OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

CHARLES EDGAR TURNER (1826-1901)

Charles Edgar Turner was born on April 26th 1826 in Westminster, London, the youngest son of Mr Francis and Jane Turner, a bencher of the Inner Temple and a conveyancing barrister. 

He was educated at Blackheath, Shrewsbury and Magdalen College, Cambridge, and was ordained in 1850 to the curacy of Daisy Hill, in Bradford, Yorkshire.  In 1852 he married Miss Theophila Hoste, who was born in Norfolk in 1823, at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Margaret of Antioch, Westminster, Middlesex, following which he was appointed as rector of the Anglican Church of All Saints, Bank Street, Bolton, Lancashire.  He remained there for nine years.  Their first three children were born in Bolton Le Moor, Lancashire: Charles James Turner in 1853, Francis Turner in 1858 and Theophila Elizabeth Turner in 1861. 

In 1861 the Reverend Turner became the vicar of the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Edward, King and Martyr, Eggbuckland, where Edgar Turner was born in 1863.

During his forty years at Eggbuckland he was responsible for restoring the Church and vicarage, remodelling the Eggbuckland National School, and building the Crabtree Mission Chapel.  He became a member of the Egg Buckland and Laira Green School Board until it was brought under the Plymouth School Board.  At one time he was an inspector of religious knowledge in elementary schools, along with the Reverend C C Bartholomew, of Cornwood.  He was also a trustee of the Plymouth Savings Bank and secretary of the local branch of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK).

Mrs Theophila Turner died at Eggbuckland and was buried in the graveyard of the Ancient Parish Church on April 2nd 1881.  The 1881 census was taken the following day.  At home with the Reverend Turner were his son, Mr Charles James Turner, who was a clerk in an office in London; his daughter, Miss Theophila Elizabeth Turner; his youngest son, Mr Edgar Turner, who was also a clerk in an office in London.  Also visiting, no doubt to attend the funeral of his wife, was his 58-years-old sister, Mrs Harriet House.  The household was completed by two female domestic servants and 18-years-old groom, Albert Winter.

The Reverend Charles Edgar Turner married Miss Esther Kate Wolferstan, a daughter of Mr James Wolferstan, gentleman, at Tavistock Parish Church on January 9th 1883.  They had three children: Marion Turner born in November 1884; Henry Elliot Turner (1886-1972) born in August 1886; and Arthur Charles Turner (1888-1953), born in September 1888.

The Reverend Charles Edgar Turner died on February 6th 1901 at the age of 74.  The funeral service was, of course conducted at his own Church on Wednesday February 13th 1901.  By the family's request there were no wreaths but the whole length of the polished oak coffin was lined by a floral cross of arum lilies, lilies of the valley and other white flowers, contributed by the family.  The coffin was borne by twelve farmers and farmers' sons, namely Messrs R Neal, F Neal, W Neal, J White, G Partridge, R Bull, T Dodge, C Hannaford, G Hannaford, C Watkins, F Watkins and W Clifton.  Family mourners included his widow, Messrs C J Turner, from Bexley in Kent, and F Turner, from London, sons from his first marriage; and Messrs H E Turner and A C Turner, and Miss Marion Turner, sons and daughter from his second marriage.  Several members of the Wolferstan family were also present.  In addition to the Mayor of Plymouth, Mr R Risdon, and the local gentry and clergy, the children from Eggbuckland National School also attended, with their mistress, Miss Hannaford.

The Reverend Pender Cudlip, vicar of Sparkwell Parish Church and rural dean, read the opening sentences; the Reverend E Roberts, vicar of Tamerton Foliot Parish Church, took the lesson; the Reverend J M Hodge read the committal portion of the service; and the Reverend J Hirst Haywood read the final part, during which the hymn "When our heads are bowed with woe" was sung.  The organist was Mr Norman Johns and the combined, surpliced choirs of Eggbuckland and Crabtree, under the direction of Mr Seymour, led the hymns.  The body was laid to rest in the family vault near the west door of the Church.