Find Ancestors

Hi Emma, Thanks very much Paul C

Paul, I've emailed you. Good luck with your hunt! Emma.

Hi Emma, Well I have a lot more names to go on now. It is always possible, that for a census that Alfred John was put down on the census as John, I have not had time to check the ages yet. Is it possible for you to E-mail the names to me so that I can print them out (that is the last lot of names, as I think my printer will re-print everything. I have printed up to John Pillifant 63 Devon Sudcombe. many thanks for all your efforts, I am sure it will be a big help. Paul C

Hi Sinead, I think your Southerton, Devon sounds about right and the most likely answer. I agree that you cant take any thing for granted though. There is a record of a Pillifant marrying a Jane Guardsman in Stoke St Mary, Somerset, which is not far from Somerton, though not around the date that I am looking, but this is why I did not dismiss Somerset. Also for some reason my father moved back to Devon, I think, but then moved to Somerset where he died. Many thanks, I am sure this is the answer to the question. Paul C

Hi Paul, There is a Southerton in Devon-very near to Topsham but Somerton is in Somerset half way between Glastonbury and Martock-ie middle of Somerset so it is unlikely any county border changes would have affected it! Maybe a transcription error-LDS is renowned for it-half of my names are spelt drastically wrong!! The only thing I can suggest is that he was born in Somerset and the family moved thereafter to Devon-seems far fetched but it could happen -some of my lot started in Somerset for generations and then all of a sudden appear in Dorset. Best not to assume anything if your tree is like mine-more twist and turns than a curly wurly!! Best of luck, Sinead

A few more from 1891: Pellicote, Walter 12 Bamstaple, Devon Boarder Bexley Kent Pellifant, Louisa 40 Bideford, Devon Daughter Bideford Devon Pellifant, Mable 21 Topsham, Devon Cook Walmer Kent Pellifant, Mary 80 Bideford, Devon Head Bideford Devon Unfortunately no Alfreds Emma.

And all variations I could find born Devon 1891: Pillibant, James 79 Hatharleigh, Devon Father-in-law Llansamlet Lower Glamorgan PillePaut, Adelaide 54 Bideford, Devon Sister Hampstead London Pillerant, Elizabeth J 35 Hatherleigh, Devon Servant Kensington London Pillibant, Jane 61 Hatherleigh, Devon Wife Hatherleigh Devon Pillibant, John 60 Hatherleigh, Devon Head Hatherleigh Devon Pillifant , Amanda 25 Topsham, Devon Daughter Topsham Devon Pillifant, Elizabeth 65 Hatherleigh, Devon Wife Hatherleigh Devon Pillifant, Frederick 21 Lifton, Devon Servant Lifton Devon Pillifant, Jane 28 Topsham, Devon Servant Littleham Devon Pillifant , Jessie 56 Topsham, Devon Wife Topsham Devon Pillifant, Mary A 72 Topsham, Devon Wife Withycombe Raleigh Devon Pillifant, Richard 79 Lifton, Devon Head Withycombe Raleigh Devon Pillifant, William 71 Hatherleigh, Devon Head Hatherleigh Devon Pillifant , William 54 Devon Head Topsham Devon Pillifent, Elizabeth 35 Exmouth, Devon Wife Hackney London Pillifent, John 34 Topsham, Devon Boarder Tamerton Foliott Devon Pillifent, Richard 36 Topsham, Devon Head Hackney London Pillijent, Ellen 8 Exmouth, Devon Daughter Littleham Devon Pillijent, Florence 10 Exmouth, Devon Daughter Littleham Devon Pillijent, Gertrude 33 Exmouth, Devon Head Littleham Devon Pillijent, Laura 5 Exmouth, Devon Daughter Littleham Devon Pillijent, Thomas 1 Exmouth, Devon Son Littleham Devon Pillivant, Elizabeth 46 Hatherleigh, Devon Wife Newington St Mary London Pillivant, John 44 Hatherleigh, Devon Head Newington St Mary London Emma.

