Group C9 (Shirwell/Pilton/Bristol/Aston/Canada/USA) Somerville/Summerfield/Summerville

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Susannah, Sarah and Eliza (left) Summerfield	Sarah Hughes (nee Summerfield)	Blanche Milford (daughter of Eliza, below)
Three photos of Eliza			Morna L. Elhage (nee Robinson) and Francis H. Robinson about 1948

I am indebted to Morna Louise Elhage, granddaughter of Eliza and William Robinson, who researched much of the information for this group, and to David Smith, son of Annie Theresa, for information on the Bristol/Aston branch.

• WILLIAM (Somerville/Sumerfield): Possibly son of William & Elizabeth of Heanton Punchardon/Pilton (see Group C8). Born c.1775. ‘William Sumerfield of Shirwell, servant, married SUSANNA CAIN of Shirwell, single woman’ at Shirwell 12 Jun 1803. Children all baptised as Somerville. Susanna (Somerville) buried Shirwell 7 May 1826, age 44. William (Summerfield), widower, married ELIZABETH SYMONS, widow, Shirwell 22 Sep 1827. William (of South Hill, Shirwell), buried Shirwell 27 Jul 1837, age 62. Elizabeth (Summerfield) of Upcott, Shirwell, buried Shirwell 13 Apr 1841, age 61.
• MARY: Baptised Shirwell 5 Feb 1804; married John Hewitt, Shirwell, labourer, by banns at Shirwell 20 Aug 1822. William witnessed. All wrote their marks.
• WILLIAM (Somerville): Baptised Shirwell 12 Jun 1806; married (as Summerfield) MARY WATTS, Shirwell 15 Apr 1827. William (Sommerville) of Muddiford in Marwood buried Shirwell 17 Jun 1828, age 22.
  • JOHN (Sumerfield): Baptised Marwood 16 Mar 1828; buried Shirwell 29 May 1832, age 4.
• JOHN: Born c.1807; baptised (Somerville) Shirwell 19 Mar 1809; married (as Summerfield) JANE HARRIS, Shirwell, 5 Apr 1834. See Group C10 for further details and children
• ELIZABETH (Somerville): Baptised Shirwell 25 Aug 1811; buried Shirwell 1 Nov 1825, age 14
• JAMES (Somerville/Summerfield): Born Shirwell c.1812; baptised Shirwell 30 May 1813. On 23 Oct 1841 James, bachelor, of full age, labourer of Bratton married MARY ANN SAGE, minor, spinster, servant, Bratton, daughter of James Sage, labourer. (Original entry has surname Symons for James and his father William. This was corrected to Summerfield by the same priest and witnessed the following year. James and Mary signed by marks.) Marriage regd Barnstaple Dec 1841. Mary Ann was born High Bray or Bratton Fleming c.1823. Children’s baptisms show James was a labourer in Shirwell 1845-51. In 1851 census (index) at 7 South Hill, Shirwell, James age 36, agricultural labourer, Mary Ann age 27. In 1855 at Hill, Shirwell (Eliza's birth cert). In 1871-81 censuses at Windsor Hotel, Pilton, innkeeper and grocer. In Morris’s Directory 1870 he is grocer and baker. Together at Bradiford, Pilton, in 1891 census: James aged 76(?), retired tradesman; Mary Ann aged 67(?)
  JOHN (Sommerfield): Born Bratton Fleming 31 Dec 1841; baptised Bratton Fleming 6 Feb 1842. At home in 1851 census (index), age 9, and in 1861, age 19, carpenter (born Shirwell).
  Married:
  

  • (1) (Summervill) THERESA FYNN, Bristol, 16 Nov 1864 regd Bristol Dec 1864 (John is a joiner; Theresa living in Wilder St, daughter of Richard Fynn, commercial traveller); Theresa born Burslem, Staffs, c.1841. Together at 3 Wilder St, St Paul's, Bristol in 1871 census: John (Somerville) age 29, builder; Theresa 30. In 1881 census John is lodger at 3 Lower Wilton St, Aston, Warks, married, age 38, carpenter, born Bristol (sic); Theresa is at 5 Llewellin Court, St Paul's, Bristol: wife (head), 40, dress maker. Theresa died Aston 1889. In 1891 census John, widower, age 48, carpenter, born Barnstaple, is a lodger of Sarah Munton, coffee house keeper, at 153 Warstone Lane, Birmingham. John died Aston 15 Dec 1898
    • LAURA MARY: Born Bristol 1868. At home in 1871 census, age 2. In 1881 census visitor, age 12, at home of Samuel S. & Lavinia Nicholls, draper & shoemaker, 132 Stapleton Rd, Bristol. Married (Summerville) James Davies; regd Barton Regis Dec 1888. Lived in Clifton and had two children.
    • EDITH THERESA: Born Bristol 1869. At home in 1871 census, age 1. In 1881 census visitor, age 11, at home of Samuel S. & Lavinia Nicholls, draper & shoemaker, 132 Stapleton Rd, Bristol. Married (Summerville) Henry Hill, regd Aston Jun 1890. Had two children.
      
