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William JOSLIN (b. 1872, d. 12 Aug 1937)
William JOSLIN (son of Silas JOSLIN) was born 1872 in Beaford, Devon, England, and died 12 Aug 1937 in Ilfracombe, Devon, England.
Notes for William JOSLIN:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FILE FOR:- ------------------------------------
PERSON # 18 NAME: William JOSLIN SOURCES OF INFORMATION(e.g.
Church/Govt. Dept. etc.): TYPES OF INFORMATION(e.g. Birth
Certificate/Gravestone):
1891 Census shows him as a farm servant aged 19 & living at Hill Farm,
St. Giles. 1881 Census shows
him, aged 9, living with his family at West Cottage, Dodscott,
St Giles in the Wood.
This account is written by his son, David. I want to try to record
details based on memory, recollections and what has been told me by
members of my family, particularly my mother. Sadly, because he died when
I was so young, I have little actual memory of him. What memories I do
have are of his strictness, the times I was caned and ticked off! I
remember, as a small boy, being taken by him to Torrs Park, Ilfracombe,
in the Autumn to collect the fallen leaves. He used to pinch a few leaves
into the bottom of a flower pot when he potted up his geraniums for
winter storage. I remember when he was up a ladder and the step broke and
he fell down cutting his finger. I was surprised to see his blood. I
rmember his last night when we sat on the sofa together, he peeled an
orange and shared it with me before I went to bed. I never saw him again.
I was too young to go to his funeral.
He started from humble beginnings. Throughout his life he loved animals
particularly horses, doubtless because of his farming background. He was
married to a woman who turned out to be an alcoholic. He left her but she
would not divorce him. He was in the Salvation Army where he learned to
play the euphonium. For some reason he was also in the Royal Naval
Reserve when he played in the band at the opening of the docks in
Avonmouth by King Edward V11. There was a photo of him and the band but
that has gone missing. He had a wicked gleam in his eye even then. He met
my mother just before WW1.Even though he was still married, they lived
together as man and wife. He was too old to serve but worked as a
brickmaker in Hereford. Prior to that he opened the first cinema in
N.Devon in South Molton. After the war he bought the Oxford Hotel, Arcade
Rd. Ilfracombe. Here the three older girls were born. In 1924 he bought
the Berkeley Hotel, Wilder Rd. Ilfracombe where Sheila and I were born.
He suffered from Angina and a bad heart which he tried hide from my
mother. He died suddenly of a heart attack reputedly whilst making love
with my mother!
Shortly before he died he was able to get a divorce from his first wife
and immedialtely married my mother. At the time of his death he was
highly respected by everyone. Because he rose from such humble beginnings
to a position of such respect, because he displayed such integrity and
courage in living openly with my mother and founded a stable family he
has always appeared to me as something of an icon - somebody to live up
to. His obituary in the North Devon Journal Herald gives details of his
funeral and ends by stating "Mr. Joslin was a lifelong Conservative".
Like father like son!
In her booklet on the Vicary Family, Brenda Powell, nee Vicary, describes
how her grandfather, George, met his wife Louisa. "At a nearby farm in St
Gileswas another young farm hand William Joslin, aged 19, and it seems
likely the two lads became friendly.The Joslin boy attended the Salvation
Army in Torrington where he played in the band. Young George thought he
would go along with him and was introduced to William's sister. Louisa
was 20 and lived at home with her parents, Silas and Mary Joslin in
Middleweek, Torrington. Louisa was a gloveress and a particularly fine
worker who was given the most delicate gloves to work on by her
employers".
More About William JOSLIN:
Burial: Aug 1937, New Cemetry, Highfield Rd. Ilfracombe.
More About William JOSLIN and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: 08 Jun 1930, Barnstaple, Devon, England.
Children of William JOSLIN are:
- ?? JOSLIN.
- Freda Mary JOSLIN.
- Florence Hilary JOSLIN, b. 21 Jun 1920, Ilfracombe, Devon, England, d. 29 Sep 1971, Gloucester, Glos, England.
- Sheila Josephine JOSLIN.
- +David William JOSLIN.

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