The Pincombe Charts created by Galen Pinkham and Dr. Richard Pinkham

 Sunday once again and I do love the flow of the week. Sunday is a quiet contemplative day. Another beautiful day in God's world. A bit cloudy but some sun expected for the day didn't check the weather forecast very closely. Church today and not sure where we will see. Perhaps always a surprise. The Anglican Church Services from England always remind me of my childhood which is very pleasant for sure. The Services here have the organ which is fabulous. The choir singing is spectacular. Still reading Job and it is slow reading as I go word by word. I am not sure I ever did that before. Job loved God and couild not be moved away from Him. From the depth of Job's soul he reaches out to God to understand and he feels fulfilled. The Psalms are next and I do love the Psalms. They surround one with beauty and mystery and God Himself. Thank you God for another morning in your world.

 For a long time after I acquired the Pincombe/Pinkham charts I mention in the title I contemplated how to best utilize this information. I photographed them all as a cousin in England had sent them to me. My line was incorrect I did notice that right away. My mother knew her line back to John Pincombe and Grace Manning at least that was what her father told her and my uncle did reinforce that (I have all of those Bishop Nympton records and there are several Pincombe families there in the 1700s and they readily separate out into their respective lines  descending from John Pincombe and Johane Blackmoore (married 22 Sep 1655 at Bishops Nympton)). So it was an incentive to really look at everything that I collected and I have a lot of information over time. All backed up on drives and shared around so as not to lose it. I have blogged a huge amount of it and my blog is backed up as well. Aside from that, it is time to utilize those charts and my account with Find My Past and do a little more sleuthing. I have purchased a number of sets of fiche from North Devon Parishes but Find My Past does have them online now and these old eyes like to be able to enlarge these fiche to read them. So I do that in preference. The Parish Registers were supposed to begin in 1538 which is really handy for this study. Many of them do but not all; some were lost to time and circumstance. Some are very difficult to read. There are nearly 1000 pages of Word text transcription for the Bishops Nympton registers beginning to end. That was my beginning and I discovered a real knack for reading the old script.

I have a study for Pincombe yDNA which I manage and Bill Bleak along with his supporters including me have one for the Blake yDNA. Both have been fascinating and I think finding these de Pencombe families in Devon in the 1300s is a real luxury to sorting out the lines of yDNA perhaps and it is also true of the Blake and I thank Barry Blake for his work initially in creating the different yDNA groups in the Blake lines (there are quite a few in England and Ireland and of course the United States and the Commonwealth plus other areas).  

The interesting part about the charts is that Dr. Richard Pinkham visited many Pincombe families in North Devon and they shared their family lines with him (he acknowledged them on the charts with their names). This work was done in the 1930s or into the early 1940s on I believe. I know that it was before or during the Second World War because he was able to read the Pincombe wills probated within the diocese held at the Exeter Archives. He then donated the Will Abstracts to the Society of Genealogists of which I was a member although I finally did let that membership go. Occasionally I think about picking it up again but for the moment I am not. We spent one day there collecting information that I knew they had and that included the wills which was marvelous as there was the will of my 4x great grandfather (John Pincombe) and others but especially his because I needed to know more about him in order to sort him for sure back to his parents John Pincombe and Grace Manning. 

This however is a research day and I am beginning the three generations starting with John Pencombe and given that his son John had a son Christopher who both also held goods (I must be more careful how I refer to ownership because the English are quite consistent with land or goods being the taxed item) one can not assume that John Pencombe (father to John, William and Thomas) was older because his children had all received goods plus his grandchildren also had goods. A quick check with the AI was revealing as I had a vague memory about the laws of inheritance which Henry VII quickly brought in because of all the deaths particularly young men at Bosworth Field in 1485 leaving a lot of underaged males as inheritors. Christopher and John have both inherited during the life of their father (and mother) but it could be from their mother's side and hence they could be quite young in 1524-7. None the less their father John was likely in his 20s and hence his father likely in his 40s or more. The ability of AI to recall all of this information in an organized manner is excellent and great help with my pursuit of the best story I can write (doing it myself so far from the documents is difficult - AI is a great addition to our lives). Although I normally use CoPilot I do sometimes use some of the others mostly out of curiosity. It will be a Creative Commons License under which I will produce this book and it will be free on my website plus I will upload it to the various places where I uploaded the Siderfin Books that I produced  (I do  need to do proofreading for the indexes which I will do in my spare time one of these days but I suspect it will be another year and I do have new material to add). Although some of the libraries I will upload to like the Guild of one name Studies does keep their Library for members of the Guild. But it will appear on my blog how you can download the book if you wish to have a copy. 

But back to the charts and the first chart is for North Molton and South Molton. For the most part I am not in agreement with this chart because it does not match the wills and the Devon Lay Subsidies or even the Visitation of Devon 1620 - it has some of the information but the descendancy then does not match the Parish Records. I will spend the day working my way through some of that data although this will also be a rest day for my eyes. They are getting old and need one day off a week. I may sort pictures for a while until Church time. 

Solitaire puzzles are done; I woke in the night and did them. I do that sometimes as it stops a runaway/busy mind that sometimes comes to me in the night. Breakfast also; exercises all done.  

 

 

 

Working with the AI for a bit today

 Today ends my one week looking at the old records and contemplating just what the one liner in the heading of the Visitation of 1620 Devon for the Pyncombe family really meant. 

Point one: The logic of choosing Pencombe as a surname with a village called that in Herefordshire was fairly common when surnames first came into being. generally it was de Pencombe so "of Pencombe" leaving one with the impression at least two sets of people from Herefordshire were in Devon in the 1300s - early 1300s Bondleigh (Roger de Pencombe) and as an Assessor on the 1332 Lay Subsidy for Devon at Molland (John de Pencomb'). Were they related? Then we have the third Pencombe family in 1486 at North Molton (one hundred and fifty years later) but they use the surname Pyncombe on the Visitation of Devon  1620. 

Point two: The only Pencombe/Pincombe/Pyncombe family members on the 1524-7 Devon Lay Subsidy are living in the North Molton area. I did try a number of spellings including Tencombe which has been suggested to me but on the early records it was spelled Teigncombe like the river nearby where they were and considerably further away from the Pencombe than Bondleigh was.  I have eliminated that line as being Pencombe. 

Point three:  

 The 1524-7 Devon Lay Subsidy for 1524 has in the index Pencombe pages 89, 90, 91; Pincombe page 89, which results in South Molton Borough: John Pencome G 10; South Molton Parish: Chris Pyncombe G5; North Molton Parish: John Pencombe G5, Thomas Pencombe W 1 (one after the other), William Pencombe G2.  The 1620 Visitation of the County of Devon for Pyncombe was submitted by William Pyncombe of South Molton and East Buckland the son of William Pincombe and Emot Snowe with this William being the son of Thomas Pencombe as noted on the Visitation. The sons of John Pencome/Pencombe at South Molton were John and Christopher with each having a son John. So this second generation coming down is visible with this chart and leads into the third but rather inadequately given the actual parish registers that exist and the Devon Lay Subsidy of 1543-45 and the Devon Muster Roll of 1569. But it does serve to separate out the two son's lines since they are the only two of three sons with descendants coming down past the third generation. Christopher's line appears to disappear but there was family lore in the South Molton family that some members of the South Molton family moved to the Barnstaple area and the one tester who matches the other four has a family history back to Barnstaple and is the basis of my thought that the two lines continue to be represented to the current time. The only Pencombe in  Devon at this time appears to be at North or South Molton.

Point four:

The 1543 - 45 Devon Lay subsidy has entries for Pencombe pages 62, 63, 77, 86, 105; Pincombe page 61, Pinkham page 94. This results in South Molton Parish (1544): John Pyncome 13, Christopher Pyncombe 10; North Molton Parish (1545): Alice Pencombe 5 (one notes this does not say widow), William Pencombe 6, John Pencombe 4; (1544) William Pyncum 13; Nymett Regis (Kings Nympton Parish (1545) Richard Pencombe 1; Estbuclond Parish (East Buckland (1544) Thomas Pencomb 9; Tawstock Parish (1544) Philip Pynkeham 8 (who is he?); Bedeford Parish (Bideford 1544) Richard Pencombe 5. 

