Without pre-empting the walk too much, Kitty Jay is said to have been a young girl apprentice on a farm who committed suicide and who was then buried at a cross-roads, in accordance to the custom of the time. Kitty Jay was probably not her real name - I will say why during the walk!
Her name has been recorded as Ann Jay (1851), Kay (an old woman, 1876), Betty Kay (1881), Kitty Jay (Crossing, Guide to Dartmoor, p.295, 1912), "J" (1914), Mary Jay (1934). She has also been recorded as "Jane" as in Jane's Grave.
Burial at crossroads ceased after the Burial of Suicide Act 1823.
The internet links below are mostly to lists of apprentices. These were young people, mainly children, from Manaton AND OTHER parishes. Apprentices were often off-loaded to other parishes.
It is said she was "from the workhouse", of which there was one at Wolborough (Newton Abbot), also in Widecombe in what is now the Church House (National Trust).
It is said (variously) that she was on a local farm, either at Barracott, Canna or Ford. I have not seen these in the records but I found out today that these were all owned AND OCCUPIED by Robert Nosworthy - that name appears on the lists of Apprentices.
We are looking for a girl who might have died 1780-1790 (according to one account), possibly later; certainly pre-1823/1824. It is possible that some records are missing but these are all the ones held by the Records Office.
The best way to search these pages is using CTRL+F (Find).
Hold down the CTRL key and then press "F". This produces a search box within the browser - top right in Google Chrome, top left in Internet Explorer. Type e.g. Nosworthy in the box - it should indicate how many results are on that page, maybe zero. Two up/down arrows in the box are helpful and can be clicked on. Otherwise, pressing Return clicks to the next result down the page.
If you think you find a likely candidate, please email me the details and I will ask a friendly contact in the Records Office at Exeter if she can look it up - it will save a trip!
I will buy a libation (or equivalent) for anyone who finds a good candidate for Kitty Jay.
SOUTH WEST HERITAGE TRUST: Devon Archive Catalogue - search results for "Apprentice", all Parishes
Apprenticeship Indentures - Ilsington, 1742-1844 - list of a large number of Apprentices are recorded, 1742-1844 - includes Register of Apprentices bound 1802-1844?
Apprenticeship Indentures - North Bovey, 1794-1837 (all out of order)
Manaton Apprentices came
from
Wolborough, 1674-1806 (6 Apprentices, plus had
a Poorhouse),
Chagford, 1803-1834 (x3),
Denbury, 1795-1833 (x1),
Ilsington, 1742-1844 (x6),
Lustleigh, 1760-1834 (x3).
Note: many of
these indentures are in fragile condition and unsuitable for
production; as the collection has been sorted into alphabetical
order they are mixed with stronger ones. All available information
(except the names of Overseers and Magistrates) has been extracted.
This list should be used with 1429A add 99/PO 149 which gives the
names of parents, trade of Master, Overseers and Magistrates. It
does not often give the name of property. There are many more
apprentices included in the register whose indentures do not
survive. For example 9 children are bound in 1804, only 2 indentures
survive.
Widecombe had a poorhouse - previously it was an
almshouse for the aged, in the Church House, now the National Trust
office - but no apprentices seem to come from it. If a
Workhouse was involved it was most likely the nearer Wolborough
(Newton Abbot) rather than Chudleigh.
Chudleigh Apprenticeship Indentures, roughly 1697-1834 .....
Surnames
A-B,
Surnames C-D,
Surnames E-H,
Surnames J-O,
Surnames P-S,
Surnames T-Y
Notes for searching
(from
Manaton Tithe Apportionments): Robert
Nosworthy, owner of several farms, including (also occupier of)
- Lower Barracott + Canna + Ford farms: Mary Nosworthy -
Higher Barracott. Also mentioned re. other farms: Alexander
Nosworthy, John Nosworthy Junior, William Nosworthy, Robert
Nosworthy Senior and John Ellis Nosworthy.
Have fun, like I have had for too many hours - we must be close!