Charles Duddridge, b. 1821? in Stogumber

[Erato]

I am trying to trace the family of my g grandfather, James Richard Duddridge.  In the 1881 census, he is listed as a grocer’s assistant in Bristol, unmarried and living with his parents, Charles and Sarah Duddridge, and two sisters.  His father, Charles, is listed as a bricklayer, age 60, born in Stogumber, Somerset.

Miraculously, transcribed parish records are available on line for Stogumber.  However, although the Duddridges are numerous, there was no Charles baptized about 1821 under the name of Duddridge or any reasonable variant (not in the Baptist records either).  In fact, there are no Charleses of any surname recorded for 1820-1822.  The closest match is a Charles Duddridge baptized in 1833.  Given the ages of Charles Duddridge’s children in 1881, a birth date of 1833 is not unreasonable.  Is it likely that Charles was mistaken or untruthful in responding to the census and, if so, how can I  ever connect him to his family in Stogumber?  Or is it possible that he was born in 1821 but not baptized until 1833?

How does one proceed in such cases?

[krisesjoint]

I thought firstly it would be worthwhile to check and c if I could find some other references for the man and c if the age and POB remain constant. Here is the 1871 entry where that does appear to be the case.

RG10/2564 ED 35 Folio 85 Page 29
1 Lion St
St Philip and Jacob
Clifton Bristol

DUDDERIDGE Charles Head 50 Mar b Stogumber Somerset Mason
DUDDERIDGE Sarah Wife 46 Mar b Old Cleve Somerset
DUDDERIDGE William F Son 17 Unm b Bristol Clerk
DUDDERIDGE Elizabeth Dau 14 Unm b St Georges Scholar
DUDDERIDGE James Son 12 b St Philip Bristol Scholar
DUDDERIDGE Mary B Dau 6 b St Philip Bristol Scholar

Cheers Kris 

[krisesjoint]

Here is the 1851 entry where we c a diff POB Listed Plenty more children 4 u and looks like Sarahs name may be Richards...

HO107/1954 Folio 505 Page 23
WILLIAM STREET
St Philip Jacob Out Bristol

DUDDRIDGE Charles 30 mason Bicknoller Somerset
DUDDRIDGE Sarah 27 Old Cleeve Somerset
DUDDRIDGE John Richards 6 Old Cleeve Somerset
DUDDRIDGE Charles 5 Bricknoller Somerset
DUDDRIDGE Mary 3 Bristol
DUDDRIDGE Victoria 2 Bristol
Sarah 7m Bristol
RICHARDS John Visitor 21 mason Old Cleeve Somerset

Hopefully it may help....His age certainly is constant.....Kris 

[krisesjoint]

I Cant say if this will turn our of interest but I did check Stogumber first in 1851 looking for Charles and yes heaps of Duddridge's there ...Then once I located Charles after seeing what the entry said I tried Bicknoller and interestingly enough is there is only one family present

HO107/1920  Folio 591 Page 6
Newton
Bicknoller Somerset

DUDDRIDGE James 72 Farmer 50 Acres Bicknoller, Som.
DUDDRIDGE Sarah 35 Bicknoller, Som.
DUDDRIDGE Joseph 24 Bicknoller, Som.
WEYMOUTH Sarah Servant 32 House Servant Crowcombe, Som.
ROUTLEY Richard Servant 15 Ag. Lab. Bicknoller, Som.

All the best with it....Kris 

[krisesjoint]

Thought I may as well look at Old Cleve for Richards as well 

HO107/1920 Folio 338 Page 29
Old Cleve Somerset


RICHARDS John 73 Ag. Lab. Old Cleeve, Som.
RICHARDS Mary 71 Exton, Som

and on the same page we have

RICHARDS Thomas 42 Ox Bow Maker Old Cleeve, Som.
RICHARDS Betsy 48 Winsford
RICHARDS William 16 Ag. Lab. Old Cleeve, Som.
RICHARDS Noah 8 Scholar Old Cleeve, Som.
RICHARDS Eli 5 Scholar Old Cleeve, Som.

Looking Good....Enjoy....Kris 

[Erato]

Thanks, Kris, that fills in some gaps.  I should have mentioned that I had already deduced that Charles' wife was Sarah Richards.  In fact, my g grandfather's name was really James Richards not James Richard as it appears in the census.  Since the Bicknoller baptism records are also available, I had already checked these, but his name doesn't appear there either.

Any other ideas on how I can trace his parents?  I live in Ecuador, so I can't just pop down to Stogumber and poke around.

[krisesjoint]

Well that is a shame...I thought I may have stumbled across something when a Different POB turned up. Pity. Have u got him in the 1841 census? As the eldest child is only 6 in 1851 I would say there is a good chance he is unmarried in 1841 and hopefully living with family....Best Wishes....Kris 

[paullo]

Hi,
this info on the 1833 Charles Dudderidge may be of interest. He could not have been your ancestor.
Inquest - April 1834
And, at the White Horse Inn, at Stogumber, on Charles Dudderidge, aged eight months. On Wednesday, the deceased was intrusted to the care of his sister, aged about eight years, who went into the street, carrying the deceased in her arms, and whilst playing there with other children, she let the infant fall, and having fallen on his head, he received a fracture of the skull, of which he died on the following Friday, Verdict, “Accidental Death.”

Freebmd shows Charles Duddridge marrying Sarah Richards in the Taunton registration district in 1844 so the earlier date of birth does seem to be correct. If you get hold of the marriage certificate it will tell you Charles's father and his occupation. There are still Duddrudges living in Stogumber and Crowcombe. Many used to be Baptists. Some worked at Crowcombe Court. An old picture which I believe is in two books on Crowcombe shows the staff including Duddridge back c 1860.

[paullo]

Further to my last note, Bicknoller is a parish closely linked with Stogumber. Was a chapelry of Stogumber before it got its own rector c 1812 and thus a fair chance Charles Dudderidge was born there - may well have been baptised at Stogumber. My guess is your Charles may have been baptised under a different name (John?). Anyway, the following may be of interest - perhaps a father or relative of Charles:
April 8th 1865
Isaac Jennings and William Duddridge of Bicknoller appeared at the Williton County
Court this week. Jennings, a carpenter and Duddridge, a mason were responsible for
building the village school. The Burnetts of Stogumber, warehousemen brought an
action to recover £9 6s, the balance of an account for bricks, red pantiles etc supplied
to Jennings and Duddridge for the erection of the Bicknoller school room. Jennings
had offered to pay half the amount but Duddridge refused his part saying that he was
not equally responsible. In 1863 Jennings and Duddridge had visited the Burnett’s
shop, representing themselves as partners in the building of a school room at
Bicknoller. While the work was proceeding they visited the shop several times.
Jennings made his defence stating that Duddridge could not write and that much of
the confusion was due to his carelessness. Rev Hewett, had given £15 to Jennings
which he passed on to Duddridge. The whole contract for the work was £178 which
has been paid to both men.
The court found them liable. The judge said that each party must pay a share
proportionate to their profits in the transaction.