Ducks through the ages.
Our mission when we first took over Ducks Paddle was to uncover its history as best we could. As censuses were written down there were changes to spellings and even place names, so it was difficult to ascertain the facts. Frequently we revised our opinions after re-reading information.
All spelling is as first written and facts are correct, as far as we can tell.
Anyone with information about Ducks and its history is more than welcome to contact us.
A huge thank you to Jeff Souch for providing the Meshaw Local History Project files, with a fantastic amount of both text and photographs,
which we have used on this page.
We hope to continue to enlarge this side of our site to accommodate more history of Meshaw and the surrounding area.
which we have used on this page.
We hope to continue to enlarge this side of our site to accommodate more history of Meshaw and the surrounding area.
Above is a section from the earliest map we have found; Benjamin Donn's from 1765. It shows Meshaw Moor, which appears to be vast.
The main road from East Worlington to South Molton passed in front of the cottage, down the oak tree-lined cut and up the other side of the valley.
Meshaw village was literally off the beaten track
This is a very rare and highly important 1765 wall map of Devonshire by Benjamin Donn. Drawn in twelve panels, this map covers the entirety of Devonshire or Devon from the English Channel to Barnstaple (Bideford) Bay and from Cornwall to Somerset at a scale of 1 inch to 1 mile.
Donn also incorporates large insets of Exeter (showing the college), Plymouth, Plymouth Dock, Stoke Town, and the Isle of Lundy.
It is an exceptionally interesting map to pore over.
Tantalising glimpses of Ducks' past.
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The earliest record we found mentioning Ducks Paddle by name is from the Witheridge Historical Archive who published the memories of
Mrs. Gard in 2006. She was born in 1893 and lived for some years at Chumleigh Week, then at Drayford Bridge.
She recalls the roads were so bad after the 1914-18 War that pit props were cut to put in the ruts.
'Further up the road to South Molton was a pub at Duckspuddle on Meshaw Moor where, it was said: 'The ducks used to paddle in the beer.''
Taken from witheridge-historical-archive.com with kind permission (around 1910/20) Mrs Gard born 1893 Drayford Memories.
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We think the pub had closed by 1891, a few years before Mrs. Gard was born, so it seems that the name was recalled and passed on by the
older generations.
A vintner owned Ducks Paddle, then named New Inn, during the 1800s, so brewing beer was more than likely. A well by the old workshop is the
most likely plentiful source of water.
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Sadly, very few photographs exist of the area (and none of Ducks before the 1970s), and those but a few grainy images showing the outside,
before the extension was added.
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Using census and tithe material, we found the identities of previous residents and land owners going back to 1838, more than 180 years ago.
The name and spelling of the house changed, mostly due to the census takers interpretation of what they were told.
The people who lived here before us
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We have a great deal of photographs, courtesy of previous compilers of Meshaw village life and people, including originals of William Nott the folk singer, and from a local history project in 1991, but very few of residents of Ducks. We aim to put this on the website over time.
But to begin with Ducks, we have been able to trace many of the residents through the 1800s and 1900s from census records, along with some
interesting snippets of information about their lives.
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It seems that locally, the plot was well known as Little Meshaw Moor, Hillside, Peeks, Upper Peeks, The New Inn and Ducks Paddle or Puddle.
In the early 1800s the land surrounding Ducks Paddle was still open moorland.
Following the Inclosure Act 1773 the moors were divided into fields which remain largely untouched to this day. Hillside X is marked on the map
below and the Moor Tenement mentioned makes up a large portion of the Devon Wildlife Trust reserve, Meshaw Moor.
Locally this work was completed by 1830 and the tythe mapping in 1838 lists that the land at Ducks Paddle and the surrounding area was in the
ownership of John Brown Esq.
William & Samuel Mayne rented plots nos: 451 & 465 which were 2 houses Plus l acre 38 pecks 3/- payable.
But to begin with Ducks, we have been able to trace many of the residents through the 1800s and 1900s from census records, along with some
interesting snippets of information about their lives.
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It seems that locally, the plot was well known as Little Meshaw Moor, Hillside, Peeks, Upper Peeks, The New Inn and Ducks Paddle or Puddle.
In the early 1800s the land surrounding Ducks Paddle was still open moorland.
