Hello Folks, there is some unfortunately serious problems with the structures and names listed above - firstly, the Voke family of Somerset, at this point, has not been tied into the Vokey family of Newfoundland in anyway that I can see or figure out.
The William Voke who married on 26 January 1811 at Somerton, Somerset, was married to Sarah Peddle, as per the actual record and banns, not Sarah Strickland/Stickland. This William Voke and Sarah Peddle stay in England and in 1841 are listed in the census living with 5 children in Somerset. Hence this couple cannot be the William and Sarah Vokey that is mentioned as living in Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland at the beginning of the 1800's.
Additionally I cannot find any Philip and Rebecca as parents of any child born in Somerset. The name Philip Voke does not appear anywhere in Somerset records.
There is a Sarah Stickland who marries in 1811 to a William Feke at Somerset, but again no relation to the Vokey's of Newfoundland.
I would be interested to know if someone has actually seen the will that apparently opens with "I, William Vokey, late of Jersey Island...", there has been talk of this for many years but I have never seen it. It is an interesting proposition that this William Vokey may actually be the father of Philip born 1855, but this would push the will back to the 1700's. I have the will written by William Vokey who married Sarah and was the father of 8 children born in Newfoundland, and who died February 13th, 1867 at Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland, this will does not open with the words above and no refrence is made to Jersey Island in this will.
Unfortunately the data around the early Vokey family has been somewhat twisted around it seems, and what records we do have do not point to any connections that are detailed above about Somerset, England.
The commentary about the Sarah that married John Barrett born 1690. being a Sarah Vokey is also a tale that has been passed around with no legitimate information put forward to support it.
The earliest information to date shows a Philip Vokey born around 1755 who died 1834 at Spaniard's Bay and his wife Rebecca Crane born 1773 at (according to the known data) Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland. Philip Vokey did have a sister Sarah Vokey who married John Coombs in 1782 at Harbour Grace, so we know the family was in Newfoundland as early as that date, but there are indications that they were there earlier. Whether Philip and his sister Sarah are actually born in Newfoundland is to date an unanswered questions.
Of course I would love to hear any furhter information that might help to answer some of these questions.
Regards, Cary
