The weirdest experience

Today I had an appointment with the Eye Institute to look at my cataracts. The optometrist told me in January that I would need to have them operated on in another year but I decided that since he said he would have recommended that I should have done that two years ago except my husband needed his done I decided I should get right on that and get it done. My appointment with the Eye Institute was for today. I was there in plenty of time; I took a taxi because that was just the easiest thing to do. My daughter had a lot to do and it was the simple method since I would not be able to see to drive home after drops in my eyes plus I do not drive on the highway by myself anymore. And it was actually really true that I could not have done that. I couldn't read anything in actual fact. The recommendation was to have the cataract surgery with a replacement lens. The ophthalmologist discussed several different types of lenses aside from the basic lens and I had no idea there were such choices. I have worn glasses since I was eighteen months of age. I have strabismus and astigmatism with one of my eyes particularly weak. I was actually being told that all this could go away and I would be glasses free (if after study my eyes fitted into that category). Aside from the fact that I really in my mind did not think that could happen I realized as I spent some time reading about all of these lens later that I actually enjoy wearing glasses and being an outdoor sports person I also like not having bugs in my eyes. I decided to phone and tell them that I really wanted the basic lens and forget about any bells and whistles  - just basic. So we will go with that as I got through to them and was able to discuss with her assistant. The Ophthalmologist that I had as a child, wonderful man with such patience for a small child, always said that my eyes could not be operated on and not to do that so I have avoided any comment on laser surgery or anything like that through the years. He tried to correct my eyes with patching and that did not work when I was a child and said I would just always have to have glasses (I believed him although realize that the surgeries have come a long way through the years but did discover that some people have strabismus return and end up with glasses in the long run anyway). Dr. Dyson was one of the pioneers in child surgery for strabismus and he had been one of my Father's scouts (my father was actually Chief Scout in London sometime in the 30s (have the reference)) and very well liked by many people there. So I do realize that Dr Dyson, my ophthalmologist, did take special pains with my eyes because of that. I also realize that was a long time ago but he was my eye physician until we moved to Ottawa when I was 30 years of age. Dr. Sullivan, an equally good and knowledgeable ophthalmologist here looked after my eyes until he went into fulltime surgical so I decided we would just go to an optometrist and not have to book these appointments so far ahead. But in actuality it is just the fact that I really prefer wearing my glasses and I like the versatility of having the stronger lens to work away on my computer and I have confidence in that and I do not want to move to any of these new compound lens. That isn't to say that I do not see this as a very progressive movement for people and it is good if children do not have to have strabismus all their life but for me no bugs in the eyes is more than enough reason to stay with the basic lens. 

It was fun though being back in the hospital campus (the General) that I worked at for four years (I was at the Civic Campus for six years, Riverside Campus for about two years). I went to the Cafeteria after I was finished and had a huge gingerbread cookie and a coke. Glad that appointment is over; surgery likely towards the end of the year since I have to work that into when my daughter is here. In the meantime I have started once again to work on the Siderfin Book. Hope to finish it before the end of the year so should work very well. Then take a while off of the heavy computer work (I shall try to improve my execise regimen at that time although it is quite excellent already) and then start on the Pencombe book and after that the Blake book. Who knows what will be next but I do have a few ideas (George DeKay wrote a book on our mutual Gray families along with several lines that fed into these lines (Routledge, Carling, etc. etc.)). A book that included more information on the work of Sir John Carling (my great grandmother's first cousin) would certainly be interesting to family members (I just create *.pdf documents and put them up on my server and then anyone can download them at will). I will give copies to Family Search as well if they want them. 

I also want to continue working on the H11 haplogroup and would eventually like to publish a book on that particular subclade of H. The DNA of my father and brothers would also make an interesting study (I-PH151) as it goes extinct in our generation although there are still a number of male descendants of John Blake and Ann (Farmer) Blake as well as John's parents Thomas Blake and Sarah (Coleman) Blake of Upper Clatford. This is an interesting line because it goes back to Joseph Blake (and Joanna (King) Blake of Upper Clatford) of Andover who was the only descendant of Thomas Blake and Ann (Carter) Blake who survived to adulthood and this Thomas Blake was the only  child of Thomas Blake and Mary (Spring) Blake who married 6 Nov 1708 at Andover St Mary. This limited number of descendants in the 1700s makes the family easy to trace back into the 1600s and earlier as it turns out. I would like to do more on the Buller family of my maternal grandmother. Now that I am in to these surname studies they are quite fascinating and as I withdraw eventually from my commitment to the Guild of one-name studies (Blake and Pincombe) I can see all sorts of interesting ways to spend my time. My father had great success all those years ago with his cataract removal. He could do his beloved cross word puzzles and spent hours working on them after he was semi-retired. Dr Dyson always said that I had exactly my father's eyes and I am younger than he was and he never wore sunglasses. I hate them but have worn them for years now. They block the real world. 

The evening is fast disappearing and I am up late. Off to bed. Goodnight dear God and may peace become more than just a wish.

Kayaking

Finally found exactly what I was looking for - a youth kayak that works very well for me and we bought it and pretty much immediately went kayaking. What a glorious day to be out in nature. Saw muskrat (too early for beaver yesterday) and loads of Canada Geese and their young. A lovely heron flew across the water and just lots and lots of wild flowers. I do love to be on the water. 

Finished cleaning the basement and that is done for another week. A beautiful day again today. We need rain for sure but the sun as well to help dry up the land. It is very wet on the land this year where the water has still not gone down but surprisingly the ground is dry and rain is needed. Likely climate change playing a role once again making life harder for humans as we have made it hard for mother nature. Revenge it would appear. We must be kinder to Mother Nature. 

The Russian people are awake (at least some of them). The attack on Moscow could only be them. Ukraine would not attack in that way; why would they and lose the opinion of the world. They just want what is theirs; theirs for eons of time. Open your eyes Nazi Putin and his enablers; you are sinful, murderous, thieving, and animalistic with  no regard for human life. The time is past for your kind. Glory to Ukraine. 

The birds are singing; enjoying the beautiful early morning sun and coolness. With the windows open I can hear the traffic on the highway and a new day is beginning. Construction is ongoing with the light rail. Soon the trains will be running and people streaming into and out of Ottawa as before. COVID 19 did not defeat us; we are back and eager to take on whatever is next. 

Forgot to post the newsletter and must do that next. On to the Blake Newsletter but first a couple of weeks on the Siderfin Book. 

The day begins; breakfast in a bit but first my hot tea. 

In the vein of research

Today I continue contemplating the Research Boxes; Edward had so much material collected. A large portion dates back to the mid 1960s when he first began his task of looking for his Kipp ancestry. I found the discussion interesting because history has always interested me; not enough to get inspired to look at my own mostly because I did think I pretty much knew my history plus I am not that interested in "collecting" people but Edward just loved to organize all of his known relatives (and he had a lot in the Princeton, Ontario area). After we bought a car, we visited with many of them which was a novel pursuit for me as I am not really into visiting people. But we met some quite elderly people whose lives stretched way back into the 1800s and like the child who listened at her grandparent's knee I did find their rendition of events in their lifetime quite interesting. Being an efficient note taker, I would often do that for Edward making full notes of their conversations for his later perusal and then being a touch typist I rapidly put them into print for storage (that is some of what I have to sort through now - notes from over fifty years ago). I look at it and I can scarcely remember all of that but it is my typing for sure. It just seemed like something nice that we shared in those early years of our marriage. When the science and laboratory aspect of our life disappeared as Edward moved on from being a scientist to being a Librarian Specialist this sort of thing kept us together and still linked by common interests with mine being interest in the historical reflections and his finding family members. Interesting to reflect on that actually. We did have other interests particularly Astronomy. Edward liked to attend his United Church (we went to Metropolitan United in London) but I continued, once we had a car, to go back to my own church early Sunday morning service when my dad would always be there as well. It was a nice father-daughter moment around people who knew me and I did feel safe there. Learning to drive was a good thing for me; no one in my family had been willing to teach me back in my teen years with my poor eyesight so I took lessons and the instructor was very good. I always remember the first lesson sitting behind the wheel and the instructor said we are not going anywhere unless you take your foot off the brake! I did (he also had a brake!) and it was an incredible day for ever ingrained in my memory, I was just 21 years of age and suddenly here was freedom; I could manage for myself in a car where I felt safe and it was a freeing moment in time for me. Edward never really thought I would be able to drive either although he didn't say it (I could sense it); but he soon saw that I could see more than well enough to take this on although the road signs were a challenge for me and being considered blind in one eye made judging distance difficult but I soon came up with a trick using the poles along the side of the road and gradually that system improved so that I didn't need the poles but just the feel and look of the road. And I passed amazingly to all of my family for sure. But now I do stick to known familiar routes unless I have someone with me.

The Bible Reading today ends with "Don't let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good." coming from Romans 12: 21 (the entire reading Romans 12:9-21 is a treasure considering the times we find ourselves in). What is being done by the so-called West in Ukraine is a good thing; the Ukrainians have a right to self-determination; their own sovereign nation guaranteed under the UN Charter  - especially Ukraina was one of the ice retreats during the last glacial maximum 15,000 years ago. It is an ancient place and any other statement about Ukraine is a lie fabricated for greed and nothing else. That the combatants share the same blood is even worse and undeniably a great sin. In spite of the hardships on the Ukrainian people they are thinking of the poor of this world who eat their grain and struggle to keep the grain flowing to these many countries through the Black Sea. Being enslaved by the Russians for years should not be their lot; that has already been done to them; the Russians tried to starve them to death even as recently as the 1930s. God's people. Glory to Ukraine.

Tomorrow I have my eye appointment to look at my cataracts. Both of my parents had cataract surgery and in my father's case he found it gave him the opportunity to do all sorts of things, especially cross word puzzles which he had never had time for in his working days. It was fun watching him work away at the puzzles. My mother never really commented on her eye surgery and my days with her were less frequent due to work commitments. Her letters to me continue though until shortly before she died. I have scanned those twenty seven years of memories for my children since they grew up far from grandparents and all that love was missed by them on a regular daily basis. Grandparents enrich children's lives I think but children are busy nowadays and unless you live close to them they do not get that flooding love that grandparents impart to their grandchildren.

