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

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

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

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

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

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

Undated – a later occasion:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No.27: Mary GARDNER did not appear

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

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

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

No. 50: Robt BARKER did not appear

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

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

No. 63: Jas. PITMAN did not appear.”

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

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

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

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

“BLATCHLEY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Kind Regards

Guy Hirst.”

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

WILLIAM BLATCHLEY (1771-1854)

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

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

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

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

CHARLES BLATCHLEY (1796-1879)

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

Charles Blatchley & Charlotte Gale married Kingswood, Bristol 18.12.1827.

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

In 1841 living at Box, Wilts:

Charles Blatchley, 41, Navy Half Pay, born Wilts

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

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

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

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

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

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

JOHN BLATCHLEY (1802-1862)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOPHIA GRACE, nee Blatchley (1794-1880)

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

In 1851 they were at 12 Caroline Place, Marylebone:

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

Sophia, 57 (1794) born Longbridge Deverill

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

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

Sophia Grace, 85, died in London in 1880.

WILLIAM GLENNIE

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

1841 census at Box, Wiltshire:

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

Elizabeth Catherine, 30, Not born Wilts

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

1851 census at 23 Devonshire Terrace, St Andrew, Plymouth

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

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

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

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

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

HENRY ASTON BARKER 

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

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

The following comes from Wikipedia:

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

Life and works

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Panorama of Constantinople (1813, aquatint)

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

1841 census: at Golden Valley Bitton

Catherine Barker 90 (1751) b.Ireland

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

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

Mary Barker, 25 (1816) b. Glos.

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

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

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

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

CONNERY, JOHN

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

HANCOCK, Isaac

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

MALBON, Micajah.

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

MANSEL

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

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

Royal Navy (of Bristol unless otherwise stated)

John Alden, Landsman

William Alden, AB

John Allen, Landsman, Bath

H.J. Anderden, Midshipman

George Anderson, Ord Seaman

John Andrews, Quartermaster

John Armstrong, Quartermaster

Charles Arthur, Ord Seaman

William Atkins, AB

Charles Baber, Landsman, Bedminster

George Baker, Carpenter's Crew, Keynsham, Somerset

John Baker, Ord Seaman

Francis Barnes, AB. (see letter above)

James Barnes, Landsman

Peter Barrett, AB

Samuel Bateman, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

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

Christopher Beaty, Quarter gunner.

