William & Susan Colridge of North Bovey
William COLRIDGE, born in 1829, is the younger son of Thomas & Grace COLRIDGE of North Bovey.
The North Bovey parish register records the following marriage:
William COLRIDGE & Susan NORTHWAY – Marriage 11th August 1863 in North Bovey.
The parish register also records the baptisms of 6 children to William & Susan COLRIDGE, noted as Wormhill, farmer:
William Henry COLRIDGE – Baptism 13th March 1864 in North Bovey.
Mary Grace COLRIDGE – Baptism 22nd October 1865 in North Bovey.
Thomas COLRIDGE – Baptism 22nd March 1868 in North Bovey.
Bessie COLRIDGE – Baptism 20th February 1870 in North Bovey.
Ernest COLRIDGE – Baptism 15th February 1872 in North Bovey.
Frank COLRIDGE – Baptism 3rd March 1874 in North Bovey.
1871 census for North Bovey
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| North Bovey⧉ Wormhill No 2 |
Thomas COLDRIDGE William COLDRIDGE Susan COLDRIDGE William H COLDRIDGE Mary G COLDRIDGE Thomas COLDRIDGE Bessie COLDRIDGE |
84 41 30 7 5 3 1 |
Head Son Dau/Law Grndson Grndaur Grndson Grndaur |
Farmer of 29 Acres Son Wife Scholar Scholar |
In 1871 William & Susan, recorded as COLDRIDGE, have 4 young children and are living with William's father. Susan's birthplace is given as Chagford.
William Henry COLDRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1864 in Newton Abbot.
Mary Grace COLDRIDGE – Birth registration December (Q4) 1865 in Newton Abbot.
Thomas COLRIDGE – Birth registration June (Q2) 1868 in Newton Abbot.
Bessie COLRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1870 in Newton Abbot.
Ernest COLRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1872 in Newton Abbot.
Frank COLRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1874 in Newton Abbot.
There are records of Susan's death, just 3 months after Frank was born:
Susanna COLDRIDGE – Burial 9th June 1874 in North Bovey, aged 33. Noted as Wormhill.
Susanna COLDRIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1874 in Newton Abbot, aged 33.
The following notice appeared in the Western Times, Exeter on Saturday 10th April 1875:
Shocking Suicide. Mr. William COLRIDGE, of Wormhill Farm, North Bovey, committed suicide early on Thursday morning discharging the contents of a loaded gun through his head. He lost his wife about twelve months since, and leaves a family of six children – all under twelve years of age. It is not known what caused him to commit so rash an act.
The following notice appeared in the Western Morning News on Monday 12th April 1875:
Strange Suicide at North Bovey. An inquiry into the circumstances attending to the death of Mr. William COLRIDGE, of Higher Wormhill, North Bovey, was held at the house of the deceased by Mr. H. MICHELMORE, county coroner. … William Henry COLRIDGE, son of the deceased, said he went to bed about ten o'clock on Wednesday night. He slept in the same room as his father, who was in bed at the time, not having been down for the day. Deceased asked him to go down and bring up the gun, for fear any rogues might break into the house. The gun was kept loaded, and witness placed it against the wall, close to the head of his father's bed. Deceased was always very kind to him. He heard a little noise in the morning, but not enough to awaken him, and thinking that it might have been caused by the gun falling along the room, he went to sleep again. His sister was sleeping in the same room, but not in the same bed. He got up a little after six o'clock, and saw his father dead, with the gun lying between his legs. … The jury returned a verdict "That the deceased shot himself whilst in a fit of temporary insanity."
The following records relate to William's death:
William COLRIDGE – Burial 10th April 1875 in North Bovey, aged 46. Noted as Wormhill, shot himself.
William COLRIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1875 in Newton Abbot, aged 46.
14 May 1875. The Will of William COLRIDGE late of North Bovey in the County of Devon Farmer who died 8 April 1875 at North Bovey was proved at Exeter by Richard HEYWARD of Week Farm North Bovey Farmer and William NORTHWAY of Chagford in the said County Innkeeper the Executors. Effects under £200
1881 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Chagford Mill Street |
William ENDACOTT Ann ROGERS Laura ROGERS James UNDERHILL Rebecca NORTHWAY William COLERIDGE |
70 36 10 72 31 17 |
Head Daughter Grndaur Lodger Nephew |
Tailor Housekeeper Scholar Annuitant Housekeeper |
| Chagford⧉ Downpark |
Susanna NORTHWAY Samuel NORTHWAY Sarah Ann NORTHWAY Sidney Rowe NORTHWAY Thomas COLRIDGE |
65 34 25 23 13 |
Head Son Daughter Son Grndson |
Farmer Of 62 Acres Farmers Son Farmers Daughter Farmers Son Scholar |
| Plymouth St Andrew Eton House 7 Eton Terrace |
Jeremiah LANGDON Sarah LANGDON Louisa BERRY Mary Jane COLDRIDGE |
76 61 43 16 |
Head Wife Assistant Servant |
Tailor Tailoress General Servant |
In 1881 William & Susan's older sons are living in Chagford – William with his aunt Rebecca and Thomas with his grandmother. Mary Jane COLDRIDGE, born in North Bovey, is presumed to be their daughter Mary Grace.
