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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Devon => Topic started by: Bruce Stephenson on Sunday 01 June 25 06:44 BST (UK)
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Hi all,
A long shot, but might be worth a try?
I have been scouring old ordnance survey maps on line for a "Milford Down" that would have been situated in 1830 very close to Thornhill Head (near Sibb Cross), Devon. I have found "Milford" (NTH and STH on an older map) near Silkland. I am trying to locate the exact location of abode of Emanuel Littlejohns, a well-established surname name in the area at the time. Milford Down is written as the place of abode on two of the children's baptism certificates.
Emanuel was later deported to Van Diemen's Land with his wife and children lucky enough to be granted Assisted Passage to VDL in 1841. (Emanuel married Nancy Ann Gilbert and had 6 children, William (USA), Elizabeth, James (USA), Hannah (VDL), Joshua and John (VDL).
If anyone has got any idea of where I might find information as to identifying the exact location of Milford Down, your help and suggestions would very much be appreciated.
Regards,
Bruce
(PS if any British or American distant relations are reading this, then feel free to make contact)
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Could it be Penwith Moors?
See: https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2022/10/07/penwith-moors-site-of-special-scientific-interest-cornwalls-western-most-landscape-receives-further-accolade-of-sssi-designation/
Changes to the original post render my post superfluous.
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There is a Milford shown here, not too far from Stibb Cross (and close to Thornehill Head). :-\
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15.7&lat=50.93426&lon=-4.27385&layers=6&right=ESRIWorld
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Hi Maddy and KGarrand.
Penwith Moors puts it too far away, but thanks anyway.
Your reply on my other post Maddy has had me busy editing this post, so I am not sure what version you responded to? Yes, found Milford on same site. I did find another map that had Milford north and south marked down in the same location. On Elizabeth's death certificate, the abode is quoted as Thornhill Head, so I am pretty confident I have the right location down to a mile or so as Milford is close by. I think that this is about as good as I will get and I need to stop looking for perfection...bear with me, I am new to all this malarky!
Cheers,
B
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(Consistent with reply #2)
There are newspaper references in 1874 to meetings of the Bideford Highway Board in which there were discussions about fencing off "the Quarry, at Milford Down, Buckland Brewer".
This map view from 1884 shows a quarry just west of the village of Milford. By 1904 this was labelled as 'Old Quarry'.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101443144#zoom=5.2&lat=3142&lon=6881&layers=BT (https://maps.nls.uk/view/101443144#zoom=5.2&lat=3142&lon=6881&layers=BT)
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The newspaper snippet (North Devon Journal, 30 Apr 1874) refers to "The Quarry at Milford Down ...".
The Milford on this 1884 map has a quarry close by. Appears to be the right neck of the woods with a Silkland to the east (adjoining map)
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101443144#zoom=4.9&lat=2997&lon=7315&layers=BT
Alan,
you just pipped me!!
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snap!
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snap!
AB,
I shouda' got up an hour earlier!
FindMyPast has a baptism 17 Oct 1830 of a Frances Stoneman Littlejohns, residence Milford Down in Frithelstock.
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Thats amazing people!
You dont know how much this means to me. I have just finished a 74 page history on this generation of the family and how the Littlejohns got established in both Australia and America.
I dont know how to thank you enough as I find getting access to some stuff quite difficult, but you have answered all my unanswered questions...with perhaps the biggest question for last..but thats another story and post....
Needless to say, you have all made my day....
Cheers,
B :)
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I meant to post this information earlier, but forgot. I assume this is your man, and apologies if you already have some or all of this.
14 March 1822: Exeter Flying Post
DEVON LENT ASSIZES
[very long list of Prisoners for Trial]
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Emanuel Littlejohns, for stealing about sixty pounds of leather
21 March 1822: Exeter Flying Post
The business of the Devon Assize commenced at our Castle yesterday.
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The following are already tried and found guilty:—
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Emanuel Littlejohns
7 August 1830: Western Times
Devon Lammas Assizes
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Emanuel Littlejohn was indicted for stealing an ewe the property of Hugh Brent, Esq. in the parish Shebbear. The prisoner was convicted of a felony in the third year of the reign of our late Majesty and suffered punishment. The ewe in question was on Penworthy Moor, and the hind one John Brent Reed, nephew of the prosecutor found the sheep wanting, when he visited the moor, and on searching for It, round a place apparently where a sheep had been dragged through, he remarked some impressions of shoes, and went and searched a garden near the prisoner's dwelling, in whose possession the garden was, and in it found a sheep's head, and in another corner the entrails of a sheep, with foot marks, which appeared to him similar to the impressions on Penworthy Moor, and he procured one of the prisoner's shoes, and compared the impression with it, and found them to correspond as did the marks on Penworthy Moor, he cut up the earth where the impression was, and carried it to the magistrate, who likewise compared it. The shoe was of a peculiar form, having a row of nails each side, and two rows in the middle, and at the fore extremity was a piece of iron, not in the form of a horse shoe, but a piece of iron direct across the toe of the shoe. Another witness proved that he had counted 39 sheep on the day previous to the loss of the sheep, but found on the day it was missed only 38, he substantiated the evidence of the last witness, with respect to searching the prisoner's house, and fitting the shoe to the marks on Penworthy Moor, and in the field adjoining prisoner's garden. The foreman of the Jury stated that they could come to no unanimous agreement, and did not wish to interrupt the business of the court, they were therefore locked up. Shortly after the jury returned a verdict of guilty.—death recorded.
Note that the reference to "a felony in the third year of the reign of our late Majesty" is probably referring to 1822 since George IV reigned from 1820-1830.
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Thanks Alan,
Yes, have all these articles already, but thank you very much for taking the time to help me. Its much appreciated.
Regards,
Bruce :)
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Oh well, it will help someone in the future revisiting this thread perhaps!
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It certainly would be neat to unearth any distant English relatives. I have made contact with several in Australia and NZ...so yeah, it might help someone else one day?
B :)