Hi Cheran,
I know this post was some written some time ago but I thought I would like to clear some things up and also assist anyone following this post.
I can confirm than the mother of Simons Westlake was Grace Kimber.
I have seen images of the North Lew parish records (not just the transcript)
On the marriage to Grace Glass on 29 Mar 1767 John was noted as a Sojourner and his occupation was a Carpenter. John was able to sign his name and he had a distrinctive W. Sadly Grace was buried on 14 Apr 1774, after the birth or their daughter Grace.
John then married Mary Gale on 16 Dec 1774. Once again his occupation was Carpenter and signed the certificate with the same distinctive W.
John Westlake who married Grace Kimber on 31 Mar 1783 was noted as a Husbandman and was unable to sign his name. This clearly shows the two John's were different and since Grace Glass was deceased by the time Simon was born his mother must have been Grace Kimber.
Our John was living with Simon during the 1841 Census and his age was 80 (b. 1761), however the transcriber rounded the adults up / down 5 years. However his burial recond (7 Oct 1847) gives his as as 92 (b. 1755).
There were 3 x John's baptised around this time frame
John Westlake, son of John & Jane baptised 10 Mar 1755. This John must have been a sickly child as he had a private baptism. Sadly was buried 2 Apr 1755.
John Westlake, son of Robert & Mary baptised 5 Dec 1755. Sadly this John was buried 9 Sep 1759. The family was from Inwardleigh.
This leaves the last candident and this is who I believe is the father of Simon Westlake. John Westlake son of John Westlake & Susanna was baptised 23 Jan 1757. I will now call this John, John Jnr and his father John Snr
There is no marriage record in North Lew for a John & Susanna so this is as far as I can confidently go.
A baptism of note was for George Westlake son of John baptised 26 December 1762. On the certificate it is stated that he was from Gorsen. This is the first mention I have located that mentions the property Gorsen which is where Simon & his family was living in 1841. I believe the father John on this certificate is John Snr.
This I find interesting as on the marriage certificate of John Jnr he is noted as a Husbandman. My understanding is that Husbandman did not actually own the land. On the birth certificate of Simon's son George he is listed as a Yeoman living at Gorson, Northlew. This means Simon owned the property. This is also confirmed by the Northlew Tithe Apportonment (1843) that lists Simon as the occupier and owner of several portions of land known as Gorson. Simon is a Yeoman on the baptism record of his oldest son Simon John in 1832. So here is the interesting part. John Snr was living in Gorson around 1762. As far as I can tell John Jnr never owned the land but Simon did in 1843. Does this mean they were originally tenant farmers and at some stage Simon was able to purchase the land or did he inherit it? I thought that this was unusual as John Jnr was alive and Simons older brothrs were still alive so he should not have been given it as inheritance?. If any one has any information that can clear this up I would love to hear from you.
Regards
Vicki
