Hi
A little help.
Joseph Seward is born in Wolverhampton on the 1851 census .I've checked the baptisms for Wolverhampton St Peters and here he is-
Joseph Seward s of Abraham and Mary 1.1.1804
His brother James born 12.9.1801 was baptised the same day.
No other mention of the couple so they must have been on a visit.
Other children at Cheltenham - George 7.8.1796 , Charles 14.6.1807,and John 4.3.1810.
The possible baptism I can find for Abraham is at Bath Abbey 31.1.1773 to a Samuel and ELizabeth.
There may still be a connection to the theatre as The history of Cheltenham
By Thomas Frognall Dibdin gives the founder as Samuel Seward not Joseph.The couple do have a older son Joseph baptised at The Temple Church Bristol 4.11.1770 which is perhaps were confusion arose.
Other children for Samuel and Elizabeth all at Bristol -Isabella 24.8.1777,John 28.5.1775,James 3.9.1780.
Here's a bit from British Listed buildings
Puppet theatre, converted from an house; later used as a theatre, dwelling and eventually a garage. Converted 1795; for Samuel Seward. Red brick in English garden wall bond; extension at front rendered. Slate roof with gabled ends, apex of SE front gable has stone coping. Lateral stack on SW side with brick shaft.
PLAN: Rectangular single-cell plan with stage at NW end of auditorium. Later in the C19 the theatre was extended at the NE side and on the SE front.
EXTERIOR: 1 storey. The SE front is hidden by 2-storey 4-bay rendered range with sash windows without glazing bars [two blind] and two C20 garage at centre; set back behind is the stone-coped gable of the original building. SW side has two blocked cambered arch windows and blocked openings above under eaves. NW gable end has three windows, the centre is a large 16-pane sash flanked by two smaller 8-pane windows.
INTERIOR: Auditorium has plastered walls; slightly raised stage at NW end; short section of dado panelling on NE side; remains of fireplace on SW side. 4-bay collar and tie-beam roof. On original SE former front a stencil-painted sign: 'Sadlers Wells House'.
NOTE: Sadlers Wells Theatre was established in 1795 by Samuel Seward of Bristol as a puppet theatre. The theatre was converted from a dwelling. Seward was a talented actor, a member of Watson's Company, a very successful harlequin, a scene painter of renown and fashioner of automaton figures and marionettes. He ran the theatre with his wife and two sons, who helped paint the scenery. The puppet theatre continued for about thirty years. After Seward's death, it was re-opened in 1831 as the New Clarence Theatre.
SOURCE: Information provided by The Theatres Trust.
Ciderdrinker