Priscilla Sarah BIRD or BRIDGMAN

[wally371]

I have been researching the family of my maternal grandmother Bethya Slip, born Walcot 1876. She was the daughter of John Slip; he was one of three brothers born Woolley in the late 1820's/early 1830's. The other 2 were George & James. George married Hannah Snell at St Swithins Walcot in 1849. The couple had  children; William, Ann Elizabeth, James & Ellen. All was well until the 1870's when Hannah vanished. I can find no trace of her anywhere. in 1881 George was lodging at Malt House Cottage, Morford Street Walcot. Head of house was  a 32 year old widow Priscilla Sarah Bridgman who had 2 children 5 year old Jane Elizabeth & 2 year old Edith Jessie. In both cases Bath BMD gives the mothers maiden name as Bird. By the 1891 census George has married Priscilla Sarah & there is a son Fred, born 1855. By 1901 Fred has become a Slip, I suspect George may have been the daddy. Priscilla Sarah gives place of birth as Timsbury & I have found in 1861 an Elizabeth Bird, born 1826 at Timsbury and daughter Sarah, born 1845 Timsbury; both women "laundress". In the 1901 census Elizabeth Carter "mother in law, born 1826 Timsbury a laundress is staying with George & Priscilla. These are the only facts I can find. Is there some way to dig further?

[DRH123]

Hi Wally,

There are various ways to dig further. Which way do you want to go? Have you come across FreeREG yet? http://www.freereg.org.uk/cgi/Search.pl
It lets you search many Somerset parish registers. Not all are included yet, but Timsbury is. You'll find Elizabeth Bird baptised in 1826, but not Sarah or Priscilla Bird. Which is odd as BathBMD shows Priscilla Bird registered in 1843 in the Clutton sub-district, which included Timsbury. Perhaps she was not baptised. It looks likely that Elizabeth Carter was the former Elizabeth Bird, but I can't see any sign of her marrying a Carter. Have you traced her in the intervening censues?  If you can afford it, it would be interesting to see what father was given on Priscilla and George's marriage certificate.

If you want to take the Slips further back, I have a suggestion. I assume you know John was the son of James Slip and Mary Brewer, both born about 1806. I believe James was baptised in Langridge, as the son of Joseph and Sarah Sleep. The family seems to use both forms of the name.  Joseph and Sarah change to Slip for some of their later children; James and Mary are Sleep for the baptism of their daughter Mary Ann in 1824 at Woolley. Joseph's baptism and his parents' marriage can also be found at Langridge.

I tried to attach a photo I have of James and Mary's grave, but apparently it's too big. If you'd like a copy PM me your e-mail address.
Here's the text

SACRED
to the Memory of
JAMES SLIP
who died Feb 3rd 1831
Aged 25 Years

Through his short course, in virtue's path he trod.
His life was sober, and his actions good.
True to his God, to man he faithful prov'd.
And died in peace, lamented and belov'd.

Blessed are the pure in heart
for they shall see God

St. Matthew Chap V verse 8


Sacred to the memory of MARY GRAY
died NOV 15 1855 aged 51 years
A tender mother and a virtuous wife

David

(Woolley resident)

[DRH123]

Looks like there may be another twist to the problem of Hannah.

There was a Hannah Slip buried at Woolley in Feb 1859. Aged 40, abode Mount Beacon
That fits George's wife from the 1851 census, age and place.  In which case the Hannah in 1861 and 1871 must be a second wife, the widow Hannah Pow nee Smith who married a George Slip in 1860.  That explains the son/step-son George Powell in the '61 and '71 censuses. (All three censuses give a different birth place for George's wife at the time, but I think it would be going a bit far to suggest he married a third Hannah between '61 and '71.)

There's still a Hannah to find in 1881, just a different one. I think this must be her, at 4 Budbrook Place, Walcot,

Slip     Hannah    M       66     Head      Laundress      Colerne, Wiltshire               
Smith  Charlotte  U    70    Sister                          Colerne, Wiltshire

Presumably George had left her. Unless he was a bigamist, she must have died before 1887.

He had a complicated life ...

David

[wally371]

Well Thank you David; I had found some of your solution, but I hadn't considered the fact that there may have been 2 Hannah's. I also knew about the gravestone but wasa not aware it was a dual one. I have also traced George & Hannah Snell's first born son William (1850). hE JOINED THE ARMY IN 1870 at Bath, married there & was invalided out for deafness in 1888. He became the publican of the Charbury Arms at Twerton for over 20 years. I am just now into another son james Henry who emigrated to Canada in 1922 & finally died in Guelph Ontario in 1931 aged 81. My e-mail is (*)


Ta Alan Smith

p.s my grandmother was Bethya Slip, child of John Slip; son of James & Mary Brewer.

