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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Devon => Topic started by: Richiev on Thursday 06 February 14 10:30 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know of the Vanston families in Devon. Although my family can be traced back to Ireland an aged aunt was said to have traced the family back to Holland and it is believed they came over with the army of William of Orange and landed in the Plymouth area of Devon and from there travelled through the Welsh borders to North Wales and across to Ireland where they fought with the Cromwellian army. Can anyone help with the Devon connection?
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The Vanston name appears in some South Devon parish registers.
William of Orange and supporters hovered off Plymouth for a day or so but as Plymouth had supported Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War, William decided that his royalist supporters would possibly meet some resistence if they disembarked in that town. However it is probably that villages on the approach to Plymouth Sound such as Wembury / Plymstock / Hooe had some form of contact eg supplying bread/ fish or water etc from local craft and one cannot rule out some of the Orange supporters [soldiers/sailors] being left ashore as the prevailing winds changed suddenly and the small fleet was driven by the wind [and as mentioned, politically Plymouth was probably not the best choice in any case] headed along the coast to Brixham. Here William landed and with troops and supporters headed to London where he was recognised as king. Once established by parliament, King William headed to Ireland for the famous Battle of the Boyne. After his victory many of the king's troops were based in Ireland and Plymouth garrison regularly supplied more troops, weapons and supplies to the Irish ports so it is equally possible that sailors engaged on these regular voyages chose at some stage to jump ship and stay in the Plymouth area.
As the Roundhead [Cromwell] troops were active many years before William landed in 1689, it would be interesting to learn how your ancestor if he arrived c1689 fought in any Cromwellian army.
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Thanks Cemetery Friends
Most ties with what is known the difference between Royalist and Cromwellian armies was perhaps an oversight as the Orange supporters would have been for the Royalist cause, but I got carried away simply because another branch leads back to the Roundhead side. John Vanston b.1771 (3rd gt.grandfather) is the earliest I can find of that name and he was born I believe in Ireland so am looking to find earlier members of the Vanston family. My oversight was because another branch of my ancestry which divides via John Vanston's wife Rose Maurice leads back to Nicholas Kempston . 1648, who was a Colonel in Cromwells army and he was my 7th gt.grandfather. (this line incidently leads back to Edward I ) hope you can see the slight confusion however I'm still very much interested in linking the Vanston name back through earlier generations.
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I have extensive knowledge of the Vanstone family!
Absolutely nothing to do with Holland whatsoever!! ;D ::)
The family name is purported to come from the village of Fonson in Cornwall, or Fauntestone in Devon.
You should take a look at the Vanstone Web www.vanstoneweb.co.uk
Apparently our Canadian cousins spell the name van Stone, and insist it is Dutch.
But, having lived in the Netherlands for 16 years, I can tell you that is bunkum!! ;D
The majority of the Vanstones come from the Winkleigh area of North Devon.
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This is the earliset with the spelling Vanston I can find on FreeREG;
www.freereg.org.uk
John VANSTON married Ann LEA of High Bickingham Parish, 21 March 1707/08, All Saints, Alverdiscott, Devon
Using the Soundex Option we find under VANSTONE the earliest are;
BAPTISMS;
01 Jun 1620, VANSTONE,Henry, Great Torrington, Parents JAMES/AGNES
12 Jul 1573, VANNSTONE, Thomasyn, North Tawton
11 Jul 1582, VANSTONE, Rychard , North Tawton
10 Apr 1584, VANNSTONE, Alson, North Tawton
All have Father GEORGE
There are Marriages in 1628/1670 which seem to be the earliest on there + Burials 1636/1644/1650.
So looks like they were around in Devon for a long time :)
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The Vanstone Web has documented trees going back to Stephen Vanstone and Mary Piper, who married in 1626.
And mentions of a Vanstone family at Testcott in 1524.
In the 1st half of the 16C the Vanstones were almost entirely confined to the Black Torrington Hundred(relatively near their origin in Warbstow?) By 1600 there were Vanstone families in many more parishes & by the 1641 Protestation Return there were families in at least 12 parishes in 8 different Hundreds.
As I said The Vanstone Web contains a wealth of information (very little of it mine!), and also has a forum.
EDIT: I see you found it RichieV, as you've posted a message there, too! ;D ;D
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Thanks to KGarrad & Trish,
Yes I found the Vanstone Web which doesn't seem to align with any of the families I have perhaps it's the spelling again? As mentioned before I'm looking for a continuation of the Vanston line going back from John Vanston (b.1771) of Maryborough, Queen's County, Ireland, who were his parents and siblings and where did they come from? Did they in fact ever come from Devon?
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I wouldn't worry too much about the spelling!
The further back you go, the less important the spelling is ::)
Most people were only semi-literate at best, and names tended to be written down by other people (priests etc).
Where did you find the information about Ireland?
What is your link to the Devon Vanston/Vanstones?
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I appreciate the spelling was down to priests etc. but all the family has always thought the Vanstone name was a totally different ancestry, I'm just trying explore different avenues to try and find an earlier link as to how the family arrived in Maryborough. So I don't know if there is a link to Devon at all.
