Notes for: John Vigars
John was baptised on the same day as his brother Arthur. They are most likely
twins. Although this is not noted in the register there is only just over a
year between their baptism and that of their elder brother William (#294).
I have identified this John as the husband of both Christian Hellier (#297)
and Mary Mether (#298). As yet there is no conclusive proof of this and no
evidence of Christian's death apart from no evidence of any more children of
the marriage.
John may have been a tenant on a medium sized farm land at North Brentor (Land
Tax Assessment £2-8-4d) owned by Mr.Wm Winsor at 20/7/1780. The following year
the occupier is his "twin" Arthur and there is no trace of any other tenancies
in his name. Was he struck down by illness or had he moved to Tavistock? It is
possible that he moved as he marries (for a second time) in 1782 in Tavistock.
The children, though they are baptised at Lamerton & Brentor in 1785 & 1787,
are noted as born in Tavistock (Census 1851) or a place in Devon not known to
them (Census 1861). The Land Tax Assessments for Lamerton, Brentor & Tavistock
do not reveal him as the occupier iof any land 1781-1789. When he dies in
1789 he is buried at Lamerton. If he hadn't moved to Tavistock before his
death then it appears that his widow Mary did so with her 2 sons after it.