Hi Leanne,

I think Philip is the holy grail of Vokey research — many have been trying for years to figure him out without success. There is a few pieces of circumstantial evidence that lead me to believe he was born in Newfoundland.

First, his sister Sarah married John Coombes in Harbour Grace in 1782. Given a sibling present in Newfoundland, that doesn’t lend itself logistically to him being born in Jersey or otherwise across the pond. (although it could happen)

Also, I found evidence of other Vokeys of the period…

I have found records for a Thomas Vokey in the Keith Matthews name files, and my data is as follows:

Oct 10 1767 to May 10 1868, Thomas Vokey at Newfoundland on Adventure Way (I believe this is the name of the ship he served on)
May 1 1768 to May 11 1769 rehired
May 11 1769 to Mar 20 1770 rehired

These records are from The National Archives in England and are covered in: BT 98/3, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Agreements and Crew Lists, Series I, Port of Registry being Dartmouth, Devon. Unfortunately the records have not been digitized and to get a copy made is insanely expensive, perhaps one day I will hire a researcher in England to visit the archives.

Interestingly enough, the Keith Matthews Name Files also have another entry for Thomas:

1783 Conception Bay Plantation Book Thomas sold land in Western Bay to Edward Milley for L15.

And in 1787, Sept 22, the Harbour Grace Minute Book, Mary Vokey of Port de Grave had sold a plantation to James Caldwell there.

Thomas would have had to be born circa 1740’s or earlier to be a sailor in the 1760’s. So — was Thomas a parent or brother to Philip? or neither? was Mary his wife or a sister?? I will say it is odd that Thomas does not appear as a name in future generations of the family, but Mary certainly does (although it was the most common name of the period in general.)

I am descended from Philip, of Philip, of Philip — his daughter Susanna.

And you’re correct on the name — there are many variations, Vokey, Voeky, Vocquay,Voque — I have seen these and more. But that is just one of the problems, these folks were just so poorly documented in the period.

If you are interested, shoot me your email address — I can send you some interesting transcripts of a few court cases our original Philip was involved in. One about some neighbouring men that he sued for slandering his wife Rebecca, and another when he sued his sister following the death of her husband. Seems he now wanted the land back that he has given them to use, stated it was to be only during her husband’s lifetime… interesting insights, he seems to have been quite a piece of work! 🙂

Regards,
Carol Dimond

Leanne,
Have you looked into the Vokeys from Trinity bay???
There were a lot of them, including Henry, of local boatbuilding fame.
In fact, my brother married a Vokey, originall from Little Harbour, Smith’s Sound, Trinity Bay,
a relative of Henry.
Good lick,
Don

I found something in the name Philip Vokey from my family history, I to am related to the name Drover.Hope this is the same Vokey and it is of help. Writing what I have on paper. Generation No.2 Philip Vokey was born 1755 in ISource HGA.baptized 7 june 1808 Rebecca Vokey, parents Philip and Rebecca, and died July 1834 in Spaniards Bay, he married Rebecca Crane 1788, daughter of William and Mary Crane