James ALLEN, 26, American Sailor, 1802 patient at BRI

Caesar MASON, 30, American Seaman, 1803 patient at BRI

William GRENVILLE, 42, American mariner, 1803 patient at BRI

Robert SCOT, 55, American seaman, dysenteria, 1806, patient at BRI

Eli LANE, 28, American seaman, 1806, reheumatismus, cured, patient at BRI

Joseph MICHAEL, 54, American Seaman, dyspepsia, patient at BRI 1806

William EDWARDS, 18, American, pneumonia, cured, 1806

William SMITH, 24, American, haemephlegia, cured, 1806

John HARRIS, 27, American seaman febris, cured, 1807

Nicholas RICHARDS, 22, mariner, America, cured, 1808

Kadmail PEBBLE, 25, American, rheumatismus, cured, 1808

Joseph POULTER, 20, American, 1808

Gabriel STEVENSON, 27, American, cured, 1809

John SMITH, 16, American 1809

James BUTLER, 20, America, 1810

John McPHERSON, 24 American, 1810, cured

Derek Allpass has kindly sent me a copy of “The Allpass Family of South Gloucestershire, 1250-1700” by Brian Carter.  This is a very good read, especially so if your name is Allpass or any of its many variants.  Derek has spent over 30 years researching his family name and more volumes are promised to bring the story up to date. If you have any information you would like to share or if you would like a copy of the book, I will be happy to pass details to Derek.

Eliza ANDERSON. Married, June 2, St Michael’s, Rev Richard BICKELL & Eliza, daughter of late John ANDERSON, esq., of Clifford's, Island of Jamaica. 7.6.1819

Mr Henry BASTABLE, merchant, son of Mr E. Bastable, of Bristol, died Dec 6, at Kingston. Obit 16.2.1822

Mr Richard BOWZER, eldest son of the late F.W. Bowzer of Bristol, died Dec. last. Obit 16.2.1822

John Stockdale BROWN esq., died Clifton, Jul 29, of Sportsman’s Hall, Trelawney, Jamaica, Obit. 2.8.1819

Charles James CLARKE, esq, of Jamaica to Jane, eldest daughter of late Thomas PIERCE, esq., married at Clifton. 1.11.1819

Elizabeth Ann CLARKE, died Jul 16 at Hotwells, in her 21st year, only dau of Josias Clarke, esq., of Jamaica. Obit 25.7.1825

John COXON, aged 18, died April 24 aboard the brig “William” (Captain WELLER), on a passage home from Jamaica which he left in good health on the 18th, son of Joseph Coxon of St James Place, Kingsdown and grandson of Captain Coxon of the “Grosvenor” East Indiaman which was wrecked some years ago off Cape of Good Hope. A young man of first rate talents and sanguine expectations, master of French, German & Spanish, just embarked in employ of Mr ANGUS, merchant of London, dutiful and affectionate child, loss will be long felt by family and friends. Obit 6.6.1825

Letitia Maria GALE. married March 18 at Tewkesbury, Alfred son of Rev Dr ESTLIN of Bristol & L.M. Gale, only dau of late James Gale, esq., senior of Saltspring, St Elizabeth, Jamaica. 21.3.1825

Elizabeth GORDON, died May 15, at Wellington Place, aged 81, Elizabeth, relict of Larchin Gordon, esq., of Jamaica. Obit 23.5.1825

William HAMMONDS, esq., died May 20, Kingston. Obit 1.8.1825

Captain HODDELL, of the ship “John” of Bristol, died Apr 12, at Montego, after a fatal accident when he was thrown out of a chaise. Obit 5.6.1820

William HOPKINS, died Mar 20, at Montego Bay, aged 29, son of Mr Ralph Hopkins of Old Market Street. Obit 14.6.1824

Mr Frederick HOWE, aged 25, died of fever on Dec 28, at Martha Brae, brother of Mr Howe of Dolphin Street. Obit 23.3.1822

Rev D.G. HAGUE & Mrs. HAGUE. died lately at Kingston after a very short missionary labour, Rev D.G. Hague eldest son of Mr Hague of Bristol and a few days afterwards, his wife, to whom he had been married only four months. (Two others from the same church, unnamed, also died at the same time, suggesting an outbreak of fever?) Obit 21.11.1825

Henry JACKSON, died lately at Jamaica of yellow fever, the 3rd son of Mr William Jackson of Upper Easton. Obit 27.3.1820

Herbert Jarrett JAMES, of Jamaica, a daughter born to “his lady”. 17.11.1823.

