Which Frances Tom Married Robert Ceam 21 Nov 1737 at Boconnoc, Cornwall?

Research note by Wesley Johnston, begun 4 Jun 2018, last updated 4 Jun 2018

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/12001386/person/27331576235/media/c52bb160-9baa-42a7-9e2f-dea0fd88066c?_phsrc=LVM4&usePUBJs=true

The Candidates

Frances TOM married Robert CEAM 21 Nov 1737 at Boconnoc in Cornwall. The image of the original record is not online, but a 1987 revised edition of a 1981 transcription by Robert JAGO  is online at familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-65MJ-WY?cc=1769414&wc=3CBH-ZJ4 which reads:

"CEAM Robart (*Robert) of Lucksilyan (*Luxilion) & Frances TOM otp by Banns 21 Nov 1737

The question for this research note is which Frances TOM  married Robert? These are the candidate baptisms at nearby Cornish parishes, based on search results from the Cornwall Family History Society research database of baptisms and the Cornwall OPC baptism database. (Since the only Robert KEAM (searched for *E*M*) in the CFHS DB prior to the 1737 marriage is the Robert KEAM baptized 6 Jun 1708 at Lanivet, presumably Frances TOM was born somewhat close to 1708. Thus I am limiting the search to the most recent prior baptism to 1708 and from there until 1737, the year of their marriage, even if the girls would be too young.

1699 May 22 - at Lanreath, daughter of Richard TOM & Ann (image at familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RFB-QYFZ?cc=1769414&wc=3CBW-3YS )

1705 Apr 30 - at Lanlivery, daughter of Daniel TOMM & Joane (image at familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6WJW-FZQ?cc=1769414&wc=3CBZ-PTB )

1715 Aug 4 - at Poundstock, daughter of Edward TOMMS & Deborah (image at familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6WJW-FZQ?cc=1769414&wc=3CBZ-PTB ) - listed as Edward TOMS & Debora in the Bishop's Transcript (per Cornwall OPC)

1723/4 Mar 15 - at Lanreath, daughter of Thomas TOM & Ruth (image at familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RFB-QBSN?cc=1769414&wc=3CBW-3YS )

1725 Aug 5 - at Lanreath, daughter of Frances TOM (image at familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RFB-QBSN?cc=1769414&wc=3CBW-3YS )

The 1723/4 and 1725 Candidates: Eliminated

The 1723/4 Frances would have been only 13 years, 8 months old in November 1737. The 1725 Frances would have been only 12 years, 3 months old in November 1737. Thus these two girls can almost certainly be ruled out on the basis that they were too  young to be marrying a 29 year old man.

The 1699 Candidate: Eliminated

It seem most likely that the Lanreath 1699 Frances was the unwed mother of the Lanreath 1725 Frances. And she is probably also the Frances TOM who married John GEACH 14 Feb 1726/7 at Lanreath. She was 8 years older than the Robert KEAM born 1708. So it seems unlikely that the 1699 Frances is the one he married.

The 1705 and 1715 Candidates

 Of the two reamining candidates, the one closest in age and closest geographically to the Lanivet 1708 Robert KEAM is the 1705 Lanlivery Frances.  Lanivet is a bit over 5 miles from Lanlivery. But Lanivet is more than 27 miles from Poundstock. While Lanreath is closest of any of the candidates to Boconnoc, where the marriage took place, all Lanreath candidates have been eliminated.

Conclusion: Frances TOMM baptized 30 Apr 1705 (dau of Daniel & Joane) married Robert KEAM

All three Lanreath candidates can be ruled out. Thus the most likely one of the two remaining candidates is the Lanlivery 1705 Frances TOMM, who is closest in age and geographically to the Lanivet 1708 Robert KEAM. If she is not the right one, then the only other remaining candidate is the 1715 Poundstock Frances.  Thus I am carrying the 1705 Frances in my tree until solid evidence dictates a different conclusion.