The Kearvell family "Brick Wall"
Family historians and those interested in
genealogical research often talk about
"brick walls". What they mean is their
inability to go further back in time with a
particular piece of research -
reached a potential dead-
as records do not go back infinitely, there
will be a dead-
For our Family there are still many "brick walls" within our Tree that, over time,
may be eventually broken down. However, the most important of these is that surrounding
the origins of our oldest known ancestor, Francis Kervil. He didn't come from an
alien planet (at least I hope not!) but in many ways he does seem to just surface
in West Sussex with little or no earlier evidence in that area. Unfortunately his
probable birth date would seem to fit into the time known as the 'Commonwealth' period
-
However, I have come across two burial entries in records of Bosham Parish Church that may throw a 'chink of light' against the Family "brick wall". I have spoken with Gordon Kearvell from Slough, who was one of the architects of the earliest family tree compiled in the 1970/80s, and he was unaware of these entries from his research.
The two burial entries are:-
1690 Henry Kervill 4 May 1690 son of Francis alias GRILL
1708 Martha Kervill 3 Sept 1708 daughter of John
What could these entries tell us?
Firstly, the existence of a son of Francis in 1690 points to the 1st marriage to Mary Wiles (at Chidham West Sussex in February 1687) not being childless as previously believed. Secondly, and more excitingly, if the entry refers to our Francis it reveals that he was also known by an alias. At that time of religious and political unrest it was not uncommon for people to use an alias and maybe we are now also looking for someone called Francis Grill.
The entry for Martha points to a slight possiblity of John being another child of
Francis's 1st marriage -