Vital Statistics
William Henry Pinsent: 1874 – 1949 GRO0897 (Brewer, Lodging House Keeper, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth)
Minnie Gertrude Pearse: 1872 – 1937
Married: 1897: West Teignmouth, Devon
Children by Minnie Gertrude Pearse:
Henry Douglas Pinsent: 1897 – 1897
Donovan Henry Douglas Pinsent: 1901 – 1980 (Engineer, Paignton, Devon; Married Gweneth Salter, 1924; Flora Helen Hales, 1937; Gladys Parsons, 1978)
Gerald Swain Pinsent: 1904 – 1993 (Wine and Spirit Merchant, Dartmouth (?), Devon and Maidenhead, Berkshire; Married Dorothy James)
Family Branch: Devonportt
PinsentID: GRO0897
References
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William Henry Pinsent was the second son of William Swain Pinsent by his wife Harriet Eliza (née Cookson). He was born at Devon Terrace in Newton Abbot on 26th August 1874 (Western Times: Monday 31st August 1874). William’s father and grandfather were well-known brewers in Newton Abbot and his father was shortly to become “Chairman” of “Highweek Parish Council”.
William Henry had an elder brother John Douglas Pinsent and they were both educated at “Newton College.” While there, they both developed a keen interest in (rugby) “football” and William Henry played for the college in 1890 (Western Times: Friday 7th February 1890). Both of the boys played in the “back” position – which calls for speed, manoeuvrability and skill with the ball – rather than weight and brawn. John played “back” while he was at school and while he was with the Axminster team after he left. Interestingly, their cousin, Robert Maye Pinsent, played the same position for Totnes a decade or so later. A “back” has to read the run of play, tackle monstrous forwards and kick with accuracy and precision. “Backs” are usually fairly small but quick on their feet. William became particularly good playing in that position. Nevertheless, in the autumn of 1890 he also played in the “three-quarter” position, which requires running speed. The college team played against other schools and nearby military institutions, and also lower-level district teams. The games were frequently described in the local newspapers and, as he was often the “last line of defense,” William received a considerable coverage; mostly good, it has to be said.
Along with many other local worthies, William’s father (William Swain Pinsent) was a “vice-president” of “Newton Football Club” (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 13th August 1892. So, it is hardly surprising that William joined. He even played a few league games for Newton while he was still at school in 1891 and 1892. For instance he played against Barnstaple in April: “Pinsent the College back, played a faultless game, and repeatedly nipped an invasion in the bud by his presence and by his judicious kicking. He also tackled well when an opponent looked dangerous” (Western Times: Tuesday 5th April 1892). The team played its “home” games on the “Teign Marshes”, and its “away” matches in Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple and other parts of Devon. The team occasionally ventured further afield, to Bridgwater, Wellington, Bristol and elsewhere. It is worth noting that “Plymouth Argyle” and “Torquay Athletics” were not so much “soccer” clubs in those days as “rugby clubs”. William Swain Pinsent had an interest in the “Teign Marshes” and he may have either sold or gifted the team its ground there.
William Henry played for the Newton team in 1893 and he came to particular attention during the 1894 to 1895 season. Reporting on a match against the “Devon Wanderers”, the reporter for the East and South Devon Advertiser (Saturday 29th September 1894) wrote: “Pinsent again played well at back, and on his present form deserves a trial in the County matches“. Similarly, reporting on a match against Taunton a few months later (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 12th January 1895) he wrote that “glowing accounts are to hand of Pinsent’s display at back; he was never at fault, either in kicking, tackling or stopping rushes. The three-quarters excelled themselves, and Taunton, though strong in their third line, were not equal to Newton”. Never mind that they did not win. William was elected “vice-captain” of the “Newton Football Club” at its annual general meeting in August 1895 (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 31st August 1895) and he continued to play throughout the autumn. Interestingly, he was joined by “Douglas Pinsent his brother, who played for the first time for that season (and) worked well at three-quarters” in a match against Wellington in November (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 16th November 1895). However, whether through injury or for some other unspecified reason William announced his retirement from regular play later in the year (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 30th November 1895).