As for Ireland my father, and all the way back to my 3rd gt grandfather were born in Maryborough, Queen's County, as were other members of the Vanston line which include such names as Turpin, Metcalfe, Maurice, Ince, Switzer etc.
The family in Ireland held respectable positions within the community, such as chairman of the town commissioners and were farmers with several farms each they were also stalwarts of the local Methodist church and were instrumental in it's building.
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Interesting! The North Devon Vanstones were founder members of the Bible Christians - a Methodist sect, and many Vanstones emigrated to Canada & Australia to spread their word!
My own Vanstone family line has been spelled as Vanston on many occasions - but not quite as often as my surname, Garrad, gets mis-spelled as Garrard!! ;D ;D ;D
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John Vanston 1771-1857 is my 5th great grandfather. My family appears to have moved from Ireland to settle in Leeds Ontario. I'm also really curious about the earlier history of the Vanston line. Did you ever find out anything further in regard to John?
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Omnitheo,
Welcome to RootsChat! ;D
Have a look at Vanstoneweb, which contains about a dozen family trees.
Has it's own forum, too!
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i checked vanstoneweb, but I seem to have run into the same issue as Ritchie, none of it appears to link with John Vanston. I'm sure if I could find his father, or possibly even siblings I could link a lot of this stuff together.
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Hi Omnitheo
My grandfather John Vanston (1771-1832) had 9 Children two of whom went to Canada. Margaret Vanston married a Samuel Meredith and emigrated to Seneca Township, Ontario and her brother Thomas Maurice Vanston went to Escott Township, Ontario. I believe both townships were in Leeds County.
There are other Vanston families living close to John Vanston in Ireland and my feeling is that they are related but so far I can't prove it.
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Yep, I'm related through Thomas Maurice.Appears most of his family remained in and around Escott and Mallorytown in Leeds. Only my grandfather and a few siblings appear to have migrated west
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I have been researching the vanston surname and i have traced it back to 17oo's Ireland. Only recently my Aunt told me she has gone as far back as 1200's and the Vanston surname is of Flemish origin. I hope this helps...
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Hi Scarlett, do you by chance have any of these records? I would be very interested in your aunt's results especially
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I have been researching the vanston surname and i have traced it back to 17oo's Ireland. Only recently my Aunt told me she has gone as far back as 1200's and the Vanston surname is of Flemish origin. I hope this helps...
Sorry! Your Aunt is wrong! ;D
The Vanston/Vanstone surname originates in North Devon and North Cornwall!
Having lived in The Netherlands for 16 years, I can tell you that there is no trace of the surname in Dutch documents! ::) ;D
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I have sent an email to my Aunt for further info... but apparently this has been disproved by KGARRAD who posted after you??? i also got no link of my heritage through vanstoneweb??...(also i think the spelling has varied along the way from the Flemish weavers)
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I am descended from a Vanston from Devon. My g-g-g-grandfather was Christopher Vanston, from Tavistock, born in the early 1800s. The family story is he was a shipwright.
He married a Mary Dougherty and emigrated to Newfoundland. Do not have any death dates. Their children (born in the 1840s) mostly emigrated to the United States including Samuel Vanston (c. 1843-1905) (d. Scranton, PA), James Vanston (c. 1848-1904) (d. Scranton, PA), Katherine Vanston Walsh (c. 1842-1915) (d. Wilmington, Delaware), and Thomas Vanston (c. 1846-1894) (d. Butte, Montana).
I have heard the Flemish/Holland/William of Orange stories too, but have seen no proof of them - my impression is that (some!) family history researchers were a more fanciful bunch before the internet, and everyone loves a good story.
I would love to connect to other Vanston lines if its possible.
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Welcome to RootsChat! ;D
My Great-Grandmother was a Vanstone - hence my interest in the line!
As with my other replies I would recommend looking at the vanstoneweb.
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Not sure how came before this , but I know my Great Grandfather was Christopher Vanstone from the Devon area(not sure of his birth year.)
I know Christopher's first wife died leaving him with several children.
Then he married Mary Ann Martin and had 3 more kids. Samuel Vanstone b.1886(my Grandfather), Albert Vanstone b.1891 and Will Vanstone were their children.
Samuel and Albert migrated to Canada around 1916
Like his father, Samuel's first wife died after their son Albert was born in Brandon, MB.
Samuel remarried to Ellen Pugsley, originally also from Devon, but had emigrated with her parents to Brandon. They moved to Winnipeg an had Emily (married to A.Kemp), Muriel (married to L.Knight), Verna (married to R.Evans), Stanley (deceased at 6 months), Samuel (Marty) Vanstone, and Robert Vanstone (my dad) b.1938.
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Lorna Vanstone: According to the 1891 census, Christopher VANSTONE was born ca 1851 in Sampford Courtenay. Samuel was born 1886 but 2 daughters are also shown - Fanny born 1888 and Jane born 1889 - in both cases mother's maiden name MARTIN. In the 1881 census his first wife, Mary Jane was still alive. According to his marriage to Mary Jane VINNICOMBE in 1870, Christopher's father was a John VANSTONE, labourer. Christopher was actually baptised 24 Jan 1847 at Sampford Courtenay, son of John & Jane.
