Cousin Charles Moon

REMEMBERED Stories do not always come first hand or from the living. They also come from the developed pages of family history of the dead from evidences and their related conclusions that are inter-twinned therein. Such is the case of the story of Cousin Charles Moon.

Charles was the third child of my 5th Great Aunt Susanna Moon. I've never met my distant cousin Charles Moon during our mortal life times but I've come to know his story well. Charles seems to be a very grown up name for a baby boy, but Charles would not come to know his mother in this life either. My 5th great aunt must have died in relationship to child birth, for she was dead and buried 3 December 1795 and baby Charles Moon was Christian baptized on 5 January 1796.

Both the sons of Susanna Moon nee Moon, for she had married Joseph Moon of Higher Clicker, they were both named in their grandmother's will, Jenny/Jane Moon nee Morshead. And they were also named in the will of their uncle Robert Moon as well. So the family did not forget the sons of their sister and daughter. But that is just where the story begins, that is, in the remembering and taking care of those that are family.

My 4th Great Grandfather was Nicholas Moon, his daughter Jane married George Raby. Nicholas was Susanna's brother and his daugther Jane Moon who married George Raby, and she was Charles Moon’s cousin. And I am but left to suppose that they were cousins in the manner as though they were brother and sister. And that is the second longer part of the story.

By the time that the story may be picked up by the census decade snapshot pictures beginning in 1841, Jane Raby nee Moon is age 40, living in East Looe with her husband George Raby and her 5 children, Susanna Raby age 15, Charlotte Raby age 10, Jane Raby age 8, George Raby age 6, and Fanny Raby age 3; and also at a part of the household is one Charles Moon age 44. Yep, it is cousin Charles, not living off the family but a career man of independent means, but still a family member, living with family.

By the next census record of 1851, father George Raby has died leaving his widowed wife Jane Raby in their new household know as Poole Hall. NO not a gaming room but Poole Hall farm in the Parish of Menheniot. George had been well off enough and it was a 200 acre farm employing 4 hired laborers to help run the farm. At home was daughter Susanna S Raby, now 26, daughter Charlotte Raby age 20, son George Raby age 16 and 'visitor' Charles Moon, Unmarried, age 55 and still a man of means with Interest of Money Shipping of neighboring Liskeard Parish.

Decade 1861 family snapshot: by the next census the family had split, at least they were living in two separately numbered households, #127 and #128, both of Pool Hall. Jane Raby, the Head of one was still widowed as Jane Raby age now reportedly 61, a Gentlewoman and still living together with her was her daughter Jane Raby, unmarried age 28, also a Gentlewoman. And of course being Gentlewomen, they also had their house servant, Jane Lyons, age 13 to do the General Servant work of the household.

Right next door running the farm was George Raby, as Head of his own house, married and now age 26. He is a Farmer of 100 acres employing 2 Men and 4 boys are farm laborers to help care for the farm. Living with him is his wife Ellen Louisa Raby and his son George Raby age 3 and his daughter Ellen Louisa Raby age one. Notice the use of the family names in naming of the children.

And, oh, also living there with the household of George Raby, son of Jane Raby nee Moon, is Cousin Charles Moon, unmarried, age 64, a Gentleman still of independent means but also still living with family. And also with that house hold, beyond the 6 male employee farm workers, there is Mary Cook, unmarried age 22 a servant as the household Cook and Rebecca Tucker age 14 also a servant as the Housemaid.

Well know some time is passed by the time of the next decade census picture of this interesting family unit now of 1871. We find those who still remain still at the farm at the residence of Pool Hall. The Head of house has changed. Jane Raby nee Moon is gone and her son George Raby is also gone leaving only as the Head of the house his widowed wife Ellen L Raby W(idow) age 37, Occupant and Owner of the 100 acre farm with 2 men employees. There is her daughter Ellen L Raby age 11, her son Harry Raby age 8, her son Leonard Raby age 5, AND Charles Moon, Boarder, age 75, Farm Bailiff by profession.

In addition the well maintained household also has one Sybil Warne, Governess, unmarried age 23, Elizabeth Raby, Domestic Servant age 22, and Jane Hancock, Domestic Servant, unmarried age 18. Family members have come and gone, but the family has still remained.

Surely we must be coming to the end of our story. What could 1881 bring for us to see and tell? The 1881 Menheniot Census still lists the residence of Pool Hall, but once more their is a new Head of the household. Geoge Raby the original husband of Jane Moon, they've both died and gone. Even their one son George Raby has been gone since before 1871. Who could be the new head of the house and farm?

George Raby, unmarried, age 23, Farmer of 400 Acres, Employing 5 Men, and 8 Boys. The third George Raby now is in place. Living with him there is his now long widowed mother age 46, Ellen L Raby, Housekeeper; his Sister Ellen L Raby, unmarried, Annuitant who is Lame; his Brother Harry Raby, unmarriage, age 18, doubling as (Ag Laborer and Pupil; AND Charles Moon, Boarder, unmarried, age 85 but now with no profession.

And of course, there is Jane Abbott, servant, unmarried, age 31, the Housemaid and Mary A Venning, unmarried, age 23, the Cook. It seems the English family goes on forever. The names change but the family, it still remains. Dare were sneak a peek once more?

1891 Census: At the Pool Hall House another family lives there. Edward S Fursdon is Head single, age 42, Land Agent and Employer; his Sister Charlotte S Fursdon, single, age 44, of Devon; and their Servant Mary Chubb, single, age 48, Cook & Housemaid. The Raby family is not at home at Pool Hall. Where have they gone?

Well at Trevidds Farm is Harry Raby, Head, single, age 28, Farmer & Employer, there is mother Ellen L Raby, Widowed, age 56, Living on her own means, AND Mary Southern, General Servant, age 18, single.

AND down the road at Hendra Farm there is another Raby family, father, wife, and children Charles, Lena, and Edwin G, age 5. They have two servants, Ellen Champion and Edith Stevens. And the father is Samuel S Raby, age 47, a Yeoman Farmer and Employer. Related? Maybe, distantly, that's genealogy to find out and tell.

But now the story of my 5th Great Aunt AND of her son named Charles Moon is done. He too has pasted on and is now long gone. But I know his story. I tell it in but part here. It is a Family story that really will never END.

           (Trewen & Trehere)             (Tempello & Higher Clicker)

      Edward Moon  =  Jenny Morshead   Theophilus Moon  =  Honour Hawkey
      bap. 1731    |   bap. 1737       bap. 1727        |  bap. 1727
                   |                                    |
                   |___________________                 |
                          |            |                |
 Mary Ann Fitze  =  Nicholas Moon  Susanna Moon  =  Joseph Moon
   bap. 1769     |   bap. 1763      bap. 1765    |  bap. 1757
                 |                   d. 1795     |
                 |_____                          |
                       |                         |
   George Raby  =  Jane Moon ~ [Cousins] ~ Charles Moon
   bap. 1799       bap. 1799               b. 1795
                                           bap. 1796
                  |____________________________________|



SEE ALSO

Clicker Moon Family

Census Study ~ Menheniot (Raby)

The Will that Included Charles Moon

Grandma Jenny Moon

Uncle Robert Moon