George Beck, clerk

George Bedford, AB

John Bell, Landsman, Bath

Abraham Bennett, Boy 2^nd Class

John Bennett, AB

William Berry AB Bath

'Thomas Blake, Ord Seaman

William Blake, Landsman, Marshfield, Glos

Walter Bond, Quarter gunner

Richard Bowden, AB

Robert Boyde, AB, Downing (sic) Glos

Thomas Braine, Ord Seaman

Joseph Briton (sic) Landsman

Philip Britton, Landsman, Bath

William Broad, Ord Seaman

William Broad, Carpenter's crew

John Brock, AB

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

Joseph Brooks, Landsman

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

John Brown, AB

William Brown, Ord Seaman

William Buck, Quartermaster

William Buckley, Yeoman of the Sheets

Samuel Burgess, Landsman

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

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

Joseph Buxton, AB, Hanham, Glos

George Cannon, Landsman, Bath

John Campbell, Quarter gunner

William Cantell, Landsman, Whitechurch (sic) Somerset

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

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

Robert Carr, Midshipman

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

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

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

Charles Cawly, Landsman

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

James Cheek, Landsman

James Cherry, Landsman

Daniel Chilcott, Quarter gunner

Henry Child, AB, Bath

James Chivers, Ord Seaman

William Clements, Landsman, Bath

Thomas Cobley, Ord Seaman

Isaac Cole, Ord Seaman, Hanham, Glos

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

John Coleman, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

Michael Collins, Ord Seaman, Bath

Thomas Condon, Ord Seaman

John Cook, Ord Seaman

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

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

11 May 1803, "Ocean" 15 January 1806.

Samuel Cowles, AB, Downing (sic) Downend

Charles Cox, Landsman, Stapleton, Glos

John Cramer, Landsman

William Crisp. Landsman, Whitchurch, Som

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

Benjamin Dagger, Carpenter's crew, Bath

William Davis, Ord Seaman

William Dawes, AB

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

Thomas Day, AB

James Dowling, Boy, 2^nd Class

Thomas Downey, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

John Downs, Quarter Gunner

Jeremiah Dunn, AB

James Earle, Midshipman

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

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

James Edwards AB

Samuel Edwards, Landsman

William Edwards, Landsman

William Ellis, Ord Seaman

George Emblin, Coxswain

Henry Evans, Ord Seaman

Matthew Evans, Landsman

Thomas Evans, Ord Seaman

Thomas Evans, Yeoman of the Sheets

William Fields, Ord Seaman

Nicholas Fitzgerald, Carpenter's Crew

Charles Fletcher, AB

Thomas Fletcher, Ord Seaman

John Flooke, Boy, 1^st class

George Floyd, Ord Seaman

William Forrest, AB, Keynsham

James Fowler, Ord Seaman

Thomas Francis, Landsman

John French, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

Edward Fry, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

John Fry, Landsman

Isaac Fudge, Ord Seaman

James Fuller, Ord Seaman

John Gardner, Landsman

John/James Gardner, Landsman

William Gardner, Ord Seaman

Thomas Gascoyne, Ord Seaman

James Gerrard, AB

George Gibbons, AB

Thomas Gibson, AB (?TR "Euralyus")

William Giles, AB

Nicholas Gooding, AB

William Goodman, Ord Seaman

John Gordon, AB, Bath

John Graham, Boy, 3^rd Class

George Grant, AB

William Graves, Ord Seaman

Thomas Griffiths, Ord Seaman

William Griffiths, Landsman

Charles Grimes, Ord Seaman

Joseph Gullick, Landsman

James Hale, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hall, Landsman, Bitton, Glos

Samuel Hammans, Ord Seaman, Somerset

Thomas Handley, AB (TR "Bellerophon"

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

Joseph Hannam, Boy, 2^nd Class

John Harding, Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, AB

John Hartland, Ord Seaman

James Harvey, Ord Seaman

Samuel Hawkins, AB

George Hayes, AB

John Hazle, AB

James Helliar, Ord Seaman

William Hemmings, Landsman

William Henderson, Trumpeter

Edward Henley, Armourer's Mate

Job Henley, Landsman

William Herbert, Ord Seaman

Augustus Thomas Hickes, Volunteer 1^st Class, Berkeley

(TR as Hicks "Defiance", died 1857)

John Hilliar, Ord Seaman

John Hinds, Quartermaster's Mate

'Thomas Christopher Holland, Midshipman, Bath

Charles Hopkins, Ord Seaman

David Howell, Trumpeter, Bath

Henry Howell, Ord Seaman

John Howell, Ord Seaman

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

William Hubber, Ord Seaman (TR "Polythemus")

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

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

Abraham Hughes, Ord Seaman

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

William Hutchinson, Ord Seaman

Thomas Hyde, Landsman (TR "Conqueror")

James Jackson, AB

Richard Jackson, Landsman

James James, Landsman

John James, Ord Seaman

Stephen Watts Jeffries, Ord Seaman, Mangotsfield, Glos

James Jenkins, Ord Seaman

John Jenkins, AB

John Jennings, Ord Seaman

John Johnson, Landsman

John Johnston, Ord Seaman

Francis Jones, Landsman, Bath

George Jones, Landsman

Isaac Jones, Ord Seaman

Richard Jones, Ord Seaman

William Jones, AB

Thomas King, Ord Seaman

William King, Ord Seaman

Edward Kingston, Ord Seaman (TR "Dreadnought")

George Lacey, AB

Samuel Lacey, Ord Seaman

Solomon Leonard, Ord Seaman

John Lisle, Ord Seaman

William Lloyd, Ord Seaman

George Long, Landsman

William Long, Ord Seaman

William Loveless, Landsman, Winterbourne, Glos

Robert Luton, Ord Seaman

William Maggs, Landsman, Bath

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

Thomas Mansfield, yeoman of the Powder Room

John Marks, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Marshall, AB

James Marshall, Landsman

William Marshall, Ord Seaman

John Martin, AB

William Matthews, Ship's Corporal, Bath

Thomas Mason, AB

George May, Boy, 2^nd Class, Bath

Mark McMullen, Landsman, Camerton

William Mearn, Ord Seaman

Henry Merchant, Ord Seaman

Thomas Merchant, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Miller, Ord Seaman

