* The Pomroy family *
See also under Building Contractors, under Banks and Businesses.
The birthplace of John Hocking Pomroy varies with different censuses, but there is little doubt that he was born in Buckland Monachorum. His birth was almost certainly registered in the Tavistock registration district in 1856.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk (Pomroy spelled Pomeroy)
His father, Richard Pomroy, married Fanny Hocking in the June quarter of 1851 in the Plymouth registration district.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk (Pomroy spelled Pomeroy)
According to the GRO Gov site, the birth of a John Hocking Pomeroy (with an 'e') was registered in the June quarter of 1856. The mother's maiden name was Hocking.
A Richard Henry Pomroy's birth was registered in the December quarter of 1860, with the mother's maiden name again being Hocking.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro - accessed 16-04-2024
The 1861 census has Richard and Fanny Pomroy living at Magpie Cottage, Buckland Monachorum, with their children Frederick, 8, John Hocking, 4, and 4 month old Richard H.
1861 census RG9/1457, folio 76, page 1
https://freecen1.freecen.org.uk/cgi/search.pl - accessed 16-04-2024
Thomas Pomroy's birth was registered in the March quarter of 1862 in the Newton Abbot registration district. His father was Richard Pomroy, a miner, and the maiden name of his mother, Fanny, was Hocking - Thomas was therefore a brother of John Hocking Pomroy. The family was living in East Street at the time Thomas was born.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro - accessed 18-04-2024
Also thanks to Pam Trimmer for details from the GRO certificate.
Left: Thomas Pomroy
With thanks to Pam Trimmer
'Thomas was born in Ashburton and attended the Grammar School.' He joined the Navy: his certificate of service, no. 103984, shows him serving on the ships Cambridge, Royal Adelaide and Nelson. He settled in Australia in 1884, and died 22nd March 1943, in New South Wales. Aged 81, he had formerly been a glazier, and had been in the Australasian Colonies for 61 years. The death certificate shows his father as being John, a hotel keeper, and his mother as Fanny.
With many thanks to Pam Wall Trimmer, for both the information and the photograph of the memorial, right.
Devon Heritage Centre, archive ref 2275DADD4/107, entry no. 257
Transcript by the Devon Family History Society
John Pomroy married Mary Grace Joint in the December quarter of 1873, in the Newton Abbot registration district.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk - accessed 15-04-2024
The birth of Caroline Pomroy was registered in the March quarter of 1875, in the Newton Abbot registration district. Emma Pomroy's birth was registered in the June quarter of 1876. The mother's maiden name for both girls was Joint.
The birth of Edward John Pomroy, the son of John Hocking and Mary Grace, was registered in the third quarter of 1882. He was born on the 25th June in Heavyhead Lane, with John Pomroy listed as a journeyman mason
GRO certificate. With thanks to Pam Trimmer
Kate Pomroy's birth was registered in the March quarter of 1890.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro - accessed 15-04-2024
John Pomroy, a builder and employer, was on the 1891 census with his family in Cad Lane. He was born in Buckland Monachorum, and was 37. With him and his wife Mary were Caroline, Emma, John, Fanny, Mabel and one year old Kate
FreeCEN, https://freecen1.freecen.org.uk - accessed 16-04-2024
In 1893 it was reported that Mr J H Pomroy of the Culloden Inn had had a valuable horse die of sunstroke.
The Western Times 10 July 1893, p2 col3
The Pomroy family were living in St Lawrence Lane at the time of the 1901 census. John H, the head, was born in Cornwall circa 1854. Mary G, the wife of John H, was born in Ashburton in the same year. Both John H and a son Edward John, were masons.
There were two daughters on the 1901 census: Fanny, an apprentice dressmaker who was born circa 1886; and Kate, still at school, who was born circa 1889.
Research by Bob Shemeld.
