The Bedford Family Link
Thomas
Bedford
was baptised on the 18th March 1810,
in Fen Drayton Cambridgeshire. Parents William and Sarah (nee Norris?). For
more information on William and Sarah and their children Click here to go “The Trunk Of Our Tree” by Murry
Roberts found on the Internet site rootsweb.ancestry.com.
Thomas married
Elizabeth Spring on January 1st 1832 in Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire.
Children of Thomas and Elizabeth
1. Susan.......born about 1833, baptised on July 20th 1845, Fen Drayton
2. Emma.......born about 1834, baptised on October 6th 1846, Fen Drayton
3. Richard....... born about 1835, baptised on October 6th 1846, Fen Drayton
4. Sarah....... born about 1836,
5. Samuel....... born about 1838, baptised on October 6th 1846, Fen Drayton
6. Ann....... born about 1840, baptised on October 6th
1846, Fen Drayton
In
the 1841 Census Thomas
(30) and Elizabeth (30) live
on High Street, Fen
Drayton, Cambridgeshire. They have five children living with them, Susan (8), Emma (7), Richard (5), Samuel (3) and Ann (0). Thomas’s profession is
Publican.
7. Maria....... born about 1842, baptised on October 6th 1846, Fen Drayton
8. Thomas....... born about 1846, baptised on October 6th 1846, Fen Drayton
9. William.......born about 1847
10. George
Bedford.......was
born on 11th November 1849
in Fen Drayton, occupation of Thomas is down as Publican.
In
the 1841 census, William
(65) and Sarah (60) live on Church
Street, Fen Drayton. Living with them is Mary
Norris (60) who I think is Sarah’s
Sister, I am going on the fact that one of their children’s middle names is Norris and it was quite common to use
the wife’s maiden name as a middle name.
I
have not found any records of when William and Sarah passed away.
In
the 1851 Census Thomas (41) and Elizabeth (41) live at 34 High Street,
Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. They have seven children living with them, Richard (14), Samuel (12), Ann (10), Maria (7), Thomas (5), William (4),
and George
(1). Thomas’s profession is
Publican, Richard and Samuel are down as Agricultural
Labourers. All
the children are down as being born in Fen Drayton.
In
the 1861 Census Thomas (51)
and Elizabeth (51) live at Fen End Street, Public House
Horse Shoe, Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. They have five children living with
them, Samuel (22), Maria (17), Thomas (16), William
(14), and George
(12). Thomas’s profession is
Publican, Maria’s is Publican’s
Daughter and Samuel, Thomas and William are down as Agricultural Labourers.
In
the 1871 Census Thomas (61)
and Elizabeth (61) live at 28 High Street, Fen Drayton,
Cambridgeshire. They have one child living with them, Thomas (26). Thomas’s profession is
Publican and Elizabeth’s is
Publican’s wife. Their
son Thomas' profession is Drillman. Both
Thomas
senior and Thomas junior are down as
being born in Fen Drayton. Elizabeth is down as being
born in Swavesey, Cambridgeshire.
Thomas died between 1871 and 1881
In
the 1881 Census Elizabeth (71) is a
widow and lives’ at the Horseshoe
Public House*, Fen Drayton,
Cambridgeshire. She has her son, William
(34) a widower, living with her as well as her grandson Thomas (4), who I presume is William’s son. Elizabeth’s profession is Innkeeper
and William’s is Engine Driver Ag. Thomas is down as being
born in Fen Drayton.
* Of
the village's three inns the Horse and Gate, recorded from 1841, in a
timber-framed 17th century cottage, closed c. 1915, while the Horseshoes on the high street, open by 1851, closed c. 1920. The largest, the Three Tuns, recorded from 1784, and still
open in 1983, occupies a timber-framed house near the south end of the high
street. It has a two-storey cross wing of three bays, probably early
16th-century; the one storey hall wing was rebuilt after 1600. The cross wing
has to the ground floor an elaborately carved wooden ceiling, restored in 1856.
*(From:
'Fen Drayton: Introduction', A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle
of Ely: Volume 9: Chesterton, Northstowe, and Papworth Hundreds (1989), pp.
289-292. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15447 Date accessed: 15 August 2011.)