Charles Mills, AB

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

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

John Mooney, Boy 3^rd Class

Joseph Henry Moore, Boy 2^nd Class, Bath

Thomas Moore, Landsman, Bath

James Morris, Ord Seaman

William Mountain, Landsman

Samuel Moxom, Landsman

Thomas Murphy, Quarter Gunner

Richard Musto, Bosun's mate

George Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Nash, Quartergunner

Thomas Neal, Ord Seaman

Thomas Neal, AB (TR "Prince")

Richard Newman, Ord Seaman

Thomas Norman, Ord Seaman

John Norton, Ord Seaman, Bath

John Oliver, Landsman

Thomas Ovens, Landsman, Bath

William Owen, AB

John Palmer, Armourer

Charles Parker, Landsman, Bath

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

Joseph Parker, Ord Seaman

Job Parsons, Landsman

Thomas Partridge, AB, Bath

John Patterson, AB

Coulson Pearce, Ord Seaman

George Pearson, Volunteer 1st Class, Som

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

Erasmus Peeps, Midshipman, Pill, Somerset

William Peirce, Ord Seaman

Anthony Perks, Ord Seaman

William Perry, Landsman

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

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

Clifton 1862, buried Clifton St Andrews. (TR)

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

William Phillips, AB

John Phipps, AB

William Phipps, Landsman

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

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

George Pontin, Ord Seaman,

Robert Pordie, Yeoman, Bosun's Store room

John Powell, Boy, 2^nd class

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

William Powers, AB

Charles Price, Frampton, Glos, Ord Seaman

James Price, Landsman (TR "Tennant")

Thomas Prior, Ord Seaman

Francis Pritchard, Landsman

Thomas Pullen, gunsmith, Downing

Samuel Randall, AB, Bath

William Read, Yeoman of the Sheets

Thomas Rees, AB

William Reeves, AB

James Reynolds, Boy, 3^rd Class

John Reynolds, Ord Seaman, Bath

Francis Rice, Landsman

John Rice, Landsman

Daniel Rich, Landsman

Joseph Richardson, AB, Bath

Arthur Roberts, Ord Seaman

William Roberts, Landsman

William Roberts, AB

Daniel Rogers, Ord Seaman, Bedminster, Bristol

Richard Rogers, AB,

John Rudge, Landsman (TR "Spartiate")

Thomas Rumney, AB, Pill

James Sanders, AB, Bath

John Saunders, Ord Seaman

Richard Searle, AB, Bath

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

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

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

buried Arnos Vale. (TR)

Elias Shaddock, Quarter Gunner

Benjamin Shepherd, Ord Seaman

John Shepherd, Ord Seaman

James Sherborne, Landsman

William Simmonds, AB

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

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

William Smart, AB, Bath

Joseph Smith, Landsman

Loinel Smith, Armourer's mate, Bathford, Som

Thomas Smith, Landsman

Thomas Smith, AB, Bath

William Smith, Landsman

William Smith, Ord Seaman

Christopher Spring, Ord Seaman

John Steager, Landsman, Keynsham, Somerset

Joseph Stokes, Ord Seaman

James Stone, Midshipman, Bath

Thomas Stone, Landsman

William Stone, AB

Charles Stowe, Landsman

William Strong, Ord Seaman

William Symonds, Landsman

Francis Taylor, Boy, 3^rd class

Hugh Taylor, AB

William Taylor, Armourer's Mate

John Thomas, Ord Seaman (TR "Tennant")

Joseph Thompson, Landsman

William Thompson, Ord Seaman (TR "Victory")

Joseph Thorn, AB, Ratclift (sic)

Nathaniel Thorn, Landsman

Bowhem Tomkyns, Volunteer, 1^st Class, Bath

Henry Tripp, Ord Seaman

Thomas Tripp, Ord Seaman

James Tucker, Carpenter's Crew, Bath

John Tucker, AB

John Tucker, Ord Seaman

William Turner, Landsman

Jeremiah Vincent, Landsman, Bath

* John Viner, Landsman. See letters.

