Toddington Bedfordshire Family History Guide
Toddington is an Ancient Parish in the county of Bedfordshire.
Other places in the parish include: Chalton.
Alternative names: Tuddington
Parish church: St. George
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1540
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1602
Nonconformists include: Baptist, Roman Catholic, Independent/Congregational, Particular Baptist, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Toddington Parish Registers
Search online registers of baptisms, marriages, banns and burials including digitised images of original records and registers and indexed transcriptions.
Baptism Records
These records include indexed transcriptions of parish register baptisms.
Toddington, Bedfordshire Baptisms, 1540-1956
Marriage and Banns Records
These records include indexed transcriptions of parish register marriages and banns.
Toddington, Bedfordshire Marriages, 1558-1955
Death and Burial Records
These records include indexed transcriptions of parish register deaths and burials.
Toddington, Bedfordshire Burials, 1562-1937
Toddington Parish Registers 1540-1812
The Toddington Parish Registers 1540-1812 are available free to read online, with options to download the pdf for personal research
Toddington Parish Registers 1540-1812 Bedfordshire Parish Registers Edited by F. G. Emmison, Clerk of Records, Bedfordshire. Published under the auspices of the County Records Committee of the Bedfordshire County Council, and of the Ven. the Archdeacon of Bedford. Volume XXIII. Bedford: County Record Office, Shire Hall. 1941.
Toddington Parish Registers 1540-1812 Bedfordshire Parish Registers Edited by F. G. Emmison, Clerk of Records, Bedfordshire.
Marriage Licences and Allegations
London Marriage Licences and Allegations 1521 to 1869
The following have been extracted from London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869.
Abbreviations. — B. Bishop of London’s Office; D. Dean and Chapter of Westminster; F. Faculty Office of Archbishop of Canterbury; V. Registry of the Vicar-General of Canterbury.
Ponde, John, gent., of St. Sepulchre, and Anne Hartwell, widow, of same, relict of Abraham Hartwell, clerk, rector of Tuddington, Beds, deceased — at St. Bartholomew, Exchange, London. 1 Sept. 1585. B
Source: London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869; Edited by Joseph Foster; London 1887
Parish History
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
TODDINGTON, a small town, a parish, and a sub-district, in Woburn district, Beds. The town stands 2 miles from Harlington r. station; presents an ancient appearance; is very irregularly built; carries on straw-plait manufacture; and has a post-office under Dunstable, a fine ancient church, three dissenting chapels, a national school, alms houses with £24 a year, other charities £71, and four annual fairs.
The parish comprises 5,390 acres. Real property, £9,946. Pop., 2,433. Houses, 505. The manor, with T. Park, belongs to Major Cooper. T. manor was formerly the residence of the Duke of Cleveland, and of the Earl of Strafford; and it gave concealment for some time to the Duke of Monmouth, after the battle of Sedgemoor. Some Roman antiquities have been found. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely. Value, £830. Patron, J. Clegg, Esq. The sub-district contains six parishes. Acres, 12,812. Pop., 4,913. Houses, 1,012.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
TODDINGTON (St. George), a market-town and parish, in the union of Woburn, hundred of Manshead, county of Bedford, 5 miles (N.) from Dunstable; containing, with Chalton hamlet, 2225 inhabitants, of whom 2001 are in the township of Toddington with Fancot.
This place, which is of remote antiquity, was distinguished as the scene of a battle between the Romans under Aulus Plautius, who encamped his forces on Conger Hill, near the church, and the Britons commanded by their prince Togodumnus; the latter were defeated, with the loss of their leader. In the reign of Henry III., the manor, which was a free warren, was given by that monarch to Sir Paulinus Peyvre, who obtained for the inhabitants a market and other privileges.
The grand manor-house, rebuilt by Sir Paulinus Peyvre, was situated at the distance of a mile from Toddington, and was the seat of his descendants, amongst whom was Sir John Broughton, Lord Cheney, chamberlain to Edward VI. and to Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth, in 1563, passed some time in the manor-house, which was also honoured by a visit from James I., in 1608; it was the residence of the Duke of Cleveland, and of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford.
James, Duke of Monmouth, was concealed in it for some time after the battle of Sedgemoor in 1685. During the civil war of the 17th century, the parliamentary general called Hudibras was encamped with his army at Toddington; and the king, who had posted himself on Sundon hills, occupied a house at Woodend, in the parish, the site of the encampment and the moat surrounding it being still visible.
The town is pleasantly situated on an eminence; the houses are chiefly of ancient appearance and irregularly built. The young persons are principally employed in making straw-plat. The market, granted by charter of Henry III., is on Saturday, but has greatly declined; the fairs are on St. George’s day, the first Monday in June, September 4th, November 2nd, and December 16th: the ancient market-house, which was very spacious, was demolished in 1799.
The parish contains 5437 acres of a rich loamy and gravelly earth; 2718 acres are under tillage. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s books at £29. 2. 11.; net income, £829; patron, W. D. C. Cooper, Esq.; the tithes were commuted for land and corn-rents in 1798. The church is in the later English style, with earlier portions; and is ornamented with grotesque sculptures of various animals. In the interior are several interesting monuments to the descendants of Sir Paulinus Peyvre, and a very costly monument to Henrietta, Baroness Wentworth, who is said to have died of grief, a few months after the execution of the Duke of Monmouth, to whom she had been betrothed.
