Exeter is the County Seat of Devon, England and today is home to about 130,000 people making it the 2nd Largest city in Devon. Only Plymouth is larger. As with any such epicenter people come from all around to live there due to the greater opportunity and job variety it affords. These people are often more mobile as they are more likely to rent rather than own their domiciles.
Exeter lies directly north and is adjacent to the cities in my last post that form its suburbs and ex-burbs.
So, it was no surprise to find a large number of Babb Pedigrees converge here and to be disconnected from their family of origin. Of the 106 records available here, they spread across 17 different Pedigrees. Most of those start and end in Exeter itself as loose fragments, but there are a few notable exceptions covered below.
I used an extra tactic here to help sift through the results. The church names where baptisms, marriages and burials took place can help to further isolate family units. Each Church had a territory it covered for its parishioners. So, where ever possible I have cited the names of the Church to help provide clarity for future research.
Devon Pedigree (Exeter – 1765)
Known formerly as Devon Pedigree 24, this line previously had no source information available for it. While the line has just a single-family unit, it contains a John Babb who potentially bore children. The tree is now fully sourced, but unfortunately did not grow.
Devon Pedigree (Exeter – 1781)
Known formerly as Devon Pedigree 23, this line previously had no source information available for it. While the line has just a single-family unit, it contains a Francis Babb who potentially bore children. The tree is now fully sourced, but unfortunately did not grow to the next generation due to the single male heir.
Devon Pedigree (Halberton 1718)
Known formerly as Devon Pedigree 06, this line appeared in my last post as well. The new additions here are the descendants of Richard Babb & Mary Waterman who appear to have straddled the city lines of Exeter and Alphington, which share a common border. You can pickup on their story in Entry #5 below.
Devon Pedigree (Huntsham 1799)
Known formerly as Devon Pedigree 09, this line begins with the low born (illegitimate) birth of Daniel Babb to his mother Elizabeth Babb. It is likely for this very reason that Daniel moved a couple of times in his early years, travelling first to Stoke Damerel where he married Mary Worth. Eventually, the young family settled in Exeter where their 3 girls and 1 son Daniel were born. Daniel did live until 1875, but did not appear to have children with his wife Charlotte, effectively ending this lineage.
Devon Pedigree (CombeinTeignhead – 1788)
Known formerly as Devon Pedigree 17 and also Devon Pedigree 14, these lines provide the most intriguing next steps. In Exeter we find Peter & Ann (Poole, Curry) Babb who were married at St Thomas in Exeter. They bore 8 children (7 boys and a girl). All but 2 boys lived to adulthood.
More work needs to be done to shape out the descendants of this Pedigree, but there is an intriguing opportunity at hand. I note 54 records, dating as far back as 1620, available in early Teignmouth, where the family spent much of their time. I’ll be heading there next to see what I can find out. There are only two Teignmouth trees that exist now, so fingers crossed that we can unite them. They were formerly known as Devon Pedigree 10 and Devon Pedigree 25.