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I don't know if this helps at all, (and I have no further information,) however during the 1980's in Newton Abbot, Devon, I was friendly with a Bo (Beau) Vanstone.
The family had moved from Plymouth for work reasons.
If you can find them a speculative letter might possibly net some family connections/research?
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Reply 23 mowsehouse. Remember that RootsChat prohibits posting information about living people or those who may be alive on the Forum. Such information should be sent via private message.
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Reply 23 mowsehouse. Remember that RootsChat prohibits posting information about living people or those who may be alive on the Forum. Such information should be sent via private message.
Oooops! Sorry. Have amended and sent a private message.
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Hi,
I'm new to Rootschat and am struggling to understand how to use it!
I am researching the surname Vanston (which is my surname) and read this thread with interest. I was particularly interested in the comment from marmbru regarding Christopher Vanston & Mary Dougherty's Devon origins and would really like to know how they managed to draw this conclusion.
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My great-grandmother was a Vanstone!
The family were from West Putford, Devon.
Have a look at this thread:
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=854730.
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Thanks KGarrad.
Yes, in Devon there seems to be mainly Vanstones whereas in Ireland they are Vanstons - but they may be connected somehow.
I’m researching a number of Vanston(e) families - in Ireland (Kings Co, Queens Co and Co Carlow) and in Scranton, Pennsylvania - looking for connections. I know my Vanston family are in King Co in the late 1700s and I have a Y-DNA test showing (perhaps distant) links with Devon Vanstones.
The Vanstons of Scranton descend from Christopher Vanston(e) and Mary Doherty / Dougherty who married in Newfoundland in 1827.
Marmbru mentioned that they came from Tavistock in Devon but I’ve not managed to find any records to support this. Can anyone help?
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The Canadian branches spell it Van Stone, and insist on a Dutch origin!
Vanston(e) actually originates from Fanston in Cornwall.
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I think there are quite a few Vanston(e) families in Canada - including all spelling variants.
And I’ve heard of the Fanston origin theory too but, again, is it just someone’s guess or is there substance to it?
PS: KGarrad: can you help me better understand RootsChat?
- Is there a guide for all the icons above this post page? eg.what does the # button do?
- Is there a way to insert a link to another user’s profile in a post, to try to get their attention? (I’d like to follow-up on points made by marmbru?)
- Does it help if I copy a link to their specific post of interest, as below? Does the owner of that post get notified of my new post?
- How can I contact someone who has only made 1 or 2 posts themselves? (I think PMs only work if they have made 3 or more posts.)
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=676664.msg5369963#msg5369963
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There used to be a website, VanstoneWeb, which was hijacked by spammers. (I still get spam emails purporting to be from that site!)
Looks like part of that site seems to have moved to MyHeritage?
Search for VanstoneWeb.
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...but can you answer any of my questions?
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I think there are quite a few Vanston(e) families in Canada - including all spelling variants.
And I’ve heard of the Fanston origin theory too but, again, is it just someone’s guess or is there substance to it?
PS: KGarrad: can you help me better understand RootsChat?
- Is there a guide for all the icons above this post page? eg.what does the # button do?
- Is there a way to insert a link to another user’s profile in a post, to try to get their attention? (I’d like to follow-up on points made by marmbru?)
- Does it help if I copy a link to their specific post of interest, as below? Does the owner of that post get notified of my new post?
- How can I contact someone who has only made 1 or 2 posts themselves? (I think PMs only work if they have made 3 or more posts.)
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=676664.msg5369963#msg5369963
1. Hover your cursor/mouse over the smiley - then you get a description.
2. Best way to attract attention is to a) send a pm, or b) reply to one of their posts.
3. Probably the best way is to start a new topic with a relevant subject header.
4. Including a URL to another post does nothing. Are you sure they are still online? Click on their name to check their profile.
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Marmbru only ever made 1 post, and was last online on Tuesday 22 July 2014.
He/she may not be using the same email address?
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Origin of surname:
Vanstone Family History
Vanstone Surname Meaning
English (Devon): habitational name from Fauntstone in Shaugh (Devon). The place probably takes its name from the surname Faunt (genitive Fauntes) + Middle English toun ‘farmstead estate’ meaning ‘farmstead of the Faunt family’ and probably to be associated with the family of Samson le Enfaunt a juror of Plympton Hundred in Devon in 1249. For the surname Faunt see Fant .
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022 (& Ancestry)
Also: https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Vanstone
And: Vanstone : English (Devon): habitational name from Fauntstone in Shaugh (Devon). The place probably takes its name from the surname Faunt (genitive Fauntes) + Middle English toun ‘farmstead estate’ meaning ‘farmstead of the Faunt family’ and probably to be associated with the family of Samson le Enfaunt a juror of Plympton Hundred in Devon in 1249. For the surname Faunt see Fant. (From Geneanet)