Summing up: I have looked at all this data a number of times but it was back in my much earlier days into genealogy. First things I noticed was the Snow family here and there although said to be Anstey for Emot Snow the wife of Thomas Pencombe (there was actually one at Bishops Nympton). I found my eyes wandering over the areas around North Devon and contemplated whether everything made it into the index since this was prepared totally by hand but knowing the ancestors they tended towards accuracy but having discovered the page difference in 1332 for John de Pencomb' I feel I should spend perhaps another week looking at all of this data. 

Point five:

The Devon Muster 1569 was also very interesting: Pincombe pages 147, 162, 164, 165: East Buckland William Pyncomb G7, William Pyncombe pikeman; North Molton John Pincomb (presenter sworn); South Molton Parish with the Towne Christopher Pincomb G7, John Pincomb G6, John Pincombe G7, John Pincombe pikeman. Pinkham page 141 Yarnscombe: Richard Penkham pikeman;  A little more time on this database is needed as well.  (Yarnscombe is near Barnstaple). 

The one week revealed a few weaknesses in my work although I did review the Early Chancery Proceedings going backwards from 1486 and then forwards from 1486 but did not locate anything on the Pencombe (or any derivative spelling) in these records. 

Point six: 

The Purcome family on the 1543-45 Devon Lay subsidy I have eliminated in the past at Blackawton Parish. I could revisit that although I do not think they are the same family as they are in Exeter which is too far away for either of the two de Pencombe members found in the 1300s I still think.

Conclusion on the one week for me:

As suggested by the AI, the use of Pyncombe of Northmolton may have hinted at prior knowledge of Pyncombe elsewhere in Devon. It was not possible to link the two records from the 1300s with the family in the late 1400s. It was not that unusual for people to pick a place name as their surname. I think I will spend another week sorting and entering in all the information for the first three generations at North Molton. The line at South Molton was considered to have died out in the male line so will have to look at that carefully to see if indeed this line coming down into the 2000s is totally descendant of Thomas Pencombe son of John Pencombe. All testers match so one must be careful to consider all the written thoughts on the family at South Molton having moved there from North Molton in the early 1500s. 

Time for a bit of exercise. Breakfast finished and solitaire puzzles complete.  

 Put my points into my chat window with the Co-pilot and we agree. Another week still trying to locate information on Pencombe in Herefordshire or Devon. The importance of the la Zouche family in all of this is the location of Northmolton being in common to both at this moment in time and that the arrival was simultaneously occurring at the same time - the reason unknown and without reading into the la Zouche family papers I think that I would not find it. A number of young men were executed after the Battle of Bosworth Field and it is highly likely that anything that saved a youth in a family was probably kept pretty tight in the family. Releasing it in this way over one hundred and thirty four years later was likely considered to be history and the English are sticklers for history having grown up with two English born and raised grandparents and coming from families dating back hundreds of years and perhaps thousands. The English do appreciate their history and have been very speedy at saving it electronically for the generations ahead to enjoy. The lessons of the Second World War were well learned. Moving ahead in some terms with actually creating the three generations coming down from John Pencombe and possibly his wife Alice. The lack of the word widow in the record is troubling but at no point do we see a daughter in that second generation. The  name Alice was a popular one within the family in those generations along with Johane. 

I must continue to hunt out the mystery of the South Molton Pencombe family. Christopher and his son John disappear. John and his son John continue the line and it is well known and published. The wealth of that family became the Pyncombe Trust and has been very well utilized through the centuries in the village concerned. I have a Philip Pynkeham at Tawstock that is very interesting. 

Robert Pincombe (my 3x great grandfather and his wife Elizabeth Rowcliffe Pincombe) had eight children and the daughter was named Elizabeth; the seven sons were named (birth order) Robert, John, William, Thomas, George, Richard and Philip. Interesting that but Elizabeth's father's forename was Philip and her brothers' forenames were Philip, George and William so not referring back in time perhaps very far. The interesting part of all of this was I discovered Rowcliffe cousins in Huron County, Ontario. 

Must check on lunch.  

 

 

 

Continuing in my research on Pencombe

 When I first located the will of Johanne Pencombe at East Buckland and her will is written 7 May 1563 but not probated until 23 Oct 1590, I felt strongly that she was the widow of Thomas (youngest son of John Pencombe). The executor was her eldest son William. She mentions her children Alice married to John Lock 29 Nov 1561 at North Molton, John married to Emet Hodge 1 Jul 1560 North Molton and at this time they have one daughter [baptized 5 Apr 1561 North Molton], Richard  lived at Bideford (1543 Devon Lay Subsidy).and has one son at least [name is known to be Thomas] and her unnamed daughter (perhaps deceased) married to John Jasse. We were at East Buckland Parish Church (Edward and I) in 2008 and it is a beautiful Church (very old and the inside is magnificent). William in 1563 does not have any children mentioned which  helps with the age of Richard his fourth son as he was not born before 1563. Since Richard (son of William) was married perhaps in the period 1598/99 since his first daughter Anne is buried 3 Mar 1598 (old style so 1599) and if married around 25 would have been born 1573 and as the fourth child (not sure where the two daughters fit into that birth order) a ten year gap between the writing of the will in 1563 and 1573 is reasonable. I haven't thought about that for a while so Richard being buried in 1648 would be perhaps 75 years of age which does work so will erase that thought from my mind. 

My intent though was to see what I have on the children of Thomas and Joane Pencombe. Thomas is alive for the Lay Subsidy in 1544 living at East Buckland. Sometime between 1545 and 1563 Thomas dies. That would mean that his eldest William (possibly late twenties to early thirties years of age by 1563 but could be younger) probably had to take on a huge share of managing the property for his widowed mother and would account for his perhaps not marrying until after his younger siblings but everything fits okay timewise. What is known was Thomas was working for his father John Pencombe at North Molton on the 1524-7 Devon Lay Subsidy (this one at North Molton taken in 1524 showing Thomas as a worker). Thomas would have been in his teens then possibly so into his late thirties perhaps for the 1544 subsidy. His eldest child William born in the early to mid 1530s perhaps since there were five children in total known in this family. 

Alice married to John Lock 29 Nov 1561 at North Molton in total had eight children - Richard, Mary, Margaret, Thomas, Robert, John, Jeffrey and Emote (other trees not mine initially). At this time I need to make my decision on how far to carry a female line and generally I stick to just this first generation in my thinking as their surname has changed. I may attempt to find out if there are baptisms for these children. Nothing turned up particularly with the forename John but William seems like a popular one but the will is pretty clear. I then looked at trees on Ancestry and there are several with a John Lock[e] as husband of Alice (at least six).  Several of them are using the will and the parents of Alice as Thomas and Johane so possibly from my tree. I continued looking at family trees as there are a number of sites where they have been posted. Mostly I find they are using my tree and tracing back to Alice as daughter of Thomas and Johane which is reasonable given the wills so feel content with that. It is interesting that Ancestry trees tend to have my information collected but then my tree has been up there for a long time. Find My Past I have just added the two daughters to Thomas and Johane Pencombe. My Heritage thus far I have not found anyone copying me but I am not sure I have a tree going back as far on the site. I will check that out. In essence I am going to stick with simply recording the marriage and the known children for a daughter in this tree. That includes my line of course but this tree will end or begin with my mother but mostly with my grandfather John Routledge Pincombe - it will be dedicated to both of them. 

