Abson and Wick Gloucestershire Family History Guide
Table of Contents
Abson and Wick is a parish in Gloucestershire.
Alternative names: Abson-cum-Wick, Wick and Abson.
Other places in the parish include: Holybrook, Bridgegate or Bridge Yate.
Parish church: Abson, St. James; Wick, St. Bartholomew (consecrated 1850).
Parish registers begin: 1687
Nonconformists include: Independent/Congregational and Wesleyan Methodist.
Parishes adjacent to Abson and Wick
Historical Descriptions
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
Abson, Abston, or Abbotston, a village and a parish in Chipping-Sodbury district, Gloucester. The village stands on a small tributary of the Avon, 3 miles SE of Mangotsfield r. station, and 7 E by N of Bristol. The parish contains also the villages of Bridgegate and Holbrook; and is sometimes called Abson-cum-Wick, and sometimes Wick and Abson. Post-town, Wick under Bath. Acres, 2,315. Real property, £5,541. Pop., 833. Houses, 185. The manor belonged to the abbey of Glastonbury, passed to the see of Bath and Wells, and was purchased by Henry VIII. An abrupt rocky hill, about 200 feet high, adjacent to Abson village, shows vestiges of an ancient camp. Tog hill was the scene of Sir Ralph Hopton’s defeat of the parliamentary forces in 1643. Roman coins and urns have been found. The living is a p. curacy, united to the vicarage of Pucklechurch, in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Leonard's Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850
Absom with Wick, 4 miles N. W. Chipping-Sodbury. P. 794.
Source: Leonard's Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850.
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1840
Abson, Abston, or Abbotston, a chapelry in the parish and hund. of Pucklechurch, Chipping-Sodbury union, county of Gloucester; 7 miles east by north from Bristol. It includes the hamlets of Wick, Berdwick, Church-Eight, and Holybrook. Living, a curacy united to the vicarage of Pucklechurch, in the archd. of Gloucester and dio. of Gloucester and Bristol. The manor of Abson anciently belonged to the abbey of Glastonbury; it was afterwards annexed to the see of Bath and Wells, but purchased by Henry VIII. Pop., in 1801, 571; in 1831, 824. Houses 159. Acres 2,170. A. P. £5,219. Poor rates, in 1837, £283. Above the village of Abson, rises a rocky perpendicular hill to the height of above 200 feet, consisting of alternate strata of limestone and petrosilex. In the vicinity are vestiges of an ancient camp. — At Toghill, in this parish, Sir Ralph Hopton defeated the parliamentary forces in 1643. The battle lasted nearly twelve hours.
Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1840.
A Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland 1833
Abson With Wyke, co. Gloucester.
P. T. Bristol (114) 7 m. E b N. Pop. 715.
A parochial chapelry, including the hamlets of Bordwick, Church, Eight, and Holybrook. Church ded. to St. James; subject to vicar of Pucklechurch.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland by John Gorton. The Irish and Welsh articles by G. N. Wright; Vol. I; London; Chapman and Hall, 186, Strand; 1833.
A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom 1808
Abston, a small township united with Wick, in the parish of Pucklechurch, Gloucester; containing; 111 houses and 571 inhabitants, 7 miles from Bristol. Here are the remains of some old fortifications. Near it is a field called the Castler, where remain three monumental stones, erected in 577 for three British chiefs, from Chevelin, slain in battle near this place. A dark coloured stone produced here, and burned into lime, makes excellent terras.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom. Benjamin Pitts Capper. 1808.
Parish Records
Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813 (Ancestry)
Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Records (Ancestry)
England, Boyd's Marriage Indexes, 1538-1850 (FindMyPast) - free
National Burial Index (FindMyPast) - free
Directories
Abson and Wick Gloucestershire 1876
Abson and Wick are two villages, forming a parish in Chipping Sodbury union, containing, by the census of 1861, 833, and in 1871, 838 inhabitants, and 2315 acres, in the deanery of Hawkesbury, archdeaconry of Bristol, diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, hundred of Pucklechurch, West Gloucestershire; 3 miles south-east from Mangotsfield Station on the Bristol and Birmingham Railway, 7 east from Bristol, 7 north-west from Bath, 7 south-west from Chipping Sodbury, and 113 from London ; on the old road from Bath to Bristol, and on the river Boyd. The living is a chapelry, with that of Westerleigh annexed to the vicarage of Pucklechurch, in the incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Boucher Coney, M.A., honorary canon of Bristol and rural dean, and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Wells; joint annual value £750. The church, dedicated to St. James, is an ancient edifice in the Early English style, consisting of nave, chancel, and porch, with tower containing a peal of six bells. There is a National School for children of both sexes, with residence for the master. The Independents and Wesleyans have places of worship here. Lead, tin, and coal, have been dug in the parish. Mr. James Tolman is lord of the manor.
Wick is a village about 1½ mile south, situate in the midst of a beautiful romantic valley, through which the river Boyd passes, and for three-quarters of a mile runs between rocks, which rise in some places above 200 feet from the level. At the northern extremity of these hills are the remains of a Roman camp, which extend over about 12 acres, and contain several cottages ; it is oblong, and was defended on three sides by a double Callum and broad ditch. Some Druidical stones, about 5 feet high, exist in a field near Tracey Park. The rocks produce the sparry substance known as the “Bristol diamonds.” A new church, dedicated to St. Bartholmew, capable of seating 400 persons, was consecrated in April, 1850.
Bridgeyate, or Bridgate, and Holybrook, are hamlets of the above parish, the former being a polling-place for the Western Division of Gloucestershire. The rateable value of this parish is £4205.
Abson.
