* The Ferris family *
William Ireland Ferris married Anne Osmond in Ashburton in January 1833.
Familysearch
William Osmond Ferris, the son of William Ireland Ferris and Anne, was baptised at Brixham in March 1836.
Brixham parish records
William Ireland Ferris, an Ashburton schoolmaster, died suddenly in April 1840. He had walked to a relative's house, where he sat down, saying that he felt faint. He deteriorated rapidly, and died just as a doctor arrived. An inquest concluded that Mr Ferris had died 'By the visitation of God.'
Western Times 25 April 1840, p3 col6
Parish records
Margaret Mary, the daughter of William Ireland Ferris and his wife Ann, was baptised in November 1840. William was a schoolmaster.
Parish records
28 year old Ann Ferris, a grocer, was living in West Street at the time of the 1841 census. With her was Selina, 10, Sarah, 8, William, 5, Emma, 3 and 7 month old Margaret.
1841 census HO107, piece no. 253, folio 24 p 43
Widow Ann Ferris was living in North Street at the time of the 1851 census. Aged 39 and a laundress, she had been born in Ilsington. With her on census night were three daughters: Selina, Emma and Margaret. All had been born in Ashburton.
1851 census HO107, piece no. 1871, folio 296 p21
William Osmond Ferris married Jane Hannaford of Totnes in December 1860.
Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 28 December 1860, p5 col5
1861. Wiliam O Ferris, a miller who had been born in Brixham, was in the household of Richard R Osmond, also a miller, at the Town Mills in Ashburton. William, 24, was the nephew of Richard Osmond.
1861 census RG09, piece no. 1405, folio 70 p12
* *** *
I have numbered the different Thomas Ferrises, to make distinguishing them easier.
Thomas [1] bapt 1766
Thomas [2] bapt 1790
Thomas [3] bapt 1820
William Ferris and Thomazin Carlile, both of the parish, were married at Ashburton in October 1753
Parish records
Thomas [1], the son of William and Thomazin Ferris, was baptised at Ashburton in December 1766.
Parish records
Thomas Ferris [1] married Mary Cumming in July 1790, at Ashburton.
Parish records
Thomas [2], the son of Thomas [assuming this is Thomas 1] and Mary Ferris, was baptised at Ashburton in October 1790.
Parish records
Mary, the daughter of Thomas [1] and Mary Ferris, was baptised at Ashburton in May 1794.
Parish records
Richard Ferris became the apprentice of Thomas Ferris [assuming this is Thomas 1] in 1800. Thomas' occupation was that of tailor.
National Archives IR1 series, 69/202
Susanna, the daughter of Thomas [1] and Mary, was baptised in November 1802.
Parish records
Mary Ferris, aged 59, was buried at Ashburton in April 1824.
[assume this is the wife of Thomas 1]
Parish records
Thomas Ferris, a widower, married Elizabeth Ireland in June 1827.
[assume this is Thomas 1]
Parish records
Thomas Ferris married Ann Bidgood at Ashburton in October 1812. Both were of the parish.
[assume this is Thomas 2]
Parish records
Ann, the daughter of Thomas [2] and Ann Ferris, was baptised at Ashburton in June 1815. Thomas was a taylor
Parish records
Hariot, the daughter of Thomas [2] and Ann Ferris, was baptised at Ashburton in January 1817. Thomas was a taylor
Parish records
Susan, the daughter of Thomas [2] and Ann Ferris, was baptised at Ashburton in September 1818. Thomas was a taylor
Parish records
Thomas [3], the son of Thomas [2] and Ann Ferris,was baptised at Ashburton in October 1820. Thomas was a taylor
Parish records
Ann Ferris, aged 34, was buried at Ashburton in August 1826. A memorial in St Andrew's churchyard says that she is the wife of Thomas Ferris, possibly jnr.
On the same stone the death of her daughter, Mary Cumming Ferris is recorded; she was aged two and a half when she died in March 1828.