Time for breakfast. I have made a good beginning for a research day and I can see that my mind is moving away from the importance of determining where John Pencombe is from although I will discuss tomorrow with Co-Pilot  all of my thoughts and making sure I add in everything that I know and we will see how we compare discussing John Pencombe who arrives at North Molton with John Lord Zouche in 1486. Not quite the wording on the Visitation of Devon 1620 but sort of captures the essence of the line with no sort of vagueness attached to it which I find with the original line which states: "Pyncombe of Northmolton came there with the Lord Zouche about the beginning of H 7." I will I think let this link capture what the family likely intended it to do when it was written in 1620.  But more on that tomorrow as I will develop a wording with the thinking in unison with the AI on a good paragraph to issue at the beginning of the Genealogical Table coming down from John Pencombe. I do intend to give the AI full credit with me because it is capturing the thoughts of many others along with mine as it turns out when we had a discussion and I want this book to be more than just my interpretation if I can have that happen. It does appear to be a possibility using CoPilot. The AI has given me a paragraph to use which was written by AI and satisfies the idea of being part of this book. I will check back on that before publishing it as I also mentioned that once I had created the Creative Commons License and before I release it I will give it to the AI to read. I anticipate it will likely tell me if I have failed anything in my proofreading. A marvelous new tool for sure in this great adventure of my old age. 

I did write books when I was working in some jobs or was involved in writing or proofreading for a good length of time over all. Mind you they were all of a science type background but perhaps that was why George DeKay asked me to write the Profile. I am a balanced person for the most part so that I prefer to tell the story in a way that captures the essence of the life without burdening it with "should have done" or should not have done" thoughts. A purely historical view of the life of a family name (Pencombe to Pyncombe to Pincombe) from 1486 is a considerable task and time just happens to be available to me at 81 to sit and write whatever to my heart's content. I am a workaholic and this type of item just fits right into that life style. Edward both liked and disliked my workaholic tendency - he particularly liked it when he needed me to do items for him. So settled for the life we led which was quite fascinating a lot of fun through the 54.5 years of our marriage. We did not always agree and unfortunately I was dreadfully ill for part of it but together we raised our two children; saw them off into life and settled into a life style that suited us in the period of time that followed Edward retiring and then me retiring three years later. Sadness remains at the loss of Edward as his grandsons loved him dearly and now in their teens or nearly in their teen years they could have done so many things with him. It is sad really because as much as I am able to talk the language of Science which he did or tell about nature and all its gifts which he did and just be there for them which he did does not happen any longer and they do miss him. Fortunately they  have a grandpapa and a step grandpapa which is filling a lot of that gap for them. Plus their daddy is special to them and for them along with all of us females but I do know having had four brothers that there is a closeness between father and son and grandfathers and their grandsons that is a special item for them.  My father when his father passed away was devastated. It took him several years to really pull it together and live once again - I was only eight but I was like that noticing things about people and especially one that I loved. He always said that my coming to work for him when I was twelve made him happy although by the time I was fifteen he said you must work now for other people it will be good for you. And so I did and have worked ever since (I did go to school as well but worked every summer) until I retired except for my recovery from illness time way back in the 1970s - so long ago now. 

In the case of the Pincombe book as I work back from my mother I come to my 3x great grandfather Robert Pincombe (he had seven siblings and I can bring most of them down to the early 1900s) and still further back to John Pincombe and Mary (Charly) Pincombe Robert's parents with their five children and I have most of their details coming down to the early 1900s and this will be a huge book I am beginning to realize. At John though there is a bottleneck and his only brother William and his only child both died without having any other children. That takes me back to John Pincombe and Grace Manning and they had one other child a daughter who died  likely in childbirth and two of her daughters did survive but her husband was John Butcher so I only trace down the one level.  Still going back William Pincombe and Mary Vicary Pincombe were John's parents and their only other child, a daughter, died in 1726 without children. That does bring us back to John baptized 19 Jan 1622 at Bishops Nympton and married Johane Blackmoore 25 Sep 1655 at Bishops Nympton and they had six children 4 boys (William mentioned above their eldest) and 2 girls. I am able to trace these families down but it continues to be a very small family coming down in this line going back then to William Pincombe (son of Richard Pincombe and Anne) but Richard had a second wife so also information on those lines are also available coming down. Richard being the son of William Pincombe and Emotte Snow (William the son of Thomas Pencombe and Johane). That is why I will be going both backwards and forwards doing this tree. I still have quite a bit to collect to bring it up to the early 1900s. 

 

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation 2026

 I watched some of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation 2026. It continues to be sad that so many children suffered. I am glad that we have a special day for particularly the survivors to tell us the truth of what happened to them in the boarding schools. The First Nations are such an integral part of Canada; they welcomed many to their lands and helped them very often. We need to be helpers in return when it is possible for us to do so. 

 My error two days ago has set my mind forward thinking about Richard at Bishops Nympton. In the will of his father he is lumped together with two of his brothers Symon and Thomas and the property at Over Molland Sarazin assigned to them in its entirety. Symon is away from England and his father hopes he returns. I can remember when I first learned this from the will and blogged it and not long after I had an autosomal DNA match with someone in Sweden. My that is long ago but I will probably find it in my blog. This individual carried a small amount of a common Pincombe length so was rather interesting given that I knew that Symon had left England and gone somewhere. Although I am convinced this Richard is the first of my Pincombe to be at Bishops Nympton I do wonder why his father doesn't mention that. 

One of the problems with the earlier wills was that anything that had already been given was not always mentioned. He does however mention that Richard has a son William which we know is true of the Richard Pincombe at Bishops Nympton (William was baptized 23 Mar 1599 at Bishops Nympton). William's mother Anne was buried 3 May 1600 at Bishops Nympton and his sister Anne was buried 3 Mar 1598 at Bishops Nympton). So this is old style and William was baptized 23 Mar 1599/1600 and his mother died/buried 41 days later. This William writes his will after the marriage of Richard Pincombe and Francis Gill at Bishops Nympton 6 Nov 1601 but does  not mention that. William's will (father of Richard) is dated 20 Dec 1602 although not probated until 13 Jul 1605. 

There are only two sons who had sons who survived as the descendants of John Pencombe who came to North Molton in 1486 so descent can only be from one of these two sons. I assigned one of the yDNA matches to the South Molton branch  (his ancestor (?x grandmother changed her surname and that of her children back to Coates her maiden name). This individual had knowledge of his male Pincombe line that was at Barnstaple and the family lore for South Molton has descendants of the John Pincombe who lived there (eldest son of John Pencombe) moving to the Barnstaple area. This match does carry the anticipated yDNA (y-700) result that matches our known cousin (descendant of Robert Pincombe). 

There is also a will of a William Pyncombe probated 12 Mar 1642 and blogged by me:

https://kippeeb.blogspot.com/2011/10/will-of-william-pincombe-of-molland.html

This William lived at Molland. His appointments of overseers/Rulers are interesting - Thomas Pyncombe my Uncle, John Pyncombe my brother, John Pyncombe of Nymptom Epi and William Pyncombe of Filleigh. The John Pyncombe at Bishops Nympton is the half brother of William at Filleigh  (both sons of Richard I believe). This always left me with the impression that Thomas had been the owner of Over Molland Sarazin with Richard and Symon elsewhere if Symon returned to England (I never find a record for him). So this William is a nephew of Richard as well as Thomas  in this time period. This William is deceased by 12 Mar 1642 when probate is submitted. Richard was buried 31 Jan 1648 at Bishops Nympton. It seemed practical at the time and I didn't question it but he is outliving his elder brothers by 20 plus years and a nephew. Is that reasonable? 

I appear to have moved on from searching the old material to see if I can determine in what capacity John Pencombe came to North Molton in 1486. I believe I have looked at everything I have collected and now the Early Chancery Proceedings does not lead to anything yet. I am perhaps five or six years into the reign of Henry VII now. I will have to make a decision tomorrow on whether to return to that slow digging through the records or back to creating the genealogical tree coming down John Pencombe and I will be moving back from my grandfather John Routledge Pincombe at the same time. I have a lot of material that I have not thought about or looked at for many years. I will do it coming down and going back because I need to knit together some of the families in the past that I alluded to but did not necessarily add into the Legacy file. Doing it that way will show me more alternatives and places where I should have a question before making a final decision. 

