Ephram Rendell was a Royal Marines pensioner who lived at Hill End from about 1897 until he died in 1916.

He was born at Hardington in 1842, the son of Jeremiah (a weaver) and his wife, Anne.

In March 1851, he was an errand boy; in April 1861, he was a farm labourer. He then joined the Royal Marines.

On 7 July 1867, he married Grace Burns at East Stonehouse. The marriage entry describes him as a private in 3 Company, Royal Marines.

Ephraim and Grace lived at East Stonehouse for about thirty years:

April 1871 34 St Paul’s Street,

April 1881 25 Edgcumbe Street

April 1891 25 Edgcumbe Street

In April 1881, Ephraim was on board a ship named “Implacable”.

Ephraim left the service between 1881 and 1891. By April 1891, he was a naval pensioner.

Ephraim’s father died in 1896. By 1897, Ephraim and Grace had moved to Hardington. They lived at 378 Hill End, a four-room cottage on Bridge Close Farm.

On 13 June 1898, Ephraim attended the annual Club dinner and, in responding to a toast, said he had been in the Marines for 21 years.[1]

He was the Parish Sexton and Clerk.

Grace died intestate on 23 January 1914, aged 70, leaving effects valued at £249-2s-1d. Ephraim died intestate on 15 December 1916, aged 74 leaving effects valued at £206-3s-10d.

They had one daughter, Ethel Lilian Somerville Rendell, who was born at East Stonehouse in 1881.

References

[1] Pulman’s Weekly News, 21 June 1898, p.6.