John Yeo (1836–1919, son of Thomas Yeo and Grace Knill) was born in Ilfracombe but spent most of his life in nearby Mortehoe. He lived at Warcombe on high ground overlooking the sea and worked as a labourer.
John married Eliza Ashford at Mortehoe. Eliza was prominent locally; as well as looking after her large family she ran a café, and with her son Alfred ran a pony-and-trap service bringing holidaymakers from Woolacombe. Ivor Gammon has researched Eliza’s life.
The 1911 census records John and Eliza at Sea View Cottage, Mortehoe. John is 64 and a general labourer for a golf club; Eliza is 71. With them are two unmarried sons, Sidney (35, a general labourer) and Alfred (32, a cab driver) and 19-year-old Eliza Ellis, daughter of their daughter Mary Eliza.
John and Eliza had at least fifteen children [note 1]:
– William Yeo (1855–1855)
– James Yeo (1856–1858)
– Elizabeth (1856–1858, twin sister of James)
– Thomas Yeo (born 1859, married Frances Wakeley and Dorcas Ann Fry, nine children)
– Samuel John Yeo (1863–1954), married Eliza Ann Conibear, two sons [note 2])
– Hannah Jane Yeo (born 1864)
– Sarah Jane Yeo (born 1865, married Frederick Smith)
– Edith Ellen Yeo (born 1868, married William Henry Watts)
– Rhoda Evangeline Yeo (1870–1951, married Francis Henry Davis)
– Mary Eliza Yeo (1872–1951, married George Ellis and Alfred George Gammon)
– Frederick George Yeo (see Frederick George Yeo – error on headstone)
– Sidney William Yeo
– Alfred Yeo (born 1879, married Clarissa Ockenden, son Alfred Charles Yeo, see below)
– Bertha Florence Yeo (1881–1982, married Edward Sefton Carroll)
– Alice Harriet Yeo (1883–1975, married Edmond Ernest Coles).
Alfred Charles Yeo (1925–1983, son of Alfred Yeo and Clarissa Ockenden) married Kathleen Willis, one son).
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Note
1. Were Eliza Ann Yeo (born 1855) and William John Yeo (born 1861) also part of this family?
2. Including Albert George Yeo, who married Evelyn Kate Coles.