Browsing the 1881 census for Landrake, it is, as expected, noticeable that the majority of residents were born in Landrake or in the villages close by. But not all. William Fowell is shown, aged 33,( born in Landrake in December 1847) and married, but his wife, Dellia and their 8 year old daughter, Bertha, (born in 1873) were born in New Hampshire, America. Their 11month old son, William John, was born in Landrake in June 1880. William is described as a carpenter.

Further on in the census, George Steed, a well known Landrake family, is recorded, he was 32 yrs old (born at Trewint in Landrake of a farming family). He had a wife, Mary, who was also born in New Hampshire; it would seem likely that she and Dellia were related, possibly sisters, Dellia was 28 yrs old at this time and Mary 31yrs old. George is also described as a carpenter. George and Mary had two sons, Thomas Charles and Richard, both aged 7 yrs and born in March 1874 in Landrake.

There is a record of a Mary Ann Wood who was married in St Germans District in 1873, probably in Landrake, and could be Mary Steed. It is interesting that Dellia’s daughter was born also in 1873 indicating that Mary probably was in Cornwall before Dellia.

Further investigation shows how this might have come about as William Fowell’s occupation is recorded elsewhere as a captain, surely a sea captain (or maybe the captain of a fishing boat which used to fish out to the Newfoundland area). New Hampshire has a coastline on the north-east sea board of America. It has towns named Exeter and Portsmouth and was occupied by immigrants from the UK it being just North of the area where the Pilgrim Fathers landed.

I have not found any later record of either of these families locally.

Revised April 2009

MRG