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St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 28/9/2018, 2:18 pm

I'm looking for the birth of a Margaret R Leach in 1934. Records say she was born in St Thomas district in Devon. But what exactly does 'St Thomas' mean? I'd like to apply for her birth certificate, but I have a feeling St Thomas covers a whole range of places within the County ... or am I wrong? Her mother's name was Newton.

Many thanks in advance. Julia

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Judith on 1/10/2018, 10:09 am, in reply to "St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Have you looked at the 1939 register on find my paat? do you know the name of a parent?

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Judith on 1/10/2018, 10:18 am, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Have just had a look on 1939 register, lots of leach names in St Thomas area. If you know the name of an older sibling, who is now deceased, or mothers name, you might find them. Easier to send for the birth certificate, and then work on the register from there, as you would get an address on the certificate, and parents names, which would also get you on the 1911 census, depending on their age. Possibly. good luck.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Sally Topliss on 1/10/2018, 11:22 am, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Following on from Judith's message, I think the family are living at 1 Stone Cottages, next to Towsington Farm (the map shows Withycombe Raleigh/Exmouth area) in 1939. This is assuming parents are Bertie T and Bessie C. Did Bessie C go on to marry in 1970 Hugh McGuinness?
Sally

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 5/10/2018, 11:19 am, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

I don't know the names of siblings unfortunately. All I know is that the mother's maiden name is Newton - no more than that. I'll check the Withycombe Raleigh/Exmouth areas. Thanks for your help Judith and Sally

Julia

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Chris on 28/9/2018, 8:03 pm, in reply to "St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

This shows all the places at various dates in St Thomas Registration district https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/st%20thomas.html

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 30/9/2018, 8:04 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Thank you. I saw this list, but am confused how I would know which area within ‘St Thomas’ is the right one. It appears to cover a whole range of places.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Sue on 28/9/2018, 7:25 pm, in reply to "St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

St Thomas is also an area of Exeter west of the Exe with its own railway station. It has its own parish church.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 30/9/2018, 8:07 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Thanks Sue. I’ve lived in Exeter all my life and know the current area of St Thomas very well, I was just confused that when you click on the St Thomas link in FreeBMD it came up with a huge list of areas it covered in 1934 and I’m unsure how I would know which one it is

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Art on 2/10/2018, 6:38 am, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

If you still live in Exeter may I suggest you pop into Tree House. There they have far more resources than just internet and may indeed have 1934 parish records for those villages.

The volunteers at Tree House should also be able to gìve you a great deal of help

Art

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by judith on 28/9/2018, 3:37 pm, in reply to "St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

If you go on the freebmd site and put in Leach 1934 and scroll down the district list for St Thomas, then when it comes up, click on the words St Thomas, it will show the places which it covers, which are mostly just outside Exeter, but you need to look for the place you are interested in to be sure you have the right one. It gives her mothers maiden name as Newton, so that seems to be right.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 30/9/2018, 8:09 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Thanks Judith. It was the FreeBMD site that I found the info. Just confused as to the area within St Thomas that she was actually born as it covers a huge range of areas - I don’t know how I would find out which one

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Art on 1/10/2018, 9:36 am, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

St. Thomas here is the old St. Thomas Union of parishes - hence so many. I was born in the old workhouse for that union, though by then a maternity hospital.

Looking at the vol and page, this is 5b 70.
The birth coverage of St. Thomas for the Mar. quarter is from pages 28 - 70 and as the parish entries are alphabetically sorted, then this would suggest one of the later parishes with Withycombe or Woodbury being favourites.

The purchase of the certificate should confirm the birthplace

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 5/10/2018, 11:16 am, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Thanks Art. The Tree House suggestion is a good one! I'm in a good position whereas I work for the Registration Service here in Exeter - however, unable to find this person in the indexes, hence not knowing which district to look in in order to order the certificate as St Thomas covers such a range. The St Thomas ones I have looked in, don't appear to have anything with her name. I shall persevere ... this is the 'fun' of family history I guess ... all the brick walls!!

Many thanks for your help.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Judith on 6/10/2018, 3:47 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

I had a play with free bmd site, found parents names
Bertie T Leach married Bessie C.K. Newton , St Thomas regn area 1928.
children Frederick W born 1929, Stanley B.T. 1930,
Richard 1931, Margaret 1934.
then looked on find my past and its still St Thomas regn, with Bessies name given as Bessie C McGuinness. with one other person and 2 closed, so one of the children may not have survived. But using Bertie and Bessie, went back to freebmd and found Bertie T registered Crediton 1895, so he should be on 1901 and 1911 census, and Bessie Cornelia C registered 1906 St Thomas, so she should be on 1911
If you pop in the heritage centre and use the computer there, you can get the address etc on find my past for free.
Hope this has helped.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Judith on 6/10/2018, 5:20 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Bessie daughter of Henry a labourer, and Elizabeth Newton of Payhembury,1911, and Bertie son of Ralph (blacksmith) and Mary ann, of Sandford, Crediton.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Judith on 6/10/2018, 3:48 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

should have said findmypast 1939 register.

Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?

Posted by Julia Edwards on 12/10/2018, 2:37 pm, in reply to "Re: St Thomas district? Where in Devon?"

Thank you Judith. I have finally found her - yay. It was in the Kenton registers - St Thomas was in Kenton also. Goodness me!
But thank you so much for your time and assistance - all those names were helpful

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