EDDY Family of Cornwall

Unfortunately, it appears that the registrar at Gulval often didn't record the mother's name in baptism entries as there are several children baptised to just a Richard. Viewing them in chronological order, there is an obvious gap between 1772 and 1782, with 6 children baptised before 1800. These are the baptisms: Mary EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»27 Feb 1743«tab»Gulval«tab» Joan EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»16 Feb 1746«tab»Gulval Frances EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»13 Nov 1748«tab»Gulval Richard EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»01 Sep 1751«tab»Gulval«tab» Anne EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»03 Feb 1754«tab»Gulval Jennifer EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»28 Jun 1760«tab»Gulval Blanch EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»04 Sep 1763«tab»Gulval Elisabeth EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»11 Jul 1765«tab»Gulval Edward EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»21 Aug 1766«tab»Gulval Edward EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»22 May 1768«tab»Gulval John EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»23 May 1769«tab»Gulval Philip EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»14 Jun 1772«tab»Gulval«tab» Richard EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»10 Nov 1782«tab»Gulval Henry EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»15 May 1785«tab»Gulval William EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»12 Apr 1789«tab»Gulval Edward EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»11 Jun 1791«tab»Gulval John EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»10 Nov 1793«tab»Gulval Ann EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & - -«tab»21 Apr 1796«tab»Gulval

However, these baptisms also record the mother, Elizabeth: David EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & Elizabeth -«tab»09 Nov 1806«tab»Gulval«tab» Thomas EDDY«tab»son of«tab»Richard EDDY & Elizabeth -«tab»03 Apr 1803«tab»Gulval«tab»

And finally, there's this baptism for an illegitimate child: Anne EDDY«tab»dau of«tab»Richard EDDY & Anne BLIGHT«tab»06 Jan 1749«tab»Gulval«tab»

Looking at the marriages involving a Richard at Gulval: Richard EDDY«tab»Jane NEKERVIS«tab»21 Sep 1759«tab»Gulval Richard EDDY«tab»Blanch JENKING«tab»22 Jul 1762«tab»Gulval Richard EDDY«tab»Ann TRENBATH«tab»22 Sep 1781«tab»Gulval Richard EDDY«tab»Elizabeth UREN«tab»31 Dec 1800«tab»Gulval

I think it is almost certain that the 6 children baptised after 1782 (Richard, Henry, William, Edward, John and Ann) belong to Richard EDDY and Ann TRENBATH.

Assuming Richard was at least 18 when married there are 6 baptisms for a Richard EDDY before 1763 and after 1740 (unrealistically early, but included for completion) in and around Gulval. Richard, son of: (a) William EDDY & - -, 27 Nov 1743, Madron (b) Richard EDDY & Grace -, 28 Dec 1743, Zennor (c) John EDDY & - -, 11 Aug 1744, St Just in Penwith (d) Richard EDDY & - -, 01 Sep 1751, Gulval (e) Mathew EDDY & Joan -, 14 Jan 1753, Zennor (f) Andrew EDDY & - -, 09 Apr 1757, Morvah

Of these I think (a), (b) and (c) are probably too old, and (e) and (f) are not names passed down, so (d) is the most likely. Also, as the baptism is in Gulval, I have assumed for now that (d) is the correct baptism.

From Geoff McKee: Buried 9 Jul 1816 in St Just in Pewnith, aged 64 of Carnyorth.

Notes for this Richard EDDY before I realised it was the same person: With only the father listed on son Richard's baptism, it is harder to trace back with surety.

However, as forenames for first children born to a couple were often named after their parents, this could suggest Richard married shortly before 1782. Searching for such marriages in Gulval gives one match, that of a Richard EDDY and Ann TRENBATH.

I think this is probably the correct marriage for this Richard, although there is of course some speculation. There were other marriages nearby that are possible alternatives, 2 of which are worth noting: Richard EDDY and Catherine ROBERTS, 14 Feb 1774, Madron, and Richard EDDY and Catherine CHRISTOPHER, 13 May 1776, Zennor.

Assuming the Gulval marriage is correct, there are no other Richard EDDY marriages in Gulval, and so I have attributed children baptised to 'just' Richard (Henry, William, Edward, John and Ann) as being theirs. For Thomas and David in 1803 and 1806, mother Elizabeth was also recorded.

Richard is noted as being a pauper when son Henry was baptised (1785).

When Richard married in 1781 in Gulval, he is recorded as being from Gulval. He was probably born in Gulval, although once again, this is not necessarily true. The only possible Richard EDDY baptism prior to the marriage is in 1751, son of Richard. This would match the theory noted under Richard's son Richard (the one baptised 1782) who had a witness 'Richard Eddy jnr' (i.e. there was a Richard Eddy senior). As such, I believe the 1751 baptism to belong to this Richard.