallard. She continued to live with her until her death at the age of 95 on 16th June 1966. She is buried at Ship Lane Cemetery, Farnborough, Hampshire.

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