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.
