Vital Statistics
Robert Maye Pinsent: 1881 – 1944 GRO0750 (Merchant, Totnes and Teignmouth)
Mildred Adams: 1881 – 1968
Married: 1908: Bilston, Staffordshire
References
Newspapers
Family Branch: Devonport
PinsentID: GRO0750
Click here to view close family members
Robert Maye Pinsent was the eldest son of John Ball Pinsent “junior” by his second wife, Jane Maye. He was born in Newton Bushell (Highweek Parish) in 1881 and was three years old when his mother committed suicide, in January 1884. Robert was, either then, or perhaps a few years later, sent to live with his uncle Thomas Maye, who was a “beer and cider merchant” in Totnes. He was brought up in the Maye household and was living with them when the Census takers made their rounds in 1891.
Robert attended “Totnes Grammar School”, where he seems to have shown an aptitude for sport. When he was nine years old he competed in track and field events on the School’s Sports Day. He ran in the 100-yards’ flat and the 220-yard (handicap) races for under 13 (years old) boys (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 16th May 1891). One has to think the older boys had an unfair advantage. Nevertheless, the following year he placed third in the School’s half-mile race (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 9th April 1892). Robert Maye Pinsent was later sent to “Blundells”, which was (and still is) a well-known Private (“Public”) School, in Tiverton, in Somerset.
Robert played cricket for the “Blundells Second XI” in a match against Uffculme in July 1897 (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Monday 5th July 1897). He also played Cricket for the School (albeit without particular distinction) the following year (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette; Thursday 7th July 1898) and was back with the School team in 1899 (Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 28th June 1899). He does not seem to have been an exceptional player but he clearly enjoyed it as he joined the local Totnes Community team after leaving school and played for them over the summer break (Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Thursday 10th August 1899). He also played for Totnes the following year. Perhaps persistence pays off. By then, his bowling seems to have improved significantly. Totnes beat a “Royal Artillery” team in May 1900 by an innings and 47 runs. R. Pinsent took took seven of the artillery-men’s wickets – which is a fair haul (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 12th May 1900). He seems to have been a bit ham-fisted with the bat though, rarely scoring in the double figures. He did manage to score ten runs in a match against Teign Vale in September 1900 (Teignmouth and Gazette: Friday 14th September 1900).
Robert’s uncle, Mr. Thomas Maye, was the “Master” of the “Dart Vale Harriers;” so it is not particularly surprising that we find Robert Maye Pinsent out with the hunt while he was still a teenager. The two of them rode with Mr. Netherton’s hounds in April 1898 (Dartmouth and South Hams Chronicle: Friday 22nd April 1898) and Robert was out again with his Uncle’s “fifteen and a half couple” of hounds in April 1899 (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 29th April 1899). The following autumn he rode with the hounds at Two Bridges (on Dartmoor).
Robert clearly rode for pleasure and not out of obligation to his uncle as he met up with Mr. Netherton’s Bowden Harriers, at the Forest Inn at Hexworth in mid October 1899 (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 21st October 1899) and with his uncle’s pack when they met at Follaton Lodge, near Totnes a week or so later (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 28th October 1899). On that occasion, “Refreshments were dispensed by Mrs. T. Maye (wife of the master). Huntsman Perry had 14 1/5 couples of hounds all of which were in capital form. Among the mounted followers were Messrs. T. Maye (master), A. Hingston (hon. Secretary to the hunt)” and needless to say, among others, R. Pinsent. He clearly loved riding and the “fun” of the chase and he had several other outings that year.
When the Second Boer War started in South Africa in October 1899, Robert joined “C Company, 5th (The Haytor), V. B. Devonshire Regiment.” It was a “Territorial Army” unit, so he was not immediately called up. He rode with his uncle and aunt and the “Dart Vale Harriers” again in the spring of 1900 (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday April 28th 1900) and played cricket for Totnes that summer (Western Times: Sunday 7th May, 1900). Presumably, he also played and trained at being a soldier.
