Ancestral Searches

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Helpers:		Click on photographs to enlarge in a separate window.   To reply, click on enquirer's name.

Ancestral Search 11

July 2018

What a find – the records of Yarcombe.   I have traced the ancestors of the Trenchards from Sampford Moor in Somerset (my great grandparents) back to one John Trenchard in Yarcombe.   I have approx dates of his birth, namely 1700, and death approx 1788, with records of his marriage to Mary Satterley m 14/2/1737, marriage to Sarah Spiller, m 30/10/1753, and finally, possibly, Elizabeth Board, m 5 Feb 1788.   Although I have some dates of birth and death for these ladies, I would appreciate it please if you could provide these accordingly.   Also their parentage. 

My biggest search however is for John Trenchards parents etc, as he is the last one my tree.

Michael Haynes

Steve Horner writes:   I have had a quick look at your enquiry.   Trenchard is not a name which can readily be associated with the Parish of Yarcombe in East Devon.   The records show John Trenchard did marry Mary Spiller-a local name- on 30^th October 1753 - Johns third wife.   Have you tried looking at the Trenchard family of Charminster?    Sorry I cannot help further, however if  you have other clues please let me know.

Michael Haynes replies:   Thank you for your recent reply expressing interest in what I have found out about Yarcombe Trenchards.   I have attached a file (see below), which I hope you can open giving data on John Tenchard from 1700 down to the latter Trenchards from Yarcombe.   If this works for you then I can put together more family descendants, who are not part of my ancestral tree, but never the less come from Yarcombe.   Please let me know if you would like me to repeat the exercise for the other Trenchards.

Ancestral Search 10

June 2018

I am researching my husband’s family and have just found the Yarcombe web page with all the interesting information it contains.  I was particularly interested in the Ancestral Searches page and the reply comments by Steve Horner to Lefayre Palmer’s enquiries regarding the Spiller family ( Ancestral Search 6 ).

My husband is Lyndon Spiller and below I give details of his family tree as far as we have been able to ascertain.    

I note that Timon and Abraham Spiller are listed in the Index to From Monks to The Millennium and wonder if it is possible to gain any further information about any of our  family members. 

Any help that you can give will be really appreciated. 

Yours sincerely, 

Julie Spiller

Steve Horner writes: Once again I am delighted to be able to try to help you.   There are still a good number of Spillers living hereabouts, however I strongly suspect their knowledge of the ancestors does not go back more than one or two generations!   It would certainly be a coup if we could find a Yarconian –or is it a Yarcombite? who is related to one of the Pilgrim Fathers.   Do you have a copy of ”From Monks to the Millennium”?   If you do not please look at the index to any particular Spiller and I will scan the entry for you.

Julie Spiller replies: Thanks for your prompt response.   No, I do not have a copy of the book but note that Abraham Spiller and Timon Spiller are both listed.   Amy Spiller could be Abraham’s daughter and there is also a Robert – but then there were so many Roberts in the church register that it could be any one of them.   I am currently working my way through the register and finding that there were so many Spillers listed as well families who married into the Spiller clan.   If you could scan a copy of relevant information for Abraham and Timon it may give me some background information.   Unfortunately we will not be any help with your dream of finding someone who is related to the Pilgrim Fathers.   Our grandfather left England later and finally settled in Australia – which is where we are living – even though my email may suggest USA.

Steve Horner replies: See Documents 1 to 4, below.   One reason that we know so much about our local history is that most of the land in the Parish belongs to one family, who are descended from Sir Francis Drake of Armada fame, and this family or perhaps their lawyers presented all the estate records to the Devon County Record Office.   From a quick glance your family appear to have Baptist connections.   The Baptist Chapel is still a thriving congregation.   If I can help further please let me know.

