Henry Dyer Brickwall - Extended Research Notes from Martha Shobrook

Date: 6 Aug 2022 [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Dyer Devon

This page is a continuation of the Research Notes on the profile of Martha Spear (formerly Dyer, nee. Shobrook) and Henry Dyer.

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After the baptism of their first child, Martha's first husband, Henry Dyer, seems to drop off the map completely. I cannot find a burial or death record for him on FindMyPast or FamilySearch before or after John Dyer's baptism and Martha's second marriage, in or near Chagford or Okehampton, at a time that makes sense. - Oscar Evans, 05/08/2022

The only burial I can see in the appropriate time period is this one:

• Henry Dyer burial on 5 Jun 1795 in Littleham (Near Exmouth), Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Burials", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 2932A/PR/1/3, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

But Littleham, Exmouth is quite far from Okehampton (about 35.9 miles according to Google Maps).

Also, I initially believed that the Henry Dyer she married was the one baptised in 1760:

• Henry Dyer baptism on 29 Sep 1760, son of Henry & Elinor, in Chagford, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Baptisms", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 1429A/PR/1/1, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

He was 6th of 9 children and their only son.

His parents' marriage:

• Henry Dyer (of Oakehampton) marriage to Eleanor Gerry (of Chagford) on 15 May 1749 in Exeter, St George, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Marriages And Banns", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 4779A/PR/1/1, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

But there is a 1764 burial which seems to align with him (it is probably not the burial of his father of the same name, as he had a child baptised in 1767 with no mention of father being deceased):

• Henry Dyer burial on 1 Mar 1764 in Okehampton, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Burials", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3210A/PR/1/2, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

So then I thought it was possible that Henry Dyer's (b.1760) father, Henry Dyer, could be the one who married Mary Shobrook, especially as his wife Eleanor died the year before the 1793 marriage:

• Eleanor Dyer burial on 12 Aug 1792 in Chagford, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Burials", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 1429A/PR/1/2, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

I also initially thought that the father of Henry Dyer (b.1760) was the Henry Dyer baptised in 1728 (note his father's name is also Henry Dyer):

• Henry Dyer baptism on 19 May 1728, son of Hen & Mary, in Okehampton, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Baptisms", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3210A/PR/1/2, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

His parents' marriage:

• Henry Dyer marriage to Mary Goodman on 3 Aug 1722 in Okehampton, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Marriages And Banns", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3210A/PR/1/2, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

However, I then found a burial in 1731 that seems to align with Henry Dyer (b.1728) (again it probably doesn't belong to his father as he had another child baptised in 1734 with no mention of father being deceased):

• Henry Dyer Junr burial on 3 Mar 1731 in Okehampton, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Burials", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3210A/PR/1/2, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

So, then, was Henry Dyer, father of Henry Dyer (b.1728), actually the one who married Eleanor Gerry? It would align with this possible burial of his wife Mary two years before the 1749 marriage:

• Mary Dyer burial (died in 1747) on 15 Jan 1747 in Okehampton, Devon, England. Citing: "Devon Burials", Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 3210A/PR/1/2, FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 6 August 2022).

And then, is it possible that Henry Dyer, father of Henry Dyer (b.1728), is ALSO the Henry Dyer that married Martha Shobrook? He would've been quite old by 1793, but it's not impossible.