Thomas Reppear of Ousin in Devon

[kenripper]

I have a copy of a will dated 1741 and proved in 1742 of Thomas Reppear or Ripper, a mariner of "Ousin in Devon". The beneficiaries are all friends, viz: James Webb of Ousin, also a mariner (executor to the will); William and Catherine Sweet Cornish, the children of John Cornish of Ousin a mariner.

Where is Ousin? Is it in the Teignmouth area? The IGI shows a John and Catherine Cornish having four children baptised in West Teignmouth, viz: Catherine (1731); John (1734); William (1738); Thomas (1742). Is this the same family as the beneficiaries? Where is Thomas Reppear buried? How old was he when he died? Any idea where he came from?

So many questions! Can anybody help with any answers? Thanks in anticipation.

Ken

[Coromandel]

Hi Ken

I see from Documents Online that this is a PCC will. Their index gives the place name as 'Onsin' not Ousin: is it clearly written as Ousin in the downloadable document? (Not than Onsin seems to make any more sense.) I can't see anything likely in the Teignmouth area on the Old Maps site.

P.S. that's probably a silly question, as 'n' and 'u' are often difficult to distinguish, especially if it is that nasty handwriting found in so many PCC wills of the period.

[kenripper]

Oddly, the handwriting is excellent and this is easy to read and is most certainly Ousin and not Onsin. Thanks for looking.

[kenripper]

I have temporarily uploaded a copy of part of the will to my website at http://www.kenripper.btinternet.co.uk/Ousin.jpg. This shows the script and wording. I'll have to remove it shortly as I have no desire to infringe copyright, which also explains why I've not attached it to BG forum.

I think you'll agree that it's Ousin. No reference has been found on The National Archive Catalogue, A2A, IGI, British History On Line and some other sites I've explored.

[Coromandel]

I've had a look at the will now. The writing is very clear, as you say, and does appear to say Ousin. One possibility is that the clerk writing out the register copy of the will mis-read whatever it said originally, and then stuck to his mis-interpreted version consistently. I ought to know, but don't, whether the original PCC wills survive, as well as the register copies. If they do it would be interesting to compare the spelling.

On the assumption that mariners would live near the sea, I've had a look all along the south coast of Devon on Google maps, trying to spot anything that might be mis-read or mis-heard as Ousin. Nothing has really jumped out at me. There is an Oreston (now a suburb of Plymouth, Wikipedia tells me, but once a separate village).

Will have a tour of the north coast later . . .

[Kerrywood]

For what it's worth, I agree that it probably says Ousin rather than Onsin.

Like you, I can find no sign of the name in standard online sources, nor in Domesday, nor in the Devon Record Office catalogue.

The will may have been dictated, perhaps at sea, or overseas? The person writing it may have been unfamiliar with place-names in Devon and wrote down phonetically what he thought was said. Perhaps it should begin with A, or perhaps there is a missing aspirate, H?

The PCC wills in PROB 11 are register copies, and there is always the option of looking at the original will in PROB 10 (if it survives). That would mean a visit to Kew. I think this is the bundle you would need to look at.

Another option would be to email the DRO and ask the archivists for their thoughts.

Meanwhile, perhaps one of our Devon members with local knowledge will come up with a suggestion.

[DOB7]

I think you will find that this was Oreston. This is confirmed by Plymstock baptisms http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~en...k_baptisms.htm where a record is given for a Catherine Sweet CORNISH.
A Thomas REPPER married a Catherine GORDON there between 1730 and 1739 (you'll need to contact the OPC to get the exact record). Catherine RIPPER was buried there between 1740 and 1749. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~en...outh/index.htm

I have a copy of a will dated 1741 and proved in 1742 of Thomas Reppear or Ripper, a mariner of "Ousin in Devon". The beneficiaries are all friends, viz: James Webb of Ousin, also a mariner (executor to the will); William and Catherine Sweet Cornish, the children of John Cornish of Ousin a mariner.

Where is Ousin? Is it in the Teignmouth area? The IGI shows a John and Catherine Cornish having four children baptised in West Teignmouth, viz: Catherine (1731); John (1734); William (1738); Thomas (1742). Is this the same family as the beneficiaries? Where is Thomas Reppear buried? How old was he when he died? Any idea where he came from?

So many questions! Can anybody help with any answers? Thanks in anticipation.

Ken

[kenripper]

That was a super deduction, DOB7. Looks to be spot on. Thanks so much. This'll start a whole new train of research for me.

Off I go ....