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William SPURRELL
1822 - 1895 (~ 72 years)
Has 25 ancestors and 10 descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
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Name William SPURRELL Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Baptised 18 Aug 1822 Walkhampton Church, Walkhampton, Devon, England 
- 18 Aug 1822 William Spurrell Bap John, shoemaker & Patience
Gender Male Occupation 1851 Blacksmith - 1851: Blacksmith in Tavistock (living - and working? - in Brook Street)
Residence 1861 Two Bridges Road, Princetown, Devon, England Occupation From 1861 to 1871 Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Devon, England Blacksmith - There is nothing in the census entries for 1861 and 1871 to show that William was a blacksmith at the prison, but given that the 1881 census shows him as "Supered. [Superannuated?] Smith from C. Service", which I believe means "Convict Service" and that on both earlier occasions he was living close to the prison I think it's a fairly safe assumption, at least for 1871.
In 1891 he was simply recorded as "Retired Blacksmith".
After housing American and French prisoners in the first two decades of the nineteenth centuries the prison was then not used for over 30 years until it reopened in 1850, this time for civilians, either setenced to a long term of imprisonment or to hard labour.
A brief history and details about the archives and museum can be found on the Devon County Council website.
Any records of William Spurrells service there would have been destroyed in the prison riot and resulting fire in the 1930s. However, visiting the Museum and talking to the curator I learnt that William would have worked with convicts, some of whom may have had previous experience as blacksmiths.
The prison must have required a lot of metalwork, for the buildings, farm and quarry tools. In addition, of course there would be handcuffs and chains for the prisoners.
By 1871, though, metal items were being mass produced more cheaply than village blacksmiths could compete with, so I guess William and his team may have been more involved with repairs and adjustments, etc. rather than making most of the new metal items needed. Also, most of the items needed would probably have been acquired when the prison reopened in 1850, and would not have needed replacing by William's time at the gaol.
Perhaps some of the items would have been made at one of the foundries in Tavistock, where William may have worked prior to entering the Convict Service?
Some information about the Tavistock foundries can be found on the Morris Brothers website (this company now occupying the premises of the old Bedford Foundry).
Residence 1871 Rundlestone, Tavistock Road, Princetown, Devon, England Residence From 1881 to 1891 California, Sampford Spiney, Devon, England - With his wife and son Charles
Died 12 Aug 1895 Tavistock Reg Dist, Devon or Cornwall, England - GRO ref: Spurrell, William, aged 73 q3 1895 Tavistock RD 5b 210
Date from gravestone, where shown aged 73, buried with wife Sophia Atwill and son Charles Henry.
Buried St. Mary’s Church, Sampford Spiney, Devon, England 
Siblings5 brothers and 1 sister Half-siblings2 half sisters (family of John SPURRELL and Mary NICHOLLS) Patriarch & Matriarch 
William SPURRELL, b. Est 1690, d. Yes, date unknown (2 x Great Grandfather)
Patience WESTINGTON, d. 12 Dec 1850, Tavistock Reg Dist, Devon or Cornwall, England (Mother) Person ID I10713 All Last Modified 8 Dec 2021
Father John SPURRELL, bap. Jun 1779, St. Leonard’s Church, Sheepstor, Devon, England , d. Sep Q 1869, Tavistock Reg Dist, Devon or Cornwall, England (Age ~ 89 years)
Other Partners: Mary NICHOLLS m. 27 Mar 1804Mother Patience WESTINGTON, d. 12 Dec 1850, Tavistock Reg Dist, Devon or Cornwall, England Married 4 Apr 1811 St. Constantine’s Church, Milton Abbot, Devon, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 28 Aug 2012):
"John Spurell of the Parish of Walkhampton widower and Patience Westington of the Parish of Milton Abbot Spinster were Married in this church by Licence this fourth day of April in the Year One Thousand eight Hundred and eleven by me John Jago Vicar
This Marriage was solemnized between Us { John Spurrel
{ mark of l l Patience Westington
In the Presence of mark X of John Westington
William Olver"
Family ID F5014 Family Group Page | Family Chart
Family Sophia Atwill HEAD, b. Abt 1825, Bickleigh, nr Plymth, Devon, England , d. 24 May 1899 (Age ~ 74 years) Married 7 Feb 1843 St. Andrew’s Church, Whitchurch, Devon, England - From PR entry (viewed on FMP, 18 Sep 2012):
in the Parish Church in the Parish of Whitchurch, 7th Feb 1843;
William Spurrell, under age, bach, Blacksmtih, of Whitchurch, father John Spurrell, shoe-maker;
Sophia Atwill Head, under age, spinster, no occ given, of Whitchurch, father Robert Head, labourer.
Ceremony performed by P Sleeman, Vicar
William and Sophia both signed; witnesses Robert Head and Catherine Axford both made their mark
GRO ref: Spurrell, William to HEAD, Sophia Atwill q1 1843 Tavistock RD 9 493
Children10 children Last Modified 8 Dec 2021 Family ID F5018 Family Group Page | Family Chart