The following touching report appears in the Bristol Mercury of 6th May 1837:

“On Monday, May 1^st, Stephen Cave, esquire and his lady of Cleve Wood celebrated the 50^th anniversary of their marriage by inviting all the old couples of Mangotsfield who had been married fifty years and upwards to their mansion to partake of a comfortable repast. Five couples attended and after dinner were presented with a liberal donation of £5 each. The good old gentleman was highly affected at meeting on such an occasion his aged neighbours and gave them some excellent advice which greatly affected all present concluding that the only way that he and they could hope to meet in heaven to celebrate the grand jubilee there would be by repenting their sins and throwing themselves wholly on the merits of their Redeemer.

“The party including Mr & Mrs Cave consisted of seven couples, their combined ages reaching 1,036 years.

“On the same day, 180 children of the school established by Mr Cave twenty five years ago assembled on the lawn for plum cake and cider after which he presented each with a shilling. The appearance of the children was neat and clean and they conducted themselves with credit to the pleasure of their patron. They sang “God Save the King” and were joined by Mr Cave and his family for whom they gave three hearty cheers.

“This excellent philanthropist also gave a handsome present to every one under his employ and his benevolent lady gave articles of clothing to some of the girls and to poor widows. In compliment of the occasion the bells of the village rang a merry peal.”

According to my “Kingswood Index”, Stephen Cave and Ann Daniel were married at St Augustine’s Bristol on 1^st May 1789, and if the entry is correct (I have been known to err!) the above Golden Wedding anniversary celebrations appear to have been a little premature.

I am sorry to say that I rather maligned Stephen Cave in one of my early efforts, “The Budgetts of Kingswood Hill” noting that in 1816, he chaired a meeting devoted to the suppression of the “Cock Road Gang”. These people, largely consisting of the Caines family and their relatives and friends became notorious in the first quarter of the 19th century: several ended their miserable lives on the gallows and others were transported to Australia. I compared Stephen, a Tory paternalist, somewhat unfavourably with the self made Kingswood grocer and philanthropist Henry Hill Budgett. In hindsight, I realise that the men had more in common than I thought, each believing that education would improve matters among the ignorant poor of the neighbourhood and both founded schools.

Stephen Cave died on February 18^th 1838 at Cleve Wood, aged 75. He was described in his obituary, (Bristol Mercury 24.2.1838) as “a most worthy and honourable man in all relations of social life and one of the best of our citizens.”

Stephen’s widow Ann went to live with her daughter Harriet and son in law John New at Craddock House, Ulfculme, Devon and it was there that she died on January 5^th, 1851 aged 86, described as the relict of Stephen Cave, esq., and sister of (Alderman) Thomas Daniel of Bristol. (obit. Bristol Mercury 11.1.1851). Being interested in family trees, I was pleased to find that the surname Cave was long commemorated in Thomas Daniel’s family. His descendant, living 1952, was called Henry Cave Daniel.   

(For additional information on the Cave family see “Mangotsfield” by Andrew Plaster, BAFHS Journal 125, September 2006)

Following my recent blog detailing my joyful memories of my time in the GNTC I was desperately sorry to read of the death of a Sea Cadet, Jonathan Martin, aged 14, who fell from the rigging of TS “Royalist” in the Solent on Sunday 2nd May following a training exercise.

Hardy’s classic novel The Mayor of Casterbridge opens when Michael Henchard, in later years the eponymous mayor, but then a poor hay trusser, sells his wife in the public market with tragic consequences. Though by no means usual, in the absence of divorce, (except for the very rich), such proceedings were far from unique and local papers of the 18th and 19th centuries report a steady stream of these events often in lurid detail.

The “Bristol Mercury” of 17th August 1833 records that a man called James Stradling offered his wife for sale at Lansdown Fair before a large concourse of rowdy spectators. She was brought forth “dashingly attired” and with a halter round her neck covered in silk. Before the sale could be concluded however, Stradling was arrested for causing a disturbance and conveyed to the Bath lock up. The following Monday, he was discharged by the magistrates with a reprimand.

It appears that the happy couple returned to the marital home, where at the very least, relations must have been strained. There seems to have been another attempt at a sale, followed by imprisonment of the husband, but even worse was to follow.

On the 4th October there is a report under the heading “Horrid Attempt at Murder”.

“On Friday, Louisa Stradling gave information at the Guildhall, Bath of a most nefarious premeditated attempt made by her husband, James Stradling, shoe maker of Campden Street in this City to take away her life, the previous night. Our readers may remember that that this man who had about twelve months since sold his wife for five shillings at Lansdown Fair again exhibited her for sale in our public market place.  A warrant was issued against him for a breach of the peace and he was committed to prison for six months. Since that period, the parties have lived together only six weeks.

“On Thursday last, Stradling, with apparent kindness proposed to his wife to take a walk with her along the banks of the canal adding that he intended to catch some eels. She consented and they proceeded to the canal at the back of Sydney Parade when he placed Mrs Stadling between the lock gates and desired her to throw the hook and line into the water while he sought for a worm. After a short while, he returned and the inhuman villain pushed her into the water, a fall of about twelve feet and then ran off, leaving her in this perilous position, no doubt expecting she would soon be a corpse.

In falling however, the woman’s clothes became inflated and she was buoyed up in the water for upwards of ten minutes and her cries attracted the attention of some persons, and a station of the humane society being nearby, a pole and rope were procured to save her from a watery grave. Because of her exhaustion and failure to hang on because of the weight on her wet clothes, one of the persons, a strong swimmer, was let down by a rope which he placed about her waist and was able to extricate her.

“She was conveyed to the White Hart at Widcombe in a senseless state but was shortly restored.

“Stradling was apprehended next day and the above facts sworn, He was fully committed for trial at the next Somerset Assizes.”

And then, at the Assizes…………… reported 11th April 1835:

“James Stradling, indicted for maliciously attempting to drown his wife. According to the prosecutrix, she and her husband had been drinking at a public house and they went to the canal to fish and she fell in. But in her examination before Magistrates she had said that her husband pushed her in. This she now denied and said she knew not what she was talking about at the time, she was so much agitated.

