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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Devon => Topic started by: tracya on Saturday 02 February 08 05:03 GMT (UK)
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I am searching for information on my great-great-great-great grandfather, John Cornish. His death certificate (Canadian) lists him as being born July 10, 1809 in Exeter City. He married Elizabeth Hellins on September 26, 1830 (and I cannot find any information on the parents of either of them) and had the following children in Exeter:
John Hellins Cornish abt 1831
Theophilus William (TW) Cornish abt 1832 (my ggg grandfather)
George Henry Cornish abt 1834
Charles Cornish abt 1836
Elizabeth Cornish abt 1840
I have searched for any information on this family while in Exeter and cannot find anything except an 1841 Census. They show up in Canada on the 1871 Census.
John sr. was a shoemaker (cordswain), his son George was a Methodist Minister (he authored The Cyclopaedia of Methodism in Canada). Some of the sons were Masons and I found a reference for one of them for a Knigths Templar association in Canada.
I am travelling to Exeter in the spring, and was hoping to know a little about where the family came from originally. I've tried Revrend Cornish at the Society of Cornish's, but didn't hear back from him regarding John. We were always told the family originated in Cornwall.
If anybody has any information or recognizes any of the names, I would be greatly appreciative.
Thank you.
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Dear Tracya
I have looked and looked but I can not even find the Cornish family on the 1841 :-[ I see the baptisms you have mentioned at Exeter and the marriage of Elizabeth and John in 1830 - but that is all I can find. :'(
I think if you posted another request for a Devon Parish Record Look up you might be luck enough to get details from their wedding to say whether they were of the parish or not - something which may give a clue.
Also as they are so hard to find on the census - is it possible that they emigrated to Canada much earlier than 1871 ? There is an emigration part to the site which may be able to look something up for you ? Go back to the home page and you will see the section.
If they did not go to Canada until about 1871 were all the children there with them ? Some of their children would have been old enough to have married and maybe stayed behind in England by that time. If the children are with them in Canada maybe they went when the children were young ?
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Hi
107 St Sidwell St, St Sidwell
John Cornish 30 shoemaker Y
Elizth 30
Theophilus 8
George 6
Charles 5
Eliz 6 months
all born in county
it seems that John Hellins Cornish is not with them.
No luck yet, in finding them in 1851...
deb
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Yes I see them now - thanks
but no luck elsewhere
You'd think with a name like Theophilus it would be easier
but no joy!
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Hi and thanks for the replies.
I agree that Theophilus should be easy enough to trace, but he isn't! On his son's marriage cert he is listed as "TW" (and who can blame him?)!
this is turning into a real mystery for me. I know that the family didn't just spring up from nowhere, and I thought I was on to something with a John Cornish born in Stapleford, but sadly, I also found that John on the 1841 Census, so it's not him.
I will check the Devon suggestion, thanks for that.
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on IGI - extracted
Theophilus William Cornish b. 22 Nov 1832 bapt. 03 March 1833 Mint Lane-Wesleyan Methodist, Exeter, Devon, England
s/o John Cornish & Elizabeth Hollins
in the same batch
John Hillens Cornish
b. 10 JUN 1831 bapt. 07 AUG 1831 Mint Lane-Wesleyan Methodist, Exeter, Devon, England
s/o John Cornish & Elizabeth Hillens
Charles Hellins Cornish
B. 29 MAY 1836 bapt. 10 NOV 1836 Mint Lane-Wesleyan Methodist, Exeter, Devon, England
s/o John Cornish & Elizabeth Hellins
note Elizabeths last name vairies!
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I have noticed that...but I think it's "Hellins" as on the Canadian records I have found on the sons, all of them are consistent with Hellins.
It's like they don't want me to find them! 8)
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i wonder why her maiden name was listed, was the minister just being meticulous?
only 3 of the childrens bapt were at that chapel so i wonder if they moved before the later births.
do methodist have separate records? i can't remember now (BMD)
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Some early Wesleyan records are like that. The Wesleyans were very kind to genealogists, by providing a date of birth as well a baptism date. Extra information on who the mother was also sometimes included. (never anything further on Dad's family) ;D
This type of information is not in ALL Wesleyan Baptims but in this case since the IGI lists a mother's surname you will probably find the wording of the actual document to read something like John Hellins Cornish son of John Cornish and Elizabeth his wife who is the daughter of XXXX Hellins and XXXX his wife ;)
If you are unable to view the records yourself, perhaps someone will take a look for you. If not these records can now be downloaded for a fee
http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/
Kris :D
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oooo that site's like scotland's people, it can suck the credits right out of you!!
Still no luck on John. I did find an Elizabeth Hellins born in Exeter around 1808, which would fit in.
wish I could find her death certificate proper or John's birth certificate. Now, if he had been Theophilus, like his son, it would be so much easier!
I appreciate all the help here, thank you.
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I thought the name Hellins was being used as a middle name - a practice most prevalent in Devon - Hugh Wallis mentions this on his middle names index website as he says that Devon was his inspiration for the site - surely they are famous for more things than just cream.
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Hi
Don't know if it's any help, but I've got a John Cornish Garland bc1813 in my tree. He was born in Somerset (Yarlington, I think - I'm at the airport and don't have my papers with me). Perhaps you should widen the search!
Best
Sami W
P.S. I also have several Theophiluses in another branch - who'd have thought it was such a popular name!
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Hi, I think his last name was actually Cornish.
I am starting to wonder. In deb usa's post above she mentions John Hellins is not on the census report.
I am wondering if it is him.
I found an article from a methodist site with his death notice. It said he was 'early converted to the methodist church'.
I am really wondering if he became a methodist when just shortly before marrying Elizabeth Hellins and was rebaptised? Being as I'm not a methodist or a religious person, I have no idea if I'm on to something or insane!
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Hi
107 St Sidwell St, St Sidwell
John Cornish 30 shoemaker Y
Elizth 30
Theophilus 8
George 6
Charles 5
Eliz 6 months
all born in county
it seems that John Hellins Cornish is not with them.
No luck yet, in finding them in 1851...
deb
??? ???
deb;
I am also related to this particular John and wonder if this is from the 1841 census? I have tried on ANCESTRY.com to locate him on the 1841, but to no avail, seemingly.
John immigrated in 1843 to Canada.
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Hi Leslie!
It's our John, but on the Census, they're listed as Cornes. I can send you the copy, which I'll do right now!
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Hi
I have not been getting replies to this thread :-\
anyway ..I wonder if this is Elizabeth Hellins birth and christening;
ELIZABETH HELLINS d/o James and Elizabeth
bc 1808
chr; 12 JAN 1812 Saint Paul, Exeter
IGI extracted
so the whole family left in 1843?
deb :)
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And I submitted a correction to Ancestry.com. Should make it easier for others to find now.
Leslie
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Deb:
Thanks for your input. It looks hopeful, the birth part, I mean. I have been working and didn't reply sooner, sorry :'( :'(
Yes, the John and Elizabeth Cornish left with their family in 1843. By 1850 he was in Toronto and working as a shoe manufacturer there, having bought out his former boss.
Lots of information after that, but Tracy and I are trying to get back to where they were actually from (looking for Johns' father who was also John, said to be a merchant in Exeter city).
Leslie