This page contains some notes about the Devon Venns and about our particular branch of the family. They are intended to help you to decide whether or not we have some common ancestors, whether we might have information which will help you, and whether you might have information which will help us.
Our main source of information on the earlier Devon Venns is an old and obscure book:
Venn Family Annals
Annals of a Clerical Family
By John Venn FRS FSA
Published by MacMillan and Co 1904
The name Venn appears to be derived from "fen", with both the name and the early records suggesting that the Venns originated in the low-lying fen districts of East Anglia and Somerset. One of the earliest Venn families on record lived in the villages of Lydeard St Lawrence and Bishop's Lydeard, near Taunton in Somerset.
In Devon, several generations of Venns can be found in the records of the adjoining parishes of Broadhembury and Payhembury, to the west of Honiton. The earliest records date from the 1550s, when a John Venn lived in Broadhembury, and an Osmund Venn lived in Payhembury. As the name Venn does not appear in any earlier records for this area, the author of the Venn Family Annals speculates on the origins of this family.
The author argues that John and Osmund Venn must have been related, possibly even brothers, as it seems unlikely that two unrelated families with the same name would appear in the same place at the same time. He also suggests that the family had recently arrived in Devon from Lydeard in Somerset "which lies only about twelve miles off to the north". Although the actual distance is at least 16 miles, his argument is plausible, if not yet proven.
The Venn Family Annals contain pedigrees of Venns living in Broadhembury and Payhembury during the 16th and 17th centuries (that for Payhembury continues into the 18th and 19th). Most of the book is, however, devoted to later Venns who spread out into other parts of Devon and even further afield (there are pedigrees of London and Ipswich Venns). As its subtitle suggests, the main subjects of the book are clergymen.
Linda's Venn ancestors have lived in Devon for at least three hundred years. The male children in this branch of the family were invariably called Henry, William, Richard, Samuel or John. One of the main difficulties in researching this family tree has been distinguishing one Henry Venn from another. We believe, however, that we have identified the correct line of descent from the first Henry Venn "of Peyhembury" who was married in 1727.
We have so far failed to establish exactly how this Henry Venn was connected to the Venns of Broadhembury and Payhembury. One Henry Venn of the right vintage is documented in the Venn Family Annals, but he is clearly not the right one. We have found two other Henry Venns who qualify, but as yet we have no way of choosing between them.
After about 1730 the picture becomes much clearer, and the details have gradually been filled in. The branch of the Venn family containing direct ancestors lived at:
The Kings Nympton Venns branched out from there into nearby parishes, including Bishops Nympton and Chittlehampton. During the 19th century some of their descendants moved further east towards Tiverton, and are recorded in the parishes of Cruwys Morchard, Cheriton Fitzpaine and Templeton. By the end of the 19th century the family had spread to Crediton and Willand. Other Venns travelled further afield. Two of Linda's gt-gt-gt-grandfather's brothers lived in London and two of her gt-gt-grandfather's brothers went to America. Linda also has a number of distant relatives in Australia.
The on-line family tree (see below) identifies those people whom we can claim with reasonable confidence as part of Linda's family tree. We also have information (not on-line) about several other Venns who were living in and around Kings Nympton and Payhembury at the relevant times, but where we have not yet been able to establish a firm family relationship.
Shown here are what we believe to be the correct names, dates and relationships based on our research so far. Some parts of the family tree are based on input from other Venn family members, notably Bob Venn, Bill Cogsdill, Jeff Venn, Fay Green and Susan Owen. In addition, Tony Venn, Walter Venn and Jim Schuyler have supplied information about the Payhembury Venns. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed. We try to check all reports against the official records, but this is not possible in every case.
We are publishing this material on the web in the hope of making contact with other people who are researching along similar lines, so that we can exchange data and build up a complete picture. We would like to hear from anyone else who is related to the Devon Venns and who can add something to this family history. We will also be happy to pass on what we know to anyone who is descended from this branch of the family. You are welcome to contact us by electronic mail.
The on-line family tree uses JavaScript to generate a list of names and to show details of family members and the relationships between them. If your browser does not support frames and JavaScript you will not be able to see the family tree.
Click Here for the On-Line Family Tree
The background image on this site comes from a photograph of Linda's great-great-grandparents with their three sons.