[assume this is the wife of Thomas 2]
Parish records
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk
Susan Ferris, the daughter of Thomas Ferris [1. Susan the daughter of Thomas Ferris 2 would only have been 9] of Ashburton, married, at Plymouth, Charles Restalick of the Maritime Inn in June 1827
Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 9 June 1827, p3 col3
(Caroline Susanna Restalick married John Hern at Ashburton in November 1852. Caroline's father was Charles Restalick, ship steward. GRO)
An advertisement in the Exeter Flying Post in November 1829 said that Mr Thos. Ferris jnr. [assume this is Thomas 2] of Ashburton, dealer in china and earthenware, had been appointed an agent for the Royal Exchange Assurance Office.
Trewman's Exeter Flying Post 19 November 1829, p2 col1
Mr Blake, an ironmonger from Devonport, married Mrs Ann Ferris of Ashburton 'lately'.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 14 April 1832, p2 col5
Thomas Ferris [assume this is 2], a widower, married widow Anne Morday in May 1837, by licence.
Parish records
Thomas Ferris jun., mercer and tailor, married Mrs Monday, relict of the late Wm Monday, cabinet maker of Ashburton in May 1837.
Western Times 6 May 1837, p3 col1
Harriet Ferris married William Phillips at Ashburton in May 1839. Harriet was living in East Street at the time of her marriage, and her father was Thomas Ferris [2], a tailor.
South West Heritage Trust, ref 2141A/PR/1/14
The announcement in the Western Times named Harriet's father as Mr T Ferris Jun., tailor.
Western Times 1 June 1839, p3 col1
Mr T Ferris [1] died at Ashburton in July 1840. He was 73.
Western Times 11 July 1840, p2 col6
Thomas Ferris [2] and Ann, both aged about 50, were in East Street at the time of the 1841 census. Thomas was a tailor. Also in the household were Susan and Thomas, aged about 20, and John, 15.
1841 census HO107, piece no. 253, folio 9 p10
A headstone in St Andrew's churchyard records the death of Ann Ferris, the wife of Thomas [2], on October 3rd 1845. She was 59.
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk
Thomas Ferris [3] married Emma Beck in the December quarter of 1846, in the Newton Abbot registration district.
This Thomas would have been born circa 1820 - his memorial in 1901 records his age as 81.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk
Harriet Phillips (nee Ferris, above) married Henry Pearson in the June quarter of 1847, in the Altrincham registration district.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk
Gertrude Bertha Ferris, the daughter of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in March 1848. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
Alfred Beck Ferris, the son of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in March 1850. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
Henry and Harriet Pearson were living in Lymm, Altrincham, Cheshire, at the time of the 1851 census. Henry, 29, was a draper and grocer. Harriet, 32, had been born in Ashburton, Devon.
1851 census HO107, piece no. 2163, folio 120 p 27
Emma Ferris, a 26 year old schoolmistress, was living in East Street at the time of the 1851 census. With her on census night was her 12 year old sister, Lavinia Beck, and her son, 1 year old Alfred B Ferris.
1851 census HO107, piece no 1871, folio 262 p7
3 year old Bertha Ferris was with Nathan Beck, a druggist in East Street, in the 1851 census. She was his granddaughter.
1851 census HO107, pice no. 1871, folio 293 p15
60 year old Thomas Ferris [2], a tailor and mercer employing 2 apprentices , was in East Street at the time of the 1851 census. He was a widower who had been born in Ashburton; with him on census night was his daughter Susan, who was 32 and unmarried.
1851 census HO107, piece no. 1871, folio 264 p11
Lucy Ferris, the daughter of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in June 1851. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
Sarah Harriet Ferris, the daughter of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in September 1853. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
Lewis George, the son of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in July 1855. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
Emma Lavina Ferris, the daughter of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in July 1857. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
A memorial in St Andrew's churchyard records the death of Thomas Ferris [2], in November 1858, aged 68. He was the husband of Ann, and the father of Mary Cumming Ferris.
