James Trevellyan
James Trevellyan was born in January 1877 in Uplowman and was baptized in the church there on 21st January 1877 as his parents lived in Whitnage, a hamlet near Uplowman, but his family had strong Sampford Peverell roots. His surname was spelled in a variety of ways and in the Uplowman parish register it is “Trevillian”, but we will use Trevellyan here.
James Trevellyan’s grandparents were William Trevellyan, a labourer, and his wife Martha. They lived in a small cottage in Boobery next door to William’s brother and his family. In 1851 their children were Henry, Martha, Ann, Jessey and William. This youngest son, William, James Trevellyan's father, was baptized in Sampford Peverell church on 25th March 1849. He grew up in the village and on 30th November 1870 he was married in Sampford Peverell chuch to Eliza Warren from Tiverton, before moving to Whitnage.
In the 1881 census William and Eliza Trevellian were living in Chapel Cottages, Whitnage, with 4-year-old James and his sisters Martha, Mary Jane and Alice. By 1891 14-year-old James Trevellyan was an agricultural labourer working for Edward Pearce, farmer, at Boehill Barton, Sampford Peverell. His parents, William and Eliza Trevellyan, were still in Whitnage with their other children including William and Charles (actually their grandson but brought up as their son) who were also later to take part in WW1.
As was the case with many men in those days, James left agriculture to work on the railways. In the 1901 census he was living in Whitnage with his parents and younger siblings. James was now a “platelayer on GWR”, ie an employee of the Great Western Railway whose job it was to maintain or replace railway track. On 31st March 1902, in Uplowman, James married Edith Ann Ford, who was born on 3rd April 1881 in Poltimore, the daughter of Edwin Ford, a wagoner, and his wife Mary Ann. James was still a platelayer on the GWR. According to the parish register they both lived in Uplowman, but the marriage announcement in the Western Times of 11th April repored that he was “of Witnage [sic]” and she was “of Poltimore”. They probably moved to Sampford Peverell soon after their wedding because their daughter, Ivy Nester Trevellyan, was born on 6th January 1903 and was baptized in Sampford Peverell church on 1st February 1903.
James Trevellyan’s grandparents were William Trevellyan, a labourer, and his wife Martha. They lived in a small cottage in Boobery next door to William’s brother and his family. In 1851 their children were Henry, Martha, Ann, Jessey and William. This youngest son, William, James Trevellyan's father, was baptized in Sampford Peverell church on 25th March 1849. He grew up in the village and on 30th November 1870 he was married in Sampford Peverell chuch to Eliza Warren from Tiverton, before moving to Whitnage.
In the 1881 census William and Eliza Trevellian were living in Chapel Cottages, Whitnage, with 4-year-old James and his sisters Martha, Mary Jane and Alice. By 1891 14-year-old James Trevellyan was an agricultural labourer working for Edward Pearce, farmer, at Boehill Barton, Sampford Peverell. His parents, William and Eliza Trevellyan, were still in Whitnage with their other children including William and Charles (actually their grandson but brought up as their son) who were also later to take part in WW1.
As was the case with many men in those days, James left agriculture to work on the railways. In the 1901 census he was living in Whitnage with his parents and younger siblings. James was now a “platelayer on GWR”, ie an employee of the Great Western Railway whose job it was to maintain or replace railway track. On 31st March 1902, in Uplowman, James married Edith Ann Ford, who was born on 3rd April 1881 in Poltimore, the daughter of Edwin Ford, a wagoner, and his wife Mary Ann. James was still a platelayer on the GWR. According to the parish register they both lived in Uplowman, but the marriage announcement in the Western Times of 11th April repored that he was “of Witnage [sic]” and she was “of Poltimore”. They probably moved to Sampford Peverell soon after their wedding because their daughter, Ivy Nester Trevellyan, was born on 6th January 1903 and was baptized in Sampford Peverell church on 1st February 1903.
