John Nankivell OSBORNE was the illegitimate son of miner John NANKIVELL and Margaret OSBORNE. He was a witness to his sister’s wedding in 1837 . His sister was as follows:
Mary OSBORNE the illegitimate daughter of miner John NANKIVELL and Margaret OSBORNE was born in 1810 or 1811 in Marytavy parish, Devon. She lived in Blackdown in the parish of Marytavy. Mary was married on 5 August 1837 by banns at Marytavy parish church to copper miner Walter BARTLE of Blackdown, the son of miner Walter BARTLE Senior. He had been born in Marytavy in about 1809 or 1810. Walter signed his name (badly) and Mary OSBORNE made her mark. Witnesses were George TRINNEATH and her brother John Nankivell OSBORNE who made his mark.
In 1851 when the census was taken, Walter and Mary BARTLE, aged 41 and 40 respectively, were living in Blackdown with their four children, Betsy, William, Jonathan and Maryann BARTLE, all born in Marytavy parish.