Bulleid of Hatherleigh

BULLEID researchers might be forgiven for overlooking this gravestone at Hatherleigh, Devon. At first glance it would appear to be the gravestone of Emanuel John TUCKER and Emily TUCKER. A careful reading of the stone, however, tells a different story.

I photographed this gravestone in July of 2009 during my last trip to Devon. Because it was raining, I guess I was not inclined to read the inscription carefully. I suppose I took a photograph because the stone looked interesting. Over a year later, I finally took a close look at the photograph, read the full inscription, and discovered that the gravestone belongs to the children of Samuel BULLEID, brother to my ggg-grandmother Mary Field BULLEID (1809-1894). The inscription reads:

Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto
me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matt XIX.14.
This
stone is erected as a tribute
of parental affection to perpetuate the
much loved memory of
EMANUEL JOHN TUCKER
who departed this life on the 25th day of April
1837 aged 10 years
Also to perpetuate the memory of
EMILY TUCKER
who departed this life on the 19th day of May
1837, aged one month.
Also to perpetuate the memory of
MARY JANE
who departed this life on the 20th day of August
1838, aged 10 years
Children of Samuel and Patience Bullied
of this parish.
Also to perpetuate the memory of
CHARLES HENRY
who departed this life on the 4th day of January
1847, aged 14 years.
These lovely buds so young and fair,
Called hence by early doom:
First came to show what fragrant flow'rs
In Paradise would bloom

Samuel BULLEID, the son of Samuel BULLEID (1771-1848) and Eleanor Paddon BISSETT (1773-1843), was baptised at Dolton, Devon on 19 Jan 1803. A butcher like his father, Samuel moved to Hatherleigh, Devon and on 24 Apr 1826, married Patience TUCKER (1804-1885), daughter of Emanuel TUCKER (1764-1848) and Elizabeth HOOPER (1764-1859). Samuel and Patience had seven children. Emanuel was the oldest. In the Hatherleigh baptism register his name is recorded as Emanuel Thomas Tucker BULLEID, but in the burial register and on the gravestone his name is recorded as Emanuel John Tucker BULLEID.

The three surviving children of Samuel BULLEID and Patience TUCKER were John Samuel BULLEID (1830-1898), Samuel John BULLEID (1835-1908) and Janetta Jane Tucker BULLEID (1844-1931). John Samuel, a butcher, lived and died in Hatherleigh, while his brother Samuel John, also a butcher, moved to Torquay in the 1880s. Their sister Janetta married John Fry ROCKEY (1846-1930), a draper who founded the J.F. Rockey department store in Torquay.

Samuel BULLEID died on 3 Apr 1875. His wife Patience died ten years later on 12 Dec 1885. Both are buried at Hatherleigh.