In the meantime; however, he had also found (rugby) “football” and he joined the local Totnes club in the autumn of 1899. He played for the “Totnes Reserve” team in a match against the “Newton Church Institute” in October and, (reportedly) played well “for the homesters” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 14th October 1899). Like his cousins, John Douglas Pinsent and William Henry Pinsent before him; Robert Maye Pinsent played as a “back”. It was a position that called for agility and speed – and the courage to tackle hulking great forwards as they rush down the field towards you. It helps if you can kick well and thereby keep the ball up field, away from your own team’s goal line. He played against a Plymouth team, in November: “Pinsent came out at the last moment, as back for Totnes, and proved very safe. He is not fast, but his kicks generally find touch, and he is good at stopping rushes” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 4th November 1899). The “reserves” played games weekly, against a number of teams from Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Ivybridge and elsewhere.
He played well and received a fair amount of comment in the local press as the position of “back” was the team’s last line of defense. For instance, in a game between Totnes and Dartmouth “at Totnes on Saturday in most disagreeable weather … Pinsent, with the exception of a couple of mistakes, gave an excellent display and all the home ‘quarters did well, especially in defensive work …” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 13th January 1900). That summer, R. M. Pinsent was appointed “vice-captain” of the “Totnes Football Club” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 21st July 1900).
Robert Maye Pinsent played cricket over the summer, while waiting for the rugby football seasons to restart; nevertheless, he was persuaded by some of his rugby club-mates to join the town rowing club and enter the Paignton Regatta as part of a “coxed four.” His crew lacked the technique and finesse of Sir Matthew Pinsent (Robert’s co-lateral descendant) and his colleagues and they failed to complete the course. Sadly, their boat foundered: “The Kelpie, after rounding the second mark, failed to get round head to wind, and was capsized. The event was noticed by the official referee, who steamed promptly in his launch to the rescue. All the occupants could swim, and were soon taken on board, but it took the launch nearly an hour to get the capsized Kelpie and her crew back to Paignton Harbour” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 25th August 1900). Nothing daunted, the same crew competed for the “100-guinea Challenge Cup” at the Dartmouth Regatta later that month. The Dartmouth crew romped home – much to the relief of its supporters who had endured five years of disappointment. It would have been insufferable to loose to a land-locked crew from Totnes. The boys stayed afloat this time, but they eventually gave up the chase (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 1st September 1900). Robert was appointed appointed “vice-president” of the “Totnes Rowing Club” the following March (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 9th March 1901). He did like sport.
The 1900-1901 (rugby) football season opened three weeks after the Dartmouth Regatta and it continued on throughout the winter; however, with lower attendance than the club would have wished for – to the embarrassment of the local journalists (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 24th November 1900) who were clearly doing their job far too well: why stand around in the rain if you can read all about it! Still, the rugby players did have fun. The Football Club played a major part in a carnival held in mid-November and “Mr. R. Pinsent, as a clown mounted on a donkey, made free use of his inflated bladder” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 17th November 1900). H’mm. The “football” team won some games and lost others. After a game against Torquay Athletic in December, the local scribe noted: “A special word of praise is due to Pinsent whose defensive powers were severely tested. He played a very safe game, and kicked well. He could not be blamed for either of the tries scored against his team” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 8th December 1900).
It was back to cricket in May 1901. Robert played for Totnes and occasionally, for his home village of Staverton. However, when the two clashed, as they did in July 1901, his allegiance was with Totnes (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 6th July 1901). Robert batted and bowled well throughout the summer, and was honoured with the Captaincy in a match between Totnes Grammar School and “Mr. R. M. Pinsent’s XI” – which was played on 15th June 1901. His team lost. This time, he failed at bat; nevertheless, he took five wickets and made one catch (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 22nd June 1901), which was a respectable contribution. He batted better for the “Blundell’s School Old Boys” when they played the youngsters a week or so later (Western Times: Friday 28th June 1901), and he bowled particularly well when the town team played a “Britannia 2nd XI” at Dartmouth in July. He took seven of the ten wickets (Western Times: Thursday 11th July 1901).
