The BEER Family of Yarcombe, Stockland and Membury, Devon

This is the story of the BEER family of Devon. I began to research the family through our connection to Jane BEER, who, on 29 March 1892, departed from London on the ship JELUNGA bound for Queensland Australia. She was contracted to disembark at Bowen, Queensland. She is listed as a Domestic Servant, aged 25 and single. Jane arrived in Bowen on 20 May 1892. married Samuel BROWN on 17 June 1893 in Bowen, Queensland. They had two children (William and Selina) before Sam disappeared, never to be heard from again. (Sam's story is here.) Soon after, Jane joined up with Charles TAYLOR and they had eight children. (Jane's story is told here.)

The family of Henry BEER (1712-) and Anna HAYMAN

Using the parish records I have traced Jane's family back to Henry BEER (1643-1704) of Yarcombe in Devon. Only two children can be identified in the records for Henry and his wife Sarah PARRIS, Ruth (1684-1703) and Henry (1689-1760).

Henry (1689-1760) married Grace BRUNSEN (this appears to be the most consistent spelling) on 31 July 1712 at Yarcombe. They had eight children, so the early part of he family tree looks like this. To make navigation easier, I have broken the tree up into the families of each of these eight siblings. You can follow the link on each name and return to this tree if you need to. Following each tree, I have recorded the details and a copy of the parish records, census returns etc that provide the evidence for the relationships shown.

            |
        Henry BEERE
          ?-1653
            |                        |
       Henry BEER=======v=======Sarah PARRIS
        1643-1704     m:1684     1657-1725
                    (Chardstock)
                        |
         |--------------|
        Ruth          Henry
     1684-1703      1689-1760
                        |
                  m:1712(Yarcombe)
                   Grace BRUNSEN
                    1688-1758
                        |
                      Henry========v========Anna HAYMAN
                      1712-      m:1755 
                                   | 
               |             |                  |             |                 |                |
  
 

Isaac BEER 1840-1909

Isaac was born in 1840 in Yarcombe, Devon. In the 1841 census Isaac is 9 months old, and living with parents Isaac and Ruth BEER, at the Yarcombe Inn, Yarcombe. Only 10 years later he is a farm servant for James SPILLER at Broadly Farm, Yarcombe. In 1861 he is an Agricultural Labourer, living at Staple Fitzpaine, near Taunton, about 8 miles north of Yarcombe.

Yarcombe Inn, Devon

Yarcombe Inn, Devon.

Marriage to Mary Collins

Some time between 1861 and 1864 Isaac moved further north and across to Cardiff. He married Mary COLLINS in Cardiff in mid 1864 and by the time of the 1871 census they were living at Hayes Farm, Sully. Isaac was still working as an Ag. Labourer.  Sully is a few miles south of Cardiff. The census enumerator obviously had some problems with Isaac's accent, recording him as BEARD, and born in Yarkem.

 Isaac and Mary had six children:

In 1881 the family had moved to 32 Dock St, Cogan, Penarth, close to Cardiff:

1881 Census

In late 1884 Mary died (Dec 1884 Cardiff 11a/164).

Marriage to Sarah Ann PRICE

Issac soon married again, to Sarah Ann PRICE. The marriage was recorded at Bedminster (March quarter 1886, 5c/981). Bedminster is now a southern suburb of Bristol, and although Bristol is just across the Bristol Channel from Penarth where Isaac was living, it is not at all clear why the marriage took place there. Sarah Ann had been born in Gloucester in 1850. Sarah was aged 36 at the time of marriage and it appears likely that she had not been married previously.

In the 1891 census Isaac and Sarah Ann are living at 28 James St, Penarth, Wales. With them are sons John, Albert and James, as well as Ethel PRICE (Sarah's niece) and Ruth BEER, Isaac's mother. Isaac occupation appears to be Grocer:

In 1901 Isaac and family had moved around the corner to 19 Maughan St, Penarth. Ethel Price, Sarah's niece is still with them and now they have John Price (probably Sarah's brother) with them as well.

Isaac died in Cardiff in 1909.

There are several death records for Sarah Ann BEER. The most likely is the one for Mar 1911 at Gloucester, her place of birth (6a/232).

Return to the Jane Beer Index Page

Return to the Benton Family Index Page

Last updated: 18 December 2011