W. KERBY, died Sep 21, at Kingston, Jamaica. Obit. 4.12.1820

James LEMAN, esq of St Ann’s Bay, Jamaica to Charlotte, only daughter of late John SCOTT, esq, solicitor, Bath, married Walcot. 18.11.1822

Mrs LEWIS, widow of James Lewis, esq., formerly of Jamaica, died at Clifton, Dec 13. Obit 23.12.1822

John LYON. died at the residence of his brother at Kingsdown, 4th son of the late James Lyon, esq. of Jamaica, of an abscess on the lungs. Obit 3.7.1820

John MAIS, senior, esq., at his lodging, Kingsdown Parade, late of Jamaica. Obit 23.8.1819

Jane MONTAGUE,  Oct 1, at Blower Hall, parish of St James, Jamaica, wife of Edward Montague, esq., Her loss sincerely lamented by her affectionate husband and numerous circle of friends. Obit 17.1.1820

Joseph PARROTT, esq., July 29, at Cathay, at an advanced age, a native of Jamaica. Obit 2.8.1819

Elizabeth PENDRILL. married Jun 5 at Bathwick, Rev Geo. Ingram FISHER, rector of Winfrith-Newburgh, Dorset to Elizabeth 2nd dau of John Pendrill of Bath and granddaughter of late William CAMPBELL of New Milns, Jamaica. 13.6.1825

Captain Edward POWELL, died April 8, at Kingston, of the ship “Union” of this port. Obit 5.6.1820

William PRICHARD,  in his 22nd year, 2nd son of Mr Henry Prichard of Queens Parade, died at Spanish Town, Dec 17. Obit 16.2.1822

Abraham ROOM of Bedminster, died Mar 26 at New Peru, St Thomas in the East, Jamaica, three weeks after his return to the island, regretted by all. Obit 11.7.1825

Mr John Morgan THOMAS. died lately, in a passage from Jamaica, aboard the “Ann” (Captain VIBERT) aged 31, eldest son of Mr John Thomas, iron merchant of this City. Obit 7.2.1820

William Couch TUNNICLIFFE. died lately, within six days sail of Jamaica, on the outward voyage, in the 30th year of his age, Second mate aboard the “Ann” (Captain GARDEN). Obit 18.2.1820

Captain WATERS, of ship “Charlotte” of Bristol, died Sep 4 at Port Antonia, Jamaica. Obit 14.11.1825,

Mr Joseph WINE, at Trelawney, Jamaica, aged 39, Mr Joseph Wine, son of Mrs Sarah Wine and brother of Mr John Wine, chemist & druggist, Temple Street. Obit 9.8.1819. (Baptised Temple 1.8.1779,  son of John & Sarah)

And one who didn’t:

Dorothy THORP. On March 15 at Batchelor’s Hall Estate, Hanover, the PROPERTY (my italics) of Philip John MILES, esq., Dorothy Thorp, a black woman, at the advanced age of 103 years. Her children and grandchildren amount to 25 in number, one of whom, a Quadroon, is married to a  respectable tradesman in Scotland. She retained her faculties and her teeth entire to the last and attended to her goods and went to market within a few days of her death. Obit. 3.7.1820

All the above entries are taken from the Bristol Mercury.

Mary Cicely Bennett & Erin Lindegaard were married in London, 1927. M.C. was known as “Cic”. She and Erin adopted a boy called Freddie, surname unknown, but the marriage broke up in the early 1940s when Erin was a scenic artist working on a number of famous British films, including Olivier’s “Henry V”. Cicely and Freddie disappeared but I have recently been sent a copy of the will of Mary Williamina Fournier, address 265 Grays Inn Road, (West London) dated 9 March 1938 which is witnessed by “C. Lindegaard”. As the UK Lindegaards are all one family, descended from Arthur & Karen Matilda Lindegaard, who came from Denmark via Ireland, and rare as hen’s teeth, this is definitely our Cic. It is believed that she worked as a cleaner for Mrs Fournier, who did not die until 1951 in Holborn. Erin went on to have two daughters with another partner who are anxious to know what became of Cic and of Freddie.   