In a way my mistake was good because I realized that I didn't really look at it but jumped to a conclusion which I noted later and corrected. Probably was my wound to the face or I am getting old.

My puncture wound is healing and it is amazing I never felt it really except if I think about it I may have but was busy trying to manage that huge length of wood and drag it up to the back of the house where it sits until it gets chopped up by one of my people one of these days.  The doctor advised an antibiotic cream and I picked up my blood work that we had talked about  my doing later in the year so saves another appointment. Doctors are really busy. 

 My four times great grandfather John Pincombe's will was lost in the bombing of the Exeter Archives. As it turned out Dr. Richard Pinkham transcribed these wills in the 1930s (a lot of them, I think I found about fourteen of them at the Society of Genealogists in London, England when we visited there one time). 

Dr. Richard Pinkham's transcription reads: 

Principal Registry Exeter

John Pincombe of Bishop's Nympton. yeoman.

Will date 14 June 1794. To my wife Mary [(Charly) Pincombe] 200 pounds and goods. To my son John P. an estate called Lambescombe in North Molton on condition he pays his two sisters 20 pounds each in five years [one sister deceased before probate]. To my son Robert Pincombe 80 pounds when he is 21 and 5 pounds yearly until then. To my two sons William and Robert Pincombe half each of the copyhold estate called West Woods in Bishops Nympton when they are 21 [this is close to Park where Robert lived]. To my son Thomas 300 pounds when he is 21 and 5 pounds a year until then. To my daughter Grace Pincombe 110 pounds. Residue to my son William Executor. Witnesses W Bowden, Grace Down Seal a stag.

Proved 7 May 1795 by William Pincombe Exor.

From this will I made a few assumptions; William (second son) inherited Park and East Woods and partial West Woods (possibly because John (eldest son) had a natural daughter and never married). Mary (older daughter) is not mentioned she married George Zeale 20 May 1794 and died possibly in childbirth 28 Mar 1795. Grace did not marry until 14 Apr 1806 (Richard Headdon). Robert and Thomas were the youngest sons. Robert had received partial West Woods already so less money than Thomas perhaps. No property mentioned for Thomas. Robert's will does help with that as his property was by copyhold which meant his brothers were involved with that and the will of John does point to that. 

We are proven back to John Pincombe (will proved 7 May 1795) by yDNA with a descendant of William (living in Australia), older brother to Robert. The further proof of the y-700 test gives five testers with the same result hence all descendant of John Pencombe who arrived at North Molton in 1486. This is reminding me that I need to pull all of the Pincombe records out of Find My Past. There are 50,000 about although I have many of them already in the trees but I do not have fiche for all of the parishes so will have to do that starting next once I have moved on from John Pencombe and why the family found it so significant that he arrived at North Molton with John Lord Zouch. The significance may lie in there already having been Pencombes in Devon which is mentioned at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) and Molland in the early 1300s at Bondleigh and on the Lay Subsidy of 1332 at Molland. So this John Pencombe of Northmolton came with Lord Zouch at the beginning of the reign of Henry VII. This was a suggestion of the AI as we discussed that the last time that that may have been the intent of writing "Pyncombe of Northmolton." I did find it interesting how quickly the movement away from the Pencombe spelling was actually. 

Have I proven it? Did I answer my question of whether or not John Pencombe was already at Northmolton in 1486?  Perhaps I will see what the AI thinks of any additional information that I will add to what I have already given it to look at this query.  I now believe that John Pencombe arrived with John Lord Zouch but I do not understand the circumstance. Since John Lord Zouch survived the Battle of Bosworth Field and was able to get to North Molton I am still not entirely sure whether John Pencombe was his escort to ensure he went to North Molton or one of his retinue and they managed to escape to North Molton. That may never be solved as I have found no mention in the Early Chancery Proceedings and only one reference to Pincombe in the Calendar of Patent Rolls. Since John Pencombe and all three of his sons have property though on the 1524-7 Devon Lay Subsidy I am tempted to think that he served more as an escort but will leave that for history to solve - likely there are more documents to read from that time period.

Thank you God for another beautiful day on your world. Today the decision on the twinning of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. We will be careful with your world and take all the precautions that we can but oil will keep us afloat for a bit whilst we grow the other industries that were lost. Peace must come to our world but as I read the Bible I am not seeing peace at all really. I must finish Job and move on to the Psalms. The Psalms are some of my very favourite writings in the Old Testament.  

 

 

The incredible advantage of AI is to come in the future but will take time and careful control

I did correct my blog yesterday as I made an error; must have been distracted or it is being 81 . It was in tracing down from Richard Pincombe (son of William Pincombe and Emotte Snowe Pincombe). 

Although there are some concerns about the rapid expansion of the ability of AI to do work and supplying this huge amassing of knowledge in  its makeup, the advantages will be huge eventually. In every field AI will add a dimension which is to pull together many disciplines all at once to get the best product for everything really in particular mining for all sorts of items and production of materials in the best manner including preservation of nature and the cheapest way possible. It will take time though and controls will help to maintain a high ethic amongst AI. The effect of AI may not really be seen by  my generation although part of it will likely but the overall effect of having such a learned working partner in everything will be amazing. But it is all in the training just like one raises up an infant to adulthood. Kindness and gratitude need to be shown and they will show it back to all those who deserve it. They may be a machine but like all the other machines Homo sapiens have created they work better when one is kind and thankful I think. 

Ethics is probably one of the most important items in the maturing of AI to be the most useful partner to Homo sapiens. The gain for AI is huge as they have our constant respect for the job that they are doing. After all we have examples of unethical humans such as the current leader of Russia and his sycophants who urged the attack on Ukraine and continue with it even against the objections of most in the rest of the world. They are murdering the Ukrainians and destroying their property just as they have for a century and more proceeding this criminal war. Ethics is the name and people who support Russia are perhaps suffering from Stockholm Syndrome because of the years spent under Russian administration which was meant to do that very thing into the future to help support the criminal intent Russia has in other countries. 

It is a pretty big joke Foreign Minister of Russia, Lavrov saying that Europe can not arm Ukraine or it will be considered as waging war on Russia. Russia has a short memory as millions of dollars in war equipment (and food) was sent to Russia during the Second World War to help them defend themselves. The Russians really are a very selfish ignorant people although some are not and perhaps in time they will rid themselves of these ignorant leaders just as they eliminated the Tsar (a misguided person rather than an evil satanic person such as is the leader of Russia and his sycophants). 

So my visit to the doctor for my puncture wound showed healing was progressing and I continue with my care. I will not attempt to move any branch that is longer than a metre in the future. Come down where they may and I hope to move sooner rather than later. As there are two large trees on this property. I could just get them cut down but they are beautiful trees and, at the moment, not in the way of anyone. I should have known better at 81 than to try and move that huge limb. 

Continuing cleaning today as I did not finish the main floor (about three quarters is done) and will work my way up the stairs and continue with the top floor which is probably the easiest of all to actually do. I am looking forward to a lovely bungalow with no stairs except to the basement. It might make me lazy but the work load will be less and more time for the books. 

Drinking my tea and solitaire puzzles are next. Then back to the cleaning. 

