Family of William Arscott and Elizabeth Connybear

Husband: William Arscott

Wife: Elizabeth Connybear

Child 1: John Conibeer

Additional Information

Note on Husband: William Arscott

John claims William Arscott, shoemaker as his father on his marriage certificate. There are two possible candidates. William Arscott 1779-1843 son of miller and parish clerk William Arscott of Ford Mills, who married Sarah Smith on 28 Feb 1809, or William Arscott 1784-1858, nephew of the miller and son of Richard Arscott.He took over as parish clerk on his uncle's death. He was very religious, and married Elizabeth Medland, on 9 May 1831. She was over 20 years his junior. This William was inspired by travelling evangelist Robert Gribble, from Barnstaple. Gribble was aligned to the Plymouth Brethren, and he and Arscott began the little chapel at Coleford.The church did not approve of this, and William had to resign as parish clerk. His brother Richard, also a shoemaker took over. This William and Gribble set up another chapel at Coombehead, halfway between Colebrook and Spreyton, now used as a builders stors. William was buried there.

Informatiom from Neville Enderson, by email, 20/3/08

Note on Wife: Elizabeth Connybear

A bastardy examination of Betty Conibeer (Elizabeth on the front of the file) found that the male bastard borne in 1806 was the offspring of "connection" with a stranger she met on the road to Crediton.

The parish record for John's baptism describes Elizabeth as a single woman. Between1813 and 1826 there are 6 baptisms recorded for sons born to Connibear mothers who are not married.

Note on Child 1: John Conibeer

In 1841 John Conebeer is at South Farwood, Tedburn St Mary.

The name is spelt Connibear in the 1851 census, when John and Jane are living at Waye, Tedburn St Mary. John seems to have been rather an itinerant - one child has been born at Whitestone.

In 1861 John and family are living at No 1 Uppaton Cottages, Dunsford. In 1881 John and Jane are living at Downs Farm Tedburn St Mary, where he is a farm labourer

In 1891 John is a widower living with his son George at Goat Lake, Dunsford. He is age 74, and gives his occupation as Farm Labourer, and his place of birth as Colebrook. Ancestry.com has mistranscribed several of these names as Conteer. A Mark Coneybeer aged 14, born in Tedburn St Mary is living on the nameighbouring property working as a farm labourer. Any relation?

Sources