Today I will post the Pincombe-Pinkham Newsletter so that it is online on the 1st. It does take a day or so to get that onto the FT DNA study website for Pincombe-Pinkham. Sometimes I wonder if I have solved a mystery finding Philip Pynkeham on the 1545 subsidy as an individual not readily linked to the North Molton branch of the Pencombe/Pincombe family but then  I find Edward Pencombe in the same place (Tawstock) on the 1581 subsidy. One day perhaps I will solve the mystery or perhaps someone else will do that but I want to leave everything readily available that I have put together so that it can be examined/refuted/revised/proven in the future by another avid surname researcher!

Basement to clean today and will begin soon. Breakfast is next. A new month is coming and June has a reputation for being rather wet which would be nice. The ground is so very dry considering the water level in the rivers is so high still. My daughter went kayaking night before last and the bridge is not yet put in at the take-off point the water is so high. She said it was glorious, beavers in abundance and one came over to look at her in the kayak. Not too close but curious none the less. You can get into spots not available when the water is lower so an interesting trip. Must get back to looking at kayaks but I want a simple one; not expensive, and a youth size as I want to be able to manage it easily. 

Cucumbers planted yesterday; we forgot them. Although we would also eat them, the racoon seems to enjoy them as well. Time will tell; we have not seen him/her for a while. 

On to breakfast. Another beautiful day  at 13 degrees celsius with a high predicted at 27 degrees celsius. There is a weather alert with the high temperature to be cautious to keep hydrated. Will water tonight if the beds are dry. A typical May day for sure. 

 

Cleaning Day and the 30 boxes of research still remaining

Cleaning day once again but from now on I will start working on the research boxes. This is the older material which I must sort through and I can remember that time all those years ago after the OGS meeting when Gordon Riddle and Edward looked through the Burford material that Edward had collected. Hard to believe it is so long ago now. I wasn't there as I didn't want to disturb their conversation so have no ideas on any of it really but will have to decide how to organize it perhaps for the Schultz people as the Kipp families and the Schultz families intermarried. I do not actually know very much about them; nor do I know many of them. But the one couple may come to pick up the Kipp Family Bible and the Schultz Family Bible. They have an active Reunion Group and will enjoy looking at these books and all the pictures from the 1800s. It is so very many years ago now - fourty years since Edward went to his first meeting of the Ontario Genealogical Society Ottawa Branch with Gordon Riddle (he had invited Edward to go with him). They had a great time Edward said. He was very happy to have a friend to go with him. He didn't like to do things alone. 

Back to the cleaning but wanted to remember these thoughts so put them to my blog right away. 

A beautiful day still today; not dreadfully warm around 23 degrees celsius at 4:00 p.m. A typical May day.

Another stunning day in store

Absolutely beautiful at 6:00 a.m. Birds chirping happily and the trees coming closer and closer to full leaf. A beautiful spring day much appreciated by all the wildlife certainly at this early hour. I can hear the traffic on the highway though so another busy day ahead I suspect. 

Last evening first day of kayaking although I walked. So far I haven't found a kayak that suits me - money wise in particular. I know what I want and it is pretty simple; sometimes I think simple is hard to come by these days. 

Yesterday a busy one picking up another piece of fencing, then banker boxes (I have an idea on how to sort through the remaining 30 boxes of Edward's research), and sand for the brickwork and porch. This is the kind of sand that you water and it takes on a bit of a cement texture. The person who did our porch was not very good at it I would say, it is sinking and moving just a small amount but maybe I am a perfectionist. After Edward contracted that himself he used Reno 4 Seniors which is excellent to do any jobs around the house that we needed. After a job is complete and not quite as you understood it to be you really only have the choice of a lawsuit (never sued anyone actually in my entire 77 years, generally when they are stupid or ignorant it eventually gets them) or just moving on if it isn't worth the trouble after all everyone around you saw the work done, how it was done and can form their opinions (this is generally the better way unless it costs you enough money to make it necessary). If anyone asks who did our porch I certainly tell them but add that I wouldn't have them do it again. Perhaps it is because my father ran his own business (refrigeration and air conditioning) but I think you do the best job that you can do not the easiest and cut corner type of job since you are dealing with old people and figure it doesn't matter. But I wasn't actually involved as Edward had retired by then and he was involved in getting it done. I just agreed with his criticism later!  

 So repairs for the house, additions completed purchases and the garden is in. Maybe I can return to my usual work schedule now and get things done in that area once again. Newsletter pretty much completed and moving on. Next newsletter is the Blake Newsletter and I have an idea of where I am going with that one. I had hoped to get into the Family Search Library to look at the Subsidies for Somerset but that did not happen so I will take a different direction although still likely taxes. Taxes are nice if you happen to have ancestors who owned/rented land as they are in these records from ancient days. It lets you place them and if you have the Parish Registers then you have their family members. Fortunately my lines stayed pretty much in the same areas through the centuries making it much easier for me plus family history got passed down also very helpful. For most of my lines I am back into the early 1700s and for a number back into the 1400s. Amazing that I am so immersed in all of this work. George DeKay, my cousin, would be amazed actually - he was that I continued with the work on the Pincombe family even after I created (along with the help of family still in the area) the Pincombe Profile for his History of Westminster and Delaware. He did a great job on the books. 

Off to water; no rain for a bit and the ground is very dry. Not my favourite thing all this gardening but it is probably good for my health and the food produced likewise. Still not sleeping well but it will return soon I am sure; definitely need efficiency in our government - we pay far too much in taxes not to have an efficient government. I do not object to the taxes that I pay and it climbs higher every year but I want something for that money and it is efficiency and sufficient armaments for our military.

I haven't lost interest in the plight of Ukraine either - I just think we, the west as the psychopathic Nazi Putin and his enablers refer to us as, are dealing with people who are absolutely ignorant and have become like animals and do not know how to behave like human beings. I pray often for Ukraine (and Sudan which is also in upheaval) but until we follow the commandments which Jesus gave us - Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbour as yourself  we are stuck with murderous cutthroat Nazi type people who attack other countries - in this case the psychopathic Nazis Putin and his enablers. They predict our demise; time will tell certainly on that score. Glory to Ukraine and may their children get to see peace soon instead of being murdered by the psychopathic Nazis Putin and his enablers. And it looks like Belarus gets included since they let the psychopathic Nazis Putin and his enablers invade Ukraine from Belarus and now threaten us with tactical nuclear weapons.  For the use of nuclear weapons is a threat to the entire world. We will defend ourselves against such callous animalistic behaviour and Europe will likely choose the method that best suits the crime. What short memories these people have; ton after ton of material was shipped to Russia when they were invaded by the Nazis back in 1940 to help them resist; Nazis will always meet resistance now because we know what animals they are; they are not human - they lack human characteristics and they abuse God by what they say claiming to do His work. We all know the commandments which Jesus brought us.

First watering, then breakfast.

Sunday and a fabulously beautiful day

What a beautiful day it is. The gardens all planted, the bedding plants all in and a fabulous week of weather ahead of us. Church on You-Tube this morning and the wonder of the internet continues to be a blessing. Kayaking and walking today for sure.  

God's world is awake once again from the long winter sleep that it enjoys in Canada. Some rain in the forecast one of these days but for anyone choosing this as summer vacation they picked a good week for sure. The trees are nearly full leaf now and the birds have settled into their summer lodgings. We have cardinals, red winged blackbirds, blue jays, and so many more all flocking into the yard and some have taken up habitation in the trees around us. Hawks are circling; they have seen the baby bunnies likely. The garden is fenced but we did grow some for the furry creatures as well which will distract them from digging under the fence hopefully. My neighbour has taken the rest of the garden soil and we are definitely done for the year in terms of repairing the flower beds. Next year more effort just have to keep the weeds down so that the cultivated plants can survive. The lawns are actually looking quite good; fresh and green. The dandelion time is now past as the days are much longer. But it was a beautiful sea of yellow for a bit. The bees will soon have lots more for their collection. The bleeding hearts are blooming abundantly. 

The Bible Reading today talks about the Holy Spirit and we are now at Pentecost one of the great feasts of the Christian Church. At the time of our Confirmation in the Anglican Church, the laying on of hands by the Bishop is our time to receive the Holy Spirit and in an Anglican Church the tradition stretches back far into the past before the Great Wars, before the coming of the Normans, before the coming of the Vikings and way back into the time of the Romans. It was Rome that aided in the Church becoming Universal but already in that ancient Isle that all of my ancestors called home (except for the Huguenots who arrived in the late 1400s) probably for thousands of years for most of them the ancient Celtic Church already existed and with the teachings brought to Britain by Christians opened up its heart and soul and the Celtic Church became the Anglican Church. That was what I learned as a child. The beauty of that never ending Church has always been in my mind stretching back into the eons of time and space when man first walked the fields of the British Isles. Jesus came to the Britons and they welcomed Him in their hearts. Probably just the Spirit of Jesus but for all of us that is how we can welcome Jesus into our hearts. 

On to the day and the mysteries that lie in it yet to be discovered. Ever thankful to Mother Nature for giving us the Seasons of the Year, the fruitful fields and the abundant harvest both on land and in the sea. Thank you God and Mother Nature for your love of mankind. If only all the world could learn to love its neighbour and war would be no more. 

On to breakfast. 

Rex Murphy

Although I do find Rex Murphy''s comments very interesting I do not agree that public inquiries really solve problems - they simply cost a lot of money that could be used to better arm the military, make government functions more efficient (efficiency is definitely lacking and I do realize this is a hangover from the COVID era). The idea that any government business can be conducted on cell phone that are not inside a protected system is ludicrous. I enjoyed staying home with my girls when they were young and can understand that desire but I had a job that suited stay at home work but you have to make a choice  - we are back in the real world; if a job can not function properly at home then it needs to be in a protected workplace. That to me is so much more important than foreign influence being exerted in our country at election time or others (look at all the fraud that is happening). Just make us aware of  foreign influence and we are not stupid, Canadians know how to deal with interference I do believe. A public inquiry is just a waste of money and fills in those outside of our country on details best kept to ourselves. I do not believe social media on electioneering is of much value and I do not read it anyway. I have far too much to read to spend time on those particular items. There are newspapers and of course 24 hours news (with which I do disagree on occasion). All I watch actually is the weather and the news and movies sometimes on Netflix.

