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I have a book on mining & it says the King claimed the four local mines & the earliest record in 1290. The silver was taken to The Tower of London & the lead part (barren lead) sold locally. So with this in mind, perhaps the delivery Ferrers family were tempted here because of this.

Hi Lee,

I am in the parish. There is a book 'History of Bere Ferrers Parishes' published in 1975, re-printed in 1992 & 2025 that was written by the vicar of the time, Rev Arthur J C Beddows. It's full of information long forgotten even to those who were around at the time.
It mentions The Domesday Book & the chairman of The Domesday Book Commission was Sir Henry de Ferrers called 'cousin of the conqueror'. Bere Ferrers was called Birlanda & the lord was Rainald de Ferrers. The Bere Peninsula is a mining area. Both silver & lead. Bere Alston was a bit of a 'Wild West' kind of place & there are two silver lodes. Bere Alston was a borough in 1295, years before Tavistock. A grant was given in that year to run a market on a Wednesday in that year & a fair on St Andrews Day. The Barton in Bere Ferrers was home to William de Ferrers who had a licence to castellate it in 1337 from The King. There is rumour of a castle, but even our resident archaeologist is stumped on that.
William & Matilda were instrumental in making Bere Ferrers a success & paid the Bishop of Exeter to have an Archpriest. The first being Reginald Pypard on the 17th January 1334. He had 4 assistants. They said Mass five times a day for William & Matilda.

Other information say that the de Ferrers became lords in the reign of Henry II. The church is of Norman origin, but is mostly 13th century & partly rebuilt by William. Their tomb is in the church. There is an effigy of a knight. It is thought to be a Reginald de Ferrers.

If I find anything else I will let you know.

Suzanne.

 Hi,

Yes, I have his wife & children, alongside his marriage details. Knowing Edwin's sister was in a boarding school probably explains where the younger two were. They were probably put there as orphans. I imagine, the records have been destroyed or are not online.

There were quite a few of us Woodman descendants in touch back years ago, having met on Gene Reunited.

My line is from Henry Augustine Woodman via his son, Albert Jesse. This was my great grandad. They lived in Marlborough before relocating to Portsmouth. He bucked the building trend & became a business man & shoe shop owner.

Many years ago, when I first left home my future husband & I lived in Christian Malford in Wiltshire. My daily bus journey took me through villages I fell in love with. It was year later I started my tree research & realised I have family connections to them all 

Suzanne.

 Hi.

I live in the area & am admin of The Bere Alston & West Devon Facebook group. As such, I am always keeping an eye on local info & you should look into the Calstock Parish Archive. They too have a Facebook page & a website. They have lots of lovely info at their disposal. Hope this helps.
Suzanne.

Hi,
I can recommend the Calstock Parish archive. They are very helpful if you contact them & also have a Facebook group.

Suzanne.