What can a graveyard tell us about Georgian Exeter?

Ian explained the definition of ‘dissenter’ – who they were and from what they dissented – and said that they were Protestants and Non-conformists of several persuasions but that he was only going to speak about Presbyterians (trying to reform), Trinitarians (believed in the Trinity) and Unitarians (believed in God as a single entity as opposed to a trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The origins of Dissent are religious but also political.

The EDGT website records that “In the period from 1748 to 1854 more than 1520 Dissenters – Protestants who dissented from the strictures of the Anglican Church – were buried in this small plot on the outskirts of the walled city of Exeter. The site was owned by various Church groups until the 1980s when it passed into private ownership” and was eventually taken over by the Exeter Dissenters’ Graveyard Trust. The site (next to the Jewish Cemetery on one side and the old Eye Infirmary, now the Hotel Du Vin on the other) was on land originally owned by Trustees of Wynards Almhouses (opposite) and is long and narrow. Burials are east to west.

Ian referred to Allan Brockett’s book Non-conformity in Exeter, 1650-1875 (Manchester University Press 1962) and Brockett’s comment “that the capital of Devon has always been a hotbed of dissent.” Ian explained about the original five meeting houses in Exeter: James’s Meeting in South Street (opposite the current George’s Meeting House - now J.D.Wetherspoon), Bow Meeting [probably] in Smythen Street, Little Meeting in Waterbeer Street, and Mint Meeting which was formerly on the site of what is now the Mint Methodist Church in Fore Street. George’s Meeting is now the only meeting house building still in existence. Information about the graveyard was found from burial registers, an account book, Memorial inscriptions, a handwritten register of William H. Hamilton Rogers, 2010 Archaeology reports and newspaper accounts. Following the cholera epidemic, and the Burial Act of 18 October 1854, burials were prohibited in all of the parishes of Exeter, although it is known that there were 7 cholera burials in the Dissenters’ Graveyard. The Act states that “Exempt from this order due to the practice of the sects never burying twice in the same plot of ground (one body one grave) [are] the Jews Burial Ground, Magdalen Street, and the Society of Friends Burial Ground in Magdalen Street.” After 1854 all Dissenter burials were in the Lower Cemetery and later in the Higher Cemetery at Heavitree.

The book records that “There are many distinguished and well-known local names among those buried in the Graveyard. They include ministers Micaiah Towgood [see also Wikipedia article], Joseph Bretland and James Manning, and members of the Bowring, Gifford, Hirtzel, Kennaway, Kingdon [including Iron Sam Kingdon, Ironmonger], Merivale, Milford, Nation, Treadwin and Tremlett families.” Occupations recorded are Accountants, Brushmakers, Clergymen, Fuller, Grocer/Merchant, Ironmonger, Schoolmaster, Shoemaker and Unspecified Occupation / Gentlemen.

Over 130 Biographies can be seen on the website which says, “Information is collected from sources including original documents, ledgers, newspapers and from online genealogical searches” and several “marked QR have updated biographies and a permanent interpretation marker in the graveyard.” The book has examples and descriptions of the types of graves and vaults – “Cave” – a brick constructed vault, Chest tomb consisting of a horizontal slab resting on stone side panels set on a stone plinth, one Pedestal tomb, two Obelisks, Coffin stones, and a variety of Headstones.

At various times and according to who owned the site, clearance work was carried out. Unfortunately, the work done by the Manpower Services Commission in 1984 included moving all of the headstones which were placed against the walls which meant that the original burial plots could not be ascertained. In 1985 it was all neat and tidy, in 1999 trees had come down and the flats had been built, but by 2012 the site was in a mess again. In 2013 grass and brambles were cleared in order to start on restoration work. Everything was surveyed, members of the Fire Brigade moved heavy stones, an Information Board was erected, Open Days were held, bee houses were installed, and sympathetic planting had taken place. In 2018 88 memorials had been identified.

Ian finished his talk by concentrating on three of the biographies that had been researched: Philip Gove (see a biography on the EDGT website), Hannah Tremlett, Tricks/Cranch families.

Philip Gove

He was a teacher at Tuckers Hall Free School and was allocated a room of his own. He taught 10 boys at the school and also girls at premises in Magdalen Street. He asked for the earth floor to be covered, and this was granted as long as the class was increased to 15 boys. In 1800 Philip and Elizabeth Gove had 4 children. By 1805 they had added 3 more. In 1809 Elizabeth died aged 45. Philip married again to one Maria Smith in 1813, and they had 5 more children. At age 75 he asked for a pension. One of his pupils had purchased the Sharpham Estate and he was responsible for providing a pension for Philip Gove. From 1786 he wrote and published many riddles and word puzzles – anagrams, charades, enigmas and rebuses. Also, Verses, Sonnets, and ‘Death of a promising child’, which was reported in the Exeter Flying Post and was a memorial to his own child. Philip was buried in the Dissenters’ Graveyard on 9 May 1844.

Hannah Tremlett

The news section of the website has the following about “Mrs Hannah Tremlett and her links to Dartmouth and Exeter”. “The graveyard’s burial record shows that a Mrs Hannah Tremlett was buried on 20th September 1803. She became the subject of a research project that uncovered aspects of her life. She was one of the granddaughters of Thomas Newcomen, a Dartmouth-based pioneer of the Industrial Revolution. … Hannah married for the first time in 1776 aged 44 years. Her husband Arthur Holdsworth was then Governor of Dartmouth Castle and was a very influential member of the community. He died the following year leaving Hannah some considerable wealth. Later, she married Anthony Tremlett, a successful Exeter merchant.” Ian showed an invoice of Thomas Hooper, an Exeter builder, who provided the coffin for her funeral. Her will detailed many beneficiaries.

Juliet Tricks

Reference to Juliet Tricks is recorded in the biography for Richard Cranch, who died on the 15th September 1793. “In the nineteenth century the two main Devon branches of the Cranch family were in Exeter and Kingsbridge. They were non-conformists and were related by marriage to both Sir John Bowring and to John Adams, the second President of the United States of America.” Juliet Tricks (nee Cranch) is recorded as having witnessed the birth certificate of John Bowring Wyatt in January 1815. Juliet married John Tricks.

Ian covered much more than this short write-up in his talk and the EDGT website is the best place to find a wealth of interesting information.

Sue Jackson

P.S. ELHS had a visit to the Dissenters’ Graveyard in July 2014 and a write-up can be found on the Society’s website. I took several photos, which Judith is at liberty to include with this article showing the state of the graveyard at that point in time.