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)

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)

The following names are a POST SCRIPT to the far greater number of fatalities in my book “Killed in a Coalpit – the Mines of Mendip”, the manuscript of which is now at the Radstock Museum.

Joshua Ashman (54)

The beloved husband of Sarah Ann Ashman, who died at Newbury Colliery, August 17^th 1906. Interred at Coleford Churchyard.

"I'll praise my Maker while I've breath

And when my voice is lost in death

Praise shall employ my nobler powers

My days of praise shall ne'er be past

While life and thought, and being last

Or immorality endures." (His favourite verse.)

I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."

(2 Timothy 4; verses 7 & 8(From a funeral card.)

Thomas Athay

"One of the oldest miners in the Forest of Mendip incautiously entered some old works at Shipham when the side fell in and buried him." (FFBJ 4.6.1823)

James Attwood - see John Harding, 1796

William Ball (or Bull) - see Henry Carter, 1823.

S. Bath

Inquest at Timsbury on S. Bath who fell down the pit 100 fathoms by missing his hold at the bar at the top of the pit. (FFBJ 31.12.1801)

Clifford "Billy" Battle

Information from Edward P.S. Battle, who now lives in Yorkshire: "My uncle, Clifford "Billy" Battle of Welton Road, Radstock was badly injured underground at Ludlow's Colliery and died the next day in Paulton Hospital. This happened in the winter, 1928-9. I know I was 8 years old at the time. He left a wife and three year old son. My father worked as a face worker at Braze Down, Ludlow's and Haydon all his working life and died of pneumonicosis in 1959."

Thomas Bilby

Pauper, killed in Newton Coal Pit by coal falling on him. Buried Newton St Loe, 24.8.1792.

Herbert John Brice (19)

Killed in Greyfield Pit, 10 June 1905 and buried at High Littleton, 15 June, 1905.

(PRHL)

Mark Brice

Addendum. Of Farnborough, aged 17, buried at High Littleton, 29 October 1845. (PRHL)

Charles Bridges

Fatal Colliery accident at Timsbury. Charles Bridges, collier, killed 5^th July 1878 while working at Conygre Pit, owned by Messrs Mogg, Parish & Co of Withy Mills, in a roof fall. There was a large slip of the roof with brakes breaking away at the sides which caused the fall. A large stone was amongst the debris which was thought to have hit Bridges. (BMerc 20.7.1878)

James Brimble (57)

William Travers (16)

Killed at Mearns Coal Work and mentioned in High Littleton Overseers' Accounts 1.4.1815, which refer to payment for their laying out and coffins. Buried High Littleton 4.4.1815.

------Britton

"On Friday, a labourer named Britton, in a fit of insanity threw himself into the coalpit at Camerton near Bath and was killed on the spot. (BMi 12.6.1830)

--------Broughton of Farmborough

--------Gibbs of Near Paulton

killed at Middle Pit, Radstock when 3-4 tons of stone fell on them. (BMi 16.2.1861)

Azariah Bryant

"A boy, ascending in the lap of another boy from a coalpit at Writhlington was met by two others going down and the parties coming into contact with each other, Bryant was thrown from his seat and precipitated 80 feet to the bottom of the pit." Inquest Report, FFBJ 14.2.1824.

Daniel Budd

Killed in a coalpit, buried Nailsea, 8.1.1794.

Samuel Budd

"Killed falling down a coalpit at Nailsea", buried Nailsea, 26.3.1811, inquest reported FFBJ, 13.4.1811.

Joseph Bull

"whose back was broken by a stone 2 tons weight falling on him in a coalmine." FFBJ 30.3.1822. (This inquest was reported on the same day as that on Job Cromwell).

James Bunn

Accident at Barlake Colliery owned by Sir John Coxe Hippisley & Messrs Messiter of Wincanton. James Bunn was scalded so dreadfully that he survived only a few hours. (FFBJ 19.8.1820).

William Button (35)

"killed by falling down a pit…." (remainder illegible), burial register, Radstock, 8 May 1849

Henry Carter

William Ball (or Bull)

Paulton. The two men were ascending from their work at a coalpit at Petherton with George Harris & Stephen Ball, (brother in law of the above), when owing to a misconception, a wrong signal was given to the engineer who slackened instead of drawing up, Carter and Ball fell 20 fathoms to their deaths. Harris & Stephen Ball were saved. (FFBJ 15.3.1823)

James Carter and six others, see page 9.

A poem written in memory of the seven men who lost their lives at Timsbury Colliery, February 6^th 1895. It was written by a member of a well-known local mining family, William Ashman. Timsbury's Conygre. The poem is quoted in full in "Five Arches, the Journal of the Radstock and Midsomer Norton District Museum Society, Issue number 4, June 1987. I am grateful to the Society for allowing me to repeat it here.

Nine men we're told went down the mine

To labour for the night

But seven were killed and only two

Of them came up alive.

They had not left their homes so long

Before the news had spread

That an explosion had taken place

And seven poor men were dead!

How sad the news must be to those

To whom those men belong

To hear their husbands had been killed

Who had not left home long.

It's not so very long ago

That one of these poor men

Had lost a son through accident

Who was but a young man.

We're told it is (that in the midst)

Of life we are in death.

Today we're well, but perhaps ere long

Our eyes may close in death

We pray that God will bless the wives

And the dear little ones

God bless the widow who has lost

Her husband and her son.

Now just a word I'll say to all

Be watchful everyone:

For in an hour that ye think not

The Son of Man will come."

John Carter

Addendum. Of High Littleton, buried there 4.11.1845, aged 40. (PRHL)

William Churchill

"Thursday last, a piece of coal fell from one of the carts near the coalpits at Smoakem on the head of William Churchill, and killed him on the spot. He has left a wife and 4 small children. (FFBJ 29.1.1803)

Job Cromwell

Killed at Camerton by the rope of the gug wheel winding round his body. FFBJ 30.3.1822

James Chivers

coalminer of High Littleton, killed at High Littleton, and buried there 1.2.1772. (PRHL)

John Chivers

Of High Littleton, who was bailiff at Heighgrove Coal Works, and killed there. Died 17 April and buried 18 April, 1759. (PRHL)

Thomas Chivers

Coalminer, killed at Tyning Coal Pit. Buried 19 March, 1796. (Various Settlement examinations of the Chivers family including Sampson Chivers, 9 December 1845, are among High Littleton parish records.) (PRHL)

Mark Cleaves

Erratum. This man's name incorrectly appears as "Cleevis" in the Mining Inspector's Reports. He died aged 26, according to a gravestone in High Littleton churchyard. He was buried there 2.10.1866. (PRHL, MIHL)

William Cleaves

Addendum. Of Farnborough, age 25, buried High Littleton 7.11.1845 (PRHL)

David Cook (17)

"killed in the coalpit, brother of James Cook, killed in the coalpit at Fry's Bottom." Buried Clutton, 24.1.1831.

James Cook, see David Cook, above.

John Crick

Killed Bromley Pit Cage accident, buried Farmborough, 11.11.1913, aged 35. (PR)

George Dagger

Inquest on George Dagger, coalminer, killed Timsbury, 20. 6.1812 (FFBJ).

Ernie "Slogger" Edwards

Mr G.W. Quartley, a workmate, recalled in 1992, that "he was killed by a roof fall, late 1950s or early 60s. "I recall walking to the pit bottom with him and a group of colleagues some little time before the accident, and the following exchange took place: 'Slogger, is that right your young 'uns (brother) dead?' Well if he aint, they served the poor b----- a dirty trick, they've buried 'im.'"

James Evans

Addendum. Of High Littleton, aged 43, buried there, 29.10.1845. (PRHL)

Reuben Fear

Crushed to death by a fall at New Rock, Midsomer Norton . Mr Brough, the Inspector concluded the accident was "unavoidable". (BO 29.9.1860)

-------Flowers

"Tuesday night about nine o'clock, as a lad named Flowers, the son of Mr T. Flowers, farmer of Writhlington, was riding past Shoscombe coalpit, recently opened near Radstock, he with the horse unfortunately fell down the shaft by which accident, both were killed on the spot. The lad had one or two brothers at work in the pit but some scaffolding which was constructed inside the shaft intercepted the direct fall of the horse upon them, otherwise they must inevitably have been crushed to death. " (BMi 5.12.1829)

George Green

And Another

"Tuesday morning, two men descending a Coalpit at Holcombe, suffocated by noxious air. One, George Green, has left a wife and three children." (FFBJ 4.10.1794)

Joseph Gullick (70) of Farmborough

James Hollbrook (14) of Timsbury

Accidentally killed in a coalpit belonging to Messrs Moggs and Co. (FFBJ 21.4.1810)

(James Hollbrook was buried at Timsbury, see main list.)

George Hancock

"by a fall into a coalpit, lost his life." Buried 11.11.1759 at Kilmersdon. (Kilmersdon PR)

John Harding (62)

James Attwood (14)

Addenda. The two were buried at Newton St Loe, 17.7.1796.

John Haskins

Death through a pit accident, 1789-1800. (See Mendip Annals, Martha Moore, Bristol Ref Lib, RB/3316, p95.)

