Rockbeare Genealogical Records

Rockbeare Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Rockbeare Baptisms (1645-1918)

Digital images of baptism registers, searchable by a name index, essentially recording births, but may also include places of residence and occupations.

Devon Baptisms (1444-1915)

A searchable database of 2,225,292 records, linked to original images of baptism registers. The records provide proof of parentage, occupations, residence and other details.

Devon Baptism Index (1813-1839)

Transcriptions of over 360,000 baptisms from most parishes in the county. Records include parents name and abode.

Devon Social & Institutional Records (1780-1914)

Over 60,000 transcripts of personal entries in various types of records, including vaccination registers, apprenticeship records, occupational records, poor law records, marriage notice books, returns of deaths, infirmary registers, debtor lists, workhouse birth registers, bastardy records and more.

Rockbeare Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Rockbeare Banns (1755-1911)

Banns registers list the names of people who intended to marry by the system of calling banns, in which the bride and groom's name were called for three weeks at church. At these callings objections could be made to a marriage. They record the bride and groom's parish of residence.

Rockbeare Marriages (1645-1915)

Digital images of marriage registers, searchable by a name index. Details may include residence, marital status, parents' names and witnesses.

Devon Marriages (1446-2002)

A searchable database of 1,871,561 records, linked to original images of marriage registers. The records may include fathers' names, age, residence, occupations and more.

Devon Marriage Index (1754-1837)

Transcriptions of over 270,000 marriages from most parishes in the county.

Rockbeare Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Rockbeare Burials (1645-1909)

Digital images of burial registers, searchable by a name index. Lists the deceased's name, residence and age.

Devon Burials (1320-1988)

A searchable database of 1,666,144 records, linked to original images of burial registers. The records may include date of burial and/or death, residence, age and other details.

Devon Burials Index (1813-1837)

Transcriptions of over 225,000 burials from most parishes in the county. Induces the deceased's age.

Devon Social & Institutional Records (1780-1914)

Over 60,000 transcripts of personal entries in various types of records, including vaccination registers, apprenticeship records, occupational records, poor law records, marriage notice books, returns of deaths, infirmary registers, debtor lists, workhouse birth registers, bastardy records and more.

Rockbeare Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Register of Voters for South Devon (1865-1869)

A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Devon Hearth Tax Return (1674)

A transcription of the Lady Day hearth tax for 1674 for the county of Devon.

Newspapers Covering Rockbeare

Exeter Flying Post (1800-1900)

A conservative newspaper covering business, family, legal and other news in the Exeter district.

Western Morning News (1894-1950)

A politically independent newspaper, covering the affairs of Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. It includes family notices.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette Daily Telegrams (1869-1870)

A short regional paper covering local occurrences, business news, family notices and more.

Western Times (1827-1950)

A liberal newspaper covering the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. It includes family notices.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (1827-1950)

Original images of a regional newspaper, searchable via a full text index. Includes news from the Devon area, business notices, obituaries, family announcements and more.

Rockbeare Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Devon Wills Index (1163-1999)

An index to 295,609 wills of people who lived in or were connected to Devon. The wills they reference can contain a great deal of genealogical information.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Admon Index (1559-1660)

An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.

Exeter Diocese & Archdeaconry Probate & Admons (1540-1799)

An index to thousands of probates and administrations granted by the Diocese and Archdeaconry of Exeter, covering parts of Devon & Cornwall.

Devon Probate Index (1190-1980)

An index to over 300,000 Devon wills, admons and inventories from 550 sources. Index contains name, abode, occupation, type of document, year of probate, court, notes and document reference.

Rockbeare Immigration & Travel Records

Devonian Migration Choices (1760-1950)

A detailed investigation into motivations for Devonians choosing to stay or migrate from the county, with particular attention to labour, religion and family ties.

Settlement & Removal in Rural Devon (1662-1871)

A lengthy article detailing the practice of moving the needy poor between parishes. Contains examples of settlements, removals and examinations.

Sinking of the John (1855)

The story of a ship heading to Quebec from Plymouth that sank off the coast of Cornwall, killing 194 passengers. Includes information on the crew, passengers and others connected with the event.