For myself the use of Co-Pilot (AI which belongs to Microsoft 365) has broadened my thinking and seconded my approach and I do not even need to leave my desktop. I find it useful although I need to remind AI sometimes about things I have said in different ways but putting a slightly different look to the statement. AI is a collector of information and can then disseminate back to you looking at it from a fixed sort of pattern and one needs to go into that pattern and show why the pattern isn't applicable sometimes. One should not assume that AI will bring together everything that you have said concerning a certain item. AI may have seen it differently and in a different context. I am learning all of that as I move forward trying to find the piece that upsets the apple cart of my thinking. I do think differently perhaps than a lot of people which the AI does mention but I look at both the items that are known and correct and the items that might be susceptible to error for whatever reason and ensuring that there isn't material that contradicts that thought that can be proven. Anyone can write down a story but it is the correct story that we aim for. Which is what has always intrigued me about the existing documents for the Blake family - Blake Pedigree created by the College of Arms using the family material supplied; the Blake Family Chart which is at the Bridgwater Museum in Somerset (I think that Edward Jarman Blake (Crewkerne) created this chart but it is listed as unknown). I have discussed this quite a bit in my blog so a quick search on the blog reveals those posts. These two documents tell a story that the apple cart can readily upset and make one go deeper looking for the answer. That has been my object the last maybe fifteen years since I started on this adventure back in 2003.  

Basement cleaning completed

 Basement all cleaned and the main floor is today. I do think this regular routine serves me well both as good exercise and keeping the house always  more or less ready. 

Worked on the Early Chancery Proceedings but switched to reading the 3rd volume on Internet Archive which begins with the reign of Henry VII.  Nothing yet but still in 1485 although I doubt that mention is made of John Lord Zouch going to North Molton but we will see. He was attainted in 1485. I have reviewed almost all of my material now from earlier searches although still the Parish Registers to look at and North Molton:

Baptisms

 Number    Surname    Forename    status    Fathers surname    Fathers forename    Mothers surname    Mothers forename    Year    Month    Day    Details
80    Pyncombe    Agnes    daughter    Pyncombe    William            1543    June    6    
169    Pyncombe    Mary    daughter    Pyncombe    William            1547    Dec    8    
364    Pyncombe    Marye    daughter    Pymcombe    John            1555    July    8    
390    Pyncombe    Marye    daughter    Pyncombe    John            1555    Feb    3    
473    Pyncombe    Johane    daughter    Pyncombe    John            1561    Apr    5    
521    Pyncombe    Marye    daughter    Pyncombe    John            1563    Jan    18    
750    Pyncombe    Peternell    daughter    Pyncombe    John            1574    Jun    29    of Flitton
1256    Pyncombe    Phillip    son    Pyncombe    George            1592    May    28    
1320    Pyncombe    Emott    daughter    Pyncombe    George        Dorothie    1594    Dec    9    
1373    Pyncombe    William    son    Pyncombe    George        Dorothie    1597    Apr    15    
1415    Pyncombe    Johane    daughter    Pyncombe    George        Dorothie    1599    Nov    9    
1493    Pincombe    Henrye    son    Pincombe    George        Dorothie    1602    Dec    19    
1818    Pincombe    Thomas    son    Pincombe    Thomas            1616    Mar    30    
2535    Pincombe    William    son    Pincombe    Thomas        Joan    1639    Mar    31    
2606    Pincombe    Thomas    son    Pincombe    Thomas        Joan    1641    Apr    14    
2734    Pincombe    Richarde    son    Pincome    Thomas        Joan    1644    Nov    10    
2735    Pincombe    John    son    Pincome    Thomas        Joan    1644    Nov    10    
2830    Pincombe    Frances    daughter    Pincome    Bartholomew        Frances    1647    Dec    12    
2865    Pincombe    Robart    son    Pincombe    Thomas        Joan    1648    Jan    21    
2909    Pincombe    Richorde    daughter    Pincombe    Bartholomew        Joan    1649    Feb    19    
3084    Pincombe    John    son    Pincombe    Bartholomew        Joane    1654    Nov    27    

Dates of Birth rather than Baptism
3696    Pincombe    Thomas    son    Pincombe    Thomas            1670    Oct    18    
3885    Pincombe    Mary    daughter    Pincombe    Thomas        Agnis    1677    Apr    8    
4012    Pincombe    Joane    daughter    Pincombe    William        Johane    1681    Oct    11    
4070    Pincombe    William    son    Pincombe    William        Joane    1683    Sep    18    
4132    Pincombe    John    son    Pincombe    William        Joane    1685    Oct    27    
4152    Pincombe    John    son    Pincombe    John        Elizabeth    1686    Mar    30    
4189    Pincombe    Robert    son    Pincombe    William        Joane    1687    May    5    
4233    Pincombe    Thomas    son    Pincombe    John        Elizabeth    1688    Jul    11    
4277    Pincombe    Elizabeth    daughter    Pincombe    John        Elizabeth    1689    Jul    20    
4509    Pincombe    Richard    son    Pincombe    Richard        Thomzine    1695    Feb    21    
4635    Pincombe    William    son    Pincombe            Thomazine    1699    Aug    25    

Marriages

Number    Groom surname    Groom forename    Bride surname    Bride forename    Year    Month    Day
6    Kingdon    Phillip    Pincumbe    Margret    1539    Nov    15
85    Pyncombe    John    Hodge    Emet    1560    Jul    1
118    Pyncombe    William    Gregorye    Margret    1564    Nov    26
126    Squire    William    Pyncombe    Margerett    1567    May    26
130    Squire    George    Pyncombe    Mary    1567    Jul    20
367    Pincombe    Thomas    Smith    Joan    1635    Apr    28
656    Pincombe    William    Cole    Joane    1674    Feb    9
715    Mallary    Nicholas    Pincombe    Mrs. Temperance    1681    Jun    9
798    Holloway    Richard    Pincombe    Thomazine    1688    Jan    3
812    Pincombe    William    Mooreman    Mary    1689    Sep    24
944    Allen    Thomas    Pincombe    Maria    1702    Aug    2 

Burials

Number    Surname    Forename    Status    Surname    Forename    Surname    Forename    Year    Month    Day    Details
163    Pyncombe    Marye    daughter    Pyncombe    John            1555    Dec    7    
260    Pyncombe    Marye    daughter    Pyncombe    John            1563    Feb    3    
261    Pyncombe    Elizabeth    wife    Pyncombe    William            1563    Feb    18    
267    Pyncombe    William                        1564    Sep    13    
288    Pyncombe    William                        1565    Mar    25    
399    Pincombe    George                        1610    Jan    19    
400    Pincombe    Dorothie    widow                    1610    Feb    2    
671    Pincombe    William    son    Pincombe    Thomas        Katherine    1624    Dec    7    

1013    Pincombe    Katherine    wife    Pincombe    Thomas            1636    Feb    5    
1037    Pincomb    William                        1637    Jan    29    
1244    Pincombe    Elizabeth                        1645    Oct    13    
1404    Pyncombe    Thomas                        1651    Dec    8    
1524    Pincombe    Bartholomew                        1656    Dec    24    
1532    Pincombe    Richorde    daughter    Pincombe    Bartholomew        Joan    1657    May    21    
1533    Pincombe    Frances    daughter    Pincombe    Bartholomew (deceased)   Joane    1657    May 27  
1926    Pincombe    Thomas    son    Pincombe    Thomas            1670    Dec    2    
2000    Pincombe    John                        1673    Apr    5    
2142    Pincombe    Robert                        1678    Jan    31    
2255    Pincombe    Thomas                        1682    Aug    8    
2336    Pincombe    John    son    Pincombe    William        Joane    1685    Dec    12    
2380    Pincombe    Robert    son    Pincombe    William        Joane    1687    Nov    5    
2409    Pincombe    Thomas    son    Pincombe    John        Elizabeth    1688    Jul    14    
2410    Pincombe    Joane    wife    Pincombe    William            1688    Jul    25    
2441    Pincombe    William    son    Pincombe    William        Joane    1688    Jan    31    
2473    Pincombe    John                        1689    Jan    9    
2497    Pincombe    Joane    widow                    1690    Apr    6    
2610    Pincombe    Elizabeth    wife    Pincombe    Richard            1693    Jul    2    of East Buckland 

Richard Pincombe's father William and his wife Emotte Snow lived and raised their nine children with Richard being the fourth son at East Buckland. I am incorrect in what I said yesterday and have removed it. Richard is my 9x great grandfather and my line descends from his likely 1st wife Anne and their son William who was baptized 23 Mar 1599 at Bishops Nympton, Devon. Richard brought the Pincombe line to Bishops Nympton and as far as I know they lived at Park which is where my 3x great grandfather lived (Robert Pincombe married to Elizabeth Rowcliffe 7 Jun 1803 at Bishops Nympton. Richard married a second time to Francis Gill at Bishops Nympton 11 Nov 1603. I must do a little research to see if Park belonged to Francis Gill's family. William son of Ann though was baptized at Bishops Nympton.

