The historical Tom Cobley Uncle Tom Cobley

whether tom cobley, or other characters song, ever existed uncertain. local historians have attempted trace them in , around dartmoor (for if did ride fair @ widecombe, may have travelled distance).

there suggestion relatives have been traced family had moved plymouth in 1900s, no longer hold name cobley.

the strongest claim held village of spreyton, north of moor, churchyard indeed contain grave of tom cobley, buried 11 january 1844. said grave of nephew of real tom cobley, died in 1794 , grave unmarked. cobley disapproved of nephew , kept him out of (signed @ pascoe house, colebrooke). house @ butsford barton, colebrooke, supposed have been home of uncle tom cobley.

old ‘uncle tom’ said have been amorous bachelor , when young had bright red hair. characteristic seems have been advantage, when paternity orders came in thick , fast, refused maintain babies did not have red hair himself.

the village has made of link folk song. has tom cobley cottage , tom cobley tavern . there appears have been bill brewer lived in nearby sticklepath, , pearse family ran local mill; in sticklepath there grave of tom pearse died in 1875. however, there remains doubt whether same tom pearse features in song since earliest recorded widecombe fair held in 1850.

early in 20th century, novelist beatrice chase presented uncle tom smock organisers of fair, , local resident dressed uncle tom appears @ festivities every year, complete grey mare.