In April 1881, Samuel Scadding was a gardener at Lyatts.

Early life in Devon

Samuel was the son of Thomas Scadding and his wife Mary (nee Selwood). Following their marriage at Payhembury, Devon, on 6 May 1817, Thomas and Mary lived in the adjacent parish of Talaton for about ten years before returning to Payhembury. Samuel was born at Talaton in about 1826. In June 1841, he was a male servant at Higher Park Farm, Payhembury.

First marriage

In 1860, Samuel married Jane Tanswell at Exeter. She was the daughter of George Tanswell, the landlord of the New Inn, Buckhorn Weston, Dorset.

In April 1861, Samuel and Jane lived at Penleonard Cottage, St Leonards, Exeter. Samuel was a gardener, probably at Penleonard House. Jane died later that year, aged about 36.

Second marriage

After Jane’s death, Samuel moved to Hampshire, where he married Jane Earwaker in 1863. Jane, the daughter of Thomas Earwaker, a blacksmith of Privett near Petersfield, had an illegitimate daughter, Mary Ellen Earwaker, born in 1858.

Samuel returned to Devon with his new wife and stepdaughter. In 1870, they lived in Birchen Lane, Tiverton. Sadly, Samuel and Jane only had seven years together as Jane died there on 12 May 1870, aged 48.[1]

Jane’s death left her daughter, Mary Ellen, without a female carer, and Jane’s younger sister, Ellen, stepped in to fill the breach. By April 1871, Samuel, Ellen and Mary Ellen lived at Rowford Cottage, Cheddon Fitzpaine. Samuel was a gardener, and Ellen was his housekeeper.

In 1879, Mary Ellen married William Hooper Lewis, a general labourer, and the couple settled in Exeter.

Cohabitation with his sister-in-law

By April 1881, Samuel and Ellen lived at Lyatts, Hardington. The 1881 census records Ellen as his wife, but, in fact, it was illegal for a man to marry his deceased wife’s sister.

Ellen died in Exeter in February 1890, aged 63. The death of Samuel has not been found.

References

[1] Tiverton Gazette (Mid-Devon Gazette), 17 May 1870, p.5.