Comments

I think she died!  There is a burial of a Mary PARSONS, aged 35, on the 7th April 1858 at St James' Church Taunton.  Her home address is given as Coal Orchard which is the same address as Joseph PARSONS on the 1861 Census.   He didn't wait long before remarrying in July 1858.

There is also a christening of an Abraham Henry PARSONS at St John's Church, Weston-super-Mare (see our transcriptions) s/o Joseph and Mary PARSONS in August 1853 who might be the Henry you mentioned.  Unfortunately I can't see a matching birth registration.

To answer your last question  - Is this your Joseph PARSONS?  On FindmyPast - under England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 it shows a Joseph PARSONS as being charged with Arson on the 22 March 1869 at Taunton.  He pleaded guilty to setting fire to an out house at Rowbarton, the property of Robert KEATS.  Joseph who is stated to be a cordwainer was sentenced to 5 years Penal Servitude.  It was not his first offence.  You can find details in various newspaper accounts as well. 

I'm wondering how your James is connected with the Thomas BISDEE of Hutton because if you look at the 1841 census you can see James and Harriet living in Wick St Lawrence with their children including Edgar whereas, living in Hutton is another James BISDEE of about the same age. 

This second James, who died in this country in 1863, is the son of Thomas BISDEE (who was born in about 1770) and whose eldest son John BISDEE (1796-1862) is well documented as arriving in Hobart in about 1821 and becoming Governor of Hobart Gaol etc. and setting up Hutton Park in Tasmania. 

Thomas BISDEE also had a son called Thomas but he died in 1830 and was buried in Hutton as can be seen in our transcriptions, aged only 25.

I may be missing something so please let me know the connection.

According to FreeReg a Joseph MELLIER was baptised in Berrow on 4 April 1805. He was the son of Joseph MELLIER and Isad DANGER who were married in Berrow on 20 May 1799.

Dave Erasmus

Hello Pat

Thanks so much for your reply and help with understanding the record. Also the link to Banwell History. Yes, I had looked at before. What wonderful work.

Sorry for the delayed response. For some reason I didn't 'pick up' on your response, and I've just found it whilst doing final ppreparations for our trip to the UK next week.

I'm very much looking forward to our couple of days in Somerset and to visiting the Portishead library next Wednesday.

Kind regards

Kerrie