Shep's Place Family Tree

The following extract is from an undated letter written by Jon when he was a student at Mill Hill to his sister Louisa who was at Marlowes near Hemel Hempsted.

‎[This letter was probably written in November or December 1843, after the 6th of November marriage of Jonathan Carey and Sarah Buttfield, who was called "Mamma" in this letter.]‎

"My much loved sister ‎[underlined]‎,
I take this opportunity, few of which allowed, to pen a few words to one so dear united by the ties of natural affection and religion - but you will say how stiff to begin with. The news of the marriage ‎[probably of Jonathan and Sarah]‎ Mr. Priestly tells me is in the Times paper. I have not seen it. Mr. Priestley is so very kind to me....I think dear sister that I shall have to come back again next half year because I have thought of being a Minister...
My great coat has reappeared but I suppose that I may as well keep the cloak that was sent as Papa wrote word Willy has a good one. The stamps too I have found today pinned to the paper in which the cake was wrapped... How do you get on at Marlowes? Is Willy still keeping his health? How is dear John Buttfield. He wrote me word he was not at all well...This day five weeks I hope to be at home. Will you ask Papa how I am to come home...
Goodbye, love to Papa, Mamma, Willy, Uncle ‎[Frederick]‎ Gotch and all at Boxmoor. To whom is Uncle to be wedded?
I remain your loving brother,
J.P. Carey"

From English census reports, we know that in 1851 Jon was in Clevedon, Somerset. Aged 23 years, he was assisting at a school in Clevedon. ‎[His occupation is illegible.]‎

In 1861 Jon 33 years was a Baptist minister who lived in Wolverhampton, Staffordshsire, with his wife Charlotte, who was 26 years, and their two little children. Anna Pearce Carey, named for Jon's mother, was one year old; and Will was two months old. Scottish Elizabeth Groom, 17 years, was their servant.

In March 1870 Jon's wife Charlotte died after giving birth to seven children in eleven years. By October of that year Jon had remarried Lucy Yeo, a Devon lass, who may have been a member of his congregation. He certainly needed help with the five surviving children, who ranged in age from eleven to two. Lucy was 30 years old, thirteen years younger than Jon.

In the 1871 English census Jon and Lucy were living in Brixham, Devon. Their children were Anna Pearce eleven, William ten, Samuel Pearce nine, Andrew Fuller seven and Jonathan Reynolds two years--all children from Jon's first marriage.

Ten years later in 1881 Jon, 53 years, and Lucy 40, had had five children of their own. Jonathon Reynolds Carey,child of the first marriage, now 12 years, was also at home. They lived at 7 Castle Street in Tiverton, Devon. Jon was the Baptist minister of the Newport Street Chapel. It must have about this time that Jon, who had abilities as a linguist, learned Assyrian and Egyptian.

In the early 1900s Jon was the minister at Collins Street Baptist Church in Melbourne, Victoria, which is why I cannot find the family in the 1901 English census.

The following biographical material was published in the Mill Hill School Register, 1.1842-6.1842, Society of Genealogists Library, London, page 74:

"Carey, Rev. Jonathan Pearce, 59 ‎(Jonathan Carey, sol[iscitor]‎. in Supreme Ct, Calcutta; D‎[ied]‎., Clapton, 13.4.74; gfs. ‎[grandfathers]‎, Rev. William Carey; B.M.S.; pioneer of modern missions; D. ‎[18]‎34; D.N.B.; Rev. Samuel Pearce; Bapt.; D. 1799; gdn ‎[guardian]‎, Rev. Frederic William Gotch, LL.D., Boxmoor, Hertsd; Bapt.; D. 15.5.90); B‎[orn]‎., Calcutta 9.8.27; reached England ‎[18]‎33; c. 1.42; L. 6.45 D. 1.5.91 J.M.; P.D.S. Stepney Bapt.; Stafford St., Walsall, ‎[18]‎53-56; Wolverhampton, 56-57; Barnstaple, 68-71; Brixham, 71-72; Tiverton 72-87; Pres., County Assoc., 72; an accomplished linguist; knew Assyrian and Egyptian; a deep thinker, powerful preacher, and ardent lover of God."