Bulleid News

Bulleid Family Newsletter 23 December 2011 Issue 62

A New Look After five years, it's time to give the newsletter a fresh look thanks to free software recommended by an English computer magazine, Computeractive. Please bear with me as I get to grips with desktop publishing; you will probably notice some experimentation and the alignment may be a bit cock­ eyed. The crest on the right of the masthead has been replaced by the bull's head surmounted by a plover, known in Devon as a bullhead. These reflect the origin of the family name, Bullhead farm in Iddesleigh, North Devon, whilst the colour reminds us of the red Devon soil of our agricultural heritage. Bullhead farm was occupied by the family in the 13th and 14th centuries, there was “land for 40 ploughs; 80 although it has not been possible Winkleigh in North Devon, acres of meadow; and 500 acres of to trace our ancestry back that far England, was home to the Bulleid woodland; 16 slaves; 60 villans; in an unbroken line. family for at least three centuries. and 10 swineherds.” Sixty monthly editions of the If you zoom in on the map above, It has been suggested that the newsletter is a remarkable which dates from before 1850, you name derives from the old English will see highlighted the names of achievement and demonstrates words Wincel and Leah meaning a several farms that were occupied the strength of interest clearing near some nook or corner. by Bulleids at one time or another. However, finds dating back to the throughout the family in its Winkleigh is an ancient village on Bronze Age, including some on history. Please keep sending in a lofty hill founded in the early Bullhead farm, indicate that the your contributions, be they days of the Saxon occupation of land was settled centuries before historical or contemporary news, Devon (5th century). It was the the Saxon invasion. so that we can keep the seat of the Saxon Earls of Local historian, Barry Downton, in Gloucester, the last of whom was newsletter going. his book ‘Iddesleigh, A Parish in Brictric, who lost his lands to Devon’ states that “the first record ­ Geoff Ledden, Editor Matilda, wife of William the of Bullhead Farm being mentioned Conqueror. It is listed in the dates back to the twelve hundreds Domesday Book of 1086 when when it was then occupied by one John de’ Bullhead.” The Manor of Holacombe. Zealand. The population of Devon Subsidy Roll for 1332 The Parish Church, All Saints, Winkleigh peaked in the records William de Boleshead dates back to the 15th century 1840s and had halved by at the farm. and the first Bulleid marriage 1931. Despite this decline, the Adam Boleheude was ordered was recorded there on 13 village has prospered and, in to be taken to Exeter in 1358 August 1582 when John September 2011, it was to be tried for having caused Bulleid married Agnes Heale. named the best place in the death of Nicholas Most members of the family England and Wales to raise a Lampray. had left Winkleigh and nearby child based on its low crime In 1525, John Bolehed made a rural villages by the mid­19th rate, good education results grant of all his property in century due to the agricultural and the fact that property Northcott in order to provide depression. They sought a prices are almost £17,000 less an annuity for his wife, better life in towns and cities than the national average. Thomasine. A document such as Plymouth, Exeter, Perhaps these factors will dated 29 June 1546 records Bristol and Glastonbury; attract Bulleids back to that Nicholas Bolehede held a others set sail for Canada and Winkleigh! tenement in Northcott, in the the USA, Australia and New

Help! ‐ An appeal by Alan Richards

Alan Richards has sent an appeal for a photograph of his great grandparents, Albert Parkin and Martha Gibson. Albert was Ann Bullied's son. He was born in Port Hope, Ont., in 1850, and died in Toronto in 1908. His wife was born in 1852, also in Port Hope, and died in Toronto in 1925 (she had remarried, to a man named John J. Teskey). Alan writes: ­

"The reason I believe somebody out there has a picture of Albert and/or Martha is that I have beautiful pictures of some of their children, obviously taken at a time when the parents would still be alive; if the kids had their pictures taken, wouldn't the parents also have done so?"

The photos of Albert and Martha's children, above, are (l to r): Myrtle & Albert Parkin Jr; Myrtle Parkin; Rhoda Maywood & family. If you can help, please contact Alan at [email protected]