Following the Inclosure Act 1773 the moors were divided into fields which remain largely untouched to this day. Hillside X is marked on the map
below and the Moor Tenement mentioned makes up a large portion of the Devon Wildlife Trust reserve, Meshaw Moor.
Locally this work was completed by 1830 and the tythe mapping in 1838 lists that the land at Ducks Paddle and the surrounding area was in the
ownership of John Brown Esq.
William & Samuel Mayne rented plots nos: 451 & 465 which were 2 houses Plus l acre 38 pecks 3/- payable.
South Molton Turnpike Road
This was created in 1759 as a town-centred trust covering a network of roads in north east Devon to the south of Exmoor. There were no major routes covered by the trust. Its main responsibilities were roads radiating from South Molton to smaller communities in north east Devon, and linking
the roads of other trusts such as Tiverton to Barnstaple.
By an Act of 1839, the trust created a substantial mileage of new roads in the area towards Tiverton.
J House of Commons - ReportsVol 28 ;; 1 Feb 1759 South Molton
Petition of the gentlemen, freeholders and inhabitants of South Molton
That roads from south Molton thru George Nympton, Mary Ansleigh, Romansleigh, Meshaw, East Worlington to Drayford Bridge in way to Exeter
And South Molton thru George Nympton, Kings Nympton, Chulmleigh and Chawleigh to Labbauds Cross in the Parish of Chawleigh
in the way to Exeter
Also road from South Molton thru Bishops Nympton, Rose Ash, Knowstone, Creacomb and Rackenford to Crusley House in the way to Tiverton
And the road from South Molton thru Philleigh and Swimbridge to Kerscott Hill in the way to Barnstaple
And the road from South Molton thru Chittlehampton to Umbersleighford in the Parish of Chittlehampton in the way to Torrington
Are very narrow and incommodious, very step and dangerous to travellers and almost impassable for carriages. Need to avoid some precipices and make ascents more gradual and easy
13 Feb 1759
Sir William Courtenay reported
To prove the allegations Thomas Peake, Edward Elstone, Isaac Hopkins and Arthur Short said the roads are narrow, hilly and incommodious.
14th Dec 1778
Sir George Yonge reported
To prove the Allegations, George Sharland said considerable progress had been made in amending the roads and £3,650 had been borrowed, which cannot be paid off unless Powers continued.
NEW CUTS in 1839 Act;
Witheridge Road;
As B3137 in Meshaw, branching off Old road to cross the River Little Dart at New Bridge, West Yeo, on to Witheridge and on to Noman’s Land to join the new branch of the Tiverton Turnpike Road (about 8 miles) (built about 1844)
This was the main route to South Molton until being replaced by the New Road sometime during 1839/44.
The flyer above, dated 23rd July 1839, shows investors were sought to fund the project as a whole.
The lane at the front of the cottage was called Turnpike Road.
On Meshaw Moor
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The first census in 1841 records Ducks Paddle as simply Meshaw Moor with the Mayne family living in the cottages:
William Mayne age 50 (a publican)
Eleanor Mayne age 45 (his wife)
Eleanor Mayne age 12 (daughter)
Elizabeth Mayne age eight (daughter)
Robert Mayne age six (son)
Mary Mayne age five (daughter)
William Maine age 20 (son) married 24/11/1840 in Meshaw church
Hannah Maine age 20 (his wife)
Mary Maine age two months (grand-daughter)
The name spelling variations are common on census records and most people could not read or write themselves, so relied on the census clerk.
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Working at Meshaw Barton were two other Mayne men: Samuel age 20 and Richard age 14. They were also sons of the family. John Mayne, age 26,
was also working away but it is tricky to say where as there were several of the same name. Richard and Robert emigrated to America in 1854.
Another son was Phillip Mayne, age 21 and apprenticed to John Scions of Lower Bone, Meshaw. He met his wife Elizabeth Matthews of Chumleigh when she was employed as a servant working in the New Inn Public House. They married in 1844.
Phillip married Elizabeth Matthews around 1844 and lived at The New Inn before moving to Ashwater by 1847. They had their first child here, Mary Ann Mayne born 30th March 1845 who is also recorded as dying at The New Inn, Little Meshaw Moor, age almost six, in January 1851.
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This confirms that The New Inn was active from around 1843. We have also found mention of Crimson Brambley apple trees at Meshaw Barton orchard. Could this be when the three old apple trees on our lawn were planted which possibly makes them around 180 years old?
