Continuing saga of Siderfin family and just which Robert is which

 An amazing day yesterday working on the Siderfin Pedigree Chart. Everything seemed to fall into place and the tree has shifted slightly just from one John to another really; from the Robert line to the William line and everything clicked together because of will abstracts and transfer of land both in a logical fashion. Time may introduce more factors but I rather believe that my thoughts are concrete and will stand the test of time; but will actually leave that up to time as it is with all things.

The next individual to examine in detail is William Siderfin said to be a son of John Siderfin baptized in 1656 (on James Sanders' Pedigree Chart). Again there does not appear to be a baptism for a William Siderfin but his marriage is recorded in the Selworthy Parish registers. His will was probated in 1723. The will of his wife was probated in 1747. The goal today is to work on this William Siderfin.

I am going with James Sanders on the idea that Robert (baptized 15 Dec 1688 at Selworthy, buried 7 Mar 1731) at East Lynch and Walter (buried 14 Mar 1731, Selworthy) at Timberscombe are siblings although he does attach them to a John Siderfin born 1656 and Mary (unknown). That these two sons belong in the William Line given that William’s eldest son Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was at East Lynch and Timberscombe. William’s wife Christian (Webber) Siderfin in her will does mention that Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1)’s children were: Robert, Wilmot and John which is eerily reminiscent of the three children of Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) with Wilmot baptized 1614, Robert 1616 and John 1619 at Minehead. However, Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was baptized in 1587 and Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was baptized in 1611. Interesting the name similarity of course.

James Sander includes the following information in his book:

[ In the Carhampton Hundred Benevolence granted, Charles II., 1662 :   

Robert Syderfin    Minehead    2s    6d
Robert Syderfin    Timberscombe    5s    0d
Wm. Syderfin    Luxborough    10s    0d
Thos. Syderfin    Luxborough    10s    0d

[ Eastern Division. - Thomas Syderfin, of Luxborough, Esq., Barrister of Law, do the present to his Magestie 20s in hand paid.]

To keep with the likely placement Robert 5 (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Minehead, Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Timberscombe, William 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Luxborough, and Thomas 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Luxborough. This particular tax was said to be applied during the reign of Charles II although I only found a reference to a Benevolence Fund in 1622 but I do need to have a look at the records at the Family History Centre. It does account for the only living son of Robert 3 – Thomas 4 at Luxborough, William 4’s sons Robert 5 and William 5 at Timberscombe and Luxborough respectively and Robert 4’s son Robert 5 at Minehead. John 5 is excluded because he is not recorded as having any property in Selworthy or elsewhere thus far.

The will of Augustine Question does refer to his son in law Robert Siderfin and daughter Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin and his grandchildren which matches Thomasine’s son Robert and grandchildren mentioned in the will of Thomasine. This will be presented in full in the next generation. Robert’s and Elizabeth’s eldest son was Robert and their second son was John and the third son Augustine which is rather interesting (since John and Augustine could have been the parents of Robert and Elizabeth respectively (Augustine Question certainly was the father of Elizabeth)).

James Sanders does omit the grandchildren mentioned by Christian (Webber) Siderfin widow of William 4 in his chart and writeup. He used only an abstract of Christian’s will which is a mystery. But London was a long way away and the abstract was handy in Brown, Rev. Frederick. Abstracts of Somerset Wills Series 106, 3rd Series. A cautionary tale for sure to always go to the original document. 

Today I shall alter my Legacy File to reflect these changes of the last couple of days and move on to William Siderfin who married Mary Terrell and does appear to be one of the first to use the crest attributed to the Siderfin Family. Does he belong to the William Line as William was the eldest son of Robert 3 (William 2, John 1). When the crest was actually created is a mystery to me at this time and I may pursue information on that particular item or leave it to the future to be discovered. 

I also want to continue working on my Ancestry file to bring my second test there up to date with all of the other results that I have there for myself and my three siblings. I do find Ancestry interesting. Their database is huge and the number of matches that we have that are significant is small as expected since three of my grandparents were born in England along with my father. I have few collateral lines that came to the American and Canadian colonies so readily tracked at the second cousin level. But we do have matches with American lines in particular probably because of endogamy in my Routledge and Knight family lines. I also have a few more distant (fourth cousin) Buller lines there with whom I correspond which is most interesting. Quite a few matches in Australia and New Zealand as well although primarily on my father's side but some on my mother's side - the proportion though is heavily slanted towards my paternal lines. The largest portion of my matches continue to be in the British Isles and primarily England. Ancestry does show that picture very well because they have such a large database. But of course I can not actually see the matches unless individuals take their results into another database which some do do. So I probably look more carefully at the aspects that I can see there. 

Smoke is gone for the moment and hopefully the rains that we are due to receive (normal June weather) along with the cooler air (also normal to June) will control the wildfire. Wildfire does serve its purpose of regeneration of forests but too much can be quite a hazard especially for our First Nations who do tend to live in the more heavily treed and less populated parts of Canada. The garden has certainly sucked up all that  moisture and is hungrily waiting for more. It always amazes me to see the plants double in size in such a short period of time but Mother Nature's refreshing rain is better than any watering that I can do. The trees are still this morning waiting hopefully for more rain I am sure. God's world is all around us and we must take good care of it. Thank you God. Thank you also for King Charles III who will do a fantastic job as he has for all of his life supporting the preservation of the Earth  - its flora and fauna, its huge oceans and giant land masses. His support of the youth has always been a tribute to him I think. He never thinks of himself walking right up to the protesters with their signs - he is a bold one like all of the great Kings and Queens that are his forebearers.