Tuesday 13th January 2015
Jane Whatley writes ~
Dear Danny, I have been tracing my husband’s family tree and his ancestors came from Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire. His great-great Grandfather, Paul Whatley, born 1825, married Ann Cooper. The 1851 census records them living in Sand Street, Longbridge Deverill. Paul’s father was John, born 1799 and who married Elizabeth Parker. The 1841 census recorded him living in Plott, South Damerham, Longbridge Deverill. John’s father William Whatley (1776-1856) married Mary Crofts in 1796. The 1841 census shows them living in Petershill, South Damerham, Longbridge Deverill.
Paul, John and William Whatley were all agricultural labourers so I guess these places were connected to farms near Longbridge Deverill. As we are planning to visit the village I wonder if you would be able to shed any light on where these places were in relation to the village as it is today.
I have traced back further – William’s son Silas (1751) married Phoebe Millard in Longbridge Deverill. Silas’ father was Ambrose Whatley who was baptised 9.11.1726 in Longbridge Deverill and he married Prudence Dex (1719-1789). His father was also called Ambrose and he married Elizabeth Crofts on 5.6.1723. However I have found it difficult to go further back owing to the lack of records online. Would a visit to the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham help me to trace back further?
Any help you are able to provide will be very much appreciated.
Danny Howell replies ~
Thank you Jane for your enquiry. To answer your questions:
South Damerham is not a specific place in the village of Longbridge Deverill. In fact, it’s the other way round. South Damerham was the name of a hundred ~ an adminstrative division or geographical area within a county or shire ~ which in this instance comprised Christian Malford, Compton Chamberlayne, Damerham, Grittleton, Kingston Deverill, Kington Langley, Kington St. Michael, Longbridge Deverill, Nettleton, and Toyd Farm with Allenford.
Plott, I am certain, was the old former name for what has been since at least 1850 to the present day known as Sand Street in the village of Longbridge Deverill. Sand Street runs east, from the crossroads (with the A350) by the George Inn in Longbridge Deverill, and forms part of what was the B3095 to Sutton Veny (this stretch of road is now no longer part of the B3095, having been declassified).
Petershill. I think this is a misreading of Poter’s Hill, which is now known and spelt as Potter’s Hill. Potter’s Hill is not in Longbridge Deverill but in the neighbouring village of Crockerton. Longbridge Deverill and Crockerton are two separate residential villages today but years ago Crockerton was only a hamlet within Longbridge Deverill. Potter’s Hill occupies the area around what is the present-day Crockerton Primary School in the village of Crockerton.
With regard your question: “Would a visit to the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham help me to trace back further?” I should say probably yes. The Record Office at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, the last time I checked, had the parish records for Longbridge Deverill going back to 1682 [41 years before your known marriage of Ambrose Whatley and Elizabeth Crofts in 1723], and Bishop’s Transcripts for Longbridge Deverill for 1607 and 1622 [which might have Whatley mentions]. You could always phone the History Centre first to confirm they hold these documents. Telephone 01249 705500 or email: heritageadmin@wiltshire.gov.uk