Ancestors of Cley

Jacob Jary Dew was born 145 years ago today as I write this, on October 20, 1864, in Blakeney. We have few details of his life apart from some memories of his later years passed down by an uncle who knew him as a child.

Jacob Jary Dew

Jacob's parents, according to his birth certificate, were Thomas Dew (occupation Mariner) and Jemima Dew, formerly Jary. Jemima was the informant, and her residence as given as Blakeney.

Jacob was enumerated in the 1871 census in Blakeney, living in the household of Mary T. Irland, 47, widow. Jacob J Dew (7) is listed as Mary's nephew. The other household occupants were Mary's daughters Mary J (14) and Sarah (8), her sons Charles D (14) and Edmund D (12), and her brother, John Dew (56, unmarried, Fisherman). Blakeney was listed as the birthplace of all occupants.

Of course, our first thought on seeing Jacob enumerated in his aunt's household was, "Where were his parents?" We eventually found out that Jemima died in 1869, of "Phthisis" (Tuberculosis). Thomas was still living, and was most likely at sea, having obtained his Master's Certificate in the Coasting & Foreign Trades in 1858. We have been unable to locate Thomas in the 1871 census.

Jacob next appeared in the 1881 England Census as an "O Seaman" on the vessel Palmer in London (at anchor in N. Woolwich). Others on board were William Bowles, 40, Master; William Starling, 38, Mate, and Loda Thompson, 29, A.B. All were born in Blakeney.

The next place we have found Jacob was in Glamorgan, Wales in 1893, when he married Mary Louisa Harris. We have found no other documentation for Jacob until his death in 1947, at age 83, in Penarth, East Glamorgan, Wales. We assume this is because he was at sea, as Mary Louisa and their children were enumerated in the 1901 census in Penarth. Jacob's occupation as described on his death certificate was "a Retired able Bodied Seaman."

Sources:

• Birth Certificate - Jacob Jary Dew [1864 Dec Walsingham. Vol 4b, Page 299, Entry No. 355.]
• Death Certificate - Jemima Dew [1869 Dec Walsingham. Vol 4b, Page 197.]
• Marriage Certificate - Jacob Jary Dew & Mary Louisa Harris [1893 Jun Cardiff. Vol 11a, Page 487.]
• Death Certificate - Jacob Jary Dew [1947 Dec E. Glamorgan. Vol 8b, Page 289, Entry no. 25]
• 1871 England Census [Class: RG10; Piece: 1854; Folio: 23; Page: 20; GSU roll: 838814.]
• 1881 England Census [Class: RG11; Piece: 748; Folio: 175; Page: -8; GSU roll: 1341175.]
• Master's Certificate of Service - Thomas Dew [No. 73.566; 6 March 1858] (Copy courtesy of Pamela Peake.)

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2. Jemima Jary Dew: a life’s story in seventeen events
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