In the 1911 census James Trevelyan was still a platelayer for the GWR, and he and his wife and daughter lived in Buckland Cottage, Sampford Peverell. This is the cottage next to Buckland Bridge over the canal in Whitnage Road (2018: Fair View Cottage), which was also referred to as Wharf Cottage in other documents such as the Land Tax Returns for that same year. Those returns show that James Trevelyan rented the cottage from Mrs Spear, who also owned the adjacent playing field. James’ brother Charlie doesn’t appear in the 1911 census, because by then he had emigrated to Canada. He returned in 1914 to fight in the war, so we’ve added more information about Charlie on a separate page which will appear under 'other participants' or can be seen on the website here: http://spsocresearch.weebly.com/charlie-trevellyan.html
In 1915 James’ daughter Ivy Trevellyan was one of many Sampford Peverell children to take the Exeter Diocesan Church of England Temperance Society examinations. They included intermediates and juniors, and in the juniors Ivy obtained a mark of 55 (other marks went from 24 to 87). The “Big Brother’s Prize” for the youngest child with the highest marks went to Denis Cluett, Sampford Peverell, aged 7. These exams are explained by Denis Cluett himself in his memoirs which are available as a Sampford Peverell Society publication - see this website for details: http://www.sampevsoc.co.uk/publications.html
In 1915 James’ daughter Ivy Trevellyan was one of many Sampford Peverell children to take the Exeter Diocesan Church of England Temperance Society examinations. They included intermediates and juniors, and in the juniors Ivy obtained a mark of 55 (other marks went from 24 to 87). The “Big Brother’s Prize” for the youngest child with the highest marks went to Denis Cluett, Sampford Peverell, aged 7. These exams are explained by Denis Cluett himself in his memoirs which are available as a Sampford Peverell Society publication - see this website for details: http://www.sampevsoc.co.uk/publications.html
As a married man, James Trevellyan would have been exempt from military service when conscription was first introduced in January 1916, but not enough men were being recruited so on 25th May 1916 conscription was extended to include married men, and at the age of 39 James became a sapper with the Royal Engineers 268th Railway Company (service number 201978). On 28th April 1917 his daughter wrote a postcard to him which included “Hope you are alright. It is six months ago yesterday that you went away”, so he must have left home on 27th October 1916. The railway companies were mainly made up of railway workers assembled and trained in groups, and that particular company embarked for France on 19th December 1916.
Around that time James wrote a short note to his wife on a Friday saying that all leave had been cancelled and there were rumours flying around that they would be going to France the next Thursday. He said he would send her some money and a longer letter, and ended: “I remain your ever loving husband Jim”. James sent his daughter, Ivy, a postcard from Southampton, postmarked 20th December 1916 (a Wednesday), saying (spelling and punctuation exactly as written) “Dear Ivy just a line to let you now that we stoped Southampton last night had a nice strool around the town I quite remembered the places were we had been before we are off this morning Wensday good by from your ever loving Father. love to all”.
Around that time James wrote a short note to his wife on a Friday saying that all leave had been cancelled and there were rumours flying around that they would be going to France the next Thursday. He said he would send her some money and a longer letter, and ended: “I remain your ever loving husband Jim”. James sent his daughter, Ivy, a postcard from Southampton, postmarked 20th December 1916 (a Wednesday), saying (spelling and punctuation exactly as written) “Dear Ivy just a line to let you now that we stoped Southampton last night had a nice strool around the town I quite remembered the places were we had been before we are off this morning Wensday good by from your ever loving Father. love to all”.
Back home we know from a newspaper article on 2nd Feb 1917 about a death in Merriemeade House, Sampford Peverell, that James’ wife, Edith Trevellyan, worked there for the Norrish family and was a witness at the inquest. The house is now The Merriemeade pub. Later Edith went to work at the St Boniface Home for Waifs and Strays. Edith and Ivy continued to live in Wharf Cottage, with their dog, Spot, who is mentioned fondly in the correspondence between James and his family.