The New Inn
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White's Devonshire Directory of 1850 lists Mayne Wm., vict. New Inn, Moor and moving on to 1851 Ducks Paddle is recorded as Higher Pikes.
This caused considerable confusion in our research as our neighbours to the north are now called Higher Picks.
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Our title deeds tell us that in March 1972 Ducks Paddle was known as Hillside and next door was known as Peeks.
We can say that someone decided they were higher, despite being on lower ground sometime after this date.
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The Mayne family were still in residence at Ducks Paddle.
William and Eleanor are now both 60 years old and have three children at home.
They are John, age 30, Elizabeth, age 18 and Mary, age 16.
William's younger brother Samuel, age 58, is also living in the cottage with his wife Jane, also 58 and their daughter Elizabeth age 15.
No occupations are given on this census but there is also a lodger called Jane Smith Tucker, age 24.
The 1861 census gives us the first record of Ducks Paddle being known as The New Inn.
William and Eleanor (now Ellen) have aged more than the ten year census gap and are recorded as age 74 and 78 respectively.
They have two of their children living at home. John is now 45 and Elizabeth, age 29, is married to John Pyke. They have a one-year-old daughter
called Mary.
We also have recorded two visitors both age 21. Edwin Pyke (who is probably a relation of John) and Henry Parker.
William Mayne is listed as an agricultural labourer and victualler. It is interesting that William's brother Samuel is still here but name his address as Higher Pykes. He is a gardener and his home is separated from The New Inn. This could be the cottage opposite which is now our old workshop. Part of the original cob walls and roof timbers remain within this building.
It could also be that only one half of the cottage today was The New Inn, and the adjoining one was Higher Pykes. Samuel died of fever in May 1869, probably at The New Inn/Higher Pykes.
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From the local paper ( North Devon Journal 65/233/3b) published 21st of December 1865 William Main of New Inn was fined 2/- plus 9/- costs for allowing cows to stray onto the highway.
In 1869 William Mayne died at The New Inn age 82 and is buried in Meshaw churchyard.
His death certificate lists his occupation as an innkeeper and his daughter Elizabeth Pyke was with him when he died of apoplexy.
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We have found John Mayne listed in 1870 as a beer retailer and he takes his place at the head of the family on the 1871 census.
Ducks Paddle is still Peeks New Inn.
John's father has died but his mother Eleanor is still alive age 79 and she dies in 1874.
John's occupation is a publican and farmer of 14 acres. He appears to be unmarried and without children.
His sister Elizabeth Pyke nee Mayne is now 38 and her family are also living at the inn. She is recorded as an assistant in a public house. Her
father-in-law Joseph Pyke, age 75, has moved in and with her husband John they now have five children. These are Mary, now 11, Joseph, age nine, John, age seven, Elizabeth, age three and Susan, age eight months. Eleanor Mayne died in 1874 age 81 and is buried in Meshaw churchyard.
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1881 sees Ducks Paddle continuing to be called New Inn Peeks. John Mayne, now 65, is still head of the family and a licensed victualler and
farmer of 14 acres.
His sister Elizabeth and her husband John Pike, with their three youngest children John, Elizabeth and Susan, complete the family.
In January 1883 John Mayne was summoned to the County Petty Sessions for ill treating a horse by working it with a large running wound.
Later that same year he was fined 3s plus costs for allowing three cows to stray on the highway, committing the same offence as his father 18 years earlier.
The New Inn ceased trading in 1888 due to lack of trade and the name disappears.
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By 1891 it is called Higher Peeks. John Mayne is now a road contractor age 74 and still living with his sister Elizabeth, her husband John (now head of the household) and their son John, age 23.
John Mayne died in 1896 age 78 and is buried in Meshaw village churchyard.
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Ordnance Survey mapping didn't reach North Devon until around 1888/89. The first map they produced names Ducks Paddle as Mayne's Tenement. It shows the line of oak trees. We think there may have been a lane that ran along there at some point, between our small field in the section marked 386, which is over the lane from the house, and Peter the farmer's, which appears to have been divided into several fields at this time. There are two very old oaks in the middle of that field now, probably where there is one marked on here.
The new century.
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Just a couple of years later in 1901 the name Higher Peeks remains, but the Mayne family do not.
