JUST over 130 years ago a hamlet near Tavistock witnessed a tragic ending to an unhappy love affair.

A couple who have been researching their family history stumbled across the sad story, which took place in a farm at Redstock, between Tavistock and Launceston, back in 1879.

Ian and Pam McMillan from Harcombe, near Lyme Regis, have been delving into Pam's family tree and they have discovered that she has a connection with West Devon.

Ian said: 'We have been digging into my wife's ancestry and it transpires that she has a family connection to Milton Abbot. 

'Her great great grandfather, Richard Hoar, in 1879, was the innkeeper of the New Inn, Milton Abbot, which no longer exists, but was situated opposite the lychgate of St Constantine's Church.

'He had a son, Harry, who was a tailor and was engaged to a local farmer's daughter called Mary Ann Peardon, and he came to a tragic end in Milton Abbot.'

The end for Harry was printed in length in an addition of the Tavistock Gazette on January 24, 1879.

The copy, obtained from The British Library, gives an account of the event and the inquest, which was actually held in the New Inn in Milton Abbot.

One section reads:

'A young man named Richard Hoar (Harry), aged 22, was engaged to Mary Peardon, a young woman, aged 17, living with her father, a farmer, at Redstock, between Tavistock and Launceston.

'Recently in consequence of the young man speaking foolishly regarding her moral character, the father of the girl broke off the match.

Hoar took this most seriously, and on Friday afternoon went to the farm to see the girl, but she refused to resume their former engagement.

'Thereupon Hoar proceeded into Tavistock and purchased a pair of pistols, some small shot, and powder.

'Returning to the farm and walking in at the doorway of the kitchen, he perceived Miss Peardon, whom he directed to follow him into the parlour.

'Repeating his former questions, and receiving an answer still in the negative, he at once, and without manifestation of the slightest hesitation, drew the two pistols he had already charged with shot, and presenting the barrel of one to the girl's head, fired.

She received the charge in the left side of the cheek, owing, probably, to her raising her head and turning it away as soon as she saw the pistol levelled at her.

'With the second pistol the young man shot himself, but neither wound was fatal. The girl ran into an adjoining room and was there found by her relatives.

'The left side of her face is terribly injured, but her wounds are not likely to prove fatal.

'The man staggered from the parlour into the farmyard, and then fell. When picked up, he recovered consciousness, and exclaimed "Bury me with Polly; I did it for love".

'The shot had taken effect in the throat, and the injuries are such that he can take no nourishment.

'On Sunday he was removed from the farm to his own home. He lingered until between five and six o'clock on Monday morning, when he died.'

Ian said: 'Our interest, apart from the family connection to Harry Hoar, the perpetrator, is more of curiosity about the outcome and prosperity of Mary Ann Peardon, the history of Milton Abbot New Inn, and the whereabouts of Redford Farm.

'Mary Ann Peardon apparently was permanently scarred from the incident but I have found out that she got married in 1885 to John Toms Mudge, a miller from Lamerton Mills, and was at the mill at least until 1901.

'What became of Mary Ann Mudge and her offspring? I don't know if she had any children, but I believe Mudge is a fairly common name in the Tavistock area.'

Harry was buried in the St Constantine's graveyard.

l If anyone has any information which could help Ian and Pam, please email them at [email protected]">[email protected]