Charles & Mary Coldridge of Exeter
Charles May COLDRIDGE, born in Exeter in 1810, is the elder son of Charles & Mary COLDRIDGE of Exeter. He married Mary at the age of 24 in Exeter and they had 5 children – 2 sons and 3 daughters – the last two born in the North West. After Charles emigrated to South Africa, Mary moved to Exmouth and is later recorded in Bristol and London.
There is a parish record of Charles' marriage in Exeter:
Charles May COLDRIDGE, bachelor, of the parish of All Hallows Goldsmith St, married Mary Anne Covell GREGORY, spinster, of this parish, in St Thomas Church, Exeter on 30th September 1834, by licence. Witnesses John GREGORY, Elizabeth Westbeare(?) REED, Chas. COLDRIDGE, Emily COLDRIDGE.
And the following notice in the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette on Saturday 4th October 1834:
Yesterday, at St. Thomas's Church, Mr. Charles May COLDRIDGE, eldest son of Mr. COLDRIDGE, furnishing ironmonger of this city, to Mary Ann Covell GREGORY, only daughter of J. GREGORY Esq. of St. Thomas.
1841 census for Exeter
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exeter St David Waterloo Cottage |
Charles COLDRIDGE Mary COLDRIDGE Henrietta COLDRIDGE Emily COLDRIDGE Elizabeth BROWN Charlotte LINKHAM Mary BARTRUM |
30 20 3 1 30 20 40 |
Head Wife Daughter Daughter |
Ironfounder Servant Servant Servant |
| Exeter St Thomas Cowick St |
Jane GREGORY Edward COLDRIDGE Jane COUNTER |
65 5 20 |
Head GSon |
In 1841 Charles & Mary are living in Exeter St David with their 2 younger children and Charles is working in his father's iron foundry. Their first son is in Exeter St Thomas with his grandmother.
Edward Hull COLDRIDGE's baptism was recorded on 23rd March 1836 in Exeter St Thomas.
Henrietta Covell COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in September 1837 in St Thomas.
Emily Ursula COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in June 1840 in Exeter.
1851 census for Exmouth
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Exmouth Littleham Bicton Street |
Mary COLDRIDGE Henrietta COLDRIDGE Emily COLDRIDGE Augustus COLDRIDGE |
37 13 10 4 |
Head Daur Daur Son |
Officers Lady Scholar Scholar Scholar |
In 1851 Mary is living in Exmouth with her daughters and youngest son:
Augustus Mervin COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in June 1847 in Manchester.
Caroline Eliza COLDRIDGE's birth was registered in March 1849 in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Caroline Eliza COLDRIDGE, born 6th March 1849, was baptised 15th April 1849 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs. Parents Charles May & Mary Anne Covell COLDRIDGE.
Caroline does not appear in the 1851 census, and I found no further record of her. Emily doesn't appear in any census after 1851, however, there is a possible record of her death:
Emily COLERIDGE's death was registered in June 1852 in Exeter.
Charles May and his brother George had apparently moved to South Africa before 1851 as their names appear on a petition in the Grahamstown Journal of 2nd March 1850. Also, the Graaf-Reinet Herald carried the following notice from Charles on 15th June 1853:
Arrived per 'Centaur' and will be here very shortly, a small lot of CUTLER'S SUPERB RIFLES. Made expressly to order, to suit the wants of our Frontier farmers. These beautiful guns have been pronounced by some of our keenest sportsmen to be the best shooting guns ever to be imported into the Colony. Prices very moderate. Further particulars in a future advertisement. C. M. COLDRIDGE. Graaff-Reinet 1st June 1853.
1861 census for Bristol
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Clifton 7 Park Place |
Eleanor COLDRIDGE Augustus COLDRIDGE |
45 13 |
Lodger Lodger |
Fundholder Scholar |
In 1861 Charles & Mary's son Augustus is recorded in Bristol. Eleanor is widowed so may not be his mother Mary Anne, but the census record gives no further clues.
1871 census for London
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Kensington 1 Basing Rd |
Mary A COLRIDGE Augustus COLRIDGE |
58 23 |
Head Son |
Annuitant |
In 1871 Mary Anne and her son Augustus, recorded as COLRIDGE, are living in Kensington, London. I found no further record of Augustus after this census.
