The Ebbott Family in 1851 Census

John’s grandparents had had 10 children, 5 boys and 5 girls, by the 1851 census however the number of aunts and uncles living in the area had begun to diminish, only one of their daughters now lived close by, with the one having gone to the USA with her husband, other 3 had predeceased their parents.

Two sons had also moved away, Henry as a Methodist minister had gone to Canada possibly around 1844 and Gregory had moved to the USA with his new wife, Catherine, although she had returned by 1849 after leaving her husband, but the divorce didn’t officially come through until 1854.  One of his uncles, the youngest, Uncle William was still living at home, and his Uncle Philip had moved back onto the same property bringing his family and widowed mother in-law with him, presumably Philip had taken over the reins on his parents farm as his father had retired.

John’s family in contrast had moved to Launceston, where his father was still engaged in farming, having moved since 1841, he was possibly already preparing for the journey to Australia in 1852.

It is interesting that he chose to live in Launceston as according to historic accounts it was a hot bed for Methodism. 

“About the year 1837 or 1838 (for precise details are difficult to obtain upon the point), some local members of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, dissatisfied with the attitude of their ministers on various points of church government, seceded from the parent body, and met for worship in a private house, shortly afterwards engaging the Western Subscription Room for preaching services.  Their numbers so increased that in 1840 the erection of a chapel was commenced in the North Road, the money being raised by shares, which were afterwards sold and given up, the building being settled ona trust in conformity with the rules of the Wesleyan Methodist Association.  In 1850 and 1852 further secessions took place from the original body, additional strengthening the local forces of the Association, which joined the Wesleyan Reformers in 1857 to form the United Methodist Free Churches though the name of "Association Chapel" did not die out for many years.”[i]

 This was obviously the flavor of the family’s religious fervor as Philip Ebbott, I’m not sure whether it was the father or the son, is in the newspaper in 1845 as follows:-

In “The West Briton & Cornwall Advertiser” on the Friday 6 JUNE 1845 the following article appeared

“STATE OF PARISH CLERKS The clerk's salary cannot be removed by law, neither can the church wardens legally make a rate to pay him. The following is a copy of the notice referred to:"HENRY OLVER take Notice that the farmers of Trest[rail] have agreed not to pay you any more Sallery for the clerk's office then Last year therefore you must Look to Morgen (the perpetual curate) for it. " "April ye 11th 1844, Philip Ebbott Churchwarden"The farmers of the parish of Warbstow have also voted not to pay the clerk's salary as well as the sexton's; while the churchwardens of the parishes of Lezant, St. Petherwin, and St. Thomas by Launceston, have given notice to the clerks that they will not pay them any more salaries.[ii]”

 There were obviously changes afoot in the wider community and the Ebbott family were right amongst it.

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[i] Launceston, Past and Present by Alfred F Robbins. First published in 1888.

[ii] [From "The Book of St. Austell" by Hammond, originally the Parish clerks, who were voted into office, were allowed, as a salary, to charge 2d. for entering a marriage or baptism in the register. They also were allowed to conduct a service, but this ceased quite soon, as people preferred clergy to conduct the ceremony. By this date, their duties had changed, and the people didn't nominate or vote for them.]