Biddlecombe families - The Process

History

A brief overview of the history first.

An article on my website Christopher Biddlecomb of Ringwood (ivanhurst.me.uk). The article starts with Christopher Biddlecomb of Ringwood but expands out with the generations as fortunes and locations change.

I found his Last Will and Testament and transcribed it and made an article about it, and the family associated with it.

I then found more wills both in Ancestry and The National Archives.

More articles followed and the whole grew too big and has had to be restructured, twice.

It is now a suite of articles, with articles in articles and snippets within articles, all collated and managed.

 

 

Samuel Aplin

BIRTH Abt. 1815 • Thorncombe, Devon, England

DEATH

 

Birth and Baptism

 

 July 23^rd 1813

Samuel, Son of Samuel Aplin of the Parish of Pitminster, Farmer, and of Hannah his wife was baptised by Tho Golding

Born June 30th preceding.

Dealing with the last item first. Initial interpretation could be that Samuel was born 30^th June 1813, as that is preceding July of the same year, but that would render the word preceding redundant and superfluous. However, it could mean the year before, rendering his date of birth as being 30^th June 1812.

More importantly, his parents names are unexpected as is the parish of Pitminster. Pitminster is approximately half way between Winsham and Williton, both mentioned in the Marriage record below.

The record comes from Piece 1421: Pitminster, Fulwood Chapel (Independent), 1802-1836. Were Samuel Aplin's parents non-conformist? Did non-conformists' have to marry in the Established Church?

I have turned the pages of the register form the above record to the end of the register in 1836. The naming convention for dates of birth varies,  including full date for previous years, to same year for that. So is 'same year' to be interpreted as being the same as 'preceding'? Inconclusive. Also, in that period, there are no other baptisms recorded to Samuel Aplin and Hannah. There are several other families with multiple families. Perhaps a task for another day is to go in the opposite direction.

 

 There is another record which I would like to draw to your attention before concluding that the above record is pertinent.

The record is an extract of the 1841 Census for the Parish of Pitminster, Somerset

Starting with Where born first, the record states with a 'y' that the whole family, including the two servants where born in the same county as Pitminster was in, which is Somerset. This is at variance to my expectation, which was a 'N' reflecting born in Devon, Thorncome. Samuel and Hannah match the parents on the baptism record, but are not as expected. The Samuel Aplin, son, is 26 years of age, an is a Butcher. According to Ancestry, this would give him an Estimated Year of Birth of 1815. the census is for 1841, but the marriage of Samuel Aplin to Jane Adams, in Winsham, (not her Parish) was in 1834, so they had been married about seven years. However, there is no Jane Aplin mentioned on the return. 

Hannah's Estimated Year of Birth was 1791. Hannah would have been about 24 years of age when she gave birth to Samuel. Again, another expectation, this time for later children.

My current conclusion is that this is not the same family and the baptism record is discounted. However, I will leave the above notes in place as their presence may help other people from assuming that this data correlates to and is correct for Samuel Aplin of Ipswich, as mentioned in George Biddlecombe's will. 

Alterative Baptism records for Samuel Aplin remain elusive at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage

Samuel Aplin of this Parish, Bachelor and Jane Adams of the Parish of Williton, Spinster were married in this Church by License this twenty first Day of July in the Year One thousand eight hundred and thirty four By me Geo Ware. Vicar

This Marriage was solemnized between us Samuel Aplin  -- Jane Adams

In the Presence of George Biddlecombe -- Elizabeth Aplin

The Parish was Winsham, Somerset, the same as George Biddlecombe residence at the date of his will.

A newspaper clipping

July 21, at Winsham, Mr. Samuel Aplin, youngest son of Mr. Aplin, of Thorncombe, to Jane, only daughter of Mr. Thomas Adams, of Billbrock, Somerset.

Oh for a letter, a single extra letter. An initial for Mr. Aplin, of Thorncombe would have been so helpful.