At regatta time that August (1901), Robert Maye Pinsent entered the“coxed pair” event (which was for locals only) at the Totnes Regatta. He rowed with W. J. Gibson, and F. Rapson joined them as cox of the “Lark”. Whether the name was a reference to the bird or their approach to the outing is not clear. They came in second, behind the “Ida”, which was crewed by three Sims brothers. Unfortunately, the “Lark” got off to a bad start as the “stroke” had difficulty with his rowlock. Robert also took part in one of the swimming events (100 yards backstroke) held in conjunction with the regatta (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 17th August 1901. It was a mistake. The Hon. Secretary of the Devon County “Amateur Swimming Association” complained that Robert, among others, had taken part in an unregistered swimming event. … “it was unanimously resolved that all the swimmers named be suspended from further competition as amateurs” (Western Times: Friday 23rd August 1901. I doubt if he was too bothered. He went back to cricket. When the season ended at the end of August, the Totnes Weekly Times (Saturday 14th September) published the Season’s batting and bowling averages. Over the season, Robert had: played 19 innings; he was not out once; had scored 279 at an average of 15.5 runs per innings. He had bowled 151.4 overs (of six balls each), of which 29 were maidens (no runs were scored); had taken 45 wickets for 386 runs at an average of 8.5 runs for each wicket. The last mentioned being not too bad at all!
Then, it was – inevitably – back to rugby-football. Robert played several games in the “back” position in September and October and was good enough that he was invited to a County trial match played in Devonport on 23rd October. He may not have made the team, but he made an impression: “At back, Stidston missed an excellent opportunity of establishing his strong claims to the custodianship by failing to kick to touch. Pinsent was the better punter though somewhat indecisive” (Western Times: Thursday 24th October, 1901). There were other games but, realistically, by then his playing days were numbered.
If the above discussion seems to have been overly weighted to sport, it is worth remembering that public school boys were the sons of “gentlemen” and they were not supposed to work for a living! There would have been very little for a young lad of twenty to do in a small town like Totnes, other than get up to mischief or join in community sports and entertainments.
In November, 1901 the Citizens of Totnes held a farewell dinner at the Commercial Hotel for two of its sons, Robert Maye Pinsent “a prominent member of the Totnes Football and Cricket Club” and Mr. C. Hains, the son of a local doctor who were both leaving town. They were shortly to sail for South Africa to join the “South African Mounted Police” (Western Times: Tuesday 26th November, 1901).
The Second Boer War was thought to be just about over and the unit was formed to police the Transvaal and Orange Free State when Britain withdrew its front line troops. Unfortunately, the war lasted longer than expected and the police were drawn into the conflict! Robert (later Lord), Baden Powell – he of Boy Scout fame – fresh from his defense of Mafeking in May 1900 was the unit’s first “Inspector General”. Robert and his friend had been caught up in the patriotic fervour that swept the country followed the “relief of Makeking”. The citizens of Totnes presented them with a purse of coins, and Robert received another gift from his friends in the “Choir” of the Church of St. John’s in Totnes a few days later, when they too gave him a dinner (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 30th November 1901). He graciously thanked his benefactors on both occasions. Robert had one last outing with the “Dart Vale Harriers” before he left for South Africa (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 30th November 1901). He sailed from Southampton on the “Manchester Merchant” on 3rd December 1901 and arrived all right; however, a letter home showed that his kit had disappeared in transit! (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 25th January 1902).
Robert Maye Pinsent joined the “South African Constabulary”, which was part of the “South African Colonial Corps”, as a trooper. He loved riding – which may have influenced his decision to join the mounted Constabulary. He probably hoped (like so many young men who joined the forces only twelve years later) that he would see some action before the war ended. Whether he did or not, I do not know as the Boer War formally ended in May 1902, shortly after he arrived. Documents in the “National Archives of South Africa” show that he stayed on and served in South Africa until 23rd December 1906. He was awarded the “Queen’s South Africa (campaign) Medal” for his service.
Robert Maye returned to Totnes on leave in the spring of 1904 and was back playing cricket for the local club in August. He also played a few games of rugby for the town team that September as well, although not always in his preferred position of “back” which he had, of course, vacated. He rejoined his unit in South Africa the following month. After describing a rugby match against Exmouth, the sports correspondent notes that “the team played unselfishly and should do well in future matches, in which however, they will not have the assistance of Pinsent, who is returning today (Saturday) to South Africa” (Totnes Weekly Times: Saturday 8th October 1904). Needless to say, he rejoined the team after he returned from South Africa and played for it throughout the 1907 season (Brixham Western Guardian: Thursday 28th March 1907). He rejoined the “Dart Vale Harriers” as well, and rode with them at Belliver Tor in April 1907 (Brixham Western Guardian: Thursday 25th April 1907).
