Content & Construction
The precursors of the “Pinsent” family’s lived in Devon in the Middle Ages. They were “Pinsons” (or similar) and although some of their descendants kept this name others came to be known as “Pinsents.” In an ideal world, all of them would fit on twigs attached to branches on a single, robust and thriving family tree. However, in reality what we find are a few strong limbs with attached branches and a forest floor littered with broken twigs that should all connect up – but it is not clear how. It was all a long time ago!
This website describes the origin and descent (as best I can determine) of the eight branches of the family that are currently (or until recently were) active in the United Kingdom. The families have been assigned to specific locations: Thus they relate to (1) DEVONPORT; (2) HENNOCK; (3) TIVERTON; (4) BRISTOL; (5) TEIGNMOUTH and (6) BOVEY TRACEY in England, and to the Commonwealth countries of (7) INDIA and (8) AUSTRALIA – all places that can easily be found on Google Earth! Note that genetically there may only be seven branches as the AUSTRALIANS probably link up with the BRISTOLIANS. They have been split up for obvious geographic reasons. In fact, there may only be six genetically related lines as one, TEIGNMOUTH, may start out with an illegitimate birth. However, that is another story.
The branches were originally defined using Civil Birth, Marriage and Death Registration data from the “General Records Office” in London. They were then projected back in time using a combination of parish records and other data. Some of the connections are better documented than others but I think the linkages are correct. Given the current availability of parish records on-line. I encourage readers to judge for themselves.
Many of the 19th and 20th century family connections are confirmed by newspapers articles, and they and other anecdotal sources have helped weave people’s lives into an internally consistent narrative. Some of the less readily available source material will (eventually) find its way into the “Resource” section. Note that some of the newspapers are already embedded in the database.
The same Christian names have been reused countless times; so I have given every “Pinsent” (male and female) assigned to a specific branch a unique number. This number – or “GROID” (originally “General Records Office ID”) – is displayed on each individual’s biography page (see: Robert John Pinsent [GRO0748 Hennock] for an example). It has also been attached to reference items used to create that individual’s biography.
The “Branch Summary” sections list, under “All Members,” the names of the people in a given branch with their dates of birth and death (where known). The individuals are linked to their own biographies, where available, through their identifiers. In some cases, you will have to click through to the father or the husband to learn about their lives.
Note that where I have been UNABLE to identify who a person is, or where he or she fits on the tree, I have put them aside without a reference number [GROxxxx xxxxx and/or GRO0000 00000]. I hope to add their “GROID” later, when I see where they fit in the overall jigsaw. Needless to say, I still have a vast amount of information to assign!
“Pinsents” belonging to some of the more robust of the ancient and broken twigs and branches have been given similar “DROID” (originally “Devon Record Office ID”) identifiers that reflect their lineage; however, with the notable exception of the early part of Sir William Pynsent’s [“COMBE”] line, none of these families have been written up and they are not discussed here. For the later part of the “COMBE” line, see the book mentioned in the introduction. Similarly, I have given over 1,000 Newfoundlanders “NFLID” (“Newfoundland ID”) identifiers and built them into provisional branches.
I (Robert Hugh Pinsent: [GRO1152 Hennock]) belong to the HENNOCK branch. If you are interested in a particular person, enter their name or “GROID” in the Search bar and see what turns up! There is not much on me as I am not dead yet!
Navigation
The FAMILY BRANCH SUMMARIES provide a short discussion of the presumed origin and history of each of the named branches (AUSTRALIA, BOVEY TRACEY etc.). They also include a list of the “NOTABLE MEMBERS” with a hint as to their profession and location. This listing provides easy access to that person’s biography – which includes additional information on their family. There is information relating to their personal “FAMILY TREE” at the base of the biography. It consists of listed links to the individual’s “GRAND PARENTS”; his “PARENTS”; His “FATHERS SIBLINGS” and his own “MALE SIBLINGS.” By clicking through you can work your way up and down the tree – or sideways for that matter!
Below the “NOTABLE MEMBERS”, there is a far longer list of “ALL MEMBERS” of the branch. Those who have biographies are marked by a book icon and you can click through to them directly and proceed as above. Others (mostly sons who failed to marry and have children) are marked with an up-turned arrow – which tells you that the individual is briefly discussed with his father – so go there. The arrowed individuals own pages contain information on their “GRAND PARENTS”, “PARENTS” and “FATHERS SIBLINGS” to assist in navigation around the tree. The same can be said for other males who lack the arrow. Many of them died young. Their tree linkages are the same but there is not much said about them in their father’s biography.
Most of the female children have links back to their father and from him around the tree. In most cases you will find what little is known about them in their father’s biography. Needless to say, there are a some exceptions: a few wives have their own biographies. They are listed in the “ALL MEMBERS” table under their married name of “Pinsent,” and by clicking through to them you will find their husbands – who they will bring you back into the main stream.
Note that the “PREVIOUS” and “NEXT” fields at the end of the Biographical descriptions are NOT properly linked and should not be used for navigation purposes.
If you do click through to the BIOGRAPHIES, you should find fairly detailed descriptions of at least 77 DEVONPORT, 67 TIVERTON, 57 BRISTOL, 48 HENNOCK, 15 AUSTRALIA, 11 TEIGNMOUTH, 16 BOVEY TRACEY and 7 INDIA branch males and their families. That makes 286 and counting.