Christopher Howes writes about the remarkable Lydia Sellon in his “Sacred Mysteries” column in the Daily Telegraph of 17.12.11 under the title “A very Victorian sisterhood”.  Miss Sellon’s story has a chapter in “The Church’s Other Half: Women’s Ministry” by the Emeritus Dean of Winchester, Trevor Beeson. 

My posts of 25 Feb, 7 & 30 March refer to Miss Sellon and her brief activities in Bristol.

It’s a great name. Some time ago I tried to find the birth/baptism records of Alexander Falconbridge “born ca 1760 to a family with Bristol connections”.  According to the Editor of “The Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone During the Years 1791-1792-1793", (see below) he was, like his wife, born in Bristol. If this is the case I would be delighted if anybody could produce a baptismal record! Falconbridge is well known as an abolitionist and author (“An Account of the Slave Trade on the West of Africa” [1788]) and as Thomas Clarkson’s guide in Bristol when he came to the City to gather evidence for the abolition of the trade, but his ancestry to the time of writing remains elusive.

Valerie Price-Currer of New South Wales is a descendant of the Falconbridge family and would dearly like to make the connection between her ancestors and “the famous Alex”. She says “When Falconbridge gave evidence to the British Parliamentary Committee, it appears he had “spent a year studying medicine at the Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1779-1780, but financially unable to set up a medical practice he signed on as a slave ship surgeon and went on four voyages to Africa. Becoming increasingly disillusioned with what he saw and experienced Alexander left the trade in 1787 to work as a pupil with a Bristol Doctor. It was around this time that he met up with members of the growing abolitionist movement, and Thomas Clarkson seems to have held him in high regard. Alexander spent the year 1779-1780 at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, too poor at this time to start a medical practice, he signed on as surgeon on slave ships.  He left in disgust in 1787 and worked as a pupil with a Bristol Doctor. It was at this time that he became interested in the abolitionist movement and met Thomas Clarkson.”

I have been unable to find the primary sources for the above which is repeated over again in a number of books. To Clarkson he was able bodyguiard, describing him as "an athletic and resolute-looking man", (Clarkson 1.318.) Falconbridge’s book giving an account of the slave trade was presented as evidence in the Parliamentary Hearing into Slavery.

Alexander Falconbridge and Anna Maria Horwood were married at Easton in Gordano by banns on 16 April 1788, witnessed by one of Anna Maria’s sisters and George Falconbridge. (Apart from the appearance of Alexander himself, this is the first time I have found a Falconbridge in Bristol.) 

The Horwood family were local, well established in the Parish of All Saints, Bristol.

Charles Horwood, Anna Maria’s father was a silversmith and also a clockmaker. (A long case 8 day clock with his name can be viewed on line.)

The children of Charles & his wife Grace, nee Roberts, were baptised at All Saints Church as follows: Mary Anne, 24.11.1760, Grace, 5.4.1762, (bur 13.2.1773), Anne, 5.5.1763, Charles, 25.1.1765, (bur 1785), Christian Jane, 17.10.1766,and Anna Maria, 13.7.1769

Grace Horwood, the wife of Charles was buried 6.1.1774.

On 13.4.1779: Charles Horwood, junior, silversmith & Martha Cox were married, by licence, witnessed by Charles Horwood, senior, & Edith Bayley. The licence states: “Charles Horwood of All Saints, silversmith & Martha Cox, spinster of St James.” This is a puzzle as Charles cannot be the Charles baptised in 1765 above, as he would still be a lad of 14, so I am led to believe that there was Charles s.o. Charles s.o. Charles and both weddings refer to the same man, Anna Maria’s father!

Charles and Martha went on to have the following children baptised at All Saints: Martha, 7.5.1780, (inf. bur 11.1.1780), Martha, 4.4.1781, Elizabeth & Charles, 9.6.1783, (Charles bur 8.5.1788) Simeon, 9.3.1785, (bur 9.8.1785) Charles Bird, 25.4.1787 (bur 30.4.1787) 

A Charles Horwood senior was buried 4.8.1787 and Martha “from Dowry Square” on 16.3.1791

Alexander was supposedly 28 at the time of his marriage to Anna Maria who was nineteen. Valerie believes that the Horwoods were a well to do family and that they disapproved of the marriage, “possibly because they were involved in the slave trade and disliked the anti-abolitionist movement. It is known that Anna’s brother in law to be was the captain of a slaver”, and the location of the marriage, well out of town, may suggest a clandestine arrangement.

