Help with Clouter family from Bristol

[clairec666]

My ancestors William Dash and Sarah Clouter married 23/12/1838 in Bedminster, Somerset. Later censuses suggest that she was born about 1815 in Bristol. From her marriage certificate, her father is called James. (I have this information from familysearch - I haven't seen the actual marriage certificate to see James's occupation).

I haven't been able to find any more about Sarah Clouter's family. Her husband was from Wiltshire, and after their first son Robert was born in Bristol, they appear to have moved back to William's native Wiltshire, then on to Essex.

It would be good to know more about the Clouter family, but I've hit a brick wall....

[Victor Harvey]

Hi Claire,
Source: Bristol & Avon Family History Society
I can find NO baptism for Sarah, but there is the following entry:-
James CLOUTER, s/o James & Charlotte bap. 9th May 1813 at St Mary, Redcliffe, Bristol.
Victor

[clairec666]

Thank you... given the closeness in age to Sarah and the same father's name, I guess there's a good chance this is her brother. Did you find any other siblings?
Also, I don't know if Sarah was literate, so the spelling of her surname may vary - maybe Clowter?

[osprey]

possible burial of the James bp 1813 aged 21

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTQN-DYF

This could be an adult baptism for a sister

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT9V-SDW

Charlotte is on the 1841 census at 28 Horsefair in St James, Bristol HO107/372/5 folio 37 pg 10. She was enumerated as age 50, a clothes dealer, not born in county.

Her death reg
Charlotte Clouter march qtr 1850 Bristol vol 11 pg 164

There's a marriage for Charlotte Seager & James Cloutter/Clotter at St Philip & St Jacob, Bristol in 1811
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFYH-RX6

A possible explanation for the adult baptism of Emma is that there was James Clouter, shoemaker, aged 32 buried 5 May 1822 in the Baptist Burial Ground near Redcross Street. He was of the parish of St James and a member of Kings St.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQP3-QJ8

Searching the non-conformist records, there's a burial 3 July 1833 of Eliza Clouter aged 17, daughter of James.
If the family were members of the Baptist Church, there wouldn't be parish baptisms.

[Kay99]

Possibly unrelated but just in case - In 1851 there are sisters Ann (30) and Emma(28) Clouter born Bristol - schoolmistresses - living at St Georges Day School,  St George Hanover Square, Mayfair, London.   

In later censuses Emma stays in teaching but there is an online marriage on 20 August 1869 at Saint Peters, Stepney of an Anne Clouter spinster (of full age) St Georges Hanover Sq to John Hawkins Widower(of full age) Gentleman     - Anne's father is listed as James Clouter (Deceased) Van Proprietor   Witness Emma Clouter

[keyboard86]

Hi again just in case Ann/Emma are relatives in 1841:-

Ann Fitzgerald? 20
Emma Clauter 20
Both shown as Schoolmistress at Portishead Infants School, Bedminster
Census ref HO107/956/ 8/17 / 4
Or the Ann Clouter 21 Female Servant on HO107/377/ 13/8 / 11
Keyboard86

[clairec666]

Thanks for everyone's  help.... if the family were baptists it explains why I 've had trouble finding them before. Though it's strange that Sarah Clouter didn't marry in a baptist church...

I'm particularly interested in the surname Seager appearing - Sarah's eldest son was called Robert Seager Dash. So it seems she used her mother's maiden name as his middle name. This is a great find!

[osprey]

although marriages were allowed in non-conformist churches after civil registration started in 1837, the registrar had to attend. This was the case until the 1898. Before civil registration & after Hardwicke's Marriage Act, non-conformists, apart from Quakers & Jews, had to marry in parish churches. 

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13367

[Victor Harvey]

Hi Claire,
Source: Bristol & Avon Family History Society
James CLOUTTER m. Charlotte SEAGER at St Philip & Jacob, Bristol, 25th December 1811. All the dates fill well.
Register 3C, Page 462, Number 1774.2 refers. (Bristol Records Office)
There is NO record of a baptism for Sarah. I double-checked, also trying CLOWTER.
Victor