The longest letter we have from James Trevellyan was written on 25th February 1917. He wrote it in pencil on YMCA paper. This is a transcript of it, with the original spelling but with some punctuation added for the sake of readability:
“My Own Dearest Wife and Daughter
just a few lines hoping it will find you quite well as it leaves me at present. We are having this afternoon off so I am been busy washing. I have washed two shirts and twol and pants and have had my hair cut so you can see that I have been quite bussy. What a change we have had the last few days. It has been mild and very fogy but the frost isn’t all gone out of the ground yet and it his up over our boots with mud and water and my feet are wet every day but I change my boots every night when I leave off and put on dry socks. Their his a lot of our men with bad fingers and feet caused by the frost but, thank goodness, mine are keeping alright. Dear Edith how are you getting on with the money I alow you do you get it alright? Can you make both ends meet? I don’t supposed you will get any more for Ivy - I see on the paper it his for they under 14 years of age. You asked me about my living on the last letter, well we could make I do if we had a little more bread. We haves 1 little loaf between three every day. I could eat all mine for my breakfast if I had some more. We goes in the village every other night and gets a loaf of bread. We have to scramble for it and then have to pay a frank and 3d for it – that his 13/- English money. I supposed it his a lot dearer in England, than it was when I leave home. All they wants his your money. Dear Edith you said you wish that I could have a few days leaf. I only wish I could come home alltogether with you. I am afraid I shall never get my work up after again if I stop away to long, the gardening will get in such state. But cheer up o dear I will make up for it some day. I should like to take you and dear Ivy for a walk this afternoon and pick some primroses. I think about you all the day long and wonder how you are getting on, and am thinking of you half of the night long. Dear Ivy I am sending you and Mam a little card each wish I hope you will like. I wish I could send you something better but I will try to get you a better present when this wicked war his over. I had a letter from Brother Bill this last week. He wishes to be remembered to you all. He his expecting to be shifted from were he his shortly, but I hope we shall stay were we are and then I think we shall be safe. Tell mam not to worry about me. So now I must sine off. Wishing you health and happyness from your ever loving Father and Husband xxxxxxxxxxxx Give my love to all and a kiss for Spot xx”
“My Own Dearest Wife and Daughter
just a few lines hoping it will find you quite well as it leaves me at present. We are having this afternoon off so I am been busy washing. I have washed two shirts and twol and pants and have had my hair cut so you can see that I have been quite bussy. What a change we have had the last few days. It has been mild and very fogy but the frost isn’t all gone out of the ground yet and it his up over our boots with mud and water and my feet are wet every day but I change my boots every night when I leave off and put on dry socks. Their his a lot of our men with bad fingers and feet caused by the frost but, thank goodness, mine are keeping alright. Dear Edith how are you getting on with the money I alow you do you get it alright? Can you make both ends meet? I don’t supposed you will get any more for Ivy - I see on the paper it his for they under 14 years of age. You asked me about my living on the last letter, well we could make I do if we had a little more bread. We haves 1 little loaf between three every day. I could eat all mine for my breakfast if I had some more. We goes in the village every other night and gets a loaf of bread. We have to scramble for it and then have to pay a frank and 3d for it – that his 13/- English money. I supposed it his a lot dearer in England, than it was when I leave home. All they wants his your money. Dear Edith you said you wish that I could have a few days leaf. I only wish I could come home alltogether with you. I am afraid I shall never get my work up after again if I stop away to long, the gardening will get in such state. But cheer up o dear I will make up for it some day. I should like to take you and dear Ivy for a walk this afternoon and pick some primroses. I think about you all the day long and wonder how you are getting on, and am thinking of you half of the night long. Dear Ivy I am sending you and Mam a little card each wish I hope you will like. I wish I could send you something better but I will try to get you a better present when this wicked war his over. I had a letter from Brother Bill this last week. He wishes to be remembered to you all. He his expecting to be shifted from were he his shortly, but I hope we shall stay were we are and then I think we shall be safe. Tell mam not to worry about me. So now I must sine off. Wishing you health and happyness from your ever loving Father and Husband xxxxxxxxxxxx Give my love to all and a kiss for Spot xx”
There is a lot of interesting information about the railway companies on the Long Long Trail website. One section in particular helps paint a picture of the situation:
“As the various campaigns and battles unfolded, RE Railway Companies were engaged all over the British sector, joined by Dominion RE Railway Companies. Close examination of the period maps bear testimony to miles of what was to be temporary track that criss-crossed the area. Howitzer Spurs, Ambulance Train Sidings, Tank Enablements and bridges were all constructed, in addition to the constant maintenance and line doubling.
