Bridging the Gap pt 3: Bridges in Chapel Hill
20/01/18 21:11
The 1841 census enumerates Abel/John Bridge as resident with his family in Chapel Hill. We know from the nonconformist returns at the start of civil registration (R4 998) that he was there at least between 1824 and 1837. He may well have been there in 1821 when his eldest daughter was born and remained there until the 1841 census.
The 1841 census also enumerates 14 other families containing a Bridge member within 2 miles of Chapel Hill, with another shedload in the few miles just beyond. Most striking however are the two Bridge families enumerated at Meadow Head Farm, the next one along the hill to Chapel Hill.
The rounding in the 1841 census gives approximate dates of birth but Abel/John is rounded to1796 and both John and Richard are rounded to 1806 so there could be a 15 year difference here.
The 1851 census gives John Bridge's dob as 1803 and also confirms that the Taylor children were his step children. It also gives another son, Siddall Bridge, b 1849. I wonder if there were any between Abel and Siddall who didn't survive?
John was still at Meadowhead. [HO 107/2249/246/133/2].
Richard Bridge had died before 1851 and Susan was living in Musbury approx 3 miles away, close to Haslingden where she was born. [HO107/2249/339/429/21] Helpfully her son James was living in the same street and gave his place of birth as Meadowhead [HO107/2249/339/429/20].
So we have three Bridge families in adjacent farms:
John/Abel b ~ 1796
John b 1803
Richard b ~ 1806
So how were they related?
The 1841 census also enumerates 14 other families containing a Bridge member within 2 miles of Chapel Hill, with another shedload in the few miles just beyond. Most striking however are the two Bridge families enumerated at Meadow Head Farm, the next one along the hill to Chapel Hill.
HO 107/506/13/22/16 | Meadow Head | Lower Booths |
Richard | Bridge | 35 | 1806 | Yes | Woollen Weaver | |
Susan | Bridge | 35 | 1806 | Yes | ||
James | Bridge | 14 | 1827 | Yes | Woollen Weaver | |
Anne | Bridge | 12 | 1829 | Yes | ||
Abel | Bridge | 7 | 1834 | Yes | ||
Susan | Bridge | 3 | 1838 | Yes | ||
Jane | Hamer | 2 | 1839 | Yes | ||
(born in county?) |
HO 107/506/13/23/18 | Meadow Head | Lower Booths |
John | Bridge | 35 | 1806 | Yes | Woollen Weaver | |
Margaret | Bridge | 35 | 1806 | Yes | ||
George | Bridge | 5 | 1836 | Yes | ||
James | Bridge | 2 | 1839 | Yes | ||
Abel | Bridge | 1 M | 1841 | Yes | ||
John | Taylor | 15 | 1826 | Woollen Weaver | ||
Margaret | Taylor | 13 | 1828 | Woollen Spinner | ||
Richard | Taylor | 11 | 1830 | Woollen Piecer |
The rounding in the 1841 census gives approximate dates of birth but Abel/John is rounded to1796 and both John and Richard are rounded to 1806 so there could be a 15 year difference here.
The 1851 census gives John Bridge's dob as 1803 and also confirms that the Taylor children were his step children. It also gives another son, Siddall Bridge, b 1849. I wonder if there were any between Abel and Siddall who didn't survive?
John was still at Meadowhead. [HO 107/2249/246/133/2].
Richard Bridge had died before 1851 and Susan was living in Musbury approx 3 miles away, close to Haslingden where she was born. [HO107/2249/339/429/21] Helpfully her son James was living in the same street and gave his place of birth as Meadowhead [HO107/2249/339/429/20].
So we have three Bridge families in adjacent farms:
John/Abel b ~ 1796
John b 1803
Richard b ~ 1806
So how were they related?