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![Frances Perring Gotham JOHNS, [G-D(AD)]](img/female.jpg)
Frances Perring Gotham JOHNS, [G-D(AD)]
1845 - Yes, date unknown
Has 26 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
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Name Frances Perring Gotham JOHNS Suffix [ONS gp] [G-D(AD)] Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Born Dec Q 1845 Callington, Cornwall, England 
- Shown as born Callington in 1851 census (when younger sister Elizabeth shown born South Hill), as born South Hill in 1861 census. Both were in Liskeard RD.
GRO ref: Johns, Francis Gothan q4 1845 Liskeard RD 9 145; GRO online index shows male, middle name as Gotham, and mother's maiden name as Gothan
Curiously when Frances was baptised the family were back in West Teignmouth, shown as having their abode there. If the records are accurate perhaps they returned for Frances to have the support of her family in caring for a new-born, her first child, but if so they did not remain long as their subsequent children were born in Cornwall. This may have been financial - I guess that Richard could earn more as a miner than a labourer.
Baptised 23 Nov 1845 St. James’ Church, West Teignmouth, Devon, England [1] - There was some confusion about whether Franc(e/i)s was a son or daughter! I think the weight of evidence points to Frances, a daughter, although the baptism shows Frances was the son of Richard and Elizabeth - and she had two godfathers and one godmother, the norm for a boy, rather than two godmothers and a godfather as one would expect for a girl.
From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 13 Oct 2014)
"1845 Nov 23d No. 1006. Francis Perring Gotham son of Richard & Elizabeth, surname: Johns, abode: West Teignmouth, father's occupation: Labourer, ceremony performed by F Hathaway Curate", with three names shown in the margin, presumably godparents: "Thomas Guerd[?], George Davis, Mary Davis" - under heading 'Baptisms ... West Teignmuoth ... 1845'
Gender Female Middle name relationship Gotham: her mother's maiden name - Frances was not the only person to receive the surname Gotham along with another middle name, but she seems to be the only person so far to receive two names which were family surnames as middle names.
Her maternal grandmother's maiden name was Frances PERRING, so she seems to have been named after her with Gotham added as a third Christian name.
Her birth registration did not include the name Perring, but it was a baptismal name, and recorded when she married.
Died Yes, date unknown Siblings3 brothers and 2 sisters Patriarch & Matriarch 
Samuel JOHNS, d. Yes, date unknown (Grandfather)
Frances STABB, bap. 23 Oct 1751, St. George and St. Mary’s Church, Cockington, Devon, England, bur. 25 Jul 1792, St. George’s Church, Dittisham, Devon, England (Age ~ 40 years) (Great Grandmother) Notes - A son or a daughter?
It is not that surprising that Elizabeth should name a daughter after her mother, Frances Perring. She seems to have been named after both of her maternal grandparents, being given the middle names Perring and also Gotham. But was she?
- the baptism entry is for a Francis Perring Gotham, son of ... (Nov 1845), and was given 2 godfathers and one godmother, the specified minimum for a boy, a girl should have had 2 godmothers.
- the 1851 census shows a Francis F G, with son crossed out and daughter written in, aged 5 (with the census in 1851 that fits with a late 1845 birth),
- the 1861 census shows Frances, unequivocally a daughter, aged 15.
Despite the baptism I believe the above together points to a daughter. Did the 2 godfathers and one one godmother, together with the ambiguous name, lead the priest to mistake baby Frances for a boy, or, mistaking her for a boy, did he request that there be 2 godfathers?
Her marriage is a clincher - nineteen year old 'Frances Perron Gottom' married James Fielding in 1865. She was a daughter!
Person ID I300719 All | All in the Goatham / Gotham One-Name Study , All subjects of the Goatham / Gotham One-Name Study Last Modified 31 Mar 2023
Father Richard JOHNS, b. Between 1802 and 1810, Cornwall, England , d. Mar Q 1875, Plympton Reg Dist, Devon, England (Age ~ 73 years) Mother Elizabeth GOTHAM, bap. 1 Oct 1818, St. James’ Church, West Teignmouth, Devon, England , d. Aft 1871 (Age ~ 53 years) Banns of marriage 24 Nov 1844 to 6 Oct 1844 St. James’ Church, West Teignmouth, Devon, England - Img on FMP
Married 24 Dec 1844 St. James’ Church, West Teignmouth, Devon, England - Img on FMP
This shows that Richard was a widower when he married, of full age, father Samuel Johns, a miner.
GRO ref: Gottam, Elizabeth to Johns, Richard q4 1844 Newton Abbot RD 10 241
Family ID F300249 Family Group Page | Family Chart
Family James FIELDING, b. Abt 1838, d. Yes, date unknown Married 19 Apr 1865 St. Budeaux’s Church, St. Budeaux, Devon, England - GRO ref: Johns, Frances Perrom Gottam to Fielding, James q2 1865 Plympton RD 5b 413
Details from PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 2017)
Last Modified 14 Feb 2017 Family ID F300250 Family Group Page | Family Chart
- Shown as born Callington in 1851 census (when younger sister Elizabeth shown born South Hill), as born South Hill in 1861 census. Both were in Liskeard RD.
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Event Map Click to hide 
Born - Dec Q 1845 - Callington, Cornwall, England 
Baptised - 23 Nov 1845 - St. James’ Church, West Teignmouth, Devon, England 
Married - 19 Apr 1865 - St. Budeaux’s Church, St. Budeaux, Devon, England = Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install) Pin Legend 
Sources - [S335] Devon Parish Registers - West Teignmouth, St. James (West Teignmouth, Devon, England), (brightsolid online publishing limited. FindMyPast. findmypast.co.uk : 2014.), Baptism of Francis Perring Gotham JOHNS; accessed 13 Oct 2014 (Reliability: 3).
"1845 Nov 23d No. 1006., Child's Christian Name: Francis Perring Gotham son of, parents: Richard & Elizabeth, Johns, abode: West Teignmouth, father's occupation: Labourer, ceremony performed by: F Hathaway Curate" - under heading 'Baptisms ... West Teignmouth ... 1845', with 3 names in the left margin: "Thomas Guard(?) George Davis Mary Davis".
All the entries on the page have 3 names and although not explained it seems clear these were godparents. The prayer book specifies "there shall be not fewer than three godparents, of whom at least two shall be the same sex as the child and of whom at least one shall be the opposite sex; save that when three cannot be conveniently had, one godfather and one godmother shall suffice". In the case of six of the baptisms on the page the godparents were 2 and 1 as per the rules, but a Robert appears to have had one godfather and 2 godmothers, and Frances two godfathers and one godmother.
Archive ref: 4062A/PR/1/3