Northam in Devon

There have been a number of threads on the Devon mailing list about links between Wales and Devon. We are interested in the topic because our Evans ancestor moved from Appledore to Newport in the mid 19th Century and because we suspect that the Appledore Evans connection had their origins in Wales in the late 17th C. That latter connection is proving tricky to pin down.

The other side of our family – the Croomes – were crossing over the Severn between Berkeley/Thornbury and the Forest of Dean.

So we are curious about the patterns of commercial and personal connection across the water.

As we find more about the various connections we will record them here in case others find them useful

If you followed the postings here you would conclude that I have shamefully neglected the role of OPC and the suggestions I made a good while ago. And you would be more or less correct. However it was suggested to me when I volunteered that there was very little need for the OPC and I am afraid that my active contributions have had to take second place to day to day pressures of work. It has been possible to respond to a few queries. This post is therefore simply to say that I am happy to help if people have queries; that the online material is a very good starting place; and that the registers in the period earlier than the 1740s (copies of some parts of which I do have) are very hard work to decipher. I can understand why other transcribers have not pushed much further back but searching for specific entries can sometimes be possible.

Two sorts of updating are underway

First to implement version 3 of WordPress with some associated changes to the layout. Apologies if there are glitches while this is underway

Second I have neglected the OPC plans but am now back in action to look at some of the issues I promised earlier

I volunteered for this role because I felt that the things I was likely to be doing about my own interests could be of wider use. And, of course, to make a contribution to the wider community.

But then I started thinking about what it meant. It was even suggested that as so much information was available online via the GENUKI site that the traditional role was not needed for Northam.

It seemed to me that OPCs should be whatever people want them to be, within the broad framework that has been set out in the general guidance. I have written up a few  thoughts on what the OPC might do on this page. I would welcome views – probably best as comments on this post. I will adapt the page in the light of any comments so that it acts as the introduction to the OPC role and the facilities.

Views are very welcome from all those interested in Northam – and other OPCs who have experience that would be useful to share. I feel very much the newbie on this.

Paul

Following up a link on the Devon pages of GENKI I recently volunteered to make a contribution as the Online Parish Clerk for Northam.

I am just beginning to look at exactly what this means. The background on the role is here. I hope to publish a few ideas on what might be done shortly. Meanwhile please comment below on any aspect, including what information you have and can share or any important information you wish to see.

Also feel free to email me

The site has been updated to the latest WordPress 2.9 and the latest tng integration