Arthur & Mary Coldridge of Bristol
Arthur COLDRIDGE, born in Exeter in 1863, is the eldest child of Charles & Amelia COLDRIDGE and my great-grandfather. He lived in Weymouth where he managed a boot warehouse and later in Bristol where he worked as a carpenter. He had 5 children: 1 son and 4 daughters.
Arthur COLDRIDGE, age 24, Bachelor, Shop Assistant, residing St Thomas, son of Charles COLDRIDGE, Gardener, married Mary Ann WHITE, age 24, Spinster, residing St David, daughter of James WHITE (deceased), Sailor, on 2nd April 1888 in the Parish Church of St David Exeter after banns. Both signed. Witnesses George COLDRIDGE and Jessie WHITE.
Arthur COLDRIDGE's marriage to Mary Ann WHITE was registered in June 1888 in Exeter.
1891 census for Dorset
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Weymouth Melcombe Regis 74 St Mary Street |
Arthur COLDRIDGE | 28 | Head | Manager of Boot Warehouse |
In the 1891 census Arthur is Manager of a Boot Warehouse. He was a Shop Assistant when he got married and a Boot and Shoe Dealer when his first child Albert was born. His family are visiting his sister-in-law.
1891 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| East Stonehouse 114 Union Street |
Albert GREEN Jessie E GREEN Mary A BURNS Mary A COLDRIDGE Albert V COLDRIDGE Florence M COLDRIDGE |
25 23 48 27 2 6m |
Head Wife Mth-Law Sis-law Nephew Niece |
Manager of Boots Warehouse |
In 1891 Mary Ann was visiting her sister Jessie on census day. Just like Arthur, Jessie's husband is managing a boots warehouse - between them they obviously had an early influence on young Albert Victor!
Albert Victor COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in June 1889 in Weymouth. He is my grandfather and was born on 9th May 1889. His birth certificate gives his father's occupation as Boot and Shoe Dealer living at 74 St Mary St, Melcombe Regis.
Florence Maud COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in December 1890 in Weymouth.
1901 census for Bristol
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Bristol St Philips & St Jacobs 109 Twinnell Road |
Arthur COLDRIDGE Mary A COLDRIDGE Albert V COLDRIDGE Beatrice M COLDRIDGE Annie A COLDRIDGE Lillian J COLDRIDGE |
37 37 11 8 3 6m |
Head Wife Son Daughter Daughter Daughter |
Carpenter |
In 1901 Arthur and Mary are living in Bristol - they have 3 more children but Florence is missing and I haven't found her in the census yet:
Beatrice Mary COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in June 1893 in Weymouth.
Annie Amelia COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in June 1897 in Barton Regis.
Lilian Jessie COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in December 1900 in Bristol.
Given Arthur's occupation in 1901, he is probably the original owner of my Coldridge family heirloom - a boxwood carpenter's plane made by R. Clarke of Exeter.
1911 census for Bristol
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Bristol, Easton 109 Twinnell Road |
Arthur COLDRIDGE Mary Ann COLDRIDGE Albert Victor COLDRIDGE Beatrice Mary COLDRIDGE Annie Amelia COLDRIDGE Lillian Jessie COLDRIDGE |
47 47 21 18 13 10 |
Head Wife Son Daughter Daughter Daughter |
Carpenter Boot Shop Assistant Drapers Assistant School School |
In 1911 Arthur & Mary are still in Bristol and the two older children living at home are now working.
1911 census for Newton Abbot
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Torquay 65 Lymington Road |
Florence M COLDRIDGE | 20 | Head | Housekeeper Domestic |
In 1911 Florence is living independently of her parents in Torquay.South Devon The census return was completed by Jessie Ellen GREEN, her mother's sister, presumably the owner of the 4-room property. The enumerator has crossed out Niece and replaced it with Head.
Other information about Arthur & Mary's family comes from newspaper and BMD records:
Arthur COLDRIDGE's death, aged 55, was registered in March 1919 in Bristol.
Mary A COLDRIDGE's death, aged 68, was registered in March 1932 in Bristol.
Annie A COLDRIDGE's death, aged 38, was registered in December 1935 in Bristol.
The following notices appeared in the Western Daily Press, Bristol on Wednesday 20th November and Saturday 23rd November 1935 respectively:
COLDRIDGE. November 18, at 109, Twinnell Road, Easton, Annie, daughter of the late Arthur and Mary COLDRIDGE, of Bristol. Interment, Greenbank, Thursday.
The Sisters and Auntie of the late Annie COLDRIDGE wish to thank Mr Stevens and friends at the Gospel Church, Easton, also neighbours and children for kind sympathy and floral tributes sent in their sad bereavement.
A notice of Beatrice Mary's marriage appeared in the Western Daily Press on Thursday 4th August 1921:
HADLEY–COLDRIDGE. Aug. 2, at the United Methodist Church, Bishopston, William, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Thomas HADLEY, of Birmingham, to Beatrice Mary, second daughter of Mrs COLDRIDGE and the late Arthur COLDRIDGE, of Bristol.
Beatrice COLDRIDGE's marriage [at the age of 28] to William HADLEY was registered in September 1921 in Bristol.
A notice of Florence Maud's marriage appeared in the Western Daily Press, Bristol on Tuesday 1st October 1935:
JOHNSTON–COLDRIDGE. September 28, at All Saints', City, Pennington JOHNSTON, to Florence Maud, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Arthur COLDRIDGE of Bristol.
Florence COLDRIDGE's marriage [at the age of 45] to Pennington JOHNSTON was registered in September 1935 in Bristol. He was 62 and was a widower. Florence was only 9 years older than his daughter!
There is a record of the marriage of Arthur & Mary's youngest daughter:Lilian Jessie COLDRIDGE's marriage [at the age of 36] to John [Jack] DAVIES was registered in March 1936 in Bristol.
1901 census for Bristol
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Clifton 9 St Vincents Parade |
Pennington J JOHNSTON Mary Ann JOHNSTON Muriel JOHNSTON Minnie PATRICK Charles PATRICK |
28 27 1 7 4 |
Head Wife Daughter Visitor Visitor |
Marine Engineer |
1911 census for Bristol
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Clifton Hotwell Road 7 St Vincent Parade |
Pennington J JOHNSTON Mary Ann JOHNSTON Muriel JOHNSTON |
38 39 11 |
Head Wife Daughter |
Sea Going Engineer School |
In 1901 and 1911 Pennington JOHNSTON was living with his first wife and daughter in Bristol.
Pennington James JOHNSTON's birth was registered in March 1873 in Bedminster (South Bristol after 1896).
Pennington James JOHNSTON's marriage to Mary Ann TURNER was registered in June 1898 in Barton Regis.
Muriel Amelia A JOHNSTON's birth was registered in June 1899 in Bristol.
Mary A JOHNSTON's death, aged 63, was registered in March 1934 in Bristol.
Pennington J JOHNSTON's death, aged 70, was registered in December 1943 in Bristol.
Florence JOHNSTON's marriage to Harry F W JOHNS was registered in September 1950 in Bristol.