John KNILL b1827 - Chittlehampton

[DevonKnill]

Hi
I'm looking for information on John Knill, born 14 October, 1827, in Chittlehampton. In 1853, John married Grace Handford, in South Molton. Any details relating to John, his parents, and any siblings, etc., would be most helpful.
With thanks
DevonKnill

[danuslave]

Where did you get John's DOB from?

There is an 1881  listing for John & Grace Knill plus children James 8 & Fanny 6 (RG11/2242/15/4) which gives his DOB as 1824

There are two John Knills on the 1841 census in the right area with a DOB of 1826 (but of course this was probably rounded)

The potential for confusion looks quite high! 

Linda

[Pughy]

HI
The name appears to be open to getting the wrong Transcription on their Marriage it KNEEL & on the 1861 Census NEAL

                       Grace Handford   Jan-Feb-Mar 1853 South Molton Devonshire   
PreviewName: John Kneel
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1853
Registration district: South Molton
Inferred County: Devonshire
Volume Number: 5b

 1861 Census RG9  1545  25  1

        Name Age
John Neal 36           Born Chilhampton Devon
Grace Neal 28         Born North Moulton Devon
Eliza Neal 7             Born    "          "          "
Sarah A Neal 3       Born  Fowey
Mathew J Neal 1     Born    "
Regards
Pughy

 
.

 

[DevonKnill]

The information was provided by the wife of John's great, great-grandson. Grace Handford was born in North Molton. John's son, William (a mason's labourer, in Barnstaple, in 1911) was born in Fowey, Cornwall, on 12 April 1863, and he married Sarah Jane Ashelford, on 2 October, 1886, in South Molton.

[DevonKnill]

Many thanks, Pughy, for posting the fascinating details regarding John and Grace Knill, and their family, which are very helpful. Is there any indication of John's siblings and parents?

[danuslave]

The 1881 details that I found tie in with Pughy's 1861 stuff

1881 - RG11/2242/15/4
Kitesnest, North Molton

John Knill    Head  Mar  57  Ag Lab  Chittlehampton
Grace Knill  Wife  Mar  49  North Molton
James Knill  Son  8  Fowey
Fanny Knill  Dau  6  North Molton

These both imply a birth date of 1824/5 rather than 1827

If the wife of John's great, great-grandson has such a precise date, did she get it from a baptism, which may also show John's parents?

Linda

[danuslave]

This seems to be them in 1871 - RG10/2266/26/7

Trerank Moor, Cornwall

John Neil    Head  Mar  43  Ag Labourer  South Molton
Grace Neil Wife  Mar   36  South Molton
Eliza Neil    Dau  Unm  18  South Molton
Maria Neil    Dau  7  Fowey
William Neil Son     6  Fowey
George Neil Son  4  Fowey
Margrett Neil Dau  3  Fowey
Mathew Neil Son  11  Ag Labourer  Fowey

Getting the children's names sometimes helps identify the right parent, as they are often named after grandparents or aunts & uncles

So far we seem to have

Eliza 1854 born N Molton
Sarah  1859 Fowey
Matthew J  1860  Fowey
William 1863 or 1865  Fowey
Maria  1864  Fowey
George  1867  Fowey
Margrett  1868  Fowey
James 1873 Fowey
Fanny 1875 N Molton

Linda

[danuslave]

In case it's any help 

1851 - HO107/1891/656/1
North Molton
Grace Handford  Serv on farm   Unm  17  North Molton

1841 - HO107/235/17/29
North Molton
John Standford 33
Margret Standford 32
James Standford 9
Grace Standford 7
Ann Standford 5
William Standford 3
Eliza Standford  15 Mo
all born in county. 

Name has been transcribed as Standford but corrected to Handford, and it looks like Handford on the original

Linda

[DevonKnill]

Hi Linda
I'm very grateful for your help, and it means that John's branch of my family tree is now taking shape nicely. Yes, the information so far suggests a date of birth for John of c1825-c1827. I've searched through the historical records on FamilySearch, and found a John Knill, son of Matthew and Elizabeth Knill, baptised 14 October, 1827, in Swimbridge, Devon, and a Matthew Knill, son of Gilbert and Elizabeth Knill, baptised 23 February, 1760, in Chittlehampton, which may be relevant.
With thanks
DevonKnill