SPRY - Brentor

[onefortheroad]

Hi. I've been tracing back the male line of William Spry, 1854 - 1923 whose headstone is in the churchyard at Bere Alston. His grandaughter, Kate, was my grandmother.
I've found four of his ancestors including Richard Spry, 1704/5 - 1760 and his first wife Joan Fursman.
But that's where I've hit my brick wall. Apparently, the parish records held by St.Michael de Rupe church, Brentor dont go any further back and Ive found nothing on Ancestry.
As the present church dates back to 14th century, I'm presuming the records must be held elsewhere.
Any suggestions as to where to look, I'd be extremely grateful.
David.

[goldie61]

As the present church dates back to 14th century, I'm presuming the records must be held elsewhere.

Not necessarily.
Having a quick check, the registers covered on both findmypast and familysearch start 1720, so this may well be the first date that any survive.

Genuki at https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/Brentor says 'Parish Registers going back to 1720 are held in the Devon Record Office', so it does look as though they do not survive prior to that.

Have you looked for wills?
https://www.devonfhs.org.uk/devon-wills/

Unfortunately, many Devon and Cornsh wills were destroyed when Exeter cathedral was bombed in WWII, but you might find something.

[DRH123]

Do not give up all hope. There are Bishop's Transcripts going back as far as 1610, but as usual with many years misssing.

Baptisms, marriages, burials, 1606, 1610, 1618, 1620, 1624, 1627-1628, 1633, 1663-1664, 1666, 1668-1672, 1674-1676, 1678-1681, 1686, 1690, 1694-1696, 1704, 1708-1709, 1713-1715, 1719-1730, 1732-1737, 1743-1751, 1753, 1755-1799, 1801-1807, 1809-1812

You can see images on Familysearch, at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-894Y-97T9

David

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
I took a look at the BT's for Brentor and the parish records after and it looks to me as though the Spry family didn't come from Brentor.
There are no brothers or sisters for Richard getting married in the parish about the same time and they get married by licence.
Do they come from elsewhere ? Could finding a copy of that licence help.Certainly Joan comes from Lamerton bapt 4.3.1698 d of George.

Looking at possible burials in the parish for Richard's parents we find Richard ,his wives and children plus this

Francis Spry buried 18.4.1720.

It seems Francis was from Whitchurch
Francis Spry son of Richard Spry of Anderton married Dorothy Snell d of Thomas Snell of Stokeclemsland at Whitchuch 3 Aug 1703.
They had 4 children
Richard 8.9.1704
John 81./21.1.1705
Francis a son buried 21.2.1705
Johan 15.12.1706 a daughter

Dorothy wife of Francis buried 17 Dec 1706
Possible sister Johan Spry married Tristram Venton at Whitchuch by licence 26.10.1726.
There were 2 Richard Spry's born at Whitchuch 1703 and 1704 but only one marries there.What happened to the other?

Francis s of Richard Spry  bapt 6.5.1672  at Whitchurch
Siblings William 23.2.1675 ,Mary 17.9.1681 and possibly Joan at Tavistock 14.2.1670.
Richard of Anderton buried 15.11.1699 and Ellenor widow of Richard 2.8.1713

Dorothy probably 5.8.1673 d of Thomas and Jone at St Neots who may then  have moved to Stoke Climsland for final children until the youngest  daughter Margery 15.4.1690 sometime  between 1680 -3.
https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/baptisms/?year_from=1643&year_to=1720&forename1=thomas&multiname=1&surname1=snell&bf=Search

Richard did have a Francis and Dorothy with his second wife Mary.
Just a coincidence?

Could be worth looking into.I'd start by looking for that marriage licenece.

Ciderdrinker

[DRH123]

Devon and Cornwall Marriage Bonds and Allegations are available on Familysearch.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1833719

No sign of Richard Spry and Joan Fursman though. There is a Richard Spry of Whitchurch marrying a widow Grace Martyn in 1758.

David

[onefortheroad]

Wow. There's plenty for me to have a go at there! Thanks very much to all for taking the time and making the effort to help. It's much appreciated.
David