Hi Jeni, welcome to Rootschat
This is bit out there, but I’m wondering if “Payne/Pain” can be equated with “Phineas”.
From Wikipedia, Payne: “... spelt in many forms including Pain, Payn, Payne, Paine, Paines, Paynes, Pagan, Pagon and Fitzpayn, is medieval English but of French and ultimately Roman origins. It derives from the pre 7th century personal name "Pagen", itself from the word "paien" and the earlier Latin "paganus".
And “Phineas” comes from the Egyptian “Panhsj”.
So, although etymologically different, there could have been a crossover in common usage.
From familysearch.org, there is a Phineas Stringer christened 8 December 1702 in Sibertswold (modern day Shepherdswell, I think), Kent, to John Stringer and Hester (no ms).
Then there is a Phinis Stringer christened 6 October 1730 in St Mary the Virgin, Dover, Kent to Phinis Stringer and Susannah (no ms). Probably the son of the previous one. There are a number of children christened to Phinis the first and Susannah, and to the second with wife Affra Rouse. The spelling varies between Phineas, Phinehas and Phinis. Some unusual names appear: Easter, Batchelor, Dilnut(!), Affra.
Or - a couple of death dates (1783 and 1801) don’t line up with 1791 - so perhaps Phineas was a just a rellie to the elusive Payne/Paine. (Bugger!) But you might see a pattern with the names in the families of Payne and Phineas, so I’ll post this anyway.
Cheers,
Peter
