Thomas Kimbler's Exeter family

Sue Jackson's findings

To supplement the very interesting article by Robert Wilkins into the mysterious death of Thomas Kimber in Montreal, further research into births, marriages and deaths and the censuses of 1861, 187, 1881 and 1891 was carried out in order to provide some family history information relating to Thomas’s home circumstances.

It will be seen that two children included in the census were born before the marriage in 1859 of Charles West Kimber and Harriet Jones (Charles Henry 1847 and Annie Maria 1853) and a likely explanation is offered in the Conclusions at the end as to whether they were other family members, rather than the offspring of Charles West and Harriet.

Mother and Father

• Charles West Kimber born 1827 Bishopsteignton
  • Possible death: Charles Kimber, June Qu 1906 St Thomas 5b 47, Age 73 (If him, should have been nearer 78)
• Kimber (nee Jones) born 1828 Hawarden, Flintshire
  • Unable to locate a likely death for Harriet

Marriage

• Charles Kimber = Harriet Jones, Mar Qu 1859 Newton Abbot 5b 207

Children

(ages as indicated by Census variously at 23/28 North Street, St Kerrian’s but actual dates of birth as per FreeBMD)

• Charles H.Kimber, born 1848 Newton Abbot (1861 North Street, Exeter)
  • Charles Henry Kimber, born June Qu 1847 Newton Abbot 10 146
  • Charles Henry Kimber, died Sept Qu 1875 Exeter 5b 68 Age 28
• Annie Kimber/Anna M.Kimber, born 1853 Teignmouth (1861, 1871 North Street, Exeter)
  • Annie Maria Kimber, born June Qu 1853 Newton Abbot 5b 105
• Emma Kimber/Emma F.Kimber, born 1861 Exeter (1861, 1871, 1881 North Street, Exeter)
  • Emma Frances Kimber, born June Qu 1860 Exeter 5b 105
• Tom Kimber/Thomas Kimber, born 1862 Exeter (1871, 1881 North Street, Exeter)
  • Thomas Kimber, born Mar Qu 1862 Exeter 5b 107
  • Thomas Kimber, died 11 April 1890 Montreal Age 28 in suspicious circumstances
• Evan W.Kimber, born 1866, Exeter (1871, North Street, Exeter)
  • Evan W.Kimber, born June Qu 1866 Exeter 5b 103
• Mary H.Kimber/Mary Hans Kimber, born 1871 Exeter (1871, 1881 North Street, Exeter)
  • Mary Harriet Kimber, born Dec Qu 1870 Exeter 5b 96
• . . . . .

In the 1861, 1871 and 1881 Censuses, Charles [West] Kimber is listed as a Grocer at North Street, Exeter along with wife Harriet. Charles could not be found in the 1891 Census but Harriet was listed as a Visitor at the home of William and Mary Vickers, Fore Street, Topsham. She was recorded as Married, Living on own means which implied that Charles was still living, but elsewhere at the time the census was taken. However, Charles West Kimber is recorded in the Electoral Registers of 1885, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890 and 1891 as living at Fore Street, Topsham which ties in with Robert Wilkins’ research.

In the 1891 Census at 2 Culverland Road, Exeter were Emma F.Cavill (nee Kimber), Widow, aged 30, Teacher of Music, born Exeter along with her son Stafford G.H.T.Cavill, aged 8, born Hastings, Sussex, her daughter Mary H.Cavill, aged 5, born Cardiff, Glamorgan and her sister Mary H.Kimber, Single, aged 20 born Exeter.

In the 1881 Census at Hurston House, Whitestone were listed Anna M.Kimber, Head, Single, no occupation, aged 27 born Teignmouth along with her brother Evan Wm. Kimber, Single, aged 15, Scholar born Exeter and a servant Bessie Skinner, Single, aged 18 born Whitestone. Curiously Anna was listed as Head of Household, Daughter, and Evan as Son although at the time of the 1881 Census their parents were at 23 North Street, Exeter.

In the 1871 Census son Charles Henry Kimber was listed as Head of Household at the Post Office, Bishopsteignton, Single, aged 23, Manager of branch grocery business.

Conclusions

Charles West Kimber (Grocer) and his wife Harriet lived with their children at 28 and later at 23 North Street in St Kerrian Parish of Exeter as seen in the 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses. Soon after 1881they moved to Fore Street, Topsham as evidenced by the entry in the 1883 Kellys Directory of “Charles West Kimber, Grocer, Fore Street” (but with no similar entry in the 1897 Kellys) and their children also moved to pursue their lives in other parts of Devon — Emma Frances and Mary Harriet at 2 Culverland Road, Exeter, and Annie Maria and Evan William at Hurston House, Whitestone. Two sons died in their twenties — Charles Henry at the age of 28, probably still at Bishopsteignton, and Thomas, also 28 in mysterious circumstances in Montreal.

Delving into the family's life prior to 1861 at North Street, Exeter and noting that Charles Henry Kimber was born before the marriage of Charles West and Harriet, the answer is to be found at three different addresses in the 1851 Census.

Charles West Kimber is listed at Westlawn House, West Teignmouth, a House Servant aged 25, born Bishopsteignton at the home of Charles Kelson, 38, Magistrate for Devon, born Somerset, his wife Annie, their two daughters, niece, and three other servants.

Harriett Jones is listed at Cockhaven Street, Bishopsteignton, a Ladies Maid aged 23, born Hawarden, Flintshire at the home of Henry William Stephens, Widower aged 70, Captain Half Pay born Ireland along with a daughter, visitor and seven other servants including a house keeper, cook, house servant, butler and coachman (two with no listed occupation) – evidently a large household.

Charles Kimber aged 4, born Newton Abbot is recorded as Grandson at an address given as Village, Bishopsteignton. The others in the household are:

• Ann Kimber, Head, Widow, 63, Poulterer, born Bishopsteignton
• John Kimber, Son, Unmarried, 27 Labourer on farm, born Bishopsteignton
• Ann Kimber, Daughter, Unmarried, 20, Servant, born Bishopsteignton

John (Son) and Ann (Daughter) are most likely siblings of Charles West and this would appear to be confirmed by the 1841 Census, again listed as Village Bishopsteignton where Ann Kimber is 50, John Kimber is 15, Charles Kimber is 11 and Ann Kimber is 9, all listed as Born Devon. Ages are not accurate in the 1841 Census and relationships are not recorded.

The conundrum is whether Charles (Grandson) in 1851 is the offspring of John or more likely Ann and whether in fact Charles West and Harriet adopted him and Annie Maria (another later child of Ann?) after their marriage in 1859.

Sue Jackson, 5 July 2025