Thomas Heal

William Heal

"Mr C.D. Purnell, was clerk and weigher of Simon's Hill and Ham Lane Pit. The pit was kept open to pump the water from Simon's Hill. You could get small coal for 11 shillings and twopence, (about 57p), per hundredweight then. It was so plentiful that a lot was hauled down the land to repair the road. The pit engine boilers were haystack shaped with the bottom raised up and hollow. If the water was not kept up well above the bottom it would cause super heated steam and blow up the boiler. It happened at Simon's Hill and it killed Mr Thomas Heal. He lived at the Tennis Court. His son William was killed also at Ham Pit. The plunger of the engine came too far out of the house and as he worked to get it back the steam was turned on and the surge coming out suddenly knocked his brains out. He was a cornet player and used to lead the choir in the chapel."

(extract from the autobiography of John Watts, from "Five Arches, number 9, winter 1989/90)

Thomas Hill - see William Moore, 1847

Richard Hinton

Erratum. Killed Welton, not Wootton, 13.12.1799.

James Hodges (22)

"who had his back broke at Bromidge in the Coalpit at Midsummer (sic) Norton, 1796." (PRStanton Drew)

James Hollbrook - see Joseph Gullick, 1810

Edward Hoskins (80)

In order to get work at Braysdown pit, he falsely gave his age as 67. He was set to run "the jailer" but sadly fell down the shaft and was killed. The inspector, not surprisingly, concluded "he was too old for the job." (MIR, BMi 9.3.1861) (Thank the Lord for Old Age Pensions)

David Jackson

Crushed between one of the electric underground locomotives and the steel ring roof side supports, late 1950s, early 60s. (information from Mr G.W. Quartley, 24 May 1992)

John Jefferies

"a poor collier of Welton was killed by a large stone which fell on his head. He has left a wife and six children." (FFBJ 6.9.1794)

Bob Jones

Killed as a result of a shot firing accident, late 1950s or early 60s. (information from Mr G.W. Quartley, 24 May 1992)

John Lansdown (26)

"Killed by the coal falling", buried Newton St Loe, 1.2.1795 (PRNSL)

James Lewis

Killed at Camerton by a fall of stone from the roof. (BO 13.10.1860)

-------Maggs

c1750. Settlement Examination of George Maggs, aged 43, born Farmborough who stated, "When I was 12 months old, my father was killed in a pit accident." (PRHigh Littleton)

William Moore of Mells

Thomas Hill of Leigh on Mendip

"killed in a Coal Pit." Buried Mells, 7.5.1829. (PR Mells)

Joseph Osbourn (17)

Killed Vobster Coal Pit, buried Mells, 7.5.1829.

George Palmer

Adendum. For more details see Bath Chronicle 28 & 30.10.1845.

Daniel Pickford

Addendum. Of Farnborough, aged 25. Buried High Littleton 18.10.1845. (PRHL, see also Bath Chronicle 28 & 30.10.1845.)

James Powell

"An inquest was lately taken on James Powell of Timsbury, who was killed in a coalmine." (FFBJ 1.6.1811)

Charles Sage (13)

Inquest at Timsbury on Charles Sage who was crushed between the post of a gate and a railroad wagon. (FFBJ 31.12.1801)

George Short (14)

killed at Grove Coalpit, Timsbury. Evidence was given by Thomas Comer, who was working with him that a large piece of coal, 3-4 cwt fell down on him, crushing his right leg and knocking him against the timber supports. With a man named Brydges, they managed to release the boy, who was taken Bath United Hospital. His injured leg was amputated by Mr Gore, but he remained insensible and died Friday night. (FFBJ 9.11.1850)

Lewis Ward Silcock

"coalminer at Camerton Coalworks, being drawn up the pit, the rope or fastening giving away, he was precipitated to the bottom and killed on the spot. He has left a wife and eight children." (BMi 17.11.1827)

John Simmes

"kill'd per the Engine Mill at Timsbury." Buried 7.2.1795. (PRStanton Drew)

James Stockyer

Killed in Radstock Coalworks. Buried Midsomer Norton 19.12.1800. (PRMN)

William (Bill) Taylor

"killed in an underground accident, circa 1950. The result of a prank which led to two men being tried for manslaughter. The facts as far as I can recall, (it happened), before the start of the afternoon shift at the bottom of an incline where there was a small electric haulage engine, 'Pik Rose' after the name of the manufacturer. Bill was sitting on or near the engine and one of the two accused started it in motion. Bill got his clothing caught in the rope and was dragged into it. He fractured his spine and subsequently died. The two accused were acquitted at trial." (information from Mr G.W. Quartley, 24 May 1992)

"Tim"

"an eastern European, surname unknown. Killed when a man riding a trolley ran away on an incline as a result of being unhitched too early at the top of the incline and ran back into the next one in which Tim was riding. Another man, Arthur Woodland, lost an arm in the accident. Early 1960s." (information from Mr G.W. Quartley, 24 May 1992)

William Travers - see James Brimble

Thomas Ven

Addendum. "Thomas son of Thomas & Flower Ven of this parish, died 1812 aged 18.

"Act thou in health and spirits gay

I too was so the other day

And thought myself of life was safe

As thou who reads my epitaph."

(Dwelly, Mss Vol I, SRO)

William Walter

Addendum. For more information, see Bath Chronicle 28 & 30.10.1845.

THE DOWLING FAMILY

I have been contacted by Florence Chuk, the Australian author of the "The Somerset Years". Florence says: "I was so interested in the Dowling family, (page 15), who lost two members in mining accidents. Dowlings appear to be bad luck in mines. … I found a couple of Somerset Dowling brothers who died in mining accidents in Victoria. Robert Dowling said that he came from Saint Cuthbert's. He arrived, aged 32, in the 'Sir George Seymour' in 1849 with his wife Mary. He died on the Ballarat Goldfields in 1857, although his death was never registered. In the early days people often assumed that an inquest automatically registered a death, so many deaths are only officially indicated in the Inquest Records. His brother Henry had come out a year earlier on the 'Aurora' with his wife Ann. Henry said he came from Woodford and Ann from Chustock. Henry died following a fall of earth in a mine. He was taken out alive but his legs were terribly injured. He was taken to the Ballarat Hospital by cart, where one leg was amputated. Doctors said he seemed likely to recover, but he died the next day. Poor Henry. Their brother Edward arrived per 'Hope' in1849. He did not die in mine - well as far as I have discovered - but he was only 40 when he died in 1858.

"I began to list the men who had died in mining accidents in Victoria by going through the Inquest Index. It began to be interesting but quite overwhelming, as almost every inquest in Victoria was from a mining accident. And there were many Chinese - I had to admire the Coroners of that time in eliciting detailed statements through an interpreter."

ANONYMOUS

"Monday last, a man was killed as he was at work in a coalpit at Timsbury about 5 miles from this City." (Bath Journal, 14.3.1747/8)

"Three men were at work in Mr Davis's pit, Nailsea, when a large mass, 10 tons in weight fell on to the centre man, killing him instantly. One of the others had his leg broke. They were taken to the Infirmary at Bristol and it is very probable they will soon be speedily returned to their families." (FFBJ 22.2.1806)

"Three men were killed at Timsbury Coalpit Wednesday morning by the breaking of the rope." (FFBJ 21.5.1814)

"Saturday a deplorable accident happened at Timsbury Coalworks near Bath, six men having imprudently mounted on a basket of coal on its ascent at the mouth of the pit and having been drawn up a considerable way, the rope being over weighted, broke, and they were precipitated to the bottom. Four were taken up dead and two others survived but a short time." (FFBJ 15.4.1815)

"Accident at Smallcombe Coalworks, near Bath, when 5 men were precipitated 30 feet to the ground owing to the mismanagement of the fire engine. We do not hear that any of the sufferers have died, although they are severely injured." FFBJ 13.11.1819

MISCELLANEOUS

Tuesday morning died Parfitt Maggs, the noted fighting collier, who was shot on Saturday last by William Baker, a lime burner of Twerton in resolutely attempting to execute a warrant of distress on the goods of the said Baker. He received the whole charge of the gun on his hip. The Coroner's Inquest brought in their verdict - manslaughter and Baker is committed to the County Prison. (BMBJ 29.4.1775, kindly contributed by Jane Baker.)

Stephen Jordan, Henry Biggs, and James Gregory, "for leaving work unfinished at the Coalworks at Paulton, were sent to prison for one month; Joseph Gregory, two months

for the same offence." (FFBJ 25.2.1815)

AN APOLOGY

Mr Edward Battle, whose uncle Clifford Battle is listed above wrote to me to ask why Clifford's name was not included. This was because I had not come across his accident. I am glad to rectify the omission this time. Although I have tried to make the list as complete as possible, I know there must be many more miners who came to a tragic end through accidents, not to say those who died of illness, like Mr Battle's father, directly caused through their years of toil in the mines. If you happen to find any information about mining accidents in Mendip from any time, or know of anyone in your family who I have not found, and you would like included in the next update, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am sure there are a great many omissions of the more "recent" accidents from the late 19^th and early 20^th century when newspapers began to be issued daily, and there are many more pages to look through. As you can imagine this is incredibly time consuming.

AND FINALLY

a (slightly risqué) story, passed on to me in 1992 by an old Mendip miner, Mr Gerald Quartley:

"A story told to me by Frank Herridge of Writhington, one of three brothers who worked at Norton Hill. Frank started work at Foxcote, and the old chap who used to dish out the allowance of candles before going underground, Theophilus Swift, used to get carried away by Frank's and other young men's accounts, imagined and real of their exploits with the girls. So interested did he become that if you put your allowance of candles in an inside pocket, he would forget himself and give you a second lot. Frank used to play on this to keep the house supplied with candles for the bedrooms, oil lamps only extended to the downstairs rooms. Frank would often set off to work when the supply was running down with his mother's reminder, "Don’t forget the candles, Frankie." He never divulged the method by which these were obtained."

