"Balcarris" - can't find this place on the map, not in Cornwall anyway

[Bellejazz]

Hello all,

this little mystery concerns an ancestor of mine who immigrated to Australia in 1838. On the official record it looks like it says:

"native of Balcarris, near Foy, Cornwall"

but when I go onto google maps I can't find Foy (I suspect it may be Fowey?), and the closest thing to the name Balcarris is a Balcarres school in Gloucestershire!

Any ideas/suggestions?

Thanks,
B.

[Ruskie]

There is a Polkerris across the headland from Fowey. 

No idea if this could be the place - there may well be better matches for "Balcarris".

I think you are correct in that there are likely to be problems with interpreting the Cornish accent. Hopefully someone more familiar with the county and the speech will be able to help you.

Added: I also see a Boskerris but it is not near Fowey.

[Mair]

I think Polkerris is the place -Cornwall OPC has a transcription of the entry you show and following the information back, LDS Family Search have a parish entry for an Elizabeth  Bien being baptised in the same parish.  Speling and accents must play a part in the records of this line so the searches done were quite general

Good Hunting
M

[Ruskie]

Good find Mair. 

[KGarrad]

Fowey is indeed pronounced as "Foy" by native Cornishmen!

I, too, would plump for Polkerris.

[Bellejazz]

Goodness Ruskie & Mair, I think you solved it!

I had a look at that IGI entry Mair & the parents names match up so I think we actually have her.

Thanks so much, you have no idea how long I have been trying to get the the bottom of Elizabeth and where she came from, up until a few weeks ago I (along with lots of other people researching this line), even had the wrong mother for her.

But, finding this is just another small but not insignificant piece of the puzzle that is finally coming together.

Thanks again 

B.

[Mair]

  Happy to be of service !

Brick walls are there to be knocked down every now and again


M