	Document 1	Document 2	Document 3	Document 4

Julie Spiller replies: Thanks for the help on the Spiller family.  It has been most useful.  The information on Brimbley, Broadly and Livenhayes was most interesting.   I am now following down the families of the wives of the Spillers.   Abraham Spiller married Elizabeth Clarke – daughter of Naboth Clarke.  I am wondering if your helpful book – or any other source has information on Naboth Clarke or any other members of that family.   Naboth Clarke and Elizabeth Stickland married in April 1770 at Yarcombe.  I believe that Naboth and Elizabeth had at least seven children -Elizabeth, James, Richard, Mary, Grace, James and Sarah between 1772 and 1781.   I believe that Naboth died around 1784.   Elizabeth Stickland’s parents were John Stickland and Mary (?Dean).   Abraham’s son Naboth Spiller married Elizabeth or Eliza Knight daughter of James and Elizabeth Knight.  I note that on page 50 there is reference to James Knight being one of those who were trustees of the Yarcombe Baptist Church in 1854.   Any further information you may have on any of these will be really appreciated.

Steve Horner replies:  I am delighted to be able to help you.   Herewith information on Naboth Clarke, Document 5, below.   The author of the book, Ruth Everitt spent time in the Devon Records Office so the letter which provided her with this information must be on file.   Also information on John Stickland of Moorpit farm, Document 6, who is almost certainly one of your forebears.   Document 7 is another Stickland but dated 1832.   Your reference on page 50 is to James Knight  Marsh Chapel - Marsh being a hamlet in Yarcombe Parish - this chapel was closed in the 1970s.   I am not certain where the original Charter  can be found, perhaps in the records of Yarcombe Baptist church.   If you can provide me with further details of Naboth Spiller marriage to Eliza Knight I will further research this line for you.   The name Spiller is very common in these parts.   I look forward to hearing from you again.

	Document 5	Document 6	Document 7

Ancestral Search 9

June 2018

I am researching my maternal family side of the family tree.   My grandmother Harriet Carter, according to census records was born in Yarcombe in 1905.   Her father was called Jabez Carter, her mother was Bessie, and she had two sisters Eva Dorothy and May and one brother Frederick George who are also recorded as having being born in Yarcombe.

I wondered if anyone knew where the Carter family lived in the village and any other interesting information about the Carter family.

Thank you for your assistance,

Ana Collingridge
 

Peter Tarrant writes: Dick and Dorothy Carter passed away some time ago but lived in a small cottage called Cornhill, on a road to the south off the A30.   If this turns out to be relevant I can point out some photos of the building on the Photographs pages.   The new owner has made (and is still making) extensive changes since, though.   I have alerted our local expert Steve Horner, so you may hear from him soon.

Ancestral Search 8

January 2018

Hi, my name is Jennie.   I have been doing research into my family tree and am looking for any help that anyone may be able to give me.

I am currently trying to find any information on the Lenthal family of Yarcombe in Devon.   I know that Ann Lenthal was  born in 1734 and my 6 times Great Grandmother.   She died in 1829 in Yarcombe.   I know that she married John Loosemore of the same parish born 1730.   I am looking for information on her parents.   I believe that her mother's name may have been Jane.

I have a rare genetic variant called G-Norfolk and am trying to trace my ancestry as it means that I am of Mediterranean and African origin.   I am wondering if the Lenthal family may be the key to solving the mystery.

 Thank You, 

Jennie Brock

Steve Horner replies:   I cannot help on Lenthal side, however it would appear that the Loosemore connection I may have more positive information.   There is a farm in the northern part of our Parish, called Northam’s which has belonged to the Yarcombe Estate for many generations – the estate was founded by Sir Francis Drake.   In 1798 the Tenant was John Loosemore  and between 1810-1832 the tenant was James Loosemore.

If you can send me a link to the Yarcombe lineage of your family I may be able to help further, indeed you may wish to see a map of the parish which I will willingly send to you. 

There is one other clue with which I may be able to assist.   In 1580 the Zane family lived in the house I now own and it is believed this family originated in Venice.   Perhaps this may be where your genetic G-Norfolk gene came from?   Who knows – it’s a long shot.

Ancestral Search 7

January 2018

I have just come across this site and wonder if you can help me find out who my Great Great Grandmother's parents were.   Her name was Sarah Vincent from Yarcombe - she married William Hodges on 21/2/1821 at Ruishton.   I found the Marriage Certificate but there were only two names as witnesses - Abraham Grabham and Harriet Hobby, so a bit of a dead end.   These names are not in  the Hodges family as far as I know.   My maiden name was Hodges.