“Mr Justice Patterson told the Jury there was not sufficient evidence to commit the prisoner and ordered his acquittal, at the same time addressing the prisoner, telling him there was no doubt his wife committed wilful perjury in order to save his life.”

(Even in those days, an example of the Police frustrated in their attempts to bring a case in a “domestic”. )

a cartoon of a wife sale

In 1841 at Beaufort Square in Walcot, a James Stradling aged 55 is listed along with an Elizabeth Stradling aged 60. Their names are separated by two men called Targett, as though Mr and Mrs lived in separate parts of the house.

I assume Louisa died and the “inhuman” James took up with Elizabeth (unless they are one and the same woman). So far I can find no death for Louisa and no remarriage for James. (He is not the James Stradling who married Jane Jenkings (sic) at St Michael’s, Bath in 1837 who was a baker and lived in Wellington.)

In 1851, at 4 Skines Place, Walcot, the couple are shown in the more usual way. James,  a cordwinder, (shoemaker) is 67 and his wife, 71. Their granddaughter, Elizabeth Arthur, who had been in the house in 1841,  aged 8 is still with them, but is now young woman of 18.

Mary Dafter was employed by the Newtons of Barrs Court (who were rarely at home) as their steward – remarkable in itself for the time – and wrote to her master or mistress on a weekly basis for ten years between 1713 and 1723 with the nitty gritty business details of the workings of a large estate. Mary’s letters are preserved at the Gloucester Record Office and a transcription came into my possession following the untimely death of Mollie Ashley of the Kingswood Local History Society. This correspondence is a story in itself, but during a period when Mary was at her wit’s end, she unburdened herself to her employers with the personal details of her life. What they thought is not preserved. The family background is as follows:

Thomas Dafter, a yeoman of "Wollen" (i.e. Oldland in the parish of Bitton) in Gloucestershire, took out a marriage licence on 8th November 1684 to marry Mary Pollen, of St Augustine’s, Bristol. (The groom's parish is given as "Woolastone?, Glos" in the published version of Bristol Marriage Licence Bonds, which is incorrect.) The marriage was to be in the bride's parish church.

Their sons John, William and Thomas were born during the next few years and Mary Pollen must have died sometime in 1690 or early 1691 for Thomas senior obtained a licence on 30th May 1691 to take a second wife, Mary Davis, again of St Augustine's parish. Mary Davis would become the Mary Dafter of the letters. The bondsman to the licence was Richard Davies, of Bitton, clothier, who made his mark on the document. This Richard Davies or Davis was the father of the bride.

Thomas and Mary II had two children, Mary, baptised on 17th April 1692 who grew up to marry Joseph Long, Richard, born ca 1701 and Sarah.

Thomas Dafter of Barr’s Court made his will in 1713 leaving his “dear wife” his goods and estate with instructions to bring up their daughter Sarah until she was 21 or married whichever was first and after his wife’s  decease the estate was to go to his son Richard.  His daughter Mary Long was to receive £50, as was Sarah when she became 21. The bequests to the elder sons were £20 to John, a token sum of twenty shillings to William (he was to be let off his debt of £25 which he had borrowed from his father the year before ) and £20 to Thomas.

Thomas Dafter senior duly died and Mary took over his business as steward at Barr’s Court.

HER GREAT TROUBLE began on 17th December 1720, when she wrote:

"It is a very sickly time here. I thank God that I and my family is all pretty well at present. Mr Liddiart is dead this week; he was sick about a fortnight and some days was taken with shivering fits and vomiting."

On 19th April 1721, she apologised for not writing sooner, as "my father have been very ill and I was in great fear I should have lost him, but now I thank God he is able to ride out again." Richard Davis, though now a very old man, (he had been born about the year 1638) was obviously a great support to Mary.

On 10^th June she reported the death of a Mrs Warner (or Wornell), and said three heriots were due, but she had so far failed to collect them……and then the bombshell drops: "I should have gone before this, but she is next neighbour to Mrs Liddiart and she and I are now at a great dispute for my son courts her, or else she courts him. I have got very good gentlemen to try and break it, but I find it has gone too far before I knowed of it. My greatest reason that I upgate (sic) against it is the disagreeable (sic) of age for she is now 43 years and he is going in 21 years. I thank God he have a very good character and be need not to (have) wanted a wife according to his age but what God have ordered it shall be whether for a cross or comfort. She is counted a very sharp, sensible woman, but I think comes short in this."

On 26th July, Mary had been busy with the hay harvest, made more difficult owing to "my son being from me about this intended disagreeable matter." The happy couple had apparently asked her to baby-sit whilst they got married, for she notes crossly "Liddiard's son have had the small pox so that I could not suffer him to come to me in the house on my account and some of the servants, but now the child is well."

Richard Dafter, described "yeoman of Bitton", duly took out a licence in Bristol, to marry Martha Lydiard, of St Philip & St Jacob, Bristol, with his half brother John, a cooper of St Peter's, as bondsman, (and more of him later). The happy couple were married at St Augustine’s which seems to have been the family’s favourite church on 12th September 1721.

October 14^th, and Richard Davis was ill again: "I must beg your pardon for not writing sooner but my father have been very ill this 6 weeks but I thank God he is got up again, though very weak, but I am glad to keep him (even) if it is in his chair."

On December 2nd, she appended a postscript, (with which most of us who have children can readily identify): "I beg the favour to let one of your servants write a line to Frances Lewton which is Madam Archer's under cook’s-maid, and to tell her that her mother takes it very undutiful that she have never sent to her since she have been gone."  I hope the wretched Frances responded and put her mother’s mind at rest.

Mary makes no mention of the fact that Richard and Mrs Lydiard were now married though she refers to her son riding out on her behalf, so she had decided to grin and bear it. In April 1722, Richard engages with Squire Trye, the local Justice of the Peace, to prosecute a gang of robbers who among other depredations in the district had stripped the lead from the roof at Barr's Court, and stolen several horses from Mary herself. She names three men, King, Kanton & Harvor and says briskly that they were hanged but another called, Fortis and two women were transported. Although Fortis was condemned with the rest, she says he, "met a great friend in Squire Trye and in my son", and they spoke up for him. "His mother was a cook to my old master many years and is now very sensible among her neighbours when they be sick and no-one can accuse her of anything of these crimes, so her son have friends for her sake."