As for the Emergency Act I was never so glad to see a group of people forced to leave the downtown of Ottawa. They had no right to set up camp and bring their children to an illegal demonstration. They were breaking the city bylaws, abusing children (their own) and that is unacceptable. No public inquiry needed for that for sure. I have never been in favour of the printed constitution as it limits our rights to that very paper - we should never have had to put up with people camping on the hill; abusing passer-bys and blocking government.  

Other than my disagreement with him on those two issues; I do find a lot of what he says interesting. The best way to get more efficiency in the government is at the ballot box but we need a real Progressive Conservative party to be in opposition; the Progressive Conservative party of Brian Mulroney was excellent (they could win in Ontario (I live in Ontario) and Canada) - the quagmire which Prime Minister Harper created with the last Conservative government by reducing the GST; under-funding the military to balance the budget; and selling/destroying public libraries was unacceptable. 

Now I really do need to get back to work on my books. Maybe we will soon have that better Progressive Conservative Party and life can go back to normal; we know the Liberals are in power more than the Conservatives but the Conservatives traditionally kept them in line and efficient. I will never vote for the NDP; their time in Ontario will be forever remembered as ridiculous - they actually tried to have Rae days at hospitals. I am not against providing proper care for people who are in need although even during the worst bankruptcy days we managed in my childhood but times have changed and life is just a little more difficult. Besides I do not like to see children needing medical treatment; especially the First Nations children. I do have my preferences.

Gardening is moving along

Yesterday the main garden underwent regenerative gardening techniques and the onions and green beans were planted. Chicken wire fence was constructed around the main garden. Today we will plant lettuces, spinach, herbs and sunflowers and that will complete the main garden. We also prepared the area where the tomato plants will be set out and that is ready. Started clearing the area where the peppers will be set out and will complete that today. The garden soil left will fill the berrybushes areas and by then we will have had enough of moving garden soil. I think my neighbour will take the rest which is not that much but still another five or six bags likely as the big yellow bag does hold a lot. I had thought I might build up the flower beds a little and grow more grass but this old person is finished with such deeds for the year. I will just enjoy what is done and next year can do the rest. This is a repeating process I think, regenerative gardening but the initial preparation does take time. Once some of it is done I rather think it will be easier the next year - time will tell. 

I have decided to no longer struggle with trying to reform the methodology of queue management at CRA and just go with the flow. You have two choices in actual fact - pay what is being requested by the 31st of May and I never could get an answer to our query which document has precedence (will the tax man demand the money on the 1st of June or shortly thereafter!) . Which has precedence -  the letter of assessment for this year which says pay your back taxes by the 31st of May or the exemption you can request every three months and this is a challenge in itself as the individuals that we have spoken to thus far actually ask why you don't just pay the taxes without looking at your case which sees this money returned to you once the re-assessment is completed.  The exemption is there if you have the desire to be calling every three months to re-enable this exemption. It is considerably less frustrating as it turns out to just pay the thousands of dollars that have been charged incorrectly all because a company hired to do the taxes did not upload the documents sent to them. I will say thankyou to CRA for contacting us that the company had failed to upload the documents but it has been a pretty frustrating for me seven months ever since trying to manage the entire thing (Imagine paying over $30,000 in US taxes and then being asked to pay nearly $20,000 on the same money here in Canada!). So we will pay and wait until the queue reaches her re-assessment (and they are working on last September apparently with her case being December) and CRA returns the money hopefully in time to buy RSPs (not too many people are made of money). Seems strange in this computer age that so little can be done. I think what amazes me is that we have a Tax Treaty with the United States that covers Canadians working in the United States and it should be easy and straightforward although the paperwork requested continues to increase  (has been so long as I was submitting the Income Tax for her (over ten years) but she was trying to save me the task and she is really busy in her job so hired a company since she is at work in the United States during tax time). There you go. I submitted 2022 and no problems just the problem from 2021 still lurking. It always involves three phone calls - one to the general line because that is the number in the letter demanding the taxes be paid by the 31st of May. Then they send you on (and this individual is very polite and understanding by the way) to the Re-assessment people who I suspect are overwhelmed by such telephone calls and perhaps somewhat blunter but when they look at it they become much kinder and they send you on to Collections to get your exemption which is as mentioned - they just ask why don't you pay your taxes without even looking. All of this is done on open cell networks where your personal information is shared because that is the only way to have the work reviewed (although they do warn you it is open and you can do something else which sounds equally provocative and rather lengthy to be honest; we didn't try that). Then you are asked where you bank at the end of the call (which feels very threatening) (all of this information is in your account at CRA already by the way and once again you share that on an open cell network)! Once the reassessment happens and if I survive all of this then life becomes normal. One remnant of the time that Prime Minister Harper was in power is the increasing attention to people claiming a foreign tax credit through the years (why go after these people? universities do not pay huge salaries!; I never could understand that and it continues under the present administration). More and more information is requested and we have a tax treaty. It shouldn't involve so much paperwork. I submit the Canadian Return along with the entire US tax return (which fortunately one has because their submission date is earlier) along with the payment slip received in the American system to CRA by courier in late April and really that should be adequate. She, probably like a lot of people, did try to find a job in Canada but that is another long story. 

It is so very important for Canadian Universities to hire Canadian graduates - I believe in diversity but how many do you need? Hire these young people coming out and don't send their talents which Canadian taxes paid to train outside of the country. My daughter loves her job and does it well and has great friends there but it should be able to happen here as well. Keep our new graduates in Canada; stop forcing them to go elsewhere to follow their dream of working in their field! It is Canadian tax dollars training them; hire them! Our universities are for the most part all public supported by our tax money. Once an individual becomes established in a research group at a university with their colleagues it is not really very easy to then leave that good working relationship and it is unlikely that you will be hired in Canada anyway it appears from stories I hear about others trying. Hire new graduates and stop wasting Canadian talent. The same thing happened in the 70s when my husband graduated with his PhD along with a goodly number of his class who also got their PhDs - not one of them got a University tenured position. Hire Canadians! stop hiring new graduates from other countries before new Canadian graduates are hired. A new graduate from another country isn't any better than our own new graduates. Hire Canadians we paid to have them trained. Universities are different as employment jobs because there is a feature of research groups and finding the best fit. I understand that; I did graduate from university but I am sure that one doesn't need to have done that to understand that it is essential to hire our own students first. I do understand the need to acquire "top" people but how many do you need? Hire Canadians first when they are new graduates; if you trained them they should be good, Right?. There off of my soapbox. On to the day.

More gardening; need to save our pennies to pay the tax man! It is a beautiful day and my daughter, who is my caregiver by the way even if she is more than a thousand miles away during her working time, and I shall do gardening. My other daughter, who is a family physician, hospitalist and emergency room physician is much too busy with all of her patients to have to worry about me at least I will not let her worry about me, should not have to have my responsibility as well. Perhaps a little less frustration will come our way as I continue keeping a home for my eldest to come home to during her research time. 

Perhaps it is the quietness of the leaves today and feeling a sense of God all around me that brings a calming feeling to me. Others in the world have so much else to worry about that my problems seem trivial and the solution, although burdensome, is there so we will move forward and put all of this behind us for the moment since it does not appear that anything can be done to speed up the system! If I was younger perhaps I would join the ranks of those seeking a Progressive Conservative party in the traditions of the party of old. Bring efficiency back and make life easier for Canadians. I did actually hear back from the Prime Minister's office and the Minister of Finance's office with regard to the idea of the CRA becoming much more computer driven (they forwarded my comments on to CRA)  to make this whole tax system more efficient (never did hear back from the MP but I am known to be a Conservative! although I have voted Liberal because I am not in favour of the descendants thus far of Prime Minister Harper). But I am old and I have a task at hand which I shall return to today once the gardening is in place! I do not like gardening for sure but it is something my daughter enjoys (as did her father) and I shall help her with that and try to make life a little easier for her as the pain of his loss still hangs heavy over her. Golfing, gardening, astronomy, bird watching and boating - all fun things she enjoyed with her Dad.

On to breakfast. 

And later in the day an email asking for money support for the Conservative Party with the sender as Past Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Although you always get a response back saying the email isn't monitored I replied anyway:

No, I do not agree. We need a restored Progressive Conservative Party to solve any problems in Ottawa. Thank you.
 

 

First Golfing day of the season

We had a lovely afternoon of golfing yesterday - first of the season. Neither of us are avid golfers but for my daughter it is the memory of golfing with her father and for me I enjoy the exercise. I actually am improving steadily. I hit the ball further and better each time that I am out. That doesn't mean my score is excellent; it just means I am improving. Humans are meant to be constantly improving; it is in our genes to keep perfecting our abilities. The sky was a lovely blue with some clouds and the geese were very much in abundance. Often I elected to take the long way on a shot to avoid the geese and goslings on the fairway. It is fun to see the Canada Geese though and their young out enjoying the feeding and the afternoon sun. Pretty well every hole had its own little geese family on the fairway. The geese are smart though they get out of the way.

I did work away on the Pincombe-Pinkham Newsletter and should have it completed by the weekend. Still no sign of my scanned document but I expect it is in a queue! One does have to wait for queues and I am sure if I asked them they would be very polite and reassuring about the wait and let me know how long but it is not a problem. Perhaps the next newsletter as I rather think it will be an interesting document and I will have learned more Latin by then! and it can wait until then. I should transcribe the will of John Sanders as it could be rather interesting although it is my line only and I am slowly trying to get everything published that I have accumulated as I start to wind down my global research on Pincombe. My direction as I work my way up to 80, God willing, is to write books on the Pencombe, Pincombe, Pinkham family (so a more global look at this family) and the Blake family of Andover, Hampshire, England. I will probably keep my Guild membership so long as I am still productive for Blake and Pincombe.  Must finish the Siderfin Book this year for sure and soon back to that!

Today is a gardening day so need to move garden soil to do the regenerative gardening bit and then plant onions, lettuces, spinach, herbs. It will likely take a few hours this afternoon. Then put up the chicken wire fence and remember to water. The ground is certainly dry this year considering the snow cover that we had. The next bit to do is preparing the ground for tomatoes and peppers but they are bedding plants and will wait until after the first of June likely to avoid the late frosts. Again regenerative gardening. I rather like this idea as it does not involve my digging a garden. I am done with digging gardens for sure - much too old. 

