Comments

You are not the only one to be confused by this.  South Brent is now known as Brent Knoll. Its name was changed to avoid confusion with the Devon South Brent!  It can be found due south of Weston-super-Mare just inland from Burnham on Sea and takes its name from the distinctive hill of the same name. To find out more about the village take a look at the Brent Knoll Village web site

What surname are you researching in South Brent/Brent Knoll?  You will see that  transcriptions of the parish registers for this parish are included on this site.

You are correct as Melmoth LS Gataker only remained in Weston-super-Mare for a short while as daughter Muriel b 19 Oct 1904 & son Reginald 1906 were born in Christchurch, Hampshire. I also have further ancestry of this family .

Comment received from Dawn Good.

Hello Jill

I've had a look on google maps and there is no Rockford Bridge.  However, there is a Rochfortbridge and it is in Westmeath!

Debbie

Hello Pat,  You have helped me with this family over the years, I cannot remember how long ago was our first contact.  Well this is wonder news....and clears up a lot of questions.  Robert fathered 3 sons with Annie, 1867 Alfred, 70 Robert, 72 Henry...but they didn't get married until 1880 in Paddington...I now think maybe he still had a wife living in Ireland and the appearance of Maria makes it even more probable. The fact Alfred and Kate and Harry lived with their neice Maria is also of great interest, I have an address for them as Henry Road, Gloucester ?  The biggest break through for me is Maria's birthplace, Rockford Bridge, Westmeath....I am due to go to Canada on Monday and meeting up with the relatives of Ben Hardcastle Johnston and on his tombstone says of Rockford Bridge, Westmeath...I have been on Westmeath sight and they say no such place ever existed, seems strange as we have two records...I now have some more delving to do...wish it was just as straight forward as getting a birth cert for Maria but before 1864 in Ireland, no records were kept.  thank you so very much for all this...any other suggestions would be most welcome.  Jill

Thank you so much for this information...this is a big breakthrough for me...after all these years of searching..I have found another relative...and what a breakthrough for me...I am going to Canada for a months tour, during which time I am going to meet up with the present day family of Benjamin Hardcastle Johnstons from Westmeath this family emigrated in 1860.  On B. H. Johnstons headstone it say of Rockford Bridge, Westmeath !  so this proves a definate relationship,  I guess my Robert Hardcastle Johnston was indeed a Brother to Benjamin.

Kate Johnston born in Bleadon, Somerset is living in Gloucester in 1911 along with Alfred Edward Johnston and Harry Hardcastle Johnston.  They are boarders in the household of Maria Gibbs a widow aged 72 born in Rockford Bridge, Westmeath. 

Sorry this doesn't help with your original query but seems to add to Pat's thoughts of an earlier marriage.  Annie would have only been about 69 in 1911 whereas Robert would have been in his early 20s when Maria was born.