Research Forum

Happy New Year!

I'm assuming that you are interested in Isaac & Hester EDWARDS who appear on the 1851 Census of Hutton with their 6 children. Not knowing exactly how much you already know about the family it is difficult to know where to start.  From the Hutton Parish Records which are online on this site you will be able to find Isaac's christening in 1807 and the name of his parents.

Perhaps you can add a little more detail of what you are hoping to find out.  I'm sure we will be able to help you find out more about this family - Welcome to the Society!

Adding to my earlier comment - I have an interest in Axbridge Workhouse and Isaac EDWARDS, aged 94, from Hutton, died in Axbridge Workhouse on the 25th August 1900 and was buried at Hutton on the 29th August 1900.  Is he your relative?  It is likely that as the Workhouse had a hospital attached that he was admitted as a patient to the Workhouse Hospital.  I haven't transcribed the admissions for that period so I can't say how long he was in the Workhouse - those records are in the Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton.

From checking census records from 1841 to 1891 I think Isaac and Hester had more than six children.  There are children called, Thomas, Jacob and Jane, born between 1831 and 1835 in the 1841 census records as well as those mentioned in the 1851 census, and one other, William, mentioned in the 1861 census.  The only information I have on my great grandfather, George Edwards (one of Isaac and Hester's children), was from a death certificate that I obtained from BDM in Sydney, Australia that said that his father's name was Isaac and he was a butcher and that George was born in Somerset.  I think I have since worked out from the 1881 census that Isaac Edwards was a pork butcher. Hester, his wife, I believe, passed away about 1869.  I have no information on George as to how he came to Australia, but I believe that he travelled to Australia with Alfred Henry Bisdee somewhere between 1850 and 1860.  Any other information would be greatly appreciated.

You are absolutely right - Isaac & Hester EDWARDS had 10 children with the exception of the first one which was christened in the mother's home parish, all the rest, including your great grand father were christened at Hutton. The actual dates are included in the transcriptions available to members.  It is interesting that you mention Alfred Henry BISDEE.  The BISDEE family had strong connections with Hutton having settled in the area (in Oldmixon initally) from about 1838 - Later of course they lived in Hutton Court.

Alfred Henry BISDEE was married in Tasmania in 1848 which would suggest that he must have entered Australia somewhat before the dates you mentioned. As George EDWARDS wasn't born until about1837 and was still in Hutton in 1851 perhaps he didn't travel with Alfred Henry BISDEE but worked for him after he arrived.

As you probably know, the BISDEE family and its Australian connections are documented in the 'Australian Dictionary of Biography'; Archives Office of Tasmania records. Click here for more info about the BISDEE family.

Going back to Isaac & Hester EDWARDS.  Hester died in 1870.  Isaac's father was a Farmer in Hutton and appears to occupy several plots of land according to the Tythe Map of 1838.  That map is in Weston Library but hopefully we may be able to put the index to it online shortly.

I haven't found the christening of Isaac's father yet but I have found the christening of his mother who appears to have been born in Hutton in about 1778 and died there in 1855.

Having joined the Society I have been able to add heaps to the Edwards family tree.  Sorry that you misunderstood what I was trying to say with regards to the Bisdee family and George's arrival in Van Diemens Land.  I know that Alfred Henry Bisdee sponsored quite a few people from the Hutton, Somerset area (including Mary Ann Johnson, born in Newborough, whom my great grandfather married in 1860 here in Tasmania) and I thought that George may have been one of those, but as I said I cannot find any information as to how he arrived or when he arrived.  You mentioned that Hester's first child (Thomas, born in 1831 or thereabouts) was christened in her own parish, of which I do not know.  I also have conflicting information from Census information and marriage detail, etc that suggests that Hester's surname may have been Purnell, not Parnell.  Her witnesses when she married Isaac Edwards in 1830 were Hannah and James Purnell, who obviously were relatives of hers, but I cannot find them either.  Further help would be appreciated.  Thanks.  

I would agree with you that Hester's maiden name was PURNELL and looking for the PURNELL family shows the need to also look in nearby parishes for information.

You already know that Isaac EDWARDS married Hester PURNELL 2nd Aug 1830 at St Mary's Church, Hutton.  Although on the 1851 census her place of birth is given as Hutton it looks as if she was christened 5th Jan 1809 in Bleadon Parish Church d/o Samuel & Jane PURNELL. 

In the christenings for Bleadon you can also find a child in 1823 for James & Hannah PURNELL who may have witnessed the marriage.  But a James PURNELL married a Hannah PORTER in Bleadon the following year in 1824!   Thomas EDWARDS, Isaac & Hester's eldest son was also christened at Bleadon 12th Dec 1830.  It was not unusual for mothers to go home to their parents for their first confinement.  These christenings are included in the transcriptions on this site.  I hope this gives you a little more to work on.

I think that Samuel PURNELL probably married Jane KIMMINS in Uphill in 1800.  The early Uphill baptsms have not been transcribed yet but they might hold a few more clues to the relationship between Hester and James (the witness to her marriage).