FOXWELL FAMILY DATA

The Foxwell Family

Otterford Somerset

The earliest records I have uncovered so far show that my ” Foxwell” ancestors came from Otterford. The parish of Otterford covers a large area of Blackdown Hills south of Taunton but Otterford itself is a hamlet consisting of a church and a collection of a half dozen farms and farm workers houses.

The latest data I have received shows that the name Foxwell was quite common among the villages of the Blackdown Hills. Parish records for Otterford, Churchstanton, Blagdon Hill, Pitminster, Yarcombe and Smeatharpe have entries for Foxwells. I have not established a definite link between them but indications are that they are probably all related, cousins etc. This has caused confusion as many Foxwells have the same christian names and all lived within a couple of miles of each other. William, John and Benjamin are common and the William Foxwell who was the brother of my Great Grandfather b1826 in Otterford is not the same William Foxwell as the one born 1820 in Otterford

The Foxwell story so far
I have been reading the parish records for Otterford which are on microfiche at Somerset Country records Office Taunton. They are not transcripts and are in the original handwriting dating back to 1512.

The earliest record I have found so far is that of the baptism of William Foxwell 8th January 1718/1719 son of Joseph Foxwell and his wife Ann (difficult to read)

William Foxwell 1718 -1814 married Grace Matthew (parish records for Otterford 18th July 1748)They had eight children

Benjamin 1749
John 1749 (twins)
Simon 1752
Henry 1757
John 1757 (twins)
Grace 1758
Grace 1760
Robert 1763

Benjamin Foxwell b 27th Sept 1749 married Joan (surname not yet discovered) (Otterford parish records)
they had (amended) 7 children
Grace b1782 -1798
Mary b1785/87,
Benjamin b1789, m Grace Carpenter
Simon b1794 d26th Apr 1842
Thomas 1796
Henry 1798 – 1882
Robert 1800

Simon Foxwell married Sarah Doble b1795 and came from Whitlackington in Devon
Simon & Sarah had six children
John b1815, James b1815 (twins), Elizabeth b1823, William b1826, Ann b1833, June b1836

James Foxwell is my ancestor and he married Mary Searle at West Monkton Church near Taunton on 22 nd Oct 1837.

(1841 census entry for Hawks Moor near Holman Clavel Inn)

James Foxwell 25 years ag lab
Mary       “         25
Eliza        “           3
Sarah       “          1

FOXWELL FAMILY (Cont)

James Foxwell and Mary lived in a farm labourer’s house at Hawks Moor , this is within the boundary of Otterford but about three miles to the east, which consists of a few cottages of the edge of farmland surrounded by dense woodland. A very picturesque area that would have been very remote 150 years ago.

They had seven children

Eliza b1838 Sarah b1840 Henry b1842 Ann b1846 Simon b1847 Simeon b1848 Luzia b1849

Henry Foxwell was my Great Grandfather.
From the records I can be fairly sure that Henry started his working life as a farm labourer but left to join the Royal Marine Artillery. He was stationed at Portsmouth at the time he met and married Helen Aris b1852 at Sharford, (a parish of Taunton about 3 miles from Hawks Moor) in 1871

Henry Foxwell and Helen had one son Harry James Arthur Foxwell b25th Sept 1872 at Portsea Portsmouth

Harry Foxwell was a sailor and married Annie Bell b1872 in Devonport, Plymouth in1902 they had five children

Victor Foxwell
Marion Irene Foxwell b1912
Leslie Foxwell
Edna Foxwell b1907
Dorothy Foxwell b17th July 1904

Harry served in the navy before the first world war and was called up again and served as an army medic through the war. After the war he drove a horse drawn cab in Torbay and died in 1942

(This account is not complete and will be updated as and when I get more information. I have more on Harry Foxwell somewhere but have to go back through my records)

St. leonard’s Church Otterford

Otterford main road

OTTERFORD PARISH RECORDS – SOMERSET RECORDS OFFICE
( FOXWELL)

