Ottery St Mary Genealogical Records

Ottery St Mary Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Ottery St Mary, St Michael, West Hill Baptisms (1846-1915)

Digital images of baptism registers, searchable by a name index. They list parents' names - their occupations, residence and sometimes other details.

Ottery St Mary Baptisms (1601-1915)

Digital images of baptism registers, searchable by a name index, essentially recording births, but may also include places of residence and occupations.

Devon Baptisms (1444-1915)

A searchable database of 2,225,292 records, linked to original images of baptism registers. The records provide proof of parentage, occupations, residence and other details.

Devon Baptism Index (1813-1839)

Transcriptions of over 360,000 baptisms from most parishes in the county. Records include parents name and abode.

Ottery St Mary Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Ottery St Mary, St Michael, West Hill Banns (1869-1915)

Registers of those who intended to marry. An intended marriage was called for three weeks at church, so parishioners could voice objection to the marriage. Contains details on an individual's parish of residence.

Ottery St Mary Banns (1657-1865)

Banns registers list the names of people who intended to marry by the system of calling banns, in which the bride and groom's name were called for three weeks at church. At these callings objections could be made to a marriage. They record the bride and groom's parish of residence, which may be recorded differently in the marriage register.

Ottery St Mary Marriages (1601-1915)

Name index linked to digital images of the church's marriage registers. Details may include a party's age, residence, marital status, father's name and signature.

Ottery St Mary Marriage Index (1655-1757)

An index to marriages recorded by the church, listing the date of marriage and the names of the bride and groom.

Ottery St Mary Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Ottery St Mary, St Michael, West Hill Burials (1847-1913)

Digital images of burial registers, searchable by a name index. They may detail the deceased's name, residence and age.

Ottery St Mary Burials (1601-1915)

Digital images of burial registers, searchable by a name index. They may detail the deceased's name, residence and age.

Devon Burials (1320-1988)

A searchable database of 1,666,144 records, linked to original images of burial registers. The records may include date of burial and/or death, residence, age and other details.

Devon Burials Index (1813-1837)

Transcriptions of over 225,000 burials from most parishes in the county. Induces the deceased's age.

Ottery St Mary Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Register of Voters for South Devon (1865-1869)

A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Devon Hearth Tax Return (1674)

A transcription of the Lady Day hearth tax for 1674 for the county of Devon.

Newspapers Covering Ottery St Mary

Exeter Flying Post (1800-1900)

A conservative newspaper covering business, family, legal and other news in the Exeter district.

Western Morning News (1894-1950)

A politically independent newspaper, covering the affairs of Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. It includes family notices.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette Daily Telegrams (1869-1870)

A short regional paper covering local occurrences, business news, family notices and more.

Western Times (1827-1950)

A liberal newspaper covering the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. It includes family notices.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (1827-1950)

Original images of a regional newspaper, searchable via a full text index. Includes news from the Devon area, business notices, obituaries, family announcements and more.

Ottery St Mary Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Devon Wills Index (1163-1999)

An index to 295,609 wills of people who lived in or were connected to Devon. The wills they reference can contain a great deal of genealogical information.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Admon Index (1559-1660)

An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.

Exeter Diocese & Archdeaconry Probate & Admons (1540-1799)

An index to thousands of probates and administrations granted by the Diocese and Archdeaconry of Exeter, covering parts of Devon & Cornwall.

Devon Probate Index (1190-1980)

An index to over 300,000 Devon wills, admons and inventories from 550 sources. Index contains name, abode, occupation, type of document, year of probate, court, notes and document reference.

Ottery St Mary Immigration & Travel Records

Devonian Migration Choices (1760-1950)

A detailed investigation into motivations for Devonians choosing to stay or migrate from the county, with particular attention to labour, religion and family ties.

Settlement & Removal in Rural Devon (1662-1871)

A lengthy article detailing the practice of moving the needy poor between parishes. Contains examples of settlements, removals and examinations.

Sinking of the John (1855)

The story of a ship heading to Quebec from Plymouth that sank off the coast of Cornwall, killing 194 passengers. Includes information on the crew, passengers and others connected with the event.

North Devon Exodus (1818-1868)

An overview of emigration from north Devon to the Americas, with particulars of some who made the journey.

