William and Mary Tonkin but which couple

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Research page of the Tonkin Name Study

Here I am going to have a closer look at the 3 couples married around the same time and try to determine which children belong to which couple!

The 3 couples are:

William Tonkin and wife Mary Sampson married 21 Oct 1791 in St Agnes, Cornwall.

William Tonkin and wife Mary Trezise married 28 Oct 1793 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall.

William Tonkin and wife Mary Tyack married 10 Jun 1810 in Tavistock, Devon.

There is a marriage for William Tonkin and Margery Renphry 2 Sep 1786 in Kenwyn, Cornwall, and it does appear that the FamilySearch tree has had some of their children incorrectly added as children of William and Mary, so that is something to keep in mind, but for this purpose I am not including them.

First I will break down the marriages:

William Tonkin and Mary Sampson married 21 Oct 1791 in St Agnes, Cornwall, England. No ages at marriage, both of this parish, married by Banns which were on 4 Sep, 11 Sep and 18 Sep 1791 in St Agnes. Witnesses were Thomas Tonkin and Mark Richards. William Tonkin, Thomas Tonkin and Mark Richards signed their names, Mary Sampson made her mark.
This is the only marriage of the 3 that has a possible Tonkin connection with a witness. William Tonkin (1756) is the son of a Thomas Tonkin, he also has a brother Thomas Tonkin either of whom could be a witness. That is a good fit to this couple married in 1791.

William Tonkin and Mary Sampson 1791

William Tonkin and Mary Trezise married 28 Oct 1793 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England. No ages at marriage. William Tonkin sojourner (no parish) and Mary Trezise of this parish. Married by Banns which were on the 6 Oct, 13 Oct and 20 Oct 1793 in Perranzabuloe. I cannot find Banns read in another possible parish for William Tonkin, noted the Banns for St Agnes are missing for this time period. Witnesses were John Trenerry and Perran Cooke. William Tonkin and Mary Trezise made their mark, witnesses signed their name.

William Tonkin and Mary Trezise 1793

William Tonkin and Mary Tyack married 10 Jun 1810 in Tavistock, Devon. No ages at marriage. William Tonkin bachelor and miner of this parish, Mary Tyack spinster of this parish. Married by Banns which were on 15 Apr, 22 Apr and 29 Apr in Tavistock. Witnesses were Wm Shonk and Cathrine Carthews. William and Mary made their mark, witnesses signed their name.

William Tonkin and Mary Tyack 1810

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. The only marriage with an obvious (possible) family connection is the first marriage of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson, with a witness Thomas Tonkin.

Now, for all the children baptised to a William and Mary from 1791 onwards in either St Agnes, Perranzabuloe or in Devon.

Elizabeth Tonkin born 15 Dec 1791, baptised 5 Feb 1791 St Agnes. ✓
Is the daughter of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson. William Tonkin's will in 1829 confirms this, leaving £25 to be paid within 12 months of his death to his daughter Elizabeth, wife of James Dale Allen.

John Tonkin born 2 Aug 1793, baptised 18 Aug 1793 St Agnes. ✓
Is the son of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson. John is executor of his father's will, both father and son lived in Towan, St Agnes.

William Tonkin born 27 Jan 1794, baptised 16 Feb 1794 St Agnes. ✓
As William is born less than 6 months after John Tonkin it is not likely they are brothers. He would be the son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise. There is a possible burial for a child of William Tonkin (no age or first name in the register) on 11 Oct 1794 in St Agnes.

William Tonkin born 22 Sep 1795, baptised 5 Oct 1795 St Agnes. ✓
Now it gets tricky! William born 1794 has to be the son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise. This William could be the son of either couple. There is no burial for a William or a child of William Tonkin before the birth of the next William in 1796 - so if this William lives to be an adult - which couple is he the son of? Would a father leave an adult son out of his will? I don't believe so - perhaps he is the son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise.

William Tonkin born 21 Jul 1796, baptised 4 Sep 1796 St Agnes. ✓
A third child William in just over 2 years. There is a burial for a William Tonkin age 1 on 3 Mar 1797 in St Agnes. William born 22 Sep 1795 does not appear to be deceased before this William is born, perhaps this William is the son of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson.

