Was Robert PYMBLE born in Llanfrother?

Llanfrother Farm is a Grade II listed building near the village of Hentland in Herefordshire. It is a 17th century building with more recent additions.

It is sometimes claimed that Robert PYMBLE, who emigrated to Australia in 1821, was born there.

This seems unlikely, though Robert was baptised in Hentland in 1776. The PYMBLE family earliest documented connection with Llanfrother that I have found so far is in the 1850's from the Electoral Roll.

Robert's parents were Philip PYMBLE born 1739 and Mary WATKINS born c.1745. His parentage is known from his Death Certificate. Robert died in 1861 in Australia and the details of parentage were provided by James PYMBLE, son of Robert.

For many years we have been unable to find a marriage between Philip PYMBLE and Mary WATKINS. However we now know they were married in 1771 in Gloucester.

Land Tax Assessment helps us understand who occupied prpoerties and is a Tax created in 1692 during the reign of William and Mary to raise revenues and continued in place until 1963.

Assessments for the Parish of Hentland show that the MYND family were owners of Llanfrother between 1777 and 1791, as no seperate statement of occupancy is made at this time it is not possible to be sure whether the MYND family or tenants occupied the farm at that stage. The MYND family continue to be owners until 1827, however we know that John JAMES was the occupier between 1793 and 1809. Between 1811 and 1827 the occupier changes to Samuel EDWARDS.

Whether by Sale or Inheritance ownership of Llanfrother changes to Richard EVANS for the period 1829 - 1831 after which Land Tax assessments are not available in the Hereford Archives.

We know from the Census that Thomas GUY and family occupied Llanfrother in 1841.

In 1860 Thomas PYMBLE purchased the Farm for £15,000 and the Bristol Mercury recorded at the time that Thomas had occupied the Farm for many years. The 1858 Cassey Directory for Herefordshire certainly shows Thomas Pymble as Farmer in residence at Llanfrother.

This same Thomas was the son of Philip, Robert's elder brother (Robert's nephew therefore). Thomas was also the younger brother of Susannah, who married Captain John H LISTER, and who died in Australia in 1889.

Thomas died in 1888 and subsequently his son Thomas Philip occupied the farm but was declared bankrupt in 1893. More of this later.

If you can help refine this then I would love to hear from you.