The newspaper was The Western Flying Post or Sherborne and Yeovil Mercury
28 Jul 1834, Mon · Page 4

 Part of the front page that carried the marriage notice. First thing of note, a front page without massive headlines trying to lure you in to read the article. No the offering was announcements, you had to buy the paper to find out what was inside. or go to a newspaper reader, who would read it to people who could not read. However, looking at the price, seven pence, of which 4d was tax, perhaps you could pretend not to read to avoid the tax. 

An article on Shepton Mallet Turnpike, I must return to read that, and perhaps add it to my Turnpike series.

Another marriage, but this time between Jane's parents.

Banns of Marriage between Thomas Adams and Sarah Meddick both of this Parish of Luxborough were published on April the 5th 12th 19th 1812 G. Nibbs.

No. 130 Thomas Adams of this Parish of Luxborough, Bachelor and Sarah Meddich of this Parish of Luxborough, Spinster were Married in this Church by Banns this twentysecond Day of April in the Year One Thousand eight Hundred and twelve by me George Nibbs, Minster.

This Marriage was solemnized between Us Thomas Adams -- The mark x of Sarah Meddich

In the Presence of Samuel Palmer -- John Webber

 

Children

John Biddlecombe Aplin 1835

Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Charmouth in the county of Dorset in the Year 1836.

May 22nd John Biddlecombe Son of Samuel & Jane Aplin. Abode Charmouth, Profession, Draper, performed by James.

A middle name of Biddlecombe helps conformation of this record.

 

Mary Jane Aplin 1837

Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Old Cleeve in the county of Somerset in the Year 1837.

1837 10 December Mary Jane daughter of Samuel & Jane Aplin. Abode Billbrook, Profession, Draper, performed by W^m Newton.

From a page turn to the end of the register in 1843, a quick scan, there appears to be no other baptisms for Samuel and Jane.

Perhaps they moved away from the parish of Old Cleeve, near Watchet, Dunster and Minehead on the North Somerset coast. 

 

Sarah Jessie Aplin 1846

 

Josey T Aplin 1847

 

 

Samuel Adams Aplin 1849 and Rosa Emma Aplin 1851

Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Old Cleeve in the county of Somerset in the Year 1851.

20th Feby 1851 Born in {----} 1849 Samuel Adams Son of Samuel & Jane Aplin. Abode Billbrook, Profession, Assistant in a shop, performed by John Henry Kirwan, Curate

July 20 1851 Rosa Emma daughter of Samuel & Jane Aplin. Abode Billbrook, Profession, Assistant in a shop, performed by John Henry Kirwan, Curate

 

 There appears to have been a gap of about eight years between successive births. Samuel Aplin has changed profession in that period from Draper to Assistant in a shop, which seems on the face of it, regressive.

From other information both Josey T and Samuel Adams were born in  Ipswich Suffolk. Perhaps Samuel was baptised when they came back to be with the family. 

 

Thomas Joseph Aplin 1853

 

Fredrick Robert Alpin 1856

 

Census

1841 Census

 

1851 Census

 

Extract from Ancestry of 1851 Census  Bilbrook, Old Cleeve, Somerset, England

House Number	Given Name	Surname	Relationship	Age	Estimated Birth Year	Gender	Birth Place
78	Thomas	Adams	Head	61	1790	Male	Exton, Somerset, England
78	Sarah	Adams	Wife	59	1792	Female	Luxborough, Somerset, England
78	Jane	Aplin	Daughter	37	1814	Female	Luxborough, Somerset, England
78	John	Aplin	Grandson	15	1836	Male	Charmoth, Dorset, England
78	Mary Jane	Aplin	Granddaughter	13	1838	Female	Old Cleeve, Somerset, England
78	Jessey	Aplin	Granddaughter	4	1847	Female	Ipswich, Suffolk, England
78	Samuel	Aplin	Grandson	2	1849	Male	Ipswich, Suffolk, England
78	Rosa	Aplin	Granddaughter	5 Mo	1851	Female	Old Cleeve, Somerset, England
78	Thomas R	Cridland	Visitor	4	1847	Male	Taunton, Somerset, England

 On the day of the 1851 Census Jane Aplin nee Adams is back with her parents. The children are there as Thomas and Sarah's grandchildren, but Samuel Aplin is missing from this list. Therefore there is a Samuel Aplin somewhere else on a Census return. Recognising him will be made all the more difficult as he is on his own, not with a selection of known naems.