GRACE FOXWELL Dau of WILLIAM & GRACE FOXWELL b 6 th Aug 1758
GRACE FOXWELL Dau of WILLIAM & GRACE FOXWELL b 16 th Nov 1760

ROBERT FOXWELL Son of ROBERT & ELIZABETH FOXWELL b 30 th Jan 1763

MARY FOXWELL Dau of BENJAMIN & JOAN FOXWELL b 28 th Oct 1785
BENJAMIN FOXWELL Son of BENJAMIN & JOAN FOXWELL b 27 th Sept 1789
GRACE FOXWELL Dau of DENJAMIN & JOAN FOXWELL b 27 th May 1792
SIMON FOXWELL Son of BENJAMIN & JOAN FOXWELL b 20 th Apr 1794

ANN FOXWELL Died 25 th Oct 1812 age 78 Otterford

WILLIAM FOXWELL Son of SIMON & SARAH FOXWELL b 8 th May 1825
ANN FOXWELL Dau of SIMON & SARAH FOXWELL b 6 th Jan 1833
JUNE FOXWELL dau of SIMON & SARAH FOXWELL b 28 th June 1836

ELIZABETH FOXWELL Dau of JAMES & MARY FOXWELL b 30 th Sept 1838
SARAH FOXWELL Dau of JAMES & MARY FOXWELL b 14 th June 1840

JOSEPH FOXWELL bap 8th Nov 1721 son of JOSEPH FOXWELL

JOHN FOXWELL burried 17th June 1689

JAMES FOXWELL bap 1608 son of ROBERT FOXWELL

BENJAMIN FOXWELL bap 23rd August 1724 son of JOSEPH FOXWELL

GRACE MATTHEW bap 28th July 1723 dau of ROBERT MATTHEW
ELIZABETH MATTHEW 12th August 1722 dau of ROBERT MATTHEW

WILLIAM FOXWELL 8th June 1718 son of ANN (difficult to read may not be Ann)

WILLIAM FOXWELL bap January 1718 son of JOSEPH FOXWELL and wife ANN
(January 1718 could be Jan 1719 as pre 1752 January was part of the previous year!!
record very difficult to read)

MARRIAGE TRANSCRIPT FROM OTTERFORD PARISH RECORDS
( FOXWELL ENTRIES)

ANDREW HANDOVER Mar ELIZABETH FOXEWELL 27 th Sept 1613

WILLIAM FOXWELL Mar SARA BALSH 20 th May 1625

ROBERT FOXWELL Mar MARY HILL 16 th Feb 1629

SAMUEL FOXWELL Mar MARY CHARD 14 th Oct 1747

WILLIAM FOXWELL Mar GRACE MATTHEW 18 th July 1748

ROBERT FOXWELL Mar ELIZABETH WALTER 12 TH Apr 1751

An original entry:-
SIMON FOXWELL Married to SARAH DOOLE both of this parish ( Otterford ) July 24 th 1814

Pitminster baptisms
“John”,”Foxwell”,”02071821″,”s Simon/ Sarah ,lab,Feltham “
“John”,”Foxwell”,”26031854″,”s John/ Elizabeth ,lab,Blagdon Hill”
“Harriet”,”Foxwell”,”12081855″,”d John/ Elizabeth ,lab,Blagdon Hill”
“Mary Jane”,”Foxwell”,”00001859″,”d John/ Elizabeth ,lab,Blagdon Hill”
“James”,”Foxwell”,”22021863″,”s John/ Elizabeth ,lab,Blagdon Hill”
“Charlotte”,”Foxwell”,”30031873″,”d Elizabeth ,single woman,Blagdon Hill”
“Harriet”,”Foxwell”,”26101884″,”d Henry/ Sarah ,lab,Blagdon ”

