Happy birthday Mum! Hope you had a great day! Love ya.
Last night I propped myself up at the bar and watched as a dozen locals came in and out of the Mary Tavy Inn. I was most surprised. I was sitting there taking it all in, listening to the conversations when I decided to ask a few questions about the Olympic torch relay. After hearing my accent, a lady said " Oh sorry - you're not a local! Is that an Australian accent?" And we were off on conversation with the locals! It is very much a 'Heartbeat' tv series in Mary Tavy, without the drama and crime… hopefully it stays that way for at least another day! The barman sounds exactly like the Police Sergeant of the show. Praying that a 'Green Grass' character doesn't rear his head anytime soon! I was asked why I was traveling to Devon, after saying I was checking out family history etc. one local asked, "What's your family name?" "Nankivell" I replied, to which he looked at his mate and a smile came to his face, "Nankivell? I don't believe it! Oy my goodness. There's a Nankivell just lives down the street…" Unfortunately I didn't finish the chat and got talking with a couple who are moving to Exeter. He's a thatcher - a very interesting occupation. She was a teacher, but didn't enjoy it and quit. They were great company. For dinner, I had salmon with prawn sauce which was delicious!
My day involved checking out the Mary Tavy sights. It didn't take long. I went to the local post office and chatted briefly with a chick who directed me passed the Mary Tavy Inn and to the Parish Church. There I went through every headstone in the parish cemetery, but no Nankivells were apparent. Perhaps a little beyond the Nankivell vintage, but there was some of the same era. I was disappointed. One name, even if a cousin and not a direct rely would have been awesome, but not deterred I moved on. The church, incidentally, was magnificent and having some minor repairs as I journeyed around. My shoes were soaked from the lush wet grass, but I didn't care.
I toured to the Brentnor Church which stands on the top/side of a hill just out of Mary Tavy. It is so country/farming around the place and I felt like I was back in Burra or out in the Wheatbelt which would have been very homely for the Nankivells that ventured out many years ago. I don't think I caught the environment that the church existed in. It is literally built on the side of a hill... I was puffing on the way up to it. A paddock, a few rocky outcrops built up to a hill and then a church. It was a magically, yet eerie, and a little scary place to visit. I wouldn't go there at night. The several headstones capped off the experience. There are so many old churches around the place, and old buildings. We just don't have that history in Perth.
I went back in to Tavistock after my Mary Tavy adventure. I went to one cemetery (apparently there is a couple) but I couldn't find any headstones old enough. Bugger. A quick tour around Tavistock and going into the markets which were hundreds of years old (perhaps the relies bought stuff here?!) was good for an orientation. I went to the library which was super cool - I went through parish records, mining records and some fish records about births, deaths, burials, baptisms, marriages etc. and found some Nankivells, but all were records we have - although I was able to confirm a few dates we were unsure about.
After heading back to the Mary Tavy Inn, I again had an evening chatting with the locals. Good times in Mary Tavy!
I toured to the Brentnor Church which stands on the top/side of a hill just out of Mary Tavy. It is so country/farming around the place and I felt like I was back in Burra or out in the Wheatbelt which would have been very homely for the Nankivells that ventured out many years ago. I don't think I caught the environment that the church existed in. It is literally built on the side of a hill... I was puffing on the way up to it. A paddock, a few rocky outcrops built up to a hill and then a church. It was a magically, yet eerie, and a little scary place to visit. I wouldn't go there at night. The several headstones capped off the experience. There are so many old churches around the place, and old buildings. We just don't have that history in Perth.
I went back in to Tavistock after my Mary Tavy adventure. I went to one cemetery (apparently there is a couple) but I couldn't find any headstones old enough. Bugger. A quick tour around Tavistock and going into the markets which were hundreds of years old (perhaps the relies bought stuff here?!) was good for an orientation. I went to the library which was super cool - I went through parish records, mining records and some fish records about births, deaths, burials, baptisms, marriages etc. and found some Nankivells, but all were records we have - although I was able to confirm a few dates we were unsure about.
After heading back to the Mary Tavy Inn, I again had an evening chatting with the locals. Good times in Mary Tavy!
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