Prisoners in Devon Quarter Sessions (1655-1837)

A calendar of prisoners brought before the quarter sessions, with details of their crime and punishment. Contains entries for individuals who were transported.

Ottery St Mary Military Records

Devon Militia and Volunteer Lists (1799-1825)

Various military lists published in the Exeter Flying Post, particularly lists of deserters, which may list age and physical description.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Devon WWI Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War One monuments in Devon, with some service details.

Devon WWII Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War Two monuments in Devon, with some service details.

Swansea-Devonian War Memorial (1914-1945)

Names from a presumably predominately Devonian war memorial in the former Bible Christian church at Swansea.

Register of Voters for South Devon (1865-1869)

A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.

Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books (1598-1933)

An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.

Devon & Exeter Oath Rolls (1723)

Transcriptions of documents listing those who swore loyalty to King George I after the Jacobite Atterbury Plot.

Indictable Offenses in Devon Quarter Sessions (1745-1782)

A calendar of cases to be heard before the quarter session that are indictable by nature,.

Cursers & Badgers in Devon Quarter Sessions (1729-1745)

Two calendars, one of those licensed to carry out trade and the other those brought before the session for cursing.

Ottery St Mary Taxation Records

Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books (1598-1933)

An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.

Devon Tithe Apportionments (1839-1851)

Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Devon Hearth Tax Return (1674)

A transcription of the Lady Day hearth tax for 1674 for the county of Devon.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Ottery St Mary Land & Property Records

Register of Voters for South Devon (1865-1869)

A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.

Devon Tithe Maps & Apportionments (1839-1850)

Maps delineating fields in Devon, which are referenced to documents recording field names, land owners, occupiers, land use and land size.

Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books (1598-1933)

An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.

Devon Tithe Apportionments (1839-1851)

Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Ottery St Mary Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1923)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1919)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1914)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1910)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1902)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Ottery St Mary Cemeteries

Devon Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Devon's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Devon Headstones (1780-2000)

Memorials of a select number of headstones in Devon.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Ottery St Mary Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Ottery St Mary Histories & Books

Devonian Migration Choices (1760-1950)

A detailed investigation into motivations for Devonians choosing to stay or migrate from the county, with particular attention to labour, religion and family ties.

Catholic History in South West England (1517-1856)

A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.

Magna Britannia: Devonshire (1066-1822)

A general and parochial history of the county, with sections for each parish.

The History of Devon (44-Present)

Numerous articles covering the history of the country, its principle settlements, notable persons, castles and more.

Devon in 1850 (1850)

A detailed overview of Devon in 1850, extracted from a directory of that year.

Ottery St Mary School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Ottery St Mary Occupation & Business Records

Women in Cornwall & Devon Mines (1770-1920)

Background information on women employed by the mining industry in Devon & Cornwall. Includes a database of over 25,000 women and oral histories.

Devon Gamekeeper Lists (1847-1859)

Lists of gamekeepers from the North Devon Journal.

Devon Gamekeeper Lists (1834-1860)

Lists of gamekeepers from the The Western Times.

Devon Gamekeeper Lists (1800-1859)

A series of newspaper articles listing gamekeepers in Devon.

Devon Runaway Apprentices (1800-1889)

Transcripts of newspaper articles listing the particulars of apprentices who absconded from their master.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Ottery St Mary

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Ottery St Mary Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

The Visitations of Devon: 1531, 1564 & 1620 (1000-1620)

Three works compiled from 16th and 17th century sources that record Devon families who had the right to bear a coat of arms.

Devonshire Ignobles (1620)

A list of men found by William Camden to have unsubstantiated claims to coats of arms.

Devon Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Devon's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Ottery St Mary Church Records

Catholic History in South West England (1517-1856)

A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.

Devon Parish Registers (1754-1839)

Prior to civil registration in 1837, the parish registers of Devon are the most common place to turn for details on births, marriages and deaths.

Episcopal Visitation Returns (1744-1779)

A series of questionnaires detailing the ecclesiastical predicament of around 250 parishes in Devon.

St Paul's Rebuilding Returns from Devon (1678)

A transcript of documents recording those who contributed to the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

The Westcountry Preachers (1815-1907)

A history of the Bible Christians, a denomination of Methodists, in Devon and Cornwall.

Biographical Directories Covering Ottery St Mary

Devonshire Characters and Strange Events (1550-1904)

A series of folk tales and detailed biographies of Devonshire men and women.

