Hide

Cornwood

hide
Hide

"CORNWOOD, a small village (commonly crossed Cross,) in the Yealm valley, on the southern borders of Dartmoor Forest, 4½ miles N.E. of Earl's Plympton, has in its parish 1080 souls, and 10,680 acres of land, including 700A. of woodland, and 7438A. of common, extending six miles northward, among the hills and dells of Dartmoor, to the sources of the rivers Yealm and Erme. This large parish includes many scattered houses, the small hamlets of Cross, Lutton, Torr, Waterfleet, Houndle, and Dunaton, and part of the large village of Ivybridge, which has a post office, a district church, and a railway station, . . . Wm. F. Praed, Esq., is lord of the manor of Cornwood, and has a pleasant seat here, called Delamere, . . . Slade is the seat of W. Pode, Esq., . . . Fardell, an old farm-house, was formerly the seat of the Raleighs, . . Sir F. Rogers, Bart., is lord of the manor of Blackford, and resides at Blackford House, . . . The Church (St. Michael,) is an ancient structure, with a tower and six bells. it is chiefly in the perpendicuar style of the 15th century, except the tower and part of the chancel, which are much older. . . ." [From White's Devonshire Directory (1850)]

A parish in Ermington Hundred, the Archdeaconry of Totnes, and the Diocese of Exeter. Regarded as part of both the South Hams and the Dartmoor area.

Peskett: Ivybridge was an ancient village, with a chapel of ease dependent on Cornwood, it was later created as a modern parish incorporating parts of Cornwood, Ermington, Harford and Ugborough.

Hide
topup

Biography

James, June. An Idyllic Childhood, Devon Family Historian, vol. 174, (2020) pp.7-11. [Jnne (Batten) James, d. of Head Gardener at Blachford Estate

Shepheard, Wayne. The Maritime Journey of James Shepheard, Devon Family Historian, vol. 179, (2021) pp.24-26.

topup

Cemeteries

MIs for this parish, and for St John the Evangelist, Ivybridge, are included in the Devon FHS index - see under Cemeteries on the main Devon page.

A transcription of the Memorial Inscriptions for the Church of St Michael and All Angels is held in the Society of Genealogist's Library, in Vol. 8 of Devon Memorial inscriptions (DE/M23).

Brown, Mike. Ivybridge (Pre-1900 Survey). In Dartmoor Region Monumental Inscriptions Indexes, Vol. 14. Dartmoor Press, PO Box 132, Plymouth PL4 7YL.

Brown, Mike. Cornwood. In Dartmoor Region Monumental Inscriptions Indexes, Vol. 10. Dartmoor Press, PO Box 132, Plymouth PL4 7YL.

topup

Census

Transcriptions by Wayne Shepheard of the Cornwood area census for:

topup

Church History

Ivybridge - from J. Stabb. Some Old Devon Churches (London: 1908-16).

Cotton, William. The churches of Cornwood, Harford, and Ermington. Exeter Diocesan Architectural Soc. Trans. 1 ser, v. 6, (1861) pp.289-307; ill, plates.

Hingeston-Randolph, F.C. The Rectors and Vicars of Cornwood, Devon, 1263-1914. Plymouth: F.E.Sach & Co (1914) 14p.

W., E. and W., H.R. The priory for nuns of St Mary, Cornworthy, Devon. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 11:Appx, (1921). [Item 3, 1-57, plates: ill(4). [Plan faces p.51. Chronological record, under names of prioresses.]

topup

Church Records

Parish Registers going back to 1669 are held in the Devon Record Office.

Transcripts of the Parish Registers going back to 1685 are held in a special collection in the Westcountry Studies Library.

The Devon FHS publishes indexes covering (as of June 2004): Baptisms 1813-1840, Marriages 1754-1837, Burials 1813-1838, together with Ivybridge Baptisms 1835-1840, and Marriages 1813-1840 - for details see their Devon Parish List.

Other churches and chapels (with pre-1840 records):

  • Wesleyan Chapel, Fore Street, Ivybridge: Registers for c1801-37 - see Ashburton Circuit, Axminster (PRO RG 4/1763, 840, 512)

Entered into the IGI (as of Jan 1993): Parish Church Christenings 1665-1783 and Marriages 1685-1783, 1806-1811. (These entries are based in part on Bishops' Transcripts.)

