John LETHBRIDGE, Inventor & Diver

[Fue]

Hi
Whilst visiting the museum at Newton Abbot recently, I came across an exhibition relating to John Lethbridge. He was born in Newton Abbot 1675 and died in 1759. During his life he invented and successfully used a diving engine with which he recovered many treasures from shipwrecks.

Unfortunately there were no details of his family tree other than giving his parents as John and Mary so I was wondering if anybody has him in their tree?

[helduffs]

Hi Fue
There was a celebrity antique programme on the other night which featured John Lethbridge. My mother's maternal family name is Lethbridge and we know that her great grandfather hails from Devon.
On seeing the programme me mum rang and spoke to the museum and they have spent a couple of days researching for her. They reckon that it seems fairly likely that he is one of our ancestors....lots of common factors etc. We do need to do lots more searching and are planning a trip down to view parish records to confirm the link so it is very very early days yet. Will let you know if there is any more progress.

[Fue]

Hi helduffs

Many thanks for that info; could you tell me which episode it was on and/or which celebs featured and maybe I could watch it?

[helduffs]

Hi Fue
Was celebrity antiques roadtrip featuring Tim Brooke Taylor broadcast monday 11th
November either bbc1 or 2.

[Fue]

Thanks, I just got to see it on iplayer before they stopped showing it. They appear to have improved the exhibition since I visited there in 2010 and it looks very impressive.

I hope the museum can throw some light on John Lethbridge's family tree because if I remember correctly I did try to find info on John Lethbridge's baptism and family tree but failed.

Good luck