Charles & Amelia Coldridge of Exeter
Charles COLDRIDGE, born in Doddiscombsleigh in 1821, is the sixth son of John & Betsey COLDRIDGE and my great-great-grandfather. He re-married less than a year after the death of his second wife and had 7 more children: 4 sons and 3 daughters. Charles worked as a gardener in Exeter and in the later censuses he is living apart from Amelia.
Charles COLDRIDGE, age 31 [he was actually 41], widower, Gardener, residing South Street Exeter, son of John COLDRIDGE (deceased), Farmer & Amelia DENSLEY, age 27, spinster, residing South Street, daughter of George DENSLEY, Railway Porter – Marriage 18th September 1862 at the Mint Wesleyan Chapel Exeter. Both signed. Witnesses Henry ROBERTSON and Sarah DENSLEY.
Charles COLDRIDGE & Amelia DENSLEY – Marriage registration September (Q3) 1862 in Exeter.
1871 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St Sidwell⧉ Wood's Buildings |
Charles COLDRIDGE Amelia COLDRIDGE Mary COLDRIDGE Arthur COLDRIDGE George COLDRIDGE Bessie COLDRIDGE William COLDRIDGE Sarah D COLDRIDGE |
49 34 9 7 6 5 4 8m |
Head Wife Daughter Son Son Daughter Son Daughter |
Gardener Scholar Scholar Scholar |
In 1871 Charles & Amelia are recorded together with their family in the same household. Mary is Charles's daughter from his first marriage to Mary BAKER.
Arthur COLDRIDGE – Birth registration September (Q3) 1863 in Exeter. Arthur is my great-grandfather and was born on 11th July 1863. His birth certificate gives his father's occupation as Jobbing Gardener and their address as 9 Albert St, Exeter St Sidwell.
George COLDRIDGE – Birth registration December (Q4) 1864 in Exeter. George was born on 29th September 1864 and his birth certificate gives his father's occupation as Jobbing Gardener living at Plantation Buildings, Clifton Rd, Exeter St Sidwell.
Bessy [sic] COLDRIDGE – Birth registration June 1866 in Exeter. Bessie was born on 11th March 1886 and her birth certificate gives the same details as George's.
William COLDRIDGE – Birth registration December (Q4) 1868 in Exeter.
Sarah Densley COLDRIDGE – Birth registration September (Q3) 1870 in Exeter.
1881 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St Sidwell⧉ 7 Sandford Street |
Charles COLDRIDGE | 60 | Boarder | Gardener |
| Exeter St Thomas⧉ 14 Beaufort Rd |
Amelia COLDRIDGE Mary COLDRIDGE Arthur COLDRIDGE George COLDRIDGE Bessie COLDRIDGE William COLDRIDGE Amelia E COLDRIDGE Albert COLDRIDGE George DENSLEY |
Head Daughter Son Son Daughter Son Daughter Son Grandfather |
40 19 17 16 15 12 8 7 77 |
Gardener's Wife Waistcoat Maker Joiner Clerk On Railway Dressmaker Scholar Scholar Scholar Formerly Porter |
In 1881 Charles's occupation is recorded as gardener and his status as widowed, which is curious since he has been married to Amelia for 18 years. Amelia is living apart from him on the west side of the river. Perhaps seven children and her elderly father were enough to look after.
Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE – Birth registration September (Q3) 1872 in Exeter.
Albert COLDRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1874 in Exeter.
1881 census for Hampshire
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Hampshire⧉ Southampton All Sts 24 Manchester St |
Edward PAINE Martha PAINE Harriet P PAYNE Alfred H PAYNE William B POCOCK Charles C DAINE Thomas H LOAMING Emma M LOAMING Sarah COLERIDGE |
52 48 21 14 18 21 32 28 10 |
Head Wife Daughter Son Boarder Boarder Boarder Boarder Visitor |
Paper Hanger Scholar Decorator Bank Clerk Glass Cutter Glass Cutter Wife Scholar |
In 1881 Charles & Amelia's daughter, recorded as COLERIDGE, is visiting in Southampton. The census record is difficult to read because "Thomas" and "Emma" were added over the original initials. Emma's birthplace is recorded as Doddiscombsleigh. I believe she is William & Maria's daughter Ellen Ann who married Thomas LOARING in 1874.