In 1791, Alexander was selected by the Anti-Slavery Society to sail to Sierra Leone with the intention of reorganising the settlement of freed slaves in Granville Town and the married couple, with William Falconbridge, presumably another brother, sailed for the colony on a slaver, “The Duke of Buccleuch” under Captain Maclean.  Alex signed an Inventory dated 1792, Sierra Leone, with other signatories, James Watt and Richard Pepys, Members of the Council.

Anna Maria must have been very brave and feisty and was obviously well educated as can be seen from the book she co-authored about her travels: “The Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone During the Years 1791-1792-1793", which was published in 1794. She writes with the benefit of hindsight “it was surely a premature, hair-brained and ill-digested scheme to think of sending such a number of people all at once to such a rude barbarous and unhealthy country before they were certain of possessing an acre of land.”

The Sierra Leone scheme was a failure, as was the marriage. The couple separated. Alexander fell out with his brother William who was also employed by the Sierra Leone Company. William moved to Bance Island where he became ill with a fever and died. Alexander, who had taken to drink, was dismissed by Mr Thornton of the Company, and very depressed died on 19 December 1792. Both he and William are believed to be buried in Sierra Leone but the site of their graves is unknown.

Within a few weeks, on 7 January 1793, Anna Maria married Isaac Dubois, in a private ceremony, requesting that the officiating clergyman keep the matter secret (for obvious reasons!) The marriage was probably Isaac’s second, for a man of this name married Jemima Blake at St Martin’s in the Fields, London on 17.11.1784. He also worked for the Company and kept a diary for Thomas Clarkson. Though some sources say he was a plantation owner from North Carolina, or a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, I wonder if either is correct and feel that his connections are more likely with London, and particularly St Martin’s in the Fields where an Isaac Dubois of the Strand, St Martin’s in the Fields, chaser and print seller, insolvent debtor, was imprisoned in The Fleet, 22.10.1748. (London Gazette). Perhaps he was Isaac’s father or grandfather?  The  newly weds celebrated aboard Anna's brother in law's slaver and later returned home to England via Jamaica.

Anna includes in her book details of meetings she had on her return with Thornton who had sacked Alexander. She mentions Alexander’s will which has never been located and alludes to a possible child. This is the only reference she makes to her dead husband apart from his bad temper and drinking habits.  She gave birth to a son Francis Blake Dubois on 27 December 1801 and died shortly afterwards probably from the complications of giving birth. She was just thirty three years old. Her son was christened at St Martin in the Fields in November 1802.

Sadly it seems that Anna Maria wavered when it came to the abolitionist movement and after Alexander's death she seems to have had doubts about the possibility of abolition coming about, she in fact questioned whether it was a good thing.

So what are the Bristol connections? As shown above George Falconbridge was a witness to the marriage of Alexander and Anna Maria.  On the 16 February 1791 he married at St Philip & St Jacob’s, Mary Hedges of Castle Precincts. The marriage was by licence, presumably because the bride was just eighteen and needed the consent of her father, Thomas Hedges, a hatter, of St P & J. George was  a bachelor and by trade a chymist, (sic). All parties signed.

The next Falconbridge on the scene is Samuel, a chemist, of the City of Bristol, who made his will on 10 February 1795. He leaves:

“to my son George Falconbridge, a house now occupied by Earl Pearce, potter, in Avon Street, St Phillips with £200 stock in 5% annuities, household furniture, books, my best black coat and all necessaries in my dwelling.”

“to my brother, William Falconbridge, if living at my decease, interest of £200 in stock &c and at his death one half to be paid to Samuel Falconbridge, his son and half to Mary Falconbridge, his daughter.”

“to my grandson Samuel Falconbridge, £50 in stock.”

“to my wife’s mother Susanna Boyd the interest on £100 in stock for life provided her son George Boyd give her £10 a year for her life, otherwise the legacy is void. And at her death to my grandson Samuel Falconbridge jointly with his brother and sisters, £30 to him and £70 between his brother & sisters.

”to John Griffiths, my wearing apparel except my black coat.

“to John Read £10 and any surplus money I may die professed (sic) of after my funeral expenses and debts discharged and deficiency to be made up by my son George Falconbridge. And the same John Read to direct my funeral and that he will have a flat grave stone put over my grave inscribed with my age and that of my dear wife; and John Read to be executor.”

Signed Samuel Falconbridge in the presence of Isaac Hill, Richard Pincott, William Seward.

