Elijah was born in Stoke Damerel, Devon sometime during the period 1827/9 the son of Samuel and Ann nee Martin
and the grandson of Samuel and Mary nee Souther
During late 1848 when he was about 20 years old he was married in East Stonehouse, Devon (also now part of Plymouth) to Ann Maria Netting. She appears to have been about the same age as Elijah and also born in Stoke Damerel.
Elijah and Ann Maria had at least six children, three sons and three daughters.
Ann Maria died during 1876 when she was only about 48 years old.
Sometime between then and 1881 Elijah re-married, to Elizabeth Jane Hartley and in 1881 they were living at 7 William Street, Plymouth St
Andrew, Devon. She was about 6 years younger than Elijah, with at least one child, a son from a previous marriage. No children from
Elijah’s marriage to Elizabeth Jane have been traced. In 1881 Elijah’s occupation was given as ‘Sawyer’.
Elizabeth died in Stoke Damerel Registration District during 1891 aged only about 56. Elijah died there during 1896 aged about 68.
- daughter Ann M(aria) was, according to the 1851 Census, born in Stoke Damerel, Devon during the year 1849/50 but to date her
birth has not been located in the post-1837 bmd records: Presumably she was named after her mother. No further definite details located
about her in bmd or Census records.
- daughter Elizabeth Jane Netting was born in Stole Damerel during 1851 and was recorded in the 1861 census livingwith her parents.
Nothing further has definitely been found about her in bmd or Census records.
[Is it a coincidence that this daughter’s Christian names are the same as Elijah’s second wife – was his second wife a favourite relative
of his first wife?]
- son Samuel David Martin was, according to the post 1837 bmd records, born during 1853 in Stoke Damerel. He was still living at
home with the family at the time of the 1871 Census when he was recorded as a ‘Bakers Lab.’ During late 1876, when he was 23 years old, he
married Mary Amelia Shepherd whose age in Census returns is given as one to four years younger than Samuel and whose place of birth was given
as Stonehouse or Devonport. At the time of the 1881 Census the family, recorded as ‘Trays’, were living at 10 Church Street, Stoke Damerel
but, according to one Census return, earlier in their marriage they lived at ‘Ford, Devon’. Samuel’s occupation then was recorded as
‘Painter’s Labourer’. Samuel and Mary Ann appear to have had at least five children, four sons and a daughter. No further details of Samuel
and Mary’s lives after the 1891 Census have been located to date.
- son Elijah was, according to later Census returns, born in Devonport, Devon sometime during the year 1857/8 but to date his birth
has not been located in the post-1837 bmd records. In the 1871 Census he was recorded as ‘Erand Boy’ living with parents but by 1881 he had
left home and was recorded as ‘Driller (Dockyd) (FT)’. Shortly afterwards during 1882 when he was about 24 years old he married Mary May in
Stoke Damerel, Devon. She appears to have been possibly a year or so older than Elijah and had been born in Stoke Damerel. Elijah and Mary
had at least 3 children, two sons and a daughter. No further details of Elijah and Mary’s lives have been
located to date after the 1901 Census.
- son David was, according to the post 1837 bmd records, born during 1860 in Stoke Damerel, Devon. As yet no further records about
him have been found after the 1861 Census.
- daughter(s) Jemima/Roseina was/were, according to later Census returns, born during 1864/5 but at present no such births have
been located in the post-1837 bmd records. At this stage it is not known whether these Census entries refer to one or two daughters, one
appearing in the 1871 Census and the other in the 1881 Census which is the last reference found to date.