Simon & Elizabeth Coldridge of Exeter
Simon COLDRIDGE, born in Doddiscombsleigh in 1817, is the fourth son of John & Betsey COLDRIDGE. He seems to be the first to make the move from Doddiscombsleigh to Exeter where he married and had 5 children.
Simon COLDRIDGE, Bachelor, Painter, residing Bartholomew St Allhallows on the Walls, son of John COLDRIDGE, Yeoman, married Elizabeth MARTIN, Spinster, Servant, also of Bartholomew St, daughter of Charles MARTIN, Mason, on 25th February 1839 in the Parish Church of St Mary Steps Exeter after banns. Both of full age. Both signed. Witnesses W? NEWER and Ann BENNETT.
Simon COLDRIDGE's marriage to Elizabeth MARTIN was registered in March 1839 in Exeter.
1841 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St Thomas Cowick St |
Simon COLDRIDGE Elizth COLDRIDGE Emily COLDRIDGE Hannah MARTIN Henry MARTIN George MARTIN Eliza MARTIN |
20 20 1m 20 10 10 3 |
Head Wife Daur |
Painter F.S. |
In 1841 Simon and Elizabeth are living in Exeter on Cowick St. The MARTINs are living in part of the same house in the census record, so perhaps Hannah is Elizabeth's sister.
Emily COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in June 1841 in St Thomas.
1851 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St Thomas Cowick St |
Simon COLDRIDGE Elizabeth COLDRIDGE Emily COLDRIDGE William John COLDRIDGE Thomas COLDRIDGE Georgina COLDRIDGE Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE |
35 38 9 8 4 2 7m |
Head Wife Daur Son Son Daur Daur |
Painter & Glazier Laundress Scholar Scholar |
In 1851 Simon and Elizabeth are still living on Cowick St with their growing family – at the time of the census their daughter Elizabeth is in Doddiscombsleigh:
William John COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in March 1843 in St Thomas.
Elizabeth COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in March 1845 in St Thomas.
Thomas COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in December 1846 in St Thomas.
Georgina COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in September 1848 in St Thomas.
Amelia Emma COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in December 1850 in St Thomas.
1861 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St David St Georges Square |
Simon COLDRIDGE Elizabeth COLDRIDGE Emily COLDRIDGE William J COLDRIDGE Georgina COLDRIDGE Maria COLDRIDGE Samuel TRUSCOTT |
44 47 19 18 12 7m 33 |
Head Wife Daur Son Daur Daur Lodger |
Painter & Glazier Laundress Shoe Binder Painter Scholar Shoe Maker |
In 1861 Simon and Elizabeth have moved to St George's Square near the centre of Exeter.
Eliza Jane COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in December 1852 in Exeter, and her death, aged 2, was registered in March 1855 in Exeter. [†]
Elizabeth COLDRIDGE's death, aged 15, was registered in September 1860 in Exeter. [†]
Maria COLDRIDGE was born in late 1860 and her birthplace is recorded as Somerset, Shepton Mallet, but there is no corresponding BMD record. Maria is actually Emily's daughter, presumably by their lodger Samuel TRUSCOTT from Tavistock who married Emily later that year:
Emily COLDRIDGE's marriage to Samuel TRUSCOTT was registered in September 1861 in Exeter.
Thomas and Amelia Emma are not recorded in 1861 or in subsequent censuses, and there is no further record of William after 1861. Their deaths were possibly recorded as COLERIDGE:
Emma COLERIDGE's death was registered in June 1852 in Exeter.
Thomas COLERIDGE's death was registered in December 1855 in Exeter.
William COLERIDGE's death, aged 27, was registered in March 1872 in Exeter.
The following notice appeared in the Exeter Flying Post on Wednesday 19th March 1862:
FREEMEN. At the Guildhall on Saturday, George MITCHELL, painter; Simon COLERIDGE, painter; James William BEARD, painter; Charles BICKHAM, compositor; John Comer REW, tanner, were admitted to the freedom of the City.
[Exeter Freemen record: 15th March 1862. Simon COLDRIDGE of George's Street, George's Square, painter and glazier, apprentice of Thomas Mitchell, indenture dated 24 Apr 1835.]
1871 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St Mary Major 2 Sun Street |
Simon COLDRIDGE Elizabeth COLDRIDGE |
55 57 |
Head Wife |
Painter & Glazier Laundress |
| Exeter St Mary Major | Richard MORTIMORE Georgina MORTIMORE Maria MORTIMORE Emily MORTIMORE |
23 22 3 1 |
Head Wife Daur Daur |
In 1871 Simon and Elizabeth have moved again, but are still near to the centre of Exeter and to their daughter Georgina.
Georgina's marriage announcement appeared in the Western Times on Friday 14th February 1868:
MORTIMORE–COLERIDGE. Feb, 2, at the Registry Office, Exeter, Mr. Richard MORTIMORE, to Georgina, youngest daughter of Mr. COLERIDGE, of this city.
Georgina COLDRIDGE's marriage to Richard MORTIMORE was registered in March 1868 in Exeter.
1881 census for London
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| London Newington 113 East St |
George WOOD Emily WOOD Emily Maria MOULE Simon COLDRIDGE |
35 41 20 64 |
Head Wife Step-dau Fath-law |
Lab Biscuit Factory Boot Fitter Paste Fitter (Boot) House Decorator |
In 1881 Simon is living with his daughter Emily in London and is recorded as a widower. Emily COLDRIDGE is married to George WOOD, but I can find no record of their marriage. Emily Maria is from Emily's previous marriage to Samuel TRUSCOTT.
Elizabeth COLDRIDGE's death, aged 60, was registered in September 1874 in Exeter. Elizabeth Ann COLDRIDGE was buried in Exeter cemetery on 22nd July 1874.
The following article appeared in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette on Friday 24th July 1874:
SUDDEN DEATH. An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Anchor Inn, Exe Island, on the body of an old woman, 60 years of age, named Elizabeth COLDRIDGE, lately residing in Exe Island, who died suddenly early on the previous morning. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition although life had only so recently left it. Simon COLDRIDGE, husband of the deceased, said his wife was a very stout woman, and always ate heartily. Deceased was to all appearance very well the evening before she died, when she went out alone for about ten minutes. When she returned she complained of a pain in her left side. She ate her supper and went to bed as usual about ten o'clock. Witness awoke about twelve o'clock, when deceased asked if it was raining. About two o'clock in the morning she suddenly jumped up in bed, and exclaimed "I am dying!" Some friends were immediately called, and one of them ran for Mr. Perkins, but within two minutes, and before he arrived, she was dead. Mr. Perkins, surgeon, said he was called soon after two o'clock on the morning in question. He immediately went to house of deceased, but found life extinct. … The jury returned a verdict of "Died from natural causes."
1891 census for London
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Newington Workhouse | Simon COLERIDGE | 74 | Inmate | Painter |
Sadly, in 1891, Simon is recorded in London as a pauper in the workhouse.
Simon COLDRIDGE's death, aged 76, was registered in December 1893 in Camberwell.