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Henry Hardige is my 4x GGF and have done quiet a bit of research on the family. John (Henry's G son) his wife lived in the house next door to where is live in cheddar after his death. 

I will sort out all the info I have and send it to you as soon as possible. 

The Weston Worthies are a series of about 40 portraits in the Weston Museum (not always on show) which were painted in the mid 1800s of men and women who were important in Weston at that time. 

As far as I know Richard FRY was worn in Bisley, Gloucestershire in about 1870 and married Elizabeth MAIDEN in Bristol in 1804.

They moved to Weston and he financed the building of the first Hotel in Weston and the rebuilding of the Parish Church in 1824.  Some features from the old church can still be seen in Weston as part of a house in Victoria Cottage, 7, South Terrace which was build by his son-in-law, Joseph James, in about 1838.  Both Richard and his wife died in Myrtle Cottage in the 1850s and were buried in the church yard of St John the Baptist Church, Weston-super-Mare - see our transcriptions for details. 

Wow Julie, superb. Very inspired by it.

Anne

An interesting point - The Duke and Duchess of York were to stay with the Duke of Beaufort's family before coming to WSM but the Beauforts were ill and consequently they stayed with the Gibbs family at Tyntesfield. The Gibbs' were known to the royal family. Not helpful genealogically perhaps but fills out the story!!

Just to add to the info you already have, Louisa was baptised at St Andrew's, Backwell on 28 August 1814. Her parents are shown as William and Rachael as Pat has said. There are many generations of the Stokes family to be found in the Backwell transcripts should you be interested in following that line.

Good luck, Libby Owen

What impressive research and what a fascinating history. I enjoyed reading this and wish I could listen to the recording!