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Brian Austin, local historian and life member of this society, tells me that from his records John DAVIS was born 25th Aug 1812 and was christened 2nd May 1813 in either Axbridge or Compton Bishop.  When he died on the 26th Jan 1876 there was an obituary in the local newspaper which described him as being responsible for delivering the post between Weston and Cheddar.  He was certainly described as a "Coachman" in 1871 but by then the family had moved to Union Street

Brian also thinks that the Coach and Horses was probably a Beer House and did not trade for very long - he has a mention of it in 1858 and again on the 1861 census but nothing else.  He didn't think that it would have had its own livery stables.

He was buried in Weston Cemetery on the 1st Feb 1876, aged 63, in Grave Tc 3404, but there is no memorial on the plot.

When the new Library opens in Weston in October we can get a copy of the obituary for you. 

Although this does look like the type of photograph taken by street photographers at the seaside I don't recognise it as the Beach Road in Weston-super-Mare.  I've tried enlarging it to read what was written on the carrier bag to see if that gives a clue but no luck there.  Does anyone else recognise the place?

You certainly deserve some success for your perseverance! We have made some enquiries and it has been suggested that Weston Funeral Services was possibly taken over by The Elms  (see here for their details).  

Hello Pat/anyone else who may be reading this.

I now have the marriage and death certificates which contain one or two significant pieces of information which may be useful.  Firstly, her death was certified by a Rod JB Bowering MRCS, who I guess may have been her GP (or at least the one attendant to the Ryddenwood Home).  She is also described as a retired nurse.  The primary cause of death is listed as cerebro vascular accident, with cerebral arterio sclerosis listed and the secondary - a bump on the head/fall perhaps?

Her marriage to Arthur George Hunt took place on 13th February 1941 at Bristol Register Office. 22 years her senior, he was a provisions salesman/butcher residing at 3 Argyle Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol and was born in Chedzoy, Somerset in about 1874, the son of a small holder named George Hunt.  The witnesses were an A.L Barfoot and an R. Martin.  At the time, her address was 415 Stapleton Road, Bristol. 

Through ancestry.com, I've discovered that he was the widower of an Emily Nott (b.about 1871), who he married on 3rd Jan 1898 at St Andrew-Montpellier, Bristol.  They had a daughter Ivy Emily in 1898, who was born in Tiverton.  In the 1911 census, they are living at the Argyle Avenue address above with his two nephews, Frederick George Wheeler and Clement James Wheeler (presumably sons of a sister of his). The "boys" are listed as butchers, as is he, which would strongly suggest that he owned a butchers business in Bristol.

A couple of leads I'm following.... an Ivy E Hunt married a Reginald W Harrison in Bristol in 1920 - the dates/name/location fit but I can't be certain if that's her.  And, if she didn't marry, there was an Emily Hunt born around 1899 who died in Weston-super-Mare in 1974.  Given that Ivy Emily was only a couple of years younger than Janet/Nettie, it is feasible I suppose that they all ended up in Weston at some point.  I do not know when Arthur died yet, but presumably it was in the 1960's or earlier unless he grew to a very grand old age!

So, a little progress!  Much of it pointing to Bristol at the moment however I'm particularly interested in tracking down people who knew Janet or dealt with her late in life in Weston, which means staff at Ryddenwood in the 1980's, possibly Dr Bowering the GP who certified her death, or a solicitor if she had one (if the records of Weston Funeral Services still exist then maybe these would contain identify who paid for the funeral, but I don't know what happened to that firm).

Pat - would it make sense for me to post a new thread mentioning all the names here in case someone to whom Janet means nothing spots someone they do know? (ie, Josephine Day, Arthur George Hunt, Dr Rod Bowering, Ivy Emily Hunt)?

thanks

Graeme

The original records are held at the Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton and I haven't got a copy of the original record to hand but I do have Emmanuel as being the son of George & Ruth PUDDY born in Burnham on Sea with that date for his christening given to me some years ago by someone else but unfortunately I haven't yet checked it.

George PUDDY married Ruth WATTS 27/7/1783 at Burnham on Sea.  I believe George to be a son of John & Mary PUDDY who were my husband's 4 x great grandparents.

I know there are other PUDDY researchers out there - can anyone else help?

I have a list of the Weston Worthies. There are 40 of them and there is a pencilled name on the back of each but as we are not sure when that name was written there is a little doubt  over the identity of some of them.  At least two of the names have proved to be incorrect.  One labelled as William MILES has been identified from other paintings as his father Philip John MILES.  Ann GIBBONS said on the back to be the first postmistress in Weston is most probably her daughter Mary GIBBONS.

I understand that the paintings are currently in the Somerset Heritage Centre at Taunton while work is being undertaken at Weston Museum.  Please contact me if you have an interest in any particular name - I have done some basic research on the majority of them and am keen to add to it if possible.