House and Home, family homes divided by conflict and by sea.

Two brothers living in a big family in Wolborough, Devon in the 1750's. One, Moses goes on to found the Vicary mill and tannery in Newton Bushell, Devon.  The other, John, goes to sea and eventually becomes captain of his own ship.  During the War of American Independence he sailed two different privateers probably breaking the blockade the British Navy placed on the East Coast ports.  His last voyage was to the West Indies in 1783 in the ship 'Diligent' during which he dies in a place called Paimbouef, in Western France most likely.  John's son William also became a merchant sea captain and made several trips to China and the East Indies. After his sea days he settles down on land in Columbia PA and then along the Ohio river near Ambridge and Freedom.  It is in Freedom, Pennsylvania that he builds his mansion in 1826. 
It is now a living museum for the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation .

https://bchrlf.org/

The Captain William Vicary Mansion, Freedom, Pennsylvania

 

Meanwhile back in Newton Abbot cousin Moses son, also Moses, grows the tannery business to become the largest employer in Newton Abbot,  thriving during the Napoleonic wars and surviving the slump that followed.  He has eight children , five sons and three daughters. All the sons appear to be involved in the various businesses and in the local Newton Abbot community, being aldermen, mayors, JP’s and the like.  They also give land to form the Newton Abbot racecourse.

On his death in 1855 Moses junior leaves each of his sons land and annuities with the bulk of the estate, including the tannery, to his son John.  When John died in 1880 he left six large houses to his various children, Broadmeads to son John, Churchills to son Robert, Dyrons to Charles.

Broadmeads, now demolished

 

Churchills, turned into a school, now a new housing estate

Bradley Manor

Dyrons, now part of Newton Abbot college.