Our next fun day will be kayaking and once the water level is down sufficiently in the Ottawa River then we will begin. I am still looking for a youth kayak so will do my usual walking until we find one. It will be fun to be out on the water regularly once again and visit with the beavers and other aquatic mammals along the water path. The bird life is also very good at Petrie Island and lots of plant life as well. A great way to spend an hour or two in God's world looking at all that Mother Nature provides. It does make me enjoy summer just a little bit more as I really prefer the winter for its long working hours - I am probably a bit of a work addict - actually I am a complete work addict and merely exchanged my working life for a retired working life. Edward retired in 2004 and wanted me to do the same but it did take another three years to get me to retire as well. 

I like working actually and my years at home raising children were spent proofreading copyediting for private printers mostly but a short time for NRC before Prime Minister Mulroney cut proofreaders from the government as his first act of reducing the public service. I applauded Prime Minister Mulroney for his cuts actually even though it meant I had to find a new job. He did great work and was our last great Conservative Prime Minister although Prime Minister Kim Campbell did well but Canadians were very upset by the GST at the time and voted Liberal. Myself I have always thought the GST was one of the best products from the time of Prime Minister Mulroney along with NAFTA - there were growing pains but we are better off because of his policies. Too bad Prime Minister Harper reduced GST by 2% trying to curry favour - we haven't seen a Conservative government since fortunately and may not for a while yet until Progressive Conservatism comes back. Social Conservatism is dead in the water in Canada. Anything that looks like Social Conservatism is dead in the water. Just the mere hint of it same thing. Supporting oil only also dead in the water; Prime Minister Harper nearly destroyed Ontario industry with his preferential treatment of oil but Premier Ford is a Progressive Conservative and it shows in Ontario - needs to speak fluent French though to be Prime Minister. Oil is a great commodity and I support it but it has to pay its own way and its profits need to be for all of Canada - owning the pipeline will be one of the Liberal government's excellent gifts to Canada this time around. Letting the First Nations purchase it and manage it once the work is completed would be a gain as they think in terms of 50 years not the four years that a particular party is in power. I do not want the Conservative Party to sell it (likely at a loss as normal and a good example is their selling the Library at NRC to a private company; Canadians paid for that library and it should be managed by NRC not a private company and it should be freely accessible to the public) so will not be voting that way until the oil pipeline is in safe hands. Another downer for Prime Minister Harper's time in office was muzzling scientists - they should be able to go to conferences around the world. We are not a Communist Country or a Fascist Country. The world only benefits from freedom for scientific endeavours.

The day progresses and I want to work on the Newsletter for a bit but first breakfast. 18 holes of golf certainly requires a lot of energy and at 77 I did manage to find that. One wonders how long I will continue on this earth although I tend to be a take each day as it comes personally. Today is another beauty and the trees are filling out beautifully; I think my sky will be obliterated by the end of the summer this year although can see blue sky through the leaves!

Social Conservativism

As I become more and more like my self before the knife attack and verbal abuse that I suffered when I helped an individual escape a definitely uncomfortable situation that she found herself in, I look back on how I changed because of the incident. In many ways it was a rapid change as I went from being basically fearless to a person who was more guarded and took extra pains to avoid situations that might be combative. I was used to arguing points of interest and taking strong leadership roles but that disappeared in an instant at that time. The individual that I helped was someone that I worked with that summer between University years. I did not actually know her very well but over a period of perhaps a week or so she came in to work upset every day and  expressed a fear of the two women with whom she was sharing accommodation. They seemed alright it appeared when they were sober (I had no idea they were lesbians and it was a new word to me at that time). Living at home with my family I had never encountered anything quite like that and I avoided her somewhat but she did seem to signal me out to tell me her sad story. I will admit my comment was why not just move out and find another place (ever the logical one). Perhaps she took that as a sign that I might be helpful; no idea on that. So she organized her sister's boyfriend to drive and plans were made to move and she asked if I would help. The women were going to be away apparently so just a few trips up to the apartment and remove her stuff was all that was needed. The sister's boyfriend would wait in the car unless needed to carry heavy items. It did turn out that the two women were actually there (and I do blame her for misleading me) and shortly after we had started to move they came out of the room and started to argue with me because I was a stranger perhaps no ideas on that. They asked my name and I responded which in retrospect was a bad idea because she then said she knew my family and attacked them; can not really remember those details even now; it is a blur. Then the knife attack and I ran yelling for help at the top of my lungs down the stairs and the boyfriend came running up and I could hear him yelling back at these screaming women. The young woman and the sister's boyfriend soon arrived with the rest of the belongings and drove me back home (I got out up the street as I did not want to answer any questions in my somewhat erratic state). The next week at work the young woman did try to talk to me but I definitely refrained from that I had told her on the day of the event she should call the police on these women but decided not to get involved in that myself - I was not actually physically injured although the knife had ripped a hole in my jacket. She told me that the women were stoned and I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about - no googling in those days! But the change in me was rather profound I must admit looking back. Up until that point in my life I had been raised in a socially conservative household and arguing political points was very much part of my upbringing.  I very much belonged to that group of people where avoidance of individuals with unusual or liberal attitudes was normal. The next summer I worked in the hospital laboratory and my veneer of social conservative was chipped away somewhat by the death of a young woman from a botched abortion. I became a supporter of abortion although kept that to myself pretty much although I could not imagine having an abortion myself and continue in that vein of thought although at 77 such happenings on a personal level are way in the past. I had a fear of homosexuality though whereas before I just didn't know anything about it other than it was said to be not normal. It wasn't until I became a member of the Anglican group online in 1995 that I acquired some knowledge of homosexuality as a human liking between two people of the same sex since a number of the members were homosexual. I understood then that they were not all violent people. Up until then I did have that thought. Hence another reducing of that social conservative attitude of mine. Personally I could never understand lesbianism because I preferred male company and was by 1995 married for nearly thirty years. I still do not understand the attraction but that isn't my business. But I do not intend to become involved in any laws that creates barriers for people that do not need to be there. There is an enormous danger in forcing people to lie about relationships and the need to protect themselves creates situations such as what occurred and I am sure that I am not the only person in the world who has been threatened by people. To me that is wrong to judge people just because they do not have the same emotional makeup as I do. So long as no one is injured then friendship between two consulting adults is not my business or the business of the criminal legal system. I was thinking about all of this when I awoke for some reason. I do not belong to the "woke" generation now that I know what it means. I belong to the generation that wants peace in this world and extremes on either side only create trouble. The generation in which I grew up (and it was very conservative) did not go out of their way to create situations that could cause trouble.  One must go with the flow of the majority in order to have a peaceful existence avoiding incidents that are inflammatory just because they are different from the normal way in which things are done especially if you are well known. However mankind is meant to be free; the human soul can not be chained or controlled as it will always seek an outlet for freedom. It is a two way street, living. Extremes of any kind are not really welcomed in a world that wants peace.

Yesterday I started the Pincombe-Pinkham Newsletter and will continue with that today. It will be quite a bit of what I have blogged and if the scan comes in before the deadline than I will include information from the Inquisition Postmorten for John de Pencombe. My Latin lessons continue and it is primarily familial vocabulary at the moment with which I am familiar but it is introducing words that I do not know. It is a different way to learn a language duolingo and I rather like it. 

I also worked on my second ancestry test (I took two about eight years apart) because I never really looked at it very much. There are a few small differences likely created as TIMBER became more proficient through the years. This is a piece of software used by ancestry to remove "common" lengths of chromosomes that are unique to areas thus lowering the total but yielding a more controlled match between individuals sharing a common ancestry. I have all of my matches stored in an Excel file and I am entering in this second test of mine which I will have to sort in a different way to make it match the rest of the results as there are subtle changes in some of the placement of the matches (I have an extra column which numbers them independently so that I can see the original order if I become so inclined!).

Another lovely day although just 4 degrees celsius at 6:00 a.m. but looks like yesterday's rain has passed although more rain is always needed. The ground is still dry. A busy today as always when it is gardening time; winter is such a peaceful time! I do love the winter. The mother rabbit is leaving her newest brood in the raspberry bushes and my daughter is trying not to dislodge them as she doesn't want her to abandon them; I never could convince her that nature just moves on and one can not prevent what is going to happen. I do love the way though that she helps her students which is another sign of her enormous caring; University professors have such an opportunity to help to guide their students and having had a learning disability as a child she understands the struggle that that can be for the occasional student that she has in her Masters and PhD classes (she does teach undergraduate as well but mostly graduate students). Perhaps it is that caring about two tiny baby rabbits with their eyes just opened that have created that interest in helping where she can!

The morning moves on and soon breakfast time. I have to say if the present Conservative Party wants my support than they have to be doing more than encouraging the spending of millions of dollars on a public inquiry that isn't needed. Fix the inefficiency in the government services. Tax reassessment queues shouldn't be so long that they are still working on last September so that anyone needing a reassessment may wait as much as an entire year.  The Conservative party could make all of our lives easier if they just got to work on the issues; improve efficiency in the government and increase the GST back up to 7% or 10% if they have the fortitude for that. It should never have been reduced. Following Prime Minister Harper's methodology is a losing proposition for our country. The GST funds the government. Whining about a public inquiry which will skirt around any of the important material because it is confidential is a waste of money and I do not want to listen to that circus where everyone tries to make points to help in their re-election!

Rain beautiful rain

If there is one thing Canada really needs at the moment it is rain particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia where fires are raging. Over 1M hectares have burned in Alberta since this fire season began so fast after the winter snowmelt had begun. Rain is good here as well because the ground is dry in spite of the heavy snowfall last year. The rivers are still high though so lots of water here we just need it to keep falling from the clouds to enrich the land that has lost its snow cover. The sun is baking Canada for sure; climate change affects the northern (and southern but there are fewer of them) areas the most. 