The will was proved on the 20th May 1795.

Unfortunately, mysterious as usual, nobody by the name Falconbridge appears in the Bristol baptism & burial indexes 1754-1812 produced by Bristol & Avon FHS, nor does the gravestone appear in Ron Lewin’s index of MIs. It occurs to me that William named above “if living” may be the William who accompanied Alex and Anna Maria to Africa. If Alex is also Samuel’s brother then he is not mentioned in the will as it must have been known that he was already dead.  I have been unable to find a marriage between Samuel Falconbridge and ----- Boyd. 

So we are left with…………George.

George Falconbridge was married to Mary Hedges as noted above. They appear not to have had children and lived out their lives in St Philip & St Jacob. In the Bristol Mercury of 30.11.1830 George Boyd Falconbridge of St P & J appears named in a petition of ratepayers railing against “ruinous taxation”.

They appear in 1841 census at Lamb Street, aged 70 and 65 respectively. (I had some difficulty in finding them - “Find My Past” indexes them as “Fatcombridge”!) George died in 1845 and in the 1851 census Mary is is living at 92 Lamb Street St P  J, widow, 79, funded proprietor & house, born Bristol, with Esther Baker, 21, servant, born Gloucestershire.   In 1861, Mary is living at 40 Wade Street, still with the faithful Esther Baker, now “28”. It was probably Esther who put her mistress’s obituary in the newspaper in 1865:  November 12, at Lamb Street, after a long illness, Mary Ann, widow of Mr G. Falconbridge, aged 94, (Bs Merc 18.11.1865)

We Bristolians can claim the brave and doughty Diana Gould as one of our own as she was born Diana Prigg in Clifton on April 18 1926. She became famous when she confronted Mrs Thatcher in 1983 over the infamous sinking of the Belgrano outside the 200-mile exclusion zone round the Falklands. Mrs Gould, having studied the geography of the Antarctic at University where she took a double first, and maintained an interest in the Falkland Islands, was unsatisfied by the British government’s explanation of certain events. She wrote to the BBC with her views, not expecting to appear on TV, but once on screen refused to be overawed by Mrs Thatcher and persisted that the Argentine ship had been sailing away from the Falklands when the order was give to sink it, claiming that the sinking sabotaged any possibility of any peace plan succeeding. It is said that Mrs Thatcher was considerably rattled by the encounter which has been rated by Radio Times readers as the “ninth best interview of all time.”  Diana Gould’s book “On the Spot” about the Belgrano affair was published in 1984.    

Jonathon BISP of Winterbourne, 1754, makes an appearance in a list of Bristol seamen in my Kingswood Index which can be found elsewhere on this site.  Going through some old research papers recently I have come across him again in a notice  headed “Merchants Hall, April 11th, 1758”.

“The Trustees for the Relief of Seamen, &c, there met:

Mr Abraham ELTON, Master; Mr Richard COMBES, Warden; Mr Thomas FARR, junior, Warden; Mr Cranfield BECHER; Mr Henry SWYMMER;Mr James LAROCHE;

Mr Richard FARR; Mr William REEVE; Mr John FOY; Mr Nathaniel FOY; Mr George DAUBENY; Mr Wm WARSIP; Mr Thomas WILLOUGHBY; Mr Chr: WILLOUGHBY

No. 61: Jonathan BLISS (see note below **) late cook on board the ship or vessel called Duke of Cornwall belonging to the Port of Bristol whereof David JENKINS was Commander having the misfortune to have his left arm broke and his right hand shattered so much as to render it useless and his body and face burnt by the sudden going off of a gun aboard the said ship applying for relief and the same being certifyed (sic) to the satisfaction of the Trustees it is ordered that the said Jonathan Bliss be allowed two shillings a week to be paid Quarterly upon the General Quarter days the first payment to be made on the twenty fourth day of June next.

No 62: Betty BRUMAGE, Widow of Pierce Brumage late Chief Mate and afterwards Master of the Ship Nonpareil belonging to the Port of Bristol who was lost in the said Ship on her passage from Cape Fear to the said Port of Bristol some time in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty four petitioning for relief and the proper certificates being read whereby it appears that she hath one child living named Elizabeth aged about three years. It is ordered in consideration of her having had no relief hitherto and that Pierce Brumage was Master of the said ship at the time of his death that Betty Brumage be allowed two shillings a week to be paid quarterly……” (same conditions as above.)