In this month too, Mary gets handed a parish orphan, one of a family of four, "from poor honest parents. The grandmother was my lady's washerwoman….I desire to know whether I shall take to him. It is a sprake (sprack) boy, but he is but small. Mr Merredith have gave him some clothes once, but that is gone and he is all in lice and rags."

By January 15^th 1723, Mary wanted to discuss personal business with Sir John Newton, even suggesting a visit to London, but he vetoed the idea. She wrote "As for my coming up to London, I should have been very glad if you would have admitted me to come; the reason is my son was of age the 12^th February last and he was left joint executor with me and is willing to have something from me and would willingly come to Barr's Court to take to the business if your Honor please, which I am very willing and nothing shall be wanting in me to assist him, provided we can agree on terms and we have a discharge from him, which I have no friend but your Honor to advise me, because I am not willing anyone should know my circumstances." These were not in a very good state, for she goes on, "My son do not know how things lie and I am not willing his wife shall know nothing of it. I have praised my stock and do find myself near the same as when my husband died. It would have been better but everything runs very low with renters. This five or six years have had bad crops and this year have lost by sheep near £40 by a bane which was general with us."

February 17^th 1723

"….as for my son coming to Barr's Court to assist me, he is very compliable to do what your Honor and I shall desire. I do want him very much, my father being ancient and cannot ride out as he did, and though he (the son) is young he understands the business very well and he never was undutiful till this unfortunate match."

November 11^th 1723

"I am still in a great deal of trouble. My son have been very ill and he and I have not put things right between us relating to his father's will. We had deferred ourselves to Squire Trye to end all disputes between but he is much biased by a wife and she have had an own councillor and I feel she will not let him agree to it. I fear that my family and myself will be ruined……there are a great many loopholes for trouble…I must rely on your Honor to advise me. I have no other friend in the world…".

January 8^th 1724

"My father is taken very ill that I have been up with him all night and day. My daughter have lay in and been very bad. I feared I should have lost them both but thank God both is better but very weak still."

February 26^th 1724

"I am ill with a swelling in my face occasioned by a cold, unable to hold up to do business."

April 19^th 1724

"Very ill again this month, and more like an ague and fever, but now this week, I thank God, much better."

July 25^th 1724

"My son and I not agreed as yet. Once more proposed to put it into Squire Trye's hands. It is agreed to be done soon after the fair if his wife do not alter her mind."

October 7^th 1724

"My son & I have not agreed and I am afraid never shall, for through a wicked instrument he proposeth unreasonable."

November 4^th 1724

"My son is very bad and like to die and my friend Squire Trye is once more a trying to make up our business which is the greatest trouble I ever knew and I think my son have laid to heart what he have done, but still being biased by a wife he do not consent yet to reasonable terms."

November 18^th 1724

"My dear son is dead the 12^th of this instant and I cannot express my trouble, but I desire I must go to him, for he cannot return to me. As soon as I compose myself, I shall go on with my accounts. I cannot tell you how his wife will deal with me which is a trouble because we had not agreed before his death."

(Richard Dafter was buried at Bitton, November 15^th 1724.)

November 30^th 1724

"Squire Edwards & Mr Offield both in London and I am waiting to have them advise me on my husband's will to know what was my son's right and where there is not the survivorship belonging to me by reason there has been no contract between us since he was of age. My son have made a will and made his wife executrix so she is very urgent to know his right so she is best to administer for she have been and is still to get what she could from me."

And now, there was even more trouble for Mary's stepson was in prison for debt.

"John Dafter my son in law, severely used by his creditors and no-one can say but that he is an honest man, and have a good trade as a cooper, free of Bristol, but having the misfortune that belongs to our family. Not having a good wife to manage what he gets to the right use occasions this confinement. The debt is but £10 but they have proceeded in law in his absence at sea, and it is amounted to £25. I have employed Mr Edward his clerk to see if he can bring it to some compassion."

December 16^th 1724

Opinions of legal men were sought about Mary's dispute with her daughter in law, but Mary thinks "…the case is back on my side. I do know he have had from me more than his right but I have nought to show for all he have had…. my son's widow is not respected by poor nor rich for her ruining such a boy and she have brought the debts that was with Will Liddiard's (her previous husband) that she created to be my son's now, so I fear it will be very hard on us, but I shall trust in God in the midst of my trouble will remember poor Mary and deliver me out of the Lion's Mouth".

December 19^th 1724

"As to my son in law John Dafter, he is still soliciting me to work for his redemption. I have employed Mr Edward, his clerk and he have brought the whole debt and law suit that amounted to £28 and his creditor now being in want and is in confinement in the goal (sic) with him (!) Now he will take £14 and £4 is due for his fees and debts in the prison, so £18 the whole to clear him out. I have been helpful to my husband's former children according to my ability and to do more is to give that as is not mine. Their father was a good husband to me and I cannot say that his former children was but very respectful to me, so was I of ability, I would soon have him out, but my troubles is now so great."

January 20^th 1725

As relating to my son-in-law in prison, I have offered two months ago £10 to release him, but they will not take under £14, besides his (keep?) in the prison. I am informed there is an Act of Grace that will come out for debtors in a little time, but that was in Midsummer last. The keeper have offered to take his note for his debtor which makes it. I desire your Honor's advice in this. "

(Nothing further is heard about John Dafter. I am somehow doubtful that Sir John put his hand in his pocket.)

March 13^th 1725

I am to wait on Squire Edward on Monday next about the Bond of Ward between my son's widow and me and I hope he will end it."

April 14^th 1725

But the meeting was postponed … (as legal proceedings always are)… "Squire Edward have sent for me this day and I am now going to wait on him to see to the bond that is between my son's widdow and me to be ended by the 1^st day of May next. Her lawyer have been out of town and would do nothing on it."

April 24^th 1725.

Squire Edward tells Mary her troublesome business is not ended, "they brought it to the threshold of the door and then stumbled". (again, Plus ca change)

May 26th 1725

"Squire Edward have not ended my troublesome business as yet."

June 23^rd 1725

"My dear father I have lost this last Sunday which was aged 87 years, had but 3 days sickness, the tenderest father that ever child had, and as good a Christian, in that I do comfort myself that he have reaped what he have sowed from his youth."

