Passmore or Pasmore family of North Molton, Devon

[jonwicken]

SOUTH MOLTON PASMORE/PASSMORE WILLS (BY FIRST NAME)

Surname    First Name(s)    Year    Type    Form   

Passmore    Andrew        1815    A    le   
Passmore    Andrew  wheelwright    1815    A    ab    admon to John Passmore, son
Passmore    Joan    widow        1861    W    co   
Passmore    John            1826    W    le   
Passmore    John    junior        1826    W    co       
Pasmoore    Henry            1659    A    ab   
Passmore    Hugh Maire (Rev)    1861    W    co       
Passmore    H M (Rev)        1853    W    or   agreements (original) including will
Passmore    H M (Rev)        1861    W    co   
Passmore    Mary    widow        1899    W    co       
Pasmore    William        1605    W    le   
Passmore    William        1740    W    le   
Passmore    William Bright        1831    W    co       

Type of Document: 'W' - Will, 'A' - Administration, 'I' - Inventory, 'O' - Other

Form of Document: 'or' - Original, 'co' - Copy, 'ab' - Abstract or Extract, 'tr' - Transcript, 'le' - List Entry

[jonwicken]

SOUTH MOLTON PASMORE/PASSMORE WILLS (BY DATE)

Surname    First Name(s)    Year    Type    Form   

Pasmore    William        1605    W    le   
Pasmoore    Henry            1659    A    ab
Passmore    William        1740    W    le       
Passmore    Andrew        1815    A    le   
Passmore    Andrew  wheelwright    1815    A    ab    admon to John Passmore, son
Passmore    John            1826    W    le   
Passmore    John    junior        1826    W    co
Passmore    William Bright        1831    W    co       
Passmore    H M (Rev)        1853    W    or   agreements (original) including will
Passmore    H M (Rev)        1861    W    co   
Passmore    Hugh Maire (Rev)    1861    W    co   
Passmore    Joan    widow        1861    W    co   
Passmore    Mary    widow        1899    W    co

[jonwicken]

PASSMORES IN THE DEVON WILL INDEX

I have been looking at the Passmore wills on the Devon Will Index listed here:

https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/DevonWillsProject/DWP-Pa

As the Devon wills were destroyed in a fire in WWII, the majority are lost and all we have is a list entry from the index that was put together before the destruction.

I have extracted the Passmore wills for North Molton and South Molton and also sorted them by first name and by date.

I have shortened the entries for the purpose of posting, but the court the will was proved at and the full details can be found at the above link.

I thought this might be useful to anyone who comes across this thread in future.

The Passmores of North Molton are the first ancestors I have from Devon, so I don't know much about the Devon Wills Project.

A full description of this partnership project can be found here: https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/DevonWillsProject

Some notable information from this article:

Almost all wills and administrations of Devon people were proved or granted in one of two locations, in Devon itself or in London. The originals of those wills proved in London - very nearly all at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) - have survived. However the originals of nearly all wills proved in Devon perished during an air-raid on Exeter in 1942.

Printed calendars (lists that are more chronological than alphabetical) covering maybe three quarters of the wills proved in Devon had been compiled before the war. 

The index includes only testators (those who made wills) and intestates (those who did not make wills, but whose estates were administered), and not beneficiaries and other people mentioned in those documents.

An article written on the project gives further information: https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/DevonWillsProject/Article-DFH

It can be seen that there appears to have been no probate for either of the Richard Passmores who died in January and February 1689/90 and who are said to have been the father of Philip Passmore baptised in 1672/3.

However, there is also not a will or administration for Philip Passmore 1731-1795 who we know was parish clerk.

The above notes state that before the destruction of the wills in 1942, three quarters of the wills had been indexed, but I have no idea which ones had not been. Does anyone please know? 

[jonwicken]

NORTH MOLTON BURIAL REGISTERS

While researching the above information on the Philip Passmores of North Molton, I looked through the indexes and many original entries of Passmore burials between 1781 and 1802.

I have found 34 burial entries for 35 members (one entry is for twins) of the Passmore family. I may not have every Passmore, but think I must have counted most of them.

These burials for this 20 year period provide an interesting overview for the Passmore families in North Molton.

For the years 1781 to 1785, the burials do not state if the person was a child or infant, however from 1786 it does. Furthermore, from at least 1784 it states if the person was a pauper or not and from the late 1780s, the burials usually include the age of the deceased.

These are the statistics of these burials:

12 of the 35 burials (one third) were for babies (10 listed as infants, one listed as 1 1/2 years and one of the 7 Passmore burials from 1781 to 1785 is known to be a child [Michael Pasmore buried in 1784 as parents named another son Michael in 1785].)
 
2 of the burials are for children aged 4 and 5. There are no burials of children between 5 and 19, so it shows how dreadful child mortality was for the under 5s.

6 of the burials are adults and children described as paupers.