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After staying in one family for over 60 years, the cottage has new residents: Jane Sloman, age 50, her son Arthur Mugford, age 21 and a lodger
Edward J Turner, age 19.
After the death of her brother Elizabeth Pyke and her husband John moved to West Rowley Farm in Romansleigh with son John and daughter Elizabeth.
Then, following the death of her husband, she moves to Pouncers Farm, Chawleigh with her son John and his new wife Annie.
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The first reference of Ducks Paddle being called Hillside is in January 1904.
It was reported that Mrs. Sloman, Hillside, Meshaw, gathered a fine bunch of wild strawberries on Meshaw Moor on December 18th. This was to
decorate the church for Christmas.
This 1904 OS map also shows Hillside. The signpost at the junction is now called Hillside.
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After staying in one family for over 60 years, the cottage has new residents: Jane Sloman, age 50, her son Arthur Mugford, age 21 and a lodger
Edward J Turner, age 19.
After the death of her brother Elizabeth Pyke and her husband John moved to West Rowley Farm in Romansleigh with son John and daughter Elizabeth.
Then, following the death of her husband, she moves to Pouncers Farm, Chawleigh with her son John and his new wife Annie.
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The first reference of Ducks Paddle being called Hillside is in January 1904.
It was reported that Mrs. Sloman, Hillside, Meshaw, gathered a fine bunch of wild strawberries on Meshaw Moor on December 18th. This was to
decorate the church for Christmas.
This 1904 OS map also shows Hillside. The signpost at the junction is now called Hillside.
1911 brings more new names to Ducks Paddle, and some photographs of those who resided here, now known as simply Peeks.
Richard Headon is 52 years old and a farmer, His wife is Miriam, age 50 and they have a son Edward Stanley, age nine. We know that Richard and
Miriam have moved into the village (Sunnyside, Meshaw) by 1931. Edward has emigrated to Canada and an older son William is in Chappel Farm,
which is the neighbouring property to our southeast.
The Headons, Rattenburys & Crabbs
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The last available census in 1921 still refers to Ducks Paddle as Hillside.
The resident family are the Rattenburys who moved from Chappel Cottage sometime after 1911. John Rattenbury is the head of the household and has married his second wife Susan in 1913. His trade is recorded as carpenter. They are with three children from his first marriage to Bessie Annie (died 1912): William, age 15, and twins Evelyn and Archibald, age 12. The family then move to Moor Tenement by 1939.
Archibald married Vera Annie and moved to Mump Cottage in Romansleigh.
John died in 1956 and is buried in Meshaw churchyard with both of his wives who predeceased him.
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The resident family are the Rattenburys who moved from Chappel Cottage sometime after 1911. John Rattenbury is the head of the household and has married his second wife Susan in 1913. His trade is recorded as carpenter. They are with three children from his first marriage to Bessie Annie (died 1912): William, age 15, and twins Evelyn and Archibald, age 12. The family then move to Moor Tenement by 1939.
Archibald married Vera Annie and moved to Mump Cottage in Romansleigh.
John died in 1956 and is buried in Meshaw churchyard with both of his wives who predeceased him.
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We next connect with the Crabb family.
Mr. Charles Crabb bought Hillside from the Rattenburys plus ten acres for £300 in February 1921, but lived at Gidley Arms, Meshaw.
They advertised in the Western Times newspaper for tenants:
TENDER, on yearly tenancy from Lady-day, a SMALL HOLDING, known as HILLSIDE, the parish of Meshaw.
Good house and buildings, with acre 3 land.
This is dated January 1922 and Lady-day is 25th March.
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Situated on the B3137 south of Meshaw, at Gidley Cross, is the old house once known as the Gidley Arms, now called Gidley House.
Between the years of 1826 (when it was built) and about 1960, it was a pub.
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The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported that Albert Heddon of Hillside, Meshaw was ordered to pay 4s for riding a cycle without a light
in Worlington on August 10th 1925. He does not appear on census records but is mentioned again, this time in the Tiverton Gazette in February 1927.
Whilst standing beside a stationary horse and cart Albert Headon, farmer, of Hillside, Meshaw, clutched at the reins, when the horse suddenly
bolted. The reins broke, however, and slipping, he fell to the ground. A wheel of the cart passing over his abdomen, causing internal injuries.
He was conveyed to the North Devon Infirmary, where an operation was performed.
