The Northam Family of Northlew, Devonshire
The Northams have been in Northlew for a very long time - note the year 1548. They seem to be large landowners and the rent (tax) was very reasonable. They are established in Northlew and their descendants remain in the area.
Committee of Devonshire Records p179
100. 3rd Aug, 1 Edw. VI. (1548).
Thomas Cary of Cockinton, arm., to John Northam of Dowlane and John his son, Robert Axworthy and William his son, Richard Northam and Henry his son. Lease of a close of land called Northollaway, parcel of land and the barton of Hollaway adjacent, and within the grantor's manor of Northlewe and in the parish of Northlew in the hundred of Blacketoriton in Co. Devon, which Walter Perys and said Richard Northam lately held as free tenants of grantor. Term 80 years. Consideration £10. Rent 38 shillings per annum, and certain customary services at the manor court of Northlew, with, "the best beast as a heriot. [Three seals - (l) W. ; (2) the same; (3) a device.]
A hundred & thirty years later…….
Generation One
1. John1 Northam, b. abt 1680 in Devonshire, England, buried 1 May 1744 in Northlew, Devon, England. He married a daughter of Hanibal Gridleigh of Northlew. There is only one John listed at Northlew, a brother George is noted in the deed: UK National Archives - Devon Records Office: Gidleigh/Northam [no ref. or date] [no title] 1931 B/F/S/15-16 1719-1720 Contents: Deed to lead the uses of a fine and final concord 1. Hanibal Gidleigh of Northlew, gent 2. John Northam of Northlew, gent., and George Northam his brother 3. John Northam junior grandson of Gidleigh Premises: one fifth of properties in Northlew, including Kimber and in Highampton, Bratton Clovelly, Beaworthy and Exeter
********** Devon and Exeter Oath Rolls, 1723
Oaths sworn at The Crown and Sceptre, Holsworthy, 11 September 1723 before Arthur Arscott, William Bickford and Richard Yeo esq
John Northam of Lew, North [Signed]
His son: Generation Two
2. John2 Northam (John1), b. abt 1715 in Devonshire, buried 13 Feb 1780 in Northlew, Devon, England. He married abt 1738, Joanne, b. abt 1717 in Devonshire, buried 27 Apr 1783 in Northlew. UK National Archives - Devon Records Office: LEW, NORTH [no ref. or date] [no title] 1931 B/L/28 1742 Contents: Lease 1. John Northam of Northlew, carpenter 2. John Bear of Highampton, carpenter Premises: part of Higher and Lower Kimber Term: 99 years or 3 lives Consideration: £80 fine and 6s. p.a.
********* Children: i. Sarah3 Northam baptized 15 May 1739 at Northlew. ii. Hannah Northam baptized 20 Apr 1746 at Northlew. 3. iii. John Northam b. abt 1748. iv. Abraham Northam baptized 19 Apr 1753 at Northlew.
Generation Three
3. John3 Northam (John2, John1), b. abt 1748, buried 20 Jul 1829 in Northlew. He married 5 Feb 1775 in Northlew, Elizabeth Axford, buried 27 Sep 1805 in Northlew. Children: 4. i. George4 Northam. ii. John Northam baptized 23 Apr 1779 at Northlew. iii. Abraham Northam baptized 5 Nov 1781 at Northlew, buried 30 Jul 1820 in Northlew. iv. James Northam baptized 7 Jul 1784 at Northlew, buried 14 Jan 1791 in Northlew. v. Hannah Northam baptized 21 Apr 1787 at Northlew. vi. Alexander Northam baptized 21 Oct 1789 at Northlew. vii. James Northam baptized 24 Jul 1792 at Northlew, buried 5 Feb 1794 in Northlew.
Generation Four
4. George4 Northam (John3, John2, John1), baptized 3 May 1776 in St. Thomas à Becket Church, Northlew, England, buried 28 Oct 1845 in Northlew. He married 15 Jul 1805, Jane Kimber, b. abt 1785, buried 5 Nov 1853 in Northlew. Children: i. John5 Northam baptized 9 Feb 1806 at Northlew. ii. William Northam baptized 5 Jan 1809 at Northlew. 5. iii. Richard Northam. iv. Mary Northam baptized 9 Sep 1821 at Northlew. v. Samuel Kimber Northam baptized 8 Aug 1824 at Northlew, buried 17 Feb 1825 in Northlew. vi. Elizabeth Jane Northam baptized 4 Mar 1827 at Northlew.