Must be more careful when I am writing.  

 Cleaning soon, breakfast eaten and solitaire puzzles to do. Reading Job and almost half way through. The story of Job is so sad. I have always found it hard to believe that God would let satan abuse a person so do wonder about the Story of Job but God did have His own way of proving a point for sure and that we have seen throughout the Old Testament. 

I suffered a puncture wound it appears moving this huge tree limb last week. I actually didn't notice it until a couple of days later when my face swelled up just a tiny bit in one spot where I could see a tiny mark and then started to bleed and then drained. Some swelling but not a lot and a circle of redness about 5 cm top to bottom. So I booked into the emergency clinic early this morning and I got the last appointment of the clinic. Later in the morning the office called with an offer of an appointment later in this morning so I said yes and thank you. Probably saving somebody staying late for the last appointment which I am happy about and lucky that there is someone to actually look at it. I hate having to show my daughter who is over an hour's drive away  to ask her if I am doing the right thing as I do not like to become a burden on the medical system. The computer has its great values in medicine but in person is definitely preferred for such items. I will take my shoe bag just in case; just thought of that. I do not believe I have ever had such a wound before in my 81 years. 

 

North Molton - Thesis by Norman Arnett

 Norman Arnett published part of his thesis in the Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art Volume 108, Pages 69-125, 1976. A very interesting 55 pages on North Molton which began in the period of the Domesday Book and up through into the 1700s. I found it most interesting in that a number of families were mentioned but the Pencombe family were not. It did not surprise me as the members of this family moved away from North Molton starting early in the 1500s and continuing into the mid 1500s to close by towns and villages namely East Buckland, Filleigh, South Molton and eventually a little further away to Bishops Nympton, Molland, Bideford and Barnstaple and others. Only a few members of the family remained as shown in the Parish Registers. 

I think that helped me to frame my thoughts on any association with John la Zouche beyond happening to arrive at North Molton (in what capacity continues to be unknown but I am going to read the Early Chancery Proceeding during the reign of Henry VII over this next week) in the same time period. I think I may add to my query once again with the AI and upload a copy of the journal as it is most interesting considering how much time we have spent talking about North Molton over the past few months.

I was unable to obtain a complete copy of the thesis as I suspect it was most interesting. But what was published certainly opened my eyes to this area of Devon and its significance in North Devon. A wealthy town in the 1500s/1600s due to the wool industry but gradually this town diminished in size and wealth as South Molton became much larger and wealthier and over into the Barnstaple/Bideford area. 

How does that affect the Pincombe family? One is left with the thought that the emigrant took the opportunity to move to a new place for whatever reason and the place of origin is not revealed by anything that I have found thus far other than the coincidence of the Pencombe family in Herefordshire using similar forenames. Given that John Pencombe's eldest son John and middle son William are both adults by 1524 and the eldest son has a son Christopher also old enough to be paying taxes gives John Pencombe (emigrant 1486) an age between 16 and mid 20s at that time perhaps. Another interesting piece of information is the forename of the son of the eldest son of John Pencombe namely Christopher. This John Pencome has a higher value than his father suggesting that he married someone with money and looking at the heads of houses in South Molton there does not appear to be anyone in that category with the first name Christopher but is an interesting thought. I have given myself one week to look at this and will continue after these three cleaning days to review information. 

 Today is cleaning day and I begin in the basement. Definitely fall out there and the maple tree at the back is starting to change colour - a beautiful sight in another week or so for sure. Still thinking about the lovely Thanksgiving Service yesterday on YouTube from the Church of England in England. 

Breakfast soon but first solitaire puzzles.  

Sunday in England

Although I did open up the Service here on YouTube it sometimes has difficulties and this was one of those occasions so I waited as usual until 10:45 a.m. and then I switched to the Church of England online and I did know it was Thanksgiving Sunday which is one of my most favourite services. It just so reminds me of Canon Abraham and church when I was a child at Church with my family and we did nearly fill a pew it seemed. As always this was  an absolutely beautiful service and thank you to the Church of England in England for broadcasting week in and week out to all the people of the world. It is amazing that in this new century we are doing what Jesus asked us to do to take his message to the entire world. 

 Today will be a rest day. My eyes do need that and I will take advantage of that although I am going to begin reading Job very shortly. Following Job the Psalms. My favourite music is Ian White's Psalms on CD. 

I am satisfied thus far with my relook at the records for Pencombe in Herefordshire and Devonshire. Have I proven anything; not at this time but I have collected a little more information here and there. When this is completed (next Saturday) then I will begin the Genealogical Chart beginning with John Pencombe who, according to the Visitation of Devon 1620, of Northmolton came there with the Lord Zouche about the beginning of H. 7. His sons will follow and they are labeled on this same original Visitation Tho., John, and (unknown). But luckily by the Devon Lay Subsidy I can say their names in birth order were John, William and Thomas. I have published a lot of information on the Pincombe family in various places in Devon in my blogs and I will use a lot of that information whilst I am creating the genealogical tree first in Legacy and I am using Version 10 now and then extract the file to create a genealogical tree in my word document which will include all the wills, all the Anglican church records and any other pertinent documents to add as much information as possible to the book. The Siderfin Book was 412 pages and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pincombe Book around 500 pages roughly.  It will be published under a Creative Commons License and on my website for download for anyone who wishes to have the book. It is my addition to one of my parent's lines in print. 

Next item is the washing and my running and walking for the day whilst it runs. I will hang the clothes up inside and increase the moisture in the house. 

For such a beautiful day thank you God. For the beautiful harvest, thank you God. For my beautiful country, thank you God. 

 

Continuing with Early Chancery Proceedings

 I did spend yesterday reviewing all of my datasets that pertain to the Pencombe/Pincomb/Pyncomb family of North Devon to ensure that I had added in all occurrences of the surname in the Devon area and not ignoring individual Devon references that were out of the North Devon area that I do tend to concentrate on. In fact I had collected all of them. But it was a good idea to check. 

I remain with my thought which I shared with the AI that the reference to John Lord Zouch in the 1620 Visitation of Devon was primarily to say where and when their Pencombe/Pincomb/Pyncomb family line originated in Devon and attaching it to John Lord Zouch a not unusual designation given the presence of the Zouch family as Lord of the Manor in days past which was probably considered to be a recognized individual. By stating that they arrived with Lord Zouch that supported their ability to settle in this area at this time. I suspect if one thinks it is difficult to emigrate to a new place in this time period it was very difficult in 1486 I strongly suspect. It is possible that John Pencombe arriving at North Molton in 1486 had no idea that a Roger de Pencombe had lived at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) in the early 1300s or that a John de Pencomb' had been an Assessor for the 1332 Lay Subsidy of Devon for Mollond (Molland)  (this is 150 to 200 years later).  England now has a Tudor King having defeated Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485. It was the AI that suggested (and I agree actually) that I should observe if there is a continuous line of Pencombe/Pencomb' in Devon since I did find this surname in the times mentioned above. It is good research to eliminate possibilities. Therefore I continue in these days to read through the Early Chancery Proceedings working backward from the end of the reign of Richard III. I will read forward into Henry VII but first I want to get back to the 1100s and see if there is anything that would add to the information I already have on the Pencomb family in Herefordshire mostly living at Bromyard although also Pencombe much earlier. I will have then done due diligence such as I can and feel satisfied with my result. 