William born 12 Jun 1798, baptised 1 Jul 1798 St Agnes.
William and James Tonkin born 2 Oct 1798 cannot be of the same parents, being born only 4 months apart. With James (possibly) the son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise it would make William the son of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson.
Would a father have left an adult son out of his will? I don't believe so - needs further research.

James born 2 Oct 1798, baptised 21 Oct 1798 St Agnes. ✓
James and William born 12 Jun 1798 cannot be of the same parents, being born only 4 months apart. The FamilySearch tree has him as the son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise so for this exercise, I will also. There is a burial for James Tonkin, age 33, in St Agnes on 5 Sep 1831, his residence was Goonbell.

Mary Ann born 14 Sep 1800, baptised 28 Sep 1800 St Agnes. ✓
Did both couples have a daughter Mary Ann? Or are they both the daughters of one couple and this Mary Ann passed away before 1805 (note: I cannot locate an appropriate burial before 1805). Either way - would a father have left a daughter out of his will? No I don't believe so - perhaps she is the daughter of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise.

Elizabeth born 22 Jan 1803, baptised 13 Feb 1803 St Agnes. ✓
As William Tonkin and Mary Sampson have a daughter Elizabeth, she would be the daughter of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise.

Mary Ann born 15 May 1805, baptised 23 Jun 1805 St Agnes. ✓
No idea! If the other Mary-Ann in 1800 is deceased, she could be the daughter of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise. Again, I don't believe a father would have left a daughter out of his will, so don't think she is the daughter of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson.

Juliana Tonkin baptised 14 Mar 1807 Perranzabuloe. ✓
Juliana emigrated to South Australia on the ship Success, arriving at Port Adelaide on 27 Jan 1848. Also onboard is Benjamin Tonkin with his wife and family. She was 45 when she married John Robins in Adelaide on 3 Nov 1849. She died age 57 on 21 Oct 1864 in Allens Creek, South Australia. With both Juliana and Benjamin on the same ship, it would seem likely they are related.

Benjiaman Tonkin baptised 19 Jun 1808 St Agnes. ✓
Benjamin Tonkin, son of William, died age 1 and was buried 17 Jan 1810 in Tavistock, Devon. Now we have evidence that a Tonkin family from St Agnes has moved to Tavistock BUT this child Benjamin was born before the marriage of William Tonkin and Mary Tyack in 1810! So is he the son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise? I think so.

Benjamin Tonkin born 14 Jul 1810, baptised 29 Jul 1810 ✓
Son of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise he died an infant and was buried 7 Jan 1811 in Tavistock.

Stephen Tonkin born 25 May 1811, baptised 20 Nov 1811 Tavistock ✓
In 1841 Stephen Tonkin and his family live in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales, at the same home as Mary (Tonkin) Letcher and her family. I believe they are both children of William Tonkin and Mary Tyack.
You can see in the 1851 census how much this family move around, Stephen has children born in Devon, Cornwall, Wales and then back in Devon.

Benjamin Tonkin born 17 Mar 1812, baptised 5 Apr 1812 Tavistock ✓
The son of William Tonkin and wife Mary Trezise. This Benjamin married Mary Tonkin (oh no!) 15 Dec 1842 in Perranzabuloe, and emigrated to South Australia on the ship Success, arriving at Port Adelaide on 27 Jan 1848. Benjamin and Mary have a daughter Jerusha Tonkin, who is buried with her aunt Jarisha (Tonkin) Branson in the Moonta Cemetery.

Mary Ann baptised 4 Jul 1813 Stoke Damerel ✓
Mary Ann died age 1 year and 4 months and was buried 11 Sep 1814 in Stoke Damerel, Devon. With another daughter born a year later also called Mary Ann, I believe she is the daughter of William Tonkin and Mary Tyack.