Paul, These are the Pillifant and variations born in Devon I managed to find on the 1901: Richard Pillifant 25 Devon Ashwaton Devon North Tawton Rabbit Trapper William Pillipant 64 Devon Lifton Devonshire Topsham Gardener Not Domestic John Pillivant 54 Devon Hatherleigh Devon Hatherleigh Builder & C John Pillivant 70 Devon Hatherleigh Devon Hatherleigh General Labourer Ada Pillifant 25 Devon North Tawton Devon North Tawton Emma Pillifant 35 Devon Topsham Devonshire Topsham Companion Laura Pillifant 20 Devon Ashwater Devon North Tawton Domestic Help Lottie Pillifant 4D Devon North Tawton Devon North Tawton Louisa Pillifant 50 Devon Bideford Devon Bideford Grocers Assistt Lucy Pillifant 34 Devon Hatterleigh Berkshire Winkfield Parlour Maid Domestic Mabel Pillifant 31 Devon Topsham Surrey Mitcham Domestic Servant Ann Pillifent 82 Devon Thopsham Exeter St Thomas Parish Pay Ellen Pillifent 17 Devon Exmouth Pembroke St Mary Florence Pillifent 20 Devon Exmouth Pembroke St Marys General Domestic Gertrude Pillifent 43 Devon Exmouth Pembroke St Mary Laura Pillifent 14 Devon Exmouth Pembroke St Mary Tailor Apprentice Jessie Pillipant 66 Devon Topsham Devonshire Topsham Elizabeth Pillivant 38 Devon Hatherleigh Leicestershire Loughborough Cook Domestic Elizabeth Pillivant 55 Devon Hatherleigh Devon Hatherleigh Jane Pillivant 75 Devon Hatherleigh Devon Hatherleigh Lily Pillivant 1 Devon Hatherleigh Devon Hatherleigh Lily Pillivant 21 Devon Sheepwash Devon Hatherleigh John Pilifant 45 Devon Topsham Somerset Blagdon Railway Foreman John Piliphant 63 Devon Sudcombe Glamorganshire Swansea General Labourer Emma.

Hi Emma, Just saw your last message, I have no idea whether I am related to Jeanette Pillifaent, but I think I will go and have a look. There are not many Pillifants around. By the way, how old is William on the 1901 Census, have to check, as there are so many Williams in the Pillifant families at that time. I am trying to see whether or not Dorothy is related to me but we have not found the link yet, I am sure we are somewhere back there! Thanks, Paul C

Hi Emma, Many thanks for that. I still cannnot understand why you got more results than we did, have they updated their records or something? I began to think I was going mad, as a lot of the Pillifants had disappeared by 1901. I have also been unable to find Alfred John Pillifant anywhere, despite there are records for two Alfred John Pillifants marrying in 1891 and 1892, one in Hampshire and the other in Greenwich. Don't know which of these is William's son. It is this Alfred that I believe to be my great grandfather, as according to my fathers marriage certificate, his father was also Alfred John, but I do not know where he was born. My own father was also born in Topsham, though somehow he moved to Birmingham, where I was born. If you could throw any light on an Alfred John Pillifant, I would be more than grateful. Thankyou again, Paul C

Paul Are you connected to Jeanette Pillifeant who has a message on http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/roots-l/messages/96oct/14738 regarding your William Pillifant Emma.

Hi Tracy, Yes, all the records do seem to be in Devon, and those that I think are related to me are from the Topsham and nearby area, but I just do not know where Somerton is, when I typed it into the Auto Route map on the computer (I typed Somerton, Devon) it brought up Salterton Post Office, Budleigh Salterton. I am not sure whether this is because Salterton is a soundalike to Somerton, or whether that is actually where it is. There are records of Pillifants living in Withycombe Rawleigh, Devon which is in that area. There was a Richard Pillifant married to a Mary Ann ages 67 and 60 on the 1881 census. Also a Richard and Elizabeth, both aged 26yrs presumably this Richard being the son of the former also in Withycombe Rawleigh. Any more ideas, I think I will have to go and search the Devon Records Office or something! Thanks again, Paul C

Paul Definitely 1901 they are transcribed as Pillipant just found Jessie to show you: Jessie Pillipant 66 Devon Topsham Devonshire Topsham Emma.

Hi Emma, Many thanks for the reply, but are you sure it was the 1901 Census, because I have only come up with nine male Pillifants on the 1901 Census and the only William is aged 29yrs born in Glamorgan Swansea and is a Clerk in the Silver Works. Lisa who replied to an earlier request when I was looking for Pillifants also came up with the same list and just the same William, who would be too young to be William that was born in 1837. I would be very interested in your reply. There were other Pillifants from Lifton. There is a George Pillifant on the 1901, who is 33yrs, born in Topsham, he is one of William and Jessie Eliza's sons. Thanks, Paul C

Paul, When I did a search on him for Devon & Somerset.. Same result came back...Both as County of Devon. One was aged 54.. right year of birth, and was a head of the household.

Paul, Took a look at your William on 1901 who is transcribed there as Pillipant! Birth place is Lifton Devon. Hope this helps, Emma.

There are no Pillifants in Somerton or Somerset 1851,however spelt. Must be Devon

Well, thats what I thought, but do you know where Somerton, Devon, is? My map bought up Budleigh Salterton, which would be in the right sort of area that I would have expected, but did not actually bring up Somerton, so I wondered if it bought up Salterton as it was a sound alike name. Paul C

I have been trying to track down the parents of a William Pillifant born in Somerton, Devon in 1837. However, according to my map, Somerton is in Somerset, not Devon. Is there also a Somerton in Devon, or have the bounderies moved? Any help please! Paul C