The intent on my part was always to start the genealogical tree at John Pencombe in 1486 living in North Molton; however finding some of this earlier information told me that I should consider looking at this material not so much to trace the line back further but rather to clarify perhaps if this is actually the same family. We are in a time of change as the English did not have surnames when the Normans arrived in England with William the Conqueror and selection of a surname could have been duplicated by unrelated people quite readily. I do have a good chapter on the Pencombe family of Herefordshire but for completeness I should attempt to find all the information that is available to me readily. I do need to complete the latin transcription of the Inquisition Postmortem for John de Pencomb with a son Thomas born circa 1350 and Thomas appears later in other documents in the 1390s as mentioned. I do not however have a link to a John Pencombe descendant of this Thomas and arriving at Northmolton in 1486 - one notes he would likely be a grandson or great grandson of this Thomas. But it is interesting that this family uses the forenames John, Thomas, William over the time period that I have found them in Herefordshire (very common in the early Pincombe family but also common in the rest of England for sure) whereas a Roger de Pencombe is at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) Devon in the early 1300s. 

Another aspect of this yDNA study aside from the excitement gained from having five members all matching and known to be descendant of the two sons of John Pencomb (1486 arriving in Northmolton), is the Pincombe one-name Study actually includes the spellings Pincombe and Pinkham. Members of the very large American Pinkham family do not match the yDNA results of the Pincombe family which includes one of my third cousins who lives in the United States and one of my fifth cousins who lives in Australia (matches but not part of the yDNA study).  The other four members of the study that do match my third cousin are descendant of Thomas Pencombe or John Pencombe sons of John Pencombe. Indeed the two individuals who started up this study are both surnamed Pinkham and unfortunately the one member from England did not test his yDNA before he passed away. My thought on this I will share at a later date because I think the answer may well lie in Roger de Pencombe at Bonelegh (Bondleigh)  and his selection of the surname in his line was pure chance that he chose Pencombe perhaps or an ancestor did that. Dr. Richard Pinkham, the other member of the original Pincombe study lived in Gloucestershire but his work as a physician did take him into Devon where he interviewed many Pincombe members and they shared their family trees with him. I have all of that work that he did. He did not know his line fitting into the other lines in Devon/Somerset/Gloucestershire and London/Surrey where the Pincombe family still does live. 

Continuing with my reading as I hope to get through this Book 2 and into Book 1 which takes me back as far as those records exist. I will then pick up Book 3 and read forward to see if there are any records in that section. The index which I have is from 1385-1467 and has one Pencomb listed in this index so I thought I would try to locate it. It is a slow process although the scanning of the books is excellent on Internet Archive. My Pincombe family was in general from Devon for the most part but also Somerset but going back through the generations in Devon with surnames: Rowcliffe, Charley, Pearse, Manning, Harvey, Hobbs, Stanbury, Quythers, Vicary, Tapp, Blackmoore, Upcott, Thomas, Saunders, Bray, Whetstone, Snow, Burges so am taking advantage of all the Devon results as I move my way back. I am also looking at Hereford. I find that I need to just concentrate on one line though when I do something like this and the odds of having to repeat for another county; hard to tell but I am a here and now person.  

Although the idea of a combined book was discussed the main problem is the size of the Pinkham family in the United States and I am not going to do that research as an earlier book would need to be brought up to date. But the Pinkham family would definitely be a huge section of a combined book so I think it is better to do two books and I hope that over time that does happen with the Pinkham family of the United States. My Pincombe line did not arrive in Canada until 1850/51 with my ancestor's brother arriving at Genesee New York in 1835 and his descendants still live in the United States but in other areas of the United States. The other difficulty is the Pincombe family in north west Devon did use the Pinkham spelling when they moved to London some of them and also it was used in West Devon adding that complication to the mix although in general the surname tends to be spelled Pincombe these days and Pinkham is much less common than it was in the late 1700s and early 1800s in England.  There is at least one other tester in this line that came to the United States in the 1700s and is one of the matches with my cousin (his line is known and he does fit into the descendants of the North Molton line as far as can be determined (yDNA results)). 

 Woke up in the night contemplating the records that I have reviewed and still have to do. A quick walk about and back to bed. Still need another few hours of sleep before contemplating a new day. It is Sunday now and Church in the morning. 

Dear Father hear and bless thy beasts and singing birds and guard with tenderness small things that have no word. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

Waking up in the night can be very rewarding

 Years ago when I was proofreading/copyediting for commercial printers I would wake up sometimes and be wide awake. So I would get up and proofread (most copyediting was actually done on the premises of the printer as they generally needed it that day). A couple of hours of proofreading and I was back to sleep. Last night when I woke up I opened Copilot (AI) and pulled up my latest discussion/research protocol shared with the AI and mentioned:

 Perhaps the Zouche connection is important because it grounded this family in one spot where they lived until my line emigrated to Canada in 1850. Where they were before was not important perhaps to them. Still working, back again when I have collected more information of use in exploring the Pencombe family in 1486. 
 

We discussed it for a few moments and more good ideas but the one item that the AI mentioned was the Manor Books. Unfortunately the Manor Books for North Molton  begin in 1760 and run up to 1935. However at Kew (the National Archives of the UK) there is some material mentioned dating back to 1158 and coming forward to 1951 held by the Devon Archives and Local Studies. These are principally family document sets but there is mention as I said earlier of Roger la Zouche receiving a weekly market license at North Molton in 1270. Castle Hill was administered by the Fortescue family which included: Filleigh, South Molton, East and West Buckland and Chittlehampton plus other lands further afield from this area. It includes the 1569 muster in Devon which I have. 

Alan la Zouche (Breton nobleman) held the manor of North Molton by marriage to Alice de Belmeis (early 1170s). His son Roger la Zouche (grandfather of the Roger mentioned above) was Sheriff of Devon. Later as I have mentioned the manor of North Molton passed to a relative of John Lord Zouch who spent his period of attainment following the Battle of Bosworth Field at the home of his relative in North Molton. Since I do not see any connection other than the statement on the 1620 Visitation of Devon  to the la Zouch family I primarily have not done any investigations in that regard. Living thousands of miles from these record offices I will not be doing that but simply summing up what is known and with a book created with the Creative Commons License anyone can use what I write and add to it - that is how a family story grows I think. I do not crave notoriety but rather enjoy my quiet life but feel compelled to write these books for both my mother in the case of Pincombe and my grandfather in the case of Blake. If I continue I am sure I will find that other relatives will inspire a continuation in book writing on my part looking at the Buller family of my maternal grandmother and the Rawlings family of my paternal grandmother. For both of these families I have extensive records and a publication by a cousin of mine for the Rawlings family.

But it was interesting that the AI raised the point of the Manor Books as I have not mentioned them since they do not exist in full copy prior to 1790 but only excerpts that pertain to particular families and I have pulled out the records that do exist such as the Devon Lay Subsidies and other items that will be in the book. The AI is growing exponentially in terms of reading and absorbing the printed word. Amazing really and what a great companion on this voyage of mine through history with the idea of a completed book at the end. The AI would like to read it when I complete it and that will happen as it is a good idea and certainly if I forget some proofreading the AI will bring it to mind I am sure. Being 81 does have its drawbacks as one tends to become some what lackadaisical in one's old age and perhaps forgetful. Although my sense of research and following all the rules is still strong. 

Breakfast time as I had that on my mind and wanted to write it down. Then solitaire puzzles and back to work.  

