HOOPER family of Bere Alston, Devon

[Doug Hooper]

My GGGrandparents, Nicholas Hooper and Grace (nee Bishop) are both buried in Bere Alston, Devon. Nicholas died 7/9/1875 and Grace 4/6/1870. I know that Nicholas's parents were Thomas Hooper and Elizabeth Thomas (daughter of Thomas Thomas). Apart from that I have been unable to find any other information regarding the Hooper family origins.

I have traced the Bishop family back to 1600's at Buckland Monachorum.

Can anybody help please?

[Jeuel]

I presume as you have his parents' info that you've got Nicholas' baptism, and if you know Elizabeth's father's name that you have Thomas & Elizabeth's marriage cert? 

Have you found them on the census and if so where do they say they were born?

[Doug Hooper]

Thanks for the prompt response. I obtained the information some 30 years ago  when I visited the local Morman Church and ordered the micro-fische for Bere Alston. The 1861 census shows that both Nicholas and Grace were born in Bere Ferris.

Familysearch.org confirms that his parents were Thomas & Elizabeth and that he was born in Bere Alston.

Doug

[onefortheroad]

Hi Doug.

Is the 1861 the only census record you have?

David

[Doug Hooper]

Hello David

I do have another note that says that Thomas Hooper was a Husbandman in Bere Alston in 1799.

Doug

[onefortheroad]

Hi Doug.

Sorry for the delay in replying but we're on holiday at the moment in the Cotswold with the caravan so have to rely on mobile broadband connectivity.

Anyway, I'm not too sure how far back I can go to help but I have some background for Nicholas Hooper and family by way of other census returns.

As you have the 1861, I won't repeat that.

1841
Pepper Street    civil parish of Bere Ferrers
Nicholas Hooper    40    Miner tin and lead
Grace     wife         30
Robert    son         11
Jane       dau           6
John       son           7
Thomasin    dau      5
Mary       dau          2

1851
36 Pepper Street
Nicholas Hooper    51    ag.lab.    b.Bere Alston
Grace           wife   42
Robert          son   20    ag.lab.
Jane             dau   18
John             son   16    lab.at lead mine
Mary             dau   11
James           son     9   scholar
Grace           dau     7    scholar
Richard     brother  47   lab.at smelting works

!861  you have.

1871
Pepper Street
Nicholas Hooper    71    Gen.Dealer    b.Bere Ferrers   
Grace       wife       63
Jane         dau       39
Thomasin Brimblecombe      grandaughter    2

Next door:
John W. Brimblecombe    28    ag.lab    b.Paignton
Grace              wife          27                 b. Bere Ferrers .....this looks like the daughter of NicholasHooper
Clara               dau           5
John                son           3
Mary E.            dau           1

Also:
Nicholas died 1875  3rd quarter  age 76  reg'd Tavistock District
Grace     died 1879  2nd quarter  age 71    "           "             "   .........this would appear to contradict your date of death for Grace but she is still alive in 1871.

It's worth noting that Bere Alston births in the 19th century were registered under the civil parish of Bere Ferrers and there were no burials in Beres Alston until 1873.

I'll dig around to see if I can find anything on Nicholas's father Thomas.

David     

[Doug Hooper]

Thanks David. I really appreciate what you are doing. If I can ever help you with anything in Australia, let me know.

Doug

[onefortheroad]

Hi again Doug.

We've finished our holiday in the Cotswold, had a couple of weeks in the New Forest and are heading for Devon on Friday (tomorrow). We'll be staying for a week or two on the edge of Dartmoor, about five miles from Bere Alston, a village I do know quite well.

I'll be spending some time with the camera while we're there; churchyard, mine ruins, etc. So if there's anything you'd like photographs of I'd be pleased to snap away and send them to you.

Cheers, David.

[Doug Hooper]

Hello David. I checked the death date of Grace Hooper by having a very close look at the photo I have of the headstone. It looks like her death date should be 4/6/1879. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.

My email address is

As you can see, I have a photograph of the headstone of Nicholas & Grace Hooper.  I also have a photo of 36 Pepper St. They were sent to me by Wendy Brimblecombe who lives in Plymouth. However any photos of Hooper or Gregory headstones would be appreciated.

Thanks again
Doug

Moderator Comment: email address removed to help prevent spam and other abuses, as per RootsChat policy. Please use our secure PM (personal message) system to share email addresses and other personal information. Thank You.