Work in progress was always a potential target for enemy artillery and also there were the attentions of the German Air Force to contend with. Zeneghem Yard, for instance, was a natural target and sappers from RE Railway Companies are recorded as having to help extinguish serious fires resulting from air raids. A primary objective was always to take standard gauge railways as close to the front as possible, to lessen the demands on light railway systems, horsed transport and manpower. For the sappers, work could mean toiling around the clock, especially where lines had been cut by shellfire.”
“As the various campaigns and battles unfolded, RE Railway Companies were engaged all over the British sector, joined by Dominion RE Railway Companies. Close examination of the period maps bear testimony to miles of what was to be temporary track that criss-crossed the area. Howitzer Spurs, Ambulance Train Sidings, Tank Enablements and bridges were all constructed, in addition to the constant maintenance and line doubling.
Work in progress was always a potential target for enemy artillery and also there were the attentions of the German Air Force to contend with. Zeneghem Yard, for instance, was a natural target and sappers from RE Railway Companies are recorded as having to help extinguish serious fires resulting from air raids. A primary objective was always to take standard gauge railways as close to the front as possible, to lessen the demands on light railway systems, horsed transport and manpower. For the sappers, work could mean toiling around the clock, especially where lines had been cut by shellfire.”
James Trevellyan died in France on 2nd October 1917. A newspaper reported that: “Trevelyan was attached to the Royal Engineers, and while actively employed in France was wounded so severely by a bomb from an aeroplane that death followed shortly afterwards.”
He is buried in the Dozinghem military cemetery in Belgium and the registration of his grave refers to his parents who were in Whitnage, Uplowman, and his wife Edith who was in Wharf House, Sampford Peverell. The inscription ,“Until the day break”, was chosen by Edith.
Jame Trevellyan's name appears on the GWR memorial to employees who died in WW1, under the engineering department based at Burlescombe. This memorial can be seen at major GWR stations including Exeter St. David's.
The probate summary of his will records that he died at 61st Casualty Clearing Station France, leaving £125 9s 5d to his widow, Edith. According to the list of soldiers’ effects on ancestry.com his outstanding pay of £5 2s was sent to Edith, in December 1917, another 2 shillings in March 1918, and his war gratuity of £3 was sent to her in November 1919.
Edith never remarried and continued to live with Ivy in Buckland/Wharf cottage for many years. Ivy kept in touch with a boy from the St Boniface’s Boys' Home, Ernest Johnson, who served during and just after WW1 in Palestine and India. They were married in Sampford Peverell church on 22nd April 1924.
James Trevellyan is remembered on the memorial plaque in Sampford Peverell church. We are not sure exactly when the plaque was put up but we hope it was there by 1924 so that at some point during her wedding service Ivy could look up at her father’s name on the memorial plaque and share that moment with him. Ivy became a teacher, and she and her mother bought Woodbine Farm in Culmstock in 1935, which they lived in and ran with Ivy's husband, Ernest. During the Second World War they got help on the farm from some Italian prisoners of war, one of whom returned to the farm after the war with his young family. Ernest and Ivy did not have any children so they loved having the family with them and built them a house on the farm. Edith died there in 1965, aged 84. Ernest died in 1986 and Ivy in 1988. They left the farm to the youngest son of their ‘adopted’ Italian family, who was kind enough to lend us the photos and letters, kept all together by Ivy, which have helped tell us so much about James Trevellyan and his family. They also said that Ivy could never bear to see anything about Remembrance Day and if it came up on the TV she would go to her room and shed tears for her beloved father.