Generation Five
5. Richard5 Northam (George4, John3, John2, John1), baptized 15 Sep 1817 at St. Thomas à Becket Church, Northlew, England, d. aft 1880 in Middleburg, Cuyahoga, Ohio, immigrated 19 May 1870 on the S.S. Cuba - Liverpool to New York. He married 25 Apr 1842 in Northlew, Mary Pincombe, also known as Mary Ann Pinkham (daughter of William Pincombe and Elizabeth Friend), baptized 8 Mar 1820 at St. Thomas à Becket Church, Northlew, d. aft 1880 in Middleburg, Cuyahoga, Ohio, immigrated with family.
Children: i. Stephen Silas6 Northam baptized 5 Mar 1843 at St. Thomas à Becket Church, Northlew, England. He married 2 Mar 1870 in Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, Elizabeth Ann Lose. 6. ii. Harriet Pincombe Northam. iii. William Pinkham Northam b. 1849 in Bratton Clovelly, Devon, England, d. 7 Sep 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, buried in Alger Cemetery, immigrated 1870 on the S.S. Cuba. He married 28 Oct 1878, Margaret Morrow. iv. Henry Northam b. 20 Jul 1856 in Northlew, Devon, England, d. 13 Sep 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, buried in Alger Cemetery, immigrated 1870 on the S.S. Cuba. He married Christina Mack, b. Sep 1858 in Ohio, d. 10 Apr 1919, buried in Alger Cemetery.
Generation Six
5. Harriet Pincombe6 Northam (Richard5, George4, John3, John2, John1), baptized 28 Sep 1845 at St. Thomas à Becket Church, Northlew, England, d. 12 Apr 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio, buried in Alger Cemetery, immigrated 1870 on the S.S. Cuba. She married (1) 1863 in Devonshire, Henry Mills, b. 1844 in Devonshire, immigrated on the S.S. Cuba with family, d. on the journey from England. Harriet appears on the 1870 Middleburg, Ohio Census (July 28th) as a widow.
She married (2) 8 Oct 1873 in Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, George Davis, b. in England, d. by 1880. She married (3) abt 1883, Barney Henry, b. in Ireland, d. by 1900.
Children by Henry Mills: i. Mary E7 Mills, adopted name Mary E. Northam, b. 1864 in Bratton Clovelly, Devon, d. 1890 in Middleburg Twp, Ohio, buried in God's Acre Cemetery, immigrated 1870 on the S.S. Cuba, adopted by maternal Grandparents. She married 1 Mar 1883 in Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, Jacob Blaseus. 7. ii. Bessie Jane Mills b. 7 May 1866. iii. Eva Ellen Mills b. 8 Mar 1868 in Germansweek, Devon, England, d. 5 Apr 1941 in Brookpark, Cuyahoga, Ohio, buried in Columbia Center Cemetery, immigrated 1870 on the S.S. Cuba. She married Martin Hacel.
Children by George Davis: iv. Fred S Davis b. 22 Jan 1874 in Middleburg Twp, Ohio, d. 13 Mar 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio, buried in Alger Cemetery. He married Lurline Gilbert. v. Birdie Davis b. 1876 in Middleburg Twp, Ohio, d. y. vi. George Davis Jr b. 1877 in Middleburg Twp, Ohio, d. y. vii. Samuel J Davis b. Nov 1879 in Middleburg Twp, Ohio, d. 25 Jul 1928 in Avon Lake, Ohio. He married (1) Mamie Chandler. He married (2) Maud Diaz.
Children by Barney Henry: viii. William Charles Henry b. 14 Mar 1885 in Middleburg Twp, Ohio, d. 26 Dec 1959 in Parma, Ohio. He married Mabel Ella Starling.
Generation Seven
6. Bessie Jane7 Mills, adopted name Bessie Jane Yarham (Harriet Pincombe6 Northam, Richard5, George4, John3, John2, John1), b. 7 May 1866 in Bratton Clovelly, Devon, England, d. 3 Feb 1934 in Berea, Ohio, buried in Alger Cemetery, immigrated 19 May 1870 on the S.S. Cuba, adopted by Charles Yarham & Jane Tudhope after death of her father Henry Mills. She married 20 May 1896, Merritt Caldswell Gray, b. 14 Jan 1869 in Middleburg Twp, Cuyahoga, OH (son of John Gray and Sophrona Greenough), d. 4 Feb 1940, buried in Alger Cemetery.
Children: i. Grace Lillian8 Gray b. 28 Apr 1897, she married William H Bader.
ii. Russell Glenn Gray b. 2 May 1898, she married Ida Oldenburg.
iii. Elva Maude Gray b. 24 Jul 1899, she married Henry Joseph Wensink.
iv. Ruby Viola Gray b. 7 Dec 1901, she married Edward John Brinkman.
v. Gladys Louisa Gray b. 23 May 1903, she married George Rudolph.
vi. Daisy Hilda Gray b. 31 Aug 1904, she married James Allen.
Mary Lou Cole June 2010