Rugby football is an autumn and winter sport carried out in mud and rain but, thankfully, not (or only rarely) on ice and snow. The winter of 1894 was particularly cold throughout Europe, so several members of the “Football Club” laced up their skates and played ice hockey on Stover Lake: “One of the rare treats of the present winter had been the exciting hockey matches that have taken place at Stover during the recent spell of hard weather. No one but a player [or a Canadian or Swede etc. Ed.] can thoroughly realize what a fascinating game hockey is … … several Newton gentlemen who are prominent members of the Football Club, showed themselves equally clever at hockey … … Nevertheless, everybody seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, and were genuinely sorry when the thaw intervened and spoilt their sport” (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 13th January 1894). Predictably, William was out there. The Newton boys were out playing on the ice again in mid-February. They beat Totnes by five goals to two. “… … besides the scorers, Messrs. Web and Pinsent were conspicuous for good play” (Western Daily Mercury: Tuesday 19th February 1895).
William enjoyed the social side of club life and he developed quite a reputation for whistling and playing the banjo. He made his debut at an “Entertainment at the Alexandra Hall in Aid of the Newton Football Club’ in February 1893. According to a local paper, “Mr. W. H. Pinsent next obliged with ‘The Whistling coon,’ Mr. Pinsent, is, I believe quite new to the stage, and deserves great credit for his really excellent performance” (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 25th February 1893). The following year, we find “Mr. W. H. Pinsent, the funny negro comedian, sing(ing) the immensely successful song, ‘The little Alabama Coon’ with chorus and orchestral accompaniment” at a Grand Concert (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 20th October 1894). What modern audiences would have made of “black-face” the “Whistling Coon” is debatable; however they loved it in Devon in the 1890s and it became one of his signature acts.
Once started, he was hard to stop. Over the next ten years, he performed at “entertainments,” “ladies nights” and “smokers” put on to raise money for clubs or other good causes throughout the district (Western Times: Friday 23rd January 1903). For instance, he performed “The Whistling Yaller Girl” at a benefit performance put on for the widow of fisherman lost at sea (Teignmouth Post and Gazette: Friday 26th January 1894) and, at a concert in aid of “Bovey Football Club” in April 1894, “Mr. Pinsent of Newton richly merited the hearty encore extended him for the clever manner in which he rendered the ‘Whistling Coon’” and delighted the audience with his rendition of the “Whistling Yaller Girl”—which also received an encore. On this particular occasion, William was joined on stage by a:“Miss Pinsent (daughter of the late Mr. H. Pinsent of Whitstone) who not only has a very sweet voice but used it with much artistic skill”. She sang a song entitled “Mona” (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 28th April 1894). She was Mary Louise Pinsent. There were several branches of the family living in and around the Teign Valley in those days and they were obviously aware of each other. She came from the HENNOCK branch, which can be found elsewhere.
William commonly supplied a comic element at these socials, for instance, at Highweek: “the comic element was met by Mr. W. H. Pinsent’s banjo solo and singing of a rendering of “Ting-a-ling” for which he received hearty cheers” (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 23rd February 1895. The 16th March edition of the same paper shows that “Mr. J. L. Elms played a selection from “The Bohemian Girl” as a mandolin solo, and was associated with Mr. W. H. Pinsent in a couple of mandolin and banjo duets, for one of which they had a recall”. The two of them frequently performed together. Just occasionally, William Henry’s sisters, Kathleen Blanche Pinsent and Ethel Mary Pinsent joined him on stage. All three performed at a “Ladies Night” at the Newton Constitutional Club in March 1896. “Blanche Pinsent and Mr. W. H. Pinsent, both being warmly received were recalled” and “Miss E. M. Pinsent, whose singing voice is too seldom heard at Newton Abbot obtained a recall for her songs, Slaughter’s ‘The Dear Homeland’ and ‘Louisiana Loo’ from the ‘Shop Girl’” (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 28th March 1896). William was, evidently, a bit of a comedian. What his father thought about it, I am not sure; however given William Swain Pinsent’s love of poultry he may not have appreciated his son coming third with his “Long haired Cat” at the “Teignmouth Fancies’ Society” show in January 1898 (Teignmouth Post and Gazette: Friday 21st January 1898).
William Henry gave a banjo solo a a meeting of the “Teignmouth Gardeners, Mutual Improvement Association” in January 1897 (Teignmouth Post and Gazette: Friday 1st January 1897) and married Minnie (a.k.a. Mary) Gertrude Pearse, the daughter of a commercial traveler in Teignmouth, the following month. They had three sons over the next few years. Henry Douglas Pinsent was born on Brimley Terrace in Teignmouth in November 1897 but died shortly afterwards. Donovan Henry Douglas Pinsent was born there in November 1901, a few months after the census takers came to call. He lived to marry and have children of his own. Their third son, Gerald Swain Pinsent was also born in Teignmouth (in 1904). He also married and had a daughter. The sons’ lives are discussed elsewhere.
