Another Issue based on a single family for
September. This time, it is the turn of a family from Zeal Monachorum -
the family of John Stentiford and his wife Elizabeth Pike.
These
names have appeared in many Stentiford family trees - sometimes in the
right place, sometimes not. Sadly, it is an impossible task to create a
Devon - based family history by using the IGI. Only when Devon Family
History Society's present project, aimed at supplying all the missing
pieces of the puzzle is complete, will there be an opportunity to make
correct decisions about family members within the County. Even then,
there will be gaps. Some Devon parish records have gone for ever, lost
in time; others have had pages torn out in an attempt to hide
information contained on them by people who did not know of the
existence of Bishop's Transcripts. As if that wasn't enough to contend
with, there was the great wave of religious non-conformism which
swept into Devon from Cornwall propelled by John Wesley, bringing
informal baptism at home instead of the formal, documented entry into
the Church in front of a congregation.
So, in writing about this particular family, at no
time has any reference been made to the IGI. The result has been the
shaking of several family trees. There will be emails!