 

 

 

 

Death

 

 

Timeline

 

Timeline of recorded events - The family of Samuel and Jane Aplin nee Adams  - 1800 to 2020s

Name	Place	Event	Source	Age	Date	18 00	18 10	18 20	18 30	18 40	18 50	18 60	18 70	18 80	18 90	19 00	19 10	19 20	19 30	19 40	19 50	19 60	19 70	19 80	19 90	20 00	20 10	20 20
Samuel Aplin	Thorncombe, Devon	Birth	Ancestry Trees	0	Abt 1813		#
Samuel Aplin		Baptism
Jane Adams	Luxborough, Somerset	Birth		0	1813
Jane Adams	Luxborough, Somerset	Baptism		0	21 Aug 1813
Samuel Aplin	Winsham, Somerset	Marriage	Record		21 Jul 1834				#
Jane Adams	Williton, Somerset	Marriage	Record		21 Jul 1834				#
John Biddlecombe Aplin		Birth
John Biddlecombe Aplin	Charmouth, Bridport, Dorset	Baptism	Record		22 May 1836				#
Mary Jane Aplin	Old Cleeve, Somerset	Baptism	Record		10 Dec 1837				#
--- GAP  ---

 

For a register of Wills that may potentially be included in this series and some hints about Wills, go to my 'Last will and testament article', which opens in a new window. 

 

 

 

 

 

James Aplin yeoman 1802-1872

B:1802 Thorncombe, Devon, England

D:08 Jun 1872 Thorncombe, Devon, England

 

 

James Aplin of Forde Abbey is the subject of the Location called Forde Abbey Farm in this article.

James Alpin is recorded as being at Forde Abbey Farm on the day of the Census 30^th March 1851. An aside. When the 1851 census was taken on 30 March total population was recorded as 17,922,768.

James Alpin was the Head of the Household and he was 47 years of age. His occupation is stated as Farming 350 Acres employing 16 agricultural labourers. The 350 acres stated here is larger that the 313 stated in the Tithe Apportionment for his plots under Forde Abbey Farm, but it is over a decade later, so is not incongruous. He is recorded as being born in Dorset, in the Parish of Thorncombe, (was in Devon until 1844).

His wife is named as Sarah, aged 43, also born in Thorncombe. Her calculated year of birth was 1808, with James being 1804.

All the children are also born in Thorncombe and are unmarried.

Joseph Aplin, Son aged 21 giving a calculated birth year of 1830, Male. He is also employed on the Forde Abbey Farm

Samuel Aplin, Son aged 7 giving a calculated birth year of 1844, Male

Haney Lucy Aplin, Daughter aged 5 giving a calculated birth year of 1846, Female

Sarah Aplin, Daughter aged 3 giving a calculated birth year of 1848, Female

Louisa Aplin, Daughter aged 1 giving a calculated birth year of 1849, Female

Also shown on the 1851 Census is;

Maryann Barlett, Servant aged 20 giving a calculated birth year of 1831, Female Recorded as born in Burstock, Dorset, England

 

There is a gap in children between 1830 and 1844, which could be for several reasons, but is probably because they have moved away from home.

 

 

Elizabeth Aplin 1816–1866

BIRTH ABT. 1816 • Devon, England

DEATH MAR 1866 • Thorncombe, Dorset, England

 

Lets start Elizabeth's story with her marriage.

Elizabeth Aplin married Thomas Page, Bachelor and Spinster respectively. Both of full age and of the parish of Thorncombe by Banns on 25^th December 1845 in the Parish Church of Thorncombe, now in the county of Devon, in the presence of William Hallett and Ruth Hallett. Elizabeth's Brother in Law and sister who married in 1831. Thomas Page was a Yeoman, as was his father Michael Page and Elizabeth's father Joseph Aplin.

If Elizabeth married when she was 21 she would have been born about 1824, at the latest.