Dunsford

Dunsford ~ Fourth Generation

		Issue of William Dunsford and Ann Nicks
1.		Thomas DUNSFORD Bap of Thomas Dunsford 5 Mar 1761 at Broad Clyst, Devon, son of William Dunsford (ref findmypast image). Marriage 7 Apr 1791 at Farringdon, Devon of Thomas Densford [sic] to Sarah RICHARDS, both residing in the parish of Farringdon; Banns; witnesses Mary Walmer, Frances Cholwich (ref fmp image). Thomas did not sign and the clerk may have misspelt the name. This is the only marriage found at this time in Devon of a Thomas Dunsford or anything similar, to a Sarah. Farringdon was where Thomas's sister Agniss was baptised and is about 5 miles from Broad Clyst. Descendants of Thomas share DNA with descendants of Agniss, his sister. Many Ancestry Public Trees have the name ANNING for which no source is given, though perhaps assumed from child Robert's middle name. This could be explained by the marriage of sister Ann to Robert Anning. Sarah was born c1766 (ref 1841 census) or c1765 (ref death). Most likely baptism is that of Sarah Richards 4 May 1767 at Broad Clyst, daughter of James Richards (ref findmypast image). Burial of Thomas Dunsford 7 Jan 1827 at Kenton, Devon, age 67 [bc1760], abode Cockwood (ref findmypast Devon Burials image). Ref 1841 census. Middlesex, England. Civil Parish of St Andrew Undershaft. Registration district of London. Address: Lime Street, St Andrew Undershaft, London. Together with daus Mary (49), Sarah (38) and 3 grandchildren and others: Sarah Dansford. Age 75. Ind. Not born in Middlesex. Death reg of Sarah Dunsford Dec qtr 1844 at St Thomas dist, Devon (ref FreeBMD). Burial of Sarah Dunsford 22 Dec 1844 at Starcross, age 79, Anglican, residence Easdon [Eastdon, near Starcross] (ref findmypast Devon burials image).	1841 census
		Children:
	1.	Mary DUNSFORD born c1791 at Mamhead, Devon
	2.	Richard DUNSFORD bap 1794 at Mamhead, Devon
	3.	Anne DUNSFORD bap 1795 at Mamhead, Devon
	4.	William DUNSFORD bap 1797 at Mamhead, Devon
	5.	Thomas DUNSFORD bap 1799 at Mamhead, Devon
	6.	Sarah DUNSFORD bap 1802 at Mamhead, Devon
	7.	Rebecca DUNSFORD bap 1804 at Mamhead, Devon
	8.	John DUNSFORD bap 1807 at Kenton, Devon
	9.	Robert Anning DUNSFORD bap 1809 at Kenton, Devon
2.		Mary DUNSFORD Bap of Mary Dunsford 27 Nov 1763 at Broad Clyst, Devon, dau of William Dunsford (ref fmp Devon baptisms image). Marriage 30 Apr 1787 at Topsham, Devon of Mary Dunsford to Joshua LIGHTFOOT; Joshua was of the parish of Upottery, Devon; Mary was a spinster of the parish of Topsham; Banns; both signed as Joshua Lightfoot and Mary Dunsford; witnesses Mary Cooper, Thomas Hunt (ref fmp Devon marriages image). In the marriage of his son Charles, Joshua was described as a confectioner. I am having difficulty finding any information at all about Joshua Lightfoot, either baptisms or burials, and no definite burial has been found for Mary although there are several options. There was another Joshua Lightfoot baptised 26 Aug 1764 at Aylesbeare, Devon, son of Joshua & Elizabeth Lightfoot (ref fmp Devon baptisms image). Marriage of Joshua Lightfoot 19 May 1793 at Colaton Raleigh, Devon to Mary Pottinger (ref fmp). Aylesbeare is about 5 miles from Colaton Raleigh. They had at least the following children at Colaton Raleigh: Joshua 1794, Esther 1803 (who was the administrator of Joshua's Will), Elizabeth 1804, Mary 1805 (who married Joseph Perry, with whom Joshua was living in 1841); and Martha 1812. In the 1841 census, Joshua was age 75, independent, born in Devon, living with Joseph Perry and family Joshua died in 1843 and was buried 2 Apr 1843 at Colaton Raleigh age 79. Due to the children overlapping (particularly around 1803 with births in both Devon and Middlesex) I have concluded that this is not the Joshua who married Mary Dunsford. In addition, this Joshua was a Chairmaker and Cabinetmaker and had several apprentices including William and Charles Pottinger. There is a different possibility: baptism of Joshua Lightfoot 3 Jun 1753, also at Aylesbeare, Devon, son of William & Mary Lightfoot, making him 10 years older than Mary. Other than that no option has come to light in England. There are no Lightfoot families at Upottery, and it is actually quite a rare name. There are no options for Joseph Lightfoot in Devon, as an alternative name.
