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The Mock’s of Braunton

The Mock’s are a very large family and successive generations have lived in Braunton since about 1650. Balthazar Mock – possibly of German origin - married Marrian Passmore about 1665 with the generations cascading down to James Mock who was born in Braunton, North Devon in 1804. In 1830 he married Catherine Thomas who was also born in Braunton in 1808 to Joseph and Sarah Thomas. It is not clear what he did for a living, but during the 1830's James Mock joined the Royal Marines. However, in 1851, aged just 45, he was described as a Greenwich pensioner. By 1861 Catherine Mock had died and James, with daughters Mary and Elizabeth and several grandchildren were living at Albert Court, Ilfracombe where he was described as an agricultural labourer. From the 1851 census, Sarah, the eldest daughter, was still living at home but shortly after the census Sarah Mock became pregnant and was dis-owned by the family.

Unmarried and pregnant, she effectively became destitute and was placed into the care of the Barnstaple Union Workhouse. Her first child, Charles, was born there on 23^rd. February, 1852 as was her second child, Susanna, in December 1853. Sometime later she was discharged, or else discharged herself, and must have settled her life down for on July 25^th. 1858 she married Simon Peter Groves, a mariner from Ilfracombe. There is nothing to suggest that Simon Groves formally adopted Susanna, as she appears to have retained the surname of Mock, however in 1861, the whole family were living at the Ropewalk, Ilfracombe, with Susanna Mock being listed in the census under the name Susan M Groves, a name she later used for her marriage to Richard Short. In 1871, Simon and Sarah Groves were living at 21 Compass Hill, Ilfracombe, with their eldest daughter Mary Hannah and It was about this time that Susanna met Richard Short, and by late 1872 they had moved from Ilfracombe and were living in Swansea.