History
The Scantleburys of Landulph
A single comment in a conversation with by great-aunt revealed a potential family scandal and triggered my exploration of my family ancestors in Cornwall.
Lillian Annie Lang (known as Nancy) was born in Cargreen on January 1st 1902. She had an older sister, Jessie Adams Lang (my grandmother, born Cargreen, October 7th 1900)) and lived with her parents, Clara Jennifer (nee Scantlebury) and Jack Lang in a cottage on Fore Street.
After my grandmother's death in 1980, I visited my great-aunt who was then living with her son in Hugh Town, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly and the conversation turned to my great-grandmother, Clara Jennifer.
My great-aunt informed me that Clara Jennifer was 'a Scantlebury' and I was shocked to learn that my great-grandmother was born as a result of a rape.
Her mother Clara Jane Adams was born in Cargreen in January 1857, one of nine children born to James and Ann Adams (nee Barrett).
In 1872, her older sister Eliza (born 1853) married John Scantlebury (born Landulph around 1842).
In the 1851 census, John and his family were living at Colloggett, where his father William was an agricultural labourer. John joined the Royal Navy in October 1869 signing on for 10 years. He served on HMS Royal Adelaide, HMS Cambridge and finally HMS Black Prince (from 1875).
John and Eliza lived in Devonport and had a daughter, Rebecca Ann, born in 1874.
According to my great aunt, it seems that Clara Jane became pregnant by her brother-in-law when she was 18 and Clara Jennifer was born in January 1876. Her father was at sea at the time of her birth and it is unlikely that he ever saw his daughter as on 6th February 1876 he was drowned while leaving Gibraltar after falling from the yards while studding sails were being set and he was swept away by the undercurrent.
He is commemorated on a headstone at Landulph parish church, along with his parents, William and Rebecca (nee Spry) and his younger brother, Thomas.
By 1881, Clara Jane was living in Francis Alley, Devonport with Eliza and Rebecca, and Clara Jennifer lived in Cargreen with her grandparents, James and Ann Adams. She remained with her grandmother after grandfather's death in 1892 and met her husband to be when he was working as an agricultural labourer at Tinnel Farm. They married in May 1900 and continued to live in Cargreen until around 1904 when they moved away to Saltash with their two daughters.
Clara Jane went on to marry in 1882 and had six further children. She continued to live in Plymouth until her death in 1948 at the age of 92.
Clara Jennifer lived with her daughters in South Pill, Saltash until they married. Jessie married in 1921 and Lillian in 1927. She and Jack then moved to Victoria Road, Saltash. Jack Lang served in the Royal Navy (dates unknown) and died in 1955, aged 80. Clara Jennifer later moved to live with her younger daughter, Lillian at Saltash Passage, St Budeaux. She died in 1966 aged 90.
As far as I am aware, the Scantlebury name is no longer present in Landulph.