In
the 1891 Census Elizabeth (81) is living
on Cootes Lane. Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire. Still living with her is son, William (47) and grandson Thomas (14). Elizabeth’s profession is House keeper, William’s is Farm Bailiff and Thomas
is an Agricultural Labourer.
I
can’t find Elizabeth again in any
census, so I believe she died between 1891
and 1901.
What happened to Thomas’ and Elizabeth’s children?
1. Susan..........
2. Emma.......... In the 1851 census, I did come across a Emma Bedford (18), born in Fen Drayton
who was working as a House Servant in the village of Willingham,
Cambridgeshire.
3. Richard..........
4. Sarah..........I believe Sarah may of died at a early age as she
does not appear in any of the census
5. Samuel.......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Mar 1862
of an Samuel marrying an Sarah Milham Randall in the district of
St Ives (3b 373).
In
the 1871 census Samuel and Sarah (30)
live at 30 The Green, Hilton, Cambridgeshire. They have five children living
with them. Samuel's profession is
Agricultural Labourer.
In
the 1891 census Samuel (52) and Sarah
(51) live on High Street, Fen
Drayton, Cambridgeshire. They have one child living with them, Alice. Samuel's profession is
Agricultural Labourer.
In
the 1901 census Samuel (63) and Sarah ()
live at The Old George, Hilton, Cambridgeshire. Samuel's profession is Publican/Farmer. Sarah is down as being born in Fen Stanton.
6. Ann..........
7. Maria..........
8. Thomas..........
9. William..........I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Mar 1866 of a William marrying an Martha
Poulter in the district of St Ives (3b 599), but I am not sure if this is
correct! As you can see below I think George is lodging with his bother, William, but the name of William’s
wife’s is Mary Ann. Had Martha died and William remarried? Yet I can’t find a death of a Martha Bedford recorded around that
time. 10. In the 1871 Census George (22) is lodging with his
brother William (24) and William’s wife Mary Ann* (21) at 41
Radwell Road, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire. Both George
and William’s professions are down
as Ploughing Engine Driver. Mary Ann’s profession is Lace
Maker. George
and William are down as being born
in Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire while Mary
Ann was born in Fen Shandon, Huntingdonshire.
* I came across a Mary Ann who died in 1879 aged 29. In the 1881 census, William is a widower and is living with his mother (see above
census for Elizabeth)
George
Bedford
and Ruth Bettles both of full age got
married at the parish church of Milton Ernest on the 8th December 1874. At
the time of their marriage both are residing in Milton Ernest. George’s Profession is
Engineer and Ruth’s is Lace Maker. George’s father is Thomas Bedford
and his profession is Labourer. Ruth’s father is Thomas Bettles and his profession is
Labourer. Thomas Bedford (George’s
Brother or Father?) and Jimmy Clark
are down as witnesses.
Children of George and Ruth
1. Mercy..........born about 1869, five year’s before George
and Ruth get married! In the 1871
census Mercy (2) and her mother Ruth (23) are living with Ruth’s father Thomas (49) and brother James
(19) on Radwell Road, Milton Ernest.
See The Bettles Family Link.
2. Richard William Bedford.......... is born on the 17th August 1875, in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire. George’s
occupation is down as Farm Labourer.
3. Emma Elizabeth..........birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1877
(Mar. 3b 325)
4. Amy Maria.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1878
(Jun. 3b 336)
5. Thomas George.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1879
(Sep. 3b 308)
In
the 1881 Census George (32) and Ruth (33) live on Thurleigh Road, Bolnhurst,
Bedfordshire. They have five children living with them, Mercy (12), Richard William (5), Emma Elizabeth (4), Amy
Maria (3) and Thomas George (1).
Also living with them is Ruth’s brother
James Bettles (29). Both
George
and James professions are down as Agricultural
Labourer’s. Ruth’s and Mercy professions are Lace Maker’s. George is down as being
born in Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, while Ruth,
all the children and Ruth’s brother, James, are down as being born in Milton Ernest
6. Leonard James.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1881
(Sep. 3b 298)
7. Charles Samuel.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1883
(Dec. 3b 306a)
8. Alfred Henry.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1886
(Jun. 3b 321)
9. Walter Frederick.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1888
(Dec. 3b 299)
In
the 1891 Census George (42) and Ruth (43) live at Greensbury Cottage, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire. They have
seven children living with them, Richard W (15), Amy M (13), Thomas G (11), Leonard J (8), Charles S (7),
Alfred H (5), and Walter F (2). George’s profession is
Agricultural Labourer as is his son Richard. Leonard, Charles,
Alfred
and Walter are down as being born in
Bolnhurst.