August 16th 1725

"Squire Edward is very sensible on the account he have to make up with my son's widow, that he have hurted me very much and this last 3 years have been so dry that it have pulled me back. I have a good stock of old wheat which will now bear 5s 6d - 6s a bushel which I will make out and other money I expect to raise and as fast as possible will pay it in. I have always ate the bread of carefulness."

September 13^th 1725

"….I am mighty busy it being a catchly time and likewise with my son's widow, she now threatens me that she will come to your Honor to inform you of all the affairs and then she will prefer her bill and swear herself not to be worth £5, and to have her law for nothing, suing under the King. I hope God will in his good time deliver me out of her hands, is my daily prayers."

October 20^th 1725

"I have been very ill with a pain in my side. My adversary threatens me with a bill in Chancery. I sent to Squire Edward and told him my circumstances that I had no money and he professed himself extremely kind. He said that it had not cost me much and it should not, for he will take care of it to my satisfaction."

December 1^st 1725

"I have paid in to Squire Edward the 30^th November £50, and I hope to pay in next week £100 more, for I am making out of old wheat and other stock to raise money. I am to wait on Squire Edward on Saturday to give him the best account I can relative to my encumbrances which it would not have been so with me had I not had three bad years together and likewise an undutiful child in my son being biast by a wife which hath hurted me very much."

April 9^th 1726

"My daughter is a widow and liveth with me and is my right hand to assist me, which was the same when her father was living, being brought up to keep the markets, which I hope your Honor will not dislike of, for she is a careful industrious woman which is a great comfort to me being left a widow so young."

(Mary Long had four children, a daughter of 11, and sons of 9, 6 and 2. The nine-year-old had been taken "at reasonable rates by the week to give him learning" by a Minister in Bristol, and he came home every Saturday. The baby had been ill, with what was thought to be small pox, but turned out to be measles. On April 23rd, he was still "very weakly, and I question his life for a fever attend him every day".)

Things went from bad to worse. Mary was on the verge of a breakdown. On August 13^th 1726, she wrote a begging letter to Sir John:

"Hon'd Sir

I waited on Squire Edward yesterday when he gave me an account of your Honor's orders which is such a trouble to me. I humbly beg of your Honor that you would not expose my trouble to the world and that you would be pleased with the bowels of compassion to look on the widows and fatherless children and you let me continue to be your steward, if not to be a tenant which have been always just and will to the end. I always depended that your Honor would let me continue in it in my lifetime and at my death which cannot be too long in this trouble, my daughter shall be bound to see to everything……and I shall make her sensible of all your business that you may not lose none of your of your rights, for she is an honest careful woman and no-one will say other, but my adversary which have been my great ruin. If your Honor is not pleased that she shall stay with me, she will go back into Bristol or some other place as soon as she can get a convenient place which I thought should not have parted from me but death. I always comforted myself in all my troubles of your kind letter at my husband's death. I cannot tell what to say more, but that my husband often said in a bad year that he had a good master and when you went from Barr's Court that you left a charge to him to be just and his answer was that he would be as true as your own heart to you, and that he did believe that your Honor would never let him want, nor his, which I have and shall be the same, if may be permitted, and if I perish it shall be at your Honor's feet, is all from your almost broken hearted and dutiful servant to death, Mary Dafter. "

On the same date , Mary wrote to Lady Newton, begging her to intercede, to let her and her daughter try for one more year: "parting from my daughter is tearing one limb from the other…..I am almost at my wits end."

In the event she was relieved of her post, but seems to have been compensated in some way, for she writes thanking Sir John for his goodness, and "that I shall always walk worthy of so great a favour. I agree with your Honor that it is not proper for me to continue on the farm, being but a woman and I had never attempted so great affairs had it not been for your goodness to entrust me with your stock, and was persuaded to it for the good of my son, which now he and his wife have been my ruin. I shall conform to your Honor's command and what Squire Edward would have me do in everything and shall always be ready to serve your Honor's interest what lieth in me even if it was to lay down my life."

And then as usual, she goes back to business, She has sent a box to London, carriage paid to be picked up in Piccadilly. Good news that the level where Mr Good and Squire Player have been prospecting for coal is blown up (!) and that the tenant Nicholls, is coming in the middle of the month to have his lease made. At which she finishes as always, "with my hearty prayers for your Honor's health and my good Lady's, I am your dutiful servant to command, Mary Dafter.

The family gravestone in Bitton churchyard reads: Thomas, son of Joseph & Mary Long, and grandson of Thomas & Mary Dafter, died 7.2.1761 aged 41, Mary Bartlett, daughter of Joseph & Mary Long, died 15.10.1760 aged 46, Richard Davis of Oldland, died 29.6.1725 aged 85, Sarah, wife of Richard, died 6.6.1671, Eleanor wife of said Richard Davis, d. 12.5.1696.

Mary’s younger daughter Sarah evidently did not live to be twenty one. If there were memorial stones to Richard and Martha Dafter, Joseph and Mary Long, to Thomas Dafter and either of his two Marys, they did not survive.

Mary Dafter of Barr’s Court made her will on the 5th April 1730 leaving her granddaughter Mary Long (Mary Bartlett, above) a “silver caudle cupp which cup holds about three pints and is markt with three letters, T. D. & C. also the silver cover thereto belonging” and several pieces of land in Bitton when she reached the age of twenty one. All the rest and residue of real and personal estate was left to her daughter, Mary Long, widow and relict of Joseph Long, of Bristol, mariner and also to be executrix.  Mary Dafter died in 1734 and Mary Long proved the will on 15th July that year.  The will may be found at Gloucester Record Office under reference D2957/47/5.

Of Mary’s bitter adversity, her son’s widow, Martha Dafter, I have no further information.

