The Badcock family

See also the section on Building Contractors, under Banks and Businesses

James Badcock married Anne Rich in September 1797, at Ashburton.
Transcript of Ashburton Marriages, 1754 -1812, Devon Family History Society.

John Badcock, the son of James and Ann, was baptised at Ashburton in June 1800.
"England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch

Ann Badcock, the wife of James, died on 13th June 1838, aged 68. She has a memorial in Ashburton churchyard, which reads: 
'What's in my mind let no man know.
And if my friend should prove my foe, 
All my secrets the world will know.'
See the Making of the Tombstone Survey
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk/

In 1841 a William Barnes was charged with stealing wool from the workshop of Richard Caunter. James Badcock worked as a woolcomber on the premises.
Western Times 27 February 1841 p3 col5

The banns of marriage took place between John Badcock and Grace Luscombe in December 1824. They were both of the parish.
Devon Marriages and Banns
They married on the 13th February 1825
Transcript of Ashburton Marriages 1813 - 1837, Devon Family History Society

Charles John Luscombe Badcock, the son of John Badcock and Grace (maiden name Luscombe) was baptised in August 1830, at Ashburton.
George James Badcock was baptised on the 1st January 1836, at Ashburton. His parents were John and Grace.
"England and Wales, Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977", FamilySearch

James Badcock, infant, was buried on February 24th, 1842
Parish records

At the time of the 1851 census John Badcock, 49, was a mason in Ashburton. With him was his wife Grace, 48, son John, 20, and George, 11.
1851 census HO107, piece/folio 1871 302, p32

Charles John Luscombe Badcock aged 48 was buried on January 16th in 1878
Parish records

White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Devon, 1879, has George Badcock (j) as a mason and shopkeeper in North Street.
p108

In 1891 George J Badcock, a 51 year old mason, an employee, lived in North Street with his wife Annie M. and four children. Frank Badcock, the youngest, was 14.

1891 census, piece no.1698, folio 40, p17

Amongst papers from WBW Solicitors, held at the Devon Heritage Centre, is a birth certificate for George John Badcock in 1867. In the same bundle are deeds/papers relating to property in North Street and the Badcock family and earlier occupants, 1798 - 1881.
https://devon-cat.swheritage.org.uk/records/ZBLK

Frank Jackson Badcock's birth had been registered in the June quarter of 1877, in the Newton Abbot registration district. His mother's maiden name was Jackson.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/

George Badcock, a builder and grocer of North Street, died 'almost suddenly' in March 1898. He was about 62 years old, and left a widow and grown-up children.
Totnes Weekly Times, 19th March 1898 p2

There is a memorial to George J. in Ashburton churchyard. The husband of Ann Maria, he was 58 when he died. Others noted on the memorial are: his daughter Laura Ash, died in 1899 aged 37; Ann Maria, died in 1915, aged 81; his son George John, died in 1952, aged 85 and his daughter Emma Jane, died in 1961 aged 88.
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk/

65 year old Ann Badcock, a grocer, was a widow at the time of the 1901 census. In her household was Frank, a carpenter, her daughter Emma, a dressmaker, and two grandchildren: William Ash, aged 6, and Ivy Ash, 4.
1901 census, piece/folio 28, p21

In 1903 Frank Jackson Badcock married Harriet (?) Coaker in the Plymouth regisration district, and in the June quarter of 1904 the birth of another Frank Jackson Badcock was registered in the Totnes district.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/
https://www.gro.gov.uk/

May 1906. F J Badcock had recently acquired the business of H J Almond and Co., and Messrs. Sawdye and Son were holding an auction at the yard near the Railway Station. Items for sale included an 8hp portable engine, vertical, circular and band saws, turning lathes and cranes, and about 10,000ft of oak, ash, elm and beech planks.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 29 May 1906, p1 col2

In 1909 a fire in an outbuilding attached to Hazeldene House threatened to spread to the house itself and Mr Badcock's large timber yard.
Western Times 18 September 1909 p2 col5

The 1911 census has Frank J Badcock and Namir (should be Harriet) living with their son, also Frank J., at The Bungalow, Ashburton. Frank snr., 34, is in building construction. Frank jnr., 6, was born at Holne.

1911 census RG14, piece/folio 193, p1

Ann Badcock was living in the property next to Double Passage* in North Street at the time of the same census.
* Going towards Great Bridge

1918. Fire caused £1500 to £2000 worth of damage to the premises of Mr F J Badcock, a builder and timber merchant, near the railway station.
Western Times 31 May 1918 p3 col3

In September 1919 Samuel Gayton purchased no. 13 East Street from Mr Frank J Badcock.
Brixham Western Guardian 22 April 1920, p4 col4

Right: Advertisement for F J Badcock from a Golden Lion promotional booklet, undated but probably late 1920s.
From my own collection
In 1924 (and again in 1927) the Headmaster of the Grammar School, Henry Naylor, had a book of pupils' poems published - The Ashburton Book of Poems.
Ashburton Grammar School, W S Graf, Ashburton 1938, p27

James Badcock was one of the pupils that contributed.
See the page on St Lawrence Chapel.

Frank Jackson Badcock (jnr.) married Ruby H Hill in the September quarter of 1931, in the Newton Abbot registration district.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Audrey V Badcock was born in the June quarter of 1933, and her birth was registered in the Newton Abbot district.
Cynthia A Badcock's birth was registered in the September quarter of 1934.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Frank Jackson Badcock, 'Builder, contractor, timber merchant, quarry owner and haulage contractor - Station Road'

Kelly's Directory of Devonshire 1935


Devon and Dartmoor Heritage Gateway lists Badcock's Quarry, Ashburton as a quarry with limekilns that was worked in the 20th century. It later became part of the Linhay Hill Quarry.
Devon and DartmoorHER https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MDV21895&resourceID=104 - accessed 24-08-2026

Frank J Badcock (snr.) was living with Harriet at The Bungalow, Parish Road, at the time of the 1939 register. Born in March 1877, he was a builder and timber merchant.
The same register has Frank J Badcock, born 13th April 1904, living at Hillcote with Ruby H Badcock, born in 1911 (next two records officially closed). Frank was the manager of a 'Timber dept, of Bldr & Contractor'. He was also a special constable.
1939 register

From Ernie Smerdon:
'Our house was large – we had 6 bedrooms. F J Badcock had lived in it once, and still owned it.'
Ernie Smerdon, talking about 69 North Street


In 2018 the Managing Director of Glendinning and the chairman of the company gave a presentation to the Dartmoor Society about the history of quarrying for limestone at Ashburton. They said that Frank Badcock had worked the quarry from 1948, and sold it to Ernest and Jack Glendinning 10 years later for £20,000.
https://dartmoorsociety.com/pastevent/are-we-using-dartmoors-stone-resources-wisely/ - accessed 24-08-2026

Frank Jackson Badcock (snr.) died on March 30th, 1953. He was buried at Holne.
Find a Grave index https://www.familysearch.org/

'My mum rented no. 5 Globe Arch from Frankie Badcock.....'
Memories of the 1950s from Robin Bligh

Cynthia A Badcock married Thomas A Watson in the Newton Abbot registration district in the June quarter of 1957.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/

Frank J Badcock was on the 1965/66 Register of Electors at Hillcote. With him was Audrey V and Ruby H.
See Register of Electors under People and Properties

Frank Jackson Badcock (jnr.) died in 1974. His birth date was given as 13th April 1904.
England and Wales death registration index, https://www.familysearch.org/