Mary Grace's non-appearance in later censuses is explained by the following information provided by Rosemary COLEMAN in Brisbane, Australia. Mary Grace was her great-grandmother, Dorothy was her grandmother:
Mary Grace COLDRIDGE came to Australia on the RMS Dorunda (BISN Company) leaving London (Gravesend) on 7th March 1887, arrived Townsville on 28th April and Brisbane on 3rd May. The record indicates she came steerage and was free, aged 21, could read and write and her religion was Protestant and she was from County Devon. The record indicates she was going to Brisbane, however she may have disembarked in Townsville.
Dorothy COLERIDGE was born 29th September 1893 in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The only parent listed was Mary Grace COLEDRIGE, 26 years, birthplace North Bovey, Devonshire, England.
1881 census for Bristol
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Bristol St James & St Paul Out, Ashley Down⧉ New Orphan Houses |
Bessie COLRIDGE Ernest COLRIDGE Frank COLRIDGE |
11 9 7 |
Scholar Scholar Scholar |
In 1881 William & Susan's 3 youngest children are recorded in a Bristol orphanage.
1891 census for Chagford
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Chagford⧉ Batworthy (Lower) |
Samuel NORTHWAY Sarah H ROWE Thomas COLRIDGE Frederick SAMPSON |
40 23 22 16 |
Head Cousin Nephew Servant |
Farmer Housekeeper Farmers Assistant Farm Servant |
| Chagford⧉ Down Park |
Susanna NORTHWAY Edmond NORTHWAY Sarah NORTHWAY Sidney NORTHWAY Ernest COLRIDGE |
75 37 34 32 18 |
Head Son Daughter Son Grndson |
Farmer Farmers Son Farmers Daughter Farmers Son Farm Servant |
In 1891 Thomas is living with his uncle Samuel and Ernest with his grandmother in the house next door. [Edmond NORTHWAY will later marry John & Elizabeth's daughter Betsey Jane].
Bessie COLRIDGE & (Thomas PALFREY or Albert Edward DOMMETT) – Marriage registration June (Q2) 1897 in Exeter.
1891 census for Carmarthenshire
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Llangadock Lime St, Rock House |
Frank COLRIDGE | 17 | Apprent | Tailor Apprentice |
In 1891 Frank, whose birthplace is recorded as Exeter, is apprenticed in Carmarthenshire.
1901 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Thorverton⧉ Raddon Court |
Thomas COLRIDGE | 31 | Servant | Working Foreman On Farm |
| Puddington⧉ | Earnest COLDERIDGE | 29 | Servant | Hind F B |
| Holsworthy⧉ Bassetts Cottages |
Frank COLRIDGE | 26 | Boarder | Tailor (Journeyman) |
In 1901 the younger sons of William & Susan are recorded in Devon, all with birthplace given as North Bovey. Thomas is in Thorverton (east of Crediton), Ernest in Puddington (north of Crediton), and Frank in Holsworthy (between Okehampton and Bude).
1911 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Kenton Nr Exeter⧉ Whitcombe Farm |
Richard Edwin TOPE Florence Margret TOPE Belinda Mary TOPE Belinda Ball TOPE Ernest COLRIDGE Mary Ann BUDD |
29 25 3 0 37 15 |
Head Sister Daur Daur Assistant Servant |
Farmer Housekeeper Assistant on Farm General Servant Dom. |
| Axminster⧉ | Frank COLERIDGE | 36 | Inmate | Tailor Journeyman |
In 1911 Ernest and Frank, both born in N. Bovey and probably the sons of William & Susan, are recorded in Kenton and Axminster respectively.
The following records relate to Thomas COLRIDGE, William & Susan's second son and Bessie's brother.
Thomas COLRIDGE & Hannah S ROWE – Marriage registration March (Q1) 1913 in Okehampton.
1921 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Okehampton Chagford |
Thomas COBRIDGE Annie Scott COBRIDGE |
53 44 |
Head Wife |
In 1921 Thomas & Annie are recorded (mis-transcribed) in Chagford. There are records of their deaths, just six months apart:
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 25th June 1943: COLRIDGE—On June 20, at Thorn, Chagford, Anna Scott, the beloved wife of Thomas COLRIDGE, aged 66 years.
Anna Scott COLRIDGE of Studio Cottage Thorn Chagford Devonshire (wife of Thomas COLRIDGE) died 20 June 1943 Probate Exeter 20 July 1943 to the said Thomas COLRIDGE retired farmer. Effects £360 15s.
Thomas COLRIDGE – Death registration December (Q4) 1943 in Okehampton, aged 75.
Thomas COLRIDGE of Studio Cottage Thorn Chagford Devonshire died 12 December 1943 Administration Llandudno 31 January 1944 to Bessie PALFREY (wife of Thomas PALFREY). Effects £531 0s. 9d.
The following records relate to Ernest COLRIDGE, presumed to be William & Susan's son.
Ernest COLRIDGE & Emma FORD – Marriage registration March (Q1) 1926 in Newton Abbot.
Emma COLRIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1946 in Newton Abbot, aged 69.
Emma COLRIDGE of Orleigh Cottage Ipplepen Devonshire (wife of Ernest COLRIDGE) died 26 April 1946 Probate London 12 July 1946 to said Ernest COLRIDGE retired agricultural worker and Harold Gaye MICHELMORE and Vivian KNIGHTON solicitors. Effects £662 3s. 10d.
Ernest COLERIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1951 in Newton Abbot, aged 79.
Ernest COLRIDGE of Orleigh Cottage Ipplepen Devonshire died 6 April 1951 Probate Exeter 24 May 1951 to Norman William LARKWORTHY builder and Harold Gaye MICHELMORE and Vivian Knighton BREWER solicitors. Effects £1984 10s. 8d.