The Coleman Family

Very many thanks to Teresa Moy and the grandson of Ellen Coleman for most of the photographs and information on this page

'My Great Grandmother and GGGrandfather and mother are buried in Ashburton.Their name is Coleman. John died in 1918, his wife Mary Ann died in 1925 and one of their daughters Emily Heale Coleman died also in 1925.'

A marriage certificate obtained by Charles Brain shows a Harriott Gidley, daughter of William, marrying a Henry Coleman, son of John, in 1847. Both were living in Dean Prior at the time of their marriage.
Many thanks to Charles for this.

In 1861  Henry and Harriett Coleman are living in East Street. Henry, an agricultural labourer, was born in Bickington and his wife was born in Dean Prior. 11 year old John is living with his parents, together with his brother and four sisters, the youngest being Susan A Coleman, aged 6 months.
http://www.freecen.org.uk/

Susan Ann and Ellen Coleman were both baptised in December 1867
Parish records
The family are in Kingsbridge Lane in 1871. Six children are with Henry, an ag lab, and Harriett: Mary, William, Susan, Ellen, 2 year old Jessie and Samuel, 7 months.
Ellen Coleman, 7, probably married William Milton in 1882.
1871 census RG10, piece no. 2080, folio 56, p23
Samuel Colman's birth was registered in the March Q of 1871 in the Newton Abbot registration district. The mother's surname was Gidley
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp

Samuel and Jesse Coleman were both baptised in February 1872
Parish records

Harriet Coleman died aged 68 in 1895, and Henry died aged 75 in 1900. Both were buried in Ashburton churchyard.
Parish records

Above right: Henry and Harriet's memorial
My own photograph 2019
For details on location within Ashburton churchyard go to Ashburton Archive http://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk/ and search for Coleman

Their daughter Jessie Coleman was unmarried in 1901, and living in Whittington House, Stepney Green, Mile End Old Town, London. Aged 32, she was a domestic housekeeper.
1901 census RG13, piece no. 330, folio 108, p17
Left: Jessie Coleman
Many thanks to Charles Brain and Betsy Brien for this photograph and information
Above right: The reverse of the photograph. Her niece has written, 'Aunt Jess. Nana* was named for her. She loved Nana and was upset when she left for America'
*Jessie Milton, born 1889, the daughter of William Milton and Ellen Coleman

                                                                          ***


John Coleman married Mary Ann Heall [sic] in the June quarter of 1870.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk

1871. John and Mary Ann have a 7 month old daughter, Emily*. They are living in Kingsbridge Lane in 1871, next door to John's parents, Henry and Harriett.
1871 census RG10, piece no. 2080, folio 56, p23
*Emily Heale Coleman's birth was registered in the September quarter of 1870, with the mother's surname as Heale.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/
See the Milton family under Individual families 2

Emily was up before the beak when she was 16 for assaulting an Edward Lear with sheep shears.
Western Times 28 January 1887 p7 col2

Emily may have been slightly slower than her sisters as she comes across as such. She never married and lived with her mother up until her death. On her death certificate her occupation is that of Caretaker of Chapel.

Above: Emily Heale Coleman

The 1891 census shows John and Mary living in Cad Lane with their five daughters and one son. There is also a granddaughter, Elsie, aged one. John is a general labourer; the three eldest daughters, Emily H., Elizabeth A and Laura are all wool-sorters
http://www.freecen.org.uk

Left: John, Mary Ann (nee Heale) with their daughters and  their son Frank Louis Heale Coleman. The order of the daughters is uncertain except for Emily Heale (far right) and the little blond haired girl beside her, Elsie.
Elsie was Emily's child, but Emily was unmarried and John and Mary Ann seem to have raised Elsie as their own daughter.
From left to right the family are believed to be, back row: 
Alice Maud, Laura, Frank, Ellen, Elsie, Emily; front row: Elizabeth Ann (next to her mother).
Above: John Coleman and his wife Mary Ann
By 1901 they were living in Station Cottage, Church Lane–the census shows John, an agricultural labourer, as head of family with his wife and three of his children: Emily, Frank and Alice. Elsie, the daughter of Emily, is shown as the daughter of John and Mary Ann. All of the family were born in Ashburton.
They had also lived in Kingsbridge Lane at one stage. Their son Frank lived with his wife Jennie in Gullwell cottages; Frank was a stone mason and in 1911 went to America.
The 1911 census shows that the family is still at Station Cottage. Emily Heale Coleman and Elizabeth Ann are with their parents John and Mary Ann. There is also a five year old granddaughter of John and Mary Ann, called Eva Mabel. John's occupation is that of a coal porter (crossed out, and 'cart' inserted).
http://www.freecen.org.uk/


John died at his home, Station Cottages, aged 68 in 1918. His obituary in the Western Times described him as a well known Ashburtonian, who had died after a long illness. The first part of the funeral service took part at the Wesleyan Chapel where he worshipped, and Mr Osborne ( the Portreeve ) and Mr J Mortimer (headmaster of the Grammar School)  were amongst the congregation.
The mourners included his daughters: Miss Coleman, Mrs Farrant, Mrs Cook and Miss Alice Coleman; his sister Mrs Pepperal from Kingswear; his brother-in-law Mr L Heale; his niece Mrs Parkhouse; and his cousins Mrs Storey and Mrs Hamlyn, both from Ashburton.
Western Times 5 July 1918 p9 col1

Frank Louis Heale Coleman, born 6 August 1883, Ashburton, had a US passport issued to him on 19 June 1920. His residence at the time was Hartford, Connecticut.
National Archives and Records Administration Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll 1264 - Certificates: 55500-55875, 18 Jun 1920-19 Jun 1920 Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line].

Ellen Coleman married Frank John Herbert Cook.