John Clemo of St Columb Minor

I decided it was time to search for my ancestors on the Clemo side of the family.

After much searching I found this entry in the St Columb Minor Registry for 1841

1841 Census St Columb Minor

Newquay, 1, Josias Sleeman, 35, Mariner, In county,

Johanna Sleeman, 30, In county,

Agness Sleeman, 5, In county,

Robert Sleeman, 3, In county,

John Clemow, 25, Mason, in county,

Thomas Jane, 70, Navy Half Pay, In county,

John Clemow was Charles’ grandfather. He was a stone mason, single and boarding with a family in Newquay. There was a lot of work for a mason in those days. The work was hard and he would have apprenticed for seven years before setting out on his own. Many of the towns and all the industrial buildings in Cornwall were built of stone. Who knows which buildings were constructed from stones shaped by his hands?

After more searching I found him again in the 1851 census, still in St Columb Minor

1851 Census St Columb Minor

 Jno. Clemow, Head, M, 40, Journeyman Mason, Newlyn East Cornwall, (John)

Elizth. Clemow, Wife, M, 31, St Columb Minor Cornwall, (Elizabeth)

William Clemow, Son, 7, Scholar, St Columb Minor Cornwall,

Chs. Clemow, Son, 6, Scholar, St Columb Minor Cornwall, (Charles)

Jno. Clemow, Son, 3, Scholar, St Columb Minor Cornwall, (John)

Hy. Clemow, Son, 1, St Columb Minor Cornwall, (Henry)

He was by now married to Elizabeth and already had 4 children. I couldn’t find an entry for his marriage so enlisted the help on the Online Parish Clerk by email. Within a couple of hours he very kindly sent me the missing link

John Clemo [mason] of Church Town, Father John [a joiner] married Elizabeth Glanville of Church Town father William [a labourer] on 14 January 1843 at St Columb Minor

John’s eldest two sons William and Charles both went to sea. Perhaps it was the changing fortunes of the mining industry that brought that about. John himself lodged with a sailor’s family in 1841, so that may be how they started. The next we hear is when the oldest son William got married in St Erth

Wedding on 22-Aug 1865 

William John Clemo aged 23 bachelor occupation mariner of Hayle in St Erth; father John, occupation mason,

Married

Elizabeth Richards Champion aged 24spinster of Carnisers, St Erth, father Thomas occupation labourer. Witnesses R H Champion, Ann Champion

Not to be outdone, Charles married Elizabeth’s sister five years later.

Wedding on 21-Nov 1871 

Charles Clemo full bachelor sailor St Erth (father) John Clemo mason

Married

Ann Champion full spinster St Erth (father) Thomas Champion porter

Witnesses Elizabeth Clemo Thomas Champion

Both brothers settled in Hayle. William became a master mariner, probably skippering one of Harvey’s fleet of ships.