Bob’s Sabbatical
October 12, 2009
We woke
to a cool, sunshiny day – just what we’ve been waiting for. Main task of the day is to drive back to
Kendal and get into the Cumbria Archive Service records. As we drive, we are reminded that we are in
the heart of Beatrix Potter country. 
swans, sheep, cattle and the countryside make it easy to see where the
inspiration for her writing came from.
When we
arrive at Kendal, the Archive office is very well organized, and secure (no
purses, pens allowed – I had to purchase a pencil for 30 pence. They have a room full of micro-fiche
machines, as well as transcribed record books that go back to the 15th
and 16th centuries.
I
explain that I am looking for information on Hugh Cowperthwaite, born in 1648
and who probably lived in Kentmere. She
said right away that those records would be in the Trinity Parish, Kendal books
because Kentmere is in their parish boundaries.
She went to the index book that shows what records they have, and how
they are stored to get me started. Big
disappointment! They have a gap in
Parish Register information from 1631-1679.
I also tried looking at their Quaker records, since Hugh was a Quaker
minister in New York. That must have
happened after he came to America, because there were No Cowperthwaites in any
Quaker record book.
Susan found a quote from someone
from Kentmere who was responding for a request for information, “ There are no
papists, or dissidents of any other kind in our village.” She also found a brief note (not in a book
with the date of the note, she just lucked upon it, which is what genealogy is
all about, I guess. It was headed: “Children
from Kentmere baptized at Troutbeck between Easter 1610 and Easter 1611.” There were several Cowperthwaits (no e),
including, ‘Feb. 14, 1611; Thomas, s. of George Cowperthwait.” Four hours later we leave, having strained
our eyes looking at small print and trying to read handwriting even worse than
my own.
This seems
to be continuing my run of bad luck, genealogically. Yesterday afternoon I tried calling
Cowperthwaites who were listed in the phone book. When I got an answer, the people said they knew
nothing about the name, and sounded as if they could care less – about the name
or me.
I did
find some other names and dates. The following
is my guess (but hard evidence on the connections is missing.) Info is gleaned from Kendal Parish Registers,
1539-1631, and note about Troutbeck that Susan found.
Oct. 28,
1571 Gilbert Cowperthwait married Margaret Janson
Feb. 28,
1575 George, s. of Gilbert baptized
Feb. 14,
1611 Thomas, s. of George
Cowperthwait baptized (at Troutbeck)
Aug. 14,
1614 Ellen, d. of George Cowperthwait baptized (Kentmere?)[sis. of Thomas?]
So, if
Hugh’s father was named Thomas, and if the above Thomas is his father,
he would have been about 35 years old when Hugh was born. The gap in the registers means I have no
record of Thomas’ marriage, children, or Hugh’s birth/baptism.
Susan also
found a record with the names and inscriptions on gravestones in the graveyard
at St. Cuthbert’s, Kentmere. The name
Cowperthwaite appeared at least 3 times.
I also found a reference to a connection between the Cowperthwaite and Gilpin
families of Kentmere (Gilpins were “First Family” of Kentmere it seems, and one
was a famous preacher), Feb. 1, 1585, Thomas Cowperthwait married Agnes Gilpin
[both listed as from Kentmere].
We came
home so I could put what little I found down on paper. 
(lake). There are pictures
etc.
Peace,
Bob
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