1891 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St Sidwell⧉ 95 Summerland St |
Charles COLDRIDGE | 69 | Head | Gardener |
| Exeter St Olave⧉ 30 Bartholomew St East Hertford Pl |
Amelia COLDRIDGE Sarah COLDRIDGE Albert COLDRIDGE |
54 20 17 |
Head Daughter Son |
Mantle Maker Solicitors Clerk |
In 1891 Charles is still living apart from Amelia, and both addresses are different to the last census. Only Sarah and Albert are still living with Amelia, the others have married or left home. George does not appear in this census at all.
Mary COLDRIDGE & Sidney Charles GEE – Marriage registration March (Q1) 1890 in Exeter. [In the 1891 census Mary and Sidney GEE are in Exeter with a daughter Ada 0 days old]
1891 census for Dorset
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Blandford⧉ Bryanstone Higher Barn Keepers House |
John COLLINS Laura B COLLINS Alfred E COLLINS Cecil Victor COLLINS Arthur H COLLINS Stanley F COLLINS Amelia E COLDRIDGE |
51 35 16 3 2 7m 18 |
Head Wife Son Son Son Son Servant |
Game Keeper Keeper's Assistant General Servant |
In 1891 Amelia is recorded in domestic service in Dorset.
1891 census for London
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Paddington⧉ 69 Westbourne Pk Rd |
Emma ROBERTSON Bessie COLDRIDGE |
29 25 |
Lodger Lodger |
In 1891 Bessie has moved to London and is staying with her business partner. There are three deaths in the family before the next census:
Charles COLDRIDGE – Burial 4th February 1892 in Exeter cemetery, aged 65. Parish Sidwell. Dissenter.
Charles COLDRIDGE – Death registration March (Q1) 1892 in Exeter, aged 65 [he was actually 70].
Sarah COLDRIDGE – Burial 8th November 1893 in Exeter cemetery, aged 23. Parish St Olave. Dissenter.
Sarah COLDRIDGE – Death registration December (Q4) 1893 in Exeter, aged 23.
Amelia COLDRIDGE – Burial 21st November 1899 in Exeter cemetery, aged 62. Parish St Olave. Dissenter.
Amelia COLDRIDGE – Death registration December (Q4) 1899 in Exeter, aged 62.
1901 census for London
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| London, Croydon⧉ 8 Sussex Road |
Emma J ROBERTSON Bessie COLDRIDGE |
39 35 |
Head Partner |
Dressmaker Dressmaker |
| London, Croydon⧉ 7 Birdhurst Rise |
Charles C AUSTEN Mabel K AUSTEN Eileen H AUSTEN Violet C AUSTEN Evelyn M BROOMFIELD Amelia COLDRIDGE |
41 32 7 3 9 28 |
Head Wife Daughter Daughter Niece Servant |
Stockbroker's Agent Nurse Domestic |
In 1901 Bessie and Amelia are still unmarried and both working in Croydon, South London.
1911 census for London
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| S Croydon⧉ 15 Newark Road |
Emma Jane ROBERTSON Bessie COLDRIDGE |
49 45 |
Head Friend |
Dressmaker Dressmaker |
1911 census for Sussex
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Eastbourne⧉ 2 Upperton Gardens |
Charles William LINDSAY Florence Maud LINDSAY Douglas G LINDSAY Margery C LINDSAY Sophrona TEDHAM Emily Jane WALTON Emma Amelia COLDRIDGE |
39 36 8 6 29 44 38 |
Head Wife Son Daughter Servant Servant Servant |
Warehouseman Cook (Domestic) House Parlormaid Nurse (Children's) |
In 1911 Bessie is still working in Croydon, while Amelia has moved to Eastbourne and is a nurse for 2 children who were both born in Croydon.
1921 census for Glamorganshire
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Barry⧉ 101 Princes Street |
John Henry ROBERTSON Rosena ROBERTSON Emma Jane ROBERTSON Bessie COLDRIDGE |
56 62 60 55 |
Head Sister Sister Visitor |
Railway Signal Inspector House Keeper |
In 1921 Bessie and her partner Emma are visiting Emma's brother and sister in Barry.
Bessie COLDRIDGE – Death registration December (Q4) 1925 in Cardiff, aged 59.
1921 census for Sussex
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Eastbourne⧉ 59 Carlisle Road |
Ruth Elizabeth SMITH Bessie Ruth SMITH Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE Winifred Agnes LAWRENCE |
74 11m 49 15 |
Head Grandaur Servant Servant |
Domestic Nurse House Parlormaid |
In 1921 Amelia is still in Eastbourne, but with a different household to the previous census.
Amelia E COLDRIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1968 in Eastbourne, Sussex, aged 95.
Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE of 17 Sheen Rd Eastbourne died 4 May 1968 Probate Lewes 4 November. £1130.