Abbreviations:

FFBJ – Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal

BMBJ - Bonner & Middleton’s Bristol Journal

BMi - Bristol Mirror

BMerc – Bristol Mercury

PR - Parish Register

MI - Monumental Inscription

BO - Bristol Observer

MIR - Mines Inspector’s Report

SRO - Somerset Record Office

Years ago when I researched “The Budgetts of Kingswood Hill” I worked my way manually through local newspapers of the 19th century. Regrettably but inevitably I missed some entries. Now that Bristol Mercury (BM) and other papers have gone  on-line through the Library Link, here are some of the missing bits of the family’s history:

Married: “Saturday at St Bride’s Church, Mr Henry Hill Budgett of Kingswood Hill near Bristol to Miss Burkitt of this town.” (Liverpool Mercury 24.8.1832)

As readers already know, Mr Henry Hill Budgett was Secretary of the Kingswood Benevolent Society. Amongst the list of subscribers in January 1834 was “a lady” who had donated 25 pair of stout cotton sheets. Whilst this was a welcome gift Henry asked for “Rugs and Blankets to save the poor perishing with the cold.” (BM 4.1.1834)

Sarah Budgett, nee Burkitt died in the Spring of 1839 and the next year Henry remarried for what appears to be the fourth time!

“May 14th at Burslem, Staffordshire, Henry Hill Budgett esquire of Kingswood Hill to Sarah, daughter of Enoch Wood, esquire of the former place. (BM 23.5.1840.) 

In September, H.H. was entertaining his brother in law, Enoch Wood junior in Kingswood, when the horse, “a mettlesome creature” pulling the phaeton in which the two were riding took fright on being whipped, bolted, tripped over a stone and threw them out. H.H. in particular was said to be seriously injured to the great consternation of all Kingswood. The fate of the horse is not stated, though the phaeton was dashed to pieces. The Rev John Gaskin of Holy Trinity, Henry’s son in law arrived and took charge and the casualties were conveyed home. In the event H.H. suffered only concussion and a dislocated shoulder. (BM 20.9.1840). The employees of H.H. & S. Budgett made a collection and three weeks later Samuel Budgett on behalf of his brother, who was still not fit enough to attend,  accepted a gift of “a richly chased silver inkstand “in thankfulness of his deliverance from the alarming accident”. (BM 17.10.1840) 

A robbery when “On the 2nd instant the premises of Mr Samuel Budgett of Kingswood Hill were plundered of a lead pump and 5 cwt of coal.” (BM 26.3.1842)

A wedding of the younger generation: “the 23rd instant at Ealing, James Smith, eldest son of Samuel Budgett, esquire of Kingswood Hill to Mary Bolton, youngest daugh5te of Thomas Farmer, esquire of Gunnersbury House, Middlesex.” (The Standard, 25.8.1849)

Samuel Budgett died in 1851 and in 1852, his biography, “The Successful Merchant” by the Rev. Arthur was published. A long article eulogises S.B. (BM 13.1.1852)

An interesting wedding took place on 29th November 1865 at Calcutta Cathedral: Edward E. Meakin, esquire of Almorah, North India to Sarah Ann, daughter of the late Samuel Budgett, esquire of Kingswood Hill, (B.M. 14.1.1865)  (NB. The groom’s name appears as “Ebenezer” Meakin in the register of Bengal marriages.)

Sometime ago I was sent the following information about a family called Blatchley who with various friends had strong Bitton connections. I had not come across them before and therefore they do not appear in my KINGSWOOD INDEX.  I was reminded of them following my recent posting concerning the Box Tunnel. This is the letter I received from Mr Guy Hirst:

“BLATCHLEY

“The Blatchleys came to the area in the 1820s from the Longleat Estate.

William the father (1771-1854) was an Innkeeper and may have been the 'William Blatcham' who appears as landlord of the Tennis Court Inn at Deanery Road, Warmley in Pigot's Directory of Gloucestershire, 1830. He had retired back to Longleat to a rent free cottage by 1839.

Charles Blatchley, (elder son), (1796-1879), Half Pay Lieutenant RN - paid off from the navy in 1825, began a new career as a railway civil engineer possibly at first with the local Bristol & Gloucestershire Railway from Coalpit Heath. His first child was born at Mangotsfield in 1828. Charles went back to sea 1830-4 and then returned to Kingswood, where his second son was born in 1836.That year Charles found a job with Brunel on the Box Tunnel and left to live at Box. Charles’ lifetime friend and colleague William Glennie was living at Bitton in the 1830s and also moved from the Royal Navy to Brunel. Glennie's wife was the daughter of the great art publicist Henry Aston Barker* (inventor of the panorama and son in law of Captain Bligh of the Bounty) who retired from London to Bitton at this period.

John Blatchley, (younger son), (1803-1862), was a butcher. He married Ruth Fudge in 1828 and had 3 children at Kingswood Hill. Ruth died in 1834. By 1836 the family had moved to Newport, Monmouthshire. When his second wife died in 1847, John and the children struck hard times and ended up in 1851 in the Keynsham Workhouse as John seems to have had a 'settlement' at Oldland. After another spell in Newport he died back in the Keynsham Union House in 1862.

Clara, John's eldest child born 1829 at Warmley remained in the area and appears not to have gone to Newport. In 1851 she was servant to the Moravian Minister Peter Cornelius West at Siston. She married in 1858 at Bitton and left for Liverpool in the 1860s.

John's second wife was Mary Ann James (1809-1847) daughter of George James (b Mangotsfield c1779) and Hannah Ponting (b. Stapleton 1778)

George James was a pork butcher and moved to Newport in the 1830s probably from Bristol where he had lived since his marriage in 1802.

Finally Sophia Grace nee Blatchley (1794-1880) sister of John and Charles, lived from about 1821 to 1835 at Warmley, Bitton, Kingswood with her Exciseman husband William.

“Kind Regards

Guy Hirst.”

I was intrigued by the connection with Bligh of the “Bounty” and decided to check out the information provided.

WILLIAM BLATCHLEY (1771-1854)

William Blatcham is listed as the Landlord of the Tennis Court in 1830. see warmley history. It seems clear from the note concerning John Blatchley (below) that he is indeed the same as William Blatchley.

William Blatchley married Joyce Scriffen Crokett at Longbridge Deverill, Wilts, 4.12.1792.

In 1841 William Blatchley and his wife Joyce aged “69 & 67” respectively are living at Horningsham, Wiltshire. William is said to be of independent means. In 1851 they are at Cock Road, Horningsham, as follows:

William Blatchley, 80, occupation “Old Huntsman” born Bath, and Joyce, otherwise Joycey, his wife aged 71.  The death of William Blatchley was registered at Warminster, Wilts in 1854 and that of Joycey at Kensington in 1859.   

CHARLES BLATCHLEY (1796-1879)

C.B. promoted Lieutenant, RN, 2.4.1824, “Morning Post”.

Charles Blatchley & Charlotte Gale married Kingswood, Bristol 18.12.1827.

(Yet to be checked: Blatchley baptisms at Mangotsfield.)

In 1841 living at Box, Wilts:

Charles Blatchley, 41, Navy Half Pay, born Wilts

Charlotte, 38, not born in Wilts, with Frederick, 5 & Alfred, 4, plus a maidservant.

In 1851, Charlotte, aged 50, born Southleigh, Oxon., is living at Ivy Cottage, Victory Parade, Dawlish with Alfred, her son aged 13, born Box whilst

Charles, 55, born Longbridge Deverill, now a Civil Engineer and Charles, his son, 22, also a Civil Engineer are living at Chipping Campden, Glos.

I can find no trace of any of them in 1861. Charlotte, wife of Commander Blatchley, RN,  died on 31.12.1864 at Saltash (obit 6.1.65, Royal Cornwall Gazette) and in 1871, Charles, a widower, aged 75, Greenwich Pensioner, Commander retired, was living at St Germans.  

His death at Saltash, Cornwall, December 3, 1879, “Commander, RN, aged 84” is recorded in the R. Cornwall Gazette 5.12.1879.

Frederick Blatchley esq, of Port View Saltash, s.o. the late Cdr Blatchley married Mary Kate eldest d.o. Rev Edward Polwhele, Rector of Pillaton. (Morning Post 13.7.1882)

JOHN BLATCHLEY (1802-1862)

“the son of the Landlord of the Tennis Court Inn” gave evidence at the Inquest on Isaac Gorden who was murdered after leaving the pub. (see Morning Chronicle, 6.12.1824) James Caines Bush and Mark Whiting of Kingswood were later hanged for the crime.

John Blatchley makes no further appearance in newspaper articles. I have yet to check his marriage to Ruth Fudge or the baptisms of his children. 

In 1841, described “brewer” (not butcher) he is living at Charles Street, St Woolos, Newport, aged 38, with his wife Mary, 32, and children William, 4, Mary 16 months, and Emma, aged 10, who must be the child of his first marriage.

In 1851, he is not in Keynsham Workhouse but in premises belonging to William Williams, a shipping labourer, and is described as a “painter, journeyman”, born Crockerton, Wiltshire. With him is his son William aged 14, “painter’s boy”, born Newport.   However, in the Keynsham Workhouse are Mary A. Blatchley, 11 and Charles Blatchley, 5, “pauper scholars”, birthplace unknown.

