Mary Elizabeth Butler (1844 – 1913)

Mary Elizabeth Stuart was born on 9 May 1844 at Highweek near Newton Abbot in Devon. She was baptized on 14 June 1844 at All Saints in Highweek, the daughter of John George and Grace, nee Tickern, Stuart.

Mary was recorded as a visitor in Highweek in the 1851 census.

In the 1861 and 1871 censuses she was recorded with her parents at Wolborough in Newton Abbott. Her father John George was a high bailiff for the county council. In the 1861 there were also two brothers John George aged 10 and Frederick Charles aged 8 in the house.

Mary married James Charles Butler in 1872 in Newtown Abbot district. James was born circa 1848 in Bath.

James and Mary had a daughter Mary Stuart in June 1874 who died aged only 14 weeks and was buried on 5 October 1874 at Highweek. Another daughter Annie Louise Stuart was born on 24 February 1879 in Ilsington in Devon. She was baptized on 10 April 1879 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Ashburton.

In the 1881 census James and Mary with daughter Annie were living at Town Farm in Ilsington with James recorded as a farmer of 235 acres employing 3 labourers and one boy.

Ten years later in the 1891 census James and Mary with daughter Annie and Mary’s widowed mother Grace were living at Woodhouse Farm in Kingsclere with James recorded as a farmer.

The same household, James, Mary, Annie and Grace were living at Bannerwood Farm in Chislehurst in the 1901 census with James recorded as a farmer.

Mary’s mother Grace Stuart died in February 1907 aged 91 and she was buried at Highweek on 11 February 1907.

Subsequently, in the 1911 census James and Mary with daughter Annie and a servant were living at Warren Farm in Wash Common. James was recorded as a farmer and Annie as a hospital nurse.

Mary died 15 March 1913 at Warren Farm and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 19 March 1913.

James remarried in 1917 in Taunton to Lucy Gold. In the 1921 census they were living in South Molton in Devon. James died in 1933 in South Molton.

Mary’s daughter Annie Louise Stuart remained in the area and in the 1921 census she was recorded alone at 5 Fairview, Andover Road in Newbury living on private means. She was still living at this address when she died in January 1952 and was buried at Shaw Cemetery on 25 January, 

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