He is buried in the Dozinghem military cemetery in Belgium and the registration of his grave refers to his parents who were in Whitnage, Uplowman, and his wife Edith who was in Wharf House, Sampford Peverell. The inscription ,“Until the day break”, was chosen by Edith.
Jame Trevellyan's name appears on the GWR memorial to employees who died in WW1, under the engineering department based at Burlescombe. This memorial can be seen at major GWR stations including Exeter St. David's.
The probate summary of his will records that he died at 61st Casualty Clearing Station France, leaving £125 9s 5d to his widow, Edith. According to the list of soldiers’ effects on ancestry.com his outstanding pay of £5 2s was sent to Edith, in December 1917, another 2 shillings in March 1918, and his war gratuity of £3 was sent to her in November 1919.
Edith never remarried and continued to live with Ivy in Buckland/Wharf cottage for many years. Ivy kept in touch with a boy from the St Boniface’s Boys' Home, Ernest Johnson, who served during and just after WW1 in Palestine and India. They were married in Sampford Peverell church on 22nd April 1924.
James Trevellyan is remembered on the memorial plaque in Sampford Peverell church. We are not sure exactly when the plaque was put up but we hope it was there by 1924 so that at some point during her wedding service Ivy could look up at her father’s name on the memorial plaque and share that moment with him. Ivy became a teacher, and she and her mother bought Woodbine Farm in Culmstock in 1935, which they lived in and ran with Ivy's husband, Ernest. During the Second World War they got help on the farm from some Italian prisoners of war, one of whom returned to the farm after the war with his young family. Ernest and Ivy did not have any children so they loved having the family with them and built them a house on the farm. Edith died there in 1965, aged 84. Ernest died in 1986 and Ivy in 1988. They left the farm to the youngest son of their ‘adopted’ Italian family, who was kind enough to lend us the photos and letters, kept all together by Ivy, which have helped tell us so much about James Trevellyan and his family. They also said that Ivy could never bear to see anything about Remembrance Day and if it came up on the TV she would go to her room and shed tears for her beloved father.
Details from List of Casualties (under Military Records on Ancestry.co.uk)
Name: James Trevellyan
Birthplace: Uplowman, Devon
Residence: Sampford Peverell, Devon
Death Date: 2 Oct 1917
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Tiverton, Devon
Rank: Sapper
Regiment: Royal Engineers
Territorial Number: 201978
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre
Comments: 268th Rly.Coy., R.E.
Name: James Trevellyan
Birthplace: Uplowman, Devon
Residence: Sampford Peverell, Devon
Death Date: 2 Oct 1917
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Tiverton, Devon
Rank: Sapper
Regiment: Royal Engineers
Territorial Number: 201978
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre
Comments: 268th Rly.Coy., R.E.
Principal researcher: Heather Culpin of the Sampford Peverell Society, contactable via the 'Contact us' page of http://www.sampevsoc.co.uk
Sources of information:
This page is from http://spsocresearch.weebly.com
James Trevellyan is part of this family tree which we have created on ancestry.co.uk and which ancestry subscribers can see here:
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/75014822/family
Commonwealth War Graves Commission information: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/154305/TREVELLYAN,%20J
There are photos of James and his family, and also photos of letters, cards, his medals and other items, on this web page: http://spsocresearch.weebly.com/trevellyan-photos.html
Service records from www.Ancestry.co.uk and newspaper articles from findmypast.co.uk can be seen on this password protected page
This page is from http://spsocresearch.weebly.com
James Trevellyan is part of this family tree which we have created on ancestry.co.uk and which ancestry subscribers can see here:
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/75014822/family
Commonwealth War Graves Commission information: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/154305/TREVELLYAN,%20J
There are photos of James and his family, and also photos of letters, cards, his medals and other items, on this web page: http://spsocresearch.weebly.com/trevellyan-photos.html
Service records from www.Ancestry.co.uk and newspaper articles from findmypast.co.uk can be seen on this password protected page