Sunday, September 10, 2023

Moving on to Generation Five today

In the Fifth Generation I need to enter the new material (precis form only) that I purchased from the Somerset Record Office. In actuality the material did not provide that much information that would necessitate reproducing it as a word for word transcription so a precis of the material learned from this set of documents attached to the land document is all that is necessary to show that the Robert Siderfin at Eastlinch leaving his will in 1688 was indeed the grandson of William 4 Siderfin (Robert 3, Willian 2, John 1). His father was also a Robert, namely Robert 5, (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) generally referred to as Robert the Elder of Timberscombe, East Lynch on the Protestation Returns and the Somerset Lay Subsidy 1641-1642. His son, Robert 6 (leaving his will in 1688 which was attached to a set of land documents) was generally referred to as Robert the younger until his father died in 1675. The land records clearly identify the male children of Robert 6 as Robert and William although he and his wife Elizabeth (unknown) also baptized a daughter Elizabeth. Only her baptism was located at Timberscombe 25 Apr 1656. 

It was these two young men - Robert and William - whom James Sanders attached to a John Siderfin son of Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) which would have placed them in the line of the Robert and Ursula Siderfin who left an Answer document to a plaintiff (the Francke family) in 1653. This document showed that this Robert 4 lived at Old Knowle with children Wilmot (married to Robert Franke, then deceased), Robert and John. But the will of Robert 6 (Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) clearly links these two young men to the brother of Robert 4 namely William 4 thus correcting this slight error on the Pedigree Chart and solving the mystery of East Lynch being in the Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) line although generally associated with the William 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) line.  

In 1709 Thomasine Siderfin (likely widow of John 5 (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1)) names the Robert Siderfin at East Lynch which was the Robert mentioned in the will of Robert 6 (will left in 1688) as a cousin when in reality he would have been a grandson of her husband if the Pedigree Chart was correct. James Sanders does not actually make the connecting mark in the Pedigree Chart only implying a relationship by placement. This set of documents along with the 1653 document Answering the Complaint provide the information necessary to place these Robert Siderfin men in their correct line. 

Interestingly in Monumental Brasses in Somerset Part XV which was written by Arthur B. Connor, FSA, he mentions James Sanders book on page 95 with the footnote (part of which reads : "The History of the family by James Sanders, of South Molton, 1912, is not explicit in this subject." Connor is referring to the name Robert being quite common in the Siderfin family and in this case is discussing a brass in memory of Robert 8 (Robert 7, Robert 6, Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) and his parents were named as Robert and Elizabeth (I think Blackford as did James Sanders) Siderfin and this would be Robert 7 (son of the Robert 6 who left his will in 1688). All of these Roberts being in the so-called (by me) William-Line which began with William 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1).

I did take up the challenge to try and solve this mystery which was apparent in the Pedigree Chart as drawn by James Sanders. Arthur Connor writes in Monumental Brasses in Somerset, Part XV by Arthur B Connor, FSA, Page 95, originally published in the "Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Part XV, Part II, Volume 91, 1945, pages 82-98" as mentioned above that the many Robert Siderfin males had not been sorted by James Sanders in a way that placed all of them in their proper location. Hence the project to separate out these Robert Siderfin males and I trust the readers will find my methodology sound and the result fitting well into the available evidence. I can now move forward faithfully in Generation Five and add to the text explaining why I have placed individuals where I have although differing from James Sanders placement. At the time he was writing his book, early 1900s, it was already two hundred years since the events he was discussing so I have felt free to make the changes that I did in that he did not refer to all of the available documents. In some ways I have been surprised that I have not found any articles written through the years trying to sort out this family. But then it is a smallish sized study and perhaps that interest did not arise amongst the descendants through the years. 

Whether it is John Siderfin or Robert Siderfin (both sons of Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) who married Thomasine who left her will in 1709 after a long life as she names all but one of her grandchildren (and her son by then was 51 years of age) it may remain something to debate but I can find no information on the Robert 5 (on the Protestation Returns at Minehead in 1641) through the years to show a marriage or baptisms in his line whereas John 5 (at Selworthy on the Protestation Returns) does appear to be the more likely candidate for the husband of Thomasine especially given the land record for Old Knowle being in this line). 

It is most fulfilling to now see the end of this book (although still another couple of months away as there is a great deal of editing and footnoting to do) rather than all the pieces that needed to be fitted together. 

Sunday and this will be the first service on YouTube since the summer break began. I look forward to the service once again online. I could have found other services online but I have enjoyed my walk down memory lane as I experienced once again that very quiet time during COVID when the bulletin arrived in my Inbox and I sang and read the service by myself every week until the You-Tube services began. 

One third of the way through September and this morning it was just 14 degrees celsius as Fall now returns once more to this country which will in just a couple of months be covered with snow likely. Winter with its short days and long nights provides a great deal of research time for me. 

On to breakfast having finished my tea. Another container of raspberries in the freezer; I really must learn to enjoy more than a few raspberries at a time since there are so many. 


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