Part Three

Joel’s family

Joel and Mary's first child, Joel Roger Carter was born on the 6th July 1816 and an entry in the Harpford register notes his baptism on the 9th August.  In all Joel and Mary had 15 children, the names of whom and dates of birth are recorded on an embroidered sampler. I believe this sampler is now in the possession of Betty Bullock's family of Budleigh Salterton. The details on the sampler are as follows:

"Joel Roger 6th July 1816, Mary 30th April 1818,
 Oliver 4th October 1819, Anna 12th May 1821,
 William 4th January 1823, Sarah 15th August 1824,
Joanna 3rd April 1825, Betsy 3rd January 1828, John 4th October 1829,
Sydenham 11th December 1831, Betsy 11th June 1833,
Elizabeth 12th May 1836, Sydenham 7th June 1837,
 Emily 8th September 1839, Robert 10th April 1842.
Train up a child in the way he shall go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Sampler stitched by Mary Carter

Not all the children survived infancy hence the repeated use of names.  In the early 1830s three infants died: Mary included the details on the sampler - Sydenham 1831-1832, Betsy 1828-1833, and Betsy 1833-1834.  At this time a cholera epidemic was raging in Exeter, Exmouth and surrounding districts and it might have had some connection.

The Carters were a prolific family in the Harpford locality. There were scores of aunts, uncles and cousins.

1814.  Joel’s brother Thomas Carter married Sarah Hare Paver and they had 15 children, of whom only two died in infancy. (Children: James 1815, Mary 1816-1865, Thomas 1817-1890, Jane 1818-1903, Sarah 1819-1900, Elias 1820-1825, Roger 1822-1894, Martha 1824-1899, Elias 1826-1894, Isat 1828-1918, Charles 1829-1899, Charlotte 1831-1921, Edmund 1832-1833, Eliza 1834-1914 and Susan 1835-1891.  Probably the children were all born at Bowd, but the family then moved a few miles away to Paver’s Farm at Passaford in the parish of Otterton.  Paver’s farm still stands, being constructed in a similar style to Podbury's. Like Podbury’s, I believe Paver’s is now available for holiday let.)

Paver’s Farm, Otterton Parish

1819.  Joel’s sister Mary Carter aged 21 years married William Hare, aged 28yrs, of Newton Poppleford, a cabinet maker, later to be described as a shopkeeper. (At the Devon Record Office there are documents, which relate to the lease of the workshop-cum-house of the Hare family of Newton Poppleford. Over several generations they were carpenters and had premises in the centre of the village. William and Mary’s children included Oliver 1820, Charlotte 1822, William 1825, Hermona 1827, Harriet 1829, and Walter Thomas 1831.  About 1840 the eldest son, Oliver Hare went ‘stock raising’ in Australia for nine years.  On return to Devon he stayed a while with his family but then emigrated to Canada.  In 1845 in ‘Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post’ there is a report from Devon Assizes that a local man, James Wheaton, aged 35 years was found guilty of the theft of a pair of shoes from William Hare’s shop.  In consequence Wheaton was transported for 10 years to Van Dieman’s Land - Tasmania. On the 1851 census at Newton Poppleford, Mary is living with her husband William Hare, with no children at home but two servants and a visitor.)

1823. Joel’s brother John Carter aged 22 married Grace Stacey aged 23yrs.  (She had been born at Torrington.  Children included Robert 1823, Elizabeth 1829, Edwin 1832, and Anna 1834.  John was an agricultural labourer-cum-farmer.  Their eldest child was baptised at Sidbury although their other children were baptized at Harpford.  On the 1841 census the family was living at Northmoston, Otterton.  During the later part of their life, certainly from 1851 onwards, the family was at Spears Cottage, Harpford, which had formally been used as alms accommodation.  From parish documents John Carter was given regular payments for accommodating Susannah Dainer and family.)

1831.  Joel’s sister Martha Carter, aged 28 years married Nicholas Ham of Plymtree, (born Kilmington) 41yrs, a widower.  (Children included Arthur born 1833 East Budleigh and Henrietta born 1835 Harpford. On 1841 census the family was living at Bridge End, Harpford and by the 1851 census they are at Newton Poppleford.  Nicholas and his son are described as bakers.  The family bakery business existed for much of the 19th century.  On the 1881 census Martha Ham is noted as widow of Newton Poppleford.  In 2009 ‘The Old Bakery’ and adjoining thatched ‘Ham Cottage’ are a reminder of this family)

C2005 - The Old Bakery and Ham Cottage, Newton Poppleford

1832. Joel’s brother Elias Carter, aged 22 years married Ann Lavis of Aylesbeare - probably of Newton Poppleford. (At the time Elias was described as a farmer but shortly after he became the landlord at the Exeter Inn, Newton Poppleford. They had four children of whom three died as infants. In 1839 Elias’s wife died, probably in childbirth.  On the 1841 census at the Exeter Inn, Elias is living with his daughter Ann 5 years, also Ann Carter aged 25yrs who was described as a servant.  I am not certain of the following connection but at Colaton Raleigh a baseborn child, Emily Carter was baptized in July 1842.  Her mother was named as Ann Carter and in the margin it says that she was the ‘wife’ of Elias Carter who deserted her.)

 
C2005 - Exeter Inn, Newton Poppleford

1833.  Joel's father, Elias Carter, died on the 18th August 1833 aged 72.  In his will, he left his entire estate to his widow to do with "as she thought fit".  His widow, Mrs. Anna Carter survived for many more years and Podbury's was farmed by their youngest son Robert. 

1835.  Joel’s sister Sarah Carter aged 27 years married John Symons of Sidbury.  Sarah died about 10 months later, probably in childbirth.

1839. Joel’s sister Anna Carter aged 44 years married Robert Chown, aged 60, a yeoman farmer of Northmoston in Otterton.  (In 1841 Anna was living at Northmoston with her husband and two adult step-sons.  On the 1851 census, Anna & Robert Chown were living at Bridge End, Northmoston, Anna described as a dressmaker.  In 1861 they were still at Northmoston, Otterton, Robert described as a retired farmer.)

1842. Joel’s widowed brother Elias Carter, aged 29 years married Sarah Shepherd Pocock, aged 21 yrs from Ottery St Mary.  (Children included Sydney 1843-1845, Sydney 1845-1845, and Elias William 1849.  On the 1851 and 1861 census Elias was innkeeper at The Exeter Inn, Newton Poppleford.)

This is one of a series of related articles. Click forward or back to jump to the next.

Researched by Anne Speight,  © 2009

SOURCE MATERIAL

Parish Registers of Harpford, Colaton Raleigh, Aylesbeare and Otterton
Will of Elias Carter of Harpford, d 1833.
1841-1881 Census Returns – Harpford, Newton Poppleford and Otterton
Exeter Flying Post - 27th March 1845
Various lease documents relating to the Hare family of Newton Poppleford –
held by Devon Record Office.
Harpford Overseers account book

45 NP-B-00003       Biography any