Stogumber

Edward CADE of Bristol, gent & Elizabeth BALYMAN, 15.9.1711

Herbert LEG of Bristol, & Sarah COLEMAN, of Bridgwater, 21.5.1724

John GAY of Clifton & Grace CAVIL, 8.5.1757

Kilton

William STOCKMAN of St Peter’s & Joan LEVERSHA, 6.4.1790

Luccombe

William VOYSEY of St Stephen’s & Maria DARCH, 14.1.1814

Nether Stowey

George WALKELY of Bristol & Ann TUTHILL of Axbridge, 15.10.1723

Thomas KING, Bristol & Sarah POOLE, 6.11.1796

Edward BURTON, Bristol & Ann CUSSENS, 16.8.1801

John BASTON, Bristol & Ann CHIDSEY, 6.12.1824

Old Cleeve

William MORRIS of St Stephen’s & Mary WINTER, 13.12.1759

John STENNER, of Temple & Ann WILLIAMS, 8.2.1778

John HYDON of St Mary Redcliffe & Joan CRIDLAND, 15.1.1779

James McTaggart of St Augustine’s & Ann HAMILTON, 12.2.1800

Charles FLEAY of St Philip & St Jacob & Elizabeth Ann HAYMAN, 29.5.1835

Porlock

Joseph KING of St John the Baptist & Sarah PHELPS, 29.12.1757

Taunton, St James

John PURSELL of St Nicholas & Elizabeth KNOWLING, 7.9.1699

David EVANS of Marshfield, Glos,  & Mary PEARSE, 2.3.1776

Daniel CHESTON of St James & Elizabeth RICE, 10.2.1778

Thomas BROCK, Christchurch & Esther TROTT, 29.6.1790

Robert PRIEST, St Augustine & Margaretta STONE, 24.9.1790

Robert WESCOMBE of Bath, St James & Lydia FERCOMBE, 30.4.1793

Aaron ALEXANDEER, St James, Bath & Ann SIBLEY, 20.10.1825

John Baron BEARDS, esq. of Bath & Marian GOLSWORTHY, 15.5.1828

William Barclay ALLOWAY of St Pau,l’s & Harriette WILLIAMS, 15.3.1834

Taunton St Mary Magdalen

John SARGEANT of Winterbourne, Glos & Elizabeth PURSEY, 24.5.1813

James STALLARD, of Clifton, Glos & Hannah CROOK of Milverton, 1.4.1815

Edward JONES, St Mary Redcliffe & Elizabeth WILLIE, 10.2.1829

Henry William BUCKNALL, St Augustine & Ann LATCH, 16.8.1831

George ROUE of St Philip & St Jacob & Grace HUICKEBRIDGWE, 2.12.1834

George Hilhouse HELLING, of Bristol, St George & Charlotte DUSANTRY, 29.3.1837

Timberscombe

Samuel ROE, St Nicholas & Margaret AVIS, 4.2.1809

Wembdon

Phineas WATTS, All Saints & Elizabeth OSBORNE, 15.2.1728

Benjamin BRISTOW of St Michael  & Ann ? 27.5.1731

John HOLDER of St Nicholas & Ann BAKER of Bridgwater, 10.8.1734

The tunnel was 3168 yards long, (1.83 miles) and the contractor was a Mr ORTON..

22.2.1840

Friday last, a poor man called Robert PRICE, a native of Bradford, employed above ground at Box Tunnel advanced too far down the mouth of the shaft, 296 feet and was dashed to pieces. (BM)

29.2.1840

An inquest was held on Daniel WAIT, killed by a falling tree. It was stated that “a short time since” his son was killed at the Box Tunnel and a daughter was burned to death. (The son was also called Daniel, the deaths of father & son were registered as Waite at Chippenham, March Qtr 1840, refs 8 207 & 8 287)

29.2.1840

A fatal accident in No. 3 shaft, Box Tunnel as men were lowering a skiff filled with bricks, the rope broke and the whole fell to the bottom, over 200 feet, killing a man called BAILEY and very much injuring another. On Wednesday there was another accident when a stone fell on a man called OSBORNE who was coming up No. 5 shaft when a stone knocked him out of the skiff and he fell to the bottom, breaking his leg and his arm in two places and injuring his head. His arm was amputated at Bath Hospital but there is not the slightest hope of his recovery.(BM)

21.3.1840

A man called Samuel SWEET, 30, was working at Middlehall, a short distance from Box Tunnel when a large oak timber fell from the line and crushed him. He died shortly after being admitted to Bath Hospital. (BM)

30.5.1840

A young man, James MARTIN, a carter, taking bricks to Box Tunnel, passed over a heap of stones, was thrown out the cart and crushed to death under the wheels. (BM)