The ages or approximate ages of 25 of the 35 burials are given in the registers: 10 infants, 1 1/2, 4, 5, 20, 21, 29, 30, 42, 46, 49, 63, 64, 75, 81 & 82.

The burial ages of the 12 adults given in the register give an average age at death if you reached adulthood for the Passmore family between 1781 and 1802 as 50 years old.

I think looking at which of the Passmore lines were paupers would be interesting and seeing how they group together, but that would take quite a bit of work!

[greasey]

Hi Jon.
There are a lot of burials for my ancestor Philip Passmore 1735-1804 and his second wife Margaret Kingdon in North Molton.  Of their 11 children 5 died aged 1 or below.  I am unsure about which Richard Passmore the one baptized in 1812 to Richard and Mary or the one in 1813 to a Richard and Mary is my ancestor, as he was 59 when he died on the 18th April 1872 in North Molton.  The occupation of Richard's father says chandler, but did he make and sell candles or just groceries, like a ships chandler sells supplies?  I cannot find a burial for a Richard Passmore buried in North Molton before or after the next one was born in 1813? 
Regarding wills.  There are surviving wills on microfiche only at the South West Heritage Centre in North Devon.  This was where I obtained the wills for Philip Passmore 1772-1818 proved in 1822, and his younger brother Robert 1782-1820, though his will was not proved until 1827.  He was a customs and excise officer, and names his surviving siblings as beneficiaries, that includes Richard and William Passmore.  Therefore they were still alive when their father Philip died in 1804 and left them out of his will. 
Lastly, the only Passmore candidate I could find for the father of our common ancestor Philip Passmore 1672-1743 was Richard born in 1652 in North Molton.  If it isn't him, we would have to look at the neighboring parishes, but there was disruption to some registers due to the English Civil War and Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.

[jonwicken]

I am unsure about which Richard Passmore the one baptized in 1812 to Richard and Mary or the one in 1813 to a Richard and Mary is my ancestor, as he was 59 when he died on the 18th April 1872 in North Molton.  The occupation of Richard's father says chandler, but did he make and sell candles or just groceries, like a ships chandler sells supplies?  I cannot find a burial for a Richard Passmore buried in North Molton before or after the next one was born in 1813? 

I have had a look at the Richard Pasmore baptisms and see one was baptised on 12 Oct 1812 as son of Richard and Mary and the other was baptised on 11 Apr 1813, also son of Richard and Mary.

There is only 6 months between the baptisms and while sometimes children were baptised months or years after they were born, something about this implies there are two Richard and Marys having two separate sets of children.

Looking at the marriages in North Molton, I see that there are indeed two marriages of a Richard Pasmore to a Mary Tapp at North Molton on 1 Apr 1793 and another Richard Pasmore who married Mary Williams at North Molton on 16 May 1803.

There is no marital status on the 1803 marriage for Richard, but he is not the same as the one who married in 1793. These are two different Richards and two different Marys.

I assume that the one who married in 1793 was the Richard baptised in 1768, son of Philip & Diana and that the one who married in 1803 was the Richard baptised in 1775, the son of Philip & Margaret.

The first couple Richard Pasmore & Mary Tapp who married in 1793 had the following children baptised at North Molton:

Mary bapt 25 Dec 1793
Richard bapt 3 May 1795
John bapt 14 May 1797
William bapt 7 Sep 1800

Then there are the following children baptised at North Molton to a Richard and Mary but I do not know which couple they belong to:

Elizabeth bapt 27 May 1804
William bapt 07 Sep 1806
Peggy bapt 02 May 1808
Mary bapt    06 Aug 1809
Richard bapt 12 Oct 1812
Richard bapt 11 Apr 1813

Looking at the children, aside from the last two children there are no overlaps in children and it looks like they could all be born to the same couple.

I am now wondering if the two Richards are perhaps for the same Richard Passmore. Could the first baptism records a home baptism as maybe he was sickly and the second is when he was stronger and was brought to the church?

I would like to know what else you have found out on these Richards and Marys, please.

Thanks,
Jon

[greasey]

Hi Jon.
My Richard Passmore 1774-1841 son of Philip Passmore and his second wife Margaret Kingdon was the one that married Mary Williams in 1803.  He had a sister Elizabeth, a brother William, sister Mary, Peggy is short for Margaret, so she could be named after his mother.  Mary could have been named after her mother Mary Williams.  Richard could sign his name when he married Mary Williams, she was illiterate.  Witnesses to the marriage were William and Ann Williams.  Richard's son William 1806-1866 is on the 1841 and 1851 census living with his aunt and uncle William and Joan Williams in Upcott North Molton a laborer on their farm.  On the 1861 census he was a farmer in Upcott, and was a beneficiary in his uncle William Williams will.  William Passmores brother Richard was also a beneficiary too, as William Williams didn't have any children:

Transcription of beneficiaries in the Will of William Williams dated 7th April 1854, proved 1855 Ref 1078/IRW/956

