Day 10 - Gone Fiche'n

Well today I figured I should follow up on some of the records whilst in the area. The day started off badly when looking for breakfast I actually walked out of two cafes - waiting 10 mins for a menu is not right. Ended up though having a crepe and coffee for breakfast which was not the light option I was looking for but filled me up ready for a hard day's work in the Records Offices.

I began in the Records Office in the centre of Exeter - right next to the library. And settled myself in with the Cornworthy Records and a microfiche. Cornworthy is part of Devon and is where the Bulley family come from. Now James Beyvous Bulley is our Great Great Great Grandfather on Mary's side.

Kate, Dan and William add another Great.

John Way's mother - Mary May Smith
Mary's Mother Rosetta Stewart
Rosetta's Mother - Mary Jane Bulley.
Mary's Father - James Beyvous Bulley
James' Father - William Bulley married Charlotte Lock
William's Father - William Bulley married Susanna Beavis on 22nd July 1801
William's Father - George Bulley married Mary Homer on 31st January 1768

I managed to find many Bulleys in the Cornworthy area over several decades so it definitely was a main area for the family. I also noticed some Way's in the area as well.

I went on to look for the Halberton Parish Records - some of which were available on microfiche but some were held in the Devon Records Office which was elsewhere. So I packed up my pencil and with directions from the archivist headed off on the Park'n'Ride to Sowton. My instructions seemed clear but I ended up in a monsterous industrial estate with no records office in sight. After wandering around a bit I happened on the Exeter College and asked for directions. The receptionist was very kind but not a master of Google Maps but I got enough of an idea to find where it was.

20 minutes or so later I arrived and rid myself of any contraband. Now considering myself somewhat of a dab hand with the 'fiche I looked up the correct film only to find that the marriage records for Halberton had not yet been 'fiched and I would get to hold and view the original book. I got my regulation pillow and waited excitedly.

I had the general date for John Thomas Way and Sarah Chipplin's marriage in 1863. As I opened the book the very first entry was for the Marriage of James Way and Elizabeth Thomas - July 31st 1837. John Thomas being my Great Great Grandfather and James being his father. John Thomas and Sarah's marriage were also in the book.

Now the interesting thing here is that for Father it states for James - Thomas Webber. Strange. I then found the Baptism record for James and it states for parents name Jane Way - single female. Interesting hey!