The Wesleyans and Baptists have each a place of worship; and there are six almshouses. When digging gravel in a field on the estate of Mr. William Harbett, in 1829 and 1830, great quantities of human bones and sculls, several urns containing small bones, the head of a spear, a sword-blade, some beads, and other relics of antiquity, were discovered.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Historical Directory Transcriptions
Kelly’s Directory of the Wine and Spirit Trades, with which are included Brewers and Maltsters 1884
Marked thus * are Small Brewers who brew the beer they sell.
TODDINGTON, Dunstable
Brewers Maltsters & Hop Mers
Green & Co
Source: The Post office directory of the brewers and maltsters [afterw.] Kelly’s directory of the wine and spirit trades, with which are included brewers and maltsters By Kelly’s directories, ltd. 1884
The Post Office Directory of Bedfordshire 1869
TODDINGTON is a large parish and ancient market town, in the hundred of Manshead, union of Woburn, county court district of Leighton Buzzard, rural deanery of Dunstable, archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Ely, about 5 miles south east from Woburn, 15 south from Bedford and one mile and a half from the Harlington station of the Midland Railway. The town has an ancient appearance and is very irregularly built, A gas company has been formed; the works were opened December 21 1863.
Here are National schools for boys and girls; average attendance, seventy girls and fifty boys. Here are places of worship for Baptists, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists; the Wesleyans have a day and Sunday schools here. The straw plait manufacture is carried on here to some extent.
Parish Clerk, James Neale
Post & MONEY ORDER Office & Post Office Savings Bank – Charles Judge, receiver. Letters arrive from Dunstable at 9 am; dispatched at 5.30 pm.
INSURANCE AGENTS:
Norwich Union Fire, David Dunham
Sun Fire & Life, William Horley, jun
Registrar of Births & Deaths, William Horley
National Schools, William Brown, master; Mrs Brown mistress
CARRIERS TO :-
DUNSTABLE Randall from Bedford wednesday & sat
LONDON Thomas Gilbert by the Midland Railway daily
Arnold Mr William
Atkins Misses The Cottage
Burch Rev William Wesleyan
Calthrop James esq Fancott
Clegg Rev John MA JP rector
Cooper Major Cooper JP Toddington Manor
Goodman William Thomas esq
Hicks Denbigh Robert esq
Hicks Miss
Hicks William esq
Morgan Captain, The Park
Osborn Mrs
Smith Mrs
Commercial
Abbis William farmer
Anderson Frederick butcher
Anderson William farmer
Ashby Alfred shoe maker
Ashby George baker
Ashby Job shoe maker
Atwood Ann Mrs farmer
Austee John farmer Chalton
Bailey John beer retailer
Baker George baker
Baker Joseph Bell
Barker Elizbth Mrs straw bonnet ma
Bell Robert linen draper
Bird Richard blacksmith
Boulton William farmer Farcott
Bradshaw David farmer
Bradshaw William corn dealer
Breed Mark farmer
Brewer Joseph beer retailer
Briden Joseph, tailor
Campion John shoe maker
Cleaver James New inn
Cleaver Thomas farmer & miller
Cocks Frederick brewer
Cotching John butcher & farmer
Dover John farmer
Dover William farmer
Dunham David carpenter
Ellis Edward butcher
Emery William grocer & draper
Fane William farmer
Fletcher Emanuel coal dealer
Foll John farmer Fancott
Fox Frederick & Son saddlers
Foxley Joseph baker
Foxon George farmer
Gilbert John carrier & agent for Midland Railway
Gilbert John Queen’s Head
Green John farmer Lodge farm
Hack Alfred farmer
Halley George beer retailer
Hallworth Philip farmer
Hart Joseph beer retailer
Hicks Denbigh Robert surgeon
Hicks William surgeon
Hobbs George butcher
Horley Major builder
Horley William gardener & seedsman
Janes Thomas butcher
Judge Charles watch & clock maker & post master
King John grocer
Kingston John farmer Chalton
McCheyne James chemist
MacJames James stationer & chemist
Major Thomas carpenter
Marlow William beer retailer & farmer
Marriott Stephen farmer
Mead John hair dresser
Metcalf Richard farmer Chalton
Millard James carpenter
Odell John cabinet maker
Osborn John farmer
Osborn Thomas Horley farmer
Philpot George tailor
Philpot Mrs straw bonnet maker
Phipps Frederick farmer Chalton
Pitts Edward plumber
Pitts John grocer & draper
Potts Daniel blacksmith & beer retailer
Potts Henry tailor
Randall William Pheasant
Roberts Benjamin Angel
Roberts John wheelwright
Sear Edmund grocer & baker
Shaw William Sow & Pigs
Sheppard Daniel (Mrs), Griffin & excise office
Shelton Joseph market gardener
Shelton William market gardener
Shrosberry John draper
Simms Thomas Hewitt grocer
Smith John draper
Spittal Joseph beer retailer
Spring John shoe maker
Thackray Sarah (Mrs.) currier & leather dresser & grindery warehouse
Tilzey John shoe maker
Timms Abraham farmer Chalton
Tompkins Charles baker
Valentine John beer retailer
Washington John Star Chalton
Wingrove William shoe maker
Withington Thomas farrier
Worker James plait dealer
Source: The Post office directory of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire By Kelly’s directories, ltd 1869
Administration
- County: Bedfordshire
- Civil Registration District: Woburn
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedford
- Diocese: Pre-1837 – Lincoln, Post-1836 – Ely
- Rural Deanery: Dunstable
- Poor Law Union: Woburn
- Hundred: Manshead
- Province: Canterbury