Yesterday I completed the cleaning and preparing the back garden for planting in the morning. Then my daughter moved the garden soil from the big yellow bag and we planted in an area where we are not likely to collect very much carrots, radishes, beets and dill. The rabbits will probably beat us to most of that for sure but it is hidden behind the raspberry bushes so we are less visible and might keep them away from the top of the garden although we will fence that with chicken wire. It does appear that one of the rabbits (perhaps the male) is somewhat tame (a domestic rabbit that has been let free perhaps) and the female rabbit is producing litter after litter! The newborns were in the raspberries yesterday for a while but back safely with the mother once again. Do I mind? Not actually it is funny watching their antics in the yard. Before we mowed yesterday they could run freely all through the deep grass and were less visible but now they will have to be cautious or the hawks will get them as the lawns are now mowed; the bees have so many flowers now that cutting down the dandelions and other wild flowers will not be missed by them plus they are coming to the end of their flowering cycle as well. Today rain and tomorrow the top of the garden will be planted and it is perhaps 50% larger than the bottom portion and we will put in onions (do not need to fence them) and then lettuces, green beans, spinach, herbs - parsley, basil and dill. Then the next big project to prepare the areas for the cherry tomatoes and the green peppers for ourselves and cucumbers at the back for the racoon since that does seem to keep it back there somewhat or it just stops coming because it is eating better elsewhere. Haven't seen it for a few days since the neighbours and ourselves chased it off - perhaps it took the hint that sitting on our bird feeder was not desirable. 

As well I got a start on the Pincombe/Pinkham Newsletter. At the moment I am still toying with the idea that Philip Pynkeham is a brother to John, William and Thomas Pencombe. The spelling is interesting on the 1544 Subsidy. Philip is located in Tawstock which is to the west of North Molton and this is the area (Barnstaple/Bideford) where Pinkham first appears in the records other than this 1544 record. On the 1581 Subsidy the name is recorded as Edward Pencombe in the same area. Perhaps a son of Philip? 

The distance from North Molton to Tawstock (and the main road does flow this way) but there are also back roads with the average distance being 16 miles (25 kilometres). The River Taw has a tributary the River Mole which flows into the Taw River at Barnstaple having traveled from the Exmoor which is located just north of North Molton so the likely means of transportation perhaps in the 1500s. The River Mole (Wikipedia) takes its name from the market towns of North and South Molton and was known as the Nymet. One can see how the movement out of North Molton for the Pencombe family was a logical and gradual one (my line was at Bishops Nympton just to the east of South Molton). 

I am hoping that the document which I ordered from the National Archives (Inquisition Postmortem for John de Pencombe in Herefordshire) might just arrive in the next couple of days as I would like to see which forenames of Pencombe appear in this document. Although it is early in the time period I would really like to look at; it will be interesting to see the document. I continue with my duolingo latin lessons and will try to keep that up every day now. I was working slowly from text books before COVID but this online course is rather interesting. 

The morning is passing quickly and to keep on track must do my breakfast now (but first the second set of jumping jacks!) and then I will be ready for my Latin Lesson at 9:00 a.m.

I have to say that I think Past Governor General David Johnston gave good advice following his appointment as a special rapporteur to examine the need for a public inquiry into foreign influence in our elections. First and foremost he saved us from yet another circus on TV in Ottawa and this one being very problematic because it involves our security arm of the government - CSIS. They are accountable to the public yes but their methods are best kept somewhat private although I do agree that we should receive more information when there is known interference that would not otherwise hinder their investigations. The Conservative party refused to talk to David Johnston which was somewhat of an expected stand given that when they were last in power they did nothing about foreign influence. The NDP want to spend millions of Canadian taxpayer money on an inquiry simply as an election gamble (people might think they are responding and vote for them when they wouldn't otherwise); the money is best spent elsewhere they are the first to complain the government isn't giving enough freebies to the less fortunate amongst us. And so I am quite content that we are not going to waste all of that money on a public inquiry which would create more questions than answers. This is simply because all of the information can not be given to us publicly. I do hope we can move on now. Time for my Latin Lesson.
 

Good news - Inquisition Postmortem is available for John de Pencombe

Today in my inbox a note to say that I can order the Inquisition Postmortem for John de Pencombe from the 1300s as a scan; the record attached to the code is the correct one (nice that they do that record check actually). It will be in Latin and I have started once again to work on my Latin skills. I am using duolingo this time and I am on the third lesson now. I do have some background work in Latin from before COVID - everything is either before or after COVID it would appear - and I am progressing along. What I am looking forward to is something about family and perhaps the reason for the loss in circumstances for the Pencombe family of Herefordshire. I suspect it is the War of the Roses now but it is amazing really to learn so much about one's ancestry. My Blake and Pincombe one-name studies have been quite fascinating. My parents would both be pleased to see the work done as both were curious about their ancestry from an interest point of view - who am I type of thing. They both had quite a bit of knowledge of their lines back several generations which was handy since it was repeated enough times when I was a child that I do remember all of that. Actually I thought I knew all of my ancestry in my younger days and when Edward prepared the 50th Wedding Anniversary book for my parents (I did help find baptisms and things at the Family Research Library) it looked quite nice although researching Taylor was difficult but then I did not know that her father was not William Taylor - that knowledge would come when I did my coursework and discovered that she was only a half-sibling to her siblings and that does show in the DNA matches with her half-siblings descendants. Since they should be my second cousins and a few of them are a nice size but definitely given how much Rawlings we share and nothing else a sure sign that her father was not William Taylor.

Yesterday was a cleaning day and the two floors accomplished in good time. I did not actually do any work other than a bit of researching here and there - nothing particularly meaningful. Mostly I thought about what would be in the next Pincombe-Pinkham Newsletter. Today will be the basement and working outside. Whilst the robot cleans the downstairs rug I will pull any leftover weeds behind the raspberry canes and prepare the land for a topping of garden soil and then the carrots will be planted. We will also plant the sunflower seeds behind the house. The two bleeding hearts have transplanted and will flower nicely next year in the spring. It is a good spot for them. The last hosta is coming up nicely now and I can do a little more clearing of weeds there if time presents itself. There is so much work to gardening - I do not mind work but gardening isn't high on my agenda for sure. But my daughter likes to garden (certainly got that from her father) and will do the heavy work in that regard. I will help plant and weed. The next thing is to prepare the ground for the tomato and pepper plants and the upper part of the garden in front of the raspberry canes for lettuces, green onions, spinach and herbs. The lawn gets cut today as the bees have certainly had their fill of dandelions and other spring flowers and it is time now to enjoy the mowed lawns. Gradually I will get the flower beds weeded and we will add fresh garden soil to most of them but they have shrunk somewhat and will continue to shrink. The fruit bushes are coming along nicely as I trimmed them back quite well in the early spring. We have saved the Loyalist rose which was being strangled by the bleeding hearts and they are also coming along. I didn't really notice until my daughter came home. She quickly moved the bleeding hearts. Some work on the lawn where it is thin to seed grass seed and some fresh top soil there as well just to help it along. 

My Heritage let me know that I had some new Relativity Theories but I have rejected two and accepted one. My paternal grandmother does bring up most of the rejected ones. The records show a distinct line if I am correct that her father was George Cotterill son of William Cotterill and Jane Sherwood - any strange derivatives of those names are incorrect since they do not live in the area. The ones that do have a clear line I have neither accepted or rejected. I would like a substantial match to really prove that line. It is highly unlikely that Elizabeth Rawlins moved very far from where she worked in Kimpton or lived with her parents in Collingbourne Ducis or her siblings in Ludgershall. My grandmother was baptized in Kimpton and the priest has given her the name of Ada Bessie Cotteril Rawlings which was also the registered name. Although she was always known as Edith Bessie Taylor by her family (her mother married William Taylor when she was six years of age (she lived with her grandparents (and mother except when she was working elsewhere than Collingborne Ducis) William Cotterill and Elizabeth Lywood until then)). Do I need to know? She was very happy with her family and probably had no interest in her actual father (nor did my father, he had two sets of grandparents). But from a viewpoint of family medical history it is good to actually know the four grandparents of my father (three of them are known to me). The Lywood family is interesting and a one name study done by Warwick Lywood is available. Elizabeth Lywood definitely ran away to marry William Rawlins and they had baptized their first child a month before that. Definitely I do not think she was coerced particularly and my grandmother was very much loved by her grandparents to have had them raise her for six years before her mother married William Taylor (they still had a couple of children at home at that time as well). Their youngest child Sydney Herbert Rawlins was just six years older than my paternal grandmother. They had seven children and I have a picture of the family on an outing in the early 1900s (a very large group as William and Elizabeth had twenty-seven grandchildren).

On to the day and it is another beautiful sunny day but only 4 degrees celsius - typical May for sure as the frost warnings generally last into early June here.  The predicted high 22 degrees celsius; lovely gardening weather for sure if one must garden! I was a very enthusiastic gardener as Edward loved his garden and when he couldn't do it then I did it but it was long hours in the sun doing all of that work but it looked good. I still think it looks good but I am not bothered by dandelions or wild flowers in the grass and gardens. When they dominate the cultivated plants then I remove them. It is wonderful to wander about the yard and hear the bees humming about here and there. The raspberry canes are looking great so maybe a nice lot of raspberries this year - time will tell but the bees will have lots of little flowers to pollinate there when the time comes. The trees are especially looking good this year with the good load of snow this past winter. Rain tomorrow to keep them growing and filling out with their leaves. 

Breakfast next.

Pencombe and Herefordshire

 Searching through the Herefordshire Archives catalogue a couple of entries of interest:

Monday before Saint Peter in Cathedra 8 Edward III [21 February 1334], 1334
Reference number    A63/I/1/5
Date(s)   1334
Scope and content   
Michael de Grendene for common essoin through Henry the bailiff; John Bernard the same through William his bailiff; William de Wotton the same through Richard his son; Testified by the bailiff that Nicholas de Cimiterio has died and the bailiff after his death took the equivalent of a mark as heriot and the land was seised into the lord's hands, and John his son comes as his heir apparent and does homage and fealty, and acknowledges that he holds of the lord a messuage and half hide of land in Chirworde for the service of 12d a year; half a virgate and 12a. of land in Wooton hide rendering the lord for every service 1d and 7a. of land in Bigfield rendering the lord 6d and suit of court every three weeks, wardship, marriage, heriot, relief when it happens, and afterwards John gives as a relief 3s 2d; Roger Ilger has a day at the next court ...; Richard le Parkar in mercy for not having Nicholas le Parkar for whom he stood surety; Ordered to secure Nicholas by better sureties, afterwards Nicholas comes and pays his fine and does not find a surety; Ordered as several times before to distrain John le Bonde for several defaults; Ordered to distrain William le Parkar to pay homage and for arrears of rent; Ordered to take into the lord's hands land that was Alice de Cimiterio's for certain ? tithes; Ordered to distrain all tenants holding lands which were Nicholas de Fraxino's; Ordered to distrain Henry de Went for several defaults; A cow taken as heriot of Petronilla de la Stone remains in the lord's hands whom etc.; Total of the court with heriot fines and revenues of the bailiff 25s 7d delivered to him as appears in his estreats; Court of Pencomb Wednesday on the feast of Saint Lawrence 8 Edward III [10 August 1334]; Thomas de Houton for common essoin throuth John de la Wode; John de Honaldewode the same through John le Forster; John de Pencomb the same through William his father; John de Cimiterio the same through Arnald de la Grene; Anflissa de la Asche the same through William de la ...; Ordered to distrain John le Bonde for several defaults and afterwards John acknowledges that he is a suitor of the court, nonetheless it is ordered that the bailiff distrain him and afterwards he pays his fine ...; Ordered as before to distrain William le Parkar for arrears of rent and several defaults; Thomas de Maydenhyde is accused because he has sold land ... and also ... land which was Alice de Cimiterio's which was taken into the hand of the lord. It is testified by the bailiff ... and the bailiff is ordered to answer ...; As several times ordered to distrain all tenants holding lands which were Nicholas de Fraxino's; Ordered to distrain Henry de Went for several defaults; John ?Bernard comes and acknowledges ... all land ... ... service 3s ... ...; The dispute ... ... to the next on surety of ... de Fraxino; The dispute ... ... to the next on the surety of Nicholas de ?Thourdeston; Testified that Roger Ilger has alienated his land and the bailiff there took seisin ... Houton ... at the next adjourned on the surety of ... de la Asche; John Coliard and John de Grafton were sureties for Garin de Grendon to have him at the next and because Garin has not come; John Coliard and John Grafton are in mercy.; John son of Nicholas de la Churcheyord at the next, he has not come, surety John de la Stone to return a saddle here this day; Testified by the bailiff that the saddle has not been returned therefore John de la Stone in mercy. Ordered that John de la Churcheyord be distrained; John le Bond de Marston pays a fine because Richard de la Asche should do suit of court for himself as for tenements of Nicholas de Fraxino; Total of the court with pleas perquisites and reliefs and the attachments of the bailiff 48s 4d

For a service of 7d a year at the aforesaid times and suit of court for Pencombe every three weeks.
Reference number   A63/I/1/9
Scope and content   
Dispute touching the Abbot of Wigmore is adjourned until the next.; Dispute touching John de Bitterley for an encroachment? in Heckwod is adjourned until the next; John de Tullinton in mercy for not having the Dean of Hereford for whom he stood surety; Ordered to distrain the Dean to be at the next and the Prior of Saint John of Jeruselem to show how he holds his rent in Nerer Hakeley.; Balwyn de Wyteneye plaintiff opposes Roger Parson in a plea of trespass, because Roger on Monday after the beheading of Saint John the Baptist harmfully dug and carried away his land at Sclykis Furlong to a damage of 20s. Roger does not defend whereupon Balwyn asks for sentence although there is no defence and the suitors say that he has restored? insufficiently. Considered that Balwyn has (sic) recovered damages and Roger in mercy; The lord as plaintiff opposes Hugh de Wotton in a plea of trespass that Hugh and his household ... have cut his wood at Heckwood to a damage of 20s and a value of 20s and he brings his suit ...; Considered that the lord shall recover damages and Hugh in mercy; The same Hugh is accused because he has attached Roger de Hope in Heckwood and Roger the said attachment ... he has an attachment for his own use and Hugh denies this and wages law, surety for the lawsuit John Hakele ...; [Reg]inald de Wytheneye plaintiff opposes Margery and her household .. of Reginald to a value oof 40d and damage of 5s and brings a suit ... surety for the suit John de Hakele; ... de Brockbur does fealty and acknowledges he holds amessuage and half a virgate of land ... once Milo de Hyde's, 19d, suit of court every three weeks .. [heriot] when it happens and he gives for heriot half a mark, surety John de Pencomb.; ... Tullinton chaplain has done fealty and acknowledges he holds a messuage ... in Wotton for a service of 12d a year for all services and gives ...; ... la Nasch has done fealty and has a day for acknowledging at the next; Total of the court with attachments ... s

The date of 1334 for John de Pencomb whose father was William de Pencomb in the first document is interesting. Something closer to the mid 1400s to the late 1400s would be very helpful but finding the forenames and the surname is certainly very edifying. 

An interesting item on the Discovery Catalogue (UK Archives):

Pencombe Court of Robert Whiteneye knight
This record is held by Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre
See contact details
Reference:    A63/I/1/28
Title:    Pencombe Court of Robert Whiteneye knight
Description:   
Thursday 21 July 7 Henry VI [1429]

 The free tenants present that the Dean and Chapter of Hereford 2s Richard Wallewayn esq
 
12d Richard Bitterley 12d, Tenants of the lands and tenements of John Merssh of Merschcourt 6d who owe suit have defaulted they are in mercy

 John Grafton from suit at this court through William Churcheley essoiner. He has a day at the next.

The customary tenants present the default of Magote Drayton and Katherine Pencombe They are in mercy and are pardoned by the steward because they are weak and infirm. .............

and another

 Debtor: John de Pencombe of Bromyard [Herefords.], citizen of Herefords. Creditor:...
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Reference:    C 241/117/38
Description:   
Debtor: John de Pencombe of Bromyard [Herefords.], citizen of Herefords.

Creditor: Master Thomas de Astley, Canon of Hereford, Prebendary of Bromyard.

Amount: £82, of good and legal sterling silver, on account of a loan.

Before whom: Robert de Hampton, Bailiff; William de Aylton, Clerk; at Hereford.

When taken: 29/11/1339

First term: 29/09/1340

Last term: 29/09/1340

Writ to: Sheriff of Herefords

Sent by: Nicholas de Bromyard, Bailiff; William de Aylton Clerk; at Hereford.

Endorsement: Hereford': coram Iusticiariis de Banco.

Date:    1343 Nov 8

It does appear the fortunes of the Pencombe family in the 1340s in Herefordshire have not improved by 1428 (first item from the UK Archives) (Henry VI was King from 1421 to 1471 but it was a broken reign and if this record is from the second reign it would refer to 1477 which is much closer to the date). Only two female members of this family are mentioned at least I am assuming that Magote Drayton is a married daughter and Katherine Pencombe (but she could be a widow) still a spinster. Any children would not be mentioned likely in this document. It is still early though if 1428 but very interesting if actually 1477 as I am looking for a John de Pencombe still fairly young in the latter part of the 1480s. This is during the War of the Roses though and there was a lot of upheaval especially in the Midlands of England. Loss of life was high and likely quite a few minors in wardship. No records yet on that so will continue looking. I have now seen that John, William and Thomas are historically forenames in the Pencombe family which is also a step forward. 

Today is cleaning day and much time to be devoted to that item. However, I may take another glance at the Herefordshire archival records in my break times. I think the Newsletter for the 1st of June is mulling around in my brain these days and will start it this week. The 833 records in the Excel file from another researcher have proven to be interesting and provide another person's insight into this family in particular during the 1500s that I have already worked on. I will use the results of that set of data in the next Newsletter as well. Drawing the possible conclusion that Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock could be a sibling to the other three sons of John Pencombe and Edward Pencombe found at Tawstock on the Subsidy of 1581 the son of Philip is also a tantalizing thought. Proving some of this would be so much easier with wills but in the long run place and time also play a large role. Finding the material in the Herefordshire records is also most interesting. I do have some background knowledge of the War of the Roses (but it is distant in my mind) and will have a check on what was happening in Hereford in the mid 1300s into the mid 1400s from a viewpoint of historical happenings that involved the Plantagenets and the Lancastrians. It is a long time since I have even thought of those two sides in the War of the Roses. I certainly never thought that this historical period would have any effect on my ancestry for sure. 

Looks like sun today and it is  now 5 degrees celsius  but feels like 2 degrees celsius. The high today only 17 but again a typical May day. We have left winter behind though as I seldom remember snow past the Victoria Day weekend. Summer is ahead of us and certainly the dry month of July. Perhaps today and tomorrow we can get some seed planting done - the carrots, the lettuces and putting up the rabbit proof fencing! Other than that I am looking for breakfast and it is time. God is in our world as always looking down on us from above; looking at us through the trees and wondering when mankind will learn to love their fellow man as themselves. When greed and envy will disappear from our world and men and women will work together for a better future for the world and all of its people. 

Exciting news that SpaceX has taken two Saudi Arabian astronauts to the International Space Station yesterday and today a female scientist from Saudi Arabia - wonderful. Gradually the world is taking part in space - where God dwells. Where I do not know but my very soul tells me He is there.

Devon Taxes 1581 - 1660

I consider the time well spent looking around the parishes but looking at the original would be better. However, I will not be doing that and will leave it for another keen researcher. It is not that important to me; more of a curiosity on my part. There were entries for Pincombe, Pencombe and Pynkeham. I also collected Blake for another project. There were not very many which was what I expected.

