Bow, Devon Family History Guide
Bow is an Ancient Parish and a market town in the county of Devon.
Alternative names: Nymet Tracey
Parish church:
Parish registers begin: 1604
Nonconformists include: Independent/Congregational, Presbyterian Unitarian, and Society of Friends/Quaker.
Parishes adjacent to Bow
- Clannaborough
- Zeal Monachorum
- North Tawton
- Spreyton
- Drewsteignton
- Hittisleigh
- Colebrooke
Historical Descriptions
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
BOW, a village, a parish, and a subdistrict in the district of Crediton, Devon. The village stands on the slope of a hill, near the Okehampton railway, 7½ miles W by N of Crediton; and has a post office† of Bow, North Devon, and a r. station. It was formerly a market-town; and it still has fairs on Holy Thursday and 22 Nov. The parish is called also Nymet-Tracey. Acres, 2,740. Real property, £3,466. Pop., 904. Houses, 205. The manor belonged anciently to the Traceys. Collaton House and Gratton House, now the seats of the Sanderses and the Wrefards, are fine modern mansions. The living is a rectory, united with the rectory of Broad-Nymet, in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £533. Patron, F. Vandermeulen, Esq. The church stands about a mile from the village, and has a low square tower. There are an Independent chapel and a free school. The subdistrict comprises eight parishes. Acres, 19,402. Pop., 3,516. Houses, 736.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Parish Records
Directories
Bowe Devonshire Universal British Directory 1791
Bowe is 188 miles from London, and a little to the west of Credition; has a market on Thursday, and a fair in Whitsun week, and another Nov. 22. The court of the Duchy of Lancaster is commonly kept here.
A cross-post from Crediton to Hatherleigh passes through every Saturday, Monday, and Thursday. It is a poor place, having nothing of note either in the town or neighbourhood. The following are the principal inhabitants:
Coles, Carpenter
Easterbrook, Butcher
Easterbrook, Fountain Inn
Greenslade, Taylor
Greenslade, Taylor
Hatherleigh, Blacksmith
Herd, Baker
James, Blacksmith
Jarman, Shopkeeper
Norley, Baker
Packer, Tanner
Pidler Mrs. Shopkeeper
Rowden, Blacksmith
Rowden, Butcher
Scott, Shoemaker
Snell, Shopkeeper
Sweet, Chandler
Sweet, Serge-maker
Toser, Blacksmith
Toser, Jun. Blacksmith
Tucker, King’s Arms Inn
Watts, Victualler, (Red Cow)
Western, Shoemaker
Western, Carpenter
Willicott, Shoemaker
Wrevit, Chandler
Source: Universal British Directory 1791
Historical Newspapers
Western Morning News
Western Times
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette
North Devon Journal
Express and Echo
Maps
Vision of Britain historical maps
Administration
- County: Devon
- Civil Registration District: Crediton
- Probate Court: Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple
- Diocese: Exeter
- Rural Deanery: Chumleigh
- Poor Law Union: Crediton
- Hundred: North Tawton with Winkleigh
- Province: Canterbury