William HORN - (Abt. 1792 - 1870)

William HORN was the son of Lewis Burdon HORN and his wife, Ann (nee RIGSBY). He was born in Black Torrington, in North Devon, in about 1792 and was baptized there in St Mary's Church on 3rd May of that year.

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In 1813, William married Ann BAYLEY (or BAILEY) and the details in the parish registers are as follows...

Marriage - Black Torrington, Devon
William Horn & Ann Bayley
29 Aug 1813
Witness: Joseph Bayley

Photographs of St Mary's Church, Black Torrington can be viewed in the Gallery.

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Remaining in the Black Torrington area, the couple proceeded to have at least ten children, their first daughter, Mary Ann, being born in 1814 whilst they were living at a farm called Jennings. Intriguingly, Thomas and Elizabeth SMALE lived at Jennings in the 1840's and 1850's. These were the parents of William and Ann HORN's son-in-law, James, who married their second daughter, Elizabeth.

By 1816 when Elizabeth was born, the family were described as living at Smithland Farm and William was, at that time, employed as a labourer. However, by 1841, he was a well-established farmer living at Hole, the details on the census being...

Name: William Horn
Age: 45
Estimated birth year: abt 1796
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England
Civil Parish: Black Torrington
Hundred: Black Torrington
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: Hole
Occupation: Farmer
Registration district: Holsworthy
Sub-registration district: Black Torrington

Household Members: Name, Age
William Horn 45
Ann Horn 45
Lewis Horn 20
Ann Horn 15
William Horn 15
Jane Horn 10
James Horn 8
John Horn 6
Joseph Horn 4

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The Tithe Apportionment records, which were compiled for Black Torrington in 1841, show William was farming over 127 acres...

• The 1841 census shows George Paige, a farmer and the owner of an acre of unnamed land occupied by William Horn, lived at Bridge, Black Torrington. This might have been Bridge Farm although there was also Bridge End and Bridge Cottage.

• Uptcott is possibly mistranscribed and should probably be Upcott.

• It has not been confirmed whether the properties at Bradworthy and Holsworthy refer to the same William HORN of Black Torrington.

The area given is in acres, rods (or roods), and perches (40 perches = 1 rod, 4 rods = 1 acre).
Unnamed land indicates there was no habitation listed.
Unnamed cottage etc or unnamed house etc includes a building together with land.

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The 1851 census shows the family were resident at Upcott and William was described as a farmer of 30 acres employing one labourer, having given up the farm at Hole which was then being farmed by another family by the name of Northcott. Daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, James SMALE, had been living at Upcott ten years earlier when William had been listed as the occupier in the Tithe Apportionments. The census details are as follows...

Name: William Horn 
Age: 59 
Estimated birth year: abt 1792 
Relation: Head 
Spouse's name: Ann Horn 
Gender: Male 
Where born: Black Torrington, Devon, England 
Civil Parish: Black Torrington 
County/Island: Devon 
Country: England 
Street address: Upcott
Occupation: Farmer of 30 Acres Employing 1 Lab
Registration district: Holsworthy 
Sub-registration district: Milton Damerel 
ED, institution, or vessel: 3b 
Household schedule number: 24

Household Members: Name, Age 
William Horn 59 
Ann Horn 59 
William Horn 26 
Jane B Horn 23 
James Horn 20
John Horn 18 
Joseph Horn 16

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The Ordnance Survey map below demonstrates that Upcott Farm, Smithsland (presumably formerly Smithland Farm), Bridge Farm and Hole (near bottom of map), are all still in existence today.

Upcott Farm, Smithsland, Bridge Farm and Hole

View Map at Bing 

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William had been widowed by 1861, when he was living in the village at Black Torrington with two of his sons. He was described as a farmer and land holder on the census for that year...

Name: William Horn
Age: 71
Estimated birth year: abt 1790
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Black Torrington, Devon, England
Civil Parish: Black Torrington
County/Island: Devon
Country: England
Street address: No 13 Village
Occupation: Farmer & Land Holder
Registration district: Holsworthy
Sub-registration district: Black Torrington
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Household schedule number: 66

Household Members: Name, Age
William Horn 71
James Horn 30
Joseph Horn 25

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William HORN died in Black Torrington on 2nd September 1870, aged about 78. The death index states...

Name: William Horn 
Estimated birth year: abt 1792 
Year of Registration: 1870 
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 
Age at Death: 78 
District: Holsworthy 
County: Cornwall, Devon 
Volume: 5b 
Page: 377

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At some stage, William had made a will and probate was granted on 17th September to his daughter, Mary Ann, who was his sole executrix...

WILLS. 1870.
HORN William. Effects under £100.
17 September
The Will of William Horn late of Black Torrington in the County of Devon Gentleman deceased who died 2 September 1870 at Black Torrington aforesaid was proved at Exeter by the oath of Mary Ann Hall of Black Torrington aforesaid Widow the Daughter the sole Executrix

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