  • (2) (Summerville) MARY ANN WILLIAMS; regd Aston Jun 1892. Mary born Birmingham c.1857. In 1901 census living at Aston Manor by Birmingham with her widowed sister Kate Bone and Kate's five children; 'Mrs Summerville' widow, 44, brass lamps press worker. In 1911 census at Back 66 Clifford St, Aston (3 rooms), 54, widow, cycle lamp press worker
    • ANNIE THERESA (Summerville): Born Aston 11 Oct 1895. In 1901 census with her mother, age 5. With mother in 1911 census, 15, silver finish worker. Marriage to James F. Smith regd Kings Norton Sep 1923
• SUSAN ANN / SUSANNAH: Born Shirwell 27 Jul 1845; birth regd (Summerfield) Barnstaple 1845. Baptised (Somervile) Shirwell 17 Aug 1845; at home in 1851 census, age 5, and 1861, age 16, scholar. On 12 Jun 1864 at Pilton Susan, minor, spinster, dau of James Summerfield, inn keeper, married Edward Delve, of full age, bachelor, joiner, of Pilton, son of Edward Delve, joiner; marriage regd Barnstaple Jun 1864. Edward born Marwood c. 1843, son of Edward and Mary Delve. In 1881 census at 1 Bush St, Bedminster, Somerset: Edward age 38, Susannah age 36, and children born in Bristol—Bertram, 16; William 13; Florence 9; Annie 8; Edward 6.
• SARAH (Summerfield): Born Shirwell 26 Mar 1848; birth regd Barnstaple 14 Apr 1848. Baptised Shirwell 7 May 1848; at home in 1851 census (index), age 3; in 1861 census at Bowden Farm, East Down, home servant, age 14, working for Joseph List; in 1871 census at home, unmarried, age 23. Married Alfred W. Hughes, mechanic of Bristol, son of George & Ann Hughes, at Pilton 11 Apr 1871; marriage regd Barnstaple Jun 1871. Alfred born Bristol 9 Feb 1846. Emigrated to Canada, then in the 1890s moved to Niagara Falls, USA, where Alfred was a paper maker. Alfred died 13 Mar 1905; buried 15 Mar Niagara Falls, NY. Sarah moved with her youngest daughter Mariann to Detroit, Michigan, where she died (60 King Ave) 12 Dec 1922 (buried 13 Dec Niagara Falls, NY). Had four daughters (Edith, Laura 1876, Caroline 1878, Mariann 1883), and one son (Ernest Alfred 1875), who had 11 children. (Information provided by Morna Louise Elhage, great-niece. Morna died in 6 Mar 2020. See obituary. See also obituary of her sister, Beatrice Walker)
• GEORGE (Somerville): Baptised Shirwell 6 Apr 1851; at home in 1851 census (index), age 1 month, and in 1861, age 11, scholar. In 1871 census lodging with his brother John and John's family in Bristol: George age 20, draper's assistant. Marriage (Summerfield) to ANNIE REES (born Bristol c.1851) regd Bristol Sep 1873. In Harrod's 1878 Directory (Summerville) at 50 High Street, Ilfracombe, general draper & milliner. In 1881 census (Summerville) at same address, George age 30, draper employing 4 assistants, born Barnstaple(?), Annie, age 30, and 5 assistants and servants; in 1891 census (Summerwille) at 14 High Street, Ilfracombe, age 36(?), draper, born Sherworthy(?), with: wife Annie, age 36(?); sister-in-law Ada Rees, age 22, born Newtown, Montgomery; nephew Frederick C. Evans, age 9, scholar, born Salisbury, Wilts.; 9 employees. In Kelly's 1902 Directory Annie is listed alone as milliner, 27 Church Road.
• ELIZA (Summerfield): Born Shirwell 21 Jun 1855; regd Barnstaple 31 Jul 1855; in 1871 census at home, age 15, scholar. Married:
  (1) On 24 Aug 1874 at Barnstaple, Eliza, age 18, spinster, of Pilton, and William Crispin, age 21, bachelor, ironmonger of Barnstaple, son of Philip Crispin, farmer; marriage regd Barnstaple Sep 1874. Child William Philip born 10 Jun 1876, buried 31 Jan 1878 (Pilton Register [magazine]).William died within a year of the marriage.
  (2) On 24 Jul 1880 at St Sidwell's, Exeter, John Milford, 27 widower, engine driver, Tracey's Cottages, son of James Milford (gardener), married Eliza Crispin, 25, widow, of Tracey's Cottages, daughter of James Summerfield (innkeeper). John Milford, born Alphington 29 Mar 1853, son of James Milford and Eliza (formerly Beard), was a railway engine driver. Lived 90 Culverland Rd, Exeter, in 1882. Child Blanche, born 15 Oct 1882, a nurse, went to Canada and the USA. John died in a railway accident between Yelverton and Bickleigh and was posthumously awarded for sacrificing his life for the passengers.