Undated – a later occasion:

“The Trustees for the relief of Seamen &c then met:

Mr Isaac BAUGHTON, Master; Mr Jos: DALTERA, Warden; Mr Rd FARR, Warden; Mr Hry. CASAMAJOR; Mr Nathaniel FOY; Mr Wm REEVE; Mr Hry SWYMMER;

Mr Jas. LAROCHE; Mr Wm. JONES: Mr William HILHOUSE; Mr Henry DAMPIER: Mr James DALTERA; Mr Wm WANSEY: Mr Chr.WILLOUGHBY

No. 2: Thomas WEAVER – allowed to reside in or near Waterford and to be paid quarterly

No.5: Joshua HOLLAND – did not appear being ill.

No. 19: Rachel DAVIS is now married to Methusaleh DYER, a seaman now on board a Man of War

No. 22: John FLING – does not reside in Ireland

No.27: Mary GARDNER did not appear

No. 28: John HEALY – it appears that he is not quite dark and is able to get four or five shillings a week his pay therefore is reduced to two shillings a week from next (illegible) (I can’t understand what “not quite dark” means.)

No. 32: Rebecca RUTH did not appear. She lives at Westbury

No. 38: John THOMAS did not appear, being ill

No. 50: Robt BARKER did not appear

No. 53: The Pension paid to Mrs EDWARDS in respect of Richard LARKWORTHY ordered to be discontinued he being admitted into Mr Colston’s Hospital

No. 61: ** Jonathan BISP hitherto by mistake called BISP

No. 63: Jas. PITMAN did not appear.”

I am indebted to Mrs WALSH, a descendant of the Bisp Family who sent me this copy document from an original at the Society of Merchant Venturers in 1996. NB. in “Bitton Parish Chronicles” – lifted without acknowledgement from my “Annals of Kingswood” the writer has seen fit to “correct” my spelling of Jonathan’s name having decided it is a misprint and calls him “Bishop”.  Whenever a name is sufficiently unusual, it is always worth looking to see if there is any further information to be had. I’m sorry to say that in this case Jonathan Bisp, if this is the same man, came to an unfortunate end, as described in the London Chronicle of 1762:

“Bristol, October 30th. Saturday night a fray happened in Nicholas Street between the butchers and a party of the Glamorganshire Militia.in which Jonathan BISP, butcher, had his skull fractured so that he died next morning and several others were wounded on both sides. One Robert WILLIAMS who struck the deceased with an iron bar is committed to Newgate.”

Then: Bristol Gaol Delivery, Saturday 28th May, 1763. Robert Williams convicted on the wilful murder of Jonathan Bisp. Let him be hanged by the neck until he be dead and let him body be delivered to Mr TOWNSEND, surgeon to be dissected and anatomized. But execution to be respited until 24th day of June next. (From Bristol Gaol Delivery Fiats 1741-99 .)

I am looking for the birth and death of Captain William Dungey, supposed born circa 1754 who died prior to 1841. Can anyone help?

                                                                                                               WILLIAM DUNGEY

An obituary appears in the Bristol Mercury of 7 Dec. 1844 as follows: At Merchants Almshouse, much regretted, Elizabeth, widow of Captain William Dungey, late of this port, aged 72. Elizabeth died on 1 December and according to her death certificate she was 68. (Which shows we always have to be wary of the age given at death or on gravestones, for this was supplied by other people!) There was an inquest and the City Coroner, J.B. Grindon, decided there were no suspicious circumstances and brought in a verdict of “Visitation of God”. 

The Merchants Venturers Almshouse in King Street was built as a home for old sailors and their dependents and I passed it every day during the short time I worked next door in the 1950s at the now defunct “Northern Assurance”.

On the wall is a plaque with the following lines:

"Freed from all storms the tempest and the rage
Of billows, here we spend our age.
Our weather beaten vessels here repair
And from the Merchants' kind and generous care
Find harbour here; no more we put to sea
Until we launch into Eternity.
And lest our Widows whom we leave behind
Should want relief, they too a shelter find.
Thus all our anxious cares and sorrows cease
Whilst our kind Guardians turn our toils to ease.
May they be with an endless Sabbath blest
Who have afforded unto us this rest."

“Elizabeth Dungee” aged 66, born in the county of Gloucestershire, was among the inmates of the Almshouse in 1841 from which it is evident that she was widowed by this time.

