Bridging the Gap pt 3: Bridges in Chapel Hill

The 1841 census enumerates Abel/John Bridge as resident with his family in Chapel Hill. We know from the nonconformist returns at the start of civil registration (R4 998) that he was there at least between 1824 and 1837. He may well have been there in 1821 when his eldest daughter was born and remained there until the 1841 census.

The 1841 census also enumerates 14 other families containing a Bridge member within 2 miles of Chapel Hill, with another shedload in the few miles just beyond. Most striking however are the two Bridge families enumerated at Meadow Head Farm, the next one along the hill to Chapel Hill.

HO 107/506/13/22/16
Meadow Head
Lower Booths
Richard
Bridge

35

1806

Yes

Woollen Weaver
Susan
Bridge

35

1806

Yes


James

Bridge

14

1827

Yes

Woollen Weaver
Anne
Bridge

12

1829

Yes


Abel

Bridge

7

1834

Yes


Susan

Bridge

3

1838

Yes


Jane

Hamer

2

1839

Yes







(born in county?)


HO 107/506/13/23/18
Meadow Head
Lower Booths
John
Bridge

35

1806

Yes

Woollen Weaver
Margaret
Bridge

35

1806

Yes


George

Bridge

5

1836

Yes


James

Bridge

2

1839

Yes


Abel

Bridge
1 M

1841


Yes


John

Taylor

15

1826


Woollen Weaver

Margaret
Taylor

13

1828


Woollen Spinner

Richard
Taylor

11

1830


Woollen Piecer


The rounding in the 1841 census gives approximate dates of birth but Abel/John is rounded to1796 and both John and Richard are rounded to 1806 so there could be a 15 year difference here.

The 1851 census gives John Bridge's dob as 1803 and also confirms that the Taylor children were his step children. It also gives another son, Siddall Bridge, b 1849. I wonder if there were any between Abel and Siddall who didn't survive?
John was still at Meadowhead. [HO 107/2249/246/133/2].

Richard Bridge had died before 1851 and Susan was living in Musbury approx 3 miles away, close to Haslingden where she was born. [HO107/2249/339/429/21] Helpfully her son James was living in the same street and gave his place of birth as Meadowhead [HO107/2249/339/429/20].

So we have three Bridge families in adjacent farms:
John/Abel b ~ 1796
John b 1803
Richard b ~ 1806

So how were they related?









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