Esther Chapple

(1876 - ????)

Esther was the fourth child born to parents Mary Ann and William in North Molton during 1876. Her mother died in the second quarter of 1876, perhaps as a result of a difficult childbirth. Esther's father William would have been 52 years old at this time.

On 26 March 1877, in the parish church of North Molton, Esther's father married Susanna Gould from North Molton.

It is worthy of note that William married Susanna ten months at most after the death of his first wife. This appears more unusual today than was the case in 1877. At the age of 52 and with no other family support, William would have found it very difficult to support and raise four young children, the oldest of whom was eight.

Esther was baptised in the North Molton parish church on 29 April 1877, 28 days after William's marriage to Susanna.

The 1881 census records Esther aged 5 and living with her parents, brother and sisters at 'Roberts', North Molton. Her father was employed as a farm labourer.

Esther's step mother Susan died on 07 January 1885 in North Molton; Esther was only eight years old.

Further information about Esther has yet to be found.