  (3) 13 Feb 1887, Parish Church of St Stephen's, Walworth, Surrey, William Francis Robinson, full age, Bachelor, Machinist, Walworth (father: William Robinson— Carpenter) and Eliza Milford, full age, Widow, - ,Walworth (father: James Summerfield—Innkeeper). William born 14 Sep 1852, 6 Portland Place, Borough Road, Southwark, Surrey, son of William Robinson, cabinet maker, and Jane (formerly Bayly). Eliza and William emigrated to Canada. Five children of 3rd marriage: Francis Henry, born 15 July 1887 in Welland,
  Ontario, Canada, Beatrice May 1888, Arthur James 1890, Lauren Ernest 1891, Edith Maud 1896. William (millwright and cabinet maker) died 1 Nov 1913, Niagara Falls, NY; buried Oakwood Cemetery 7 Nov. Eliza died Fulton, Oswego Co, NY, 30 Aug 1929; cremated Gardner Earl Crematorium, Troy, Albany Co, NY, 3 Sep 1929. Obituary: "Robinson: Died in her home, 203 Division Street Aug 31st, Mrs.Elizabeth Robinson. She is survived by three daughters, Miss Blanche M. Robinson and Mrs Edith Vaughn of this city and Mrs Beatrice M. Morrison of Detroit, and three sons, Francis H. Robinson of this city, Arthur Robinson of Indianapolis, Ind. and Lauren E. Robinson of Detroit, Mich. Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon, Rev. L.H. Skelton of the Free Methodist Church officiating. The deceased was a native of Barnstaple, England, being the daughter of the late John and Mary Summerfield and came to this country when a young lady. She had lived in Fulton for many years. While not in the best of health for several years past, her death occurred following an illness of only a few days."
• CHARLES: Baptised (Somerville) Shirwell 26 Jun 1820; married GRACE (DENDLE/DOWDLE); regd Barnstaple Mar 1844 (Summerfield); Grace born Bratton Fleming (1851 and 1861 censuses) or Loxhore (1871/81 censuses) c.1821. In 1851 census living (as Sumerfield) at South Down Cottage, Arlington: Charles age 31, agricultural labaourer; Grace 34 (also visitor Jane Dowdle, widow, age 72, pauper, born East Down, and 8-year old Mary Dowdle,visitor, born Loxhore. In 1861 census living (as Somerwill) in Arlington, Charles age 36, gardener, Grace age 40 (also mother-in-law Jane Dendle, widow, age 83, born East Down). In 1871 at New England, Arlington, Charles age 45, Grace age 51. In 1881 at 3 Union Street, Barnstaple, Charles (Summerfield) age 60, gardener, Grace age 60. Grace's death regd Barnstaple Sep 1882, age 64. Charles’ death regd Barnstaple Dec 1889, age 69
• ELIZABETH ANN: Born Loxhore, birth regd Barnstaple Mar 1848; at home in 1861 census, age 12, scholar; in 1871 census at Lynton, servant of Mary Moules, age 23, born Arlington. 1901 census at 5 Princes Street, Barnstaple, age 40 (an error), single, mill hand lace factory, lodger of Henry Shaddick, shed man in tanyard. In 1911 census still with the Shaddicks, but at 15 Gaydon St, Barnstaple: Elizabeth 61, forewoman of girls in a lace factory, born Parracombe.
• SUSAN: Born Arlington; birth regd Barnstaple Jun 1850; baptised Arlington 23 Jun 1850; in 1851 census at home, age 10; at home in 1861 census, age 10, dumb. Death regd Barnstaple June 1866, age 16
• FREDERICK: Born Arlington, birth regd (Somerwill) Barnstaple Sep 1852; at home in 1861 census, age 8, scholar. In 1871 census at 4 Gladstone St, Bristol, (Frederick Somerfield) age 18, grocer's assistant, lodging with Henry Ruddock, missionary. Not found in later censuses.
• FRANCES EMILY ('Fanny'): Born Arlington, birth regd Barnstaple Sep 1858; at home in 1861 and 1871 censuses, aged 2 and 12. Marriage to Henry Albert Peace regd Barnstaple Dec 1880

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