Relationship to: Steve Wakely of NSW Australia - PaternalGreat/Great/Great/Great Grandfather

Forenames : THOMAS a Yeoman

Date of Birth: 1756

Place of Birth : Larstock (Laverstock), Stoke Abbott

Registered Ref: Before registration

Father's Name: Abraham Wakely (Yeoman/Leasee of Stockham Estate)

Mother's Name: Catherine ??? (formally of Larstock (Laverstock) Stoke Abbott

Married (Spouse): Elizabeth "Betty" Farnham

Date married: 15th April 1776

Place married: Baptist Church, St. John the Baptist, Broadwindsor

Date of Death: 5th September, 1848 aged 93

Place of Death: Cheddington

Registration Ref: 1848 September Beaminster Vol. 8 Page 5.

Issue:

1. William Wakel(e)y 2nd August 1777 Bap. 2nd August 1777 St.John Baptist Broadwindsor. Died no issue March 7th 1858 Age 80 Mosterton. Buried in Wakely family grave.

2. Mary Wakel(e)y 15th December 1779 Baptised 22nd May 1780 St.John Baptist Broadwindsor. Married Robert Groves af Crewkerne. Buried Mosterton in Wakely family grave.

3. Thomas W(e)akely 9th March 1782 Baptised 21st March 1782 St.John Baptist Broadwindsor; died May Ist 1864 Age 80; Buried Mosterton in Wakely family grave; married Martha, had sons Isaac and John. Latter planted grove of fir trees round family grave when Mosterton church was demolished.

4. Henry Wakly Baptised 6th June 1784 St.Mary, Mosterton;

5. John Wakley Baptised 29th May 1786 St.Mary, Mostertan; married Ruth Farnham 1820. Died January 29th 1856 Age 69 Buried Mosterton in Wakely family Grave

6. Elizabeth Wakly Baptised 8th June 1788 St.Mary, Mosterton; married John Smith of Chiteock 1817

7. George Wakly Baptised 15th May 1791 St.Mary, Mosterton; married Letitia, had son Charles 1824, daughter Adala 1829

8. Anna Wakley Private Baptised 16th July 1792; Public Baptised 9th Sept 1792 St,Mary, Mosterton. Buried 7th April 1793.

9. Abraham Wakly baptised 12th Sept 1793 St.Mary, Mosterton; Buried 30th March 1794

Siblings:

Jon Wakely Baptised 24th Mar 1759 St. John Baptist, Broadwindsor. Died without issue.

Known Addresses

1. Larstock (Laverstock) Stoke Abbott at birth

2. Burstock before marriage

3. Broadwindsor at marriage and birth first 3 children

4. Mosterton at birth remaining children

5. Cheddington at death (Misterton - Dorset and Somerset)

Other information:

He was the joint beneficiary with his mother Catherine in the Will of his father Abraham which was signed in 1775. It appears that he took over the farm of his cousin Abraham at Mosterton same time after 1773.

When he married in 1776 his parish was stated as Burstock and his bride Betty Farnham was of the Parish of Broadwindsor and it is noted that she signed her name - Elizabeth.. The witnesses were William (Carson?) and Thomas Studley.

A search is required to find out who was the Charles Wakely present at his death from Old Age in 1848. 1841/1851 Cheddington census may help, but it is possible it was his grandson Charles, the son of his own son George who married Letitia.

The second edition of George P R Pulman's "The book of the Axe" was published in 1875. It relates the journey of an angler down the River Axe from its source at Cheddington to Axmouth. It contains delightful descriptions of the various villages (and woodcuts) associated with the Wakelys and it also has records of many graveyard inscriptions now lost.

In the chapter about Mosterton he notes the records on the tombs in the old and long closed burial ground including:

'May, Widow of the late Robert Groves, of Crewkerne, and daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wakely. Thomas Wakely, September 5, 1848, aged 93; William, March 7, 1858 aged 80; Thomas, May 1, 1864, aged 82; John, January 29, 1856, aged 69; and other members of the family. The firs by which the little burying ground is now surrounded were planted by Mr. John Wakely since the church was removed'.

It was noted during searches that Thomas and Elizabeth's last two children, Anna & Abraham died in infancy and were buried at St.Mary, Mosterton on 7th April 1795 and 30th March 1794 respectively. Elizabeth herself died on 25th August 1817. Conceivably these could be amongst the "other member's of the family" noted an this inscription.