I have been able to trace back now as far as Robert Hooper, who married Catherine Ley on Aug 20 1798, in St Cleer Cornwall.

In the parish marriage record he is listed as a blacksmith originally from Calstock, but as yet i am unsure whether that is his place of birth or just where he was living prior to marriage.

The parish records for St Cleer are available online for free at:

St Cleer Parish Records