Hi David
Is the death announcement the same one I saw, Mo? A report of the death?
From the Times, stating that
On Wednesday afternoon, 9 Jun 1858
John DEWDNEY of Staplake-House, near Starcross
He had been to Hele near Bradninch.....where he had formerly carried on extensive paper mills....killed (
gorily reported, I might add!), while he was crossing the tracks at Hele train station to get to what he (mistakenly) believed was his train home, and despite the efforts of a station employee to restrain him.. He was aged beteween 60 & 70 and had only days previous attended the wedding of a daughter.Or have I missed something..........
I can't see a John DEWDNEY death of FreeBMD registered in the Tiverton or St Thomas districts:
Starcross, nr Kenton - falls under the St Thomas reg, District.
Hele village near Bradninch - falls under the Tiverton reg, District
If he died at Hele train station - should be registered under Tiverton. If they took him back to Starcross area, then maybe ST Thomas?
In FreeBMD, I see only the following in the right sort of place & time : Death: Jun Qtr 1858
William Sweitland DEWDNEY - St Thomas - 5b, pg 43
Who I think is William Sweetland DEWDNEY, brother possibly? of the following fellow, who is also deceased by 1861:
1841: at Nr 6 Bedford Circus, Bedford Precinct, City of Exeter, Devon
HO107 / Piece 266 / Book: 3 / Folio: 1 / Page: 1
J S DEWDNEY 41, Printer - Y
Mary DEWDNEY 38 - Y
Mary DEWDNEY 1 - Y
Charlotte COLMAN 20, F.S. - Y
Christiana CLARK 25, F.S. - Y
1851 at 6 Bedford Circus, Bedford Precinct, City of Exeter, Devon
HO107 / Piece: 1869 / Folio: 165 / Page: 52
Head: John S DEWDNEY 51, Printer & Newspaper Proprietor, b Exeter, Devon
Wife: Mary, 47, b Bramford Speke, Devon
Dau: Mary 10, Scholar at Home, b Exeter
Dau: Jaquetta S , 6, Scholar at Home, b Exeter
Son: John S, 4, b Exeter
Governess: Cecelia WILLIAMS 19, unm, Governess, b Tolmer Devon
Serv: Charlotte HAMMOND 25, unm, House Servant, b Roborough, Devon
Serv: Ann PASCOE 18, unm, House Servant, b Woodford Cornwall
1861: at Reeds Vale, West Teignmouth, Devon
RG9 / Piece: 1400 / Folio: 16 / Page: 25
Head: Mary DEWDNEY 50, Gentlewoman, b Bramford Speke, Devon
Dau: Mary 20, unm, b Exeter
Dau: Jaquetta S., 16, unm, b Exeter
Serv: Lucey BURRIDGE 17, unm, Servant, b Crediton, Devon
Then there are deaths :
John Swelland DEWDNEY, Jun Qtr 1856, Exeter
John Sweetland DEWDNEY, Sep Qtr 1852 Brentford
Since a John DEWDNEY was in the Devon paper industry since at least 1673, it seems from this
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/media/pdf/s/d/Exwick_final.pdfI guess you're quite right - a number John DEWDNEY Jnrs likely running about in the following centuries....
The specific John DEWDNEY Jnr you are researching, what do you have on him that is concrete - where you know him to be, well, him

Cheers
AMBLY