John and Ann Tonkin but which couple

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Research page of the Tonkin Name Study

Here I am going to have a closer look at the 4 couples married around the same time and try to determine which children belong to which couple!

The 4 couples are :

John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe married 19 Jan 1784 St Agnes, Cornwall.

John Tonkin and Ann Silvester married 29 Jun 1793 St Agnes, Cornwall.

John Tonkin and Ann Trezise married 9 Jun 1804 St Agnes, Cornwall.

John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick married 18 Dec 1813 in St Agnes, Cornwall.

First I will break down the marriages:

John Tonkin of St Agnes married Ann Clymoe of Perranzabuloe 19 Jan 1784 in St Agnes, Cornwall. Banns were read in St Agnes on the 4th, 11th and 18th Jan 1784, and in Perranzabuloe on 28 Dec 1783, 4 Jan and 11 Jan 1784. Witnesses were Isaac Prout and William Paul (who were witnesses to all the marriages on this page of the parish register). John Tonkin signed his name, Ann Clymoe made her mark.

John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe

John Tonkin married Ann Silvester 29 Jun 1793 in St Agnes, Cornwall. They were both of St Agnes and married by banns. Witnesses were Philip Roberts and William Roberts. John Tonkin signed his name, Ann Silvester made her mark.

John Tonkin and Ann Silvester

John Tonkin married Ann Trezise 9 Jun 1804 in St Agnes, Cornwall. Both were of St Agnes. Banns were read in St Agnes on 20 May, 27 May and 3 Jun 1804. Witnesses were James Martyn and Thomas Trezise. Both John Tonkin and Ann Trezise made their mark.

John Tonkin and Ann Trezise

John Tonkin married Ann Tredinnick 18 Dec 1813 in St Agnes, Cornwall. Both were of St Agnes. Banns were read in St Agnes on 14 Nov, 21 Nov and 28 Nov 1813. Witnesses were Catherine Phillips and Mary Woolcock. John Tonkin signed his name, Ann Tredinnick made her mark.

John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick

So for this time period, the parish registers did not record ages of the bride and groom, nor does it record their father's names. The only helpful information, when trying to determine which couple they could be, will come from whether they are of the parish, and possible witnesses. Every John Tonkin was of St Agnes. No Tonkin connections with witnesses stand out. Unless they are still living at the time of the census, or a burial can be determined with an age of death, it is going to be practically impossible to know which John Tonkin is the groom at each of these marriages.

Safe to say, any child baptised before 1793 would be of John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe, so I will look at baptisms of children to John and Ann Tonkin in St Agnes from 1793 :

John Tonkin born 22 Aug, baptised 25 Dec 1793 ✓
John Tonkin married Rebecca Nankivell 1820 in St Agnes. Their first daughter was Nancy Silvester Tonkin born 1821. His age at death on 25 Nov 1874 was very precise! 81 years, 3 months and 3 days! Making him born 22 Aug 1793 and the son of John Tonkin and Ann Silvester

John Tonkin born 18 Sep, baptised 19 Oct 1794 ✓
With the John Tonkin born 1793 the son of John Tonkin and Ann Silvester, it could be safe to say he is the son of John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe.

William Tonkin born 9 Mar, baptised 5 Apr 1795 ✓
If John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe had a son John born 18 Sep 1794, then they could not have another son born 9 Mar 1795. He would have to be the son of John Tonkin and Ann Silvester. Possibly the William Tonkin buried 3 Mar 1797 in St Agnes (age was given as 1, but would be closer to age 2).

William Tonkin born 24 Nov, baptised 10 Dec 1797 ✓
This information could be purely coincidental - but could work.
William Tonkin married Martha Tyzzer 1822 in St Agnes, after Martha's death he married widow Jane Tonkin in 1844.
Jane (Jennifer) was the daughter of Edward Nankivell, her first husband James Tonkin.
Jane (Jennifer) Nankivell was the sister of Rebecca Nankivell, the wife of John Tonkin.
Would it make sense that Nankivell sisters Rebecca and Jane (Jennifer) married Tonkin brothers John and James?
Would it make sense that William Tonkin would marry his brother's widow?
If so, then he would be the son of John Tonkin and Ann Silvester.
William Tonkin passed away age 66 in 1863.

