Teignmouth

John and Susan Pinsent

Susan(nah) Morrish was born in 1799 and baptised on the 30th of June 1799 at Kingsteignton, Devon. Her father was William and her mother, Ann.

Susannah Morrish baptism on the 30th of June 1799 at Kingsteignton, Devon

John Pinsent was born in 1799 and baptised on the 15th of August 1799 at Bovey Tracey, Devon. His father was John.

John Pinsent baptism on the 15th of August 1799 at Bovey Tracey, Devon

John Pinsent married Susan Morrish on the 10th of May 1829 at Kingsteignton, Devon.

John Pinsent is a School Master at the Sheriffs Ward For Debtors, Cowick Street, St Thomas, Devon, in 1851;
Thomas Burch Head Married Male 49 1802 - Keeper Of The Ward
Rebecca Burch Wife Married Female 48 1803
Arthur Burch Son Unmarried Male 19 1832 Attorney's Clerk
George Burch Son - Male 14 1837 Scholar
Mary Burch Daughter - Female 10 1841 Scholar
Rebecca Burch Daughter - Female 8 1843 Scholar
Richard Burch Son - Male 11 1840 Scholar
Sophia Bartlett Servant Unmarried Female 59 1792 Governess
Mary Goodenough Servant Unmarried Female 23 1828 Cook
Elizabeth Quick - Widow Female 53 1798 - Retired From Business
Fanny German - Married Female 39 1812 Trader's Wife
Sarah Ellis Servant Widow Female 69 1782 Prison Servant
John Ellis Son Unmarried Male 37 1814 Turnkey
William Ellis Son Unmarried Male 39 1812 Idiot
John Pryn Servant Married Male 42 1809 Inne Turnkey
Eliza Pryn Wife Married Female 44 1807
Richard B Pryn Son - Male 10 1841 Scholar
Vincent Bowden - Unmarried Male 59 1792 Labourer
Samuel C Smith - Unmarried Male 47 1804 Labourer
John Pinsent - Married Male 51 1800 School Master
Thomas Newberry - Unmarried Male 52 1799 Yeoman
James Jeffrey - Married Male 66 1785 Mariner
Francis W Paddon - Married Male 48 1803 Clay Merchant
John Rowe - Unmarried Male 44 1807 Manufacturer Out Of Falmouth, Cornwall
Thomas P Rowe - Unmarried Male 46 1805 Out Of Business
Richard Rowe - Married Male 79 1772 Out Of Business
John R Watkins - Unmarried Male 43 1808 Yeoman
John Drew - Married Male 71 1780 Mariner
John Journeaux - Married Male 36 1815 Tobacco Manufacturer
Richard Ackerley - Unmarried Male 47 1804 Stonemason 
James Wingyett - Married Male 34 1817 Painter & Glazier
Thomas Cike - Married Male 45 1806 Agent
John Cowell - Unmarried Male 72 1779 - Out Of Business
Thomas Lethbridge - Married Male 60 1791 Yeoman
William Courtis - Married Male 32 1819 Shoe Maker
William Bagg - Married Male 35 1816 Yeoman
John Cole - Married Male 44 1807 Malster
Charles B S Stevenson - Unmarried Male 26 1825 Surgeon
Frederick H B Phillips - Unmarried Male 22 1829 Lieutenant Army
Richard Matthews - Unmarried Male 41 1810 Blacksmith
Richard Rendall - Widower Male 53 1798 Yeoman
John S Lovis - Married Male 32 1819 Grocer & Tea Dealer
Samuel Foxford - Married Male 55 1796 Inn Keeper
Hugh Colquhoun - Married Male 40 1811 Gentleman
Richard Deane - Married Male 33 1818 Shif Agent
Jane Lewis - Widow Female 62 1789 - A Calenel's Widow
William Lewis - Married Male 44 1807 Yeoman
Thomas Barron - Married Male 35 1816 Builder
John Stabb - Married Male 35 1816 Builder
John Taylor - Married Male 68 1783 Yeoman.

The Devon County Prison for Debtors

The front façade of Cowick Street Motors in Cowick Street is all that remains of the entrance to the Sheriff's Ward, the Devon County Prison for Debtors. The first prison on the site, which stood from 1675 or earlier, became notorious as the ‘most feeble and insecure prison in the Kingdom’. When a debtor entered through the front gate, he (or she) would have been taken to the Keeper's or the Common side, depending upon their place in society. The poor would be imprisoned in the Common's side and the (previously) wealthy the Keeper's side. Despite being impoverished through debt, those in the Keeper's side would have been treated better and have financial help from friends, to pay the warders for better food and bedding. The poor on Common side would have had a truly miserable time, sleeping in rat-infested squalor, and scraps of food.

Paradoxically, even though they were all there for being debtors, they had to pay an entrance fee and fees for essentials such as food and bedding. The schedule of fees in 1675 was:

If a prisoner on the Keeper's side wanted a bed to themselves, there was, of course, a fee. If a debtor had no money for the fees they would place in the Free Ward in the Strong Room. There was a fireplace, a small window, and barrack style bedstead, but for bedding or even straw.

The new prison

It was decided that it had to go by October 1817 and demolition commenced, to be followed the next year by the construction of a new prison at a cost of £8,000.

The prison opened in November 1819. Prisoners were not supplied with food, and according to one source, many died of starvation. An article in 1843 in the Western Times commented on the age and state of the prisoners.

"There are at present in the Debtors' Prison, St. Thomas Ward, Exeter, five prisoners, whose combined ages are 380 years, averaging 76 years each. Four of these prisoners are there under the most distressing circumstances, having but their prison pay for their support; and when they have paid for their bed, washing, etc. they are but 3½d. for their maintenance."

By the middle of the century, new ideas on prison design and reform brought about its demise. The last prisoners were moved to the County Gaol in January 1855 and the facility was closed and sold to the Justice of the Peace of the County of Devon for £2,400.

In 1861, the Pinsent family had moved to 16, Brook Street, West Teignmouth, Devon;
John Pinsent Head Married aged 61, born 1799 at Bovey Tracey, Devon, a Schoolmaster 
Susan Pinsent Wife aged 61, born 1799 at Kingsteignton, Devon, a Schoolmaster
Susan Pinsent Daughter Unmarried aged 24, born 1837 at Kingsteignton, Devon, a Schoolmaster
Melissa Pinsent Daughter aged 19, born 1842 at Kingsteignton, Devon, a Schoolmaster.

By 1871, John, Susan (senior) and Melissa Pinsent were living at Brook Hill, West Teignmouth, Devon. John was still a School Master and Melissa was a School Assistant Teacher.

Susan Pinsent died on the 12th of December 1875 aged 76 years.

John Pinsent died on the 13th of April 1878 aged 78 years.

 Inscription: In Loving Memory of Susan Pinsent who fell asleep in Jesus December 12th 1875 aged 76 years. Also, John Pinsent husband of the above who died April 13th 1878 aged 78 years.