		Children:
	1.	Mary LIGHTFOOT bap 1789 at Dawlish, Devon
	2.	William LIGHTFOOT bap 1796 at Westminster, London
	3.	Ann Maria LIGHTFOOT bap 1799 at Saint Mary - St Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London
	4.	John LIGHTFOOT bap 1801 at Saint Mary - St Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London
	5.	Charles LIGHTFOOT bap 1803 at Saint Mary - St Marylebone Road, St Marylebone, London
3.		William DUNSFORD Bap of William Dunsford 18 May 1766 at Broad Clyst, Devon, son of William Dunsford (ref fmp Devon baptisms image). Marr 26 Jan 1799 at Baltimore, Maryland, USA to Rachel DALTON (ref FamilySearch and Dunsford family tree in APT). [Robert Dunsford writes: I am not certain that William Dunsford born 1766 is the same person who married Rachel Dalton, but he is the only William on my tree who was born around the right time and who is not married off to someone else.]
4.		Ann DUNSFORD Bap of Ann Dunsford 15 Apr 1770 at Broad Clyst, Devon, dau of William Dunsford (ref fmp image). Marriage 3 Jan 1799 at Exeter, Devon of Ann Dunsford to Robert ANNING, both were of this parish; Robert was a Smith; Banns; both signed; witnesses Matthew Pear (?), Charles Scanes (?) (ref findmypast Devon Marriages image). Robert was born c1770 (ref age at burial); no baptism found in Devon. As confirmation of the same Robert being in Lympstone in 1808, see the following advertisement: "To TALLOW CHANDLERS and SOAP BOILERS. WANTED, a MAN, to assist in the above line, he must possess a thorough knowledge of the business, and have an unexceptionable character for honesty and sobriety, he will be boarded and lodged in the house, and large wages will be given him. - Apply personally, or by letters post-paid, to Mr. Robert Anning, blacksmith, Lympston." (ref fmp, Exeter Flying Post, 10 March 1808). Naturally, all the letters "s" in the above appear as "f". Burial of Ann Anning 16 Mar 1832 at Lympstone, Devon, residence Lympstone, age 62 (ref fmp Devon Burials image). Burial of Robert Anning 8 May 1834 at Lympstone, residence Lympstone, age 74 (ref fmp Devon Burials image). Robert Anning is listed in the Index to Death Duty Registers, death year 1834, Canterbury Prerogative Court, County of Devon, administrator Mr A. Chaplain, Clist [Clyst] St. George, Devon; there might be a connection with son-in-law William Chaplin (ref findmypast image). Lympstone is about 9 miles south of Exeter on the eastern side of the River Exe, on the other side of the river to Starcross. Previous concerns about Ann being the mother of Charles Lightfoot must be irrelevant, as she was already married to Robert Anning. Also, this marriage explains the use of the name Anning in the 9th child of her brother Thomas.