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The 1939 register taken at the outbreak of World Wat Two gives us some more information.
Listed again as Hillside, we have five residents at Ducks Paddle. William Cyril Hammett is age 34 and is a smallholder and casual labourer.
His wife is Ada May, also 34. They have a son William John, age 14 and two daughters: Winifred, age 11, and Eva Joan, age four.
William is assisting his father and the two girls are attending school.
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The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette announced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hammett, Hillside, Meshaw of eldest son Leslie Hammett L.A.C. to Ruth Miller W.R.N.S on Nov.25th 1944.
We know William Cyril moved from Hillside to Kempland Farm in Chulmleigh, where he died in 1961.
The Hammetts possibly left in 1941, as there is a record of a farm equipment sale at Hillside.
Mr. Charles Crabb bought Hillside from the Rattenburys plus ten acres for £300 in February 1921, but lived at Gidley Arms, Meshaw.
They advertised in the Western Times newspaper for tenants:
TENDER, on yearly tenancy from Lady-day, a SMALL HOLDING, known as HILLSIDE, the parish of Meshaw.
Good house and buildings, with acre 3 land.
This is dated January 1922 and Lady-day is 25th March.
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Situated on the B3137 south of Meshaw, at Gidley Cross, is the old house once known as the Gidley Arms, now called Gidley House.
Between the years of 1826 (when it was built) and about 1960, it was a pub.
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The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported that Albert Heddon of Hillside, Meshaw was ordered to pay 4s for riding a cycle without a light
in Worlington on August 10th 1925. He does not appear on census records but is mentioned again, this time in the Tiverton Gazette in February 1927.
Whilst standing beside a stationary horse and cart Albert Headon, farmer, of Hillside, Meshaw, clutched at the reins, when the horse suddenly
bolted. The reins broke, however, and slipping, he fell to the ground. A wheel of the cart passing over his abdomen, causing internal injuries.
He was conveyed to the North Devon Infirmary, where an operation was performed.
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The 1939 register taken at the outbreak of World Wat Two gives us some more information.
Listed again as Hillside, we have five residents at Ducks Paddle. William Cyril Hammett is age 34 and is a smallholder and casual labourer.
His wife is Ada May, also 34. They have a son William John, age 14 and two daughters: Winifred, age 11, and Eva Joan, age four.
William is assisting his father and the two girls are attending school.
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The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette announced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hammett, Hillside, Meshaw of eldest son Leslie Hammett L.A.C. to Ruth Miller W.R.N.S on Nov.25th 1944.
We know William Cyril moved from Hillside to Kempland Farm in Chulmleigh, where he died in 1961.
The Hammetts possibly left in 1941, as there is a record of a farm equipment sale at Hillside.
Inside a Devon cottage
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Inside views of the old farmhouse, two pictures of the old fireplace taken from different angles.
These pictures alone give us a history of their own.
You see the kitchen table on the left of the large crock, the kettle on the handy-maid, the cast iron fireback to throw out the heat, the washing hanging around to dry or air after ironing and the old bellows to hasten the fire to burn up.
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These pictures alone give us a history of their own.
You see the kitchen table on the left of the large crock, the kettle on the handy-maid, the cast iron fireback to throw out the heat, the washing hanging around to dry or air after ironing and the old bellows to hasten the fire to burn up.
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From the Sutton & Epsom Advertiser archive in August 1947 and April 1948 we find the another mention of the Crabb family, this time in residence at Ducks Paddle.
HOLIDAYS Devon Farmhouse Mrs Crabb Hillside Meshaw Sth Molton and later from the Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter archive in April 1952.
Their advertisement ran as follows: FARMHOUSE holidays. Comfortable home; attested dairy; bus stop 15 min; mod. terms. Mrs. Crabb, Hillside, Meshaw, South Molton, North Devon.
We are not the first owners to offer holiday accommodation at Ducks Paddle!
The bus stop is still about 15 minutes' walk too.
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Our next record of this family is Charles Edward Crabbe in March 1972.
At this time the cottage was called Hillside and next door was called Peeks, where a John Henry Crabbe lived. Charles and John were grandsons of Charles Crabb who bought Hillside back in 1921.
We think 1972 was when Ducks Paddle had a septic tank for sewerage installed, which ran onto Peeks land and access rights were agreed between the
two properties. Our mains water supply was added around the same time, being extended from Chappell Farm.