Extract from 1881 census

Dwelling: Hawksmoor Cott Census Place:            Otterford, Somerset , England
Source:      FHL Film 1341568      PRO Ref RG11     Piece 2364     Folio 33     Page
Marr     Age           Sex            Birthplace
John FOXWELL       M              33            M              Yarcombe , Devon , England Rel :           Head Occ :          Ag Lab Sarah FOXWELL      M              40            F               Otterford, Somerset , England Rel :           Wife
Bessy FOXWELL                    8              F               Otterford, Somerset , England Rel :           Daur Occ :      Scholar
Robert FOXWELL                   9              M              Churchstanton , Devon , England Rel :           Son Occ :    Scholar
James FOXWELL                    6              M              Churchstanton , Devon , England Rel :    Son Occ :          Scholar
Walter FOXWELL                4              M              Churchstanton , Devon , England Rel :           Son
Laura BUSSIL                          2              F               Otterford, Somerset , England Rel :           Boarder
James BUSSIL                          80            M              Otterford, Somerset , England

Dwelling: Blagdon Hill Census Place:            Pitminster , Somerset , England Source:      FHL Film 1341568      PRO Ref RG11     Piece 2364     Folio 92     Page 22
John FOXWELL       W             57            M              Otterford, Somerset , England Rel : Head Occ     Ag Lab
Henry FOXWELL    M              38            M              Welton , Somerset , England Rel :    Son Occ : Ag Lab

Dwelling: Fryern Street Census Place: Bridgewater , Somerset , England
Source: FHL Film 1341571 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2374 Folio 36 Page 23

Henry FOXWELL M 38 M Taunton , Somerset , England

Rel :           Head                Occ :          Sergeant royal Marine Artillery
Helen FOXWELL     M              29            F               Perkensall , Hampshire , England Rel :           Wife
Harry J.A. FOXWELL               8              M              Perkensall , Hampshire , England Rel :Son Occ :   Scholar
Helen FOXWELL                    5              F               Perkensall , Hampshire , England Rel :           Dau Occ :     Scholar

Dwelling :       Haygrass House
Charlotte FOXWELL U            32            F               Taunton , Somerset , England Rel : Serv Occ : Cook
Sarah FOXWELL      U              20            F               Blagdon , Somerset , England Rel :    Serv
William G. FOXWELL              8 m           M              Bridgwater, Somerset , England Rel :           Son

Dwelling: Blagdon Hill Census Place: Pitminster , Somerset , England
Source: FHL Film 1341568 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2364 Folio 93 Page 24

William LOCK          M              67            M              Churchstanton , Devon , England Occ :          Mole Catcher
Hannah LOCK          M              67            F               Churchstanton , Devon , England
John FOXWELL       U              21            M              Pitminster , Somerset , England Rel : Lodger Occ      Ag Lab

Dwelling: Blagdon Hill

Henry MERRICK      M              25            M              Taunton St James, Somerset , England
Elizabeth MERRICK M              28            F               Pitminster , Somerset , England
Charlotte FOXWELL                 7              F               Pitminster , Somerset , England Rel :           Step Dau

IGI entries for Otterford

THOMAS FOXWELL m JEANE KINGE at Wilton (St George church) 27th Aug 1612

WILLIAM FOXWELL son of EDWARD/MARY christened 16th Sept 1810 Wilton

ANN FOXWELL m JAMES RIDGE 14th May 1780 Otterford

BETTY FOXWELL m WILLIAM COLES 19th May 1767 Otterford

ELIZABETH FOXWELL bc1592 m ANDREW HANDOVER 27th Sept 1613 Otterford

ESTHER FOXWELL m JOHN WEEICH 12th April 1737 Otterford

JOSEPH FOXWELL m HESTER SPARK 27th May 1703 Churchstanton

JULIAN FOXWELL bc1599 m WILLIAM BOWEMAN 25th Sept 1620 Otterford

REBECKA FOXWELL m JOSEPH OATTEN 11th Feb 1708 Otterford

Parish records for Blackdown Hill Parishes

Pitminster Marriages 1673-1885 – LOADING to MAYLED

Lock, Robert, Mary Foxwell , 06 Jan 1820, indweller/otp …. Mansfield, John, Elizabeth Jane Foxwell , 15 Oct 1867, 25 s John/ 24 d [not stated] …www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Pitminster/MarPit_