North Devon Exodus (1818-1868)

An overview of emigration from north Devon to the Americas, with particulars of some who made the journey.

Prisoners in Devon Quarter Sessions (1655-1837)

A calendar of prisoners brought before the quarter sessions, with details of their crime and punishment. Contains entries for individuals who were transported.

Rockbeare Military Records

Devon Militia and Volunteer Lists (1799-1825)

Various military lists published in the Exeter Flying Post, particularly lists of deserters, which may list age and physical description.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Devon WWI Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War One monuments in Devon, with some service details.

Devon WWII Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War Two monuments in Devon, with some service details.

Swansea-Devonian War Memorial (1914-1945)

Names from a presumably predominately Devonian war memorial in the former Bible Christian church at Swansea.

Register of Voters for South Devon (1865-1869)

A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.

Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books (1598-1933)

An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.

Devon & Exeter Oath Rolls (1723)

Transcriptions of documents listing those who swore loyalty to King George I after the Jacobite Atterbury Plot.

Indictable Offenses in Devon Quarter Sessions (1745-1782)

A calendar of cases to be heard before the quarter session that are indictable by nature,.

Cursers & Badgers in Devon Quarter Sessions (1729-1745)

Two calendars, one of those licensed to carry out trade and the other those brought before the session for cursing.

Rockbeare Taxation Records

Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books (1598-1933)

An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.

Devon Tithe Apportionments (1839-1851)

Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Devon Hearth Tax Return (1674)

A transcription of the Lady Day hearth tax for 1674 for the county of Devon.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Rockbeare Land & Property Records

Register of Voters for South Devon (1865-1869)

A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.

Devon Tithe Maps & Apportionments (1839-1850)

Maps delineating fields in Devon, which are referenced to documents recording field names, land owners, occupiers, land use and land size.

Plymouth & West Devon Rate Books (1598-1933)

An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.

Devon Tithe Apportionments (1839-1851)

Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.

Devon Militia Assessments (1715)

A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.

Rockbeare Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1923)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1919)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1914)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1910)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1902)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Rockbeare Cemeteries

Devon Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Devon's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Devon Headstones (1780-2000)

Memorials of a select number of headstones in Devon.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Rockbeare Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Rockbeare Histories & Books

Devonian Migration Choices (1760-1950)

A detailed investigation into motivations for Devonians choosing to stay or migrate from the county, with particular attention to labour, religion and family ties.

Catholic History in South West England (1517-1856)

A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.

Magna Britannia: Devonshire (1066-1822)

A general and parochial history of the county, with sections for each parish.

The History of Devon (44-Present)

Numerous articles covering the history of the country, its principle settlements, notable persons, castles and more.

Devon in 1850 (1850)

A detailed overview of Devon in 1850, extracted from a directory of that year.

Rockbeare School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Rockbeare Occupation & Business Records

Women in Cornwall & Devon Mines (1770-1920)

Background information on women employed by the mining industry in Devon & Cornwall. Includes a database of over 25,000 women and oral histories.

Devon Gamekeeper Lists (1847-1859)

Lists of gamekeepers from the North Devon Journal.

Devon Gamekeeper Lists (1834-1860)

Lists of gamekeepers from the The Western Times.

Devon Gamekeeper Lists (1800-1859)

A series of newspaper articles listing gamekeepers in Devon.

Devon Runaway Apprentices (1800-1889)

Transcripts of newspaper articles listing the particulars of apprentices who absconded from their master.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Rockbeare

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Rockbeare Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

The Visitations of Devon: 1531, 1564 & 1620 (1000-1620)

Three works compiled from 16th and 17th century sources that record Devon families who had the right to bear a coat of arms.

Devonshire Ignobles (1620)

A list of men found by William Camden to have unsubstantiated claims to coats of arms.

Devon Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Devon's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Rockbeare Church Records

Catholic History in South West England (1517-1856)

A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.

Devon Parish Registers (1754-1839)

Prior to civil registration in 1837, the parish registers of Devon are the most common place to turn for details on births, marriages and deaths.

