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LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by George F. Locke on 23/10/2023, 12:24 am

Hello. My 5th great-grandfather, John Lock was born about 1696 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Colony. His father is unknown at this time.

Y-DNA testing has confirmed that My Lock/Locke paternal line is directly related to another Lock/Locke family here in the USA whose ancestor, William Arthur Lock (b. July 21, 1807 Chittlehampton, Devon) migrated to the USA in 1870, although one of his sons, William Buckingham Lock migrated earlier in 1850.

William Arthur Lock's Father was William Lock, b. 4 Dec 1768 South Molton, Devon - d. 25 Jan 1842 Filleigh, Devon.

I have been attempting to identify our common paternal ancestor. There is at minimum 160 years separation in the records to search through. However, Big-Y DNA testing of both our families currently estimates that our common paternal ancestor was born about the year 1390, but more Y-DNA testing of Lock/Locke family descendants could refine that estimate to a more recent year.

I am beginning to look at records for the ports of Barnstaple and Bideford but I am ignorant of the record types that might be available (outside BMD records) which might help me search for our common ancestor. Any assistance in suggesting which record groups might help me will be greatly appreciated. I realize that there are more Lock males in Devon records than in most other locations of the UK, so it seems a daunting task, but I've been working on this line for almost 30 years now so I am definitely in it for the long haul.

With gratitude for any assistance received,
-geo
George F. Locke
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by Beryl Vickery (neeLock) on 9/11/2023, 7:48 pm, in reply to "LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

I was interested to see your email,
my gt gt gt gt grandfather was Thomas Lock married Mary Andrew in 1766.I have not done very much of my family history for some time now, but looking back on some old papers I do have mention of a William Lock born 21 July 1807, although where he actually fits in I am not sure !!
You obviously have far more information than I have, my late cousin had a lot more than me, but he unfortunately died a few years ago.
I was born in South Molton, and still live here.
There has been a cross over of LOCK marrying LOCKE, so it does get very complicated !!
Anyway, I will try to look further into the history, and get back if I do find anything of interest.
Best wishes, keep searching !!! Beryl

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by George Locke on 11/2/2025, 6:03 pm, in reply to "Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

Beryl, I'd like to let you know that a local Devon genealogist has confirmed that your great-ancestors, Thomas Lock and Mary Andrew, are most likely the grandparents of William Arthur Lock of Chittlehampton, who emigrated to the United States in the 1870's. I would still like to know more about your own family line and if your cousin's family tree materials were handed down to a family member. Respectfully yours, George F Locke, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by Beryl Vickery on 11/2/2025, 7:04 pm, in reply to "Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

Hi George, Good to hear from you again.
The William I have on my records married a Mary Cothay, he had siblings =
Thomas married Margaret Tombs,Mary married Francis Saunders,Catherine married Richard Gulley,James married Hannah Eastmond and George married Betty Muxworthy. Hope this is the right William !!!
Good wishes Beryl

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by George Locke on 11/2/2025, 8:56 pm, in reply to "Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

Beryl, William and Mary (Cothay) Lock had a son named William Arthur Lock who married Ann Buckingham of Fillleigh. They lived in and around Chittlehampton before emigrating to the USA with their family in 1871. There is another Lock line associated with your line which emigrated from Bournemouth (Dorset) to Australia in the 1920's. I am working on confirming that lineage to see if we can tie it to the common Lock ancestor. All of the connections (confirmed and yet to be confirmed) are being prompted through Y-DNA testing results which tells us that the Chittlehampton/South Molton Locks (Your line), the Bournemouth Locks, and my own Philadelphia USA Locks (from the 1690's) all share the same Y-Chromosome DNA. If I can connect your Lock family line and the Bournemouth Lock Line to a common Lock ancestor, then that may (will) help me identify my own emigrant ancestor Lock. Thanks to you and your mention of Thomas and Mary (nee Andrew) Lock, we were able to clear up a misattributed reference to the parents for William & Mary (nee Cothay) Lock which misattribution is found in many online family trees. Thank you very much for your initial reply and this latest reply. I'd be very interested in knowing how far back your Lock line goes. The Lock from Australia (Bournemouth Line) has his Lock line going back to the Locks of Parracombe, Devon in the 1400's but without much sourcing. Regardless of that, I do appreciate your input as it has been a big help in confirming the information we have come up with. Have a good evening. -geo

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by George Locke on 19/3/2024, 4:48 pm, in reply to "Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

Beryl, I hope this message finds you doing well. I am wondering if you have had a chance to look over your family files since we last chatted.

My research project with Legacy Tree Genealogists has located another Lock family in Australia which also traces their line back to South Molton. They are also a Y-DNA match to myself and to my Chittlehampton Lock cousins.

Do you know of any Lock men of your family line who would be willing to take a Y-DNA test? My research project can cover the cost of the Y-DNA test if needed.

I hope you have a Blessed Easter.
-geo
George F. Locke
Raleigh, NC USA

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by George Locke on 10/11/2023, 2:55 am, in reply to "Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

Thank you Beryl, that is very kind of you. There were (are) many Lock wills from South Molton in the 1500's and 1600's at your National Archives, I've downloaded copies of them, but my eyes are not yet trained to read them clearly. My hope is to travel there and visit the local town(s) where my ancestor lived, once I've identified who he was and where he came from. Who knows I might even have raise a pint in his memory (assuming he didn't leave an unpaid bar tab before traveling to the American Colonies

.)
-geo
George F Locke
Raleigh North Carolina USA

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by Judith on 25/10/2023, 5:40 pm, in reply to "LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

William Lock born 1768 was son of William and Ann (nee Ley/Leigh?) south Molton
Have you used family search.org site?

Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon

Posted by George Locke on 10/11/2023, 2:44 am, in reply to "Re: LOCK of Chittlehampton, South Molton & Filleigh, Devon"

Judith, thank you. Yes I have viewed the Family search site. The information there is from a Lock family whose ancestors migrated from Chittlehampton to the United States in the 1850's. I am a Y-DNA match to that family, but my ancestor (unknown Lock) migrated to the American Colony of Pennsylvania sometime in the 1690's from an unknown point of origin, but is suspected to be Devon. I am employing the services of professional genealogists to help me tie my line to that line and they have descovered another Lock line currently living in Devon who is also a Y-DNA match to both of our lines, so now we are searching for a three-way connection. The records I am hoping to find are some kind of ship's log or register which might contain a list of passengers or crew who sailed from local ports to the American Colonies. I realise my query might be too simple for the task, but I'm not sure what kinds of records might be available. Please excuse typos as I am making this entry using my phone.
-geo
George F Locke
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

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