The Worthies of Devon (1066-1700)

Biographies of notable Devonians from the Norman period up to the end of the 17th century.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Ottery St Mary Maps

Devon Tithe Maps & Apportionments (1839-1850)

Maps delineating fields in Devon, which are referenced to documents recording field names, land owners, occupiers, land use and land size.

East Devon Tithe Maps (1840)

Maps delineating fields, forests and other land plots in east Devon. Apportionments not included.

Devon Tithe Apportionments (1839-1851)

Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.

Maps of Devon (1563-1922)

A collection of digitalised maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ottery St Mary Reference Works

Devon Surnames (1086-1967)

A series of articles on Devon surnames, including a dictionary of Devon surname definitions.

Locating Devon Wills (1400-Present)

A guide to locating Devon wills in light of losses incurred during World War II.

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Historical Description

Ottery St. Mary derives its name from its situation near the river Otter, and its patron saint. The church is very large, and of singular construction. On each side there is a square tower opening into the body of the church, and forming two transepts, as in Exeter Cathedral. The towers have pinnacles and open, battlements, and that on the north a small spire. There is a richly ornamented chapel at the northwest corner, built by Bishop Grandison: the roof is covered with fan-shaped tracery. A monument to the memory of the wife of Gideon Sherman, Esq. was, among several others, destroyed by the negligence so apparent in this church. There are 693 houses in this town, and 3522 inhabitants, whose chief employment is the manufacture of coarse woollen cloth. The celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh inhabited a mansion in this town, the remains of which are still to be seen in Mill-street. The parish of Ottery St. Mary is an hundred of itself.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

OTTERY ST. MARY is a market town and an extensive parish, forming a hundred in itself, and is head of a petty sessional division, with a station on the Sidmouth branch of the London and South Western railway and 1 ¼ south from the main road from London to Exeter, and is 168 miles by road and 162 by rail from London, 12 east from Exeter, 6 north from Sidmouth, 13 north-by-east from Exmouth and 5 south-west from Honiton, in the Eastern division of the county, union and county court district of Honiton, rural deanery of Ottery and archdeaconry and diocese of Exeter. The town is seated in a beautiful and fertile valley on the eastern bank of the river Otter, from which it takes its name; it is irregularly built, but has some good houses and shops; a complete system of drainage has been introduced; the water supply is obtained from springs on the adjoining land and conveyed to a reservoir holding 143,875 gallons; it is lighted with gas.