George Warren, AB, Bath

John Webb, Quartermaster's mate, Alveston, Glos

William Webb, AB

George White AB

John White AB, Bitton, Glos

Thomas White, Master at Arms, Som

Thomas White, AB, Som

James Whiting, Ord Seaman, Bath

James Whittington, AB

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

(TR "Leviathan")

Richard Wildgoose, AB

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

Utrecht, 15 January 1806, "Ocean"

Henry Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, Ord Seaman

John Wilkins, AB, Churchill, Somerset

Thomas Wilkins, AB, Keynsham, Somerset

John Williams, Landsman

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

John Williams, AB

John Williams, Landsman

Stephen Williams AB, (TR Revenge")

Thomas Williams, AB

Francis Willis, AB

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

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

Samuel Wilson, Ord Seaman, Bath

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

Andrew Winter, Landsman

James Wolfe, Ord Seaman

John Wood, AB

John Woodman, Landsman

Jacob Wookey, Ord Seaman, Somerset

John Wright, Armourer's mate

William Wyatt, AB

Thomas York, Landsman

John Young, Midshipman

Royal Marines:

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

John Adams, Pte.

William Adams, Pte, St George's, Bristol

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

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

William Bailey, Pte, Winford, Som

John Ball, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

William Bartlett, Pte, Walcot, Bath

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

15 January 1806 at Chatham HQ. On TR.

John Buckley, Pte, St James, Bristol

John Cantle, Pte, Bedminster

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

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

Isaac Chandler, Pte, Melksham, Wilts.

Charles Chappell, Pte, Thornbury

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

F. Charles Clear, Boy, RM

Jeremiah Coke, Clutton, Bath

Thomas Coles, Pte, St Philips, Glos

John Cook, Sergeant, from St Mary Redcliffe

William Cook, Pte, Hawkesbury, Glos

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

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

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

James Davis, Boy, Ratcliffe (sic) Bristol

William Day, Pte

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

Samuel Eyles, Pte, Stapleton, Glos

James Fisher, Pte, Marshfield, Glos

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

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

John Grimes, Pte, St Michael's Bristol

John Harding. Ord Seaman

Thomas Harding, Ord Seaman

Samuel Harris, Pte, Winterbourne, Glos

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

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

John Hicks, Pte, Bath

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

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

Edward Hore, Pte, Chew Magney (sic)

Robert House, Pte, Camerton, Som

James Hughes, Pte. St Philips, Bristol

Thomas Hurle, Pte. Berkeley, Glos

George Jeffries, Pte, Siston, Glos

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

Thomas Lansdown, Pte, Olveston, Glos

Moses Llewellyn, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

Isaac May, Pte, Avening, Glos

George Moseley, Pte, Frampton Cotterell

Cornelius Organ, Pte. North Nibley

John Parfitt, Pte, Strait, Somerset

Charles Parsons, Pte, Yeaton (sic) Somerset

John Phillips, Pte, Temple, Bristol

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

Amos Poulson, Pte, Melksham

Benjamin Powell, Pte, Timsbury

David Powell, Pte

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

Zealand, 15 January 1806, Chatham HQ

John Skinner, Pte

John Skinner, Pte, Bath

George Skidmore, Pte, Iron Acton, Glos

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

*John Summers, Pte (see letters)

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

Daniel Webb, Boy, RM, Melksham, Wilts

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

Joseph White, Pte, Mangotsfield, Glos

John Whiting, Pte, Shepton Mallet (TR)

Mark Williams, Pte, Westbury, Glos

Bibliography

Trafalgar Roll

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

Age of Nelson website

&

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

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

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

The Bristol Riots took place on 26-31 October 1831. This list of the names of persons killed or wounded was submitted by the Bristol Infirmary, now the BRI, to Bristol Mercury and published on 22 November 1831. More details may be found by consulting the hospital records which are held at Bristol Record Office. All those named came from Bristol, unless otherwise stated. * indicates “died”.

In Casualties: Shot wounds.

*Stephen BUSH, 28, shot through chest. Died.

Edward EVANS, shot through right side of neck near collar bone which was fractured by the ball.

John LEWIS, 30, seaman, shot through fore arm

William YOUNG, 12, shot through leg

James SALMON, 17, shot in leg and one of bones fractured

John BENNETT, 16, shot through leg

Henry WITHERS, 30, shot through leg, of Stapleton.