Edward John Pomroy, son of John Hocking Pomroy, stonemason, married Elizabeth Matilda Cutmore at Ashburton in September 1904. Both were of St Lawrence Lane; Edward John was a clerk.
GRO certificate. With thanks to Pam Trimmer
With many thanks to Pam Wall Trimmer.
Edward John died in WWI, on the 20th September 1917, by which time he was a member of the Australian Infantry.
Above right: Edward John Pomroy
With thanks to Pam Trimmer
Mr John Hocking Pomroy received the news in October that his son had been killed about a fortnight before. Sergeant John Pomroy, of the Australians, had died in France; he had been bombing instructor of his Company. John had been in Australia for several years, but had spent a few days in Ashburton about 3 months before.
Western Times 6 October 1917, p4 col5
For more of Edward John's story, see below, and also the Roll of Honour M-S, under Ashburton in Peril.
From Pam:
Edward John Pomroy, 1882 - 1917
Edward John was born on 25th June 1882, Heavyhead Lane, Ashburton, the son of John Hocking Pomroy and Mary Grace nee Joint. In the 1891 census he was listed as son and scholar. He was 18 and living on St Lawrence Lane in the family home in 1901, and was described as a mason.
He married Elizabeth Matilda Cutmore on 17th September 1904 in Ashburton. In 1909 Edward John Pomroy sailed for Brisbane, Australia on the Royal Mail ship RMS Ophir of the Orient Line, later to be used as the Royal yacht; it also served as a troop carrier during WW1. The ship left Plymouth on the 20th March 1909 for its 43 day journey - Edward was unaccompanied. The master of the ship was Mr A J Coad RNR, and it arrived in Brisbane 2nd May 1909 (Ashburton Archives, Local archives). He then sailed from Brisbane to Sydney on board the Canberra, arriving 2nd January 1914.
A 1913 census for New South Wales electoral roll, Rozelle-Lilyfield polling place shows Edward John Pomroy residing at 88 Ryan Street, with his occupation recorded as a stone mason. 88 Ryan Street, Lilyfield was the home of his Ashburton born uncle Thomas Pomroy, who later moved to Allans Avenue, Belmore with Aunt Alice nee Richardson, where Edward John resided when he volunteered. Three girl cousins also resided there: Alice Hocking, Ida Fanny and Annie Kate (Kitty), all born in Australia.
He worked for the Sydney Harbour Trust in 1914 until his enlistment (the source of his portrait). He enlisted 3rd March 1916 into the 14th Reinforcements to the 18th Bttn at the Royal Agricultural Society showground in the city. He joined the men who marched into France through the port of Le Havre 25th June 1917. During his war service he had been a bombing instructor, according to notification received by his father in Devon and appearing in the local newspaper (Western Times 6th October 1917, p4 col 5), possibly skills involved in his trade as a stone mason. Following training, the battalion was sent to Gallipoli in August 1915 as part of a wave of reinforcements that arrived after the initial landings. They participated in the costly August offensive during which it was sent to Damakjelik Bair, beginning the battle with about a thousand men. By the end the battalion could only muster 386 men. Following that, the battalion was placed in reserve behind the 5th Brigade's position between Walker's Ridge and Quinn's Post where they played a mainly defensive role in the campaign until being withdrawn in December 1915. After returning to Egypt where the AIF was undergoing a period of expansion, the battalion was sent to France, arriving there in March 1916. For the next two and a half years they participated in most of the main battles fought on the Western Front, seeing action at Pozieres, Warlencourt, Menin Road and Poelcapelle. Sgt. 5387 Pomroy was Killed in Action in Belgium near Ypres on 20 September 1917. His name appears on the Menin Gate, Australian War Memorial, Virtual Australian War Memorial online and the Ashburton, Devon, UK, War Memorial.
