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, married Amelia DENSLEY, age 27, Spinster, also living on South Street, daughter of George DENSLEY, Railway Porter, on 18th September 1862 at the Mint Wesleyan Chapel Exeter. Both signed. Witnesses Henry ROBERTSON and Sarah DENSLEY.
Charles COLDRIDGE's marriage to Amelia DENSLEY was registered in September 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 and Amelia are recorded together in the same household with their family.
Mary COLDRIDGE, born around 1861, is Charles's daughter from his first marriage to Mary BAKER.
Arthur COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in September 1863 in Exeter. He 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's birth was registered in December 1864 in Exeter. He 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.
Bessie COLDRIDGE's birth was registered (as Bessy) in June 1866 in Exeter. She was born on 11th March 1886 and her birth certificate gives the same details as George's.
William COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in December 1868 in Exeter.
Sarah Densley COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in September 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 given 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 father were enough to look after.
Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in September 1872 in Exeter.
Albert COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in March 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, and I believe she is William & Maria's daughter Ellen Ann. There is a record of her marriage to "Thomas" and their banns were published in March/April 1874 in St Kerian Church, Exeter:
Theophilus Henry LOARING, of this parish and Ellen Maud COLERIDGE, of St Mary Steps.
Ellen Maud COLERIDGE's marriage to Theophilus Henry LOARING was registered in June 1874 in Exeter.
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, who is nearly 70 (actually), is still living apart from Amelia and working as a gardener. They have both changed addresses since 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's marriage at the age of 28 (to Sidney Charles GEE or Thomas HENLEY) was registered in March 1890 in Exeter.
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 |
| London, 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's death, aged 65 (he was actually 70), was registered in March 1892 in Exeter. He was buried in Exeter cemetery on 4th February 1892.
Sarah COLDRIDGE's death, aged 23, was registered in December 1893 in Exeter. She was buried in Exeter cemetery on 8th November 1893.
Amelia COLDRIDGE's death, aged 62, was registered in December 1899 in Exeter. She was buried in Exeter cemetery on 21st November 1899.
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.
Bessie COLDRIDGE's death, aged 59, was registered in December 1925 in Cardiff.
Amelia E COLDRIDGE's death, aged 95, was registered in June 1968 in Eastbourne, Sussex.
Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE of 17 Sheen Rd Eastbourne died 4 May 1968 Probate Lewes 4 November. £1130.