It’s a bit of a long shot but maybe if there are any Vincents still around there who possibly did some research I would love to hear about  it.

Regards,

J Hignell
 

Ancestral Search 6

November 2017

I am researching my Spiller family of Yarcombe Devon and have just come across the wonderful publication of Yarcombe Voices.  It is wonderful to learn of people who endeavour to keep alive the history of their community.

The earliest Spiller I have is one born in 1553 in Yarcombe.   He had a son Robert whose son William married Joane Warren, daughter of Edmund Warren and Mary Warren.   I am coming across pedigrees taking Mary back to Richard Warren a Mayflower Pilgrim.   I am descended from Jane on the attached file (reproduced below).

It would be lovely if I could be in contact with any Spiller or Warren descendants still in Yarcombe and to discover if any of them have any knowledge of a supposed descent from Richard Warren who went to America as a Mayflower pilgrim.

Having also discovered the web site Yarcombe.net I am impressed with this great and wonderfully presented source of information regarding the home of my ancestors.

In grateful anticipation of any help you are able to afford me.

Sincerely,

Lefayre Palmer nee Heslehurst

My ancestry comes to me through my paternal grandmother Laura Elizabeth Heslehurst nee Wilkinson.

Outline Descendant Report for William Spiller:

Steve Horner writes:   I have just read your note posted on our website and in this message I will try and give you some initial information about Yarcombe which has a rich and interesting history.   There are indeed members of the Spiller family still living in our Parish and the Parish records are littered with reference to them, but as far as I am aware not one mention of the Warren family.   There is a very good book that records the history of Yarcombe, "From Monks to The Millennium" written by Ruth Everitt which I helped her compile and from which the document (right) is scanned.   The scan of the index demonstrates the multitude of references in the book to the Spiller family and if you spot a particular name of interest I would be pleased to send you more information.  Basically our community is a rural parish in East Devon comprising about 500 persons in widely scattered farms.   The ownership of much of the Parish goes back to the time of Sir Francis Drake whom as a reward for helping Queen Elizabeth 1 was given tracts of land hereabouts and the ownership has remained in the same family, but not direct descendants, ever since.   I have also spotted the name Newberry which family also owned land in the south of the parish in the 17th century.  You have hit upon a rich vein of history and if I can I will assist you further.   I would appreciate some more background of your own family and of course the important connection to The Mayflower Pilgrims.

Ancestral Search 5

 

				I am hoping that someone out there could give me any information about my grandmother's family the Paull's of Yarcombe.   Any help would be gratefully received.   I have several photos of the Paull family, particularly of my great great grandfather (pictured left) on an early 1900s postcard with the caption printed on the front "Yarcombe's oldest parishioner".   The Paull's were connected to several other Yarcombe families such as the Bright, Harris and Vincent family. Ellen Hawkins (nee Harris) is connected to the Paull line via the Harris family. My great grandmother was Mary Jane Harris (married to Thomas Paull).   Not exactly sure what relation that would make Ellen to me, but we are connected somewhere along the line. Alan Bartlett
James Paull, 1824-1914				Sep 2017

Hawkins family Stockhouse Yarcombe		Hawkins family details		Ellen Hawkins Stockhouse Yarcombe
Steve Horner writes:  I have had a quick look at the census records and in 1911 James Paull was living in Crislands which is a cottage about ˝ mile from the centre of the village.   According to the 1901 census he was living in Webble Green just across the Yarcombe Parish border In Membury.   The photos you sent are quite exceptional especially of the pig cull, all the family obviously taking part - my guess is that the photo was taken in about 1900.   I do not recognise the farm , so I suspect it may be in Membury - I will make enquiries. I know an Accountant who lives in Chard called Ed Paull, perhaps he is a relation?   The name Paull with a double ll is perhaps unusual.   Do you have any knowledge of your family tree? Following Steve Horner's research, Alan replied:   Thank you very much for the info, Steve.   The Paull family are definitely more connected to Membury than Yarcombe, but like you said, the border between the parishes is very close.   I have done a fair bit of research into the family history.   The family has some connection to a few Yarcombe families through marriages.   I had a chance to have a look at the gravestones in Yarcombe churchyard and noticed several family names that I regonised (Bright, Harris, Hawkins, Vincent etc).   If you have access, you may care to have a look at my Spurway family tree on ancestry.co.uk.   Interesting to hear about someone in Chard with the name Paull.   The double L not being all that common, so I would definitely we must be related some where along the line. The photo of the pigs being cut up is a great picture, so amazingly clear so that you can see incredible detail. (like the water running from tap into the tub in the background).   They definitely weren't a family of vegetarians ... again many thanks.    Alan.