		Child:
	1.	Mary Ann ANNING bap 1799 at Lympstone, Devon
5.		Elizabeth DUNSFORD Bap of Elizabeth Dunsford 20 Feb 1774 at Farringdon, Devon (ref findmypast indexed as Dansford). "Elizabeth daughter of William Dunsford & Ann his wife of ye parish of Aylsbeer" [Aylesbeare, 2 miles from Farringdon] (ref findmypast). Probable marriage. Marr 3 Dec 1817 at Exeter St Olave, Devon of Elizabeth Dunsford to Thomas BRACKNAY; Thomas was of the parish of St Olave in the City of Exeter, Yeoman; Elizabeth was of the parish of Kenton in the County of Devon, spinster; married by Licence; witnesses Wm & Hannah Taylor, Cornelius Bennett (ref fmp Devon marriages image). Thomas was born c1782 at Axminster, Devon (ref census); bap of Thomas Bracknay 14 Jan 1785 at Axminster, son of Thomas & Ann, "aged 2 year Mother is dau of Joseph Pinney" (ref fmp).. Elizabeth appears to have died by 1841, but burial or death not found in fmp. Ref 1841 census. Devonshire, England. Civil Parish of Kenton. Registration district of St Thomas. Address: South town. Together with his niece (by marriage) Mary Lightfoot (50): Thomas Bracknay. Age 60. Farmer. Born in Devon. Ref 1851 census. Devonshire, England. Civil Parish of Kenton. Registration District of Saint Thomas. Address: Kenton. Together with Mary Lightfoot (61) (servant) and his nephew Hugo Bracknay (30): Thos Bracknay. Head. Widr. Age 69. Farmer. Born Devon Axminster. Death reg of Thomas Bracknay Sep qtr 1851 at St Thomas dist, Devon, age 70 (ref GRO Index). No probate found. There is a record in the Devon Wills Index but no details.	1841 census 1851 census
6.		Agniss DUNSFORD Bap 17 Mar 1776 at Farringdon, Devon, Agniss, daughter of William Dunsford & Ann his wife of Aylsbeer [Aylesbeare, close to Farringdon]. Broad Clyst is about 8 km (about 5 miles) from Farringdon. Marr 3 Jan 1804 in Kenton Parish of Agness Densford to James SERLE (ref KPR and K IGI records). James was bap 27 Mar 1777 in Kenton Parish, Devon, England (ref KPR and K IGI records). James and Agnes were living in Starcross in the 1841 census. See the SERLE tree for all descendants. Agnes died 18 Nov 1845 at "5 pm at 50 Drummond St London " (ref her death cert). It seems she fell ill while visiting her son and family (family source). It was reg Dec qtr 1845 at St Pancras district (ref FreeBMD). James died 17 Oct 1855 at Starcross. The death was reg Dec qtr 1855 at St Thomas dist, Devon as James Searle, age 78 (ref GRO Index). 'Buried in the churchyard at Starcross, Devon. The inscription reads "In memory of James Serle who died October 17th. 1855 aged 78. Also of Agnes Serle his wife who died Nov 18th 1845 aged 69 and was buried in St. Giles' Cemetery, Old St. Pancras, London". "DEATHS Oct. 17, at Starcross, after a short and painful illness, Mr. James Serle, aged 78." (ref The Western Times, Exeter, Fri Oct 26 1855) See the SERLE TREE for further details of their four children. FROM WHOM LIBBY SHADE IS DESCENDED.	SEE SERLE TREE
7.		Sarah DUNSFORD Bap of Sarah Dunsford 23 Nov 1783 at Farringdon, Devon (ref findmypast indexed as Densford). "Sarah the daugh of Willm & Ann Densford (ref findmypast). Possible marriage. Marr 21 Jan 1819 at Bishopsteignton, Devon of Sarah Densford to Thomas SMALL; Thomas was of the parish of Ideford, Sarah of the parish of Bishopsteignton; Banns; witnesses John Wingate, Mary Small, Richard Broone (?) (ref findmypast marriage image).

Updated 21 Aug 2024