In 1861 John is not in the list for Keynsham Workhouse, but William, now 26, seems to have gone to Droylsden, Manchester, where he says he was “born Gloucestershire” and is living at 9 Durham Street, with his wife Jane aged 25. In 1871, William is still living in Lancashire, now aged 35, a shopman, and says he was born “Monmouthshire”. He has a different wife, Eliza, and five children. Things are looking up for they have a servant, Eleanor Ascroft, aged 15.

It is intriguing to notice the contrast in fortune in the lives of the brothers Charles and John Blatchley.

CLARA BLATCHLEY, (ca1829-1903) the daughter of John Blatchley was a maidservant at the home of the Moravian Minister, Peter Cornelius West at Potters Wood, Kingswood in 1851.

She married Robert Stone, junior, a paper maker, and in 1861 they were living at Oldland Common with their baby son, Frederick, aged one. By 1871 they had moved to Everton, Liverpool where Robert was now working at an india-rubber factory and the family had grown to six children. In 1881 he was an outdoor officer for the Local Marine Board, and in 1891, a Restaurant Manager! A Jack of All-Trades! Robert died aged 56 in 1892 and in 1901, the widowed Clara was staying with her son William, his wife Ethel and their large family at Lambeth. She died in 1903, aged 73, back home in Liverpool.

SOPHIA GRACE, nee Blatchley (1794-1880)

sister of William & Charles Blatchley, married William Grace and in 1841 was at Husbandman’s End, Shipton on Stour, Worcs. William aged 50, (born ca 1791) not born Worcs, Sophia aged 45 (bca 1796) not born Worcs, and their ten children!

In 1851 they were at 12 Caroline Place, Marylebone:

William Grace, 63 (b.1788), retired Inland Revenue Officer, born Enford, Wilts

Sophia, 57 (1794) born Longbridge Deverill

Eliza, daughter, 15, born Cirencester, plus a visitor, nine year old William Hurford, born Brighton.

In 1861, they are still at the same address: William, now 73, “Officer Inland Revenue” though the family business seems to be taking in washing: Sophia, now 66, Louisa, 35 (b.Bitton), Caroline, 28, (b. Kingswood Hill) and Eliza, 25, (b. Cirencester) are all described “laundress”, whilst so Thomas, 25, “assists at home.” The only exception to the enterprise is Maria, 26, (b. Kingswood Hill) a governess.

Sophia Grace, 85, died in London in 1880.

WILLIAM GLENNIE

On Nov. 26 at Bitton, Lt. William Glennie RN  to Elizabeth Catherine eldest daughter of Henry Aston Barker, esquire of Willsbridge. (Marriage announcement Bristol Mercury 12.12.1833)

1841 census at Box, Wiltshire:

William Glennie 40 Lieut RN & Civil Engineer, Not born Wilts

Elizabeth Catherine, 30, Not born Wilts

& 4 children, Walter, 6, Harriet, 5, William, 3 & Catherine Sophia, 1, & 2 servants

1851 census at 23 Devonshire Terrace, St Andrew, Plymouth

William Glennie, 53, (1798) Lieut RN, Half Pay, b. Camberwell

Catherine Glennie, 45 (1806) b. St Geo. Southwark

William, 13, scholar, b. Bitton, Catherine, scholar, 11, b. Bitton, Isabella, 9, b. Sampford Arundel, Som,

Alexander W. 7 b. Sampford Arundel, Mary E. 5, b. Dawlish, Margaret G. b. Plymouth.

Marriage announcement: INGLES/GLENNIE. On 8th inst at Stoke Church, Devonport, Lieut John Ingles RN & Catherine Sophia, 2nd daughter of the late Lieut William Glennie RN of Nelson Villas, Stoke, Devonshire. (Hampshire Chronicle 20.1.1866)

HENRY ASTON BARKER 

Henry As(h)ton Barker & Harriet Maria Bligh married 1802. (Harriet Maria, daughter of William & Bligh and Elizabeth Betham was baptised at Douglas, Isle of Man 14 November 1782.

Henry Aston Barker Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, Southward Volunteers, 26.8.1807 (announcement, Morning Post)

The following comes from Wikipedia:

Henry Aston Barker (1774 - 19 July 1856) was a Scottish landscape and panorama painter and exhibitor, the son of Robert Barker whose business he continued.^[1]

Life and works

Barker was born in Glasgow, the younger son of Robert Barker, the famous panoramic painter, whom he assisted as a boy. When only 12 years old he was set to work making outlines of the city of Edinburgh from the top of the Calton Hill Observatory, and a few years later made the drawings for the view of London from Albion Mills. These drawings he afterwards etched.^[1]

In 1788 he came with his father to London, and soon afterwards became a pupil at the Royal Academy. Barker continued to be his father's chief assistant in the panoramas till the latter's death in 1806, when, as executor, he took over the business, and for 20 years carried on the exhibitions with great success.^[1]

He frequently travelled in the course of his work, and in August 1799 left England for Turkey, to make drawings for a panorama of Constantinople. When he arrived at Palermo, he called on Sir William Hamilton, the English ambassador at the court of Naples, and was introduced by him to Lord Nelson, of whom, he wrote, "took me by the hand and said he was indebted to me for keeping up the fame of his victory in the Battle of the Nile for a year longer than it would have lasted in the public estimation" (Barker's memoranda). The panorama of Constantinople was exhibited in 1802, and the drawings were engraved and published in four plates.^[1]

In 1801, Barker went to Copenhagen to make drawings for a picture of the battle, and while there he was again received by Lord Nelson. In May 1802, during the Peace of Amiens, he went to Paris and made drawings for a panorama of the city. After this many other panoramas were exhibited, the later ones being chiefly from drawings by John Burford, who shared with Barker the property in a panorama in the Strand, purchased in 1816 from Mr. Reinagle. Barker, however, still travelled from time to time, and visited, among other places, Malta, where he made drawings of the port, exhibited in 1810 and 1812; Venice, of which a panorama was exhibited in 1819; and Elba, where he made the acquaintance of Napoleon.^[1]

After the battle of Waterloo, Barker visited the field, and went to Paris, where he obtained from the officers at headquarters all necessary information on the subject of the battle. A series of eight etchings by Mr. J. Burnett from Barker's original sketches of the field of battle were printed and published, as were also his drawings of Gibraltar. His last grand panorama was the coronation procession of George IV, exhibited in 1822. Of all the panoramas exhibited, that of the battle of Waterloo was the most successful and lucrative. By the exhibition of this picture Barker realised no less than £10,000.^[1]

About 1802 he married the eldest of the six daughters of Rear-admiral William Bligh, who commanded the Bounty at the time of the celebrated mutiny. By her Barker left two sons and two daughters. In 1826 he transferred the management of both the panoramas to John and Robert Burford, and went to live first at Cheam, in Surrey, and then in the neighbourhood of Bristol.^[1]

Barker died on 19 July 1856 at Bitton near Bristol. A list of most of the panoramas painted and exhibited by Henry and Robert Barker were published in The Art Journal (1857, p. 47).^[2][1]. His brother, Thomas Edward Barker, though not an artist, also ran the family business, but later set up a rival panorama exhibition with artist Ramsay Richard Reinagle at 168/9 The Strand, London.^[3]

Panorama of Constantinople (1813, aquatint)

The Morning Post of 1.1.1823 contains the following: “Mr Henry Aston Barker has completed his magnificent panorama of the coronation of the present king. It is one of the most happy as well as undoubtedly the most splendid of his performances and (establishes) him as the first artist of the day in this line, The picture is exhibited  in the Great Circle at Leicester Square occupying 10,000 feet of canvas and between 30 & 40 thousand figures.”

1841 census: at Golden Valley Bitton

Catherine Barker 90 (1751) b.Ireland

Henry Ashton (sic) Barker, 66 (1775) b. Scotland

Harriet Barker, 58 (1783 b. Scotland* (*presumably there was no column for the IOM)

Mary Barker, 25 (1816) b. Glos.

Catherine Barker, Henry’s mother, and the widow of Robert Barker, died at Bitton in 1842.

On July 29 at Bitton, North Prichard esquire, of Norwood Surrey to Mary, youngest daughter of Henry Aston Barker, of Bitton. (Marriage announcement, Worcester Journal. 5.8.1847)

In 1851, Henry, & Harriet were still living at Golden Valley.

Harriet Maria Barker died at Bitton in the spring of 1856 and Henry survived her by only a few months. His obituary appears in “the Standard” of 24.7.1856 ”the 19th inst at Bitton, Henry Aston Barker, in the 83rd year of his age.”

