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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Surrey Lookup Requests => Surrey => England => Surrey Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: keithwc on Saturday 04 February 06 12:19 GMT (UK)

Title: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Saturday 04 February 06 12:19 GMT (UK)
Looking for the marriage of Michael Blunden and Lydia ??  At the 1841 census he was aged 45 and they lived in Epsom.  He has proved to be a very difficult man to trace.  I would also love to know where he was born.  There are no clues apart from he was born out of county (Surrey)

Thanks Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jane Masri on Saturday 04 February 06 15:30 GMT (UK)
Hi Linda,
The 1841 census rounded down the ages of adults so Michael could have been 45, 46, 47, 48 or 49.  Were there any children on the 1841?  If so how old?  I looked on the Sussex Marriage Index and BLUNDEN is very much a Sussex name spread over both East & West Sussex but the majority of marriages (33) are in BURWASH East Sussex.
Tried to find Michael & Lydia on the 1851 but no luck having very little information to go on.  What about Lydia's age?  Do you think he married pre 1837?

Jane
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Saturday 04 February 06 15:58 GMT (UK)
Hi Jane

Lydia was 40 on the 1841 Children were Mary James Isaac William Charlotte and Henry probably more. At that time Mary was 20 so they married before 1837 hence the problem and Michael had died before the 1851 so no place of birth to go on!  Lydias name on the 1851 was down as Lidier Brandle! Does that help
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jane Masri on Saturday 04 February 06 17:11 GMT (UK)
Linda, I'm not having much luck here.  Firstly I can't find Lydia on the 1851 under Lidier Brandle, do you have a reference number?
I did find on the Family Search IGI the following children attributed to a Michael Blunden & Lydia

MICH BLUNDEN  cr. 1/7/1821 Buckland Surrey
Frederick            cr. 9/10/1836 St. Andrew Kingswood By Reigate
Charlotte            cr. 3/6/1838                       ditto
Isaac                  cr. 24/11/1839                    ditto
Anne                   cr. 25/7/1841                      ditto
All extracted records.

Some 'happenings' in Epsom for the Blunden family from Free BMD
Marriage of Mary Blunden June quarter 1841 (4 79)
Marriage of James Blunden Dec quarter 1841 (4 101)

I was really looking to try & find Lydia's birth place on the 1851 as that could well be where she & Michael got married!

Jane
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Sisterjane on Sunday 05 February 06 02:03 GMT (UK)
Hi Jane
1851-Cencus
The name is Lidier Blandle b 1794 Rugate living in Banstead-Surrey

Joe

Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jane Masri on Sunday 05 February 06 16:12 GMT (UK)
Thanks Joe.
Linda, I would suggest you look at Reigate for their marriage.  Ask for a look-up on the Surrey Marriage Index or BVRI.  As for the origins of Michael, the BVRI might help as he can't be found on the IGI.

Jane
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Monday 06 February 06 06:58 GMT (UK)
Thanks they are an elusive family.  Will check out Reigate

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Friday 27 October 06 22:02 BST (UK)
Hi

Did you get any further on with this.  I recently discovered that my sons are descendants of Michael and Lydia.  I spent hours in Surrey History Centre last week trying to find their marriage to no avail.  Joined up with this site today.

Hope you are happy to help.

Kate
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jane Masri on Saturday 28 October 06 09:20 BST (UK)
Hi Kate & Linda,
I found the marriage on the Surrey Marriage Index but indexed under BLUNDLE;

Michael BLUNDLE married Lydia COOK, 1813 (no day or month) at Godstone,

Hope that helps,

jane
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Tuesday 31 October 06 14:15 GMT (UK)
This could be a breakthrough!  The dates are OK both Lydia and Michael born c1795/6.  I looked on IGI and there is the marriage with a full date 12 October 1813. Michael is still Blundle.

I'm interested in swapping more information with you Kate.


Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Tuesday 21 November 06 17:18 GMT (UK)
Sorry I've not been in touch.  Been very very busy.  I do not have much more to offer though other than telling you how my children's line connects to Michael Blunden.  You might be interested in that!  I guess I will investigate further eventually but I am looking at so many lines these days.

Anyway - you take care.  Keep in touch with any updates.