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk
Henry Pearson Ferris, the son of Thomas [3] and Emma, was baptised at Ashburton in October 1859. Thomas was a tailor.
Parish records
58 year old widow Susanna Restalic was living in East Street in 1861. A grocer who had been born in Ashburton, she had her daughter Louisa with her, who had been born in Guernsey.
1861 census RG09, piece no. 1405, folio 67 p5
Amongst the list of bankrupts in the London Gazette on 30 August 1861 was Thomas Ferris, tailor and draper, Ashburton.
The Law Journal Reports for the year 1861, London 1861, p55
The Law Journal Reports for the year 1861, London 1861, p55
Thomas Ferris [3], a 40 year old tailor and draper, was living in East Street in 1861. With him was his wife Emma, daughters Gertrude B, Lucy, Sarah H and Emma L, and sons Alfred B, Lewis G and Henry P. Thomas employed 2 men and 3 boys.
1861 census RG09, piece no. 1405, folio 69 p10
Thomas Ferris [3], a 50 year old master tailor, was living at West End Cottage at the time of the 1871 census. With him and his wife Emma was daughter Sarah H and four sons: Lewis G, Henry P, Herbert and Arthur Thos, who was 2.
1871 census RG10, piece no. 2080, folio 7 p6
1871 census RG10, piece no. 2080, folio 7 p6
Emma Ferris, the wife of Thomas Ferris [3], died in November 1880. She was 56.
The same memorial stone records the death of Gertrude Bertha, the daughter of Thomas and Emma, in 1897, at the age of 49.
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk (Age of Emma verified by https://www.freebmd.org.uk)
Henry Pearson, of Hope Villa, Ashburton, died in January 1887. He was 66.
Western Times 17 January 1887, p2 col4
Miss Susan Ferris, of Hope Villa, Ashburton, died in May 1890. She was 71.
Totnes Times 31 May 1890, p5 col6
In 1901 Harriet Pearson, an 84 year old retired draper, was at Hope Villa, next to West End Cottage. With her on census night was her niece, Lucy Ferris, 47.
Thomas Ferris [3], 80, was at West End Cottage in 1901. With him was his daughter Emma and his son Arthur T.
1901 census RG13, piece no. 2053, folio 12, p16
Thomas Ferris [3] died at Ashburton in December 1901. He was 81.
A memorial in St Andrew's churchyard records that he was the husband of Emma.
Totnes Times 21 December 1901, p5 col6
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk
Several nieces and nephews were at the funeral of Mrs Pearson, of Hope Villa, when she died in October 1905. They were: Mr H Ferris (Flixton), Miss Lucy Ferris (Ashburton), Mr A T Ferris (Ashburton), Mr Merchant (Manchester), Mr Thos. Parsons (Falmouth), Miss Emma Ferris (Ashburton), Master Basil Ferris and Mrs H P Ferris (London).
Totnes Times 28 October 1905, p2 col1
In 1911 Lucy Ferris was on the electoral roll, living at Hope Villa.
She was still there in 1924 . Emma Lavinia Ferris was also on the electoral roll at that date, living at West End Cottage
England and Wales Electoral Registers, 1910 - 1932
Available from https://www.findmypast.co.uk
Above: Postcard with 'Miss Lucy Ferrise's house, Buckflastley Road Ashburton [sic]' written on the reverse.
From my own collection
Lucy Ferris died in November 1927. Probate was granted to Emma Lairnia Ferris and Alfred Beck Ferris, commercial traveller.
England and Wales Government Probate Death Indiex 1858 - 2019
The executors of Miss Lucy Ferris instructed Rendell and Sawdye to sell furniture and effects from Hope Villa in January 1928. The contents included a pianoforte by Burling and Burling, a 70 piece dinner service, Axminster carpets, mahogany furniture and an eight-day timepiece.
Devon and Exeter Gazette 13 January 1928, p1 col5