26.5.1838

A man called Giles LONG was lately killed by falling down one of the Great Western Railway shafts at Box tunnel. (BM)

25.8.1838

Inquest on a man named HALL, a banksman at shaft 8, Box tunnel when engaged in running the empty wagons to be lowered into the shaft. Through an aberration of memory caused partially by drink he walked backwards towards the shaft, falling backwards towards the shaft, pulling the wagons behind him causing his instant death. He was a native of Holt, leaving a wife and 5 children, and generally of steady habits. (BM)

22.9.1838

Henry HOPE, aged 40, made a wager to run against William CLARKE for a gallon of beer. Clarke boasted that if he not beat him at running then he could beat him at fighting and a fight broke out between the pair, both labourers on the works at Box tunnel. Nobody attempted to interfere, including Hope’s son and after 20 minutes he was unable to stand or speak. He was left in that condition until the following morning when a passer by had him conveyed to his lodgings where he died. William Clarke was charged with manslaughter. (The Standard)

7.10.1838

Daniel THOMAS aged 15, killed falling down No. 6 shaft, 190 feet, whilst working in the shaft. He was taken out alive and lingered a few hours. The only sign of injury was a small bruise near his right eye. (London Despatch)

1.12.1838

Fatal accident at shaft No. 5, Box Tunnel. A man came up to take refreshment when his foot slipped, and he fell 260 feet. (Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal)

9.12.1838

A poor man, name unknown, was ascending shaft No. 5 had reached the landing when his foot slipped and he fell 250 feet to the bottom, every bone in his body broken, a frightful spectacle. (The Operative, reprinted from the Wiltshire Herald) (This appears to refer to the same accident as 1.12.1838)

8.6.1839

Another accident at the Box tunnel when a workman was killed by a stone falling on him from the top of No. 3 shaft. The consumption of human life at this eminent undertaking has been frightful. Many of these losses might have been prevented by a more cautious use of the proceeding during excavations by the workmen.* (my italics) (Bristol Mercury)

13.7.1839

Shaft No. 4, a man called FALKIN was blasting rock, and not aware the match was lighted advanced too near and the mine exploded. Stones cut his head so dreadfully that no hope is entertained on him. (BM)

23.11.1839

Friday morning a man wheeling a barrow over a plank laid across one of the shafts at Box tunnel missed his footing, precipitated to the bottom and was killed. (BM)

24.11.1839

The destruction of human lives at the Box tunnel is awful. Nearly fifty lives have been sacrificed since its commencement and one during the last week. A poor fellow wheeling across the mouth of one of the shafts lost his footing and was precipitated a shapeless mass to the bottom. (The Champion & Weekly Herald)

30.11.1839

Thomas WALTER, a native of Bristol, fell down the shaft of No. 3, Box tunnel when wheeling a barrel of mortar to the shaft, 302 feet. (BM)

30.11.1839

Mr David LEE, a sub contractor, was killed at No. 2 shaft at Box tunnel having just returned from a journey, descended to inspect the proceedings of his workmen when a piece of timber fell on his head, crushing to pieces. (BM)

* according to the reports on 8th June and 24 November 1839 the death toll during the making of the tunnel had exceeded 50 persons.  As newspaper reports of these accidents appear to be under reported I wonder whether the burial registers of Box, Wiltshire and district are more forthcoming.  Does anyone have this information? 

CONNERY, JOHN

At Dieppe, in consequence of wounds received on board the John Bull, in an engagement with a French privateer, Mr John Connery, formerly of the City of Bristol. FFBJ 18.11.1809.

HANCOCK, Isaac

On 29^th inst by falling over the side of the French schooner La Muche of which he was prize master, Mr Isaac Hancock, midshipman of the Statira frigate, and son of Mr I. Hancock of this City, a promising young officer, greatly respected by his Captain and crew. FFBJ 1.7.1809.

MALBON, Micajah.

At Stapleton, after a few days illness, Micajah Malbon, esq., Captain, Royal Navy, leaving behind an amiable widow, 4 children and many friends to deplore his loss. He had devoted 34 years of his life to His Majesty's service and distinguished himself in many engagements. FFBJ 19.6.1813

MANSEL

Mr Mansel, aged 19, at Gilbraltar, eldest son of the Bishop of Bristol. He was taken prisoner aged 13 with the unfortunate Captain Wright of the Vincego and escaped from the French after 5 years captivity. But the sufferings which he endured from his long and retracted concealment in wet ditches, marshes, etc for upwards of three months visibly affected his constitution. His friends were anxious for a change of profession but his attachment to the sea was unalterable. After staying with them only a few weeks he sailed as midshipman aboard the Circe frigate, Captain Woolcombe, who has now announced his dissolution. FFBJ 1.12.1810.

Bristol and other local men at Men at Trafalgar, 1805.

Royal Navy (of Bristol unless otherwise stated)

John Alden, Landsman

William Alden, AB

John Allen, Landsman, Bath

H.J. Anderden, Midshipman

George Anderson, Ord Seaman

John Andrews, Quartermaster

John Armstrong, Quartermaster

Charles Arthur, Ord Seaman

William Atkins, AB

Charles Baber, Landsman, Bedminster

George Baker, Carpenter's Crew, Keynsham, Somerset

John Baker, Ord Seaman

Francis Barnes, AB. (see letter above)

James Barnes, Landsman

Peter Barrett, AB

Samuel Bateman, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Joseph Batson, Ord Seaman, Trent (?) Som, (TR "Bellerophon")

Christopher Beaty, Quarter gunner.

George Beck, clerk

George Bedford, AB

John Bell, Landsman, Bath

Abraham Bennett, Boy 2^nd Class

John Bennett, AB

William Berry AB Bath

'Thomas Blake, Ord Seaman

William Blake, Landsman, Marshfield, Glos

Walter Bond, Quarter gunner

Richard Bowden, AB

Robert Boyde, AB, Downing (sic) Glos

Thomas Braine, Ord Seaman

Joseph Briton (sic) Landsman

Philip Britton, Landsman, Bath

William Broad, Ord Seaman

William Broad, Carpenter's crew

John Brock, AB

William Brook, AB, St Garges, (sic) Glos

Joseph Brooks, Landsman

John Brown, AB (? TR "Neptune" and Guadaloupe clasp)

John Brown, AB

William Brown, Ord Seaman

William Buck, Quartermaster

William Buckley, Yeoman of the Sheets

Samuel Burgess, Landsman

James Burton, master's mate, Ratcliffe (sic)

Peter Bush, Boy 2^nd Class, Kingswood, Glos

Joseph Buxton, AB, Hanham, Glos

George Cannon, Landsman, Bath

John Campbell, Quarter gunner

William Cantell, Landsman, Whitechurch (sic) Somerset

Jacob Cappell, Pte. Queen Charlton, Somerset, (TR "Victory")

Hugh Carney, Pte, St Michael, Bristol, (TR "Britannia")

Robert Carr, Midshipman

Comm. John. Carslake. Born Colyton, Devon, 1785. Entered R.N. 1799. Midshipman

on "Victory" 1805. Promoted after the battle to Lieut. Retired Commander,

1852, N.G.S. Medal, two clasps. Died Clifton 1865. (TR)

Charles Cawly, Landsman

John Chambers, Landsman (as Ord. Seaman ?TR "Dreadnought". Martinique clasp)

James Cheek, Landsman

James Cherry, Landsman

Daniel Chilcott, Quarter gunner

Henry Child, AB, Bath

James Chivers, Ord Seaman

William Clements, Landsman, Bath

Thomas Cobley, Ord Seaman

Isaac Cole, Ord Seaman, Hanham, Glos

Samuel Cole, Ord Seaman, Downing, (sic) Glos

John Coleman, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

Michael Collins, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Condon, Ord Seaman

John Cook, Ord Seaman

John Cooper, Landsman, Cyson (sic) (Siston) Glos

John Cope, AB. On "Victory" at Trafalgar, aged 24, seriously wounded. Utrecht

11 May 1803, "Ocean" 15 January 1806.

Samuel Cowles, AB, Downing (sic) Downend

Charles Cox, Landsman, Stapleton, Glos

John Cramer, Landsman

William Crisp. Landsman, Whitchurch, Som

Robert Cuddiford, Carpenter's crew. (TR "Naiad.)

Benjamin Dagger, Carpenter's crew, Bath

William Davis, Ord Seaman

William Dawes, AB

Bartholomew George Smith Day, Midshipman (TR "Revenge". "Superiere" 10 Feb 1809)

Thomas Day, AB

James Dowling, Boy, 2^nd Class

Thomas Downey, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

John Downs, Quarter Gunner

Jeremiah Dunn, AB

James Earle, Midshipman

Francis Eaves, Yeoman of the Sheets. Aged 29, on "Victory" at Trafalgar.

4 May 1804 "Swift", 15 January 1806, "Ocean".

James Edwards AB

Samuel Edwards, Landsman

William Edwards, Landsman

William Ellis, Ord Seaman

George Emblin, Coxswain

Henry Evans, Ord Seaman

Matthew Evans, Landsman

Thomas Evans, Ord Seaman

Thomas Evans, Yeoman of the Sheets

William Fields, Ord Seaman

Nicholas Fitzgerald, Carpenter's Crew

Charles Fletcher, AB

Thomas Fletcher, Ord Seaman

John Flooke, Boy, 1^st class

George Floyd, Ord Seaman

William Forrest, AB, Keynsham

James Fowler, Ord Seaman

Thomas Francis, Landsman

John French, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

Edward Fry, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

John Fry, Landsman

Isaac Fudge, Ord Seaman

James Fuller, Ord Seaman

John Gardner, Landsman

John/James Gardner, Landsman

William Gardner, Ord Seaman

Thomas Gascoyne, Ord Seaman

James Gerrard, AB

George Gibbons, AB

Thomas Gibson, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

William Giles, AB

Nicholas Gooding, AB

William Goodman, Ord Seaman

John Gordon, AB, Bath

John Graham, Boy, 3^rd Class

George Grant, AB

William Graves, Ord Seaman

Thomas Griffiths, Ord Seaman

William Griffiths, Landsman

Charles Grimes, Ord Seaman

Joseph Gullick, Landsman

James Hale, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hall, Landsman, Bitton, Glos

Samuel Hammans, Ord Seaman, Somerset

Thomas Handley, AB (TR "Bellerophon"

John Hannam, Carpenter's Crew (TR as Hannan "Ajax")

Joseph Hannam, Boy, 2^nd Class

John Harding, Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, AB

John Hartland, Ord Seaman

James Harvey, Ord Seaman

Samuel Hawkins, AB

George Hayes, AB

John Hazle, AB

James Helliar, Ord Seaman

William Hemmings, Landsman

William Henderson, Trumpeter

Edward Henley, Armourer's Mate

Job Henley, Landsman

William Herbert, Ord Seaman

Augustus Thomas Hickes, Volunteer 1^st Class, Berkeley

(TR as Hicks "Defiance", died 1857)

John Hilliar, Ord Seaman

John Hinds, Quartermaster's Mate

'Thomas Christopher Holland, Midshipman, Bath

Charles Hopkins, Ord Seaman

David Howell, Trumpeter, Bath

Henry Howell, Ord Seaman

John Howell, Ord Seaman

William Howell, Landsman, Manilsfield sic - (Mangotsfield), Glos

William Hubber, Ord Seaman (TR "Polythemus")

Aaron Hubert, Boy, 2^nd Class, Cosham sic - (Cotham?), Bristol. aged 16. On "Victory"

at Trafalgar. 17 April 1803 "Resistance", 15 January 1806, "Ocean".