Erazmus Tonkin born 7 Apr, baptised 4 May 1798 ✓
Born only 6 months after William Tonkin (Nov 1797) he could not be a sibling, then he would be the son of John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe.

Mary Tonkin born 13 Feb, baptised 7 Apr 1800

Honour Tonkin born 15 May, baptised 13 Jun 1802
Possibly the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Silvester but not concrete. Whomever her parents are (John Tonkin and Ann Silvester or John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe), Stephen Tonkin (1802) must be the son of the other couple, as they cannot be siblings, born 2 months apart.

Stephen Tonkin born 9 Jul, baptised 25 Jul 1802

James Tonkin born 28 Jul, baptised 19 Aug 1804 ✓
James Tonkin married Jane (Jennifer) Nankivell 1 Jun 1833, witnesses were John Tonkin (possibly his father, or brother) and John Collins.
They had 2 daughters Rebecca Nankivell Tonkin and Eliza Stephens Tonkin.
Living in Park Venson, St Agnes in 1841 are James, Jane, Rebecca and Eliza.
James passed away age 38 and was buried in St Agnes 13 Mar 1842. His widow Jane married a William Tonkin in 1844.
Would it make sense that his widow Jane would marry his widowed brother William?
If so, he would be the son of John Tonkin and Ann Silvester.
Daughter Rebecca Nankivell Tonkin is named after her maternal grandmother Rebecca (Bowden) Nankivell. Eliza Stephens Tonkin is interesting, need to look at further for a possible Tonkin name connection)

Mary Tonkin born 1 May, baptised 3 Jun 1805 ✓
A Mary Tonkin married James Harpur (Harper) 9 Aug 1828 in St Agnes, witnesses were John Tonkin (possibly father) and Stephen Vodden. In 1841 they are living 3 doors down from Ann Tonkin (widow) and children in Wheal Butson. Mary Harper died age 40 in 1845. This could make her the first born child of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise.

John Tonkin born 18 Aug, baptised 13 Sep 1806 ✓
With John Tonkin and Ann Silvester already having a confirmed son John, and this being 22 years after the marriage of John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe, I think he would be the son of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise, who married in 1804. As they had another son John born 1813 he must have died before then. There is no child burial for a John Tonkin, but there is a burial with no age, John Tonkin 14 Oct 1812.

James Tonkin baptised 5 Jun 1808 ✓
With John Tonkin and Ann Silvester already having a confirmed son James, this could be the son of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise. They have a son James born 1827, so he must have died before then. There is a burial for James Tonkin age 3 19 Aug 1810 which could be him.

John Tonkin baptised 10 Jan 1813 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson
I think he is the son of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise.
Firstly John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick are not married at this time.
Although John is not with the family in 1841, Ann Tonkin is home with her children Ann, Susan, Amelia, Elizabeth and James, and all are born in Wheal Butson, as this John was. See the 1841 census photograph below.

John Tonkin baptised 16 Sep 1814 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Trevellas Coomb
John passed away age 4 months, residence Cross Coomb, buried 26 Nov 1814. With John Tonkin and Ann Trezise the couple from Wheal Butson, that would make John the son of John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick.

John Tonkin baptised 12 Nov 1815 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Trevellas Coomb. With John Tonkin and Ann Trezise the couple from Wheal Butson, that would make John the son of John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick.

Ann Tonkin baptised 20 Apr 1816 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson
I think she is the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise. At home with her mother in 1841, see the 1841 census photograph below.

Benjamin Tonkin baptised 15 Apr 1817 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Trevellas Coomb. With John Tonkin and Ann Trezise the couple from Wheal Butson, that would make Benjamin the son of John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick.

