The Devon FHS WWWBoard

Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 21/9/2018, 10:49 am

I've been struggling for many years to find out information about my great grandmother who came from Culmstock. The only information I have about her is from her marriage certificate (in London in 1879) and from censuses from 1881 onwards until her death in 1895. Unfortunately, by the time of her marriage she was already living in London, so that certificate doesn't give me any indication of where she might have lived in Culmstock.

She was Ellen Neithercott, born between 1856-58 in Culmstock. On the marriage certificate she gave the name of her father as William Neithercott, a Clerk, who was deceased by 1879.

Using ancestry.co.uk, find my past, freebmd and other websites I can't find any birth details which look like they might be her, nor can I find her in the 1861 and 1871 censuses in Culmstock or elsewhere. I have also researched William, but cannot find any William with a daughter Ellen.

I have just joined Devonfhs and unfortunately the birth records for that period in Culmstock are not available on the site yet. I live in London so am not easily able to go to the local records office.

I just wondered if there is anyone who has researched Neithercott or the other spellings of that surname who may be able to suggest any leads.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Judith on 26/9/2018, 5:08 pm, in reply to "Neithercott - Culmstock"

A William Nethercott married Harriet Johnson Uffculme 1862 registered Tiverton.
Ellen Coles Johnson registered Kingsbridge 1857.
Cant find her death or marriage, or on census. Middle name suggests illigitimacy.
might be worth getting the cert. Mother could be Harriett.
How old was William? there is one born 1839 Culmstock with parents James and Sarah is this him?

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by John Avery on 22/9/2018, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Neithercott - Culmstock"

As it appears the family were Quakers there would not be a baptism recorded in a C of E parish church [but in the minutes at the meeting house of her acceptance into the Society of Friends faith]. However Quaker marriages had to be held in a C of E church. This probably confirms the reason you are not able to trace 'a baptism'.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by john Avery on 23/9/2018, 9:48 am, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

If both partners were Quakers they could be married at a Quaker meeting house, if one of the partners were non Quaker they had to marry in a C of E church. I suggest you study the detail at https://www.qfhs.co.uk/public_html/research.htm#Births and possibly approach the Quaker Family History Society as it also mentions on their helpful site that Quakers had their inhouse burials which would not be on C of E registers

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 22/9/2018, 4:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Thanks for your suggestion. That makes sense as a possibility re. the lack of baptismal records, but Ellen was born around 1857 so she should appear in the civil records, but I can't find her there either. Nor can I find her with a father William in any Devon censuses until she married when she then appears in the 1881 census in London. The earliest info I have about both Ellen and her father is from her marriage certificate in London in 1879 when she states that her father is William and a "Clerk". In the 1881 & 1891 censuses she states she was born in Culmstock. She died in 1895.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 22/9/2018, 7:50 am, in reply to "Neithercott - Culmstock"

Amendment: I gave some wrong info. on my original post. William Neithercott was not deceased by 1879 (it was the other father on the marriage certificate). So I have no knowledge of when William died and really no info. about him, other than his occupation seems to be a "Clerk".

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Devon FHS on 21/9/2018, 11:10 am, in reply to "Neithercott - Culmstock"

Hello Gerrie,

Parish Register images for Culmstock 1645-1915 are on the Members' Area.

These include Baptisms 2961A-PR-1-6 1813-1868

They are being transcribed by volunteers, but meanwhile all are available for members to browse.

Devon FHS

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 22/9/2018, 7:55 am, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Thank you. I have now been able to check the parish registers for baptisms in Culmstock 5 years either side of the time I believe she was born. No luck yet.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Karen Newman on 21/9/2018, 2:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Hi Gerrie

I have had a look at the marriage register entry on FindMyPast (to see who the witnesses were), and can't see that William was deceased on that. But I know that versions can differ.

There is a testimonial in some newspapers of 1861/2 from a William Nethercott who has been cured of his deafness (by using a patent cure). His address is given as SPRILAND Chapel, Culmstock. I think that is Spiceland Friends Meeting House. Perhaps a Non-Conformist angle?

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 25/9/2018, 11:42 am, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Karen, I have now researched the William Nethercott who suffered with deafness. He appears with his parents in the 1851 census and there is a mark on the column to indicate deafness or blindness. From somewhere between then and the census of 1861 he seems to have been moved to the Dulverton Union Workhouse - his deafness is recorded on their census sheets. He was not with his parents in the 1861 census and by the 1871 census his father seems to have remarried, probably after Sarah had died. William remained unmarried and probably died in the workhouse. I am continuing to work on the non-conformist angle in case that throws up any leads. However, Ellen Neithercott was born around 1857 so she should in any case appear on the civil birth registers, but for some reason she doesn't. Thanks for your interest.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 22/9/2018, 7:34 am, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Thank you, Karen. I've just re-checked the original marriage certificate and, you're absolutely right! It was her husband's father who was deceased. That widens things further now.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Tim Treeby on 21/9/2018, 3:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Only possible William I can see on 1851 Census is a William Nethercott, son of James and Sarah.

On the 1861 Census, James and Sarah are living at Spicelands Cottage, next door to Spicelands Chapel.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Gerrie on 22/9/2018, 4:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Thank you for your suggestion. I'm trying to track him through the censuses, but so far can't see the he has any daughters.

Re: Neithercott - Culmstock

Posted by Art on 21/9/2018, 7:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Neithercott - Culmstock"

Spicelands is a Quaker chapel on the boundary of Culmstock and Uffculme

« Back to index

[ The Devon FHS WWWBoard ]