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Are there any more Pillifants or former Pillifants out there? Or is there anyone that can advise me where the best place is to find records between 1851 and the present day. I have recently with the kind help from another member found the record of my fathers death (Paul Pillifant - born 1927 in Devon, and died in 1993 in Somerset), however, I was only able to bring up a death record for him, no birth or marriage; details I now have. Does anyone know why this is? I would also like to find the record of my grandfather Alfred John Pillifant (birth, marriage and death) and the wife of Alfred whose maiden name was Willson. I guess that Alfred would have been born about 1905-7, presumably in Devon. If I can find these details, I can then link them with the other records I have found. There are only 9 male Pillifants on the 1901 census so one of them must be Alfred's father. Please help or advise. Thanks, Paul C

Yes, Rosemary, I have found census records for 1881, but only patchy records after that. The Pillifants had started to move about by this time. Some went to Swansea area in S. Wales and some to Stoke Newington, as far as I can tell. A few others remained in Devon and surrounding area. I think that a Sarah Pillifant emigrated to America, I believe she was from S. Wales, so perhaps more followed. There appear, according to the Ancestry.com records to be more Pillifants in America than in the UK. Would be grateful for any guidance or leads. Thanks, Paul C

the only ones on 1891 census ar either in Wales or Devon here they are: Pillifant, James 27 Swansea, Glamorgan Head Swansea Glamorgan Pillifant, Jessie E 23 Swansea, Glamorgan Wife Swansea Glamorgan Pillifant, William J 3 Swansea, Glamorgan Son Swansea Glamorgan Pillifant, James 2 Swansea, Glamorgan Son Swansea Glamorgan Pillifant, Jessie E 7.12 Swansea, Glamorgan Daughter Swansea Glamorgan __________________ Pillifant, Elizabeth 65 Hatherleigh, Devon Wife Hatherleigh Devon Pillifant, William 71 Hatherleigh, Devon Head Hatherleigh Devon ________________ Pillifant , William 54 Devon Head Topsham Devon Pillifant , Jessie 56 Topsham, Devon Wife Topsham Devon Pillifant , Amanda 25 Topsham, Devon Daughter Topsham Devon __________________ Pillifant, Richard 79 Lifton, Devon Head Withycombe Raleigh Devon Pillifant, Mary A 72 Topsham, Devon Wife Withycombe Raleigh Devon _________________ there a a coupe of Pillifants who were servants in Devon also,Richard age 21 born and working Lifton and Jane Pillifant age 28 born Topsham living Littleham hope this helps a little Anna

Thanks, Ruth but I cannot see how this Alfred John Pillifant can be the father of Paul Pillifant born in 1927, because he is not listed on the 1901 census. I also have records of an Alfred John Pillifant marriage in Portsea Island Hampshire in 1891 volume 2b Page 10, and another for Alfred John Pillifant marriage in Kent London Surrey in 1892 volume 1d Page 1484. I assume that neither of these are his father either, for the same reason. The names listed on the census are: Edmund Pillifant age 11 and 45, Edward aged 31, Ernest 18, Frederick 48, George 33, Richard 25 and William 29. The only two from Devon being George and Richard. But thanks for trying, Paul C

Thanks Anna, I think I have records of most of these people from the 1881 census, but I will go through all my records again and check. Many thanks, Paul C

Hi Ruth, the record for Frederick J Pillivant is interesting as it is from the right area, I would have to look into things further to see if there is any link. Thanks again, Paul C

Sorry Ruth, I only got half of your message the first time. Yes, you are right about the spellings. I have been through the Petrockstowe Births, marriages and deaths. The surnames have varied all through from Pillaven, Pillavent, Pillavent, Pillifant, Pillifent with double or single l's. from Paul C