The picture on the left is of St. John the Baptist church in Kennerleigh, near Crediton, Devon, England. In 1881 the Rector was Chappell May Empson born 1822 in Chittlehampton, Devon, who was appointed to the living in 1860 and was still serving the community there until his death on 17 March 1894.

Geoff Empson has located Chappell May in the 1851 census. The entry shows that he was then living at Fair Place, Okehampton, Devon, a General Medical Practitioner aged 29 married to Laura Edith then 23. There were no children and with the exception of Henrietta Paltridge, a servant aged 25 from Okehampton, the couple lived alone. He next appears in 'The Clergy List' in 1853 as the Curate of Topsham in Devon. In 1854 he was Curate at Gnosall in Staffordshire but by 1857, he had moved to become Curate of Langton Maltravers near Corfe Castle in Dorset. In 1859 he became the Curate of St. Endellion in Cornwall where he remained until appointed to Kennerleigh. 'Crockfords Clerical Directory' provides a little more information - he was educated at Kings College in London - but reveals more interestingly, that he was (formerly), a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and a Licentiate of the Apothecaries Company from 1847-50.

While this is of course speculation it seems possible that shortly after the 1851 census he was able to give up his medical practice to enter the church - possibly studying theology at university for some time before being ordained. It is likely that he inherited some money to enable him to pursue this change in career, but it may be that he continued his medical career alongside his duties as parish priest. Certainly he appears not, like many priests of his generation, to have lived the life of a country squire whilst some poor curate actually carried out his clerical duties. The living simply did not support a Curate and, whilst the Vicarage was probably the largest house in the village, apart from two farms, there were only half-a-dozen cottages and the church itself is tiny.

He had a substantial household to support. The 1881 census tells us that he was married to Laura Edith aged 53 born in Bridgerule, Cornwall. The couple had four daughters and one son living at home - all unmarried and with the exception of the youngest two who were scholars - all without employment. The childrens' birthplaces echo their father's clerical career. Ada Elizabeth 28 (Topsham); Marian Laura 26 (Gnosall); Edith Caroline 24 (Nether Knutsford, Cheshire); Annette Catherine 22 (Crediton); Frances Matilda 20 (St Endellion); Beatrice Constance 14 (Kennerleigh); William Lousdale 10 (Kennerleigh). When Chappell May died he left just £1,169-16-8d.

For the moment I have not been able to fit Chappell May Empson to any Empson family tree (his mother Maria Thomson May Empson of Crediton died in 1875), and such an interesting man deserves to be better known. I would like very much to hear from anybody who can provide more information. One final point, his son has an intriguing name, but searching for a Lousdale family has so far drawn a blank. However amongst the pupils of St Andrews College, in Chardstock, Dorset I came across Malcolm Lousdale aged 14, born in Lee, Kent and Claud aged 9, born in London, are these lads related in any way to Chappell May?

Geoff Empson has also discovered more information about Marion. On 14 December 1889 (aged 35) she married William Henry Cann (aged 31) in St Mary's Redcliffe, Bristol. William was the second son of George Cann a farmer of Kennerleigh in Devon. This suggests the couple were probably childhood acquaintances. The 1851 census reveals George Cann to be a farmer of 90 acres employing three labourers. His wife Sophia was aged 38 and there were five children living at home. Maria 12; Eliza 10; Fanny 8; Mary A. 6 and George 3. The entire family having been born in Morchard Bishop. The 1881 census gives a different picture however. George aged 71 was by then farming 200 acres and employed eight men. His wife Elizabeth aged 71 had been born in Kennerleigh and there were three children at home. George 33; Ann 26; William Henry 22 all having been born in Morchard Bishop. The household was completed by Frederick aged 16, a Grandson. So it seems likely that George's first wife had died and he had remarried - perhaps to a local widow which might account for the increased acreage.

Dick Empson  

15 January 2000