Abraham Hughes, Ord Seaman

William Humphries, Qtr. Gunner, Bath (TR "Mars")

William Hutchinson, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hyde, Landsman (TR "Conqueror")

James Jackson, AB

Richard Jackson, Landsman

James James, Landsman

John James, Ord Seaman

Stephen Watts Jeffries, Ord Seaman, Mangotsfield, Glos

James Jenkins, Ord Seaman

John Jenkins, AB

John Jennings, Ord Seaman

John Johnson, Landsman

John Johnston, Ord Seaman

Francis Jones, Landsman, Bath

George Jones, Landsman

Isaac Jones, Ord Seaman

Richard Jones, Ord Seaman

William Jones, AB

Thomas King, Ord Seaman

William King, Ord Seaman

Edward Kingston, Ord Seaman (TR "Dreadnought")

George Lacey, AB

Samuel Lacey, Ord Seaman

Solomon Leonard, Ord Seaman

John Lisle, Ord Seaman

William Lloyd, Ord Seaman

George Long, Landsman

William Long, Ord Seaman

William Loveless, Landsman, Winterbourne, Glos

Robert Luton, Ord Seaman

William Maggs, Landsman, Bath

George Manning, AB, Bath (?TR as Ord. Seaman "Victory", and Basque Roads)

Thomas Mansfield, yeoman of the Powder Room

John Marks, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Marshall, AB

James Marshall, Landsman

William Marshall, Ord Seaman

John Martin, AB

William Matthews, Ship's Corporal, Bath

Thomas Mason, AB

George May, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Mark McMullen, Landsman, Camerton

William Mearn, Ord Seaman

Henry Merchant, Ord Seaman

Thomas Merchant, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Miller, Ord Seaman

Charles Mills, AB

Simeon Moon, AB, aged 25. On "Victory". Wounded at Trafalgar.

14 June 1803, Clyde, 2 January 1806, Sussex, HS

John Mooney, Boy 3^rd Class

Joseph Henry Moore, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

Thomas Moore, Landsman, Bath

James Morris, Ord Seaman

William Mountain, Landsman

Samuel Moxom, Landsman

Thomas Murphy, Quarter Gunner

Richard Musto, Bosun's mate

George Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Neal, Ord Seaman

Thomas Neal, AB (TR "Prince")

Richard Newman, Ord Seaman

Thomas Norman, Ord Seaman

John Norton, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Oliver, Landsman

Thomas Ovens, Landsman, Bath

William Owen, AB

John Palmer, Armourer

Charles Parker, Landsman, Bath

Giles Parker, Boy, 3^rd class, Wootton under Edge

Joseph Parker, Ord Seaman

Job Parsons, Landsman

Thomas Partridge, AB, Bath

John Patterson, AB

Coulson Pearce, Ord Seaman

George Pearson, Volunteer 1st Class, Som

*John Peart - see letters, a Portsmouth Man, at Trafalgar

Erasmus Peeps, Midshipman, Pill, Somerset

William Peirce, Ord Seaman

Anthony Perks, Ord Seaman

William Perry, Landsman

Comm. John Phepoe. Born Dublin, 1776, entered RN, 1801. Midshipman "Ajax" at

'Trafalgar. Ret'd Commander, 1848, N.G.S. medal with clasp. Died

Clifton 1862, buried Clifton St Andrews. (TR)

James Phillips: according to his obituary in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal of 14 March 1818, he was Lord Nelson's boatswain on board the "Victory" at the Battle of Trafalgar, "having proved his attachment to his brave Admiral by numerous wounds, viz. four large sabre wounds on his head, many gun shot wounds on his body and three balls in his right thigh and leg, his knee being then shattered. He obtained an honourable discharge and a liberal pension from his King and Country. He was boarded however by the grim tyrant of death in North Street, Bedminster on Monday last, having just attained his 47^th year, the age of his beloved Commander and he will be lowered to his last berth in Redcliff Church tomorrow at o'clock." His name does not appear on the Age of Nelson website. Another report in the Bristol Observer of 25 March 1994, says his name was "Slasher" Brown! HE IS NOW BELIEVED TO BE AN IMPOSTOR!

William Phillips, AB

John Phipps, AB

William Phipps, Landsman

George (or David) Pitt, Ord Seaman, 19, On "Victory". Wounded at Trafalgar. 11 May

1803, "Puissant", 15 January 1806, "Ocean" (TR "Victory")

George Pontin, Ord Seaman,

Robert Pordie, Yeoman, Bosun's Store room

John Powell, Boy, 2^nd class

John Powell, Ord Seaman, Bath (?TR as "AB" "Conqueror")

William Powers, AB

Charles Price, Frampton, Glos, Ord Seaman

James Price, Landsman (TR "Tennant")

Thomas Prior, Ord Seaman

Francis Pritchard, Landsman

Thomas Pullen, gunsmith, Downing

Samuel Randall, AB, Bath

William Read, Yeoman of the Sheets

Thomas Rees, AB

William Reeves, AB

James Reynolds, Boy, 3^rd Class

John Reynolds, Ord Seaman, Bath

Francis Rice, Landsman

John Rice, Landsman

Daniel Rich, Landsman

Joseph Richardson, AB, Bath

Arthur Roberts, Ord Seaman

William Roberts, Landsman

William Roberts, AB

Daniel Rogers, Ord Seaman, Bedminster, Bristol

Richard Rogers, AB,

John Rudge, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

Thomas Rumney, AB, Pill

James Sanders, AB, Bath

John Saunders, Ord Seaman

Richard Searle, AB, Bath

Samuel Sensbury, Gunner's mate (possibly "Sainsbury")

Comm. Joseph Seymour. Master RN, 1796, Master of "Conqueror" at Trafalgar. Ret'd

Commander 1846. NGS Medal with two clasps. Died Bristol 1862,

buried Arnos Vale. (TR)

Elias Shaddock, Quarter Gunner

Benjamin Shepherd, Ord Seaman

John Shepherd, Ord Seaman

James Sherborne, Landsman

William Simmonds, AB

Benjamin Simmons, Carpenter's Crew (TR "Thunderer")

William Simmons, Ord Seaman, Bath (TR "Thunderer")

William Smart, AB, Bath

Joseph Smith, Landsman

Loinel Smith, Armourer's mate, Bathford, Som

Thomas Smith, Landsman

Thomas Smith, AB, Bath

William Smith, Landsman

William Smith, Ord Seaman

Christopher Spring, Ord Seaman

John Steager, Landsman, Keynsham, Somerset

Joseph Stokes, Ord Seaman

James Stone, Midshipman, Bath

Thomas Stone, Landsman

William Stone, AB

Charles Stowe, Landsman

William Strong, Ord Seaman

William Symonds, Landsman

Francis Taylor, Boy, 3^rd class

Hugh Taylor, AB

William Taylor, Armourer's Mate

John Thomas, Ord Seaman (TR "Tennant")

Joseph Thompson, Landsman

William Thompson, Ord Seaman (TR "Victory")

Joseph Thorn, AB, Ratclift (sic)

Nathaniel Thorn, Landsman

Bowhem Tomkyns, Volunteer, 1^st Class, Bath

Henry Tripp, Ord Seaman

Thomas Tripp, Ord Seaman

James Tucker, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

John Tucker, AB

John Tucker, Ord Seaman

William Turner, Landsman

Jeremiah Vincent, Landsman, Bath

* John Viner, Landsman. See letters.

George Warren, AB, Bath

John Webb, Quartermaster's mate, Alveston, Glos

William Webb, AB

George White AB

John White AB, Bitton, Glos

Thomas White, Master at Arms, Som

Thomas White, AB, Som

James Whiting, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Whittington, AB

Richard Whittington, Landsman, Kingswood, (nr Wootton-under-Edge)

(TR "Leviathan")

Richard Wildgoose, AB

George Wilkins, Ord Seaman, 25. On "Victory" at Trafalgar. 11 May 1803,

Utrecht, 15 January 1806, "Ocean"

Henry Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, AB, Churchill, Somerset

Thomas Wilkins, AB, Keynsham, Somerset

John Williams, Landsman

John Williams, Ord Seaman (?TR "Defiance" or "Britannia")

John Williams, AB

John Williams, Landsman

Stephen Williams AB, (TR Revenge")

Thomas Williams, AB

Francis Willis, AB

George Wilson, Boy, 2^nd Class. Aged 17, on "Victory". Killed at Trafalgar.