Robert Maye Pinsent married Mildred Adams, the daughter of a “hotel keeper”, at Bilston (near Wolverhampton) in Staffordshire, on 1st August 1908 – shortly after his return from South Africa. Mildred was a Devonian from Seaton – on the Devon coast near its border with Dorset border. Presumably her father was just in the midlands to work. Robert and Mildred may have known each other for some time. The couple settled in Plymouth where Robert bought into a “green grocery” business. The 1911 census takers’ describe him as being a “wholesale fruit and potato merchant living on Hamilton Gardens, at Mutley, in Plymouth”. They do not seem to have had any children.
Robert had paid £350 for a half-share in the firm of “Chalker Bros, Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Merchants, of Flora Street, in Plymouth”, in May 1907. He invested another £100 in the business in April 1908 and, for better or (as it turns out) worse, a further £300 in February 1909. By then, he owned most of the company so he bought Mr. Chalker out for another £80 in October 1910. At that point, Robert was the sole proprietor.
He ran the business as best he could – until his creditors stepped in in March 1912. At that point, his liabilities stood at £1,090 and his assets at around £300 (Western Daily Mercury: Friday 3rd May 1912). The Trustee arranged for “Peter Hamley and Sons, Auctioneers”, to auction of his wagons, trolleys, scales, containers and office furniture on 4th April 1912 (Western Daily Mercury: Thursday 4th April 1912). The Court determined that Robert should pay a “composition” of 8s in the pound on all of the debt – except for the £452 owing to Messrs. Percy Adams and Charles Pinsent who were Robert’s brother-in-law and brother (London Gazette: 29th June 1912) as he had received this as part of his marriage settlement. Sadly for Mildred, this included railway stock and the mortgage on their house. Robert attributed his problems to heavy wastage on perishable goods, keen competition and bad debts. Ironically, Robert Maye’s cousin William Henry Pinsent was also going through bankruptcy, after the failure of his lodging house in Torquay at about the same time.
Robert Maye Pinsent rejoined the army two years later and fought during the “First World War”. Under the circumstances, he may have been pleased to do so. He joined another mounted regiment and was an Acting Sergeant in the “Military Mounted Police”. At some point, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and reassigned to the “A.C.C.”. Whether this was the “Army Cyclist Corps” or “Army Corps of Clerks.” both of whom used this acronym, is hard to know. It was probably the latter. Either way, they probably took away his horse. Robert served in Egypt from 15th June 1915 and was discharged on 27th August 1918 (National Archives WO 372/16). His campaign medals (“Victory” and “15 Star”) were sent to his home address of #16 Seaton Avenue, Mutley, in Plymouth.
Robert Maye was a “traveler” or salesman for “Messrs. J. O. Nash & Sons (England Limited), Potato Importers and Exporters” of Woolster Street in Plymouth when the census was taken in 1921. He was still living on Seaton Avenue with his wife, Mildred, who was by then a “nurse” (B.R.C.S.V.A.D.) at the “Military Hospital” at Devonport. Perhaps she had been one during the war.
Robert and Mildred were still living in Mutley at the start of the “Second World War”. The 1939 Register shows that he was a “clerk” working in a “Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange”. Later on in the war, Robert became a “telephone operator” who lived on Reservoir Road in Plymouth. He died there in March 1944, leaving net effects valued at £538. His widow, Mildred, stayed on and died in the same place in June 1968. They had no children.
Family Tree
Grandparents
Grandfather: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901
Grandmother: Hannah Davie Swain: 1815 – 1887
Parents
Father: John Ball Pinsent: 1844 – 1890
Mother: Jane Maye: 1847 – 1884
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)
Robert Maye Pinsent: 1881 – 1944 ✔️
Charles Pinsent: 1883 – 1937
Please use the above links to explore this branch of the family tree. The default “Next” and “Previous” links below may lead to other unrelated branches.
