Malachy Benalacke

[J11]

I have a birth for my 9xG Grandfather Sampson Bennalacke in 1615, son of Malachy, St Ewe Parish.  To be honest, I am stunned to have got so far back.  I have noticed on a couple of sites to which I don't have access that some trees have a birth of 1580 for Malachy/Malachi Bennalacke/Benallack/Benhallick.  I can't find any record to substantiate this.  Can anyone suggest where I might look for corroboration?

[osprey]

well it's not on the opc database which has good coverage for St Ewe baptisms, it's not on FamilySearch & it's not on the Cornwall Family History Society index of baptisms. Early registers can be difficult to read, faded & have parts missing. This is a page from 1614 from Sithney

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01gae/ 

There is a baptism 6 April 1595 for John, son of John Benadlocke.
The record office in Truro has 2 wills for John Bonallacks of that period
AP/B/347 Will of John Bonallack of St Ewe 1614
AP/B/409 Will of John Bonallack of St Ewe 1618-1619
There's also a will for Malachi
AP/B/1080 Will of Malachi Benallack, tinner of St Ewe 1643 (nuncupative will & inventory)

[J11]

Thanks.  I'd looked at those sources too so you've confirmed that I haven't missed anything, easily done these days - I think I need to upgrade my specs!  One source also gave a marriage of c1607. How can it be circa in the 17thC?  They've either found it or not, surely.  I'm wondering if someone is averaging and the others are copying.  I came across this once before, a certain Fiona got my hopes sky high for a baptism for my 4xG Grandfather in a Scottish parish with very limited records.  I thought she must have a family bible or something.  It took me ages to track her down and then she told me that she couldn't find anything so had gone on average age at marriage etc.  Apparently a site on which she was putting her tree wouldn't allow entries unless she put a d.o.b.  Not impressed.

Once again thank you for sharing your expertise in Cornwall.  I'm like a fish out of water south of the border.

[nanny jan]

I had a quick look at some of the online trees; they either have no source, have "other family trees" as the source, or state that year and place of birth are guesses.


Nanny Jan

[osprey]

think I agree with your thoughts about someone averaging & others copying.

I've had a look at Phillimore's marriages for the parish & can't see any Benallack  + variant male marriages. I could understand an approx. date if someone could see the entry but the date was illegible.

You could contact the opc to see if there any difficult entries that could contain the records

http://www.cornwall-opc.org/Par_new/e_g/ewe_st.php

Have you checked the surrounding parishes?

http://www.cornwall-opc.org/MAPS/parish_map.pdf

[J11]

Yes, until I'm blue in the face.  I'm being greedy, just couldn't believe how complete and far back these Cornish records go.  All set to reach Adam and Eve!  I take my hat off to the people who transcribed all those old entries.  What a fantastic achievement.  And thank you for your continuing help.

[osprey]

thanks for the thanks. I also transcribe for the opc database, so glad you're enjoying it. Suspect I spend too much time on here when I'm meant to be doing some of the early stuff as I can only manage about a page a day.