10. Leonard Arthur.......... birth registered in the district of Bedford in 1891
(Dec. 3b 313)
In
the 1901 Census George (52) and Ruth (53) live at Greensbury Cottage, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire. They have
four children living with them, Charles
S (17), Alfred H (15), Leonard A (9), and Walter F (12). George’s profession is
Ordinary Agricultural Labourer as is his son Charles S. Leonard is down as being
born in Bolnhurst.
Can’t
find Richard
in the 1901 census as we believe he
spent sometime away fighting in the Boar war.
What happened to George and Ruth’s Children?
1. Mercy..........
2. *Richard William..........(See below)
3. Emma Elizabeth..........
4. Amy Maria.......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Jun 1899
of a Amy M marrying a Samuel Harper in the district of
Bedford (3b 781).
In
the 1901 Census Samuel (32) and Amy (23) live on Ravensden Rd, Wilden, Bedfordshire. They have one child
living with them, Arthur (1). Samuel’s profession is
Carter on Rds. Samuel is down as being
born in Ravensden and Arthur as
being born in Wilden.
5. Thomas George..........
6. Leonard James..........
7. Charles Samuel..........married *Sarah Emma Wrench on the 6th
December 1908 in Thurleigh, father
of the bride is **Thomas Wrench. I
have come across five children, Frances
1909, George 1915, Reginald 1917, Wilfred 1920 and Herbert
1923. Charles died on February 1956 aged 71. (Grave found in the
parish church of St. Dunstan, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire). Sarah died in 1980,
(Grave found in the parish church of St. Dunstan, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire)
*Sarah Emma Wrench was baptised on
the 24th October 1886 in
Thurleigh, Parents Thomas and Mary Ann Bedford.
**Thomas Wrench married Mary Ann Dean in Thurleigh in 1883.
8. Alfred Henry.......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Sep 1908
of a Alfred H who got married in
the district of Bedford (3b 753).
9. Walter Frederick..........
10. Leonard
Arthur..........
2. *Richard William Bedford (26) and Emily Petch (19) got married at Christ Church in the parish of
Finchley, Middlesex on the 4th August 1902. At
the time of their marriage Richard is residing at 19 Stanhope Road and Emily at 19 William Street, Finchley.
Richard’s
Profession is Labourer.
Richard’s
father is George
Bedford and his profession is Engine Driver.
Emily’s father is William
Petch and his profession is Labourer. Down as witnesses are William
Petch, Emily's father and Beatrice Petch and Gertrude
Petch, Emily's sister's.
Children of Richard and Emily
1. William George Stanley.......... is born at 38
Lodge Lane, Finchley on the 28th March 1903. Richard’s occupation is
down as Scaffolder.
2. Jessie Rosina..........birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1904 (Sep. 3a 411)
3. Ruth Daisy.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1910 (Jun. 3a 432)
In
the 1911 George (62) and Ruth (63) live at Greensbury Cottage, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire. They have two children living with them, Leonard James (29) and Leonard Arthur (19). George’s profession is Farm
Worker as is his two sons.
In
the 1911 Census Richard William Bedford (35) and
Emily (27) are living at 4 William
Street North Finchley. They have three children living with them, William George
Stanley (8), Jessie Rosina
(6) and Ruth Daisy (1). Richard’s profession is
Builders Labourer and he is down as being born in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire. Emily is down as being
born in Finchley, Middlesex. (1883
Mar. Barnet, 3a 217) All
the children are down as being born in Finchley, Middlesex.
4. Emily.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1911 (Dec. 3a 799)
5. Sidney.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1914 (Jun. 3a 868)
6. James.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1915 (Sep. 3a 790)
7. Queenie A.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1916 (Dec. 3a 693)
8. Lambton A.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1920 (Mar. 3a 1017)
9. Peggy D E.......... birth registered in the district of Barnet in 1921 (Jun. 3a 828)
10. Joan P.......... birth registered
in the district of Barnet in 1925
(Sep. 3a 670)
11. Maisie.......... birth registered
in the district of Barnet in 1926
(Sep. 3a 708)
What happened to Richard’s and Emily’s children?