GENUKI/Devon: Upottery Marriages 1702-1837 – PYNE to ZAME
Searle, William, Sarah Foxwell , 25 Mar 1786, otp labourer/otp ….. Wyatt, Thomas, Betty Foxwell , 21 Mar 1791, otp yeoman widower/otp …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Upottery/Registers/Mar1702-1837Pyne.html

Churchstanton Marriages 1662-1901 – BOLT to CHARD
Bond, Mary, Joseph Foxwell , 26 Oct 1766 ….. Chard, Margaret, Benjamin Foxwell , 16 Apr 1746 … Chard, Sarah, William Foxwell , 17 Jan 1792 …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Churchstanton/MarChu_B.html

GENUKI/Devon: Upottery Banns 1793-1812
Dimond, John, Mary Foxwell , 11 Nov 1798, otp/otp. Dimond, Thomas , Lydia Burrough, 29 Nov 1804 … Foxwell , Mary, John Dimond, 11 Nov 1798 …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Upottery/Registers/Banns1793-1812.html

Angersleigh Marriages 1693-1892
27 May 1703: Joseph Foxwell Otterford: Hester Sparke Churchstanton. 29 Aug 1703: Roger Commons Wilton : Joan Camplin Hill Bishops …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Angersleigh/AngMar.html

Churchstanton Marriage Banns 1766-1791
Bond, Mary, Joseph Foxwell , 05 Oct 1766. Bond, Mary, James Thomas, 20 May 1781 …. Foxwell , Joseph, Mary Bond, 05 Oct 1766, both otp …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Churchstanton/BanChu.html

Corfe Marriages 1776-1878
14 Jan 1880: David Bale otp s John: Harriet Foxwell Pitminster d John. 8 Apr 1880: William Dyer otp 28 s William: Alice Anna Meacham otp 22 d John …

GENUKI/Devon: Devon – Western Antiquary Subject Index (D-G)
FOXWELL , RICHARD, 1, 204. FOYNES’ FAMILY, 3, 4. ‘FRANCIS’ OF FOWEY, 7, 319. ‘FRANCIS’ OF FOWEY, 8, 21. FRANCUS, FRANCEIS, FRENCH, NOTES ON THE SURNAMES OF … genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Wes

Corfe, St Nicholas, Burials 1678-1899
Foxwell , Daniel, 27 May 1832, 63, Blagdon. Foxwell , Grace, 09 Mar 1817, 7, Blagdon. Foxwell , William, 25 Dec 1805. France , Le, 27 Dec 1719 …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Corfe/BurCor_D.html

GENUKI/Devon: The Churches of Exeter
Foxwell , 137; Gandy, 143; Gibbs 20; Gidley, 122; Gifford, 49; Gobodesley, 49; Gould, …. Foxwell , Anne, 137; Edward, 137; Margaret, 137 Fraike, John, 13 …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Exeter/ExeterChurches.html

Trull, All Saints, Burials 1678-1889
Foxwell , Elizabeth, 16 Dec 1686. Foxwell , Elizabeth, 14 Dec 1687. Foxwell , John, 17 Nov 1687. Foxwell , John, 18 Dec 1686 …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Trull/BurTru_D.html

Churchstanton Devon 1871 Census
Foxwell . Martha. wife. MF. 40. ag lab. DEV Yarcombe. Foxwell . John. son. UM. 23. ag lab. DEV Churchstanton. Foxwell . Saloman …http://www.parkhouse.org.uk/transcr/rg102367census1871churchstanton.pdf

Otterford Marriages 1585-1900
23 Apr 1821: John Baker sojourner otp: Grace Foxwell otp … 30 Mar 1824: John Buttel bachelor otp: Mary Foxwell wid otp …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Otterford/OttMar.html

GENUKI/Devon: Upottery Burials 1702-1902 – CLEAK to GRIG
Foxwell , Benjamin, 24 Jun 1750. Foxwell , Betty, 18 Jun 1777. Foxwell , Joan, 22 Feb 1729, w Benjamin. Foxwell , Joseph, 28 Feb 1782 …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Upottery/Registers/Bur1702-1902Cleak.html

