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Post by donne on Mar 6, 2012 16:08:40 GMT -5
I'm confused by some STEPHENS/ STEVENS family events in St Erth and Crowan circa 1800. From the Cornwall OPC database Samuel STEPHENS married Jane SYMONS (a widow) in St Erth 2 Feb 1801 - however, baptisms to the pair only seem to occur from 1812 onwards (Hugh, 26 Apr 1812; Elizabeth , 3 Apr 1814 and John 10 Aug 1817). There are baptisms to a Samuel STEPHENS and Jenifer in 1802 (Robert) and 1804 (Jenfer). The problem is I can't find a marriage for a Samuel and Jenifer, and Jane and Jenifer seem to me to be sufficiently distinct not to be confused one with another. There is a record of a John STEPHENS marrying a Jenifer BARNS in Crowan in 1801 but I can't find any baptisms to the couple. Any views on whether Jenifer is the same as Jane would be welcome!
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Post by zibetha on Mar 6, 2012 20:41:34 GMT -5
Yes, you will find "Jennifer" and "Jane" used interchangeably-- I have seen that mentioned in a few threads here. I have found a number Jennifer/Janes in my own tree, including my 4x great-grandmother Jennifer/Jane Taylor, wife of William Semmons, who married as "Jenifer" and whose tombstone reads "Jane." Fortunately, I found enough records about them to be certain she was one and the same person. Later, I discovered that this was not at all unusual. Definitely confuses me sometimes!
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Post by Cornish Terrier on Mar 7, 2012 10:18:07 GMT -5
Roger - you will find that Zibetha is quite right on this one.  Jane and Jenifer are commonly interchanged throughout the registers and even in the Census you will find a girl recorded as Jane one year and then in the next Census as Jenifer. You will also find a woman married as Jane and then known as Jenifer when baptising children. Often times she will be recorded as Jane for some children and Jenifer for others. I think you might also find that someone recorded as Jane in a marriage record actually signs the register as Jenifer and vice versa. Even more confusing is that there are occasions where there is a Jane AND a Jenifer in the one family!  CT |
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Post by donne on Mar 8, 2012 5:00:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. Having accepted that Jane and Jennifer were used interchangeably I can work out a plausible timeline for my Jane/Jennifer. I reckon she was bap. as Jane MARTIN 26 Dev 1776, married Thomas SYMONS as a Jennifer 24 May 1795, remarried Samuel STEPHENS as Jane SYMONS 2 Feb 1801, following the death of Thomas SYMONS in 1798. She seems to have lived most of her life as a Jane according to the censuses, apart from the baptisms I've attributed to her as mother when she was a Jenifer or Jenfer!
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Post by Cornish Terrier on Mar 8, 2012 7:47:47 GMT -5
Roger - the first problem with this little scenario is:-
24th May 1795 Breage
Thomas SYMONS married Jenifer MARKS
As Jenifer signed with a mark it is not possible to compare signiatures although sometimes 'marks' can be useful.
In the 1801 Marriage at St Erth Jane Simons, widow is recorded as being 'of Breage' and she also signed with a mark.
Unfortunately there is a bit more work to be done before you can safely say that Jenifer Marks and Jane Simons are the same person.
In the Breage marriage Jenifer signed with what is almost an 'X'. It is a downstroke that is slightly more upright than '\' and through this is a line that runs in a downward motion from left to right at an angle of about 30 degrees.
In the St Erth marriage five years later Jane's mark is a longer and almost perpendicular line which bears no resemblance to any part of the earlier mark.
That does not mean it is not the same person but I think you need to check all options thoroughly.
CT
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Post by donne on Mar 8, 2012 9:51:10 GMT -5
CT, you have obviously checked the register images. Being lazy, I have only looked at the Cornwall OPC database transcript which is as follows:
Parish or Registration District: Breage
Date: 24-May 1795
GROOM: Thomas SYMONS
Groom's age:
Groom's condition:
Groom's rank/profession: Tinner
Groom's residence: Breage
Father:
Father's rank/profession:
BRIDE: Jennifer MARTIN
Bride's age:
Bride's condition: Spinster
Bride's rank/profession:
Bride's residence: Breage
Father:
Father's rank/profession:
Banns(B) or Licence(L): Banns
Groom Signed(S) or Marked(M): x
Bride Signed(S) or Marked(M): x
Witness 1: Thomas Johns
Witness 2: Geo Hebard
Register notes:
Transcriber Notes:
Transcriber: Althea Johnson
I guess that illustrates the importance of going back to primary sources!
Given the corrected name for Thomas Symons bride, there is another candidate, Jane MARKS bap 9 Apr 1775 in Breage who is equally plausible. Her earlier birth date also gives her a better match to the predicted 1774 from her stated age of 77 in the 1851 census. But still all very speculative.
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Post by Cornish Terrier on Mar 8, 2012 13:05:03 GMT -5
Roger - yes, I have checked the original. I have now taken a look at the OPC record and have submitted a correction. But interestingly enough I noticed there were two entries in the OPC database for this marriage with the other being that of Phillimore. And Phillimore has it WRONG also! Unfortunately I cannot correct that one because it has been transcribed 'as is'. Having just checked my copy of Phillimore I can verify that it is clearly MARTIN in that document which means that Canon Taylor is responsible for yet another error! CT |
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Post by hamblyn on Oct 20, 2012 3:58:53 GMT -5
Hi this is my first post do forgive me. Donne says he is interested in Stephens. Samuel Stephens and Jane Symons were my ggggrandparents through their son Hugh b 1812. I also not sure whether Jane Martin or Jane Marks was the bride of Thomas Symons though Jane Marks seems more likely. Would be intersted in sharing any information of which I have lots!
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