The Mansion at Barr’s Court was burnt down in a later era and all that remains is the moat. http://moat1.homestead.com/homepage.html

Priscilla Lydia Sellon, 1821-76, was a Anglican nun who played a part in the English Catholic Revivalist movement of the 19th century and founded an Order called the Sisters of Mercy. Devoutly religious, she had intended going abroad as a missionary but instead was “called” to work amongst the poor naval families at Devonport, being particularly active during the cholera year of 1849. She was suspected of being a convert to Rome which aroused much controversy, even bigotry. It was stated with ill-concealed satisfaction that a mob had pelted her house in Plymouth, threatening to raze it to the ground. It appears however that male churchmen, who never went into the slums themselves were active in stirring up such events. Rev Hobart Seymour denounced Miss Sellon from the pulpit in Bath, calling her “unladylike” “a petty despot” and likened her to a crafty old owl who caught her Sisters “poor little mice” in her claws. Another clergyman said “God forbid we stop the flow of Christian Charity but we much protest against the system of drawing young ladies from their homes.” As well as feeling threatened by Miss Sellon’s alleged Roman Catholicism it appears to me that newspapermen and clerics alike were even more outraged because she was a woman.

The papers were delighted when things went wrong, as when a Miss Bowring “daughter of Dr Bowring, now in China” had left the Order and returned to her mother in Exeter. It was said she had “been unhappy in the home of her adoption and is now seriously ill.”

Miss Sellon opened several houses in Bristol, at 7 Park Row (unlisted in 1851) and 14 College Green (lodging houses in 1851) when an Irish woman, Catherine Callahan, a Roman Catholic, who seems to have been taken on as a maid of all work described at length and in lurid detail, certain practices supposed to prove that the “Lady Superior” now adhered to Rome but the “evidence” becomes somewhat suspect when it later transpired that Callahan was suing the Sisters for wages which she said were owed to her. A court at Stroud awarded her £1. 5 shillings, which the Sisters appealed, saying she was and always had been aware that they did not pay wages!

In July 1854, the Bristol Mercury reported pompously “Miss Sellon, whose migrations from house to house in Bristol have been so exceedingly numerous that she must have over and over again experienced the truth of the adage that ‘two removes are as bad as one fire’ has made another change of residence and taken the large house in The Fort on St Michael’s Hill which has long been untenanted.”

For the decade 1850-60, Miss Sellon was a celebrity, as well known as Florence Nightingale. She declined to go to the Crimea with Miss Nightingale as she felt to do so might lead to a division of authority, however, the party which left for the war in October 1854 included “a number of recruits from Miss Sellon’s establishment”. 

After 1856 when there was another reported move to The Priory in Bath, Miss Sellon dropped out of the limelight.  It was said that her experiences during the cholera epidemic of 1849 had weakened her and subsequently she could only sit for short periods at a time. She often took her meals in a reclining position, eventually becoming paralytic. It is not possible to say whether this affliction was hysterical but it does seem to compare with the experience of other Victorian lady “invalids” like Harriet Martineau and   Florence Nightingale herself. Miss Sellon died at Malvern in 1876 aged 55.

Miss Sellon should have made appearances in the censuses 1841-71 but I have failed to find her. Her father, William R.B. Sellon, a retired Commander RN and a Magistrate who had changed his name from Smith because of an inheritance can be found under neither name in 1841. In 1851 he was at Gravesend, Kent, aged  60, with his second wife Martha, 43, children Anna, 33, Frederick, 16. John, 14, Gertrude, 8, Elizabeth, 7 and Melville, 4. Another daughter, Caroline aged 10, was living at the Orphans’ Home, Wyndham Place, Plymouth where Catherine Chambers, an associate of Miss Sellon was Matron. Despite her tender years, Caroline is tellingly described “Sister”. Of Miss Sellon herself, there is no sign. It seems she was determined not to be counted. The Plymouth Journal describes the woes of the enumerator who called at her establishment and was greeted by a nun, all in black, who told him Miss Sellon was away and had taken the papers with her. He called again with two forms to be completed but the same nun again refused, “determined to brave the law rather than disclose the secrets of the prison house”, he added, “there is a great mystery as to who is who in the Eldad Nunnery.”

I had not heard of Miss Sellon before I discovered that she had considered taking a house in Brislington which is one of my principal local interests. Nothing seems to have come of it, but I cannot but wonder if it was the forerunner of the Convent at Arno’s Court which became a reformatory for Catholic girls in the late Victorian era.   I think that Miss Sellon, despite the topic being unfashionable nowadays would make a good subject for someone’s dissertation!

In 1978, shortly after I began researching my family history I was contacted by a gentleman called Bert Gay in response to a newspaper advertisement. Mr Gay lived at Alma Road, Kingswood, which runs into Holly Hill Road

Having discovered that many of my paternal ancestors had earned their living toiling underground in the former mines of the Kingswood district, I was anxious to talk to anyone with first hand experience.

Bert Gay had not worked in the mines himself but his grandfather, Robert King had told him many times of how at the age of seven he had gone down the mine “sitting in a bucket, on a miner’s lap, carrying a candle.”  Bert went to the workshop at the back of the house and returned with a t-shaped iron candlestick that had once belonged to his grandfather.  Bert placed this precious artefact in my hands.

The Kingswood mines were not considered fiery and the men worked by the light of candles held in these candlesticks either in their hat bands or with the pointed end stuck in the wall of the shaft.

The stub of candle was added by me, though now it is also more than 30 years old. I used to give talks with the assistance of my son Kevin, then about eight, dressed as a child miner for many young boys of six and above worked in the mines. When I “lit him up”, the candle stuck in his round hat, an audible gasp would go round the room. But that’s another story.

Robert King worked at Parkfield Colliery, Coalpit Heath and made the daily journey on foot from Holly Hill Road, along the Dram Road  which ran from the Chequer’s Inn on Hanham River to Britton, Warmley, Mangotsfield, Shortwood and Coalpit Heath – a distance of some six miles. The coals were taken by horses from the pits to the river, via the Dram Road where they were loaded on to barges. Robert King was a very strong man, said Bert and he recalled him “tossing around two hundredweight sacks of barley mow as if they were nothing.”

In 1841 Robert King then aged four lived with his father and mother, Samuel and Hester and various siblings in Warmley. His father was, of course, a coalminer. I was able to track Robert’s life through various censuses and addresses in the Kingswood area and his work as a miner, until 1891 by which time he had retired. He married Mary Ann Britton from the numerous local family of that name in 1862. Mary Ann died at the early age of 40 in 1879 leaving him a widower with five daughters and two sons between 17 and six years old. The youngest, Florence would stay with him and when she married Alfred Gay in 1906, Robert lived with them at Holly Hill Road. In the house in 1911 were Florence and Alfred, and Robert aged 73.  You can imagine my joy, for also there, aged 3, was my friend Bert Gay!

