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William Henry Webb born around 1817 in Plymouth, married in 1840 in Plymouth to Elizabeth Browning. Children: William H. Rablin Webb (1841-1841), Elizabeth J Webb (1843), William Henry Rablin Webb (1845), George Webb (1849).

The name William Henry Rablin Webb continued to be passed down over many generations in my family and I am very curious as to the origin of the Rablin part.

Thanks to someone who kindly emailed me, I may have an answer to the entry of Rablin into my family - it seems likely that Elizabeth Browning's mother was an Ann Rablin (married William Browning on 31 August 1805 in St Michael's Church, Bristol) and Elizabeth also had a brother called Henry Rablin Browning (baptised in Ottery St Mary, Devonshire, on 28 May 1809) as well as other siblings - records indicate they had moved to Plymouth by 1815. Elizabeth was baptised at the Batter Street Presbyterian Chapel on 17 November 1816 (her sister Eliza, born 19 November 1813, was baptised in the Batter Street Presbyterian Chapel on 27 February 1815).

It wouldn't surprise me if he lied so that he could go to war and, having looked at the birth registrations in Plymouth, there seems to be only one William Henry Webb registered in the first quarter of 1871 and that is William Henry R Webb my ancestor [although there is a William Henry G Webb registered slightly later that year], and I can't find one for 1881, so this really is looking more likely.

I know my grandfather lied to make himself a year older so that he would be eligible to join the RAF during WWII as he was underage, and I know that happened a lot during the war, so that wouldn't be surprising.

What I really can't understand is why this ancestor stayed in America when his family returned to and stayed in Plymouth, Devon, (right down to my own Grandfather who was born and raised there) ... and nobody in the family seemingly knew he was even still alive. Is that common? Does it lend credence to the idea that he and Mary divorced or at least parted ways for good?

It's interesting to find that I'm not the first person in my direct line to come to America

The information I have from the Devon Family History Society shows a William Hine marrying a Sarah Studley in 1787 in Clayhidon, which fits time-wise.

Would appreciate knowing who their other children were... and who Sarah's parents were.

I'm stuck >_<

I've just got a load of lovely details from Devon Family History Society but they are of no use to me as I am still unable to make the link between Elizabeth Hine born c1795 and who her parents were.

Elizabeth was, I believe, born in Awliscombe. She married John Trenchard in 1812 in Clayhidon. Most of her children were baptised in Hemyock, and the last four children were baptised in Upottery.

I would really appreciate suggestions on where I might find information on Elizabeth's baptism, or how else I might figure out parentage for this ancestor.

Thank you in advance for any assistance in this matter.

[EDIT: Subject Line Edited to reflect information I have found today - detailed in additional posts here]

Wow! So it looks like, presuming this turns out to definitely be my chap, that they got a divorce. I don't think anyone in the family is aware of this! But then, somehow, I seem to have become the family historian by default.

Very interesting Looks very promising that he is the one given that the age and length of marriage seem to match the rest of the information. I know that his wife Mary came from a large family in Plymouth (Frederick Coles of Messrs F J Coles & Company Ltd, tea merchants was her uncle) so if William wanted to stay in America and she wanted to return to England they may well have decided to divorce.

Thanks so much again for your kind help!