Mary Elizabeth (Cooney) Boyton Smith

Sister of Edward Cooney

Memories of My Great Uncle, Edward Cooney

by Helena Halpin

My Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth, was married to Sidney Boyton Smith, who was Rector in Bondleigh, West Devon, England. Edward Cooney was my Grandmother’s brother, which made him my Great Uncle. My (maternal) Grandmother spoke fondly about her brother Edward. She loved him and his work and agreed with Edward’s way of living.*   They were a very musical family and my mother, her brother Edward and their father (the Rector) often entertained the local people with musical evenings in various village halls.

I am not sure when Gans (her grandchildren called her Gans) started to follow Edward's religion, but I think she was very dissatisfied with her husband's church.  She said that while she was the Rector's wife she had to do all the wifely duties in the parish, and in the home, as well, of course.  I think she was dismayed by what she called "dressing up and play-acting," so I guess it must have been a rather "high" church of England. I am told that as long as her husband was alive, she performed all the usual Rector's wife's duties. (See Photo of Mary Elizabeth Boyton Smith)

Gans was offered financial help from the Church when her husband died in 1922 or 1923, which was a year or two before my parents were married. She refused it because she felt it would be an immoral thing to do, in view of the way she felt about the Church. Although my Mum and her younger sister and brother were still in her care, Gans moved to a cottage in Newton Poppleford and trusted God to provide. Newton, Poppleford is a little place a few miles east of Exeter in Devonshire. I don't know when Gans and Edward's father died (William R. Cooney), but I think it must have been before the 1920's, as my mother spoke of visiting her grandparents as a girl.

Gans never returned to an organised Church. Often little groups of her friends worshipped in her home. I was only about 5-8 years old in those days and had to be quiet for what seemed like hours! I didn't take part in these meetings. Gans played the piano beautifully and I remember that we sang hymns and old folk songs and some made-up songs too.

Gans knew a lady named Ellen Elliott** who used to come from time to time and stay with her. She was the widow of the late Thomas Elliott. As a young child I remember asking Mrs. Elliott where she lived. She told me that she lived wherever she was needed. She had only a very small suitcase and that puzzled me. I asked, "But where are all your things?" She said that except for what was in her case, everything was provided for her as she travelled about. I was very fond of Mrs. Elliott, and when I visited Gans, I was glad if Mrs. Elliott happened to be there at the time. Mrs. Elliott must have visited some time in the 1930's I think.  She might have come in the 1940's also, but that would have been during the war and people travelled very little then.  I do not know where she came from. (See Photo of Elliotts) Story of Tom & Ellen Elliott

I met my Great Uncle Edward twice when he stayed with Gans in Clevedon, Somerset. I was in my teens, and I took an instant liking to him, even though I only saw him briefly. He was interested in my life and quite uncritical. As children, my brother and I collected stamps for him. Why--I can’t remember!

According to Patricia Roberts, Uncle Edward preached in the U.K., USA, Canada Australia and New Zealand. As I remember it, we knew that he travelled all over the place, though we never asked about specific places. I wish I had been more interested at the time when there were people to ask. Alas, now they are all gone.

My husband Rick and I now live in Duncan on Vancouver Island, having come to Canada in1954. We are approaching our 60th anniversary in February, 2009 and I couldn't have wished for a better mate. We have 2 sons, one adopted and one homemade, Mark and Chris, who are now 50 and 51, both are fine fellows and both have 2 children apiece. 

My parents came to join us in Duncan when they were in their 70’s and 80’s. My father was a solid Anglican and went to St, Johns here. Mum had been looking for a small group to join when a neighbour suggested that she might enjoy the services she went to. So, off they went and Mum remarked that they bore some resemblance to a group her uncle started. When the neighbour heard his name, she was amazed. "This is the same group," she said. So mum went to their services, and sometimes Dad or I joined her, but not very often. She seemed happy although she refused to be baptised. She just didn't want to make that commitment. We all liked the people and went to some of their social events and felt quite at ease.  Though she had been baptized as an infant, they pressured her to be baptised when Mum was nearing the end of her life here. But she told me that she felt that they were not really Uncle Edward's people, though very kind but "not quite right." As far as I know, Mum was baptised in the Church of England.

I go to our local Anglican church, and sometimes Rick comes with me, or he did before he became so ill. It is a warm and caring church and the people are wonderful. They are a great support to both of us. The Cowichan valley is an old established area, mostly rural with Duncan as the central town (population about 5,000) Many of the people are descendants of the original settlers.

By Helena Mary (Baker) Halpin
83 years old in 2008

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*Wikipedia: Bondleigh is a village and civil parish in the West Devon district of Devon, England, on the River Taw, north of North Tawton. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 123. The church, though 15th century, has traces of a norman window above the chancel, as well as other Norman features: carved stones in the walls, the baptismal font and a tympanum. There are old bench-ends, and 15th century glass. In the churchyard is the shaft of its ancient cross, possibly once a megalith.

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