John Partridge

John Partridge was born ca 1815 at Bodmin, Cornwall. He was a tin miner who came to Devon, where he married Mary Henley (b. ca 1821, Kingsteignton) who was then living in South Bovey, in the parish of Bovey Tracey (IGI says: About 1842 South Bovey, Devon, England). (The marriage was registered in 1841 at the Exeter Registration District, Devonshire. Mary is said to be from 'South Bovey, Devon.)

A possible reference in the IGI - John Partridge - Christening: 05 AUG 1815 Mawgan In Pyder, Cornwall, England; Father: Roger Partidge; Mother: Mary. Batch No.: C052903

In the 1861 Census: Partridge, John 44 M St Thomas and in 1871 - PARTRIDGE, John 56 M St Thomas

The Partridge family lived at Kennick Cottage, near Kennick (or what is now the Kinnick Resevoir - first flooded in 1884) - in the parish of Christow. John died before 1881, for Mary his wife is listed then as 'a widow' aged 61 - pauper, living at a place called 'Beckhams.' (There was a 'Beckhams Cottage in Christow which may have been the place.)

From White's Devonshire Directory of 1850 - CHRISTOW, a straggling village on the western side of the river Teign, 9 miles S.W. of Exeter, and 4½ miles N.W. of Chudleigh, has in its parish 624 souls, and about 3600 acres of land. Viscount Exmouth owns a great part of the soil, and is lord of the manors of Christow and Canon-Teign, which were purchased by his father of W. Helyar, Esq., in 1812. L. Palk, Esq., and several smaller owners, have estates here. Both manors were held by abbeys in Normandy, and were granted at the Reformation to John, Lord Russell. Canon-Teign was successively the seat of the Berry, Gibbs, Gibbon, and Davy families, and was garrisoned for Charles I. in the civil wars, but was taken by Fairfax in December, 1645, and placed under the command of Colonel Okey, who afterwards suffered as one of the regicides. The Church (St. James) is a small ancient fabric, with a tower and six bells, and was appropriated to Bec Abbey, in Normandy, and afterwards to Tavistock Abbey. The great tithes were purchased by the landowners in 1812. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £8. 6s. 8d., and in 1831 at £176, is in the gift of Viscount Exmouth, and incumbency of the Rev. Wm. Woolcombe, who has a neat residence, and £170 a year in lieu of tithes. New Canon Teign House is an occasional seat of Viscount Exmouth, and in its pleasure grounds is a beautiful waterfall. The mine in this parish, called Adams William, was opened about forty years ago, and was long worked for copper ore, manganese, &c. It is now sunk to the depth of 60 fathoms, and yields lead, from which a portion of silver is extracted, but it is not very prolific. A Friendly Society was established for this parish and neighbourhood in 1839. John Stooke, in 1691, left Smyth's Hay farm for charitable uses, &c., in this and other parishes. It comprises 26A., and is let for about £26 per annum. Out of this yearly income, the vicar of Christow receives about £11, and the poor have five 4d. loaves weekly. Of the remainder £5 belongs to the poor of Ashton, and £5 to the rector of Trusham.

The children of John Partridge and Mary Henley were:

1. William Partridge - b. ca 1841, farm labourer/ lead miner; m. Mary Jane Unknown (b. ca 1847, Cheriton Bishop, Devon); Issue: Bessy, John George, William, Henry J., Laura

2. Elizabeth Partridge - b. ca 1843, South Bovey (Bovey Tracey)

3. John Partridge - b. ca 1845, Bovey Tracey, Devon

4. Mary Jane Partridge - b. 4th April, 1847, Christow, Devon; m. Josias (Josiah) Lambshead on 7th April, 1868, District of Newton Abbot, Devon.

5. Samuel Partridge - b. ca 1851, Christow (1871 Census: PARTRIDGE, Samuel 14 M St Thomas); m. Eliza Unknown bef. 1879; issue: Emily (b. Doddiscombsleigh, Devon ca 1879) and Emma (b. Brideford ca 1881)

6. Thomas Partridge - b. ca 1854, Christow (1871 Census: PARTRIDGE, Thomas 18 M St Thomas); m. Mary E. Unknown b. ca 1854, Highweek, Devon) bef. 1881; issue: Reginal T. Partidge (in 1881 census, aged 1 month, at Bedminster, Somerset, with parents)

7. James Partridge - b. ca 1857, Christow - farm labourer (1871 Census: PARTRIDGE, James 14 M St Thomas)

8. Sarah Partridge - b. ca 1859, Christow

9. Charlotte Partridge - b. ca 1859, Christow - servant

10. Maria Partridge - b. ca 1860, Christow

11. Philip Partridge - b. ca 1863, Christow

Of the above - . William Partridge - b. ca 1841, farm labourer/ lead miner; m. Mary Jane Unknown (b. ca 1847, Cheriton Bishop, Devon); Issue:

1. Bessy - b. ca 1866, Christow - domestic servant (in 1871 census, at Christow with parents; in 1881 census, at Christow with Joseph Gould)

2. John George - b. ca 1869, Brideford, Devon - labourer (1871 census - at Brideford; 1881 census - at Christow)

3. William - b. ca 1872, Brideford, Devon

4. Henry J. - b. ca 1878, Christow

5. Laura - b. ca 1880, Christow