Parishes of North Devon
Our Beginnings ~ West County Roots ~ Voddens & Brinsmeads ~ Voddens & Squires ~ Legacy of the Farms
All the Voddens in the world today descend from early Voddens in North Devon, specifically from the parishes of St. Giles-in-the-Wood, Roborough, Beaford, and Great Torrington. As the families grew they spread out into neighbouring parishes of Bideford, Alverdiscott, Horwood, Tawstock, Bishops Tawton, Wear Gifford, Yarnscombe, Atherington, High Bickington, Langtree, Little Torrington, Peters Marsland, Merton, Dolton and Ashreigney, to name a few.
It appears that the couple Thomas Vawden, born 1625 in Roborough and died about 1685 in St. Giles-in-the-Wood and Christian Mules, born about 1625 and died about 1680 in St. Giles-in-the-Wood were the start of the Vodden line in Devon as far as I have been able to research. They had the following three children, although the only connection to this couple that has been proven is the baptism of Lawrence. There are DNA connections between descendants of the Lawrence and Grace line and the William and Alice line.
Lawrence & Grace
Lawrence Vawden was born in 1665 in Roborough and died in St. Giles-in-the-Wood in 1733. He was buried in the parish church yard on October 14, 1733.
He married Grace Mules who was baptised in St. Giles-in-the-Wood on October 18, 1671, died there and was buried in the parish church yard on February 15, 1746/47.
They were married on April 10, 1694 in Beaford and had 12 children: Mary 1692-1696, John (my ancestor) 1694-1759, Mary 1696-1722, Rachel 1699-1771, Grace 1701-1791, Suzana b 1704, Elizabeth 1705-1727, Francis 1705-1727, Learance 1708-1768, Thomas 1710-1775, Robert 1717-1775 & William 1723-1768.
William & Alice
William (Vawden) was born about 1675 and died November 1751 in Beaford.
He married Alice Elliott on May 12, 1704 in Beaford. She was baptised on January 25, 1677/78 in Beaford, died and was buried there on May 6, 1753.
They had six children: John b 1705, William 1706-1707, Ann b 1708, William & Robert b 1711 and Thomas b 1715. They were all born in Beaford.
Hannibal & Joane (Johane)
Hannibal Vowden, born about 1676, is a possible son of Thomas and Christian. He married Joane Jackerman on June 29, 1686, in South Tawton, a nearby parish.
They had six children: Sarah 1687-1695, Thomas b 1691, Hannibal b 1693, Sarah b 1696, Joane b 1701 and died as an infant, and another Joane 1703-1754.
Another possible son is John Vowden born about 1670. His spouse is Christian.
Here, we see another variant of the name. His descendants went by the surname Vawden, which was similar to Lawrence‘s surname.
Other couples with different surname variants may be related at this level, but it hasn’t been proven. In the early 1600s, there were many Voddens and variants around; it is just that, so far, the links remain elusive. A review of the various parish records will hopefully give more clues to these families’ relationships.
Some of these family’s descendants went on to better lives in other countries. See the Emigrations tab on the menu.
Vodden Surname Study 