Please could someone look on one of the fee paying sites for JOHN PINE alias JOHN WOODS. I feel I am almost cracking a 20 year brick wall but need a bit of help to finally clinch it.

Sorry this is lengthy but the story is long and fascinating...…...


Many years ago I wrote an article for the DFHS magazine about John PINE born c1783, ferryman at Exmouth. I then did a follow up article about what happened to his house on Exmouth Beach. Until now I have never known where he came from but I am getting warm or maybe I'm following another red herring.

His date of birth is approx. based on his 'age' at death.

In the National Archives there is a record about his youngest son 'Charles Arthur Pine' ADM 73/318/18. Charles was given a place at Greenwich Hospital School. No date on document but 100% certain it is my family as it quotes parent's marriage etc. What is fascinating is father John Pine is described as alias 'John Woods'. It's highly probable this man was in the Royal Navy to give his son entitlement for the place at Greenwich school. The alias would also explain why the 1815 marriage entry for John Pine at Ottery St Mary was crossed out. His marriage took place 2 days later in Exeter by licence where no-one would have known his background.

This evening looking further at National Archive records, I think I have found John WOODS as a landsman on HMS Inflexible in 1801, pay book number SB 291. Relation - mother's name given as Jane. I've now found lots of detail about the ship.

Then in 1811 John Woods, landsman is on HMS Malta. Sending of wages.... discharged (date not given) Invalided. pay book number SB 430. Again I have found lots about this ship.

I am planning a trip to Kew to see these documents in full.

BUT the basic question - can anyone find JOHN WOODS, son of Jane born about 1783. I think Sidmouth area, where he said he came from when he was married as John Pine in 1815. But could be anywhere!

Why did he change his name? Was he illegitimate or maybe in 1815 he was still married to an earlier 'wife'?

At present I am not signed up in Ancestry or Find My Past but would be grateful of someone's help.

Many thanks.

Anne