In the Spring of 1807, James Parkhouse and Jane Hurford
married in Churchstanton church. Neither could sign the parish register -
both made marks. They were described as sojourners in the parish. They
both had been born in Upottery, Devon, and that is where their first
child, Ann, was born in December 1808.When their next child, my great
great grandfather George, was born in 1810, they had moved over the
Blackdown Hills to Pitminster Somerset, where the rest of their 7 children
were born.
In 1832, George Parkhouse married
Maria Gardener at Corfe parish church, adjacent to Pitminster.All their 8
children were born in Pitminster. The 1851 census records the place as
Eastbrook, Pitminster. By 1873, when Maria Parkhouse died, they had moved
to Rowbarton, Taunton. Their son Charles, my great grandfather, after his
first wife had died in childbirth, had
married Sarah Dominey, in Thurlbear (near Pitminster) but had moved to
Puriton, near Bridgwater, by about 1866.
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Eastbrook Terrace Pitminster (near Taunton) taken in
1995. This is more or less the location of the birth of Charles Parkhouse,
my great grandfather. It is unlikely that these houses were built then and
more likely that Charles would have been born in a wattle and daub structure
or worse [any information on the history of Eastbrook would be welcomed] |
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This is a view of Eastbrook looking towards Trull. Also taken in 1995.
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Pitminster church where my great great grandfather,
George Parkhouse, was baptised in 1810. Taken in 1995
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