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James Lackington’s widow remarried four times! (See separate article for Lackington). Miss Maria Gibbons of Budleigh Salterton wrote a book "We Donkeys in Devon" in the 1880s which included the following : 

"Mrs Lackington was 7 times engaged, 6 appearances at the altar, and 5 occasions actually married. James Lackington was getting on when he returned to his native haunts, but a young lady was attracted by him. She was really engaged at the time to a younger man, an officer, and could not secure formal release. She got to the altar, and said "no". She married James and they came to live in Budleigh Salterton where he built a very nice house in the centre of the village. In 1815 James died at the age of 69."

Mrs Lackington was a force to be reckoned with. Miss Gibbons goes on to tell us that: 

"On 6th March 1817 she became Mrs William Symes. He died in 1822, aged 49, and lies in an unmarked grave in East Budleigh Churchyard."

On 29th October 1822 she became Mrs George Gellard (or Gilard). He died in 1833, aged 63, and lies in an unmarked grave in East Budleigh Churchyard. 

On 5th December 1834 she became Mrs John Snow Manley. He too died, in 1840 aged 63, and lies in an unmarked grave in East Budleigh. 

She left Budleigh Salterton, said to be aged 70 to move to apartments near the Cathedral in Exeter. She became attached to a young shopman who threw up his situation. She did not marry him, thinking he was too young, but gave him £50 in lieu of doing so. 

Lastly a Mr Alexander Huddy journeyed to Exeter from St Clement, Cornwall, and she married him at St Sidwells Church, Exeter on 17th April 1841, and they lived together in the apartments. Then they moved to his Cornish home but it did not please her, and without consulting him, she drove back to Exeter. By advice of her lawyer, they separated and she gave him "£50 p.a. as long as she lived." 

Mary Huddy died on 1st January 1850, aged 85, and her husband in the following year. 

It is thought that George Gillard was a Methodist Minister. 

Researched and written by © Cyril Cowland for publication by the Temple Methodist Church, Budleigh Salterton, 2005.

Sources include: 

Rev. H.W.White, Archivist & Historian for the Taunton and Wellington Circuits.

Roger Thorne, Archivist of the Plymouth and Exeter Methodist Districts.

Alan Ross

Miss F. Lovesey

Clifford Lackington Goodman

Victor Harris Collection, Belfast.

Miss S. Bond

West Country Studies Library, Exeter.

Fairlynch Museum, Budleigh Salterton.

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