With many thanks to Pam, 1st cousin, twice removed to Edward
A partly illegible memorial commemorated the death of presumably [daughter of J H and] M G Pomroy of Yeo, who died on the 4th June 1920, aged 33. 'And of their son E J Pomroy' who died in France in 1917 aged 35.
https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk - accessed 19-04-202
The child who died is possibly Fanny Ellen, despite the discrepancy between her death date and the date on the memorial. Fanny Ellen's birth was registered in 1885, and she married Arthur Rainbird in the September quarter of 1908 in Devonport.
On the 1911 census Arthur and Fanny Ellen Rainbird were living in Silver Street, Buckfastleigh.They had one child (not present on the census).
1911 census RG14 series, piece no. 12837, schedule 235
Her death was registered in the Exeter registration district in the March quarter of 1920.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk - accessed 19-04-2024
* *** *
Properties bought by J H Pomroy:
Two freehold houses and two freehold cottages at the top of West Street, rental £25, £315
Totnes Times 6 March 1909, p8 col 6
A cottage in Foale's Court, £60
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 20 Jun 1919, p20 col3
A dwelling-house in West Street, £230
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 29 Nov 1924, p2 col4
Pete Webb, Past Portreeves of Ashburton, first published Ashburton 1998
In June 1933 Emma Pomroy applied through the Petty Sessions for possession of 54 West Street from Mr H Cornish. Mr Cornish said that he was building a house that should be ready to occupy in 6 weeks - an order was issued that possession would be granted in 27 days.
Western Times 30 June 1933, p14 col7
Mr and Mrs Pomroy celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 1933 - they had married on Novmber 13th 1873, at Newton Abbot. Mrs Pomroy was the daughter of the late Mr W Joint of Ashburton.
Western Times 17 November 1933, p13 col1
John Hocking Pomroy, the husband of Mary Grace, is buried in St Andrew's churchyard. He died, aged 84, on the 6th April 1935, at 21 West Street. His grandson, H C Bennett, of 54 West Street, was the informant.
GRO. With thanks to Pam Trimmer
Mary Grace died on the 10th April 1940. She was 89.
Ashburton Archive https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk - accessed 15-04-2024
Left and below: Memorial to the Pomroy family in St Andrew's churchyard.
My own photographs 2024
Left: Henry C Bennett married Violet M Rainbird in the Dec quarter of 1932, in the Newton Abbot registration district.
https://www.freebmd.org.uk
A report in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette said that John lived in West Street, and had died after a long illness. In the past he had been portreeve, and a member of the council; for three years he was Chairman of the Gas and Lighting Committee. John was a trustee of various charities, and had been a special constable. The bearers at the funeral were members of the local Oddfellows Lodge.
The mourners included his daughters: Mrs Bowler, Mrs C Kellaway and Miss E Pomroy. Mr A Rainbird, his son-in-law from Exeter, was in attendance, as was Mr H Bennett and Mrs V Bennett (grand-daughter).
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 12 April 1935, p14 col5
In 1937 probate for John Hocking Pomroy was granted to Emma Pomroy, spinster. John was of 21 West Street, Ashburton, and his effects were £252 5s.
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/search-results - accessed 16-04-2024
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/search-results - accessed 16-04-2024
Left: 21 West St.
My own photograph 2024
Caroline, the daughter of John Hocking and Mary Grace, died in February 1971, aged 97. Her sister Emma was 88 when she died in January 1965.
Ashburton Archive https://www.ashburtonarchive.org.uk - accessed 15-04-2024
* The Joint family *
William Joint, the son of William and Elizabeth, was born on the 16th October 1819, and baptised on the 31st.
Ashburton Great Meeting. With thanks to Pam Trimmer
Mary Grace Joint was born on the 19th September 1850 in St. Lawrence Lane. Her parents were William Joint, a mason, and Sarah Joint, formerly Luscombe.
GRO. With thanks to Pam Trimmer
William and Sarah were in West Street at the time of the 1861 census, with their 6 children:
William 19, James, George, Mary G., Emma and Charles L, aged 1.
https://www.freecen.org.uk/