The town is governed by an Urban District Council of 9 members, formed December, 1894, under the provisions of the “Local Government Act, 1894” (5& and 57 Vict, c. 76), which supersedes the Local Board formed July 15, 1850. Cromwell is said to have held a convention in a room near the churchyard, for the purpose of raising men and money from the town and neighbourhood. Fairfax also had his head quarters here from November 15 to December 6, 1645. On May 25, 1866, a disastrous fire broke out in the town about mid-day and destroyed 111 houses, rendering homeless about 500 persons, for whose relief no less a sum than £3,530 was subscribed in 12 days no lives were lost on the day of the fire, but a tall chimney, left standing in the ruins, fell on Sunday, the 2nd September following, amidst a number of persons who were listening to a woman preaching, and killed 8, severely injuring 14 others. The first mention of a church here occurs in the register of Bishop Bronescombe, who consecrated one in 1260. The church of St. Mary, formerly collegiate, is a large and curious building of stone in the Early English and Later styles, consisting of lady chapel, choir of five bays, with aisles, and a large Perpendicular chapel on the north side, transepts, formed, as at Exeter cathedral, by north and south towers, south porch and a western porch or narthex; the whole of the western half of the structure is embattled; each tower is also battlemented and has pinnacles at the angles; the north tower is surmounted by a low octagonal spire, and the south tower contains a clock with chimes and a peal of 8 bells; these towers are conjectured to be a portion of the earlier edifice, which survived the extensive alterations and additions made by Bishop Grandison, when the church was made collegiate in 1337: the choir and lady chapel are Early English, and the former opens on either side to aisles or chapels of the same period, dedicated respectively to St. Lawrence and St. Stephen: the reredos was restored under the direction of Mr. E. Blore, architect, from the original work, discovered, in a much mutilated condition, behind some wainscoting there is a piscina and triple sedilia; and an elegant stone screen with loft or gallery between the lady chapel and choir, as well as another and also remarkable stone screen; and two fair parclose screens of wood; the Dorset aisle, or chapel, on the north side of the nave, is the only important addition made to the fabric since 1335, and is believed to have been added by Cicely, Marchioness of Dorset and Countess of Wiltshire, between 1504 and 1530; it has a highly enriched fan-traceried roof, ornamented with pendants and the arms of Oldham and Veysey, bishops of Exeter, and over the entrance are the heraldic bearings of the countess, with crest and supporters, but much mutilated: the exterior cornice is ornamented with the Harington and Stafford knots: on the north side of the nave is a monumental arch, with hanging tracery and a crocketed ogee canopy, beneath which, on a plain altar tomb, is a recumbent effigy of a knight in full armour, and on the south side a similar tomb, with the effigy of a lady, supposed to represent Sir Otho de Grandison, ob. 1364, and Beatrix Malmayns, his wife; both have been restored: in the north aisle is a tomb, with effigy, to John Coke, of Thorne, ob. 1632; and on the north side of the chancel is an altar-tomb, with inscription, to John Haydon esq. of Cadhray, one of the first governors of the Corporation of Ottery St. Mary, ob. 9th March, 1587, and to Joan, his wife, ob. 9th December, 1592; the south porch, erected by him, also bears an inscription to his memory and the date 1618, and on the iron handle are the initials “J. H. 1575”; over the doorway are the royal arms and the inscription, “He that no il will do, do nothyng yt lang yto. J.H.”: on the floor of the north aisle are brasses with effigies and inscriptions to John Sherman, gent. 1542; William, his son, 1583; and Richard, his grandson, c. 1620; there are also inscribed stones to Oliver Smith, warden of the college, ob. 4th April, 1543, and to John Guderling, prebendary, ob. 20th December, 1532: the whole of the ancient stained glass was destroyed by the Parliamentary forces in 1645, but many fine modern windows have been inserted, several of which were erected by the Coleridge family: the magnificent font of Devon and Cornish marbles, presented by the late Right Hon. A. J. B. Beresford-Hope P.C., M.P. at the time of the restoration, is supported by a central shaft, with four smaller ones at the corners, and was designed by Mr. Butterfield: the south transept has been adorned with mosaic work by the Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, in memory of his parents, and contains a tomb with recumbent figure in marble, by Thrupp, to Jane Fortescue (Seymour), Baroness Coleridge, d. 6th February, 1878: on the north side are brasses to John Marker, d. 1873, Commander Frederick Abraham Smith R.N. d. 1880 and Lieut. Clement George Whitby, 17th Regiment, killed at the battle of Maiwand, Afghanistan, 27th July, 1880: the church was restored in 1849—50, principally by the influence and liberality of the late Right Hon. Sir John Taylor Coleridge P.C., D.C.L. Justice of the Queen’s Bench, his family and friends, Mr. W. Butterfield being the architect: the restoration of the lady chapel was carried out under the supervision of Mr. Woodyear, architect: there are 1,000 sittings. The register of baptisms and burials dates from the year 1601; marriages, 1648. The living is a vicarage; the great tithes, value £995 15s. were granted by Henry VIII. to the Dean and Canons of Windsor, and the small tithes and oblations, £250 12s. 10d. are vested in the governors of the goods and hereditaments of the church, for the repairs of the church, vicarage and school house, the maintenance of a chaplain priest, and certain payments to the vicar and schoolmaster; the chief revenues of the church are thus diverted from their proper purpose: the living was in the gift of the Lord Chancellor till 1869, when it was sold under Lord Westbury’s Act to William Metcalfe esq.; the gross value is £288 yearly, net £179, with residence, and held since 1900 by the Rev. William Emmanuel Pryke M.A. of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and rural dean of Ottery: the chaplaincy, in the gift of four governors, net yearly value £70, has been held since 1900 by the Rev. William Webber Preedy M.A. of Keble College, Oxford. The chapel of ease, opened in March, 1893, at a cost of £400, for the use of residents in the hamlet and neighbourhood of Wiggaton, has a small vestry, and will seat 100 persons. The Baptist chapel, Batts lane, is a plain edifice of brick with stone dressings, and will seat 350 persons. The Congregational chapel, Jesu street, originally founded in 1662, is a plain structure of brick with 650 sittings. The Wesleyan chapel in Mill street is of red brick and was erected in 1829. The Brethren have a meeting place in Sandhill street. The Salvation Army barracks are behind Sandhill street. The Town Hall was, opened in 1853; the F Co. of the 3rd Volunteer Batt. Devonshire Regiment occupy part of the building. The Church Institute, Yonder street, erected in 1896, is a structure of red brick in the Queen Anne style, and comprises class, reading and bagatelle rooms, lavatory &c. In 1897 a large hall for public meetings, entertainments &c. was added, at a total cost of about £1,800, and will seat 250 persons, exclusive of a movable platform. An extensive factory in the town, formerly devoted to the manufacture of ribbons and hand-herchiefs of superior quality, is now used for various purposes. There are branches here of the London and South Western Bank and the Devon and Cornwall Banking Company Limited. The weekly market, held on Thursdays, has almost fallen into disuse; great markets are held on the first Thursday in December and the first Thursday in August; a cattle market on the third Tuesday in every month; and fairs on the Tuesday before Palm Sunday, the second Tuesday after Whit Sunday and August 15th.

