James Sands

James Sands (Entry 20 in the burial register) was buried on 7th May 1856 in  plot F43

James Sands was probably born in the second half of 1817, having been baptised on 16th November 1817 in Braunstone, Leicester, son of John and Jane  He married Maria Dixon on 18th February 1839 at St Margaret’s Leicester.

By the time of the 1841 census they had had their first child, Maria, then aged 1 and were shown as still living in Braunstone.  James was then aged 24 and described as an agricultural labourer.  Maria Sands was also shown as age 24.  Baptism records show that their daughter Maria was baptised on 24 May 1840 at St Peter’s Braunstone at which time James was described as a servant.

At some time in the next two years they had made the move to Teignmouth.  The 1851 census shows them as living at Brookfield House, Bishopsteignton Road, West Teignmouth.  The head of the household there was Clement Winstanley, unmarried, age 76 a magistrate & Deputy Lieutenant for Leicestershire, born in Thurcester (?), Leicestershire.  According to the Derby Mercury of 13 August 1851 it would appear that Clement Winstanley was of Plantagenet stock with ancestry tracing back to Edward 1st!!

We could speculate that perhaps James had worked for Clement Winstanley in Leicestershire and had moved down to Teignmouth with him as part of his household when Clement had retired (perhaps coming to Teignmouth for the sake of his health).

The remaining adults in the household were his servants: James Sands age 33 a house servant born in Branston, Leicestershire; his wife Maria Sands age 33 also a house servant born in Seagrave, Leicestershire; John Sands Jr (James’s brother) age 27, also a house servant born in Branston, Leics.; Mary Levi married, age 53, a nurse, birthplace not known; Harriet Potter, age 21, born in Upton Pyne, Devon; and Harriet Martin, age 20 born in Stokeinteignhead.

Also in the household were James & Maria’s children: Maria Sands Jr aged 10 a scholar born in Branston, Leicestershire; Edward Dixon Sands aged 8 a scholar born in W. Teignmouth; and Ellen Sands age under 1month born in W. Teignmouth.

Baptism records show that James and Maria had 4 children baptised in West Teignmouth:

  • Edward Dixon Sands, baptised on 18th September 1842
  • James Sands, baptised on 30th November 1848
  • Ellen Sands, born on 25th March 1851 and baptised on 30th April 1851
  • Eliza Sands, baptised on 26th August 1855 by which time James was described as innkeeper 

Clement Winstanley had died in 1855 aged 79 and was buried in his home town of Braunston on 2nd February that year.  He was described in the burial register as ‘of Braunstone House Teignmouth’.  This would explain James’s sudden change of occupation.

The change of occupation wasn’t without its challenges though.  The first notification of the opportunity came in the Western Times of Saturday 21st April 1855:

“TO be LET, with Immediate Possession, the STEAM PACKET INN, near the Old Quay, Teignmouth.  For further particulars enquire of Mr. ISAAC, at the House.

The first hitch came a few months later as described by the same paper on Saturday 1st September 1855:

“The following application was refused, on the ground, as was understood, of a paucity of signatures of respectable persons to the testimonial: From Mr. E. Curtis, of the Steam Packet Inn, West Teignmouth, to Mr. James Sands.”

That seems to have been sorted out but James soon had his first encounter with the law as described again in the Western Times of Saturday 26th January 1856:

“Charles Brewer, landlord of the Old Quay Inn, was summoned by the Superintendent for keeping his house open in proscribed hours on Sunday.  He pleaded guilty, but in consequence of the general good character of the house, the fine was mitigated to 2s 6d and costs.

James Sands, of the Steam Packet Inn, was summoned for a similar offence, and as this was the first complaint which had been made of the house, he was also fined 2s 6d and expenses.”

According to the burial register James was 38 when he died and described as a licensed victualler.  He was buried in an unbricked grave in consecrated ground.  The Revd. J W Mason presided over the burial.