Brown, Mike. Pre-1754 Marriage Index for Cornwood.. Dartmoor Press, P.O. Box 132, Plymouth PL4 7YL (1999)

Brown, Mike. Cornwood 1754-1812 Burials Index. Dartmoor Press, P.O. Box 132, Plymouth PL4 7YL (1999)

An index of baptisms, marriages and burials in the Deanery of Plympton. with photographs of the churches and extracts from White's Devonshire Directory 1850 and The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868), CD-ROM, Exeter, Devon FHS (2007). [Brixton: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Cornwood: Bapt (1813-1840), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1838), Ermington: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1838), Bur (1813-1837 ), Harford: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1755-1837), Bur (1813-1838), Holbeton: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Ivybridge: Bapt (1835-1840), Mar (1835-1840), Bur (1836-1840), Kingston: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1836), Bur (1813-1837), Modbury: Bapt (1813-1840), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Newton Ferrers: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1836), Bur (1813-1837)), North Huish: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Plympton St. Mary: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Plympton St. Maurice: Bapt (1813-1840), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Plymstock: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Revelstoke: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837), Shaugh Prior: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1835), Ugborough: Bapt (1813-1840), Mar (1754-1841), Bur (1813-1837), Wembury: Bapt (1813-1839), Mar (1612-1837), Bur (1813-1840), Yealmpton: Bapt (1813-1840), Mar (1754-1837), Bur (1813-1837)]

topup

Description & Travel

Ivybridge Parish council website.

Section on Cornwood (and Ivybridge) from Samuel Lewis: A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831), provided by Mel Lockie.

Crossing, William. Guide to Dartmoor: Southern and Western Section comprising: Princetown, Two Bridges, Hexworthy & Post Bridge Districts, Asburton, Brent, Ivybridge, and Cornwood Districts, and Plympton, Shaugh, Yelverton, and Dousland Districts. With Maps and Sketches, Exeter, (c191-).

Mann, Bob. Ivybridge, Exeter, Obelisk Publications (1996) 20p: ill, map. [ISBN 1899073469] [Westcountry Studies Library pB/IVY/1996/MAN]

Sandover, Michael. Willliam Sandover's Diary: Return to South Devon in 1886, Devon Family Historian, vol. 164, (2017) pp.8-11. [Travel diary of Willliam Sandover (b.Cornwood, 1822), revisiting South Devon from Australia. Transcript with extensive annotations.]

You can see pictures of Cornwood which are provided by:

topup

Directories

Transcription of the entry for Ivybridge in Pigot & Co.'s Devon (1830) by Terry Partridge.

Transcription of the entries for Cornwood, and for Ivybridge in White's Devonshire Directory (1850) by Terry Partridge.

Transcription provided by Val Henderson of the Cornwood entry (description and names) in Morris and Co's Commercial Directory and Gazetteer of Devonshire 1870.

Transcription provided by Val Henderson of the Ivybridge entry (description and names) in Pigot and Co's Directory of Devonshire 1830-31.

Transcription provided by Val Henderson of the Ivybridge entry (description and names) in Morris and Co's Commercial Directory and Gazetteer of Devonshire 1870.

Brown, Mike. Trade Directory for Cornwood, Harford, Shaugh Prior, South Brent 1850, 1870, 1878, Dartmoor Press (2001).

topup

Gazetteers

The transcription of the section for this parish from the National Gazetteer (1868), provided by Colin Hinson.

topup

Genealogy

The Online Parish Clerk scheme's representative for this parish is Wayne Shepheard, who invites queries and lookup requests.

Dartmoor Press Online Magazine's page for this parish (archived copy), and for Ivybridge (archived copy), with articles, transcriptions, publication details, etc. - highly recommended.

Grylls, Richard. Prestwood and Cholwich, Devon Family Historian, vol. 181, (2022) pp.22-24. [On the Preswood and Cholwich families, of Exeter and Cornwood, respectively]

Jones, Winslow. Elize Hele. Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 21 (1889), pp. 488-497. [Index]

King, Cameron H. English records of the King family of Suffield, Conn. New England Hist. & Gen. Reg. 58, 1904 pp. 347-48. [Raymond: Extracts from Ivybridge parish registers, 16-17th c.]

Maddock, T.H. Four Haynes Brothers and a Milk Bottle, Devon Family Historian, vol. 147, (2013) pp.19-24.

Shepheard, Wayne. George Chapple, Case Study, Devon Family Historian, no. 149, (2014) pp.29-31. [

Hutchings, Ian. Hutchings Headstones at Hemyock - Part Two, Devon Family Historian, vol. 173, (2020) pp.16-17.

Shepheard, Wayne. Losing the 'a': A reminder lesson on surname spelling, Devon Family Historian, vol. 169, (2019) pp.41-44. [The Shepheard family name.]

Shepheard, Wayne. Discover Genealogy, Devon Family Historian, vol. 173, (2020) pp.18-19. [Case study: Two Richard Hillsdons]

Shepheard, Wayne. Heirloom Watches, Devon Family Historian, vol. 175, no. (2020) pp.30-33.

Shepheard, Wayne. Hillsdon Search - Follow up, Devon Family Historian, vol. 174, (2020) pp.14-15.