Jarisha Tonkin born 15 Jan 1814, baptised 6 Mar 1814 Tavistock ✓
Now she is interesting! Jarisha Tonkin emigrated to South Australia on the ship South Sea, arriving at Port Adelaide on 30 Jul 1855. Benjamin Tonkin partly paid for her passage. That would confirm a relationship between Jarisha and Benjamin. With a relationship already established between Benjamin and Juliana Tonkin, it is likely they are all siblings.
She married John Batten 27 Jul 1858 in Kapunda, South Australia. The marriage announcement in the newspapers states she was : Jerusha daughter of the late Mr William Tonkin, of St Agnes, Cornwall.
If you look at who could be the parents of Jarisha and Benjamin, the first couple of William Tonkin and Mary Sampson are out - they had only 2 children living at the time of William's death, and that was more than 10 years before any of them emigrated.
The third couple of William Tonkin and Mary Tyack are also unlikely, although they did marry in Tavistock (coincidence!?) if Benjamin is the second son (the first Benjamin deceased) the parents would be married before 1808.
Making parents of Jarisha and Benjamin William Tonkin and Mary Trezise.
If you go all the way back to the marriage of William Tonkin and Mary Trezise, he was a sojourner, she was of Perranzabuloe, they married in 1793. It would appear they moved around quite a bit - with children baptised in St Agnes, Perranzabuloe and Tavistock!

Mary Ann Tonkin baptised 24 Dec 1815 Stoke Damerel ✓
Mary Ann (age 23, residence Polbrean, father William Tonkin (occupation miner) married John Letcher in 1838 in St Agnes (another Tonkin connection between Tavistock and St Agnes - look at this futher!). It does not say that her father is deceased, but imagine he is also living in Polbrean. In 1841 Mary Ann and John Letcher are living in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales, at the same home as Stephen Tonkin and his family. Safe to say they are related. I think they are children of William Tonkin and Mary Tyack.

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.

William Tonkin and Mary Sampson, married 21 Oct 1791 St Agnes, Cornwall. Children:

• Elizabeth born 15 Dec 1791, baptised 5 Feb 1791 St Agnes
• John born 2 Aug 1793, baptised 18 Aug 1793 St Agnes
• William Tonkin born 21 Jul 1796, baptised 4 Sep 1796 St Agnes

William Tonkin and Mary Trezise married 28 Oct 1793 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall. Children:

• William Tonkin born 27 Jan 1794, baptised 16 Feb 1794 St Agnes.
• William Tonkin born 22 Sep 1795, baptised 5 Oct 1795 St Agnes
• James born 2 Oct 1798, baptised 21 Oct 1798 St Agnes
• Mary Ann born 14 Sep 1800, baptised 28 Sep 1800 St Agnes
• Elizabeth born 22 Jan 1803, baptised 13 Feb 1803 St Agnes
• Mary Ann born 15 May 1805, baptised 23 Jun 1805 St Agnes
• Juliana Tonkin baptised 14 Mar 1807 Perranzabuloe
• Benjiaman Tonkin baptised 19 Jun 1808 St Agnes
• Benjamin Tonkin born 14 Jul 1810, baptised 29 Jul 1810
• Benjamin Tonkin born 17 Mar 1812, baptised 5 Apr 1812 Tavistock
• Jarisha Tonkin born 15 Jan 1814, baptised 6 Mar 1814 Tavistock

William Tonkin and Mary Tyack married 10 Jun 1810 in Tavistock, Devon. Children:

• Stephen Tonkin born 25 May 1811, baptised 20 Nov 1811 Tavistock
• Mary Ann baptised 4 Jul 1813 Stoke Damerel
• Mary Ann Tonkin baptised 24 Dec 1815 Stoke Damerel
• Note: In 1841 Stephen and Mary Ann with their families live at the same home in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales. Also in Aberdare is a William Tyrick/Tynick Tonkin, census records state he was born c1818 in Devon (baptism not located) but Tyrick/Tynick - has to be Tyack - and another son of this couple.

Not unhappy with this exercise! Looking at the final groupings, the gaps between the births of all the children fit nicely - just need to look at the William and James born 1798 - not quite happy with them.

What do you think?! I would love some input on this, either comment below or send me a message. Thanks!