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« on: Monday 24 March 14 17:44 GMT (UK) »
Hi, yes, I think you are right and have also pointed me onto the right track for more research. Given the practice of naming children after grandparents, uncles and aunts that seems to have been prevalent then, I'd bet that JBH was named Joseph after his uncle, making ESB his cousin.
It looks like an East Shilvinghampton and a West Shilvinghampton can still be found on the maps, just east of the Portesham area, but they look like just one farm and outbuildings in each case. The OS map mentions 'village earthworks' between the two locations, so presumably that was the old village site.
I'd guess that in the early 19th century it would have been a hamlet in its own right, but had no church. OPC lists it as one of the hamlets in the parish of Portesham.