Philip Passmore (1735 - 1804)

Born 1735 in North Molton, Devon, England

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Passmore — married 21 Mar 1764 in Cutcombe, Somerset, England

Husband of Margaret Kingdon — married 9 Sep 1770 in North Molton, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 1804 at about age 69 in North Molton, Devon, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Philip was born in 1735. He was baptized on the 11th February 1735 in North Molton. He is the only ancestor to have married 3 times. Philip married Joan Passmore in the parish of Cutcombe Somerset, which is some distance from North Molton over 40 miles away. The marriage entry says Philip Passmore of the parish of North Molton Devon bachelor and Joan Passmore spinster of this parish, were married by licence. They could both sign their names, and witnesses to the marriage were John Passmore, Joan's father and John Siderfin. I can find no evidence that Philip and Joan were related as these Passmores were from Somerset. There was only 2 children from this marriage. Unfortunately his first wife Joan died in 1769. Philip remarried in North Molton the following year to our direct ancestor Margaret Kingdon, whom was only 16 years old at the time. They were married by banns at All Saints Church. Philip was a widower and could sign his name, but Margaret could not. She was illiterate. Witnesses to the marriage were Michael Burgess and Philip Passmore, possibly a cousin. There was 11 children from this marriage, but 5 would die young. In 1779 Philip was recorded as Portreeve for the parish of North Molton. A Portreeve was someone similar to a customs officer to collect taxes. He was only Portreeve for one year, and another Portreeve was elected each year. His future brother-in law Peter Stoneman was also Porteeve for the year 1780. Philip appears on a document dated 25th March 1780, in which he leases a property called Easter Houses for the term of his life (99 years) from Baronet Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde. The document records Philip's occupation as a woolcomber (a woolen mill worker that separates fibres). His second wife Margaret died in 1790 aged only 36. Philip married a third time to Elizabeth Radford a spinster in 1792. They were married at All Saints Church by licence. Philip was a widower, and could sign his name. Elizabeth could not sign her name. Witnesses to the marriage were John Thorne and his son Philip Passmore. There was no children from this third marriage. Philip appears on a document dated 1st July 1797, in which he transfers his property Easter Houses to his son William, whom was getting married on the 2nd July to Mary Stoneman. This would have given him a home to live in when he was married to raise children. Philip was still recorded as being a woolcomber. He died in 1804 aged around 69. His will was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on the 30th July 1804. He names his eldest surviving son Philip Passmore as executor of the will. To his third wife Elizabeth 6 pounds and 6 shillings for life from Rackapark. To his daughter from his first marriage Christian Kingdon the house and garden she lived in. To his son Robert he leaves 3 dwelling houses with gardens and the sum of 50 pounds. To his son Philip all of his personal estate goods. It is unusual that the will doesn't mentioned his sons William and Richard as they were alive at the time.

Sources

• Ancestry.com, England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008.Original data - Genealogical Society of Utah. British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, copyright 2002. Used by permission.Original d).
• Ancestry.com, England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.).
• Ancestry.com, England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.).
• Philip Passmore, Abstract of Will 1804, The National Archives IR/26/337.