Ancestral Searches

My name is Gary Brennan; my mother's name was Millicent Loosemore, born to John Loosemore who was born in Yarcombe in 1865. I came here recently to retrace his steps to moving to the USA and in the hope of getting in touch with any other Loosemores in our clan in the area. If you know any and they would like to find out about John, please would you ask them to email me at:

garyb1956@comcast.net or 1(559)351-6165 by phone.

Thank you for your attention,

Gary Brennan

I am a Bowyer from Canada, and am researching my roots to your beautiful area, does anyone you know have any suggestions for me?
Sad to hear about the Inn, it looks great!

Chris Bowyer
Canada

Researching my family history I have an ancestor called William Michael Laurence, who, according to his death certificate lived at The Vicarage, Yarcombe, as a retired fruit farmer. His wife was called Louisa. He died 29 March 1954. Please could you tell me whether there are any local memories of him or his wife?

Thankyou for your time and patience.

Kind Regards,

Paul Brookes

I wonder if you can help me? I am the Great Granddaughter of Mary Hurford who married James Willie in 1873 and who lived in Yarcombe at Holly Cottage. Many times as a little girl my Grandmother told me stories of her Mother who was a wonderful lady, she was not only a herbalist but midwife to the local people who would walk miles across the fields to ask for her help and advice. She was also a wonderful seamstress and gardener growing all her own herbs for her medicines. She also kept a pig and chickens so she was virtually self-sufficient apart from general supplies which once a month she would walk across the fields 8 miles there and back to Honiton to buy.

I grew up in Yeovil and my Grandmother and Grandad also moved there from Chard after they were married, so as a little girl I loved to hear all their stories.

A few years ago I tried to find my Holly Cottage but was not successful, I am enclosing some old photos for you to see, they are of my Great-grandmother, my Grandmother and her sister Sarah Ellen, also the cottage and garden, maybe, just maybe you will be able to tell me if the cottage is still standing! I would love to know. I now live in Teignmouth and am coming up to 76 years old (Mar 2017)!! It would be lovely to have some history to pass on to my children, Grandchildren and Great grandchildren!!

I look forward to hopefully hearing from you and thank you in advance.

Kind regards and best wishes,

Joan Quinlan (Mrs)


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UPDATE

It is believed the property referred to as Holly Cottage was more likely to have been Manning Common Cottage at Manning Common, close to Black Allers, a short distance from, and the other side of the A303 from Knighthaynes Farm and Cottage. Unfortunately the building was demolished, it is believed, in the 1930s, although this has yet to be verified. During investigations it was found that a great uncle of Joan's, Jack Willie, who was believed lost at sea during WWI actually died of pneumonia whilst still on active service in 1919 in Malta and a photograph of his grave there was obtained. Memorials, including one to J H Willie, can be seen in the Baptist Chapel here in Yarcombe (see the World War I page).