RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: alfindit on Saturday 05 April 25 18:54 BST (UK)
-
Hi,
I am researching my possible ancestor Charles Burley and I wonder if anyone can please help me to find a copy of the 1796 Bristol Poll book for the General Election of that year, as I believe Charles may well be listed in it in it.
Background:
Charles, the son of Charles Burley and Mary née Apperley, was born in the area of Berkeley, Gloucestershire in about 1742. His baptism cannot be found. He was apprenticed to 'tiler and plaisterer' William Thrall of St James', Bristol, in 1757, when his father is said to be Charles Burley, a yeoman of Berkeley. Charles junior was appointed as a burgess of Bristol in 1781, on account of him having completed his apprenticeship with William Thrall. These apprenticeship details have been kindly provided by Bristol Archives.
Charles junior married Elizabeth Cooper in Marylebone, Middlesex, in 1773.
When their son William (possibly my 4th great-grandfather) was born at the British Lying-in hospital, Holborn in 1780, Charles' settlement is given as St James', Bristol, and his trade is said to be 'tiler and plaisterer', which makes me fairly certain I have the correct father for William.
Charles voted in the 1781 Bristol election and was said to be living in Sugar Loaf Court, Bermondsey Street, Southwark, Surrey.
Charles next appears in 1784 Bristol Poll Book and is said to be living in Crucifix Lane, St John, Southwark, Surrey.
Charles seems to have achieved a settlement in St Marylebone by 1791, when an unnamed child of his and his wife Elizabeth was born and baptised at the British Lying-in Hospital, Holborn; the record states that Charles' settlement is St Marylebone.
1796 General Election
I know there was a General Election in 1796, though I am unable to find a surviving poll book for Bristol. Bristol Archives does not have one. I do know that many originals were destroyed in the early 1900's, though many contemporaneous copies were made for various reasons and copies for many other areas have survived. Can anyone please tell me if a Bristol Poll Book for 1796 has survived and if one has does anyone know where it might be found? I have searched online to no avail. It is important for me to ascertain where Charles was living in this year - if indeed he was still alive - so that I can attribute a death and burial to him, as there are a couple of possibilities that I am currently researching; it may also help me attribute a burial to his wife Elizabeth with more certainty.
Thank you for your time,
Alan.
-
In case that was too much info, I will get to the crux of the matter:
Has a Bristol Poll Book for the 1796 General Election survived, and, if so, can anyone please tell me where it might be found?
Thank you
-
There was a General Election in 1790 and another in 1802 and if anyone knows of the whereabouts of Bristol Poll Books for those years I would be equally grateful.