Evans in Herefordshire

According to census records, John Evans was born about 1796 in Bridstow, Herefordshire. He is believed to be the son of John Evans and Sarah Husbands, also of Bridstow.

John married Susannah Preece in Whitchurch, Herefordshire on 23 Dec 1824. Nothing more is known of Susannah's family at this time.

John and Susannah had seven known children. At the time of their eldest daughter's baptism in Goodrich in 1825, their residence was given as "Glewston" (Glewstone), Herefordshire. According to Littlebury's Directory and Gazetteer of Herefordshire, 1876-7, "Glewstone is a hamlet partly in Goodrich and partly in Hentland. It is distant about 2 miles N. of Goodrich church, and 3 S.W. of Ross." (source)

Their next child, John, was baptised in Bridstow in 1827, as were daughters Ann, Caroline, Martha, Rebecca, and son Thomas. There may have been at least one other son by the name of George Henry; he was baptised in 1841 in Bridstow to John and Susan Evans. Mysteriously, there is also another John Evans baptised in 1835 in Bridstow, again to John and Susan Evans. Since neither George Henry or John (1835) appear on any census record, it is not possible to say whether they were part of John and Susannah's substantial brood.

It is believed that John and Susannah passed away at around the same time, in early 1870.

Sarah Evans was baptised in Goodrich Parish on 30 Sep 1825. She is the first known child to John and Susannah. In 1851 she was living and working as a servant for a clergyman and his family in Newnham St, Newnham Gloucestershire. She married Charles Whitcombe (c1821) in Ross District in 1854. Click here for further information about Sarah and Charles'  life and family.

John Evans was baptised 23 Sep 1827 in Bridstow, Herefordshire. He married Eliza Smart (1839) in Ross, Herefordshire on Christmas Day, 1864. The marriage was precluded by the banns, in which the intended marriage was announced three times (once a week for three weeks) in the home parish church of each party to allow folk to raise any impediment to the marriage. More information about John and Eliza's life and family can be found here.

Ann Evans was baptised in Bridstow on 29 Nov 1830. She married Edward Powell, a labourer from Upton Bishop, Herefordshire, on 29 Oct 1857 at Upton Bishop (St. John the Baptist's?). Upton Bishop is on the border between Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. In 1861 the couple were living at "The Downs" (Phocle Green, Upton Bishop) with their first son Edward Charles Powell, who had been born in Marstow, Herefordshire in 1858. They were in Drybrook, Gloucestershire in 1871, then returned to Phocle Green. More information about Ann and Edward's life and family can be found here.

Caroline Evans (1833) was baptised 16 Feb 1833 in Bridstow Herefordshire. It is believed she married William Powell (1836) in Dec QTR 1856. Their children were born in Marstow, Hentland, Whitchurch and Goodrich, and in 1881 they were living almost next door to Caroline's sister Sarah (Whitcombe). More information about Caroline and William's life and family can be found here.

Thomas Evans (1838) appears on the 1841 census for this family as a two-year-old. He was baptised 12 Aug 1838 in Bridstow to John and Susan Evans. After 1841, there is no further appearance of Thomas; it is believed he died as a youngster.

Rebecca Evans (1843) was baptised in Bridstow, 12 Mar 1843. She married Edwin Partridge (c1841) in mid-1864 in Ross District. Rebecca and Edwin had eight known children and it's believed Rebecca also had a son, Henry Evans, in 1860. This family were living in Marstow and Llangarron for the censuses, and their children were born in Marstow, Whitchurch, Goodrich and Llangarron. More information about Rebecca and Edwin's life and family can be found here.

Martha Evans (1846) was baptised 15 Mar 1846 in Bridstow. In 1871 she was living in Everton, Liverpool Lancashire, working as a servant for the Ellison family. It's believed she married David Nicholas (c1837, probably in Llanfyllin, Montgomery, Wales) in West Derby District, Liverpool in late 1874. In 1881 the family are living in Mozart Street, Toxteth Park (Liverpool) with four children: the eldest boy, John, is likely from a previous marriage of his father's. Martha and David had five children together that we know of, and they continued to live in Toxteth Park as far as 1901. More information about Martha and David's life and family can be found here.