Devon Family History Society Research Request – Louisa Sanders, West of England School for the Deaf, 1836 Dear Devon Archives and Local Studies, I am researching my direct ancestor's sister, Louisa Sanders (also possibly spelled Saunders), and would like to determine whether she was actually admitted to and attended the West of England School for the Deaf and Dumb in Exeter. I have obtained the Devon Family History Society transcription of the school's Admissions Register, 1827–1836, Devon Record Office reference 7645. It contains the following entry: Louisa SANDERS Father: Edward Mother: Elizabeth Residence: Moretonhampstead Birth or baptism: 23 December 1827 Application: January 1836 The published transcription explains that this register records applications but does not state whether a child was accepted. It also states that lists of charity pupils appeared in the school's annual reports. I would therefore like to request a very specific search for Louisa Sanders/Saunders in the surviving records of the school, concentrating on: 1. The 1836 minutes or pupil-election records, to determine whether Louisa was elected or accepted for admission. 2. The 1837 annual report, and if necessary the immediately following annual reports, to determine whether she appears among the charity pupils actually attending the school. 3. Any entry found for Louisa that gives additional information about her admission, parents, parish, financial support, schooling, length of attendance, or departure from the institution. If an entry is found, I would very much like a digital image or copy of the original record, if permitted. I am particularly interested in whether parish officials were involved in Louisa's admission or maintenance, because her parents, Edward and Elizabeth Saunders, were subsequently recorded as living in a Parish House in North Bovey. I am not requesting a general search of the Saunders family; my principal question is simply: Was Louisa Sanders/Saunders, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth, actually admitted to and educated at the West of England School for the Deaf following her January 1836 application? Please let me know the estimated research and copying charge before undertaking any work beyond the minimum necessary to answer this question. Thank you very much for your assistance. Sincerely, Jan Gunther
Looking at the 1841 and 1851 census she appears to be at home with parents, and on 1851 listed as deaf and dumb. It would appear that the school was residential, and there may be records of any pupils admitted as charity cases. There is an entry on National archives site giving details of a report held at Somerset Heritage centre, ref DD/WY/170 by Wyndham of Wyndham abbey in 1939. Might be worth looking at. I dont think she went there, if she did she would probably have stayed there for some time, in 1836 she would have been about 9. Perhaps she did not like it, and the family could afford to keep her, her father was a mason, a skilled man. They were living in North Boveyin 1841, and 1851 in Tormoham both some distance from Exeter, which might have been a factor in decision making.
