Samuel Budd 

The story of the Budds of North Tawton is well chronicled.

Samuel Budd was born in St Colomb Minor, Cornwall, where his Grandfather had been the local clergyman, in about 1772. His parents, John Turnavine Budd and Mrs Ann Christian (nee Hiscutt) had married in 1770. (The following year his father was ordered to pay maintenance for Thomas, the illegitimate son of local girl Elizabeth Warmington.)

When aged 17, Samuel learnt his trade as a surgeon as an apprentice to William H Haywood in Bideford. From about 1796 he worked as a surgeon living in North Tawton, 3 miles to the west of Bow. In 1801 he married Catherine, daughter of wealthy farmer John Wreford of Natson, Bow.

For at least 6 years prior to 1827 he was also contracted with the Overseers of the Poor of Bow to provide medical services to the poor of the village.

His annual salary was ten pounds plus midwifery. He was also paid 2/6 to inoculate children against smallpox.

The Budds had ten children, and six of the nine sons became doctors. One son, William, is famous for his description of an outbreak of Typhoid Fever in 1839 in mid Devon which showed how the disease was spread from person to person. Richard Budd (1809-1896) received part of his education at Crediton Grammar School and later became a physician in Barnstaple.

Samuel Budd died in North Tawton in 1841 aged 69, after a long illness. Catherine lived to be 90. Their son Christian (1813 - 1891) took over his father's medical practice in North Tawton.

BUDD MEMORIAL STONE

There is a memorial stone commemorating Samuel and Catherine Budd, and their son Christian, in the burial ground at the chancel end of St Peter's Church in North Tawton.

I suspect it was erected after Christian Budd's death in 1891.

Most of the lead letters are missing but with the eye of faith the text can be made out.