1. *William George Stanley..........(See below)
2. Jessie Rosina.......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Jun 1924
of a Jessie R marrying a William C Brumwell in the district of Barnet (3a 947). They had 3 children Joyce (1925), Joan (1927) and Anthony (1933).
3. Ruth Daisy.......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Dec 1931
of a Ruth D marrying a Ernest F Barnard in the district of
Barnet (3a 1225). They had 2 children Pauline (1933) and Graham (1939).
4. Emily..........died in 1914 aged 2.
5. Sidney.......... died in 1915 aged 1
6. James.......... died on March 31th 1916 aged 8 months Click here to read a newspaper article from the HENDON AND FINCHLEY TIMES on a inquest into his death.
7. Queenie A..........
8. Lambton A..........died in 1965, aged 45
9. Peggy D E......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Jun 1943
of a Peggy D E marrying a John A Lizius in the district of Hendon
(3a 1175). They had 2 children Keith (1945) and Christopher (1947).
10. Joan P.......... I came across an
entry in the marriage register of Sep 1955
of a Joan P marrying a Sydney Stevens in the district of Hendon (5e 1372).
11. Maisie.........died in 1926
aged 0
Ruth died on August 14th 1925 aged 78, (Grave found in the
parish church of St. Dunstan, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire)
George died on April 28th
1926 aged 76, (Grave found in the
parish church of St. Dunstan, Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire)
I
was told Emily died in her early
forties. I found an entry in the death register of Jun 1928 of a Emily Bedford
who died aged 45 in the district of Barnet (Jun. 3a 418). This ties up roughly
with her year of birth 1883.
William joined the
army, the Royal Field Artillery, in 1919,
he gave his aged as 18 but in fact he was only 16. He served in the army for
six years and then a further 6 years on reserve. His Service Number was 275387.
1. *William George Stanley Bedford (25)
and Mildred Ironton (23) got married at the
register office in the district of Barnet on the 2nd March 1929. At
the time of their marriage William is residing at 4 William Street, North
Finchley and Mildred at 13 Ingle Way, North Finchley. William’s
Profession is General Labourer. William’s father is Richard William
Bedford and his profession is General Labourer. Mildred’s
father is John Ironton (down as
deceased at the time of their marriage) his profession had been a Stoker at the Gas
Works.
Down as witnesses are D.
Bedford (Daisy) William's sister, C. Deal, Mildred's brother-in-law, and Charles Henry
Barnard, Mildred's Stepfather.
Daisy later went on to marry a Ernest F Barnard, was Charles
related to him?
Children of William and Mildred
1. Maisie E E..........born in 1929
2. Ronald G..........born in 1931
3. Richard J.......... born in 1937
4. Audrey E Y.......... born in 1940
In 1939 William
was called up into the army again and was soon on his way to France with the
British Expeditionary Force to aid the French Army. Click here to read about William’s time in the army, which
included
being evacuated
from Dunkirk and then later being taken a prisoner of war by the Japanese and
made to work on the railway of death. His Service Number was 1046886.
These events have been taken from a letter he had written to his Grandson Tim, who had
asked him to recall his time in the army.
Richard died in 1950 aged 74 in the district of Hendon,
Middlesex (Mar. 5e 544)
Mildred died in 1981 aged 76
William died in 1988 aged 85
What happened to William’s and Mildred’s children?
1. Maisie E E..........married Royston J Harwood in 1949, they had three children, Laura born in 1953, Geoffrey born in 1956 and Timothy born in 1962.
Laura died October 30th 2008 , Royston died October 16th 2009 , Geoffrey died December 14th 2012.
2. Ronald G..........married Kathleen F Blunt in 1961, they had two children, David born in 1964 and Susan Susan born in 1967
3. Richard J..........married
Sheila Dupree in 1959, they had three children, Elaine born in 1960,
Gary born in 1963 and Sean born in 1970.
4. Audrey E Y..........married Colin C Glass in 1960, they had one child, Julian born in 1973.
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