William was a social gad-fly and, despite being a married man with young children, he went to the Fair Ground at “Shaldon Regatta” with a couple of his male friends in 1904 – only to see one of them killed while fooling around on a “round-about”. Testimony given at the “Coroner’s Inquest” showed that Edgar Candy (27) had mounted the “horse’s head” the wrong way round and was trying to change his position when he was thrown off and fell into the road. He suffered a concussion and died from the fall (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Tuesday 13th September 1904).
William was a flamboyant figure in Newton Abbot and his name would have been well known in the surrounding district. In August 1906, the magistrates at “Plympton Petty Sessions” listened as Constable Newberry described how Adrian Wilfred Gribble, formerly of Newton Abbot, had tried to con five shillings out of a land agent in Yealmpton by claiming to be “Mr. William Henry Pinsent”. He had said he would refund the money by sending a postal order when he got home that evening. William, who was still described as being “a member of Pinsent and Co., brewers, Newton Abbot” said he knew the man (Gribble) by sight as he had worked in the “telegraph office” in Newton Abbot about ten years previously. However, the man had no connection to the family firm. Gribble was sentenced to one-month hard labour (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 11th August 1906).
After moving to Teignmouth at around the time of his marriage, William continued to participate in “entertainments” sponsored by the “Newton Football Club” and he regularly took part in other social activities, some of which were sponsored by or in aid of political parties. William was a “Conservative”. In fact, he had tried to vote for the Conservatives at the 1895 Parliamentary elections but the Liberals had objected and the “Revision Court” had agreed that he was not eligible as he under age during the qualifying period (East and South Devon Advertiser: Saturday 28th September 1895). After moving to Teignmouth, he joined the “Teignmouth Mid-Devon Constitutional Club” in March 1905 (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Saturday 4th March 1905) and performed at a “ladies night” it sponsored a few weeks later (Western Times: Friday 7th April 1905). He also joined his friends, J. H. Elms and W. Hawken, in a performance of “Mosquito Parade” at a “Y.M.C.A. Football Concert” (Teignmouth Post and Gazette: Friday 9th March 1906). Throughout that year and the next, the invitations to perform came thick and fast.
William represented the “Teignmouth Unionists Club” in a billiards match played against the “South View” club in March 1907, and against the “Exeter Constitutional Club” in April 1908 (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Thursday 16th April 1908). The “Unionists” were essentially “Parliamentary Conservatives”. Needless to say, William was called upon to perform (on the banjo) at a smoking concert held at the “Unionist Club” in November 1907 (Teigmouth Post and Gazette: Friday 22nd November 1907). Then there was the “Teignmouth South View Club” concert held before Christmas that year (Western Times: Tuesday 17th December 1907). William and his musical friends were kept busy the following year too. The internet was very unreliable and “smokers” and “socials” were a pleasant way of keeping up with your peers – and in some cases raising money for clubs and charities. Among other events, “Messrs. Pinsent and Co.” were signed up to give musical selections (banjo, mandolin, etc.) at a “Grand Concert” given in the Assembly Rooms in support of the Y.M.C.A. (Teignmouth Post and Gazette: 27th March 1908). The trio also performed at the Pier Pavilion in Teignmouth in August (Teignmouth Post and Gazette: Friday 21st August 1908).
Unfortunately, he soon became distracted by his own financial problems. Although William had, technically, worked for his father as a paid employee since leaving school, he had had several brushes with insolvency and his father had had to bail him out several times. William moved to Teignmouth after his marriage and, in 1909, he invested in a seaside boarding house at “5, Den Crescent, in Teignmouth”. According to the Census taken in 1911, it was a large building with twelve bedrooms, four sitting rooms and one kitchen. Start-up cost money, of course, and this one was inefficiently run. William failed to keep detailed financial records – which did not help and he was forced into bankruptcy in 1912.