The Provident Dispensary, established in 1860, is supported by 576 members and voluntary contributions; the average yearly number of patients is now 440. The Ottery St. Mary District Cottage Hospital was established in 1870, at the sole cost of a lady, who resided in the old building; a new building, erected by the same lady in 1881, is available for 13 patients; the freehold of the property has been purchased, and is vested in trustees for the benefit of the neighbourhood, the general management being in the hands of a committee elected by the subscribers; during the year 1900, 61 patients were treated. There are twelve almshouses, and some ancient bequests of considerable amount for the benefit of the poor: certain lands and a sum of £5,812 Consols are vested in twelve feoffees, and produce together about £800 yearly, which is divided among aged and necessitous resident parishioners not receiving parochial relief. In 1869 John Read Taylor esq. left by will £300 Consols vested in the vicar, chaplain and churchwardens, the interest to be expended annually in blankets or other warm clothing, to be given to the destitute poor of the town. In 1897 a square column was erected to commemorate the sixtieth year of the reign of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. Near here is an excavation known as “Pixies’ Parlour,” a favourite resort of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the poet. Chanters House, formerly known as Heath Court, was restored and enlarged in 1883, and is the seat of Lord Coleridge K.C., J.P.; Salston, a beautiful residence, is the seat of William Rennell Coleridge esq. D.L., J.P. The Manor House, adjoining the churchyard, on the north side, retains traces of the original building and is the residence of the Rev. Fredk. Binley Dickinson M.A., J.P. The Right Hon. Sir John Henry Kennaway bart. P.C., M.P. of Escot, is lord of the manor, and holds a court leet in November. The soil is sandy upon a subsoil of gravel. The area is 9,977 acres of land and 31 of water; rateable value, £17,323; and the population in 1891. of the civil parish and urban district was 3,855 and of the ecclesiastical parish 2,626, and of the civil parish and Urban District in 1901, 3,495.

Petty sessions are held at the Town hall, monthly, on Tuesday, at 10.30 a.m.. The following places are included in the Petty Sessional Division:-Aylesbeare, Harpford, Newton Poppleford, Ottery St. Mary, Rockbeare, Salcombe Regis, Sidbury, Sidmouth, Talaton, Venn Ottery & Whimple.

VOLUNTEERS

3rd Volunteer Battalion Devonshire Regiment (F Co.), Town hall; Capt. W. H. Hastings.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of services

St. Mary Collegiate Church, Rev. William Emmanuel Pryke M.A. vicar (& rural dean & surrogate); Rev. William Webber Preedy M.A. chaplain priest & assist, curate; Rev. Robert Beacock Croysdale M.A. assistant curate; 8 & 11 a.m.. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8 a.m.. & 5 p.m.

St. Edward’s, Wiggaton, services 2nd Sunday in month, 11 a.m..; other Sundays, 3 p.m. served from the Parish church.

Baptist, Batt’s lane, Rev. Hy. Davis; 10.45 a.m.. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. & Thur. 7 p.m.

