John Smith's Family Tree Website

Tippett family

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Part 3: John Tippett (c1780 - 1858)

John Tippett (c1780 - 1858) was the eldest child of Henry Tippett and Joyce Full. He was baptised 01 September 1782 at St George’s Church, Modbury. He married Elizabeth Pope (c1779 - 1863) 21 March 1808 at St George’s Church. Elizabeth was described as a ‘sojourner’ (indicating she was not originally from the parish – in fact she came from nearby Aveton Gifford). Elizabeth was one of five children of Jonas Pope (? - 1802) and Sarah Paraton (c1753 - 1821).

John and Elizabeth had three children: Mary Ann, Amelia and John. When the children were younger, John was a ‘husbandman’ which meant he was either a tenant farmer or a farmer dealing in animals. By 1841, they had moved into Modbury village itself and John worked as a carrier transporting goods and an agricultural labourer. He died 24 October 1858, aged 78, and was buried at St George’s Church. Elizabeth was listed as an ‘almswoman’ the following census, indicating she was receiving money or food. She died 15 November 1863, aged 84.

Children of John and Elizabeth

More information about Mary Ann (c1810 - 1892) appears in Part 4.

Amelia (c1814 - 1877) was baptised 30 January 1814 at St George’s Church. She married George Steer (c1814 - 1895) 26 June 1835 at St George’s Church. They had eleven children, two of whom died young: John (c1835 - 1920), George (1937 - 1862), William (1839 - c1924), Henry (c1841 - 1914), Thomas (1842 - 1929), James (1844 - 1851), Samuel (1846 - c1909), Francis (1848 - 1910), Elizabeth Ann (c1850 - ?), Mary Ann (c1852 - 1858) and James (c1854 - 1903).

After their wedding it seems they lived in Yealmbridge near Yealmpton and George worked as a labourer. By 1841 they were living on Galpin Street, Modbury, and George was working as a limeburner. Limestone was readily available in the local area and was burned in kilns to produce ‘quick lime’. This could be made into mortar, added to soil to improve fertility or used to remove the hair from animal hides in the tanning industry. Being a limeburner was a very hazardous occupation. Not only did the kiln need to operate at temperatures over 800°C but the limeburner was exposed to toxic vapours. [1]

George continued as a limeburner for at least twenty years and many of his sons followed him into this industry. Amelia died in 1877, aged 63, and was buried at St George’s Church 05 February. By this time George was working as an agricultural labourer but by his late 70s he was unable to continue and received parish poor relief, with his only surviving daughter Elizabeth acting as ‘housekeeper’. He died in 1895, aged 79.

John (c1817 - 1897) was baptised 19 January 1817 at St George’s Church. He became a blacksmith and moved to Blackawton. When he married dressmaker Mary Anne King (c1818 - 1884) it occurred at St George’s Church, Modbury, 14 June 1839, most likely as it was Mary Anne’s parish. They had six children: Sarah King (1841 - 1924), Elizabeth (1843 - ?), John James (1844 - 1849), Mary Ann (1847 - 1849), Mary Ann (1850 - ?) and Ellen (1853 - c1933). John James and Mary Ann were buried the same day so it is possible they had contracted smallpox or cholera which was rampant in Modbury in 1849 (the former had claimed some of their cousins). 

It is not known if Mary Anne continued as a dressmaker after her marriage (women rarely declared an occupation on the census at the time) but two of her married daughters were enumerated as dressmakers. The family lived at Bow, Blackawton. Mary Anne died in 1884, aged 65, and was buried 18 May at St Michael’s Church. John died 30 March 1897, aged 80, and was buried 01 April at St Michael’s Church.

Next: Mary Ann Tippett

Footnotes

[1] The Limeburner, French Canadian Genealogist website (www.tfcg.ca/limeburner-old-occupation); The Lime Kiln, Galmpton & Chuston District Local History Group website (www.galmptonandchurstonhistory.org.uk/the-lime-kiln/)