(the following is the copy submitted in 2001 to Angela Bromley-Martin, local Bosham
historian and author of the 'Bosham Omnibus', for inclusion in the Bosham Families
section of the re-write of that book.)
"The family name of KEARVELL can be traced back in Bosham across 12 generations to
1693. In that year our oldest known ancestor, Francis Kervil (Unk-1715), married
Elizabeth Cupin (1671-1707), the youngest daughter of Stephen and Rose Cupin from
Bosham.
So far, we have been unable to trace the origins of Francis but there are several
theories within the family. The most common story, handed down through the generations,
talks of two brothers coming over from Brittany or Normandy and settling in Sussex.
Certainly, Bosham was a thriving port at that time in the 17th Century and the story
may well have a ‘ring of truth’ and help explain why Francis just "appears" in Sussex
without any earlier evidence. ‘Ker’ is a Breton word meaning a farm or small village
and Kervil, although unusual, is still seen as a
surname in several parts of France. Another credible theory is that Francis may have
come from South Hampshire. Geographically it is close to Bosham and the surname can
be found there in the 16/17th Century.
Our name has seen at least 19 variations in the way it has been spelled in Parish
records. The earliest Kervil, Kervel, Karvil and Kervile became Kervell, Kearvele,
Kearvil and, by 1752, Kearvell. Variations continued until about 1840, shortly after
the start of Civil Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages, when the modern-day
Kearvell became almost universally used. Now, all Kearvells throughout the World
can be connected back to that one marriage in Bosham, a truly unique family.
Our family were mainly artisans and, the most common occupations amongst our forefathers, were those connected with wood - carpenters, joiners and wheelwrights. It is interesting to note from the Victorian Census Returns how the standing of family members increased over the years. Many became Master Craftsmen, employing several men as well as apprentices and labourers. Examples of their skilled workmanship can still be seen in the village such as the Church pews near the font. If you look under the seat you will find the name of John Kearvell (1787-1868) and the year 1845 carved into the wood. Other trades were also represented, such as bricklaying, whilst some in the family worked on the land or in domestic service.
As well as making items for the Parish Church, the family has also served the village by filling the post of Parish Clerk on at least one occasion during the 19th century.
However, the family’s connection with this post has led to a certain notoriety for the family name. The job holder, Tom Kervell (1763-1830), is blamed in C J Longcroft’s 19th Century book on Bosham, as the man who set light to the Parish Chest and burnt the records. The story suggests that Tom and the somewhat disreputable Reverend Kilick, who was Vicar from 1800-1838, did not see eye-to-eye about the frequent requests for Tom to provide items from the Parish Chest in order to entertain Kilick’s visitors. In a drunken rage one Christmastime, over yet another late evening request, Tom is reputed to have put a match to the contents of the Parish Chest. Maybe, Tom is painted far blacker in this story than the actual deed, for there are in fact no gaps in the parish registers.
However, within our family, we have a different version of events. Tom Kervell (1789-1865), the Parish Clerk, would now be the son of the previously mentioned Tom. He had a sister Jane Kearvill (1791-1841) who never married but did give birth to three illegitimate sons fathered by a local man, Henry Hammond. It is said that Henry, to conceal his identity and avoid call-up to the Navy, destroyed records of his birth and those of his illegitimate sons and then assumed Jane’s surname. The penalty for avoiding call-up was death. Although no Parish Registers have been found to be missing, equally there are no surviving bastardy records. Maybe these were the papers that were burnt? Maybe arson took place twice? Maybe we will never know the exact truth? Intriguingly, the family version of events has been handed down through the descendants of one of the sons born the wrong side of the bed!
