People
The Barrett Family - Andrew Barrett
In The Surnames of Cornwall, Dr Bernard Deacon notes that the Barrett name was well established in southeast Cornwall by the late 1400s. His research also confirms that it was the most common surname in the 18th century across both Landulph and Botus Fleming parishes.
Stepping back further in time, I know from my own research, that the Manor of Ashton near St Dominick was once known as Ashton Barrett, named after the Barrett family who owned it, which can trace its origins back to John Barat, who was recorded as tenant in 1244.
The Honeys
I am always intrigued to learn how people have come to be settled where they are, so perhaps our story may be of interest to some.
We have no family connection to Cornwall but, when Glenn was coming up to retiring we knew that we wanted to move. He was leaving his partnership in an international firm of chartered surveyors, commuting daily to London, and my time was filled with our small holding farm and the life of our Hampshire village.
When we bought the farm, the land had gone wild, and the house was small. We started by fencing and reclaiming the pasture from tussock grass, ragwort and brambles with the help of a donkey and geese. We kept the donkey for six years and she foaled twice and the babies were adorable.
The Honeys and "Juliet"
We both started our sailing in dinghies, and when we met 64 years ago. Glenn had a background of GP 14 sailing, being a founder member of the Frensham Ponds S.C. where he raced. I sailed Enterprise dinghies with a group of friends who had three boats that we owned as a co-operative club.
In the early days of our marriage, we were poor of time and money, modernising a Victorian cottage (gas lights and no inside lavatory!), and then buying a small house on neglected farm land, and building, extending and reclaiming while enjoying two small children.
As we got on top of all that, we bought a Wayfarer dinghy that we used for family outings and picnics but soon started racing in a very competitive fleet in Chichester harbour.
