William Dovell married Maria Pile in 1817 in Brendon and they went to live at Hoar Oak Cottage where they had a son, William, born in 1819.
Thanks go out to Patrick Bird and William Blackmore who got in touch with the Friends of Hoar Oak Cottage to share their researches into their Dovell ancestors in North Devon; their link to Hoar Oak and an image of the birth registration for baby William.
The William Dovell who was born at Hoar Oak Cottage married Ann Sloley, born in Brendon, date unknown but around 1849/1850. They had seven children:
- Agnes b1850
- Emma b1856
- Emilia b1860
- Mary b1857
- Amelia b1859
- Rosannah b1862
- William b1865
Census records for 1851 and 1861 show the family are living at Ashford Barton, Brendon. Maria Dovell died in 1858 and the 1861 census shows that William Dovell Snr, widower, was living with the family at Ashford Barton, Brendon. William died in 1870.
The Friend’s trustee and genealogist Nicky Rowberry has compiled this information into a family tree, below.
Patrick Bird also shared information he had found about Dovell ancestors of the Hoar Oak Cottage Dovells going back to the 1730s. It is summarised below:
- John Dovell of Parracombe married Elizabeth Pile in 1731 and they had a son, William, born in 1741 at Parracombe
- William Dovell b1741 at Parracombe married Joan Lord of Martinhoe in November 1763 at Brendon. At the time of marriage, there was already a son William born in August 1763 who was named William Dovell Lord but who later assumed the name William Dovell. William and Joan had several more children.
- William Dovell b1763 and previously known as William Dovell Lord married Agnes of Lynton and their first child was William born in 1789.
- William b1789 married Maria Pile in 1817 in Brendon and went to live at Hoar Oak Cottage where their son William was born in 1819 at the cottage.
- William b1819 married Anne Sloley as described above and had six daughters before the arrival of their son who was, of course, named William.
The enduring use of the name William in these Dovell families is intriguing.
If you have information to share about the Dovells of Hoar Oak Cottage please contact us on info@hoaroakcottage.org.