Kate
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Monday 27 November 06 14:21 GMT (UK)
I am very interested in how your children fit with Michael.  I have quite a lot of cousins in Dorset descended from Michael too. I have just been in hospital for major emergency surgery so looks like I will have time to do some on line research if you need any.

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Monday 27 November 06 22:38 GMT (UK)
Hi there,

Michael had Henry, Henry had William James, William James has Louisa Daisy who married William Wynne Roberts, they had Richard James who married Joan Margaret and they had my children's father - Keith.  Joan is still alive and in her late sixties.  My children have never met Richard as he left his wife and six children when they were young.

Heard any of this before?

Do hope you are well on your way to recovery.

Kate
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Saturday 13 January 07 17:24 GMT (UK)
Hi
I am researching Jane Blunden circa 1788 Buckland. I was stuck until I found this thread. I started to look at Blundell and variants and on the IGI found another 9 children born to Michael and Lydia Blundel(l) in Buckland from 1815-1834.
I then found my own Jane Blundel christened 13 Feb 1785 Buckland. Parents William and Sarah. (Fits with William Blunden c.1766 Buckland)

Interestingly they also had a son Michael christened 10 Apr 1791 Buckland. Is there a connection here?

Is Blunden just a misspelling/mistranscription of Blundell?

Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Sunday 14 January 07 10:17 GMT (UK)
Hi Sue

Not sure where my Michael was born the 1841 gives him born out of county (Surrey)  This looks as if you may have found his parents. But how do we prove it?

Blunden can be spelt or should that be mispelt many ways as I have discovered!

Linda



Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Monday 15 January 07 11:39 GMT (UK)
Hi Linda

I don't know whether I am looking at a different Michael and Lydia but I have him (age 45) on the 1841 census as being born in Surrey and living in Banstead with Lydia (age 40) and nine of their children. Lidier is still in Banstead in 1851.

I have found Jane's (and now almost certainly Michael's) mother Sarah living in Buckland with unmarried son James in 1851. James is alone in 1861. Their deaths are on FreeBMD.
Sarah's birthplace is given as Horley, (Surrey) which is interesting as that is where I originally came from.

I can't find a marriage for William and Sarah though - it could be anywhere between Horley and Buckland.

Sue


Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Monday 15 January 07 14:53 GMT (UK)
Hi Sue

The moral of the story is to double check information given to you by other researchers!!

I have just looked at the 1841 and you are right it states Michael was born in county I just took someones word that he was born out of county. Michael died on 31 August 1847 age given as 56. Assuming all information is correct he would then have been born around 1789, this would make a 1791 christening a probability . I will have a look at William and Sarah.

Many thanks

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Monday 15 January 07 19:54 GMT (UK)
Hi Linda

If he was 56 when he died in August 1847 does that not mean he would have been born in 1791 - or is my maths wrong? (christening date on IGI is 10 Apr 1791)

Sue

Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Tuesday 16 January 07 08:50 GMT (UK)
Hi Sue

Maths is not my strongest subject as you can see! But he probably was born before 1791 so may well have been christened as IGI states.

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Tuesday 16 January 07 22:21 GMT (UK)
Well then, you have all been jolly busy!!!  So, we now have Michael's mother - Jane and her parents William and Sarah?  Wow!!  I expect I will be going to the Surrey Records Centre soon so I will be able to look at the parish records more closely.  I will let you know when!  Well done though!

Kate xx ;D
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Wednesday 17 January 07 09:49 GMT (UK)
Hi Kate

Just to clear up any confusion. Michael and Jane are brother and sister, William and Sarah are their parents. Hope you are able to find the marriage. Almost all BM&D for Horley are on the IGI except that particular period for marriages.

Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Sunday 28 January 07 16:27 GMT (UK)
Hi Kate and Linda

I've just treated myself to the Surrey Marriage Index - not that expensive actually- and found a couple of marriages of interest.

23 Jan 1784 WILLLIAM BLUNDING and SARAH BURCHALL at Charlwood (which is next to Horley)

23 Aug 1761 JAMES BURCHALL and MARY WOOD at Horley

James and Mary look likely parents of Sarah. Perhaps anyone going to the Surrey Records Office (Kate  ;) ) might like to confirm and check the marriages for any extra details.

Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Sunday 28 January 07 20:00 GMT (UK)
Excellent.  I will try to get to the office this week - no promises!  I will try.  Just checked the opening hours and there is a late night Thurs, which suits me for after work.