Crail is a small seaside town in the Kingdom of Fife. We were there principally for the golf but I couldn't resist the churchyard, of course. The first Monumental Inscription (MI) which caught my eye read "Sacred to the memory of George Slate of Caithness, late light keeper on the Island of May who was lost on the night of 28 September 1852 aged 30 years. His remains were found and interred here. He was sincerely regretted by all who knew him." Scottish MIs are a dream for family historians, in most cases far more comprehensive than English ones, often stating the maiden names of the wives: i.e. "In Memory of Bailie William Murray, Betty Logan his wife, Euphemia, Eliza and Catherine, their daughters, James Bowman their son-in-law, husband of Euphemia, died 25 October 1872 aged 86, William Murray Bowman, their grandson died 27 August 1887 aged 37, Mary Georgina Inglis, his wife, died 27 September 1865." Some graves were enclosed by a surrounding wall and could easily accommodate 20 or so relatives and friends. I imagined them sitting on the grass, perhaps with a picnic, discussing the merits or otherwise of the deceased. One of these enclaves held the remains of "John Scott of Crail, died 15 April 1822 aged 84, Marjory Bell, his spouse, died 8 March 1795 aged 30, Robert, their son, died 3 September 1786 aged one, Betsey, their daughter, spouse of David Kirk, died 13 April 1818 aged 28, John, their son died 17 April 1843, aged 51, George Scott Kirk, their grandson, died at sea, 5 August 1839, aged 21." Another held no frippery, but what a tragic story it told: "Erected by John Law and Mary Law, his spouse to the affectionate memory of John William Law, their grandson who was born in New Zealand and died at Crail aged one year and 7 months, 24 June 1865. Also their beloved son who died at Rio de Janeiro, 1852, aged 22 years, much lamented. John Law, my beloved husband who departed this life 10 July 1870 aged 73 years and the said Mary Law, died 9 October 1873, aged 82." The earliest MI I noticed was dated 1683, erected to Bailie Thomas Young, his spouse Isobel and several of their children. Much later, the bereaved of David Ayton Lindsay, died 3 May 1872 had erected a "chapel", now roofless, to accommodate his plaque. It was, as an informant told me gravely (no pun intended!) "built without planning permission". So they were around with their clip boards then as well. I am always pleased by references to British India and Crail did not disappoint. A monument to John William Maillardet, esquire, described him as "late deputy Inspector hospitals, Madras Army". (East India Company, surely?) He "fell asleep in Jesus 19 December 1862 in the 57th year of his age. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, a sincere friend and a gentle and Christian spirit." Mary Ann his widow survived him for nearly 30 years, until 30 October 1892. John William Maillardet and Mary Ann Foley were married at Madras in 1831. An Elizabeth Maillardet, perhaps their daughter, also married there in 1852. The name is French. Huguenot? Why did they end up in Crail? Who knows?

On 6th June, 2009, I visited Tyntesfield, near Wraxall, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-tyntesfield with my daughter and three grandsons, the fabulous Boothroyd Boys, aged 3, 2 and five months.

When I visit a place I always like to know a little about the inhabitants and though the history of the Gibbs family en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyntesfield is well documented, I could not resist delving a little for myself.

On the night of 2nd April, 1871 when a census of England and Wales was taken there were two little visitors to Tyntesfield, Cyril Gurney aged 3 and William Hampden Gurney aged one. How appropriate - did they scamper, whoop and career about like our two elder boys? Did our boys' games echo those of the two ghostly boys, near enough to them in age, but separated by 138 years in time? Did they run their nursemaids ragged, romping in the lovely grounds, hiding among the daisies in the meadow or get lost among the rhododendrons and then laugh?

But sadly not. There was no fun in that April of 1871 for Tyntesfield was a house of mourning. The boys' mother, Alice Blanche Gurney, the daughter of William and Matilda Gibbs had died less than three weeks before on 12th March, aged 27.

Listed at the Tyntesfield house on census night were William Gibbs, the guano magnate, aged 80, his wife Matilda, much younger at 53, their son Anthony, Alfred Gurney, their son in law with his two orphaned boys, Miss Low, a cousin and a clergyman. Alfred Gurney had hardly registered the shock of his young wife's death, for he was recorded as "married" rather than "widowed". The family was looked after by twelve servants, starting with a housekeeper and ending with William White, quaintly titled "odd man."

By the time the next census was taken ten years later, Alfred Gurney was the Vicar of St Barnabas, a fashionable parish at St George, Hanover Square, London. He had not remarried and lived at the parsonage with his spinster sister. His two sons now 13 and 11 had been sent away to boarding school, at Mortlake in Surrey.

Cyril grew up, married Margaret Trotter and became a "West Indian Merchant". By 1901 he had his own three children aged 5, 2 and one month old. I have not located William Hampden Gurney in censuses after 1881, but know that he died in 1903, in London, aged 33 years.

By 1891, Anthony Gibbs, now a magistrate, uncle of Cyril and William Gurney, and his wife Janet were living at Tyntesfield. They had nine children at home, from teenagers to two babies, Janet aged three and Lancelot aged one, who must have played in the lovely gardens. Perhaps their Swiss nurserymaid pushed the tiny ones around in the ancient high iron pram we saw amongst the heaps of lumber piled high in the stables awaiting cataloguing and refurbishment.

Incidentally, when doing this small piece of research, I was pleased to see a name I could add to my "Kingswood Index". In 1861 when the Gibbs' family was living at 16 Hyde Park Gardens in London, among the resident servants was Mary Haskins aged 21, born Bitton, Gloucestershire.

I received the following from Bob Lawrence:

As promised, here is some information about the BALLIN family of the Bristol area. I have no personal connection to them - this research started because one of them married a Sargent from Winchelsea in Sussex, and my Sargent ancestors also come from that area. I have not listed all the Ballins I have found, nor all the details, but these can be found on RootsWeb World Connect at http://wc.rootsweb.com.