While searching the English newspaper archives, I came across the following article, much syndicated in 1867, which presumably refers to Charles COLDRIDGE:
Fight with Snake – Mr. Coldridge had a long and severe fight with large black ringhals on the Whittlesea road. He was passing on horseback when he observed the reptile lying by the side of the road, and with first instinct of a colonist he resolved to despatch it. He consequently alighted and made towards the snake, which at once sheered off. With a thick sjambok Mr. Coldridge struck at it repeatedly; but, although it is generally acknowledged that one blow is sufficient to dislocate the vertebrae of the largest snake, this one received all the blows showered upon it without being apparently affected. At length it assumed the offensive, and, hissing with rage, charged several times straight at the gentleman. By a great exercise of agility these attacks were avoided, although the snake got so close at one time as to discharge a quantity of nauseous saliva in the face of Mr. Coldridge. This, fortunately, did not enter the eye, or the result would have been to cause blindness for a period. After a running fight of a quarter of an hour, and when its fangs had been broken by a blow with the sjambok, it was at length despatched with a large stone.— Cape of Good Hope Paper
A notice of Charles' death appeared in the Western Times on Monday 13th November 1876:
COLDRIDGE. Sept, 17, at Whittlesea, South Africa, Charles May COLDRIDGE, Esq., formerly of this city, aged 66.
1881 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Dawlish, King St | Maryann COLDRIDGE | 69 | Boarder | Dividends |
In 1881 the census records Maryann, a widow, born in Exeter, living on dividends in Dawlish. Her age agrees with the birth date on her baptism, so I presume she is Mary Ann Covell (nee GREGORY) widow of Charles May.
Mary Ann Covell GREGORY, born 13th January 1813, daughter of John & Jane GREGORY, was baptised on 4th February 1813 in Castle Street-Independent, Exeter.
Mary Ann C COLDRIDGE's death, age 70, was registered in September 1883 in Newton Abbot.
The following records relating to Charles & Mary's son Edward were found on the British 1820 Settlers website and the South Africa records on Ancestry & FSI:
Edward Hull COLDRIDGE's marriage to Sarah Elizabeth LOXTON was recorded on 20th April 1857 in Queenstown, South Africa. Edward is recorded as a sheep farmer residing in Tylden park, Queenstown, Sarah as a minor, daughter of Samuel & Emily LOXTON, residing Whittlesea.
Edward Hull COLDRIDGE, aged 66 or 67, retired solicitor, died on 18th January 1904 at his residence in Grahamstown. His only child was Rosalie Evangeline GRAY. The notice was signed by his wife.
Sarah Elizabeth COLERIDGE (or COLDRIDGE), aged 79, housewife, widow of solicitor, died on 29th May 1919 at her residence in Dailing Street, Grahamstown. The notice was signed by her daughter Rosalie Evangeline OLDREY (formerly GRAY).
Sarah Elizabeth COLERIDGE of Grahamstown Cape Province South Africa widow died 29 May 1919 Administration (with Will limited) London 1 April 1921 to Bertram LOWNDES assistant bank manager the attorney of Lennox Llewellyn GIDDY. Effects £708
The following records relate to Edward & Sarah's daughter Rosalie:
Rosalie Evangeline COLDRIDGE's marriage to Robert William GRAY, solicitor, was recorded on 13th February 1884 in Grahamstown, South Africa. Rosalie is noted as a minor, daughter of Edward Hull COLDRIDGE, both residing Grahamstown.
Robert William GRAY, Attorney at Law, aged 55, died 15th February 1909 at Wonford House Asylum, Exeter, Devon. The death notice was signed by his wife, Rosalie Evangeline GRAY, on 9th August 1909. It records that they had no children, that he left no will, and had a Policy in South African Mutual Life Assurance Society £295 11s 5d.
The following records relate to Charles & Mary's eldest daughter Henrietta. Her marriage details were obtained from the Benjamin SWEETNAM entry on geni.com, and there are South Africa death notices for Benjamin & Henrietta:
Benjamin SWEETNAM, born 19th March 1826, married Henrietta Covell COLDRIDGE, born 3rd August 1837, daughter of Charles May COLDRIDGE and Maryanne Covell GREGORY, on 31st August, 1858 at Kamestone mission.
Benjamin SWEETNAM, trader, aged 70 years 5 months, died 9th September 1896 at The Rest, Emkapusi, Glen Grey, South Africa.
Henrietta Covell SWEETNAM, general dealer, aged 66 years 2 months, daughter of Charles & Mary COLDRIDGE, died 30th December 1903 at The Rest, Mkapusi, Glen Grey, South Africa. Widow of Benjamin SWEETNAM, to whom she was married in community of property. Their seven children are listed on the death notice:
Emily Jane Florence ALLEN (nee SWEETNAM)
Rosanna Annie Amelia HART (nee SWEETNAM)
Alice Jeanette Evelyn JAMES (nee SWEETNAM)
Charles Cecil Reginald Barton SWEETNAM
Henrietta Ethel SWEETNAM
James Edward Benjamin SWEETNAM
Magdalena Melicent(?) ROBINSON (nee SWEETNAM) deceased