William sold his furniture and borrowed again but, having no control over his expenditures, he just got himself deeper into debt (Western Times: Tuesday 30th January 1912). The “Official Receiver” was called in and he established that William had no asset and he owed £523 12s 2d (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 2nd February 1912). When asked about it, he said that although his father was still paying him £3 10s a week for working at the brewery, and was making him an allowance for food and drink, he had a wife and two children and he could not possibly afford to keep them and also pay for the loses on the boarding house. He had borrowed money because he was anxious that his father should not hear of his predicament. In the end, he blamed his troubles on the boarding house, school costs, his own ill health and his wife’s profligacy. He said he had asked local traders not to give her credit but the damage was done (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 16th February 1912).
William’s father had had enough of his spendthrift son and, although he may have welcomed him back into the family brewery; when the time came for him to write his Will, he inserted a clause to the effect that, “if William Henry became bankrupt, he was not to receive any benefit out of his estate”. William’s father, William Swain Pinsent, had had his own finances to consider. He sold the brewery to “Heavitree Brewery Company” in March 1920 and died in September that year. Pointedly, he appointed his son John Douglas Pinsent as one of his executors. He made no mention of his younger son, William Henry Pinsent. Neither lived in Newton Abbot and his executors, sold “Minerva House” and wound up Willam Swain Pinsent’s estate. His net personalty was judged to be £30,361 14s 7d (Western Times: Monday 18th October 1920). After paying debts and costs and other bequests and allowances, William should have been entitled to two-tenth of the residue; however it was left to the Courts to decide what “he became a bankrupt” actually meant.
William Henry applied to the “High Court” to have the clause annulled on the grounds that he had been placed into bankruptcy seven years ago (1912) and his father obviously knew that he was an undischarged bankrupt when he made up his will. He must, therefore, have been referring to some future bankruptcy … The Court was not so sure. William was given time to reach an accommodation with his creditors so that he could discharge his debts and claim his inheritance, but he was unable to do so. One of them refused to cooperate. At a hearing in “Exeter County Court,” Mr. Justice Lawrence said that he was unable to annul the clause as no accommodation had been reached and the debt remained. Still, after some pleading by William’s lawyer, he agreed to revisit the issue if William’s wife (Minnie) were able to come up with £100 down payment on the debt within two years (Western Times: Thursday 7th July 1921). William and Minnie said they just wanted to pay their debts—at this point they were not expecting to see any of the inheritance money themselves.
Now that the brewery was gone and the bankruptcy dealt with, William and Minnie drop out of sight for while. Their sons Donovan Henry Douglas Pinsent and Gerald Swain Pinsent married (in Paignton in 1924, and Totnes in 1928, respectively) after which we find William Henry living at “Riverside Bungalow”, on the Ashburton Road in Totnes in 1929. There is no mention of Minnie. William was a good natured man and, while living there, he allowed a vagrant to sleep in his barn – forgetting that he had left a bag of washing there to be picked up by the laundry. The vagrant, a Mr. Sculthorpe by name, stole the washing valued at 15s and sold it to a woman for 4s. She was suspicious and to her credit informed the police. The local magistrate berated Mr. Sculthorpe for taking advantage of William Henry’s generosity and sentenced him to two months of hard labour (Western Morning News: Wednesday 13th March 1929).
While in Totnes, William gave evidence at a Coroner’s inquest into the death of an unemployed male nurse who was found drowned on the rocks near Paignton. Again, there was no mention of Minnie. William Henry said that the young man, William Cooch, had been living with him for some time. He was out of work and depressed. He had gone out to have supper with friends one evening, and William had reported him missing when he failed to return home (Western Morning News: Wednesday 19th February 1930). William certainly had an interesting life.
Minnie Gertrude (née Pearse) died in the “Cottage Hospital” at Totnes in 1937. While living in Totnes in 1939, William Henry Pinsent claimed that he was a “retired brewer” (1939 Register). He must have moved back to Teignmouth at some point, perhaps after the War, as he was living on Second Avenue there when he died in January 1949. His effects at that point were valued at £338 7s 10d.
Family Tree
Grandparents
Grandfather: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901
Grandmother: Hannah Davie Swain: 1815 – 1887
Parents
Father: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
Mother: Harriet Eliza Cookson: 1846 – 1892
Father’s Siblings (Aunts, Uncles)
Thomas Pinsent: 1842 – 1889
William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920 ✔️
John Ball Pinsent: 1844 – 1890
Frederick Richard Steele Pinsent: 1855 – 1856
Male Siblings (Brothers)
John Douglas Pinsent: 1872 – 1936
William Henry Pinsent: 1874 – 1949 ✔️
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