Page 2 From the London Standard, solicitude, told him he had better going to my duties at the National Friday, 3rd March 1837 defer it, on account of the bad state School; first saw the deceased lying in Alexander Christie, 32, was indicted of his health. He then arose from the churchyard; was told of his being for intermarrying with Amelia the table with a view to deliberate there by some boys belonging to the Bulleid, his wife Elizabeth still with Mr Chapman (who resides school; I sent for the sexton; but before being alive. ­ Guilty opposite), and who, it appears, was his arrival another person came by, The Recorder declared that it was also concerned with him in the and we both entered the churchyard, necessary to put a stop to offences responsibilities alluded to; but on together with Saml. Chamberlain; of this character and sentenced the arriving there he found that that found the deceased lying on the prisoner to be imprisoned and kept gentleman was in bed, suffering ground, but did not know him at that to hard labour in the House of intensely from the same cause. time; they lifted him up and found he Correction for 12 months. Hearing this, he obtained the keys was dead; I then ran for Dr. Burgess; Amelia was aged 13 at the time and of St. John's Tower, asended to the deceased was taken into the belfry the daughter of George and Mary top (which is 120 feet high), and before the surgeon had arrived. Bulleid of Staddon farm, North instantly threw himself off. Samuel Chamberlain corroborated Tawton, Devon. She was a Grocer An inquest was held on the the evidence of the last witness. in 1871, living with brother deceased by D. Ashford, Esq. on The jury here stated that it was William in Hatherleigh Street, Wednesday, the 29th, before a useless to proceed with the North Tawton. Shopkeeper in 1881, highly respectable jury. The first evidence, many of them having living in Barton Lane, North witness called was ­ seen the deceased the same Tawton, with brother William. She John Payne, the Sexton of the morning, and observed the did not marry and was buried with church, who stated ­ distressed state of his mind. They her father and brother William in Deceased came to my house on returned a verdict of Temporary North Tawton churchyard. Tuesday morning last, about half past Insanity. eight, and said he wanted the keys of Mr Bulleid was highly respected From the Bath Chronicle and the tower as he wished to go to the top in the town as a tradesman and a Weekly Gazette, Thursday, of it to see if the water was out in the neighbour, and his memory is now 13th February 1840 Moors; I gave him the keys; I saw no followed by the sincere and DREADFUL SUICIDE ­ On difference in his conduct or his sorrowful regrets of all who knew Tuesday Morning, the 28th ult., the appearance; I asked him how it was him. His remains were interred on inhabitants of Glastonbury were between the Prats and him, and he Saturday last. So beloved was this thrown into the greatest possible said, "Pretty well; better than I unfortunate gentleman, that every consternation by the committal of expected." I am not aware that shop in town was partially closed an awful suicide on the part of Mr deceased called at my house before I until he had been consigned to the Bulleid, draper, who threw himself was up. tomb, to which last resting place he from the tower of the church, by Henry Payne ­ I am the son of the last was followed by the whole of the which instant death was witness; knew the deceased, Mr principal tradesmen in the town. It occasioned. It appears that the Bulleid; saw him yesterday morning, is to be hoped, that the sincere unfortunate individual in question about half past eight, at my father's respect at all times shown for him had rendered himself subject to house; he came for the keys of the may be transferred, if possible serious pecuniary liabilities, to tower; my faher gave them to him; he more warmly, to his esteemed which, for sufficient reasons, we went away with them; he came back in widow and her three bereaved refrain from more particularly about two minutes, and said they were children. A cruel report has been alluding at present. the wrong keys; he showed me the veryy industriously circulated in The consequences that were likely keys; they were the right keys; the neighbourhood of Glastonbury, to follow his responsibilities, he asked me to go up to the church by some thoughtless individuals, resulting from recent events in the with him, as he could not open the that the deceased committed the town, deeply affected the mind of door; I unlocked it; I then asked him if rash act in consequence of the law Mr Bulleid. On the Monday I should wait to lock the door; and proceedings which had been evening, he appeared extremely deceased said he was going to wait for instituted against him. The jury, dejected and, whilst at supper, some­one; and I was to go home and he however, after a patient showed symptoms of extreme would lock the door, and bring back the investigation of all the mental agony, but his wife most keys; he waited in the belfry until I was circumstances, came to the affectionately endeavoured to gone; this was the last time I saw him unanimous resolution, that they felt soothe him. Nothing particular alive; he looked different when in the it their bounden duty to disabuse occurred till the next morning. belfry, to when he was at our house; he the public mind on the subject, and After he had taken his breakfast, he looked very cross. accordingly expressed their entire intimated that it was his intention Robert Munden jun. ­ I knew the approbation of the conduct pursued to take a ride a little way into the deceased; at about a quarter before by the professional gentlemen country; but his wife, with her usual nine o'clock yesterday morning, I was throughout the whole business. In 1 923, Donald Bulleid was a lad of 1 0 living in Plymouth, 20 Radnor Street Devon, and a pupil at Charles School, just off North Hill. Plymouth On Christmas Eve, he wrote what appears to have been his annual letter to Father Christmas (opposite). He 24 ­10 ­1923 allowed plenty of time for his letter to get to the North Pole, writing two months in advance. Perhaps he wanted to get his request in before his twin sister, Doris! Dear Santa Clause [sic] Don went on to become the Medical Records Officer at Plymouth City Hospital from 1 934 to 1 953 and was an This year I would like a Scooter and a Emergency Medical Officer during the Second World War. Story Book for Boys. I have seen a fit book In 2001 , he was instrumental in getting the city to honour for me in a shop window in Regent Street. six nurses, who were killed in an air raid on Freedom The Shopkeeper's name is West. Fields Hospital. If you cannot get a Story Book try your He was a great reader and very interested in the history of hardest to get a Scooter. I have seen a the Bulleid family. His daughter, or son, used to read this penknife, pencil box, trains and train lines. newsletter to him when his sight was failing. Don was keen I would like to have all those things this to attend the family gathering in Eggesford, North Devon, Xmas. I do not think I will get them in 2008 even though he had hardly ventured outdoors for anyway. We will see. the past two years, and his family arranged for him to be transported with his carer by ambulance for the day. As the Yours truly doyen of the family, he was delighted to meet the youngest member present, Rufus Millichope, who was eight months Donald Bulleid old. The letter to Santa was found in his effects following his P.S. I am a boy of ten years and I am in death last year at the age of 97. We do not know whether Std V his wishes were granted, or the rather imperious letter was returned to him!

Well, another year draws to a close, but before it does I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year

Please don't forget to visit https://sites.google.com/site/bulleidfamily and add a message to the blog as well as your profile, a photo or two and, perhaps, a favourite family recipe.

All the best, Geoff.