by John Dyer

William Dyer was born in Trusham on 23rd April 1800. He was baptised at Trusham on 11th May 1800. He was the eldest son of William and Joanna Dyer nee Martin. Both William and Joanna were born in Chudleigh. William senior was the son of Francis and Elizabeth Dyer née Bassett.

At the age of 7 (in 1807) William junior went to work for a Mr Robert Cleave at Tucketts Farm, Trusham. On 4th November 1809 William was indentured to Mr Cleave as an Apprentice. William was then 9 years of age and was apprenticed to Mr Cleave until he was 21 years of age. He lived and worked for Mr Cleave under this scheme until 1813. William, with the help of his parents William and Joanna, then applied to a Magistrate in Chudleigh to have Mr Cleave brought before the Magistrate to answer charges of "ill usage" toward William by Mr Cleave’s sons. The Magistrate, Mr Burrington who was also the local Chudleigh Vicar, examined the case and Mr Cleave agreed to give up William once he had found a further apprenticeship. He also agreed to pay the sum of £2 to clothe William.

A new position was found for William by his parents William and Joanna with a Mr William Stooke of Rydon Farm, Ashton. Rydon Farm is on the outskirts of Trusham although just inside the parish boundary with Ashton. So two days after the appearance before the Magistrate William was found a new appointment. William stayed apprenticed to Mr Stooke until he was 21 years of age.

In 1821 at the end of his apprenticeship William returned home to his parents and worked for about a year as a "day labourer". Then he worked as a servant for Farmer William Hanbury of Hennock, living at his place of work for 9-10 months. After that William had several labouring jobs both as a "day labourer " and as a "weekly hiring". One such was to a Mr Archer of Farley Farm, Chudleigh. (Farley Farm is  midway between Trusham and Chudleigh).

He married Ann Bickley who was born in Chudleigh, on 3rd August 1830 at St Gregory's Dawlish. Their first child, James Dyer, was christened at St Gregory's on 5th June 1831. James unfortunately died aged 3 years and was buried in Chudleigh on 14th October 1834. The couple were living in Chudleigh and soon had a large family:

Charlotte born 17th May 1833 in Chudleigh baptised there on 2nd June 1833

John born 2nd August 1835 in Chudleigh baptised there 16th August 1835

Harriet born 21st September 1837 in Chudleigh and baptised there 8th October 1837. (She died aged 17 years and was buried in Chudleigh on 4th March 1855.)

William James born in Chudleigh 1840. (He died aged 6 years and was buried on 27th May 1846.)

Mary Ann born in Chudleigh in 1842. She was baptised on 20th February 1842. (She died aged 7 years and was buried in Chudleigh on 27th October 1849.)

Elizabeth born in Chudleigh in 1844 and baptised there on 5th May 1844

Thomas born in Chudleigh in 1848 and baptised there on 4th June 1848.

By 1841, William and family were living in Cox's Alley, Exeter Street, Chudleigh but in 1844 the family fell on hard times and applied to the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor for the parish of Chudleigh for help. William and Ann and their five children Charlotte 11, John 8, Harriett 6 , William 4 (and crippled) and 2 year old Mary Ann. There was some dispute as to the eligibility of the claim falling within the jurisdiction of the Chudleigh Poor Board. Attempts were made to push the family onto the Parish of Ashton for assistance (this was due to the amount of time William had lived in Ashton whilst serving his apprenticeship), or onto the parish of Trusham. William himself was examined under oath and gave a statement, as did his mother Joanna. (His father William had passed on by this time). It seemed to revolve around the amount of time he had spent at any one address. Eventually after much discussion between the Parishes it was decided by the Newton Abbot district Poor Aid Board of Overseers that Chudleigh would give assistance from the Poor Aid.

Thus they were given aid  consisting of 5 loaves of bread (value 10d) and one shilling and sixpence in monies. This was one week's aid in April 1844. How long  they stayed on this aid is not known.

The 1851 Census shows William and Ann living in Old Exeter Street, Chudleigh. William is a Farm Labourer and Ann a Laundress. In 1861 they are still living in Exeter Street, Chudleigh William is described as a Gardener. In 1871 and 1881 William and Ann are living in Culver Street Chudleigh.

Ann died in 1884 aged 79 years  - William died in 1889 aged 88 years.

William was my Great Great Great Grandfather's elder Brother.

John Dyer

I am indebted to Devon Record Office who have the original documents relating to the examination of William and his family into their application for aid from the Poor Board in 1844