Re.George's mother.
Elizabeth b.1794 daughter of Samuel Bundy and Elizabeth Newman gave birth to George on 1st April 1821.” Her son was born illegitimate, fathered by William Snelgrove, “a Shoemaker” from Downton. (Bastardy papers were issued against them at the time.) The child was named George Bundy. By being given Elizabeth’s family name George’s lineage retained the Bundy name, while resulting from her marriage later that same year 1821, to William Snelgrove, four more children were born, and they quite naturally bore the Snelgrove name. They were Charles, b.1822. Ruth, b.1824. William, b.1826. Hannah, b.1830.
An interesting thought is raised however, that, if had George been born within the marriage he/I and his descendents would likewise have carried the Snelgrove name. (Who’s lineage, with some interest, I am now prompted to research.)
Elizabeth Bundy/Snelgrove, died in Downton in1863
William Snelgrove, b.abt.1795 he died 1844 in Redlynch, Wiltshire.
I recently visited Downton and searched around the graveyards at St Laurence Church and also the nearby Baptist Church to see if I could locate any family graves, but my efforts were in vain as I found most of the gravestones unreadable due to erosion and overgrowth of lichen.
I did however feel good that I managed to walk around and see about the ancestral home. Look forward to going back sometime.
John
Sorry for the Necropost, but it seemed appropriate to keep this information together and notify any interested parties (not to mention the original thread already spammed about ten years) Like some of the others above, I'm a descendant.of George Bundy through John Caleb and his son Edward.
The above information is at least partly wrong but wondered if anyone in the region could help me with look-ups on the remainder?
Firstly I can't see a bastardy examination anywhere in Wiltshire for George claiming that William Snelgrove is his father. Both Eeyin and RainbowChaser claim it but I can't find it in any public archives like Wiltshire OTP or Wiltshire FHS. Does anyone have access to a wider record that contains this claim?
Secondly the claim that Elizabeth married William and their children are all full siblings of George is wrong. Most obviously this can be seen in the 1851 census where Elizabeth (Bundy) lives with son George, and Elizabeth (Snelgrove) lives with daughter Hannah.
Also William dies in 1844 leaving a sizeable estate in his will to Elizabeth. Elizabeth Snelgrove is a reasonably well off grocer in the 51 census, while Elizabeth Bundy is a pauper. Elizabeth Snelgrove dies in 1855 - occupation given as Baker which lines up with the Grocer in 1851, but Elizabeth Bundy is still alive in 1861 now lodging with John Everly as son George had emigrated to Canada. Occupation is given as a Lacemaker.
Most likely Elizabeth Snelgrove is William's only recorded wife, Elizabeth Kennedy (married in 1820) but all christening records list her only as Elizabeth or as Elizabeth Snelgrove. The clue to confirming this might be 1851 census which records her as being from Fisherton (doesn't specify Anger or Delamere) so if there's an Elizabeth Kennedy christened there around the end of the 18th century it would confirm that it's her.
Perhaps I'm speculating too much, but would appreciate any insight from those better versed in the inter-family relationships of those in the parish in the period.
