Thomas Bridgeman from Hampshire

I have a DNA match with someone who descends from with a descendant of Sarah Louise Bridgeman (1844-1906). The 1851 census shows her as a granddaughter of Thomas Bridgeman (50), born in Hampshire. So, perhaps Sarah and her grandfather Thomas were related to my Bridgeman ancestors from Kingsclere (Hampshire) and Thatcham (Berkshire, next to Kingsclere).

Update on some of the Barnes in 1921

I have written before about: I’ve also written before about another granddaughter of William Barnes and Sarah Bridgeman: Ruth Lawrence (1846- 1931), a daughter of Ruth Barnes (1805-1886) and Richard Lawrence (1807-1882), both of Kingsclere (Hampshire) . https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2021/10/13/marrying-above-herself/ Where they were in 1921 I have now found where some of these people were in 1921:

Who were Mary Randall’s parents?

I didn’t know much about my 4 x great grandmother Mary Randall. But discovering a (small) DNA match with someone with the same name and surname has made me look in more detail. She might be a sister of Thomas Randall (1791-1854) from Northchurch (Hertfordshire). And one or both of Mary and Thomas might be

Elizabeth Kirk (1852-1929)

Elizabeth Kirk was born in 1852 in Mattersey. After moving to nearby Rotherham, she had an illegitimate son in 1870 and then married George Blackett later that year. She had one more son with George, who died in 1875. Elizabeth married her second husband, Alexander Vicary, also in Rotherham, and they had 4 children. The

Suicide by gas

Two newspaper reports reveal the tragic suicide of Trilby May Butters (née Boon) in January 1932. Trilby, like her father Edwin and husband Nathaniel Butters was a book-binder. By September 1939, Nathaniel was already living with another bookbinder and eventually married her, though not until 1972. Luton Wife Found Dead Smell Of Gas In Kitchen

Etymology map of London

Londonist provides a map showing possible etymologies for the major settlements in London. https://londonist.com/london/maps/etymology-map-of-london-place-names A few that caught my eye: Kensal: Kings Wood Willesden: Spring on the Hill Neasden: nose-shaped hill Harlesden: Heorwulf’s home Paddington: Padda’s homestead Kensington and Chelsea: Cynesige’s place and chalk wharf Stanmore: stony pond Edgware: Ecgi’s fishing pool Lambeth: lamb wharf

Marrying inside the family

It seems Thomas James Bird (1857-1932) liked to marry relatives. First he married Sarah Ann Olley, an illegitimate daughter of his sister-in-law Maria Olley. (Said differently, Sarah Ann was the step-daughter of his brother Adam, so Thomas became Adam’s step son-in-law.) Then after Sarah Ann died, Thomas married his daughter’s widowed mother-in-law. Thomas and his

William Bird and Matilda Nelthorpe

William Bird (1841-1915) and Matilda Nelthorpe (1846-1909) were my 2 great grandparents. They married in Little Cressingham on 13 November 1863. William gave his occupation as labourer and both said they were living in Little Cressingham. The witnesesses were Horatio Nelthorpe (Matilda’s uncle) and Lavinia Powley (Horatio’s future wife). William was a son of Adam