It is also possible that the GPO telephone was installed sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s as British Telecom to this day refer to the
address as Hillside.
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Sometime after the Crabbe family left, Ducks Paddle was owned by Mr and Mrs Welsh who spent a lot of time overseas in Rhodesia, Africa. The cottage had a tin roof over the old thatch during their occupancy. They sold the property to the Stoneman's.
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The first land registry title deeds were registered in 1989 and 1990. These documents refer to Ducks Paddle and Annexe, Ducks Paddle.
At this time the property was owned by the Williams and Stoneman families who added the rear extension to the cottage and created the layout
you see today.
The Stonemans ran an engineering business which outgrew the old cob cottage opposite Ducks Paddle. On the site of an old building they erected
the steel framed workshop with the roller shutter door in 2001.
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In 2014 Ducks Paddle went on the market and was later sold on to the Steele family. They in turn sold to us in 2022.
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Sources:
Tythe mapping 1838
Census records 1841/1851/1861/1871/1881/1891/1901/1911/1921
White's Devonshire Directory of 1850
!939 register WW2
Maps 1887
O/S Maps 1887/1903/1950
Land Registry 10/89 and 9/90
Mid Devon Council 02/2001: N20994
the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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More information on the families:
MAYNE They came from Wembworthy before arriving in Meshaw. William and Eleanor had in total 11 children. In birth order they were John, Phillip, William, Samuel, Ann, Richard, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Robert, Florence and Mary. Samuel died age just 26 on 10th May 1849 at The New Inn (Ducks Paddle) and Florence died in infancy, aged around two, in 1838 also presumably at The New Inn.
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Meshaw facts:
1831 population was 166
1848 population was 305
HOLIDAYS Devon Farmhouse Mrs Crabb Hillside Meshaw Sth Molton and later from the Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter archive in April 1952.
Their advertisement ran as follows: FARMHOUSE holidays. Comfortable home; attested dairy; bus stop 15 min; mod. terms. Mrs. Crabb, Hillside, Meshaw, South Molton, North Devon.
We are not the first owners to offer holiday accommodation at Ducks Paddle!
The bus stop is still about 15 minutes' walk too.
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Our next record of this family is Charles Edward Crabbe in March 1972.
At this time the cottage was called Hillside and next door was called Peeks, where a John Henry Crabbe lived. Charles and John were grandsons of Charles Crabb who bought Hillside back in 1921.
We think 1972 was when Ducks Paddle had a septic tank for sewerage installed, which ran onto Peeks land and access rights were agreed between the
two properties. Our mains water supply was added around the same time, being extended from Chappell Farm.
It is also possible that the GPO telephone was installed sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s as British Telecom to this day refer to the
address as Hillside.
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Sometime after the Crabbe family left, Ducks Paddle was owned by Mr and Mrs Welsh who spent a lot of time overseas in Rhodesia, Africa. The cottage had a tin roof over the old thatch during their occupancy. They sold the property to the Stoneman's.
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The first land registry title deeds were registered in 1989 and 1990. These documents refer to Ducks Paddle and Annexe, Ducks Paddle.
At this time the property was owned by the Williams and Stoneman families who added the rear extension to the cottage and created the layout
you see today.
The Stonemans ran an engineering business which outgrew the old cob cottage opposite Ducks Paddle. On the site of an old building they erected
the steel framed workshop with the roller shutter door in 2001.
_________________________________
In 2014 Ducks Paddle went on the market and was later sold on to the Steele family. They in turn sold to us in 2022.
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Sources:
Tythe mapping 1838
Census records 1841/1851/1861/1871/1881/1891/1901/1911/1921
White's Devonshire Directory of 1850
!939 register WW2
Maps 1887
O/S Maps 1887/1903/1950
Land Registry 10/89 and 9/90
Mid Devon Council 02/2001: N20994
the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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More information on the families:
MAYNE They came from Wembworthy before arriving in Meshaw. William and Eleanor had in total 11 children. In birth order they were John, Phillip, William, Samuel, Ann, Richard, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Robert, Florence and Mary. Samuel died age just 26 on 10th May 1849 at The New Inn (Ducks Paddle) and Florence died in infancy, aged around two, in 1838 also presumably at The New Inn.
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Meshaw facts:
1831 population was 166
1848 population was 305
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