I found an extensive list of records for a John Powes (1724-c.1800) written into a 17th century family bible. I have not been able to match these records despite making some searches, and unfortunately there is no comment as to where these people lived. However the Bible is English (a fairly typical pre-Civil War lumpy volume with prayer book, concordances and metrical psalms all bound in, parts published c. 1615-1630). The name 'Powes' is probably west-country or west Midland (?Shropshire) as a variant of 'Powys' though there could be other explanations. The book was found in a secondhand shop in central London in about 1977.
Anyway the records should be placed on record online in case somebody is in need of them, so here's the transcript, in the order they appear in the book. All the records are written out in full with the same formula, but I have put '(ditto)' to save space:
John the son of John Powes and Ann his wife was born October 26 1752.
Jane the daughter (ditto) was born December 26th 1754.
ffrancis the son (ditto) was born July 25th 1757.
Ann the daughter of John Powes and Ann his second wife was born July 23rd 1760.
Robert the son (ditto) was born December 24th 1761.
Richard the son (ditto) was born October 27th 1763.
William the son (ditto) was born September 21 1765.
Eleanor the daughter (ditto) was born June 30th 1767. Died 14 August 1797.
Betty the daughter (ditto) was born August 21st 1769.
Charles the son (ditto) was born July 13th 1771.
James the son (ditto) was born October 19th 1772.
Thomas the son (ditto) was born October 23rd 1773.
"John Powes was born the 26th January 1724 old style that is the 6th ffebruary 1725 New Style. Ann his wife was born 16th january 1732 old style that is the 27th January New Style. They were married November the 24th 1750 and the said Ann dyed July 16th 1759.
The aforesaid John Powes was born on the day mentioned and Ann his second wife was born the 5th day of March 1737 old style that is the 16th day of March 1738 New Style. They were marryed November the 8th 1759."
Judith the daughter of John Powes and Ann his second wife was born March 3rd 1775.
Patience the daughter (ditto) was born June 13th 1776.
Margarett the daughter (ditto) was born November 14th 1777.
Mary the daughter (ditto) was born December 2nd 1778.
Edward the son (ditto) was born October 9th 1780.
"Ann dyed 17th October 1780 leaving 12 children living."
John Powes and Susanna his third wife were marryed March 13th 1781.
Mary Ann the daughter of John Powes and Susanna his third wife was born June 5th 1782.
Susanna the daughter (ditto) was born ffebruary 11th 1784.
Harriott the daughter (ditto) was born April 8th 1786.
"Susanna dyed 24th ffebry 1797 leaving three children. they were marryed 13th March 1781."
John Powes and Ann his fourth wife were marryed April 17th 1798.
I hope this may be of use to someone else. If anyone can tell me who they were or where they lived I should be delighted to find out! Poor Ann the second wife, she deserved a medal.
Earlier names in the same book include a Thomas Smith in the 1670s:
"Thomas Smith his hand and pen
God save the King and all his men
And if my pen it had ben better
It should have made a mery letter"
and Thomas Smith also writes "Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whilst the evill dayes Cum not nor the year draw ny where in thou shalt say I have no pleasuer in them" (from proverbs).
Also the name "Fra: Tompkins, his booke Annoque Domini 1733."
happy hunting,
Mercian
