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.)

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)