How much was the index if you please?

Thanks

Kate

Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Monday 29 January 07 07:45 GMT (UK)
Hi Sue

Well done!!  You appear to have demolished a very large brick wall!  Still no-one can spell Blunden can we assume it is correct?

Where did you get the index from?

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Monday 29 January 07 09:36 GMT (UK)
Hi Linda
I got the SMI from Berkshire FHS online for the princely sum of £11.10 inc p&p. Took 10 days to arrive but it was the cheapest price I could find.

I'm not surprised any more by the spellings of Blunden. Blunding is a bit closer than Blundel, but which was the original I don't know as there are loads of Blundells in Horley as well.

As with all transcriptions the marriages need verifying from the parish registers but it looks very promising. It looks as though Sarah may have been born in Charlwood rather than Horley which is a pity as Charlwood is lacking on the IGI and East Surrey is a very poor relative when it comes to parish register publications on fiche or CD. The annoying thing is that I was born and brought up in Horley but now I'm in Dorset and can't get to the local records.  >:(

(As neither of my parents came from Horley I am quite chuffed to discover now that I do actually have roots there.)


Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Monday 29 January 07 11:10 GMT (UK)
Hi Sue

Thanks for that.  The parish registers hold the key by the look of it.

Interesting that you live in Dorset.  My relative Alfred Blunden, Michaels grandson, left Surrey and moved to, yes youv'e guessed it, Dorset!  He was in the army and based in Fordington, Dorchester where he married  a local girl.  There are still Blundens living in the Sherborne area who are my relatives!  Small world.

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Monday 29 January 07 12:38 GMT (UK)
Hi Linda
I guess they are my relatives too. Alfred would have been a great nephew of Jane Blunden.

Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Saturday 24 February 07 19:37 GMT (UK)
Hi everyone

I have been to the Surrey office but I am sorry Sue - I forgot to take details of the Burchall connection, which hampered my efforts a bit.  Anyway found the following to fill gaps but not progress any further back:

Children of William and Sarah Blunden/Blundell/Blundle/Blundel/Blondel - all born in Buckland - Jane Bap Feb 13th 1785 - married James Tate on May 5th 1803 (is this yours Sue?).  Mary Bap Aug 5th 1787, Michael Bap April 10th 1791 (yes Buckland - not Banstead!). Joseph Bap May 26th 1793, James Born 1806, Bap Jun 5th 1808, William Bap Jun 5th 1808, Edmund Bap Mar 27th 1812 and Bur April 5th 1812.

Got print of Michael and Lydia's marriage and also James Cook and Phillis Warner's marriage.

No sign of Lydia Cook's Bap in any of the parishes I searched: Sutton, Reigate,  Horley, Chobham, Gatton, Merstham, Bletchingley, Banstead, Epsom, Ewell, Woodmansterne, Leigh, Buckland, Godstone, Tandridge.  Damn that I did not look at Charlwood or a few others!  Anyway - found Amelia Stacey's birth in Godstone - she was the witness at Michael and Lydia's marriage. 

Found loads of references to the Tulletts - Louise married Henry Blunden for those of your who are that far down the line.  Found Joyce Tullet nee Miller's father.

That was 4 1/2 hours work - no stopping.  Will check the Burchells out next time - it won't be long as it is only down the road!  No excuses.

Take care all - Kate xx
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Saturday 24 February 07 20:46 GMT (UK)
Well done Kate!
Yes that's my Jane who married James Tate. You also found a couple of siblings I didn't know about - William and James.

Keep up the good work :D

Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Tuesday 06 March 07 15:02 GMT (UK)
Hi all

Many thanks Kate for spending the time looking at the elusive Blundens.   Would be interested in the print out of Michael and Lydia if you could manage it. Will amend my records! I think I owe you a drink!

Thanks again

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Sunday 11 March 07 02:53 GMT (UK)
My thanks to Kate as well. Great job gal!

The Canadian Blundens appreciate your time!  We follow the Michael..Edmund ..John ..Albert .. Frederick route.

Dorothy
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Monday 12 March 07 06:22 GMT (UK)
Hello All

I have a death for William Blunden: 27 Dec. 1840 Aged 72 at Buckland, Surrey

Could this be THE parent of Michael???