Henry TUCKFIELD, 17, shot through thigh

William CLARKE, 48, shot through leg. (Is this the same William Clarke who was later executed?)

*Thomas MORRIS, 13, shot through bowels, since dead.

In Casualties: Sabre wounds and contusions by Horses of the Military.

Robert Thomson, 60, wounded across face which nearly detached his nose.

*David JAMES, 45, wounded skull, penetrating brain, since dead.

James CLARKE, 34, wound to head and contused

George CLEWELL, 22, wounded shoulder, arm and finger

Samuel VAINS, 16, wound to skull

John JONES, 26, wound to head, of Westbury

Dennis GRIFFITHS, 20, wound to head

Abraham GAUNTLETT, 16, compound fracture of leg, from “near Bristol.”

John PELLOWE, 17, wound to head and contusions

William WILLIAMS, 22, wound to face and contusions

Michael M’CARTHY, 35, wound to face and contusions

John LAURIE, 18, wound to head

Charles MANNING, 11, wound to head

George PARKER, 25, wound to head, of Horfield

Charles STEGG, 60, wound to head and contusions.

Accidents in the Mob at the Square and elsewhere, unconnected with the Military.

John KELLY, 17, sprained ankle, jumping from window of a burning house

Richard RICHARDS, 18, fractured patella and wound of head and general contusions in same manner as above

Charles BENNETT, 20, compound fracture of leg, fracture ankle and foot contusions in same manner as above

David O’DONAGHUE, 30, wound of leg falling from sash window

*Mary CUMMINGS, 22, burnt in one of the houses she had entered to plunder, since dead.

William PROTHEROE, 44, burnt and bruised in accidental in the execution of his duty as a fireman

Thomas RUSSEL, 25, head cut and bruised

Mr WILCOX, 34, face cut and bruised by glass bottle flung at him whilst defending some property

John CONNERLEY, 32, contused head by the staves of the constables

John SOUTHCOMBE, 21, wound of head and contused shoulder

*George Waller TRAGALLAN, apoplexy from drunkenness supposed to have come from Birmingham

Out Casualties/Sabre Wounds

John THOMSON, 21, wound arm

Cornelius COPLEY, 31, wound arm

Joshua SQUIRES, 52, wound arm

James THOMAS, 35, wound hand

John REEVES, 31, wound head

John PALMON, 32, wound hand

Joshua GODFREY, 32, wound head

Samuel DAVIS, 31, wound head, of Westbury

John JONES, 47, wound head

John ALSOP, 50, wound head

John KEEL, 23, wound head, of Horfield

Thomas HOBBS, 21, wound wrist

James BRYAN, 31, wound head

Charles BISHOP, 21, wound hand

Edward HURCHOUND, 29, wound head

Cornelius HICKEY, 21, wound head

John STONE, 32, wound head

Injuries in the Mob, not known how.

Thomas RICHARDS, 29, wound head

Benjamin ADAMS, 39, contused head

George HANBURY, 45, contused head

William GALLEY, 29, wound to hip

Michael CARTER, 21, wound to finger

Robert CARPENTER, 14, contused face

Daniel HACKETT, 12, wound face

John HURLEY, 21, contused face

William SOMERS, 15, contused eye

James M’Kellow, 40, contused shoulder

John BIRD, 59, contused arm

Ann HOLLOWAY, wound to eye

J. WILLIAMS, 21, apoplexy due to intoxication

Esau HUNT, 16, apoplexy due to intoxication

It seems to me that there may have been many more casualties and a far greater loss of life had it not been for Lt Colonel Thomas BRERETON, 1782-1832, the Irish commander of Dragoons who tried to disperse the mob by peaceful means, and when subsequently pressed to charge the people, did so but without using firearms. This conduct was stated to be “disgraceful”. He was court martialled for dereliction of duty and shot himself dead on the fifth day of the hearing.

At the time it was customary to blame the notorious Kingswood Colliers (my own paternal ancestors!) for any outrages or criminal activities committed. Henry Hill BUDGETT, a local Christian, a successful grocer and educationalist, one of my family history heroes, published a pamphlet at his own expense angrily refuting these allegations and defending the colliers. This list apparently confirms his belief as the vast majority of the people involved appear to have been Bristolians.

Another person with a walk on part in the affair was Isambard Kingdom BRUNEL who was sworn in as a special constable.

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!