Pitminster, St Mary and St Andrew, Banns 1754-1810 – DALBRIDGE to …Foxwell , Daniel, Grace Hawkins, 16 Sep 1792, otp/Combe St Nicholas SOM. Foxwell , Miriam, James Blackmoor, 05 Jun 1808, both otp …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Pitminster/PitBann_D.html

GENUKI/Devon: Upottery Marriages 1702-1837 – ABBOT to GOLDSWORTHY
Foxwell , Benjamin, Joan Thomas, 4 Feb 1705. Foxwell , Betty, Thomas Wyatt … Foxwell , Joseph, Betty Rowland, 23 Feb 1746. Foxwell , Leah, John Selway …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk

GENUKI/Devon: The Churches of Exeter
Foxwell , 137; Gandy, 143; Gibbs, 20; Gidley, 122; Gifford, 49; Gobodesley, 49; Gould, …. Foxwell , Anne, 137; Edward, 137; Margaret, 137 Fraike, John, 13 …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Exeter/ExeterChurches.html

GENUKI: Otterford Baptisms 1567-1900 – FOLLET to HEYRING
Foxwell , Ann, 06 Jan 1833, d Simon/Sarah, lab, Hawkes Moor … Foxwell , John, 30 May 1847, s William/Martha, lab, Yarcombe DEV. Foxwell , John, 27 Mar 1757 …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Otterford/OttBap_Fo.html

Churchstanton Baptisms 1662-1902 – EVELEIGH to GILLARD
Foxwell , Charles, 04 Mar 1894, s Soloman/Mary Ann, carpenter, bn 21 Jan … Foxwell , Mary Jane, 27 Sep 1874, d John/Emma, Southey Moor, lab …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Churchstanton/BapChu_Eve.html

GENUKI: Otterford Burials 1558-1903 – FLEMEN to LUSCOMBE
Foxwell , Joan, 16 Oct 1814, 60, Holman Clave. Foxwell , Joan, 28 Mar 1813, 70 … Foxwell , William, 19 Jun 1814, 96, Dead Man’s Castle …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Otterford/OttBur_Fl.html

Churchstanton, St Peter & St Paul, Burials 1662-1902 – EVELEIGH to …Foxwell , Betty, 29 Jan 1769, d Joseph. Foxwell , Emma, 19 Apr 1878, 32, Southey Moor. Foxwell , Grant, 24 Aug 1670, d Tymothy. Foxwell , Hannah, 07 Aug 1825 …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Churchstanton/BurChu_Ev.html

Pitminster Marriages 1673-1885 – EDEN to GAYLARD
Foxwell , William, Mary Ball, 07 May 1868, pensioner wdr s Simon/d James … Foxwell , William, Mary Ann Vickery, 03 Aug 1876, 26 s John/23 d John …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Pitminster/MarPit_Ed.html

Churchstanton Marriages 1662-1901 – DOLLEN to GILLARD
Foxwell , Benjamin, Susan Drake, 06 Jan 1882, otp 24 s William/Wilton 25 … Foxwell , Solomon, Mary Ann Ackland, 09 Apr 1888, otp 26 s William/otp 23 d Peter genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Churchstanton/MarChu_D.html

Pitminster, St Mary & St Andrew, Burials 1683-1886
Foxwell , John, 21 Jun 1713. Foxwell , Margaret, 22 Feb 1813, 30, Otterford. Foxwell , Mary, 25 Sep 1835 … Foxwell , Mary Jane, 09 Oct 1859, 8mn, Blagdon Hill …http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Pitminster/BurPit_E.html

GENUKI/Devon: Church and Society in 18th Century Devon
Foxwell Rev. John Digby, North Huish,, proceedings taken against, p 152 Fursman John, Exeter , circa 1748, heard report about bad behaviour by John Wesley, …genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/DevonIndexes/ChurchSociety.htm