Research Forum

I found this marvellous photograph in the Weston-super-Mare Gazette Pictorial Revue for 1931. Pictured at a reunion are all 12 children of Charles and Cordelia CLARK who were married at Holy Trinity Church, St Phillips, Bristol on the 10th August 1871.  All their children were born in Weston where Charles CLARK was a Hay and Corn Merchant and Greengrocer situated in St James Street. 

Charles was born in Shipham in 1845 and Cordelia in Priddy. Some of the surnames which are connected with members of this family are ADAMS, ADAMSON, BOARD, DEMACK, DYER, HEDGES, MILKINS, PALMER, ROE, SHALLISH, TRIPP, WAY.  Can you add to the family?

Their names were: Herbert Henry "Bert", Constance May, Jessie, Charles Henry, Cecil, David John, Amelia Melinda, Blanche Maria, Ernest Edgar, Percival Victor, Mary Ann and Douglas Arthur.  Can you identify any of them?

I'm stuck and need a second or third opinion!  I am no longer convinced that my early research on the PUDDY family holds water.  Can any one sort out the children of the multitude of John & Mary PUDDYs who seem to have inhabited Mark, Huntspill and Burnham on sea?

I'm fairly secure back to a John PUDDY who married a Marie Jane PUDDY in 1841 and after her death a Mary Ann SYMONs in 1860.  For both marriages he said his father was another John PUDDY.  From the censuses his birth is approximately 1814 in Burnham on Sea.  There is a Baptism in Mark in 1814 of a John PUDDY born in Burnham s/o John & Joan PUDDY.  There was a marriage for a John PUDDY who was a widower and a widow Joan MASON nee WHITTING in 1808. John's first marriage was (I think) to a Mary PURNEL in 1784.

Who were his children by Mary PURNEL? When and where was this John PUDDY born?  Who were his parents?  When did he die?  - I don't want much do I?

Thanks for reading this far and I look forward to your help - I'm sure all will be revealed with the help of our transcriptions! 

During some genealogy website research on my 3rd great grandfather I saw that a comment was made about his demise "in a shed near The Strand Hotel, Bleadon".

I have been unable to find such a premises on the know your place maps or any reference to it on websites.

I do know the Prom was historically called the Strand, so might have been mistaken for a Hotel name.

Does anyone know if this Hotel really existed, and if so where it was. 

Many Thanks

Hi,

I have come across many Methodists/Wesleyans known by their middle names rather than their first given name. This seems especially true for reverends and devout Methodists. Does anyone know if there is anything in their faith that might suggest why they do this? I have found very little and I would really appreciate some advice/help.

Thanks very much,

Richard

The Royal Hotel was mentioned in the recent comments about South Parade but perhaps it needs a query of its own.  Who financed its building? who owned it? who ran it? and when?

The Somerset Heritage Centre has some documents DD/WY/14/85 referring to 

Memoranda, minutes of evidence in the matter of the reference between Messrs Cox and Parsley; includes draft of lease for twenty-one years by William Cox of Brockley and Richard Parsley of Weston-super-Mare to James Needham, of the Hotel, Weston-super-Mare. 

The Bristol Mirror of June 9th 1810, in an article about the Weston-super-Mare Inclosure states: 

Second Attendance Meeting, for putting the said Acts into execution, on MONDAY, the 25th day JUNE next, at the dwelling-house of James Needham, known by the name of the Hotel, situate Weston-super-Mare.

Meetings continued to be held there throughout 1810

Several Bristol Newspapers of 1810 

SEA BATHING. WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSETSHIRE  20 miles from Bristol,  30 ditto from Bath.  JAMES NEEDHAM respectfully informs the Public, that he has fitted up the HOTEL with every convenience for the accommodation of large and small parties and families. A select Boarding Table - Neat Post Chaises. good Stabling, and lock-up Coach-houses. For bathing, and the salubrity of the air, Weston has received the decisive sanction of the first Medical Characters in Bath and Bristol.

When the Hotel closed (through lack of trade) in 1811 the contents were auctioned off  - James Needham was obviously greatly in debt!

From the Bristol Mirror 27 April 1811

What was a four-motion Beer-Machine?  

It wasn't until 1818 that Richard FRY from Clifton took over the Hotel. See Bristol Mirror 25th April 1818.   What had happened there since 1811?  There are advertisements which suggest it was still open as a venue for Auctions and as a staging Post for carriages from Bristol

I recently discovered from your records that I have great grandparents who were buried at Milton Road Cemetery.

I have not been able to work out where the plot numbers are, or where I might see the digital map that was mentioned in the Mercury some years back. 

Any information on how I can find the plots would be welcome.

Thank you

Julie Payne