Snowden, M. Great Grandmother's Legacy, Devon Family Historian, vol. 118, (2006) pp.36-38. [Lavers family of Lutton]

topup

Heraldry

Brown, Mike. Guide to the Heraldry in St Michaels Church, Cornwood, Cornwood, St Michaels Church (2000).

topup

History

Barber, Tony. Recollections of Ivybridge and district. Ivybridge: T.Barber (1981) 24p: ill. [Westcountry Studies Library - pxB/IVY/0002/BAR]

Barber, Tony. Aspects of Ivybridge: some notes on its history. Ivybridge: T.Barber (1988) 53p: ill,map. [ISBN 0951413201]

Clamp, Arthur L. Ivybridge during the Second World War 1939-1945. [Plymstock]: [The Author] (1996) 40p: ill,ports. [Westcountry Studies Library - pxB/IVY/1939/CLA]

Hankin, Charles F. Ivybridge: a short history. Ivybridge Information Centre (1992) 29,[4]p: ill. [Westcountry Studies Library - pB/IVY/0001/HAN

Hoskins, W.G. and H.P.R. Finberg. Devonshire Studies, London, Jonathan Cape, 1952, 470 pp. (Pp. 78-94 concern Cholwich estate and family.)

Van Der Kiste, John and Van Der Kiste, Kim. Ivybridge and South Brent Through Time, Amberley Publishing (2010) 96 pp. [ISBN-10: 184868733] [Contains 90 old photographs, plus 90 corresponding modern photographs of Ivybridge, South Brent, and their surrounding villages and hamlets.]

Mann, Bob. Ivybridge. Exeter: Obelisk,1996, 20 p. ill., 1 map. ISBN: 1899073469 (pbk).

Martin, Ivor. Ivybridge. Stroud: Chalford Publishing (1997) 128p: chfly ill,ports. [ISBN 0752407597]

Martin, Ivor. The Book of Ivybridge, Halsgrove (2009) 160 pp.

Peeke, Bruce R. Some aspects of the parish of Cornworthy in the first half of the nineteenth century. Trans. Devon. Assoc. 123, (1991) pp.105-128.

Pode, J.D. & C.A.: Some Descriptive Notes on the Parish of Cornwood and its Inhabitants from Prehistoric Times to the Beginnings of the 20th Century. Plymouth: Bro-cards (1918) 41p. [Transcription]

Cornwood notes. Plymouth: BRO-Cards [1970?] 47p. [Westcountry Studies Library - B/COR 3/0001/SOM]

The Book of Cornwood and Lutton (Halsgrove Community History Series), Halsgrove House, Lower Moor Way, Tiverton, Devon,EX16 6SS, UK, Halsgrove Publishing (1995) [IBSN 0-86114-919-X] [Index]

topup

Land & Property

Cornwood Tithe Apportionments - pages 1-20, 21-40, and 41-52, transcribed by Wayne Shepheard. (A PDF version, plus tithe maps are available on his Cornwood OPC site.)

Brown, Mike. Cornwood. In "Dartmoor Tithe Apportionments, Vol. 3". The Dartmoor Press (c1997) 16p.

Spence, Charles. Some account of the ancient mansion, Fardell, in the parish of Cornwood, Devon. Exeter Diocesan Architectural Soc. Trans. 1 ser, v. 4, (1853) pp.156-160. [Index]

Cholwich Town - A.D 1204. Devon Life vol. 2 no. 22, (1966) pp.6-7; ill. ["Town" is the old English word "tun" meaning "farm".]

Index of Heads of Households in Devonshire: Cornwood A-L, P.O. Box 339, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia 3130, Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies (2000). [As recorded in Land Tax records 1781-1832]

Index of Heads of Households in Devonshire: Cornwood M-Z, P.O. Box 339, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia 3130, Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies (2000). [As recorded in Land Tax records 1781-1832]

topup

Maps

View a map of the boundaries of this town/parish.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SX603593 (Lat/Lon: 50.416907, -3.967717), Cornwood which are provided by:

topup

Military History

War Memorial inside St Michael & All Angels Church, transcribed by John Williams

topup

Newspapers

Ivybridge Gazette - regional electronic journal.

topup

Probate Records

Transcripts of the wills of Nicholas Shepheard (1657), Nicholas Shepheard (1821), Arthur Shepheard (1834), and Samson Shepheard (1856), provided by Wayne Shepheard.

Will of John Sandover (1849), transcribed by Ros Dunning.

Brushfield, T.N. The copy of the will of George Ralegh. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 1:7, (1900) pp.202-204. [Wills, 1895-96. G.R. was the elder stepbrother of Sir Walter.] [Index]

Shepheard, Wayne. Analysis of the Last Will & Testament of Nicholas Shepheard (1761-1820) of Cornwood Parish, County of Devon, Devon Family Historian, vol. 139, (2011) pp.22-26.

Shepheard, Wayne. Where there's a Will.  Family Tree, vol. 39, no. 7 (June 2023) pp.22-27 [On the will of Nicholas Shepheard (ca 1601-1657) and other family members].

Upham, Reynell. Raleigh of Fardell. Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 1:7, (1900) pp.201-202. [Wills, 1595-96] [Transcript]

topup

Taxation

Brown, Mike. The Growth & Development of Fore Street, Ivybridge 1830-1997. Dartmoor Press (1997?) 44p.[Tax Lists from the years 1830, 1840, 1850, 1856, 1866, 1878, 1883, 1893, 1897, 1910, 1914, 1926, 1935, 1944]