Introduction

Ephraim Rendell served in the Royal Marines from 1861 to 1883. In about 1896, he returned to Hardington with his wife and daughter and served as the parish clerk and sexton until his death in 1916.

Childhood

Ephraim was born at Hardington in 1842, the second child of Jeremiah and Anne Rendell. His father was a weaver.

In March 1851, he was an errand boy, and by April 1861, he was a farm labourer.

Military career

Ephraim joined the Royal Marines in 1861 at the age of 19.[1]

On 7 July 1867, he married Grace Burns at East Stonehouse. The marriage entry describes him as a private in the 3rd Company, Royal Marines.[2] Grace was the daughter of William Burns, a copper miner from Mary Tavy.

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 serving on board a ship named “Implacable”.

Ephraim left the Royal Marines in 1883.[3]

Hardington

Ephraim’s father died in 1896. By 1897, Ephraim and Grace had moved to Hardington, where they lived at 378 Hill End, a four-room cottage on Bridge Close Farm.[4]

On 13 June 1898, Ephraim attended the annual Club dinner and, in response to a toast, said he had served in the Royal Marines for 21 years.[5]

Ephraim was the Parish Sexton and Clerk.[6] On 12 March 1898. Elizabeth and her sister-in-law, Mrs Edward Rendell, lined the grave of the rector’s father with moss and ivy and studded it with primroses.[7]

Death

Grace died intestate on 23 January 1914, aged 70, leaving effects valued at £249-2s-1d.[8] Ephraim died intestate on 15 December 1916, aged 74, leaving effects valued at £206-3s-10d.[9]

Children

Ephraim and Grace had one daughter, Ethel Lilian Somerville Rendell, born at East Stonehouse in 1881. She married Reginald Walter Chaplin, a blind ex-serviceman, in 1917 and died on the Isle of Wight in 1952.

References

[1] National Archives: ADM 157/334/271 (catalogue entry only).

[2] Royal Marines Marriage Registers 1813-1920.

[3] National Archives: ADM 157/334/271 (catalogue entry only).

[4] Hardington voters’ lists

[5] Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser, 21 June 1898, p.6.

[6] 1901 census; 1911 census; trade directories of 1902, 1904 and 1914.

[7] Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser, 15 March 1898, p.6.

[8] National probate calendar.

[9] National probate calendar.