Dorothy
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: suecee on Monday 12 March 07 11:49 GMT (UK)
Hi Dorothy
I had him as 99% certain the father of Michael and Jane. His death certificate may confirm that he was the husband of Sarah.
Sarah Blundell (will they make up their minds please) is living with son James at Buckland in 1841 and 1851.

Sue
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Monday 12 March 07 15:33 GMT (UK)
Hey Sue et al

We still suffer from the Blunden Spelling Syndrome... We are most often met with Blunder  although our daughter has her name on a Sports Hall of Fame and it is spelled Blundun.

Husband Fred is down the male side ... the fourth Frederick and all named after an uncle on the male side.
Dorothy Blunden

Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jenny Jones on Monday 08 October 07 20:52 BST (UK)
I can add a connection too. Please let me know if you all can find anything further back than William in the Blundell line or more about the Burchall family. My connection--William and Sarah's daughter Mary married Richard Lisney of Betchworth. :)
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jenny Jones on Tuesday 11 December 07 21:05 GMT (UK)
Parents of William, b. 1766, appear to be Thomas and Susan. The birth is indexed in Buckland  ::) as "Blunden," of course! 
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Wednesday 19 December 07 03:24 GMT (UK)
Thanks Jenny :)

Another GREAT bit of Info ::) to add to the tree :D

Where did you find your FIND ???

Merry Christmas from the Rockies of British Columbia
Dorothy
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Wednesday 19 December 07 15:07 GMT (UK)

I have been contacted via Genes Reunited by a descendant of Mary - daughter of Michael and Lydia so theres yet more of us about.  She has his parents as  William and Sarah but nothing else as yet that we didn't know but she says she has more to add to her tree, will keep you posted. No information about Lydia's parents anyone else discovered anything? I think theres more to come we just have to be patient!

Go carefully on those skis Dorothy!

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2008 from the Bedfordshire branch of descendants of Michael Blunden (Henry line)

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jenny Jones on Monday 31 December 07 23:46 GMT (UK)
Dorothy:
I found my find in the IGI for Buckland.
--Jenny
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Wednesday 16 January 08 03:26 GMT (UK)
Calling  All Blundens .... descendants of William / Sarah and onward through our beloved MICHAEL AND LYDIA

Fred and I will be in the   U.K in July .. Any chance of  meeting .having a pint. sharing info  .. or comparing ears and noses ???

I was thinking around July 26 in the Blunden 'roots' area.

By the way Sue ..It wasn't the skiing that got me ..It was ice skating on thr lake ::)

Hope to hear from all of you
Dorothy
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Wednesday 16 January 08 03:28 GMT (UK)

Whoops meant Linda in the above post .  Oh well :'( Darn wrist is still broken
Dorothy

Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Wednesday 16 January 08 08:00 GMT (UK)
Think I will be able to meet up.  I'll put it in the diary and wait for further info.  Dorothy - I will post a seperate e-mail address to you with my e-mail address.  Take Care, Kate xxx
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Saturday 26 January 08 14:51 GMT (UK)
Hi Blunden descendants

Would love to join the party as long as its the weekend (so pushed for holiday time- roll on retirement!) Let us know when and where and I will do my best to be there.

Have you considered embroidery as a pastime Dorothy its much safer! We are skiing in March so you may be taking the mickey out of me then, if things go badly.

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jenny Jones on Saturday 26 January 08 23:42 GMT (UK)
Dorothy: sounds good, but I'm in California so can't make it!
If you're going to be right there in the Blunden roots, can you check out cemeteries for the Blunden clan?
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Sunday 27 January 08 10:30 GMT (UK)
Jenny, its one of my favourite occupations!  Will do!

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Sunday 27 January 08 16:29 GMT (UK)
Hello Blundens All
Fred and I think Saturday July 26 would be a good date. Other arrangements to follow but  there are a number of nice looking pubs close to Kingswood St Andrews Church ,,, where Lydia and several others appear to be resting. The local vicar is checking for me !!!! The War Memorial is also nearbye ..Blunden names on that!!!

Anyway ... we are about to ask one of Fred's sisters to check out the pubs and get back to us. Unless anyone else has a pub preference

Opinions anyone...Mark your social calenders.

Thanks for your advice Linda but even embroidery is out for the next few weeks!!!