Congregational, Jesu street, Rev. Arthur Guyon Jeffrey Marler; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. & Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Methodist, Mill street; 10.30 a.m.. & 6 p.m.; Tue. 7 p.m.

SCHOOLS

The King’s School, Cornhill, founded in 1545, was reorganised & re-opened (after being closed for six years) in 1895, under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, & is now carried on as a secondary school; it provides a commercial & scientific education for day boys & boarders, between the ages of eight & sixteen, & is qualified to receive grants from the Department of Science & Art, & from the Devon county council; the original building was pulled down in 1884.

A School Board of 5 members was formed Nov. 23, 1874; Edward Herbert Carnell, Broad street, clerk; William John D. Whitaker, Temple house, Sidmouth, treasurer; Frederick Haymer Hole, Cornhill, attendance officer.

Board (infants), built in 1877, enlarged in 1897 for 150 children; average attendance, 143.

National (boys), Yonder street, built in 1868, for 200 boys; average attendance, 112.

National (girls), Sandhill street, erected in 1867, at the sole expense of the late Right Hon. Sir J. T. Coleridge P.C. for 132 girls; average attendance, 90.

National (infants), Wiggaton, supported mainly by the vicar; average attendance, 16.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1902)

Most Common Surnames in Ottery St Mary

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Ottery St Mary Hundred
1Baker901:443.05%6
2Basten741:5492.50%1,375
3White581:692.12%7
4Richards541:742.42%11
4Salter541:744.84%61
6Channon521:7716.30%353
7Palfrey391:10220.00%612
8Bovett341:11747.89%1,509
9Taylor321:1251.29%9
9Harding321:1253.02%70
11Eveleigh311:12913.90%530
12Cox301:1332.38%47
13Pratt291:1386.18%234
13Bastin291:1389.76%383
15Williams281:1420.73%2
15Potter281:1423.90%134
15Godfrey281:1428.26%329
15Retter281:14236.84%1,427
19Digby271:14879.41%2,503
20Berry261:1532.76%91
20Luxton261:1533.45%121
20Streat261:15386.67%2,686
23Reed251:1602.09%53
23Ireland251:1608.28%376
25Wilson231:1733.44%147
25Pike231:1732.13%68
25Ware231:1733.92%178
25Gover231:17328.40%1,358
29Turner221:1811.29%25
29Lovering221:1819.78%526
31Carter211:1901.86%60
31Clay211:19041.18%1,878
31Isaac211:1903.29%158
31Carnell211:19010.55%599
31Bess211:19038.89%1,795
36Tucker201:1990.56%3
36Barratt201:19918.87%1,076
36Hallett201:1996.78%388
36Gigg201:19916.39%953
36Totterdell201:19955.56%2,423
41Smith191:2100.56%4
41Hill191:2100.58%5
41Newton191:2103.46%192
41Coles191:2102.09%95
41Searle191:2101.99%87
46Temple181:22247.37%2,338
46Churchill181:2229.33%622
48French171:2352.20%118
48Sanders171:2350.84%14
48Jeffery171:2351.76%85
48Marchant171:23516.83%1,118
48Woodley171:2354.62%302
48Huxtable171:2352.57%153
48Selway171:23512.23%843
55Brown161:2490.72%12
55Morris161:2494.44%314
55Lee161:2490.89%21
55Elliott161:2491.35%54
55Pine161:2497.08%522
55Bending161:24911.85%874
55Meldon161:24980.00%3,438
62Lovell151:2665.60%431
62Blackmore151:2661.29%56
62Kingsland151:26627.78%1,795
62Hake151:26623.44%1,617
62Piney151:26693.75%3,944
67Phillips141:2850.80%23
67Mills141:2851.71%108
67Fisher141:2852.48%185
67Payne141:2851.94%131
67Warren141:2850.99%38
67Snell141:2851.12%48
67Hayman141:2851.94%130