Moderator Comment: email address removed to help prevent spam and other abuses as per RootsChat policy. Please use our secure PM (personal message) system to share email addresses and other personal information. Thank You.

[David858]

Hi wally
Just joined.  Re Priscilla Bird, she was my great grandmother.  Her mother Elizabeth did not marry despite her name later being Carter.  Priscella married George Bridgman and had a daughter Elizabeth who later married William Slip.  William ran a pub in Bath.  They had a daughter Doris who in childhood.  William was the son of George Slip.  Priscilla had a second daughter Edith, my grandmother.  Her birth certificate shows her name as Bridgman but this was not possible because George Bridgman was ill.  the father could only have been George Slip who was lodging in the house.  Priscilla and George had a son Frederick and married sometime after his birth.  Frederick married and had three children but can find very little on them.  if you can help on this front i would be appreciated.

Hope this is helpful to you.
Regards David from Midsomer Norton

[wally371]

Hello David, Thanks for the input. I had suspected that Edith Jessie may have been the result of a liason between George Slip & Priscilla Sarah & that Fred/Frederick was their son. I had not been able to trace Fred in later life but will now re-double my efforts to trace him.

As an aside George Slip (my G G Grandfathers brother) was a serial marrier with 3 wives. His son William Slip (publican of the Charmbury Arms, Twerton) took after him with 2. When I have had a look for Frederick Bridgeman/Slip I will get back to you.

Alan

[David858]

Hi Alan

I understand William Slip married Mary (?) in Risca, South Wales in 1851 and she died in Bath in 1898.  they had a daughter who was born in India.  Do you know the daughters name and why India. 
Re Frederick he married a Helen Cleavley in 1938 in Bath.  They had 3 children. Frances Helen, b1909 @ Keynsham.  the other two were born in Bath. Frederick John Alexander, b1911 and Eleanor Mary, b 1921. I know nothing of Frances but believe eleanor married Stanley Francis in 1914 in the Bath area.  Frdderick I think married Ethel Rimer in 1942 in Edmonton, Middx.

If you can confirm or add to this I would be pleased.
David

[wally371]

Hi David, sorry for delay; it was my birthday yesterday. I leave that to your imagination.
William Slip was born in 1851at 5 Summerfield buildings Walcot Bath. Father George Slip of Woolley & mother Hannah Snell who died in 1858.

I lost track of him between birth & the 23rd November 1870 when he joined the 6th Regiment of Foot (Warwickshires) at Walcot. I have extensive army records on him. He served in UK until 1878 & achieved the rank of corporal. He was then sent to India where he rose to sergeant & married at Cawnpore on 7th March 1881 to a Mary Smith who was of welsh birth. 3 children were born Mary, Emma Maria & Elizabeth. William was found medically unfit for service by reason of deafness in 1887 invalided to UK & discharged in 1888 with the rank of sergeant.

At the 1891 census William & Mary with only 1 child, Emma were living at the Charmbury Arms in Brook Street Twerton were William was classed as the "publican". He remained there until at least 1911. As you say Mary died in the 3rd Qtr of 1898 death registered at Twerton. In spite of searching I find no trace of Emma Maria thereafter. I presume the other kids died in India. I have been in touch with the regimental museum to see if better records exist of the India period
As you say William married Priscilla's daughter (his step sister).

Of Frederick his wife or the children you mention I find no trace in the Bath area for the period mentioned, was his surname Slip or Bridgeman? I will search the national Index to see if I can trace him.

[wally371]

Me again Dave. Searched National index got a result. Frederick William Slip married Helen Cleavely third qtr of 1907 at Keynsham. Frances Helen Slip born Keynsham 2nd qtr of 1909. Unfortunately she died 5 or 6 months lated at Bath, registered last qtr of 1909.

1911 census has Helen Slip "Servant/Housekeeper" born 1881 & married for 3 years at 31 Grosvenor Place Bath. Also residing at that address is Frederick William Slip her husband aged 28, occupation "machinist".

1911 2nd qtr, birth at Bath of Frederick John Alexander Slip.

The large gap between births suggest Frederick William was involved in war service somwhere.

1921 1st qtr, birth at Bath of Eleanor M Slip, maiden name of mother Cleavely.

1942 last qtr, marriage of Frederick John Alexander Slip & Ether Rimmer registeredat Edmonton Middx. No births found from this marriage, no record of a war death of the groom

I think you may have got the marriage of Eleanor wrong datewise.