Transcript

of

Rev. George Ley Woollcombe [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. XXXIV, (1902), p. 39.

by

J. Brooking-Rowe (Ed.).

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1902 Bideford meeting. The Woollcombe family have played a central role in the social history of Plymouth. The family residence, Hemerdon House, was built for George and Maria Woollcombe between 1793 and 1800. Its Library was finally completed by George Ley Woollcombe who came to reside at Hemerdon on the death of his mother in 1889. Burke’s Landed Gentry, Volume 2 provides a detailed genealogical record of the ancient Devonshire Woollcombe family. Rev Woollcombe’s obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal 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.

Rev. George Ley Woollcombe, born at Hemerdon, Plympton, was the eldest son of Vice-Admiral George Woollcombe and Mary Elizabeth, daughter of George Ley, of Cockington. Taking his degrees at Baliol College, Oxford, he was ordained deacon in 1853, and priest in 1854. His first curacy was at Revelstoke, 1853-7. He was then in charge at Brixton for a few months, and then went to Kenwyn (1857-64) and to St. Mary's, Truro (1864), as curate. He was then appointed Rector of Sennen, where he remained for seven years, and left for St. Mewan, which living he held until his retirement from active duty in 1889, when he took up his residence at the family seat of Hemerdon. In all his relations of life he was greatly respected, and beloved by all who knew him. He was elected a member in 1887, and attended the meetings occasionally; he was much interested in the welfare of the Association, and received the annual volume with great pleasure. He died at Hemerdon 28th July, 1902, aged seventy-three, and was buried in the graveyard of All Saints, Sparkwell, Plympton.