Hi Jamys,
It's now two years later (2010), and I've just discovered this Forum. I'm Marsha of the bittonfamilies site and cousin to Martin -- so cousin to you, too. Martin and I are of 1768 Mary's sister, 1774 Nancy THOMPSON; 1743 James THOMPSON / Rebecca nee BUTLER were their parents. Both BUSH and THOMPSON are personal lines.
If you're still on the Forum, I'd love to hear from you via PM as well.
Several of us have worked together on the BUSH family. We're fairly comfortable that Samuel is the son of Laurence BUSH & Mary HARDING, bap 13 Sep 1747, St. Mary's, Bitton. But, we can't go beyond Laurence. One of our group collected some BMD info, but it's a listing of events/dates and remains speculative.
We know there's a substantial BUSH file on the IGI saying the John BUSH, husband of Mary THOMPSON was a s/o John, s/o 1677 William BUSH/Eleanor nee ENGLAND and married to Susannah BRIGHT. William/Eleanor's son, 1726 John, died in 1760, unmarried. We have his MI from St. Mary's and his PCC Will is posted on the bittonfamilies site. There is a John BUSH to Susannah BRIGHT marriage, but that John is not yet identified/placed. Getting this sorted took a while, so we're trying to be very careful about putting other pieces together.
So you have it:
St.Mary, Bitton, Glos. Marriage register 1754, 1793
1793 Apr 07 John BUSH bachelor & Mary THOMPSON spinster, both of this parish, by banns [Both signed, as did witnesses Sarah Creswicke CLARKE, John WRIGHT]
Samuel's 1809 will extract (on the site), names son John BUSH and one if the witnesses is John THOMPSON (Mary's brother). Son John's 1823 will is also on the site.
For some reason, I show Eliza Lavinia as Lavinia Eliza? Did she marry Albert Henry BLOWETT?
Our joint THOMPSONs are from Newland. Do you have other families there? Have you discovered the Forest of Dean website? It's fantastic.
www.forest-of-dean.net Hope to hear from you.
Regards,
Marsha
