Comments

There are a few places where you might find information about the Butcher's Arms at Nailsea.  Historic England provides details about the building and some dates.  The Somerset Archives has some documents produced by the Nailsea & District Local History Society about the Butcher's Arms and other pubs in Nailsea.  Have a look at their web site - you might find an article in one of their Pennants.

I see you have looked in the newspapers with no luck but when a pub changes hands the licence exchange is often mentioned in the local paper. 

What an interesting suggestion!  I can imagine  some confusion caused with PEATES and WEEKS if the diction wasn't very clear - the central part of the name is very similar but I can't say I had ever considered it.  I was wondering if she was a widow when she married Samuel STOKES.  Oh well, back to the drawing board!  Can't find a marriage or a suitable burial for the Elizabeth WEEKS born in 1794 so this is a real possibility.

Thank you very much for your findings about the Rowberrow Baptists. I have forwarded your posts to the person enquiring who has been researching this part of his family for several years.   

I just read my copy of the "The Heart of Mendip" by F. A. Knight and he has this to say on page 174 (Rowberrow chapter):

"The village of Rowberrow, which is now so scattered, was, in its more prosperous mining days, not only more populous but more connected. Even during the last half-century many cottages have been demolished and the size and character of the long-disused school building, built, as may be seen from the tablet on its front, in 1855, and now converted into a dwelling-house, and the ruins of a Baptist Chapel and a Baptist School in the same lane, afford further evidence of the decay of the population."

So, unfortunately, the Baptist chapel and school in School Lane are long gone.

Richard

I wondered if Elizabeth might be WEEKS (I know that is a bit of stretch)? It was a relatively common surname in North Somerset for that period. In the year following the baptism of Charles, and on the same page, an Elizabeth Weeks is baptised at Wraxall on 29 June 1794, the daughter of John and Mary Weeks.

Perhaps the old reverend might have been a bit deaf!

Best regards,
Richard

Hi Pat,

There was a Baptist chapel at Rowberrow from 1814. William Selway was the minister and Eli Stock was deacon/trustee - Reports from Commissioners. There was also a Baptist Sunday school at the School House, School Lane, Rowberrow - see Parliamentary papers, Volume 69, p. 388-I, Shipham and Rowberrow Female Club and this report in p. 8, Col. 4, Bristol Mercury, 3 September 1842. There was also a Methodist chapel next to the School House - I am guessing this might have been Baptist at some earlier stage. So, I think the chapel was at School Lane but now demolished (the school room might survive as a private house but I am not sure). I might take a walk around there at the weekend to see (it has a great pub!)

Best regards,
Richard