Joined 27 April 1803. Buried at Sea, 21 October 1805

Samuel Wilson, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Wiltshire, Armourer's Mate, Cainsan (sic) (Keynsham) (TR "Agamemnon", and St Domingo, Malaga.)

Andrew Winter, Landsman

James Wolfe, Ord Seaman

John Wood, AB

John Woodman, Landsman

Jacob Wookey, Ord Seaman, Somerset

John Wright, Armourer's mate

William Wyatt, AB

Thomas York, Landsman

John Young, Midshipman

Royal Marines:

William Abbot, Pte, Marshfield, Glos. (TR "Leviathan")

John Adams, Pte.

William Adams, Pte, St George's, Bristol

Matthew Amos, Pte, "Rackley" sic. (Redcliffe?) Nr Bristol

James Applegate, Pte, Berkeley, Glos, (TR "Naiad")

William Bailey, Pte, Winford, Som

John Ball, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Bartlett, Pte, Walcot, Bath

John Brookes, Pte. On "Victory" at Trafalgar. Aged 30, 14 April 1803, Zealand,

15 January 1806 at Chatham HQ. On TR.

John Buckley, Pte, St James, Bristol

John Cantle, Pte, Bedminster

Jacob Capell, Pte, Queen Charlton, Som (TR "Victory")

Hugh Carney, Pte, St Michael, Bristol (TR "Britannia")

Isaac Chandler, Pte, Melksham, Wilts.

Charles Chappell, Pte, Thornbury

Richard Chinnock, Pte, Lye (sic) on Mendip (TR "Britannia")

F. Charles Clear, Boy, RM

Jeremiah Coke, Clutton, Bath

Thomas Coles, Pte, St Philips, Glos

John Cook, Sergeant, from St Mary Redcliffe

William Cook, Pte, Hawkesbury, Glos

Captain James Cottell, 2^nd Lieut, RM, 1798, 1^st Lieut, 1804. Served in "Tonnant" at

Trafalgar. Retired Half pay, 1835, died Bedminster 1842.

Moses Dagger, Pte, St Philip & St Jacob, Glos

James Davis, Boy, Ratcliffe (sic) Bristol

William Day, Pte

David Drew, Pte, Croomdell (sic) (Cromhall?) Glos

Samuel Eyles, Pte, Stapleton, Glos

James Fisher, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Ford, Pte, C58, St Stephen's, Bristol, aged 24. On "Victory" at Trafalgar.

18 April 1803, Winchelsea, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Grimes, Pte, St Michael's Bristol

John Harding. Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, Pte, Winterbourne, Glos

John Hayward, Boy, RM, Milksham (sic) Wilts

Francis Hicks, Pte, St Bitten, (sic: Bitton) Glos

John Hicks, Pte, Bath

George Hodges, Pte, C40, St Georges, (sic) Bristol. Age 26. On "Victory" at Trafalgar".

17 April 1803 and 15 January 1806, at Chatham HQ.

Edward Hore, Pte, Chew Magney (sic)

Robert House, Pte, Camerton, Som

James Hughes, Pte. St Philips, Bristol

Thomas Hurle, Pte. Berkeley, Glos

George Jeffries, Pte, Siston, Glos

James Jones, Pte, Milksham (sic) Wilts, (TR "Tonnant")

Thomas Lansdown, Pte, Olveston, Glos

Moses Llewellyn, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

Isaac May, Pte, Avening, Glos

George Moseley, Pte, Frampton Cotterell

Cornelius Organ, Pte. North Nibley

John Parfitt, Pte, Strait, Somerset

Charles Parsons, Pte, Yeaton (sic) Somerset

John Phillips, Pte, Temple, Bristol

Charles Pinker, Pte, Temple, Som (Temple Cloud rather than Temple Bristol?)

Amos Poulson, Pte, Melksham

Benjamin Powell, Pte, Timsbury

David Powell, Pte

Henry Powell, Pte, P18, aged 22, On "Victory" at Trafalgar. 21 May 1803,

Zealand, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Skinner, Pte

John Skinner, Pte, Bath

George Skidmore, Pte, Iron Acton, Glos

*? Isaac Smith, Pte, Trowbridge. (see letters)

*John Summers, Pte (see letters)

John Thorn, Pte, Barclay, Som, (sic)

Daniel Webb, Boy, RM, Melksham, Wilts

*? Joseph Webb, Pte, Melksham, Wilts (see letters)

Joseph White, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

John Whiting, Pte, Shepton Mallet (TR)

Mark Williams, Pte, Westbury, Glos

Bibliography

Trafalgar Roll

"Men who served with Nelson" BAFHS Journal, No. 71, March 1993

Age of Nelson website

&

"A British Tar. Examination before a Court Martial of Serving officers of His Majesty's late Ship Java, Jones Humble, boatswain, deposed 'About an hour after the action commenced, I was wounded; I went down and stopped near an hour; and when I got my arm put a little to rights by a tourniquet put on it, nothing else, (my hand was carried away, my arm wounded about the elbow) I put my arm into the bosom of my shirt and went up again and when I saw the enemy ahead of us repairing his damages, I had my orders from Lieutenant Chads before the action began to cheer up the boarders with my pipe that they might make a clean spring of the boarding.' This is a fine and truly characteristic specimen of the British seaman." (FFBJ 5.6.1813)

A sailor at Trafalgar aboard "Britannia" had his leg shot off a little below the knee and said to the officer ordering him to be conveyed to the cockpit "That's but a shilling touch, Your Honour, an inch higher and I should have had my eighteenpence." (ie. pension according to severity.)

The same fellow said to one of his friends, "I say Bob, take a look for my leg, and give me the silver buckle out of my shoe. I'll do as much for you another time." (anecdotes reported FFBJ 16.11.1822)

On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 12:10 AM, <edandjackie@pei.sympatico.ca> wrote:

Message from Jackie MacNeill Doiron 

I am writing in regards to any information you may be aware of to help me with the research of my family.   My great great grandfather was James Howe (born 1811) who according to family history was born in Bristol, England.  We have been told he was orphaned at the age of app 6 along with his brothers William (born in 1813) and Theophilus (unknown birthdate).  John Cambridge who was imperative in the settlement of Prince Edward Island, Canada somehow became involved in the lives of these children and brought them with him or in his care to Canada.  James was trained as shipwright and one of them went to sea as a cabin boy with the Cambridge "fleet".  Both James and William settled and raised a family on Prince Edward Island where they died in 1881 and 1888 respectively.  Theophilus went to sea and was never heard from so it was assumed he met his end to the sea.  James married my great great grandmother in 1835 and settled on the farm I now own.  Many thanks for your time.... sorry I am so sketchy but any of the documents I possess in regards to James do not reflect any life outside that on Prince Edward Island for him.  Take care and greetings from Canada.

Can anyone help Jackie?

I have spent many happy family holidays at Charmouth in Dorset. Down there again just recently, I picked up a copy of “Shoreline” for Summer 2011, a local free paper. It contained an article about the Manor House, Charmouth which is situated in The Street, opposite St Andrew’s Church. In the early 18th century the Lord of the Manor was Anthony Ellesdon (1654-1737). I was intrigued to see that on Anthony’s death the Manor was inherited by his nephew,  Richard Henvil, described as “a Bristol Merchant”.  The Henvils also owned nearby Catherstone Manor House and also had estates in St Kitts.  Richard’s tenure was short for he died in 1744 and his daughter Benedicta (1727-79) inherited. On 24 October 1763, Benedicta married the Rev. Joseph Durston at St Michael’s Church Bristol. They had no children and the Manor passed to a distant cousin living in St Kitts.  

I have not come across the Henvils before and the BRO catalogue does not contain the name.

There have been a number of Bristol Riots, the most recent being in 1980, but the most notorious took place between 26 & 31 October 1831, ostensibly in favour of “Reform” – to extend the right to vote. The skies of Bristol glowed blood red from the fires lit by the mob, the Bridewell and Gaol were torched and the prisoners freed. There were 250 casualties, killed and wounded. Five men were executed, Christopher DAVIS, John KEYES, Richard VINES, Thomas GREGORY and William CLARKE.

The following is a list of the more fortunate smaller fry with, where possible, the punishments they received. It will be seen that a number of them have “death recorded” against their names. In these cases the sentences were commuted to transportation for life. It is stated that when these individuals “were given to believe that their lives would spared, a few seemed to care little, being heard to say, “Thank you, My Lord.” Patrick Kearney was more voluble, and cried “Thank Ye, My Lord. My life’s spared till Ireland’s free. Sweet Ireland For Ever!” It seems to me that a disproportionate number, from their surnames, were “Bristol Irish.”