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		This photo is a bit of a mystery.   Does anybody know where this was taken?   I assume this is a farm building. Is it in Yarcombe or perhaps Membury?   Who are the people in the picture?   Does anybody know who they are or where it was taken?   It has always intrigued me...even if nobody recognises it, it is still a great photo showing life in days gone by. Alan Bartlett

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Ancestral Search 4

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CAN YOU HELP ME TRACE MY LOOSEMORE RELATIVES?

My name is Gary Brennan; my mother's name was Millicent Loosemore, born to John Loosemore who was born in Yarcombe in 1865.   I came here recently to retrace his steps to moving to the USA and in the hope of getting in touch with any other Loosemores in our clan in the area.   If you know any and they would like to find out about John, please would you ask them to email me at:

garyb1956@comcast.net or 1(559)351-6165 by phone.

Thank you for your attention,

Gary Brennan

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Ancestral Search 3

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I am a Bowyer from Canada, and am researching my roots to your beautiful area, does anyone you know have any suggestions for me?   Sad to hear about the Inn, it looks great!

Chris Bowyer
Canada

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Ancestral Search 2

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Researching my family history I have an ancestor called William Michael Laurence, who, according to his death certificate lived at The Vicarage, Yarcombe, as a retired fruit farmer.   His wife was called Louisa.   He died 29 March 1954.   Please could you tell me whether there are any local memories of him or his wife?
 
Thankyou for your time and patience.
 
Kind Regards,
 
Paul Brookes

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Ancestral Search 1

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I wonder if you can help me?   I am the Great Granddaughter of Mary Hurford who married James Willie in 1873 and who lived in Yarcombe at Holly Cottage.   Many times as a little girl my Grandmother told me stories of her Mother who was a wonderful lady, she was not only a herbalist but midwife to the local people who would walk miles across the fields to ask for her help and advice.   She was also a wonderful seamstress and gardener growing all her own  herbs for her medicines.   She also kept a pig and chickens so she was virtually self-sufficient apart from general supplies which once a month she would walk across the fields 8 miles there and back to Honiton to buy.

I grew up in Yeovil and my Grandmother and Grandad also moved there from Chard after they were married, so as a little girl I loved to hear all their stories.

A few years ago I tried to find my Holly Cottage but was not successful, I am enclosing some old photos for you to see, they are of my Great-grandmother, my Grandmother and her sister Sarah Ellen, also the cottage and garden, maybe, just maybe you will be able to tell me if the cottage is still standing! I would love to know.   I now live in Teignmouth and am coming up to 76 years old (Mar 2017)!!   It would be lovely to have some history to pass  on to my children, Grandchildren and Great grandchildren!!

I look forward to hopefully hearing from you and thank you in advance. 

Kind regards and best wishes,

Joan Quinlan (Mrs)

UPDATE

It is believed the property referred to as Holly Cottage was more likely to have been Manning Common Cottage at Manning Common, close to Black Allers, a short distance from, and the other side of the A303 from Knighthaynes Farm and Cottage.   Unfortunately the building was demolished, it is believed, in the 1930s, although this has yet to be verified.   During investigations it was found that a great uncle of Joan's, Jack Willie, who was believed lost at sea during WWI actually died of pneumonia whilst still on active service in 1919 in Malta and a photograph of his grave there was obtained.   Memorials, including one to J H Willie, can be seen in the Baptist Chapel here in Yarcombe (see the World War I page).

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