Early "KINGS / BRIDGE" (Devon) handstamp 1791 - and the Kennaway Family Tree

As part of another side line, I have recently acquired this slightly fragile entire (because I have also acquired a Ship Letter from Kingsbridge, to appear here later), which has a fairly clear early mark from Kingsbridge.

As can be seen from the above, the contents of the entire relate to the family tree of the Kennaways in Kingsbridge.  In case there are any Kennaways interested in this I've included below a transcript of the entire as far as I can read it (it's fairly legible but parts are crossed out or on the paper folds).  The letter above is partway through the entire. I've also added some scans of the letter but these are difficult to read round the paper folds.

Extracts from the Kingsbridge Register

 

Joan the Daughter of Robert Kennaway and of Sarah his wife was baptized the 15 day of April the yeare of our Lord God 1679.

Robertt the Sonne of Robertt Kennaway and Sarah his wife was baptized the 20^th day of November in the yeare of our Lord 1683

Robertt the Sonn of Robertt Kennaway and of Rebekhah  Joyce Baslcozal? his wife was baptized the 7^th of July in the year of our Lord God 1685  + see the end

Joyce the Daughter of Robertt Kennaway and of Joyce his wife was baptized the twenty five day of October in the year od our Lord God 1686.

Joseph the Sonne of Robert Kennaway and of Joyce his wife was baptized the thirteenth of November 1688

Richard the son of Robertt Kennaway and of Joyce his wife was baptized the last of July 1694

Burials

Mary Kennaway the wife of Robert Kennaway (1) was buried the 8 day of October 1677

Sarah the Wife or Robertt Kennaway (2) was buried the 25^th November 1683

Robertt the Sonne of Robertt Kennaway was buried the third day of December in the yoear of our Lord God 1683

 

Thomas the Son of Robert Kennaway and of Joyce his wife was born March 28^th baptized April 7^th 1702

Robert Kennaway and Mary Downing were married September 3 1717

Ann the Daughter of Robert Kennaway and Mary his Wife was baptized June 29^th 1718  - married to Baston Land

Mary the Daughter of Robert Kennaway and of Mary his Wife was baptized January 17^th 1719

Jane the Daughter of Robert Kennaway and of Mary his Wife was baptized December 31^st 1721

Jane the Daughter of Robert Kennaway and of Mary his Wife was baptized September 10^th 1721

 

Robert Kennaway was buried Nov^r 16^th 1714 aff^t 22^d

Joyce Kennaway buried July 14^th 1719 aff^t 17^th

Jane Kennaway was buried Oct^r 9^th 1722

Burials in the Year 1745

Joyce Kennaway  January the 14

Burials in the year 1748

Robert Kennaway was buried April 17^th

Burials in the 1769

Mrs Mary Kennaway Oct the 27^th

 

The above Extracts commencing in the year 1702 are actually taken from the Register the beginning of which on the Paper leaves before any entry is made on Vellum are the following Extracts among a small list of Births of Dissentters children

 

Mr Kennaway's child dying before born Apr 13 1698

After an entry in April 1699 is the following

"--------- the son of Rob Kennaway born 19 July

 

Among a few burials of persons uncanonically interred is likewise the following 

A Male child of Robert Kennaway interred about 25 April 1698

 

My Good Friend

According to your desire I have examined the Registers of this town and cannot find a single entry of the Kennaways but what is here sent, but to collect for you as accurate acc^t. of this family as in my power, I have communicated the wish contained in your last to Mrs Jane Kennaway of this town, and who is the person register'd in 1727 - she has given me the underwritten acc^t. found among her mother's writings - the whole of which I think is right to send you, as it may explain what appears to be a mistake in the Register and afford you some information not there contained.

 

Joane the daught^r of Rob^t Kennaway and Sarah his wife was born the 21^st Day of March 1678

Robert the son of Rob^t K. and Sarah his wife was born the 19^th Day of Oct^b 1683

Robert the Son of Robert Kennaway and Joyce his wife 25^th June 1685

Joyce the Daughter of Rob^t Kennaway and Joyce his wife was born 10^th Oct^r 1686

Joseph the Son of Robert K & Joyce his wife was born 8^th Nov^r 1688

Will^m the Son of Robt K & Joyce his wife was born 21^st of Sep^t 1691

Rich^d the son of Rob^t K & Joyce his wife was born the 11^th July 1694

Jn^o  the son of Robert K & Joyce his wife was born 19^th July 1699

Thom^s the son of Rob^t K & Joyce his wife was born 27^th March 1702

 

By the above you will see that the second Robert is called the Son of Robert and Joyce his wife - in the extract from the Register the same person (as appears by the date of both testimonies) is called the Son of Rob^t and Rebekhah, which last Mrs Kennaway tells me is an error as her Grandmother (the mother of the Rob^t in question) was undoubedly call'^d Joyce and was one of the Bastards of Gerston in this neighbourhood.

By comparing the dates of Mrs Kennaway's list with the extract from the Register you will see that the person mentioned without a christian name amoung the Births of Dissenters is John.

Since I have received this list from Mrs Kennaway, I have again searched the Register for the entry of the Birth of William (who I am informed is Mrs. Willand's Grandfather) but can find no mention of it.

Should you want my further services in this business, I am assured, my friend, I need not say you may comment them and with my best comp^t to Mrs Willand and yourseld, in which Mrs Wills and the Miss Lahns join, believe to be yours most sincerely,  J. Wills"