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Carole Rashleigh's Family
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I started my Family Tree research
about 4yrs ago when I retired from teaching. It
has been a fascinating journey of discovery,
brickwalls and exciting finds.
Click here to view my Family Tree
I am the first Rashleigh for many generations to
have been born off the Lizard Peninsula. I was
born in Falmouth. My father Garfield R. was born
in Porthallow, the son of William Thomas R. and
Elizabeth (Pascoe). William Thomas was a
fisherman and I believe a lifeboatman or coast
watcher. He was drowned in 1919 while on a
shopping trip to Falmouth with his eldest son
Gordon, aged 13yrs. Gordon's body was never
found.
This tradegy sent my Grandmother, with my father
and two older sisters to live in Helston with her
brother Arthur who lived in the Regents Hotel. My
father grew up there from the age of 2yrs.
My G Grandfather was also a fisherman in
Porthallow. My G G Grandfather, John James R, was
the only member of his family who remained in
England.John James gave up farmng and became a
fisherman. His father John, died young. This John
farmed at Porthkerris near St keverne. His wife
Phillis (Symons from Breage) married Wm Kinsman
and produced 6 more children. After the potato
blights in the 1840s and 50s Wm and Phillis went
to S. Australia in 1851.
Wm Kinsman died a few years later. Phillis became
a driver of the post carrier from Mitchem to
Adelaide. I was sent an inquest from accident she
had, by a descendent. Apparently as she was
driving back to Adelaide one day, a baker's
boy came galloping around a corner. He was
avoiding a deep puddle, when he hit the post cart
in the middle of the road. The passenger riding
beside Phillis was killed, and Phillis injured.
The inquest decided it was an accident caused by
both parties!
The generations from 3x G Grandparents back to 7
x G Grandparents were all farmers in the Meneage
villages. Among them Gillywortha, Gillywollas,
Lestowder, and Tregasso. All the Rashleigh wives
from these generations also seemed to have come
from farming families in the Meneage.
Censuses and the 1841 Tithe maps have given me a
lot of information on these families. I have all
the Parish Records or Marriage Certificates of
every generation.
John R senior (1767) had a bastardy bond taken
out against him in 1801. I believe the resulting
child was Peter Martin son of the Jane Martin
quoted in the Bond. In 1815 John junior (1795)
also had a Bastardy Bond against him. The child
was Betsy Rashley Mitchell , born to Anne
Mitchell. Like father like son. Though this did
not stop him becoming a churchwarden later! John
R senior and most of his family are buried under
the large yew tree opposite the door of Manaccan
Church. Though his wife Magaret is named on the
grave, she is buried at her famiy's home in
St. Anthony in Meneage. So one can surmise she
never forgave John his infidelity!
I have an indenture for Mary Stapleton 9yrs old,
who was taken from the Workhouse to work for John
R as an apprentice in 1821.
It reads :
"That he John Rashleigh, the said apprentice
in the art of housewifery shall teach and
instruct, or cause to be taught and instructed in
the best way and manner that he can find, provide
and allow unto the said apprentice, meet,
competent and sufficient meat, drink and apparel,
lodging, washing and all other things necessary
and fit for an apprentice." This was to last
until she was 21yrs old or until she married.
My most excitng find came, when on a visit to the
Cornwall Family History Soc. in Truro, produced a
letter from a lady in Wales. She had been given a
Bible years before with Rashleigh names in it. I
knew at once these were the family of John R
senior. However the letter was dated 9yrs before
and she had moved. I eventually contacted Radio
Wales who put out an appeal. A friend of the lady
heard it and this resulted in me buying this
Bible.
My research is on going. I recently discovered,
with the help of Terry Moyle, both my G
Grandmother, Susanna Nicholls and my GG
Grandmother Elizabeth Nicholls, are related to
the Nicholls, masons of St Keverne for
generations. And incidently related to each
other.
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