Dorothy
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: katelill on Sunday 27 January 08 16:37 GMT (UK)
Hello - Sat 26th July is great for me.  I will be there with piccies of my two little Blunden descendants who wouldn't be see dead at this type of chindig!  Teenagers - 14 and 18!! You see now - don't you? 8)  They think its all such a waste of time.  They'll get there eventually.  Thanks for organising this.  I look forward to it.  ;D Kate xxx
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Louisef on Wednesday 06 February 08 17:17 GMT (UK)
Hello everyone

I hope you don't mind if I join in.  I'm the person who contacted Linda through Genes Reunited.  I googled 'Blunden Surrey' this afternoon and found your on going conversation.  I'm descended from Michael's daughter Mary so the Blunden name has long disappeared from my family.  I only discovered it about a year ago but it's great to find so many people working on it.  I'm afraid I don't have any new information to give you but I live in Surrey, not too far from Reigate, Banstead etc.  Before Christmas I went into the library in Ewell and was talking to one of their family history volunteers.  He helped me find much of the info you've been talking about and he also said if I found I was related to the Blundells of Fetcham that he had lots of info as was related to them.  Does this ring bells with anyone?

Nice to meet you all

Louise
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Wednesday 06 February 08 18:57 GMT (UK)
Welcome to Linda


Great fun to add to the numbers.
Anyone got a Blunden family from Rogate in Sussex?  One never knows who suffered from 'wanderitis'.

After all a Blunden navigator was on the west coast of Canada eons ago and as a result there happens to be Blunden Bay, Blunden Island, Blunden Harbour etc.

Dorothy
               
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Thursday 07 February 08 07:02 GMT (UK)
Hi Blundens

Nice to hear from you again Louise, glad you have found the gang. None of my Blundens went very far apart from my Grandad Alfred who went as far as Dorset but all his offspring stayed in Dorset, apart from my mother who went to Sussex not far from Rogate.  No relatives found in Rogate pity  think its a rich seam!

26July is in the Diary just tell us which pub we'll be there.

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jenny Jones on Wednesday 30 July 08 18:22 BST (UK)
Wish I could have been there! How was the gathering?
--Jenny
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: keithwc on Thursday 31 July 08 14:19 BST (UK)
Hi Jenny

The gathering was great, I met Kate, Louise and Dorothy and we had a great time checking out who was related to which of Lydia and Michaels children.  There were also a great number of Dorothy and Fred's relatives so I had a good old Blunden chat!  As suspected all were short in stature but very nice people, well they would be they were Blundens!!

Keith and I went to St Andrews church,  there were some Blundens there but they were not ones we would be interested in, but I suspect they were relatives, we just need time to work it out.  Dorothy gave me a list of those Blundens we would be interested in that were buried there but as they were Ag labs they were probably unable to afford the headstones so alas no pictures to send you.

best wishes

Linda
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Louisef on Thursday 31 July 08 14:51 BST (UK)
Hi Jenny

As Linda mentioned I was at the gathering.  It was great meeting everyone and very interesting seeing which branch of the family they came from.  It's been a long time since the Blunden name featured in my family (Michael's daughter Mary) so I'm quite keen to try to find out more about some of the names that came afterwards.  I'm lucky I live quite close to Tadworth so I'll have to visit the cemetery when I have time to look around properly.  Talking to Kate has also made me think that a visit to the Surrey records office in Woking would be time well spent.  Something for the winter months when the weather's not so good.
If there's anything in particular you want looking up just let me know and I'll see what I can find out.  (you too Linda)

Bye for now

Louise
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: dblun on Monday 25 August 08 23:49 BST (UK)
Hello Everyone
Well Fred and I arrived home this weekend after a great trip. The gathering was great and my thanks to all who attended . ... those who came along in spirit as well. It was rather neat to see all of the family trees stretching from Michael and Lydia!

I was delighted to meet all of you and have a face to put to a name.

Fred and I went to Bucklands , thanks Steve, but didn't find any 'stones'. Maybe the Blunden ones were among the unreadables.

Anyway , take care, keep in touch and happing digging (figuratively of course!!!
Dorothy
Title: Re: Michael Blunden
Post by: Jenny Jones on Tuesday 15 December 09 02:47 GMT (UK)
I noticed in the online Surrey archives that the physical archives there has a family history of Blunden/Blundell family. So if anyone has time to look at that and report back it would be great! Check online first to see what it is.