Transcript

of

Mrs Tanner-Davy [Obituary]

Trans. Devon Assoc., vol. XXVII, (1895), p. 39.

by

Rev. W. Harpley, M.A.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s August 1895 Okehampton meeting. Some 101 deeds, family papers and documents relating to the Tanner and Davy families of Rose Ash, and having to do with the administration of Rose Ash parish (1601-1895) were originally deposited in Exeter City Library by Mrs P. Watkin Williams in January 1947 and later transferred to the East Devon Record Office. They are currently held by Devon Archives and Local Studies Service (South West Heritage Trust). They are not available through The National Archives. The 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.

Mrs. Tanner-Davy was the daughter of Mr. James Schoolbred, of Tottenham Court Road, London. About 27 years ago she was married to Col. John Tanner-Davy, J.P., of the Manor House, Rose Ash, near South Molton, who, for some years was Grand Master for Devon of the order of Mark Masons. He died in May, 1889.

Mrs. Tanner-Davy joined the Association in 1892, as a life Member. She died of gastric fever, at the house of her brother, Mr. Walter Schoolbred, 10, Connaught Place, Hyde Park, W., on May 28th, 1895, aged 60 years.

She was a woman of high literary attainments, a kind friend, and a generous donor to public and private charities. These she dispensed quietly; only her most intimate friends knew that she gave, because she seldom added even her initials to her money gifts. The church at Rose Ash was indebted to her for many valuable additions to funds for structural purposes, and for internal fittings. A friend writes of her thus: - "During a close intimacy of 20 years, I never saw anything in her but what was generous, kind, and an intense desire to add to the comfort and happiness, not only of those near and dear to her, but to everyone who suffered, or was in any way afflicted in mind or body."