Records show that William Dungey married Elizabeth Eadye at St Augustine’s, Bristol in 1800, and as according to family lore, William was born in 1754, he would have been 46 at the time from which it is supposed that this may have been his second marriage.  The marriage was by banns and both signed the register. The couple lived at various addresses in Pipe Lane between 1814 and 1829 according to Rates’ Books and Matthews’ Bristol Directory. From 1830 the rates at 10 Pipe Lane were paid by their son in law, James Fedden.

For many years William was Captain of the Viscount Palmerston a packet ship which left Bristol for Cork every Thursday and Saturday. When steam replaced sail about 1823, it appears that William retired. I have been unable to find any burial or obituary for him though his death is assumed to have been between 1830 and before 1841.  (The William Dungey buried at Temple aged 62 in 1836, is another man of the same name, a glass blower by trade.)

William & Elizabeth’s children were

Mary,  perhaps baptised St Mary Redcliffe, 1801. A notice of her marriage appears in Bristol Mercury on 7 Feb. 1820: “February 3rd, at Westbury on Trym, Mr. James M. Fedden to Mary, eldest daughter of Captain William Dungey of the Government Packet Establishment of this City & Cork.”

(The fact that she was “the eldest daughter” implies that there were at least two more!)

In 1841, the Feddens were at Lewis Buildings, Orchard Lane, Temple:

James Fedden, accountant, 40, Mary Fedden, 35, with children Charlotte, 15, George, 14, Charles 12 and Alfred, one month. All were said to have been born in Gloucestershire. The deaths of a James Fedden and a Mary Fedden were registered in Bristol in 1846. A James Fedden appears in a list of insolvent debtors, 22.7.1837 and may be “our” James, whilst two other entries re T. Edgar who was charged with the theft of a cloak from Mr James Fedden of Brandon Street, 12.11.1836 and James Fedden, landlord of a pub the Duke of York in Brandon Street, 1839 appear to refer to a different man. 

William, who married Ann Caroline Lovell at Westbury on Trym in 1825. He was a carpenter and left Bristol for London.

and possibly John, whose marriage was announced 14.1.1837 in Bristol Mercury: “Dec. 28th at Trinity Church, Captain John Dungey to Mary Ann daughter of Mr Francis Vincent of Stapleton Road.” This couple were living at Tubal Place, St Mary Redcliffe in 1861, when he was aged 62, born Bodmin, Cornwall, and Mary Ann, 52, born Isle of Wight.  His death is announced in 1871: Nov. 20, Mr John Dungey, late Captain of this Port, aged 76.” (Bs Merc. 2.12.71)

These are additional to my booklet “Killed in a Coalpit - volume 2, The Mines of Mendip.

Mining fatalities from the transcript of notebook kept by "H. Golledge of Shoscombe Bath" as provided by Ella Drew. (possibly Henry Golledge, born 1886, who was a hewer at Farmborough in 1911?)

William Hamilton, killed Braysdown Colliery, Jan 21, a Saturday. Inquest; Jan 25, buried Jan 26, 1939 (William was 53)

William Carter, hurt at Foxcote Pit, Jan 15 1925, died Saturday 17, buried 22 Jan 1925.

George Gulliford (35) & George Weeks (54) died when they fell out of the cage at Braysdown Pit, July 10 1929

Frederick Shellard, 53 killed on the line between Lower Work and Radstock “opposite Whitelands” Nov 26 1908

And from other sources:

John Glover

“Friday sennight John Glover, a miner of Shipham was killed by a premature blast of gunpowder while blowing rock for sinking a well. He bore an excellent character and leaves a wife and five children.” (FFBJ 8.11.1834)

Sambourne George Treasure

Died 10.2.1923, coalminer and hewer; aged 45; died Bromley Colliery, from fracture of the skull; inquest at held at North Somerset. (Any information/enquiries to Liz Matthews 01275 832570)

George Holvey (25)

of Stanton Drew; killed at Bromley by a fall of stone; serious injuries to Oliver Dix of Pensford. (Accident reported Somerset Guardian 20.9.1918)

Abraham Beard:

On Saturday week, a young man by the name of Abraham Beard ascended the coalpit at Radstock and as he was getting out of the hudge in a hurry, fell to the bottom and was dashed to pieces. (Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal, 27.2.1847)

Luke Whitaker: navigator, found dead in a coalpit at Mells. Inquest: accident. (Bath Chronicle 8.3.1798)