Episcopal Visitation Returns (1744-1779)

A series of questionnaires detailing the ecclesiastical predicament of around 250 parishes in Devon.

St Paul's Rebuilding Returns from Devon (1678)

A transcript of documents recording those who contributed to the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

The Westcountry Preachers (1815-1907)

A history of the Bible Christians, a denomination of Methodists, in Devon and Cornwall.

Biographical Directories Covering Rockbeare

Devonshire Characters and Strange Events (1550-1904)

A series of folk tales and detailed biographies of Devonshire men and women.

The Worthies of Devon (1066-1700)

Biographies of notable Devonians from the Norman period up to the end of the 17th century.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Rockbeare Maps

Devon Tithe Maps & Apportionments (1839-1850)

Maps delineating fields in Devon, which are referenced to documents recording field names, land owners, occupiers, land use and land size.

East Devon Tithe Maps (1840)

Maps delineating fields, forests and other land plots in east Devon. Apportionments not included.

Devon Tithe Apportionments (1839-1851)

Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.

Maps of Devon (1563-1922)

A collection of digitalised maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Rockbeare Reference Works

Devon Surnames (1086-1967)

A series of articles on Devon surnames, including a dictionary of Devon surname definitions.

Locating Devon Wills (1400-Present)

A guide to locating Devon wills in light of losses incurred during World War II.

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Historical Description

ROCKBEARE is a parish and village on the south aids of the main road from Honiton to Exeter, 22 miles east from Broadclyst station on the main line of the London and South Western railway, 10 ½ south-west from Honiton and 6 ½; east from Exeter, in the Eastern division of the county, East Budleigh hundred, Ottery petty sessional division, union of St. Thomas, county court district of Exeter, rural deanery of Aylesbeare, and archdeaconry and diocese of Exeter. The church of St. Mary is an ancient building of red stone in the Gothic style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and a western tower with 4 pinnacles, containing 5 bells, dated respectively 1787, 1637, 1761, 1767 and 1613: the church was restored in 1888 at a cost of £1,750, the nave being lengthened, the chancel rebuilt and a new vestry and organ chamber added, divided by a wooden screen, cut down to the level of the pews in 1793, and into which has been worked the Jacobean front of the old gallery: the lower portion of the original work was removed in 1887 to Rockbeare Court: during the restoration an old piscina was discovered in the walls and re-set; new oak doors have since been added and a lych gate erected: there are 200 sittings. The register dates from the year 1645. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £130, with residence and 21 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Bishop of Exeter. The Rev. Robert Knight has been curate in sole charge since 1899. There are charities amounting to £9 1s. 6d. yearly value. Rockbeare House, the residence of Capt. Edward A. Bolitho R.N., J.P. Rockbeare Court, occupied by Mrs. Walsh, and The Grange, the residence of Col. the Hon. John Schomberg Trefusis, 4th Battalion Devon (Militia) Regiment, are in this parish. William Hamilton Codrington Nation esq. of Petherton Park, Bridgwater, who is lord of the manor. Edward Bidgood esq. and Mrs. John Elliott are the chief landowners. The soil is various; subsoil, new red sandstone. The chief crops are wheat and oats, with considerable pasturage. The area is 2,333 acres; rateable value, £3,729; the population in 1901 was 401.

Schools

Endowed (mixed), erected about 1860, enlarged in 1891, for 80 children, by Mrs. Bidgood, & endowed by Mrs. LeBlanc, in 1864, with £25 yearly; average attendance, 58.

Voluntary, Marsh green (mixed), for 60 children; average attendance, 30.

