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John Yeo (1823–1863) was born in the Barnstaple area [note 1]. His work at sea took him away from north Devon, and he spent some time in Liverpool, marrying Sarah Jopson at the parish church in Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool in 1845. Their marriage certificate describes John as a bachelor and a mariner, and records his father as Thomas Yeo deceased, a millwright [note 2]. Sarah is described as a spinster. She was baptised in the same church in 1824 to parents Robert Jopson and Alice Rigby.
John Yeo was captain of the merchant ship Whinfell – he died at sea while sailing to New South Wales in 1863. His wife Sarah remained in England, re-married in 1864 [note 3] and lived until 1897.
John and Sarah had eight daughters:
– Mary Elizabeth Yeo (1846–1850)
– Alice Louisa Yeo (see below)
– Margaret Rowson Yeo (1851–1922, married George Roberts)
– Sarah Elizabeth Yeo (1854–1932, married Matthew Leavens Fawcitt) [note 4]
– Mary Elizabeth Yeo (born 1856)
– Elizabeth Caroline Yeo (1859–1930, married Edward Thomas Lloyd)
– Emily Miriam Yeo (1860–1956, married Harry Coop)
– Florence Mary Yeo (born 1862).
The 1851 census for Liverpool records Sarah as a 26-year-old mariner’s wife, living in Portland Place, Everton. Her daughters Alice and Margaret are listed with her.
Alice Louisa Yeo (1848–1915, daughter of John Yeo and Sarah Jopson) married German rope-maker Augustus Frederick Hanewinkel [note 5]. Their eight children included Alice Yeo Hanewinkel (1880–1882).
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Notes
1. Various researchers have speculated on the identity of John’s parents; we have referred to a 2008 pedigree by the late Patricia Gore, and are grateful for information received from James Evans and Sarah Carrington. A possible baptism record from Pilton dated 8 January 1824 reads ‘John son of Thomas Yeo carpenter and Elizabeth Yeo’, but this conflicts with John’s 1845 marriage certificate, which records his late father Thomas Yeo as a millwright – so is this the wrong baptism record or was the information on the certificate incorrect? John’s father might have been the Thomas Yeo who married Elizabeth Shapland and Sally Bale, but there is little evidence.
2. Millwright Thomas Yeo of Pilton appeared in court in 1825 after failing to pay wages to John Furse.
3. Sarah married John Armstrong at the parish church of St Philip, Liverpool.
4. Daughter Alice Yeo Fawcitt (1897–1984, married Charles John George Hedges).
5. Alice was baptised at the parish church of St Martin, Liverpool. She and Augustus married at the church of St Stephen the Martyr, Edge Hill in 1873 (recorded in the West Derby registration district).