Updated 20th May, 2024
During the early 1820s Hoar Oak Cottage was home to two related families, Edward and Elizabeth (nee Rawle) Richards and Elizabeth’s parents, William and Rebecca (nee Squire) Rawle. At the time the cottage was still a very simple 1½ storey, one up one down building with few, if any, enhancements that might make it comfortable for two families, including young children, to live in.
To date, research by The Friends, has been unable to show exactly why these families came to be living together at Hoar Oak Cottage. But the reason can be speculated upon. The Richard and Rawle’s story captures a period of change in North Devon. The family names of Squire, Richards, Rawle are ubiquitous North Devon surnames found in many historic records, including manorial records, for the area around Furzehill, Sparhanger, Ilkerton etc. They are listed as tenants, yeomen, husbandmen within the ancient manorial system. Some had enough money or property to leave wills or are beneficiaries in their family wills. For example, Rebecca Rawle b1754 who subsequently died at Hoar Oak Cottage, was the daughter of Philip and Joan Squire, the tenants of South Furzehill Farm which was part of the Manor of Furzehill. When Philip Squire died in 1802, he left a will bequeathing substantial interests of property and money to his wife, son and daughters including Rebecca. They were part of a stable and secure agricultural world. But that world was changing.
In 1818, the Royal Forest of Exmoor was sold into private hands; what had for centuries been common lands began to be enclosed and tenant farms were being sold off rather than passed down through tenant farming families – as had been the tradition for hundreds of years. The Richards, Rawle and Squire families may well have been impacted by these changes.
We know that Elizabeth Rawle married Edward Richards in 1822 and their first child was born at Sparhanger Farm where Edward was most likely employed by the Vellacotts – tenant farmers at Sparhanger. Soon after, the couple moved to Hoar Oak Cottage which was probably tied to Edward’s employment with the Vellacotts. Three more children are recorded as born at Hoar Oak Cottage:
- William baptised 20thNovember 1825
- Richard baptised 19th August 1827
- Betsey baptised 15th November 1829.
They then moved on to another Vellacott property – Rowborough Castle Farm – where several more children were born:
- David b1833
- Ann b1835
- John b1838
- William b1840,
- Martha b1843
- Isaac b1846.
Elizabeth’s mother and father, Rebecca and William Rawle, moved in with the family at Hoar Oak Cottage in the 1820s. The reason is not known. In a family history written by Edwin John Rawle of the Somersetshire Archaeological Society – “Records of the Rawle Family” (1898) – we learn that Rebecca Rawle died, aged 70, on 30th June 1824 at Hoar Oak. We believe she pre-deceased William. Rebecca was buried on 6th July in St Mary’s Church, Lynton and her headstone, shown below, raises a query.
It reads:
” In memory of Rebecca, the wife of William Rawle, of this parish, who departed this life June 30th, in the year of our Lord 1824, aged 70 years”.
On the lower half of the headstone it reads:
“And Edward Richards Son-in-Law of the above who died on 29th September 1853 aged 56.”
Why is Edward Richards laid to rest in the same grave as his mother-in-law nearly 30 years after her interment? It may be because, when Edward died, Elizabeth was left with several young children to raise and probably very little income. The records show she went to live with her older children and was employed in the wool trade – probably as a home worker earning piece rates. The 1861 census shows her living in Lynton with son Isaac and her occupation is given as a Worster Feeder. In 1871, she is living alone in Lynton and her occupation is listed as a Wool Stainer and in 1881, Elizabeth is living with daughter Martha Hancock in Lynton and is described as former Spinning Woman. It is likely that the simple answer to our question about Edward’s burial is that Elizabeth was left destitute when her husband died and burying him in her mother’s grave was an economic solution.
Elizabeth died aged 83 in May 1883 of chronic bronchitis and senile debility – the latter an old-style term for vascular dementia sometimes exacerbated by breathing problems. She is buried in St Mary’s Lynton churchyard.
The Family Tree below was compiled by Nicky Rowberry, trustee and genealogist of The Friends of Hoar Oak Cottage.
Thanks go to Steve Davies, who has been researching the Rawles of North Devon and discovered that Rebecca was living with her daughter and son-in-law at Hoar Oak Cottage during the 1820s. Steve’s extensive researches have now been compiled into a family history document. If you would like to know more feel free to contact us on info@hoaroakcottage.org and we will be happy to put you in touch with him.
The chapter on the Rawle/Richards families in “The Women of Hoar Oak Cottage – An Untold History” contains more details about this family and their life at Hoar Oak Cottage. To get a copy go to:
- Books4Sale – hoaroak (hoaroakcottage.org)
- https://hoaroakcottage.org/books4sale/
- Or email: info@hoaroakcottage.org
Please also get in touch – email info@hoaroakcottage.org – if you have more information to share about the Rawles and the Richards and their time at Hoar Oak Cottage. Reference to the Squire family can also be found in the section on the Bass family of Hoar Oak Cottage.