Research Forum

Joel BIshop of Worle
published by on Sun, 09/09/2012 - 12:26

Hi, can anyone shed light on the following anomaly, in the Worle transcripts we have several Joel Bishops, in particular there is one Christened on 25 May 1721 to James Bishop and Dorcas Pane and one Christened on the 5 October 1737 to William Bishop and Ann Mason.

In the burial transcripts there is a burial of a Joel Bishop on 17 December 1824 aged 87 which would indicate that he may be the child born to WIlliam and Ann.

So far so good, however in several contemporary magazines in 1824 there is the following announcement:

"at Worle, in Somersetshire, Mr. Joel Bishop, aged 103 years: he was the father, grand-father, and great-grandfather of 180 children"

This would indicate that he was the child of James and Dorcas, so the question is who made the mistake; the person entering the register or the person making the announcement.

Any ideas?

Comments ..

Submitted by on Sun, 09/09/2012 - 17:58

I found this which gives a little more info on Joel

From the Gentlemans magazine December 1824 under obituaries:

"Dec 11. At Worle, after having been confined to his bed for the short space of three days only, Mr. Joel Bishop, of Banwell, Somerset, aged 103 years. He was the father of 180 children, of whom 115 are living at this period. On the 19th July, 1821, his present Majesty's Coronation-day, he formed one of the procession to Bristol Cathedral (and had attended similar ceremonies observed in that city on the Coronation of George II and George III.) being then in his 100th year. Notwithstanding his then advanced age, on the evening of the day abovementioned, he danced a hornpipe, sang a hunting song, and drank a glass of beer off the bottom of his foot. It may be necessary to add, in order to account for the immense offspring above stated, that of 21 children born in wedlock, 19 were females, one of whom, now residing near the top of Old Market-street, Bristol, and known to the writer hereof, has had 14 children, and 24 grandchildren."

Submitted by Graham Payne on Sun, 09/09/2012 - 19:34

I have checked the original parish records and I can confirm the aged given for Joel Bishop buried 17 December 1824 in Worle is recorded as 87 years.

Submitted by on Sun, 09/09/2012 - 19:48

Thanks for that Graham.

So its looking like the guy who entered the details in the original register may have calculated the age based on the first Joel Bishop baptism he found looking back through the records rather than being told by a relative. Or we have two extremely long lived Joel bishops dying in the same month in Worle and one being buried elsewhere.

The article does say the 103 year old is of Banwell, even though he died in Worle, but I've checked the Banwell transcriptions and he doesn't appear there either.