Francis Roberts B:1794 D:1859

[Thorgils]

I was wondering if one of the kind posters of rootschat could give me some advice on the most effective, accurate or methodical approach of identifying the Father and Mother of Francis Roberts? If this is best put in another forum please let me know   

Background: The only parents that I could see that would fit would be William and Mary Roberts whom baptized a Francis Roberts in Plymouth, St Andrew, Devon, England 1795. However my concern is that the christian name Francis appears in every generation for 200 years including my own father. It concerns me that I am missing something and perhaps all the family talk of french origin/channel islands are true, and during the excessive migration around the late 1700's from France they somehow alluded the traditional immigration documentation.   

Francis Roberts (Customs house officer, Seaman)
B: 25 Dec 1794 - Navy records
Married: Grace Elizabeth Jasper: 24 Aug 1814 Stoke Damarel, Devon, England.(1834–1907)
D: Apr 1859 St George in the East,
Children:
Francis John James Roberts B: 4 May 1821 (1821–1861)
John Thomas Roberts B: 21 Jan 1827 (1827–1894)
Elizabeth Grace Roberts B: 17 Jan 1829 (1829–1909)
Frances Grace Roberts B: 18 Mar 1834 (1834–1907)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
 

[ShaunJ]

B: 25 Dec 1794 - Navy records

It's on the record of his merchant navy seaman's ticket (1844) which also give his birthplace - Devonport (ties in with 1851 census).

Married: Grace Elizabeth Jasper: 24 Aug 1814

1813

[Thorgils]

B: 25 Dec 1794 - Navy records

It's on the record of his merchant navy seaman's ticket (1844) which also give his birthplace - Devonport (ties in with 1851 census).

Married: Grace Elizabeth Jasper: 24 Aug 1814

1813

Thanks ShaunJ, I have searched for Devonport in 1795 and cannot find a record for Francis Roberts, was Devonport listed as something else? broaden my search to Devon?
whoops meant to write 1813

[ShaunJ]

Of course he could have been baptised anywhere (and the record may or may not have survived) or not baptised at all. The Plymouth baptism register entry is very brief and no birthdate is given.

On the plus side I couldn't find any subsequent record (census or military) of a Francis Roberts born in Plymouth circa 1795 so that is a pointer towards the Plymouth baptism being your man from Devonport.

[DOB7]

In case you don't have it, a Francis & Grace ROBERTS baptised a son, William Jesper 9 Jun 1816 at East Stonehouse and Henry Francis 2 Nov 1817 at Stoke Damerel (Devonport). William Jasper was buried at Stoke Damerel in 1820.
The areas of East Stonehouse and Stoke Damerel were all adjacent to Devonport (sometimes called Dock).
A William & Mary ROBERTS baptised other children - Mary in 1777, John in 1779, John in 1789 all at Stoke Damerel, and then Francis in 1795 and a daughter, Caroline Mary in 1800, both  at Plymouth St Andrews. However, there are at least 2 couples names William & Mary ROBERTS married in the possible time frame!

[Thorgils]

Hi DOB7,

No, I actually haven't found William or Henry thank you very much! Being Australian I don't really know much about the proximity of different parts of UK which has made things tricky.

Well that is very interesting!

Were you referring to: 

Name:   William Roberts
Gender:   Male
Marriage Date:   18 Jun 1766
Marriage Place:   Stoke Damerel,Devon,England
Spouse:   
Mary Grills
FHL Film Number:   916921

Name:   William Roberts
Gender:   Male
Marriage Date:   31 May 1773
Marriage Place:   Stoke Damerel,Devon,England
Spouse:   
Mary Wolland
FHL Film Number:   916921

[Thorgils]

.

[amondg]

There is also a William Roberts married Mary Thomas 24 July 1774 at Stonehouse Devon.

Ref: ancestry
ADDED

Re: Family search there is a French Protestant Church in Stonehouse with records from 1692-1791

[amondg]

The witnesses to the marriage of Francis and Grace were Mary Dunn and William Wordlock?

are they relatives?