Nephew William Passmore left leasehold estate called Burgesses Upacott
Wife Joan Williams freehold houses and premises in the village of North Molton, as well as the residue of the estate
Nephew James Chapple freehold houses after Joan’s death
Nephew Richard Passmore 19 pounds
Nephew James Chapple 19 pounds
Sarah Passmore, wife of Richard Passmore, an annuity of 5 pounds a year to be paid out of leasehold to commence at death of my wife, and to continue until the lease of that estate expires for the use of herself and her family exclusive of her husband
Niece Mary Ann Bowden wife of Hugh Bowden 10 pounds
Niece Mary Irwen wife of John Irwen 10 pounds

Robert Passmores will from 1827 confirms that Richard born 1775 was his brother:

   1078/IRW/P/329
Will of Robert Passmore, Excise Officer of North Molton,  7th July 1827
Executor – William Passmore, woolcomber   Executor – brother William.
Legacies with conditions to brother Richard: £40 the sum to be left untouched unless Richard be in extreme distress, and then not to exceed £5 per year. The interest payable yearly. After Richard’s decease, Richard’s son Richard to have £15, his other three children to have £25. Nephew Richard, son of Richard to have £10 to be placed out at interest for his benefit to put him to a trade when he reaches 14 years, or 7 years if his father thinks proper; any surplus to be applied to clothes for him during his apprenticeship.
Sister Elizabeth Symonds £50 to be placed in the Exeter Bank, £5 payable yearly, unless in extreme distress, residue on death divided amongst her children.
Nephew Philip Passmore, son of brother William all houses with all appurtenances in Back Lane, North Molton. Also £10 to occupy the premises at Robert’s decease
Niece Margaret Passmore, daughter of brother William, £40
Nephews George Passmore and Francis Passmore, sons of brother William Passmore, £15 each
Nieces Mary, Elizabeth and Ann Passmore, daughters of brother William, £5 each
Nephew John Passmore, son of late brother John Passmore, £10
Niece Joan Watts, daughter of late sister Christian Kingdon £1,1s

I think the Richard Passmore baptized in 1813 is probably another Richard to another Passmore family, though there are no burials for a child of that name in North Molton before or that year this Richard Passmore was born.  I therefore think my Richard Passmore whom was a shoemaker is the one of Richard Passmore and Mary Williams in 1812 along with the siblings I mentioned.  This is definitely the Richard Passmore that married Sarah Frayne 1815-1883 in North Molton 1837, though she was always recorded on the census as Sally. 
 

[jonwicken]

NORTH MOLTON PARISH RECORDS

Lots more information on our ancestors can of course be obtained from other parish documents outside of the baptism, marriage and burial registers.

Wanting to find out more about the parish records held on North Molton, I emailed the North Devon Record Office this query:


Could I also please ask how I can browse the complete record collection of North Molton Parish?

There seem to be two groupings of documents under 1786 A and 1786-4, but I can't seem to see full listings under these reference numbers.

I am particularly interested in the settlement records under 1786-4/4 from 1765-1831 but I can't see the individual files and a note says they are unfit for production. Are they on microfilm or have they ever been indexed please?

I would really appreciate your help.


Today, I have received the following very helpful post from a Heritage Assistant at the archive:


With regards to the listings under 1786-4, it would appear that these documents have never been properly indexed.

I’ve looked into our paper catalogues and the majority of items from this deposit are simply listed as ‘settlement examinations’ along with the number of items in the bundle.

For example, the collection you are interested in 1786-4/4 is simply listed as ‘settlement examinations’ (41 items.) As the majority of this material is designated unfit for production, my guess would be that they are very fragile or otherwise significantly damaged where they cannot be examined or handled without causing further damage.

There is, however, 1786-4/3 – settlement examinations (104 items) 1765-1844 which is not noted as unfit for production and may be of interest.

Unfortunately, there is no full listing for this bundle either, but I will look into them next week and get back to you if they are in a condition to be consulted and copied.

I will post here when I get a further reply, but if anyone here knows anything more about North Molton records I would love to know.

I can't wait for the day when settlement records come online and are searchable in the way parish records are.

Jon

[jonwicken]

1078/IRW/P/329
Will of Robert Passmore, Excise Officer of North Molton,  7th July 1827
Executor – William Passmore, woolcomber   After Richard’s decease, Richard’s son Richard to have £15, his other three children to have £25. Nephew Richard, son of Richard to have £10 to be placed out at interest for his benefit to put him to a trade when he reaches 14 years, or 7 years if his father thinks proper; any surplus to be applied to clothes for him during his apprenticeship.

Also you state Robert Passmore born in 1782 died in 1820, though his will was not proved until 1827. Do you know when his will is dated?

Because Richard must have been 6 or under at the time it was written as it talks about him potentially being apprenticed when he reached 7.

That might help establish if his is the 1812 or 1813 baptism, if Robert wrote his will in the year of his death.