The Tamar

The Middle English Morewynstouwe originates from the church of St. Morwenna (Maerwynn). The parish in Cornwall on the boundary with Devonshire is 15 miles from Holsworthy station and half way is Stratton. The parish contains hamlets of Moorwiustow, Coombe, Crosstown, Eastcot, Gooseham, Woodford, and Woolley. The churchyard contains some affecting memorials of wrecks on the adjacent shores. There is also work of the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries and some fine wagon roofs in Morwenstow..

Gwennap Church in Truro is dedicated to St. Wenappa, a Celtic saint present in buildings dating from the 15th century. The oldest memorial is a carved slate, now in the choir vestry. It is dated 1691, and is in memory of John Pearrowe and his son who both died of small pox at Goverrow in Gwennap Parish. There is a list of Vicars of Gwennap from 1228 to the present day, on the North wall of the Church. Gwennap also has an ancient Celtic cross.

ASHWATER, a parish in the hundred of BLACK-TORRINGTON, county of DEVON, 7 miles S.E. by S. of HOLSWORTHY, is a large village and parish in Holsworthy union, county court district and deanery, Holsworthy petty sessional division, South division of the county, Black Torrington hundred, and Barnstaple archdeaconry. Its parish had 849 inhabitants (451 males, 398 females) in 1871, living in 168 houses on 8587 acres of land, and includes the hamlet of Quoditch, 2 miles east of the village. Miss Mary Preston is lady of the manor of Ashwater; Lady Molesworth, lady of Hunscott manor, and owner of Henford Barton; and W. B. Coham, Esq. owns the manor of Greenworthy.

Ashwater, originally Ash, from Old English æsc ash, partly perhaps in the dative pluran form æscum. The second element of the modern name is probably from Walter son of Ralph, who held the manor in 1166: the name has also appeared as Aswalter. The Bishop himself holds AISSE. Alwin held it before 1066. It paid tax for 1 hide. Land for 20 ploughs. In lordship 2 ploughs; 6 slaves; [1 virgate Exon]. 40 villagers and 12 smallholders with 17 ploughs [and 3 virgates Exon]. Meadow, 100 acres; pasture, 200 acres; underwood, 15 acres. [42 cattle; 3 pigs; 161 sheep; 30 goats Exon]. Value formerly and now £7 10s.

From the Book of Fees, ESSE is held from the Honour of Barnstaple. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Totness, and diocese of Exeter, rated in the king's books at £26. 6. 8. The Rev. T. Melhuish was patron in 1823. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, contains some interesting monuments. Fairs for cattle are held here on the first Tuesday in May, and the first Monday after the lst of August. Freestone of excellent quality is obtained in the vicinity.

Kilkhampton Bible Christian Circuit

1816 This circuit dates from the origin of the Bible Christian movement with registers of baptism dating from 1816. Preaching places (as opposed to actual chapels) were at Ford, Hartland, Edistone, Woodford, Coomb, Crinham, Buse Mill, Houndapit, Clovelly and Woolsery.

1818 In 1818 the number of Societies had increased so much that three Circuits were formed Kilkhampton, Holsworthy and (Stratton?)

1819 The list of preaching places/chapels in the area was Bratton, Bridgerule, Busemill, Canworthy Water, Childsworthy, Clawton, Coombe, Couch, Delabole, Forda, Germansweek, Goadsgreen, Goosham, Graylandscross, Grimskitt (Grimscott), Helskitt, Hollaborough, Kempthorn, Kilkhampton Barn Lane Langdon, Marhamchurch, Mary Week, Maxworthy, North Inn, Piperspool, Poughill, Pyworthy, Robershill, Skinnickcross, Smakesmill, Sowacott, Stibb, Tamarton, Trebreak, Tregare, Tregennah, Trevallett, Webworthy, Week Orchard, Whitestone, Widdon, Woodford Lower, Woodsdownhill

1821 The first chapel (at least in the area) dates from the founding of Eastcott Chapel in 1821. 1836

1836 In 1836 part of the Circuit split off to form Holsworthy BC Circuit. Also in 1836 the BC Chapel at Woodford was built. 1845

1845 By 1845 there were 23 preaching places

1875 and 1875 by 1875 13 chapels had been built

1935 Wesleyans and Bible Christians had merged. The chapels that survived from the Bible Christian era were Atworthy, Bradworthy Higher, Bush, Eastcott, Edistone, Kilkhampton West Street, Providence, Woodford

Marriages were not licensed before 1837 and afterwards only if the Superintendent Registrar was present. Such marriages will therefore be found in the normal Registration indexes lodged either locally or at the national repository. From 1898 Chapels could be licensed and any marriages will be held within the Circuit or deposited in the local Record Office

Most chapels did not keep burial registers, even those with graveyards. The main source of records is the Circuit Baptismal Register. Existing ones are listed below and cover most if not all of the chapels listed above in North Cornwall and North Devon.

Baptismal Registers - whole circuit

PRO RG4/103 1816-1837

CRO (DD)X384/13 1838-1863

CRO (DD)X384/14 1860-1895

1895-1909 Caldicott ms ("ex Burrow ms")

Marriage Registers

Bush CRO MR/RG49 1954-1976

Index

The Middle English Morewynstouwe originates from the church of St. Morwenna (Maerwynn). The parish in Cornwall on the boundary with Devonshire is 15 miles from Holsworthy station and half way is Stratton. The parish contains hamlets of Moorwiustow, Coombe, Crosstown, Eastcot, Gooseham, Woodford, and Woolley. The churchyard contains some affecting memorials of wrecks on the adjacent shores. There is also work of the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries and some fine wagon roofs in Morwenstow..
	Gwennap Church in Truro is dedicated to St. Wenappa, a Celtic saint present in buildings dating from the 15th century. The oldest memorial is a carved slate, now in the choir vestry. It is dated 1691, and is in memory of John Pearrowe and his son who both died of small pox at Goverrow in Gwennap Parish. There is a list of Vicars of Gwennap from 1228 to the present day, on the North wall of the Church. Gwennap also has an ancient Celtic cross. ASHWATER, a parish in the hundred of BLACK-TORRINGTON, county of DEVON, 7 miles S.E. by S. of HOLSWORTHY, is a large village and parish in Holsworthy union, county court district and deanery, Holsworthy petty sessional division, South division of the county, Black Torrington hundred, and Barnstaple archdeaconry. Its parish had 849 inhabitants (451 males, 398 females) in 1871, living in 168 houses on 8587 acres of land, and includes the hamlet of Quoditch, 2 miles east of the village. Miss Mary Preston is lady of the manor of Ashwater; Lady Molesworth, lady of Hunscott manor, and owner of Henford Barton; and W. B. Coham, Esq. owns the manor of Greenworthy.