I have come across a number of other Ballins in the area, but have not been able to link them in with this family. There seem to be a lot of cousin marriages, which makes me think that Isaac Samuel Ballin and his wife Maria Ballin were cousins. Isaac Samuel seems to have been a practicing Jew, and his daughter Ada, who was a well-know author and is listed in the Oxford Dictionary of National biography, also published a Hebrew grammar and won a Hebrew Scholarship at university. Samuel Ballin I, on the other hand, was married and is buried in an Anglican church, and his children were baptised as Church of England. It is perhaps the unusual surname, the choice of first names, and the occupations followed that means one assumes they were Jews.

There is no obvious connection between the Ballins and the Joseph Cohen who committed suicide in the Bridewell, but he was also a Jew who married a Christian. I wonder how common that was, and how it was considered in the Jewish community. Judith Samuel's book on the Jews in Bristol makes great use of the synagogue records, and so concentrates on practicing Jews.

Here are the details:

Isaac Samuel BALLIN

Isaac Samuel Ballin was born in 1811 at Wells, Somerset, England. He was in partnership with Frederick Maggs as a fur manufacturer in 1832 at 26 High Street, Bristol, but this partnership was dissolved in the same year. Between 1833 and 1845, he was a fur manufacturer, wholesale and retail, at 45 Wine Street, Bristol. He married Susanna Ballin, daughter of Samuel Ballin and Elizabeth Whittern, and possibly his cousin, on 25 Sep 1833 at the New Synagogue, Bristol.

From 1836 to 1858, he traded as a fur manufacturer and importer at Wine Street, but also operated at Redcliff Street and Park Street at different times in addition. He is also recorded as a straw bonnet maker and wholesale straw plat dealer. At times, he shared premises with I. Cohen. His wife Susanna died in 1849, and in 1858 Isaac sold his Bristol business to Messrs Lodge & co and he moved with his family to London. He married Annie Moss in 1860 and died on 1st December 1897 in London, having been a furrier and straw hat dealer in Woburn Place and Tavistock Square. His daughter Ada, born 1862, was a well-known author and journalist on health and childcare.

Samuel BALLIN I

Samuel Ballin I was born in 1776, place of birth unknown. He married Elizabeth Whittern, daughter of William Whittern and Elizabeth Shellard on 22 Nov 1813 at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Somerset, England. They had previously had six children who had been born at Wotton under Edge, but baptised at Hawkesbury, the birthplace of Elizabeth Whittern. Samuel worked as a silversmith at Bradley Street, Wotton under Edge, although his marriage record describes him as an ironmonger. He was declared bankrupt on 27 Feb 1826. He died in 1830 and was buried at St Mary's, Wotton under Edge.

Samuel BALLIN II

Samuel Ballin II was born in 1809 at Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire, the son of Samuel Ballin I and Elizabeth Whittern, and was baptized on 8 Oct 1809 at St Mary's, Hawkesbury. In 1830, he and his sister Susanna were straw hat makers in Wotton under Edge, but by 1832 he had moved to 2 Old Market Street, Bristol, where he was in the same business with his sister Ann. He married Maria Sargent, daughter of William Sargent and Susannah Whittern, on 1 Dec 1834 at Winchelsea, Sussex. Maria was his cousin, and her father William Sargent was a miller and later Mayor of Winchelsea. In 1836, he was a fur manufacturer at 2 Redcliff Street, Bristol but by 1841 was living at 6, Corridor, Bath, described as a fur manufacturer. He remained there and at 16 Union Street, Bath, until his death on 21 May 1879.

Ann BALLIN

Ann Ballin was born in 1808 at Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire, the daughter of Samuel Ballin I and Elizabeth Whittern and was baptized on 11 Dec 1808 at St Mary's, Hawkesbury. She was the daughter of Samuel Ballin and Elizabeth Whittern. From 1832, she was in business with her brother Samuel as a straw hat maker in 2 Old Market Street, Bristol. She married Arnold Beeston, son of John Howton Beeston and Alicia on 9 Jun 1835 at Horfield, Bristol, but Arnold died in 1836, and Ann returned to her previous business, moving to 13 Peter Street, Bristol. She married James Thomas in 1842, but was a widow again by 1851.

Elizabeth BALLIN

Elizabeth Ballin was born in 1800 at Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire, the daughter of Samuel Ballin I and Elizabeth Whittern and was baptized on 23 Mar 1800 at St Mary's, Hawkesbury. She married John Box on 13 Sep 1821 at St Mary's, Wotton under Edge and their first two children - Henry Oborne Box and Mary Box were born at Wotton under Edge. Subsequent children were born at Dursley, where John was in business as a watchmaker. Elizabeth died at Dursley in 1887. Their son Edward married his cousin Susanna Sargent Ballin, daughter of Samuel Ballin II and Maria Sargent, and Edward's sister Frances Anne Box married Robert Ashton Lister, the well-known Dursley industrialist.

Joseph COHEN

Suicide in the Bridewell. On Wednesday night, Joseph Cohen, a prisoner in the Bridewell, charged upon remand with having a quantity of cloth in his possession, supposed to have been stolen, hung himself in his cell. An inquest was held upon the body on Thursday before the Coroner, J.B.Grindon Esq., and from the evidence adduced it appeared that the deceased had formerly been of the Hebrew persuasion; but having married a Christian, he had not for some years attended upon the religious worship of that people. His business lay a good deal among public-houses, and he was, to some extent, addicted to habits of intemperance; but he was described by his father-in-law and mother-in-law (his wife having been dead some years) as kind and considerate to them, and careful of, and affectionate to, his daughter, a girl of about 15 years old. He was last seen alive at half-past six o'clock, when, in compliance with the rules of the Bridewell, his supper was left with him, and he was locked up for the night. After his cell door was closed, the turnkey on duty in the passage heard him moving about as if walking up and down, but after a time the sounds ceased, and it is supposed that he must then have hanged himself, for on his cell-door being opened at about nine o'clock he was found suspended from one of the bars of his cell-window by a silk handkerchief. His feet were about five inches from the ground, and the handkerchief was so loosely tied that upon the officer lifting the body, he was enabled to remove it without difficulty. Medical assistance was promptly obtained, but the unfortunate man was "beyond the skill of surgery", and had evidently been for some time dead, as his body had begun to stiffen. His supper was untouched. The jury having attentively considered the testimony adduced, returned a verdict that the deceased - who had appeared both frightened and grieved by his detention in prison - "Hanged himself while in a state of temporary insanity."