Looking at the parishes  in Shebbear Hundred (1642 Assessment):

 Parkeham Parish - no entries

East Putford Parish - no entries, six illegible

Bulkworthie Parish - no entries, John Blake 9 0

Buckland Bruer Parish - no entries, Andrew Blake 1 4

Lancrasse Parish - no entries

Langtree Parish - no entries, two illegible

Alwington Parish -  Annis Pincombe wid 3 9

Frethelstock Parish - Philip Penrose 4 0 (I am not prone to thinking of this surname as a derivative especially as there are over 12000 entries on FreeBMD)

Abbotsham Parish - Richard Pincombe 8 0 (this is likely the son of  Richard4, Richard3,Thomas2, John1)

Littleham Parish - no entries, 29 illegible

Mounckleigh Parish - no entries

Wear Gifford Parish - no entries

Northam Parish - no entries, one illegible, William Blake 3 0

Bideford Parish - __therin Pincombe wid 2 0, Richard Pincombe (likely the son of Richard3, Thomas2, John1) 6 0, Philip Blake 1 0 

Newton St Petrock Parish - no entries, 15 illegible

Petrockstow Parish -  Henry Penroase 4 0 (same comment as above with Frethelstock Parish), 12 illigeble

Iddesleigh Parish - no entries, 20 illegible

Merton Parish - no entries, 35 illegible

Beafford Parish - no entries, 3 illegible

Peters Marland Parish - no entries, 15 illegible

Sheepwaish Parish - no entries, 5 illegible

Little Torrington Parish - no entries, 35 illegible

Sheebere Parish - no entries, 15 illegible

Break time - 30 minute walk

Witheridge Hundred (1581 Subsidy)

Witheridge Parish - no entries

Bishops Nympton - no entries

Thelbridge Parish - no entries

Rakinforde Parish - no entries

Okeforde Parish - no entries

Stoodley Parish - no entries

Romansley Parish - no entries

Morcharde Parish - no entries

West Worlington Parish - no entries

Kings Nympton - no entries

Cheldon Parish - no entries

Aishraf Parish - no entries, Alexander Blake G 10

Wolswortheye Parish - no entries

Waishford Parish - no entries

Puddington Parish - no entries

Crecombe Parish - no entries

Chimley Paish (Chulmleigh)

Meshwet Parish - no entries

Est Worlington Parish - no entries

Marley Parish - no entries

Temple Parish - no entries

Shirwell Hundred

Shirwell Parish - no entries

Arlington Parish - no entries

Loxore Parish - no entries

Stokerivers Parish - no entries

Highbraye Parish - no entries, Walter Blake G 6

Charles Parish - no entries

Paracombe Parish -= no entries

Mattinhoe Parish - no entries

Consberye Parish - no entries

Chollecombe Parish - no entries

Lynton Parish - no entries

Brendon Parish - no entries

South Molton Hundred

Tawton Epi Parish - no entries

Swimbridge Parish - no entries 

Chittlehampton Parish - no entries

Warkeley Parish - no entries

 Saterley Parish - no entries

Nymet St George Parish - no entries

Est Anstye Parish - no entries

Lankey Parish - no entries

Knowiston Parish - no entries

West Anstye Parish - no entries

Mollande Parish - no entries

Twychin Parish - no entries

North Molton Town and Parish - Emma Pyncombe wid (perhaps John2, John1) G 3, Philip Kyngdon G 3,   Michael Blake G 7, Richard Blake G 4, 

South Molton Town and Parish - Christopher Pincombe (Christopher3, John2, John1) G 4, John Pincombe (John 4, Christopher3, John2, John1) G 4, John Pincombe jun (John5, John4, John3, John2, John1) G 3, John Pincombe sen (John4, John3, John2, John1) G 12

Shebbear Hundred

Buckland Filleighe Parish - no entries

Meyth Parish - no entries

Newton Petrocc Parish - no entries

Mounkleigh Parish - no entries

Littleham Parish - no entries

Torrington Parva Parish - no entries

 Petrockstowe Parish - no entries

Abbatsham Parish - no entries

Martine Parish - no entries

Shebbere Parish - no entries

Alwington Parish - no entries

Buckland Bruer Parish - no entries, Robert Blake L 1

Northam Parish - no entries, 1 illegible

Beafford Parish - no entries, 2 illegible

Langtree Parish - no entries

Yddesleye Parish - no entries (although the surname Bremacombe does appear here Philip Bremacombe G 5, Thomas Bremacombe L 3 although I tend to discount this one as it still existed in FreeBMD)

Parkham Parish - no entries

Huyshe Parish - no entries

Marland St Peter Parish - no entries

Were Gifforde Parish - no entries

Bideforde Town - Richard Pincombe G 6 (likely Richard3, Thomas2, John1)

Shepwashe Parish - no entries

Frithelstocke Parish - no entries

Fremington Hundred

Torrington Magna Town - no entries

Torrington Magna Parish - no entries

Newton Tracye Parish - no entries

Rowborough Parish - no entries

Instow Parish - no entries

Westleighe Parish - no entries

Hunshea Parish - no entries

St Gilles Parish - no entries

Alverdiscott Parish - no entries

Tawstock Parish - Edward Pencombe (lineage unknown) G 5 

Fremington Parish - no entries

Another break, 30 minute walk

Braunton Hundred

 Marwood Parish - no entries

Kentisburye Parish - no entries

Beryinerbert Parish - no entries

Eastdowne Parish - no entries

Trenshooe Parish - no entries

Ashforde Parish - no entries

Bittyden Parish - no entries

Northoowe Parish - no entries

Ilfardcombe Parish - no entries

Heanton Puncherdon Parish - no entries

Estbuckland Parish - William Pencombe G 10 (William3, Thomas2, John1)

Combmartine Parish - no entries

Bratton Parish - no entries

West Downe Parish - no entries

West Buckland Parish - no entries

Filleighe Parish - no entries

Goodleighe Parish - no entries

Georgeham Parish - no entries

Baunton Parish - no entries

Pilton Parish - no entries

Barnestaple Parish - no entries

Roborough Hundred

Shepistor Parish - no entries

Maker Tithing - no entries, Henry Blake G 3

Buddockshed Parish - no entries

Buckland Monachorum Parish - no entries

Tamerton Folliet Parish - no entries

Bereferris Parish - no entries

Ecbuckland Parish - no entries

Meavy Parish - no entries

Walkhampton Parish - no entries

Sampford Spyny Parish - no entries

Petertavy Parish - no entries

Bickleigh Parish - no entries

Stoke Damerell Parish - John Tingecombe G 3 (although I feel that Tincomb/Tingecombe/Tencombe is not a derivative of Pencombe but rather a free standing surname with 389 for Tincomb* on FreeBMD and 466 records for Tinkham* I have tended to not include this surname possibility, interesting actually as there is one record in Stoke Damerell in 1695 for a Christopher Pinckin baptizing a son Francis and a larger number in the 1700s but I continue to not include this group). There are twelve entries for Tincombe/Teigncombe on the CD giving support that this is a freestanding surname which was generally found in the southern part of Devon. The records dealing with Subsidy are all lease and 1 or 2 (2 records) and the latter records are from the Poll tax of 1660 (SP (Servant Poll), P (Poll)) and very few entries. It would seem strange that these families are the same given the differing location. 

Whitchurch Parish - no entries

Plymouth Parish, Plymowthe, Compton Giffard, Weston Peverell, Stonehouse - no entries

Likely a worthwhile process but does not help me with who is Philip Pynkeham on the 1544 Subsidy at Tawton. In 1581 this is Edward Pencombe at Tawton (his son possibly?) Neither of the forenames are found particularly in the Pincombe family in my line although the youngest son of Robert Pincombe and Elizabeth Rowcliffe was named Philip but  Elizabeth's father was Philip Rowcliffe. The children's names in this large family are interesting. The first two named after the parents - Robert and Elizabeth. Then John, William, Thomas, George, Richard and Philip. George was Elizabeth Rowcliffe's brother's name as was William and Philip. But John, William, Thomas, and Richard were fairly common names in the Pincombe family with Richard being the least common of the four. I have not found the name Robert to be very common in this family although does go back to the Pincombe family in the mid 1600s at Bishops Nympton.

Still no breakthrough on the lineage of Philip Pynkeham/Pencombe. The possibilities are there of course with the Pencombe family still in Herefordshire. In that Philip may have a son who is an adult in 1581 and Philip appears on the 1544 Subsidy likely as an adult in Tawton, his year of birth might be similar to that of the sons of John Pencombe (arrived in North Molton circa late 1480s). Although he also could be a son of John1 that simply did not get noted in the Visitation of Devon in 1620 (not particularly unusual the name of William (2nd son) was missing). Possibly his line ended with Edward as it is likely the Richard in Bideford is the son of Thomas (Richard3, Thomas2, John1). __therin Pincombe widow is a mystery in Bideford although the Richard at Bideford could be a son of Richard3 just thinking about that with ?Catherine being his wife and then widow. Richard would have been in his late 50s or 60s by 1581 having an adult son. Lots of contemplation. 

Outside work also done yesterday transplanting raspberry canes and two bleeding hearts. It was a perfect day to move plants as it was pouring with rain. This afternoon perhaps we will finish off the back of the garden behind the newly transplanted raspberry canes by moving some garden soil to the cleared area and planting carrot seeds. It is Church this morning though on You-Tube and looking forward to the service. The season of the Church year moves onward through Easter  - this is the 7th Sunday after Easter. The Bible Reading today is especially poignant ending with " ...pray that God will give peace to everyone who belongs to Christ." This is the story of a Church in formation and 1 Peter 5 is part of that story. From that group of twelve (Matthais replaced Judas the Betrayer) and their supporters has grown the largest know religion in the world which is a part of that overwhelming set of God's people who worship God ever eternal our Creator. God smiled and He saw that it was good but there is a sadness there because we have not yet learned to love our neighbour as ourselves. Picking people apart because they have different personalities isn't our job; God is the judge of our world and we simply have to get along. There is a danger in forcing people to live a lie - the knife attack against me was part of that (when people have to protect themselves; their livelihood they will do things that normally they never would). We must avoid forcing people into situations where they feel the need to protect themselves. That was definitely something that Pierre Eliot Trudeau had right - the government does not belong in the bedrooms of the country (and that is so true unless there is a criminal intent in which case someone needs protection likely). 

We will have a lovely meal of scallops in a tomato sauce filled with lovely fresh vegetables (peppers, green onions and cherry tomatoes) and perhaps orzo and steamed asparagus on the side and a spinach, tomato and onion salad with a lemon-herb dressing. Then an ice cream cake. 

On to the day and perhaps a little work on the Herefordshire records but I am coming to the idea that the Philip Pynkeham/Pencomb at Tawstock was likely a sibling to John, William and Thomas. That the forenames of Philip and his likely son Edward are so different from the others could just be that the line died out and by 1620 when the Visitation of Devon was completed the line had been forgotten by the descendants of John, William and Thomas (after all William's name is also missing but it is a common forename in the Pincombe/Pinkham family). The name Philip does appear later in my line but more likely because Elizabeth Rowcliffe's (married to Robert Pincombe at Bishops Nympton) father was Philip. 

Breakfast awaits and my favourite meal of the day for sure although scallops can challenge that somewhat!