name	charge	result
Sarah ANDERSON & Mark PARKER	Theft of sofa from Benjamin BICKLEY	acquitted
George ANDREWS	Assisting firing house of Messrs LEMAN & Wm CROSS	Guilty, death recorded
Edward ARBORNE	Destroying house of F.T. BARNARD
Thomas AYLAND	Theft of bonnet from A. WOOKEY	“of trifling value” - discharged
Patrick BARNETT	Setting fire to house of William CROSS	Guilty, death recorded
James BAYLEY	Destroying house in St Nicholas
William BEARDE	Destroying Gaol	12 months hard labour
William BEER	Firing Gaol
Thomas Evans BENDALL	Setting fire to Bishop’s Palace	Guilty, death recorded
William BENNETT	Destroying house in St Stephen	Boy, guilty
James BENTLEY	riot	Boy, guilty
John BOND	Firing house, St Nicholas	acquitted
Thomas BRIMMELL	Theft of a Bible from John Price KIRBY	6 months hard labour
John BRITTON	Theft of a sword from Henry JEW	acquitted
Benjamin BROAD	Firing house, Queen Square	Guilty, death recorded
Peter BROWN, seaman	See John HARPER	guilty
Samuel BROWNING & Felix WYMAN	Theft of a pair of sheets from Joseph RICHARDSON	2 years hard labour
John Tarrant BUFFIN	Demolishing house of Benjamin BICKLEY & theft of cotton handkerchiefs from Christopher CLAXTON
William BURGESS	Theft of papers belonging to His Majesty & a book from Charles ANDERSON	6 months hard labour
William CHAMP	Setting fire to house of Wm SHEPPARD	Boy, guilty
Mary CHARLES	Stealing a muff and other articles from Hester BARRETT	Not Guilty
William CHRISTOPHER Irishman	Breaking house of John Stroud BROAD, and theft from there & from Julia HARFORD	Transported 7 years
Charles COATES	With John REES, destroying house of Benjamin BICKLEY	Guilty, 2 years imprisonment
James COLE	Theft of 6 books from Alexander Campbell JOHNSON	6 months
Timothy COLLINS	Firing house, St Nicholas	Guilty, death recorded
James COURTNEY	Pulling down Gaol	Guilty, death recorded
John & Sarah COX	Receiving violin see Joseph KEATES	Not guilty
Henry CRINKS – see KRINKS
Stephen CULLEN	Theft of 7 bottles of wine from James ROOM, jun	4 months hard labour
Edward DADY	Theft of books	Previous good character, sentence deferred, then 6 months hard labour
John DALLY & John HOWELL	Destroying house in St Nicholas	acquitted
William DOGBERTY	Riot in St Stephens & St Nicholas	No evidence offered, bound over
Benjamin DONNE (Dunne)	Theft of brass weight, property of His Majesty	12 months hard labour
James DONOVAN	Demolishing house is St Nicholas	acquitted
Daniel DOYLE, boy	Demolishing Bridewell	Also Theft of a watch, valued £1. To be imprisoned 6 months and whipped during this time. His mother the next named was reprimanded for sending her son & daughter out looting. This may be the same Daniel Doyle tried several years later for stealing lead from roof of the “Lady Rodney” Steam Packet and transported for life. See Bs Merc 4.7.1835
Eleanor DOYLE	Theft of 8 pairs of gloves from Rebecca JONES	acquitted
William DREW, mariner	Breaking into house of John MOXHAM, theft	12 months hard labour
Margaret DWYER (GWYER)	Receiving linen sheet, property Wm HUMPHRIES, Governor of the Gaol	Not Guilty
James DYER	Theft 4 gallons beer, property R. WALTER & pulling down a house	Guilty, death recorded.
Thomas FITZGERALD	Destroying Gaol	acquitted
Stephen GAISFORD	Firing house, Queen Square	Guilty, death recorded
Thomas GALLICK	Theft 6 yards linen from Christopher CLAXTON & 2 coats from J.L. BICKLEY	12 months hard labour
Henry GREEN	Destroying house of J.J. LEMAN	Guilty, death recorded
Margaret GWYER	See Margaret Dwyer
Samuel HARDING	Destroying Custom House	2 years hard labour
John HARPER & Peter BROWN	Disturbing peace in St Nicholas	guilty
Anthony HARVEY	Riot & disturbing peace	boy
James HASTY	Theft of a parcel of cancelled bank notes from J. BRADLEY & F.T. BARNARD	“the bits of paper” were valued at 2 shillings. Acquitted
William HEDGES, (boy) Joseph HEDGES, (boy)	Destroying house of Charles PINNEY, esq	Both guilty
Cornelius HICKEY	Riot St Stephens	Guilty, death recorded
Daniel HIGGS	Firing Gaol	Guilty, death recorded
Catherine HOGAN	Theft of 2 silk dresses property of Duncan M’ARTHUR	12 months hard labour
John HOWELL	See John DALLY	acquitted
Charles HUISH	See James STREET	Transported 7 years
Thomas HUSSEY	Theft of 7 bottles of wine from James ROOM, jun	4 months hard labour
James IVES	Theft of a gold watch from Rev Charles BUCK & a silver salver Value £30 from house of Anna Maria BRICKDALE belonging to Mayor, Burgesses & Commonalty of Bristol	7 years transportation
John JACOBS	Riot & disturbing peace	Guilty
David JAMES	Theft, 70 gallons beer from John STURDWICK ROWE	Guilty. Sentence of death recorded
John JARVIS	Theft of 7 bottles of wine from James ROOM, jun	4 months hard labour
John JELLEMY/JEREMY of Brislington *	Firing house of Wm HUMPHRIES	2 years imprisonment.
William JENKINS	rioting	guilty
John JONES	Theft of 6 books from Robert SAY	12 months hard labour
Patrick KEARNEY	Assisting firing of Gaol	Guilty, death recorded
Joseph KEATES	Theft of Violin from Wm CROSS	7 years transportation
Henry KRINKS, & John THOMAS	Theft of 60 gallons spirits, 60 gallons beer & a clock from J.S. ROWE	Guilty. Sentence of death recorded
Thomas LANE	Theft brass chandelier suspender, property Charles PINNEY esq.	1 month, hard labour, previous good character, judge said parents and masters should have more control over their children
William LEE	Theft of silver dessert spoon from William Charles STEPHENS	3 months hard labour
Samuel LEVERS	Stealing 2 promissory notes from John Stroud BROAD
Aaron MARTIN, stable boy	Theft of cabinet, property of A.JOHNSON	7 years transportation. Said “Thank ye, My Lord, I did not know I had so long to live.”
Thomas MARTIN	Theft of cabinet, property of A.JOHNSON	Relative – brother?- of above, acquitted
Daniel M’Carthy	Firing house of F.T. BARNARD	12 months hard labour
Edward McDonald	Entering dwelling house of Chas PINNEY	Boy, guilty
John MECAY	Destroying gaol	Guilty, death recorded
William MASON	Theft of gold watch from Julia HARFORD	12 months hard labour
William MORGAN	Disturbing peace & want of sureties	guilty
Richard NEVILLE	Destroying house in St Stephens	7 years transportation
Nathaniel (Samuel?) NEWTON	Breaking into house of Thos SHEPPARD	acquitted
Charles NOTT	Theft of 20 Gallons spirit from Edward ZINCRAFT	12 months hard labour
Jonas OSBORNE	Demolishing house in St Nicholas	Boy, acquitted
William OSGOOD	Setting fire to Bridewell
Mary PARKER		1 month hard labour
John PEACH	Theft of 5 plated candlesticks, property of Rt Hon Robt GRAY, Lord Bishop of Bristol & silver cup, property of HM the King
James PHILLIPS	Firing house, St Nicholas	Boy, guilty
Richard PHIPPS	Firing Gaol
Robert POUCHARD	Firing Gaol	Not guilty
William PUNCH	Destroying Bridewell	12 months hard labour
James PRICE	Theft 4 gallons beer, property R. WALTER	Guilty, death recorded
Hannah REEVES/REES	Receiving 2 linen sheets property of Henry BRIDGES SMITH	6 months hard labour
William REEVES	Theft of papers belonging to James LEMAN	“the bits of paper” were valued at 2 shillings. Acquitted
John REES	See Chas COATES	guilty
William REYNOLDS	Theft of silver tankard from Benjamin BICKLEY	Guilty, death recorded
John SIMMONS/SYMMONS	Theft tea urn and fender from Wm STRONG	Guilty, death recorded
James SIMS	Destroying Bishop’s Palace
Samuel SMITH	riot	acquitted
James SNOOK	Destroying house of William STRONG	Guilty, death recorded
James STREET & Charles HUISH	Entering house of Elizabeth DAVY	7 years transportation
George STYLING	Destroying house in St Nicholas	guilty
Daniel SULLIVAN	Firing, St Nicholas	Boy, guilty
Michael SULLIVAN	Destroying a house	Guilty, death recorded
John THOMAS	See Henry KRINKS
John TOWELL	Destroying house in St Nicholas	Guilty, death recorded
Charles TURTLE	Destroying house in St John the Baptist	acquitted
James E. WALKER	Theft of 2 gallons beer from E.C. LEWIS & a quart from George BAKER	This was robbery with violence. Sentenced to be transported for life
Matthew WARRY	Assisted pulling down house of Thomas EVANS keeper of Bridewell	Guilty, death recorded
Charles WATERS		2 years
Charles WILLIAMS	Destroying house of T. WEBB	Guilty, death recorded
James WILLIAMS	Firing Gaol
Felix WYMAN	See Samuel BROWNING	2 years hard labour

· In my booklet “Brislington Bulletins, no. 7, 1825-40” I stated that no Brislington parishioner was involved, then lo and behold along came John Jellamy who, in 1827, lodged with my distant kinfolk William and Harriet PILLINGER.

· This article was prompted by an email from Peter & Roslyn Dunning from Australia peteandros@westnet.com.au who are descendants of the cheeky chappie Aaron Martin. It is great to know that he survived down under. If anybody knows his parentage – he lived at Lewin’s Mead and his father was a farmer, please contact Peter and Ros.

· The above information with much more detail can be found in Bristol Mercury 3 January & 17 January, 1832. It is interesting to note that this newspaper was against capital punishment and argued forcibly, sadly without success, for the reprieve of the five men who were hanged and made much of the discrepancies of the sentences between them and a number of the others.

A future article will list the casualties.