Bristol Mercury, 22nd March 1851

Joseph Cohen married Sarah Totterdown at St Peters on 30th September 1833. Their daughter Elizabeth Mary Cohen was baptised at SS Philip & Jacob on 7th December 1834.

1841 Census

Waterloo Place, SS Philip & Jacob, Bristol

Joseph Cohen, 27, Tailor

Sarah Cohen, 24, Tailoress

Bob Lawrence

ACLAND: Lieut Charles Baldwin Dyke, died on May 10, aged 25, off the coast of Africa on board HM Ship "Scout". FFBJ 22.7.1837

BROUGHTON, John, esq., Rear Admiral; of the White, died aged 70, at the residence of his son in law Rev F.A. Glover, Rector of Charlton Dover, was uncle to William G. Broughton, Bishop of Australia. "He went to sea in 1780 and was one of the few survivors of Lord Rodney's action of 12 April 1782." FFBJ 14.10.1837

BYRON: Rear Admiral Richard, died Sep 2, aged 68, at the Bush Hotel, Southsea, on his way to the Isle of Wight with his family for the benefit of his health. FFBJ 9.9.1837

CHAPMAN: Lieut Nicholas, RN, of Freeland Place, Clifton, died Mar 24, aged 45, recently appointed to command the new vessel "Juno". FFBJ 1.4.1837

CHERRY, Captain Henry, of this Port, died Sep 19, aged 67. FFBJ 7.10.1837

CLEMENTS: Robert B.S., aged 19, drowned on Apr 23 on a voyage from Newfoundland in the "Falcon", son of the late Mr Stephen Clements of this City. FFBJ 23.9.1837

CRIDDIFORD: Elizabeth, died Aug 17, aged 53, relict of the late Captain Richard Criddiford of this Port. FFBJ 2/9.9.1837

DUNN, Captain Richard, of this Port, died Jul 4 aged 59. FFBJ 8.7.1837

CUDDY, Captain John, died Aug 12, on the passage home from Jamaica. FFBJ 14.10.1837

HEATLEY: John Boon, died Oct 3, aged 20, only son of the late Captain John Heatley of this City. FFBJ 7.10.1837

HENDERSON: David, esq., MD, Surgeon RN, died Nov 2, many years resident in this City. FFBJ 4.11.1837

HOLMES: Martha, infant daughter of Captain W. Holmes, of this Port, died Jan 11. FFBJ 14.2.1837

HOOD: William, esq., merchant of this City, died Jul 7, at Charleston, South Carolina. "Till within a few days of the fatal intelligence reaching England, his arrival was daily expected by his family." FFBJ 12.8.1837

JACKSON: Mr Michael, late 2nd Mate of the brig "Caledonia" of Greenock, one of the crew of the wreck taken off by Dugden, died Dec 9, at St Peter's Hospital, in this City. FFBJ 23.12.1837

LLOYD: Elizabeth, wife of Mr E. Lloyd, writing master of this City and eldest daughter of Captain Hall of the port of Pembroke, died Jan 26. FFBJ 4.2.1837

PAGE: Mr R.C., died Apr 10, aged 27, 2nd Officer of the ship "Orestes" while on her passage from China to Bristol. FFBJ 20.5.1837

PIKE: Margaret, only child of Mr James Pike, master mariner of this Port, died Nov 26 aged 13. FFBJ 2.12.1837

POTTER: Captain Robert, aged 23, on June 3, at Appolonia, Gold Coast, of the barque "Congo" of that port, drowned in attempting to go ashore in a canoe through heavy surf. Two natives perished with him. FFBJ 23.9.1837

RADFORD: Mary, wife of Captain Richard Radford, of this Port, died Oct 19, aged 29, at her residence at Trinity Street. FFBJ 21.10.1837

REES, Mr James, master of the "Betsey" of Tenby, died Jan 25, aged 35, after a severe accident aboard the ship. FFBJ 11.11.1837

SAMPSON: Captain, of the ship "Lucy Ann" of this Port, died Feb 7, at Port Maria, Jamaica. A native of this City. FFBJ 1.4.1837

SHEWIN: Mrs, died Nov 30, at Lebeck House, Hotwells, wife of Captain Shewin, RN. FFBJ 2.12.1837

SMITH: Ann, wife of Mr Richard Smith of Bath Street and second daughter of Captain James Barker, RN, died Feb 5, "under the influence of the prevailing epidemic". FFBJ 11.11.1837

SMITH, Rhoda, wife of Captain S. Smith of this Port, died Nov 16. FFBJ 18.11.1837

STOKES: Captain John, RN, died Sep 28, at St Columb, aged 67, brother of Mr Samuel Stokes of the Bush Tavern, Bristol. FFBJ 7.7.1837

STONE: Charles, 2nd son of Mr Charles Stone of this City, died Aug 9, aged 20, on the passage from Jamaica aboard the "Feronia". FFBJ 21.10.1837

THOMAS: Frederick John Thomas aged 13, died at North Briton (? This may be "North Britain - i.e. Scotland - or North Brixton), March 23, eldest son of Mr John Thomas and grandson the late Captain William Thomas of this Port. FFBJ 1.4.1837

THOMPSON, Ada Jane, aged 3 years and 4 months, died Oct 31, only child of Captain Thomas Thompson of Alfred Place, St Mary Redcliffe. FFBJ 4.11.1837

TURBERVILLE: John, only son of Mr Giles Turberville, excise guager of this Port, died at Jamaica, aged 29. FFBJ 25.11.1837

VICKERY: Caryer, esq, surgeon RN, died Jan 23 aged 75, at London, formerly of this City. 28.1.1837

WASON: Captain Edward, died Mar 29, died Mar 29, at the Island of Barbadoes, aged 64, brother to Mr James Wason, merchant of this Port. FFBJ 13.5.1837

WOLLEY: Rear Admiral, (died) Dec 27th at his residence Campden Place, Bath, aged 69. FFBJ 30.12.1837