67Burrow141:2855.45%459
67Hellier141:2853.85%308
67Paddon141:2854.24%340
67Prigg141:28541.18%2,503
78Howe131:3073.35%286
78Marks131:3072.56%209
78Franks131:30711.93%1,051
78Cann131:3071.23%71
78Tozer131:3071.69%120
78Peek131:30712.26%1,076
78Tremlett131:3075.65%511
78Pullman131:30724.53%1,816
86Stone121:3320.93%44
86Barrett121:3322.31%207
86Broom121:3322.54%232
86Hansford121:33212.24%1,151
86Clapp121:3323.34%315
86Whitcombe121:33260.00%3,438
86Tolman121:33210.71%1,026
86Lathrope121:33254.55%3,259
86Chennon121:332100.00%4,730
95Wood111:3630.74%35
95Martin111:3630.42%8
95Bond111:3631.07%74
95Preston111:3633.82%403
95Squire111:3631.23%99
95Manley111:3632.05%201
95Chard111:3637.38%797
95Venn111:3635.09%546
95Shepperd111:36314.47%1,427
95Board111:3637.43%802
95Salway111:3638.87%942
95Smerdon111:3633.29%335
95Mariner111:363100.00%5,026
95Croydon111:36326.83%2,214
109Mitchell101:3990.66%33
109Grant101:3991.49%144
109Rowe101:3990.51%16
109Skinner101:3990.70%37
109Gibbons101:3994.37%515
109Wyatt101:3991.27%114
109Power101:39910.31%1,163
109Davy101:3993.27%372
109Ashford101:3994.20%491
109Ayers101:39924.39%2,214
109Northcott101:3991.25%113
109Gilpin101:3995.46%663
109Leatt101:39931.25%2,606
109Leaner101:399100.00%5,368
123Thomas91:4430.51%22
123Walker91:4432.66%332
123Thompson91:4432.04%252
123Norman91:4431.11%112
123Dyer91:4431.00%97
123Pollard91:4432.65%327
123Down91:4430.79%58
123Madge91:4431.66%199
123Lugg91:4434.79%642
123Foxwell91:44321.43%2,174
123Needs91:44312.00%1,447
123Connett91:4434.04%530
123Marker91:4439.89%1,234
123Melluish91:44320.45%2,107
123Littley91:44336.00%3,006
123Bampfylde91:44360.00%4,095
139Jones81:4990.42%18
139Clarke81:4990.53%34
139James81:4990.63%46
139Ellis81:4990.42%17
139Gray81:4993.14%460
139Lloyd81:4995.41%802
139Ford81:4990.49%28
139Cole81:4990.38%13
139Reynolds81:4992.00%278
139Porter81:4995.19%778
139Parsons81:4990.66%52
139Metcalfe81:49953.33%4,095
139Coombes81:4991.47%196
139Randle81:4996.90%997
139Emmett81:4995.03%753
139Pring81:4992.73%395
139Pavey81:4995.03%753
139Barret81:49944.44%3,695
139Stuckey81:49910.39%1,416
139Wakely81:49910.67%1,447
139Ebdon81:4997.62%1,082
139Welsford81:49910.96%1,473
139Batstone81:4998.70%1,219
139Toby81:49910.96%1,473
139Welsman81:49911.76%1,565
139Fayter81:49917.39%2,022
139Edwids81:499100.00%6,268
166Moore71:5700.42%26
166Miller71:5700.70%80
166Russell71:5701.82%290
166Perry71:5700.86%111
166Webber71:5700.28%10
166Stuart71:5706.25%1,026
166Bradford71:5701.42%221
166Swain71:5708.43%1,333
166Connell71:57043.75%3,944
166Ash71:5701.20%180
166Way71:5701.10%161
166Glass71:5704.43%758
166Larkin71:57077.78%5,765
166Hillman71:5704.07%700
166Cork71:5708.33%1,316
166Bolt71:5700.91%119
166Greenslade71:5701.04%143
166Seward71:5703.32%559
166Stocker71:5705.07%853
166Collin71:57033.33%3,358
166Lindsey71:57022.58%2,647
166Pyle71:5703.38%575
166Sheriff71:57012.50%1,758
166Wheaton71:5702.49%416
166Sanford71:5706.86%1,107
166Dunsford71:5704.09%704
166Hatten71:57017.07%2,214
166Braddick71:5706.67%1,082
166Powlesland71:5704.17%721
166Bambury71:57017.07%2,214
166Syers71:57087.50%6,268
166Dustan71:57012.28%1,743
166Haymes71:57024.14%2,729
166Talman71:57070.00%5,368
166Morman71:57050.00%4,290
166Priddice71:57029.17%3,095
166Bastyan71:57026.92%2,930
166Blackhole71:570100.00%6,891