 

Visitation of Cornwall and Pencombe/Pincombe/Pinkham

 The well know Cornwall Visitation of 1620 which includes references back to 1530 and 1573 does not contain Pencombe/Pincombe/Pinkham/Pyncombe. Mind you these are primarily land-holding individuals but the family in Devon in the 1500s does hold land. Interesting this idea that they came with Lord de la Zouch expressed in the 1620 Visitation. Finding additional support for this would also be interesting but certainly the eldest son of likely John Pencombe  passed property to his sons judging by the Subsidies and his eldest great grandson John left a sizeable fortune in land in his will inventory of 1605 leading one to suspect that the Pencombe family at North/South Molton in the 1500s certainly had acquired a number of properties and the current Lord de la Zouch at that time was a major landowner at North Molton. So more proof of anything is always convenient but the known records certainly tell the story of a prominent John Pincombe at South Molton son of (to quote the Visitation of 1600) "Pyncombe of Northmolton came there with the Lord Zouche about the beginning of H. 7" and his wealth can be traced down into the 1700s quite readily when the bulk of it became the Pyncomb Charity which is both a Trust and a Foundation in this century.  This line did daughter out and Gertrude Pyncombe certainly created a wonderful Charity/Foundation which has continued down through the centuries to the present. 

http://kippeeb.blogspot.com/2011/08/will-of-gertrude-pyncombe-prob-11643.html

This line was armigerous and the most prominent of the Pincombe/Pyncombe/Pencomb/Pinkham families in Devon. 

Since there are no new additions from the newest image to the 1500s worksheet in the Excel file I will carry on looking at those entries and copied from yesterday's Blog.

I did make note that this set of records centers on North Molton still in the mid 1550s but movement out is noted shortly there after using the records. Philip Pencomb/Pynkeham is on the 1544 Subsidy but no records for a Philip Pynkeham/Pencombe in the Tawstock area where he is found (his likely son Edward Pencombe on the 1581 Subsidy). Definitely the mystery person and looking yesterday at the Visitations of Herefordshire I have no sign of Pencombe there but I suspect reduced circumstances followed the Battle of Bosworth Field. There is movement out for Pencombe from North Molton both west and south to south east (Bishops Nympton, Molland) but more movement to the west (Bideford, Roborough by Torrington, Chittlehampton, Barnstaple).  The Charles record does seem somewhat out of context but is a marriage which may have been in the Bride's parish due to prominence of her family (Thomas Pincambe married Johan Rude 16 Oct 1575) but the earlier researchers did give this marriage to the third son of John Pencombe (Thomas2, John1). It is unlikely as it is too distant into the future and Thomas was known to be at East Buckland and Filleigh although not as prominent as his eldest brother he still had property and five children. He was likely deceased much earlier as his widow left her will in 1563 at East Buckland. Checking the original register for Charles in Find My Past and the copy that I see there is likely a faithful reproduction of the original register having read a lot of these early 1500s registers. The priest has mentioned on the flyleaf that the early portion of this register was transcribed by the Rev P Bates Rector (no date given) and the records for baptisms 1608 to 1610, 1607-1608 much decayed.  It is clearly the Parish of Charles, Devon. The surname definitely looks like Rude. The handwriting very legible and the spelling of Pincambe quite clear - no doubt that this is an a rather than an o. The priest does not make note of the home parish of any of the marriages on this page or the continuing page. This does appear to be the only instance of the surname with this spelling in the register. Changing the a to an o and doing a search does not reveal any entries for Charles for the Pincombe family (also checked Pencomb, Pinkham, Pyncomb).

Baptisms

There are six entries for North Molton until  the early 1560s and then one in the 1570s, four in the 1590s. 

There are two entries for Bideford in the 1560s, another in the 1580s and four in the 1590s. 

One entry for Ilfracombe in the 1570s. 

There is one entry in the 1570s for Roborough by Torrington, three in the 1580s and three in the 1590s. 

There is one entry for Chittlehampton in the 1570s. 

There is one entry for Molland in the 1590s. 

There is one entry for Barnstaple in the 1590s.

There is one entry for Bishops Nympton in the 1590s.

Marriages

There are six entries for North Molton until the mid 1560s.

There is one entry for Roborough by Torrington in the 1570s.

There is one entry for Bideford in the 1570s, there are two entries in the 1580s.

There is one entry for Charles in the 1570s.

There is one entry for Barnstaple in the 1590s.

There is one entry for Bishops Nympton in the 1590s.

There is one entry for Abbotsham in the 1590s.

I have been able to attach a descent chart to seven of these marriages and will continue working at this project. 

I find it interesting that this first recorded marriage is 1539 between Margaret Pincombe and Philip Kingdon and think that she is likely a sister to John, William and Thomas sons of John Pencombe. The next set of marriages are for the grandchildren of John Pencombe primarily. 

John Pyncombe married Emet Hodge 1 Jul 1560 at North Molton (John3, Thomas2, John1)

Alice Pyncombe married William Lock 9 Nov 1561 at North Molton (Alice 3, Thomas2, John1)

William Pyncombe married Margrett Gregorye 26 Nov 1564 at North Molton (William3, William2, John1). This William died in 1564 and his widow Margarett married William Squire 26 May 1567.

Marye Pyncombe married George Squire 209 Jul 1567 at North Molton (Marye3, William2, John1)

Eme Pinckham married Philip Upcott 15 Jul Pynke1570 at Roborough by Torrington. It is unknown into which family line she belongs.

Agnes Pynckhin married Thoms Shurtte 12 Jun 1572 at Bideford. Possibly the older daughter of William (Agnes3,William2, John1).

Thomas Pincambe married Johan Rude 16 Oct 1575 at Charles. This would be a great grandson possibly of John1 (Thomas4, Richard3, Thomas2, John1). He died at Roborough in 1578. 

Phillippe Pyncombe married Wilmote Beare 10 Feb 1583 at Bideford. I can not place Phillippe Pyncombe at this time.

Walter Pyncombe married Johanne Pyne 31 Jan 1587 at Bideford. I can not place Walter Pyncombe at this time. 

John Pinckcombe married Jane Sherman 13 Jun 1594 at Barnstaple. Another great grandson possibly (John4, Christopher3, John2, John1) of John Pencombe. This would show that indeed the family lore that the Pincombe family at South Molton moved to Barnstaple (amongst other places) was correct. The will for John does exist and I will check it to see if he names his wife.

Richard Pencom married Joane Row 27 Jul 1599 at Abbotsham. This entry is from the Bishop's Transcripts and written up in Boyd's marriage Index (original image not available).

I did have a look at the Abbotsham possibilities and there are 171 results from the beginning to 1600. Most of them are from the Devon Wills Index. There are no entries for Pincombe/Pyncombe/Pencom/etc (the marriage was from the Transcripts). Abbotsham to Bideford is about 2 kilometres so not unreasonable to find a marriage there in this time period. 

So from the marriages I have four records for whom I have no information - Eme Pinckham, Phillippe Pyncombe, Walter Pyncombe and Richard Pencom. Two records at Bideford, one at Roborough by Torrington and the fourth at Abbotsham. All are in fairly close proximity. Is this a different line (perhaps a sibling to John Pencombe) or a cousin. 

I will now work on the baptisms and see if I can fit them into family lines. There are seven that I can not place into a family line plus the children of Phillippe Pyncombe at Bideford (another four). The other nineteen can be placed with a comfortable degree of accuracy. 

I do have Stoate's information on Devon Taxes 1581 - 1660 and I will check for "different spellings" as I am not sure I have done that thoroughly. 

1581 Subsidy

Bishops Nympton p 34     no entries

Charles p 28       Maculin Rude G 6 (perhaps explains the marriage at Charles, not a huge amount but still substantial)

Chittlehampton p 26     no entries

Molland p 25     no entries

North Molton p 24     Emma Pincombe wid G 3

South Molton p 24     Christopher Pincombe G   4, John Pincombe  G   4, John Pincombe Jr G 3, John Pincombe Sr G 12

Abbotsham p 21     no entries

Bideford p 19     Richard Pincombe    G 6

 Roborough p 17     no entries

Ilfracombe  p 14     no entries

Barnstaple p 12     no entries

1642 Assessment

Abbotsham p 128     Richard Pincombe 6  0, _atherin Pincombe wid 2   0

Interesting day on this work. Spent part of the afternoon gardening and switching the winter items for the summer items between the shed and the garage. Life is always busy for sure. Spread a little garden soil and grass seed in hopes of rain overnight and into today. Still no rain but does look like rain. Time will tell. 

Life will be busy the next couple of weeks getting the garden prepared and planted. Will take it slow although my daughter will do the lions share of the work. If it was me I would just grass it over to be honest even if I do enjoy the product of the gardening. I like to work on my projects more than gardening. I only did it before to help Edward. Edward always bounced back from his hospital visits and was ready to take on the world; hard to keep him from trying actually and he would barely be home before he was planning yet another trip or following through on one planned. I always said he should take it easy and work his way back up again but that wasn't his way. If he felt the least bit strong; he was ready to go. And travel became his big thing for sure. Resting and slowly working his way back was never his way. 

So today I continue looking at the Tax records - yesterday I went by surnames entries and today I will do the parishes just to make sure that nothing was missed in the indexing. I will do the parishes around the known parishes as well. I also want to learn more about Herefordshire and its records just to see if I can find a Philip Pencombe there. I am curious if perhaps this individual was a close relative of the  likely John Pencombe who came with Lord de la Zouch to North Molton. I must also check out the de la Zouch family to see if there is anything on line about them. Although it is dubious that any records actually exist on a family level from that time period that would mention the people who came with him to North Molton in the early part of the reign of Henry VII - that is pretty optimistic to think that there could be! But I shall have a look just to be thorough. 

Waiting for rain and time for breakfast. That is how this day is going to flow at the moment. 

Although the world news (Glory to Ukraine and prayers for Sudan as well; may our world yet find peace) and the continuing events in our own political life are in my mind, I retire once again to my quiet spot working on my projects. But my eye is ever trained on possibilities and I do agree with Conrad Black that the oil and gas industry are very important to Canada. Buying the pipeline was a good idea and it belongs to the Canadian people and well managed could well prove to be one of the best investments the government has made in this new century. Propping up a private industry with government funds is not my idea of a good plan; but actually owning the industry that is a different story and I definitely do not want to see it sold (a bad habit of the Conservative governments in this present century) although would be willing to see it transferred to the rumoured First Nations Consortium. The First Nations leaders have proven to have good ideas and they know the land. What is Canadian we should keep Canadian! Prime Minister Mulroney did well as our leader and people should have just realized that the GST was and is an excellent idea for funding the government - reducing it was a disaster. We need Progressive Conservatives; occasionally I do see inklings of that in the now Conservative Party but not enough. Mostly they are just social conservatives without any real direction or purpose.