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Pages from a Manuscript History of Hatherleigh, 'Page' 3

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol. 43, (1911) pp. 403-418.

by

John M. Martin, C.B.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The paper was presented at the Association’s July 1911 Dartmouth Conference. Its author provides the third part of a history written by Mr J. S. Short about the life of his friend Thomas Roberts who, though without hands, led an active life as schoolmaster of Hatherleigh for nearly 50 years. Born at Tor Point, Cornwall in 1771, his godfather Lord Graves entered him in the Royal Navy as a midshipman. Roberts joined the 98 gun London in 1780 and saw action during the War of American Independence. During an engagement he was about to throw a grenade when it exploded destroying both of his hands and wounding him in 17 places. He survived. The ship's carpenter made a wooden hand that held a pen and Roberts learned to write again becoming the Captain's clerk. Aged 21, Sir James Hamlyn of Clovelly hired him as tutor to his children. In 1797 he moved to Hatherleigh as schoolmaster and married Mary Ann Brent at Clovely. The article is from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal that can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.