Kelly's Directory of Devon (1902)

Most Common Surnames in Rockbeare

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in East Budleigh Hundred
1Bridle151:319.80%783
2Baker141:340.48%6
2Hallett141:344.75%388
4Rose131:366.88%636
5Pratt121:392.56%234
6Stewart111:436.96%758
6Jeffery111:431.14%85
6Eveleigh111:434.93%530
9Bond81:590.78%74
9Franklin81:5911.94%1,576
9Mortimore81:591.44%189
9Southwood81:593.67%544
9Milford81:592.05%284
14Smith71:670.20%4
14Turner71:670.41%25
14Marks71:671.38%209
14Gooding71:671.71%267
14Tozer71:670.91%120
14Martyn71:673.85%666
14Selway71:675.04%843
14Sellick71:672.89%481
14Hawkings71:673.66%628
14Trickey71:673.65%625
14Bess71:6712.96%1,795
25James61:790.47%46
25Stevens61:790.48%49
25Elliott61:790.51%54
25Read61:797.06%1,298
25Hutchings61:790.49%51
25Woodrow61:795.61%1,066
25Pyle61:792.90%575
25Elms61:7912.50%1,955
25Please61:7917.65%2,503
34Davis51:940.38%41
34Kelly51:940.86%180
34Coles51:940.55%95
37Payne41:1180.56%131
37Bird41:1180.88%247
37Walsh41:1183.36%975
37Skinner41:1180.28%37
37Preston41:1181.39%403
37Bull41:1182.06%617
37Gibbons41:1181.75%515
37Swift41:11813.79%2,729
37Symons41:1180.36%63
37Broom41:1180.85%232
37O'Neill41:11810.26%2,300
37Pyne41:1182.11%633
37Bastin41:1181.35%383
37Ponsford41:1181.55%457
37Cudmore41:1182.35%714
37Fawn41:11866.67%7,664
37Tripe41:1186.67%1,692
37Woodly41:11818.18%3,259
55White31:1570.11%7
55Pike31:1570.28%68
55Flood31:1571.62%652
55Viney31:1574.69%1,617
55Chown31:1571.09%420
55Horswell31:1571.46%578
55Vinnicombe31:1571.41%556
62Taylor21:2360.08%9
62Hall21:2360.30%150
62Moore21:2360.12%26
62Griffin21:2360.56%316
62Glover21:2360.65%365
62Godfrey21:2360.59%329
62Drew21:2360.24%109
62Salter21:2360.18%61
62Blackmore21:2360.17%56
62Budd21:2360.82%476
62Pitts21:2360.61%344
62Chapple21:2360.32%162
62Badcock21:2360.55%312
62Morrish21:2360.43%236
62Podmore21:236100.00%13,160
62Stockman21:2361.42%832
62Tolman21:2361.79%1,026
62Clode21:2361.79%1,026
62Langsford21:2368.70%3,174
62Fouracres21:23620.00%5,368
62Trimlett21:23620.00%5,368
83Wright11:4720.12%105
83Martin11:4720.04%8
83King11:4720.10%79
83Clarke11:4720.07%34
83Allen11:4720.11%102
83Rogers11:4720.08%45
83Knight11:4720.09%59
83Howard11:4720.15%146
83Pearce11:4720.08%43
83Harding11:4720.09%70
83Carr11:4721.43%1,524
83May11:4720.07%39
83Knowles11:4720.34%390
83Sanders11:4720.05%14
83Davey11:4720.05%15
83Fry11:4720.20%212
83Hyde11:4721.79%1,758
83Wills11:4720.06%30
83Searle11:4720.10%87
83Beer11:4720.06%24
83Tuck11:4720.77%905
83Symonds11:4720.73%861
83Friend11:4720.16%163
83Cann11:4720.09%71
83Gillard11:4720.14%129
83Hayman11:4720.14%130
83Bolt11:4720.13%119
83Pryor11:4722.27%2,107
83Hellier11:4720.27%308
83Dymond11:4720.18%184
83Riggs11:4721.10%1,234
83Hamlin11:4720.94%1,076
83Channon11:4720.31%353
83Peek11:4720.94%1,076
83Banbury11:4720.78%916
83Rugg11:4721.85%1,795
83Foxwell11:4722.38%2,174
83Tanton11:4720.82%953
83Veysey11:4720.68%810
83Turl11:4721.61%1,653
83Leyman11:4721.09%1,219
83Youldon11:4722.56%2,300
83Priddis11:4727.69%4,496
83Beavin11:47225.00%9,849
83Belworthy11:4724.35%3,174
83Fley11:4727.69%4,496
83Drawer11:4728.33%4,730
83Hemmick11:472100.00%15,767