11.7.1840

Inquest at Box on a man named PICKET whose death was caused by a fall of one of the supports at Box Tunnel. (BM)

18.7.1840

Fatal accident at No. 7 shaft, Box Tunnel where seven men were at work sinking, the sides of the pit fell in, killing one man at once and another died during the court of a day. Two ore were not expected to recover and the other three were seriously injured. (BM)

1.8.1840

On Thursday a young man named SHEPPARD, a native of Atworth, went to the engine house of No. 7 shaft, Box Tunnel (it is believed in a state of intoxication) and went to sleep. In his slumbers he rolled under a beam which came down on his head. He was crushed to pieces. (BM) (perhaps John Sheppard whose death was registered at Bath in the September Qtr of 1840)

7.11.1840

Three men in the last week have lost their lives at the Box Tunnel, in the shaft at Corsham, by material falling on them and two others have mangled limbs. (Wilts. Independent, reprinted in the Standard.)

12.13.1840

A poor fellow engaged in blasting at shaft no. 6 at Box Tunnel died when  spark from his tools ignited the powder. Two or thee others close by were unhurt. (Wilts. Independent, reprinted in the Standard.)

17.4.1841

A man named STAFFORD of sober and industrious habits was killed whilst blasting rock a stone fell on his head at no. 8 shaft, Box Tunnel. He survived only a few hours. (BM)

18.9.1841

John BURN, was blasting at Box Tunnel when a down train came out of its regular time; injured so severely that he has since died. Another man had both his hands cut off. An inquest was held on Burn and reported in the Morning Chronicle 20.9.1841 and other papers.

30.10.1841

A train was ascending the incline at Box Tunnel when two foolish fellows attempted to cross the line. One was killed on the spot, the other escaped unhurt. (Lancaster Gazette)

Obituary: Mr J.D. SHERIFF, in the service of the Great Western Railway, nearly 50 years. Superintendent at the construction of the Box Tunnel. (BM 18.2.1888)

Obituary: Mr Samuel JONES, in his 85th year, “one of the old school of Bristolians, warm tempered but quick to forget and to forgive, and generous to a fault. Assistant to the great Brunel in the construction of the Box Tunnel.” BM 14.9.1895)

Further information about “The Navigators” see “Our Iron Roads” by Frederick Smeeton Williams

St Mary’s Taunton

Jacob Ricketts of St Mary le Port & Rachel Murliss, 16.2.1778

William Smith, wid, of St Thomas & Mary Hitchcock 28.4.1798

John Manley, St Philips, & Alice Stedly, 14.11.1799

Joseph Knight, St James & Thomasin Hurford, 17.8.1806

Kingston St Mary (Som)

burial: Mary Beale, wife of Joseph, of Bristol, 9.5.1768

St Andrew, Clevedon

William Edward Davies of St Augustine's & Harriet Melford Wright, 21.5.1831

John Board, St James & Emma Long, 27.9.1832

James Cole, Bedminster & Ann Morgan, wid, 2.11.1835

Marshfield, Glos.

Mary, wife of Philip Bush of Bristol, bur 13 May 1645 (original in Latin) l

*John Smith of Westbury-on-Trym & Jane Chiles of Henbury, 8.5.1656

*John Pearce & Margaret Robins, both of Henbury, 9.5.1656

* both marriages by a “Register” or Justice of the Peace as church services suspended in Civil War/Commonwealth period. If you have ancestors in Bitton/Siston/Pucklechurch/Westerleigh you will find many coupled from these parishes marrying at Marshfield, as presumably this was the only option. I will be entering these marriages on the “Kingswood Index” in due course. 

Nicholas son of Nicholas Meredith of Bristol buried 28 Oct 1623 (in Latin)

Henry son of Matthew Wattfield, of Bristol, bapt. 25 Dec 1623 (in Latin)

Nicholas son of Richard King of Bristol, bur 13 Aug 1637 (in Latin)

John son of John & Sarah Doubling of Bristol, bapt. Marshfield, 1692 (in Latin)

The Bristol Mercury of 22^nd July 1854 carries the following announcement: “Birth, July 15^th at Limekiln Lane, to the wife of Mr George Underhill, varnish maker, a son. This makes the 30^th child that Mr Underhill has had born unto him. Sixteen of his progeny survive and three are at present in the Navy, a respect in which they follow the example of their father who served his country in the last great war and was present at the Battle of Trafalgar.”

By 1859, the same newspaper announces the arrival of the 33^rd child!

Though the family was in Bristol by 1826 when a son Charles was born, George himself was born in Devon. At the time of the census of 1841 he was a varnish maker aged 55, i.e. born 1786, and his wife Ann was 45, (born c1796). Children at home were Charles, 15, Edwin, 13, Andrew 4, Thomas, 2 and Lettice, 1. Because of the gap between the births of Edwin and Andrew, I believe Ann was his second wife. She died in 1844 and George married Mary Ann Mayne, in 1848.

