Hello. I hope you can help me. My paternal grandmother was Gertrude Louise Sheppard (nee Early) and was born 4 August, 1887 in Dawlish, Devon. Her parents were Besse Hall (nee Hooper born 1852 in Totness, Devon) and Richard Dewdney Early (born March, 1854 in Listleigh, Devon). Richard's parents were William John Early, born 29 January 1826 in Stoke, Canon, Devon and his wife, Anne Early (nee Dewdney) born 22 July, 1827 in Chagford, Devon.

I believe there is a fountain and possibly a (sea) wall named after the Early family in Dawlish, Devon. My husband and I are coming from Australia and are due to visit this area in the coming weeks and we would love to be able to see some of my family's history - assuming that the research we have done is correct and that the family stories have not been distorted and embellished too much over the decades.

Could you please pass on my request to the appropriate people in your Historic Society? Any information that can be passed on to me would be gratefully accepted. Otherwise, please let me know where I could go while I am in your neck of the woods to find out more of my family history.

Thank you so much,

Jeanette Lee (nee Sheppard)

PS My Paternal Grandfather was Alfred Sheppard, born 7 November, 1892 in Devon. His parents were Rachel Ann Maria Sheppard (nee Parker) born September, 1858 in Lynton, Devonshire, and Henry Charles Sheppard born August, 1859 in Dillingham, Dorsetshire but they married in Barnstaple, Devonshire in 1884. As you can see we have strong connections to the Devon area.