Susan Tonkin baptised 20 Sep 1818 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson
I think she is the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise. At home with her mother in 1841, see the 1841 census photograph below.

Jane Tonkin baptised 15 Feb 1820 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Cross Coomb
With John Tonkin and Ann Trezise the couple from Wheal Butson, that would make Jane the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick.

Amelia Tonkin baptised 25 Dec 1821 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson
I think she is the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise. At home with her mother in 1841, see the 1841 census photograph below.

Mary Anne Tonkin baptised 27 Dec 1821 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Trevellas Coomb
With John Tonkin and Ann Trezise the couple from Wheal Butson, that would make Mary Anne the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick.

Elizabeth Tonkin baptised 7 Oct 1823 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson
I think she is the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise. At home with her mother in 1841, see the 1841 census photograph below.

James Tonkin baptised 29 Jul 1827 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson
I think he is the son of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise. At home with his mother in 1841, see the 1841 census photograph below.

Jane Tonkin baptised 15 Jan 1832 ✓
father occupation miner, residence Wheal Butson.
Jane passed away age 3, residence Wheal Butson, buried 4 May 1833 St Agnes. With the other children from Wheal Butson, I believe she is the daughter of John Tonkin and Ann Trezise.

So - what do we have? I think this has helped a little! I will attempt to group the parents with their children here and see who is left! I will place a ✓ next to the children (above) accounted for.

John Tonkin and Ann Clymoe married 19 Jan 1784

• John Tonkin born 18 Sep, baptised 19 Oct 1794
• Erazmus Tonkin born 7 Apr, baptised 4 May 1798

John Tonkin and Ann Silvester married 29 Jun 1793

• John Tonkin born 22 Aug, baptised 25 Dec 1793
• William Tonkin born 9 Mar, baptised 5 Apr 1795
• William Tonkin born 24 Nov, baptised 10 Dec 1797
• James Tonkin born 28 Jul, baptised 19 Aug 1804

John Tonkin and Ann Trezise married 9 Jun 1804

• Mary Tonkin born 1 May, baptised 3 Jun 1805
• John Tonkin born 18 Aug, baptised 13 Sep 1806
• James Tonkin baptised 5 Jun 1808
• John Tonkin baptised 10 Jan 1813
• Ann Tonkin baptised 20 Apr 1816
• Susan Tonkin baptised 20 Sep 1818
• Amelia Tonkin baptised 25 Dec 1821
• Elizabeth Tonkin baptised 7 Oct 1823
• James Tonkin baptised 29 Jul 1827
• Jane Tonkin baptised 15 Jan 1832

I think this is the couple from Wheal Butson. With the first baptism of a child whose parents reside in Wheal Butson being John baptised 10 Jan 1813, it would not be John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick as they did not marry until Dec 1813.
John Tonkin age 52 of Wheal Butson was buried 11 Mar 1831 in St Agnes, making him born c1779.
The 1841 census for Ann Tonkin of Wheal Butson, St Agnes with her children Ann (1816) Susan (1818) Amelia (1821) Elizabeth (1823) and James (1827).

1841 Wheal Butson, St Agnes

Possible marriage for Amelia Tonkin to Thomas Williams in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. In the 1850 US Census, Amelia Williams (age 28) and her husband are living in Schuylkill County, living next door is a James Tonkin (age 23) could be her brother.

John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick married 18 Dec 1813

• John Tonkin baptised 16 Sep 1814
• John Tonkin baptised 12 Nov 1815
• Benjamin Tonkin baptised 15 Apr 1817
• Jane Tonkin baptised 15 Feb 1820
• Mary Anne Tonkin baptised 27 Dec 1821

With John Tonkin and Ann Trezise the couple from Wheal Butson, then John Tonkin and Ann Tredinnick would be from Trevellas Coomb. In the 1841 census Ann is at the home of her sister Prudence (Tredinnick) Williams in Falmouth, nothing further found on John or the children.