The family was living at No 1. Limekiln Lane in 1851. George is now aged 64, “Greenwich Pensioner, varnish maker” born South Molton, Devon. As might be expected, his wife Mary Ann, at 25, born at Cannington, Somerset, the third Mrs George Underhill, is less than half his age. The elder boys Charles and Edwin are missing, presumably at sea, as is the baby Lettice who sadly must have died , and the children living at home are Andrew, 15, Thomas, 14, William, 4, and Henry 1,once again showing the gap between wives.

In 1855, Andrew was serving aboard HMS Nerbudda when she was last seen at Algoa Bay 10^th June 1855. The memorial with Andrew’s name in the list is at the historic Simons Town Cemetery in South Africa, unfortunately a little defaced by   graffiti:

The sad news did not reach home for many months when Andrew’s obituary was placed in the Bristol Mercury of 8.3.1856: “Lost on board Her Majesty’s ship Nerbudda, 14 guns, Andrew Underhill, aged 19, son of Mr George Underhill, of this City.”

In the first quarter of 1857, a new baby Underhill was registered in Bristol and given the names “Andrew Nerbudda” in memory of the lost boy.  It is not clear whether this was George’s latest offspring or a grandchild.

George’s obituary appears 19.11.1864: “Death of one of Nelson’s Heroes. Our obituary this day records the death of Mr George Underhill, varnish maker of this city at the advanced age of 80 years. The deceased served under Lord Nelson in three general engagements, viz. Trafalgar, the Nile and Gibraltar as well as several of a minor character. At Trafalgar he received various wounds for which he gained a pension. He subsequently became a member of the old Bristol Volunteers. The deceased was the father of 34 children and over 50 grandchildren, the majority of whom are still alive.”

SO, I ASK AGAIN: ARE YOU A DESCENDANT OF GEORGE UNDERHILL? Despite the shocking mortality as revealed in the first birth announcement, there must be dozens,off you out there!

By the way, he was a Marine, aboard HMS Tonnant on 1.11.1804, as indicated by the ship’s pay book, ML 135.

Mr Mark Godward of Bristol & Mrs Margaret Usher, 12.11.1697

Ebinezer Wilson & Redcliff & Catherine Founds, 4.8.1699

Robert Sims & Hannah Leannor of Busleton (i.e. Brislington) 7.10.1703

Richard Bewell of St Thomas & Anne Wayland, 21.10.1706

Richard Langley, St Thomas, & Mary Macey, 30.12.1707

Samuel Bussell of St Philip & St Jacob, & Margery Otridg of Tellsford, 23.8.1715

George Watkins, Bristol & Sarah Lewis, 13.11.1720

Samuel Watts of St Mary le Port & Elizabeth Carter of Kilmersdon, 23.4.1722

*Edward College & Anne Wherret of St Philip’s, banns called 13-27.4.1755.

Jonathan Whitchurch Barrs of St James & Rachel Pope, 7.9.1755

Abraham Haynes of St Thomas & Mary Morgan, 12.10.1755

*William Jeffries of St Mary Redcliffe &  Jane Hires, banns called 25.4-9.5.1756

John Chandler of St Augustine's & Mary Matthews, 25.2.1765

Robert Huntley of St Augustine's & Sarah Whiting, by licence, 20.5.1771

Edward Daniel of Bristol & Catherine Smith, by licence, 4.6.1772

William Jenkins of St Peter’s & Mary Hiscocks, 12.4.1774

John Edwards of Castle Precincts & Susanna Wayland, by licence, 3.12.1795

Richard Edwards of St James & Sarah Bowden, 18.1.1796

Ebenezer Phillips of St Paul’s & Elizabeth Aitken, by licence, 22.10.1823

Henry Bird of St Michael's & Jane Harris, by licence, 27.8.1829

* where banns only appear, marriage may have been at the bride’s parish church.

Congratulations to my grandson Leon Boothroyd aged 6 for his beautiful recitation of “My Cat” at Hanham Eisteddfod today.  He did not win, but he was the youngest and very brave. Well done.

As an ancestral coalmining nut I am supporting local people in their campaign to stop Barratt Homes’ plan to build 420 homes on a mining area at Coalpit Heath.

The campaign was front page news in the local edition of the Gazette, see

http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/localnews/yateandsodburynews/9519554.Community_unites_to_fight_plans_for_420_new_houses/

To help the campaign if you want to be involved or would just like to be kept informed contact Richard Merrick, 41 Park Lane or email rjmerrick@blueyonder.co.uk

The area had some of the earliest bell pits in South Glos and the drainage of the area could be affected if the drainage adits are disturbed.

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

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.

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)