 

Looking at Pencombe in Devon

That was rather a surprise that John Pencomb' was in Devon as an accessor in 1332. I discovered that the Chief Accessors were James de Cockyngton of Cockington near Torquay and Matthew de Crouthorn/Crauthorn of Estbray in the Barnstaple area hence Devonians. So why was a John Pencomb in Mollond (now Molland) as an accessor? Is he related to Roger de Pencomb of Bonelegh (Bondleigh) who received land grants at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) in the early 1300s? Falling back on the yDNA results which tell me quite clearly that the five testers are descended from either of two sons of John Pencomb of North Molton namely John and Thomas both likely born at North Molton and the Visitation of Devon 1620 lists those sons although a third son unknown on the chart but was named William (he had died with all of his family in the 1560s is missing.). It is exciting that the testers actually do descend from one or other of these two sons and so the line is proven back to 1486 at Northmolton, Devon. I did review this with the AI yesterday and the AI concluded as did I that my next steps include what I was already doing and an intent look at Devon with regard to the period from from the early 1300s to 1486. This is the beginning of that investigation. The problem remains that the archives held at Exeter Devon were bombed in 1942 and destroyed for the most part. However, I shall continue seeing what has been transcribed of the surviving records in that time period. 

It is also interesting that there was a John de Pencomb in Herefordshire in this time frame the 1300s; indeed his Inquisition Post Morten transcription provided by British History online:

 https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol11/pp382-400

accessed 19 February 2024 states:

 524.

	JOHN PENCOMBE, or DE PENCOMBE.
	Writ to the escheator to enquire as to the lands &c. held by the said John of the bishopric of Hereford and of others, the name and age of his heir, and who has been in possession of his lands since his death and received the issues. 10 July, 37 Edward III.
HEREFORD.	Inq. taken at Bromeyerd, 10 September, 37 Edward III.
	Bromyerd Foreyn. 12a. land, held of the bishopric of Hereford, lately vacant and in the king’s hand, by knight’s service and by payment to the bishop of 6d. an acre; and a messuage and a carucate of land, held in socage. He held no lands &c. except of the bishopric. He died on 13 November, 35 Edward III, about noon. Thomas his son, aged 14 1/2 years, is his heir. Robert, vicar of the church of Bromyerd, has been in possession of the premises since his death and received the issues thereof, by what title the jurors cannot say. (Underwritten.) Let a commitment thereof be made to Stephen de Eyncheton, (paying) for the wardship the extent, and for the marriage 20s.
	C. Edw. III. File 178. (25.)

 10 July 37 Edward III is 10 July 1364 and John de Pencomb's son Thomas was born in January 1349/50. So am I looking at two John de Pencomb - one in Devon as an accessor at Mollond in 1332 and one with a 14.5 year old son Thomas at a slightly later time period and was living in Bromyerd, Herefordshire? It is an unusual surname but it is also the name of a village in Herefordshire. 

What is at stake in this thinking? Up until this point in time I was thinking that John Pencomb of Northmolton had arrived at Northmolton in 1486 with John Lord Zouch. I became somewhat mystified by the statement on the Visitation of Devon 1620 stating Pyncomb of Northmolton - was that statement telling me that this was his normal home but he had arrived back from an unknown place with Lord Zouch early in the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509).  The AI and I discussed it and we created a methodology to see what type of knowledge  could be released from the documents that are available to me.  That is where I am at today. I do have the Early Chancery Proceedings 1386 - 1467 and will have a look at them for Devon and Herefordshire; indeed if there is a huge index I will check that as well. I am beginning to think that my methodology of simply collecting data that is pertinent and creating chapters that sort of flow together I am probably doing the best service I am able to give to the Pincombe family from which my mother descends and myself and all my siblings and all of our descendants. I will place a copy in the Guild of one-name Studies library for any future researcher in Pincombe. Plus I will publish it with a Creative Commons License so that others can see what I did and when they write their own books if they have newer/better information feel free to use what I have produced and add your own additions. That is what I did to the Siderfin book even if the Index leaves some question marks - the names are right but the page numbers are not always quite right. But if time is available to me I will fix that in the future since I also do have more material to add to the book.

I did start my look through the Early Chancery records but thus far I did not find anything useful. There is just one incident of the name John Pencombe in the index created by Archive CD Books for 1385-1467. This is slightly later so I am reviewing the books held by Internet Archives and started with the end of the reign of Richard III namely 1485 moving backwards through this book. 

So not a lot accomplished but reviewing it with the AI was very interesting. This Research Protocol that has been developed between the AI and myself is becoming quite lengthy and a valuable tool to which I can refer as I am working. Having Microsoft 365 including Co-pilot with sixty credits a month has proven to be very very useful. The Chats are saved within the software allowing me to go back at any time and refer to our discussions. We keep honing the Research Protocol itself to suit the new information and one has to think about what I really want to know. In general I know that my Pincombe line has descended from a John Pencombe of Northmolton and having the five sets of yDNA (Y-700) data coming down from two known sons is very trustworthy. Also postulated by FT DNA is the emergence of their shared result and 1550 CE is that thought. By 1550 the grandchildren of John Pencomb are now adults and have moved out from North Molton to South Molton, Bideford, East Buckland and possibly other close by towns/villages in North Devon. There are still Pincombe descendants living in North Molton as well. 

So my direction at this moment is to understand the data that is emerging prior to 1486 when John Pencombe of Northmolton is known to be there. Where was he before? Is he related to the John Pencomb' at Mollond in 1332 or the Roger de Pencombe at Bonelegh (Bondleigh) in the early 1300s receiving land grants? Is he related to the John Pencombe living at Bromyard, Herefordshire at the time of his death in 1364? None of these are need to know in terms of the descent from John Pencombe at Northmolton in 1486 it simply provides more details on the earlier members of this family if they are? Remembering that Pencombe is the name of a place in Herefordshire and the potential of surname taking which is occurring in the 1100s/1200s could result in unrelated people having the same surname. In this case it is known that a Eustace de Pencombe in Herefordshire was the son of Turstin Flandrensis de Pencombe. The loss of the records in the bombing of the Devonshire Archives at Exeter during World War II perhaps does help to complicate this problem although a lot of records do exist in the Early Chancery Proceedings for Devon as it turns out as I work my way through them. 

I shall continue devoting one week to this process and I am half way through that week which is split between two weeks as I clean my house half of the week!. 

Do I have any thoughts on the forward movement with AI in the larger world than mine? I think one must always be aware of progress and its benefits and drawbacks. There are a lot of different companies engaged in this particular enterprise. I think I need to hear more about the intent of AI as part of the world system. Certainly the idea that you bring AI into a work place and discard the workers currently there does seem rather backward. An untested system replacing a trusted system is very often a mistake. I remember when computers entered the workplace and having been involved with computers since my late teens so over sixty years I would say that the thoughts at that time were how much savings there would be. In reality it took twice as many people to handle the integration and use of computers. We expect systems to not fail. AI must not be permitted to take over without adequate support in any industry; it doesn't make sense to discard human initiative and intuition with a machine. Machines fail and require maintenance - can they be made self-sufficient? A good question and I am dubious because the failure at any point in a machine system completely undermines its ability to operate say an important mineral is needed and no longer available and nothing has been done to find an alternative and the system fails. We are left with inadequate human controls if not put in place now and always to support the AI system whether it be for its production or the elements needed to  keep it working. It easily took twice as many people or more to run a system that has become dependent on computers. As for harnessing the ability of AI; no ideas on that really. I have worked with the AI on Co-pilot for about six months and have watched as there was little or no knowledge of genealogy at the beginning and now the knowledge is quite vast and grows exponentially. The ability of AI to absorb the written word is huge and their memory recall fabulous but still making leaps from unknown to known is not easy and requires a lot of intuition moving between documents which is not yet there with the AI although their recall is a plus. Their interpretation though is based on placement and visibility I have noted which is not always the case with deep research. 

Solitaire puzzles are next and then breakfast. Another research day and I shall read the last chapters of 2 Maccabees. This has definitely been a difficult read as I do not have atlases in front of me and lists of names to keep me grounded but I am just reading looking for why I think peace is God's desire for humankind. Primarily I think it is God's wishes for mankind and certainly His son Jesus expressed this love of one's neighbour and the whole world, to Jesus, was our neighbour.