PILTON, DEVON Parish Registers---LETHBRIDGE- (Look up Request)

[nigelspicer]

Hello

Christopher Lethbridge of Westaway was born in 1654 and died in Pilton in 1713. He married Margaret Bourchier of Tawstock (I think in 1681 but not sure). They had 4 children (possibly more) -Mary, Christopher, Philip and Thomas. Please could someone with access to the PR's see if they can find their Baptisms- which I assume took place in Pilton.

Many Thanks

Nigel

[Old Bristolian]

Hi Nigel

I'm going to the NDRO later today - I'll check up for you

Steve

[Old Bristolian]

Hi Nigel

I've checked the PR transcription held at the NDRO today (I had a long wait for my appointment at the Hospital & didn't have the time to check the microfiche of the original as well) and found the following:
Marriage
 3 Jan 1681/2 Christopher Lethbridge gent & Mrs Margreat Bowtcher
Baps of their children (spellings vary! but Christopher is always "Gent")
14 Sep 1683 John
? Mar 1685 Christopher
27 Dec 1687 Mary
13 Dec 1693 Sara (buried 28 Sep 1704)
7 Apr 1698 Thomas
30 Jun 1700 Philip
Burial
30 Jun 1713 Christopher Lethbridge, gent.

There was no mention of Tawstock in the transcription, and there are Bourchier families in Pilton (not so grand as the Tawstock ones though). The "Mrs" before Margaret's name is interesting - was she a widow? The title indicates gentry possibly, though I would normally only expect to see it for a married woman. I didn't see a burial for the eldest son, John which I expected as he was not on your list

Steve

[nigelspicer]

Hello Steve

That was very kind of you to look into this for me- I was very pleased to see that you were able to confirm these people and a few more. I hope you had an equally beneficial visit to the NDH.
I am almost certain that Margaret Bowchier was the daughter of Phillip (died 1687 ae 64) and Agnes (died 1698 ae 66)- there is a floor slab in Pilton Church to this effect. I believe the father of Phillip was the Rev. Roger but I am now in uncertain territory. Possibly of Tawstock but I am unsure. I think Margaret had brothers Robert , Joshua and Richard. Phillip might have been of Landkey.
These are all interesting questions to which answers would be welcomed, but what I really want to know is who married Chistopher their son?
It's a who killed cock Robin question- nobody really yet has the answer. Some references ie the Milverton PR's say Mary Periam widow, others say Mary Cannon (but I think she married John Southey of Fitzhead and was his mother in law), and others say he married Mary Southey (who unsurprisingly was the daughter of Mary Cannon and John Southey). All we know is that it was a Mary! Even the numerous books about the descendant poet Robert Southey who quote his desire to inherit from his wealthy ancestors become unclear/even confused!
So if you're up for a challenge then this is a good local one. If not I thank you very much for the look up- greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Nigel

[ECW Lethbridge]

I have a Lethbridge family tree dating from c.1810.  It shows Christopher Lethbridge and his only child, Elizabeth Canon Lethbridge.  Elizabeth married Hugh Somerville and her son was called John Southey Somerville.  The tree is then added to at a later date noting John Southey Somerville died without issue in 1819.  You can trace these and other family members on www.thepeerage.com. 

[nigelspicer]

Hello ECW
Thank you for your reply. How interesting that you have such a record- I would love to know more about it's history etc. As you will know the peerage.com gives Mary Cannon as his wife and I'm guessing that this is reflected in your Family Tree. My own 'instinct' is that his wife was Mary Southey but as I said above all this is confused by the Milverton Parish Register which says he, or at least a Christopher Lethbridge (unlikely to be another), married Mary Periam, widow! I would really like to get to the bottom of this.
Any further information you perhaps have would be most welcome.
FYI Thomas , brother to Christopher, is my 7xGGF so I guess that makes us cousins of some sort!
Nigel

[ECW Lethbridge]

Nigel,
Christopher Lethbridge's younger brother Thomas married Sarah Periam of Milverton.  That is well documented.
Christopher may have remarried but the later - and hard to read - writing on the family tree I have (added in c.1850) says Christopher married "widow Dyke of Jettor in Co Somerset".  So far I have not been able to trace that reference.  If you manage to please let me know.
Best wishes, Edward

[nigelspicer]

Edward
Thank you for your reply. That reference to Mary Dyke is interesting because I was aware that a Christopher Lethbridge married widow Mary Dyke in Milverton on 10 Nov 1735 but wasn't sure if it was the same Christopher. Clearly the writer on your Tree thought it was.
That now makes 4 possible Mary's who married Christopher ie Mary Southey, Mary Cannon, Mary Dyke and also I have a National Archive record dated 1718 that says 'Christopher Lethbridge ..... and Mary Lethbridge his wife (late Mary Perriam)'. So that is all very confusing. He obviously had a thing for 'Mary's'!
Please let me know if you can provide any clarity. I will do likewise.
Nigel

[ECW Lethbridge]

Nigel,
How interesting.  You will have found out by now that Christopher is the most common name in the Lethbridge family.  Every branch I've come across has it in almost every generation.  For example, Christopher Lethbridge's father was a Christopher as was his nephew (second son of Thomas Lethbridge who married Sarah Periam).  This has continued throughout the generations and one of my own middle names is Christopher.  Good luck finding the right Christopher.
Best wishes, Edward