Sommerville Mrs. Ann, Bridgeyate house
Trades and Professions.
Anstee Edward, farmer
Bryant Henry, shopkeeper
Harrington Thomas, gardener and parish clerk
Jefferis Leonard and Thomas, builders, timber merchants, and carriage builders, Bridgeyate
Marshall Henry, farmer
Perry John, lime burner and farmer
Perry Mark, farmer
Perry Matthew, farmer, Highfield
Perry Richard, farmer
Perry William, farmer
Pow William, Jun., “White Hart” inn, Bridgeyate
Watts Worthy, farmer, Bridgeyate
Willshire, Charles, farmer
Young Nathaniel, “Griffin” hotel (good stabling), Bridgeyate
Wick.
Gentry.
Ashley Jacob, Esq., The Lawn
Chitt Miss Sarah
Trades and Professions.
Amos Samuel, tailor
Amer Mrs. Sarah, farmer and limeburner, Bury house
Amos Henry, farmer, Lime Brook farm
Amos Samuel, tailor
Ashley Jacob, surgeon, The Lawn
Batterbury J. H., “Crown”
Bedford William, farmer and cattle dealer, Bridgeyate
Boughton Henry, shopkeeper, Bridgeyate
Bryan George, carpenter and wheelwright
Bryant Henry, shopkeeper
Dare Frederick, miller and farmer
Davis John, farmer
Downs Thomas Beames, miller
England Job, farmer
Fussell James, farmer
Gunning John, farmer, Holybrook
Gunning William, mason
Heming William, wheelwright, carpenter, and builder
Jones F. F., commission agent, Wick court
Lyle Samuel, mason and shopkeeper
Lyle Miss, dressmaker
Matthews Henry, farmer, Cold Harbor farm
Mills Joseph, miller, Wick New mills
Mizen Reuben, farmer
Nelms Guy, farmer
Nowell Charles, shopkeeper and sub-postmaster
Packer James, blacksmith
Pritchard Charles, farmer
Phipps Samuel and Brothers, plate and sheet iron manufacturers, Iron Rolling mills
Sahker James, “Carpenters' Arms”
William James and Joseph, plasterers and tilers, Holybrook
Williams Enos, farmer
Post Office - Charles Nowell, sub-postmaster. Letters from Bath arrive at 9 a.m., dispatched at 3 p.m. Kingswood is the nearest money order office.
Source: Morris & Co.’s commercial Directory & Gazetteer of Gloucestershire with Bristol and Monmouth. Second Edition. Hounds Gate, Nottingham. 1876.
Abson and Wick Kellys Gloucestershire Directory 1863
Abson-cum-Wick is a parish and village, 4 miles east from Keynsham railway station, 7 east from Bristol, 7 north-east from Bath, 7 south-west from Chipping Sodbury, 3 south-east from Mangotsfield railway station, and 113 from London, in Pucklechurch hundred, Chipping Sodbury union and county court district, West Gloucestershire, rural deanery of Hawkesbury, Bristol archdeaconry, and Gloucester and Bristol bishopric. It is situated on the river Boyd, the old road from Bath to Bristol running through the parish. The church of St. James is an old stone building, with square tower, in the Early English style, and has been repaired; it has nave, chancel, porch, organ, font, two monuments, and 6 bells. The living is a chapelry, annexed to Pucklechurch, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Wells; the Rev. Thomas Boucher Coney, M.A., of Balliol College, Oxford, rural dean, is the incumbent; the Rev. Thomas Crossley, M.A., of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, is the curate. There are chapels for Independents and Wesleyans; also a small National school for boys and girls, with residence for the master. Lead, tin, and coal are found in this parish. The population in 1861 was 833; and the acreage is 2,315. The soil is loamy; the subsoil is chiefly rock. Messrs. Batterbury and Tolman are lords of the manor; and Mr. Batterbury and the Drummond family are chief landowners.
Wick is a portion of the parish of Abson, from which it is distant 1 mile and a half south, on the Bath and Bristol road. It is situated in a beautiful and romantic valley, through which runs the river Boyd; but the most remarkable objects of attraction are The Rocks, great natural curiosities, formed on each side of a deep glen, about three-quarters of a mile in length, and rising in some places to above 200 feet in height. There is a beautiful sparry substance found on them in many places, called rock, or Bristol, diamonds. On the summit of the northern cliff is a fine Roman camp: its form is oblong, and it is defended on three sides by a broad ditch and double vallum; the interior contains about 12 acres of land and several cottages. In a field near Tracey Park are two large stones, about five feet high, said to be the remains of Druidical monuments erected to British chiefs. A new church (St. Bartholomew's) was finished and consecrated in April, 1850; it is in the Early English style; the altar-rail, choir screen, stalls and pulpit are of oak; the font is of Pennant stone. It will afford accommodation for 400 persons. Here are two iron rolling mills.
Cold Harbour, Lime Brook, Tog Hill, and Highfield are farms. Bridge Yate is a polling-place for the western division of the county. Holybrook and Bridgegate, or Bridge Yate, are hamlets in the parish of Abson-cum-Wick.
Parish Clerk, John Harrington.
Abson.
Saunders Wm. esq. Bridge Yate house
COMMERCIAL.
Camery Joseph, farmer
Harrington John, gardener
Hoskins Edwd. White Hart, Bridge yate
Jefferis Leonard, carpenter, builder & timber dealer, Bridge yate
Jefferis Thomas, carpenter & blacksmith, Bridge yate
Marshall Henry, farmer
Perry & Oakford, lime burners
Perry Henry, beer retailer
Perry Mark, farmer
Perry Matthew, farmer, Highfield
Perry Richard, farmer
Perry William, farmer
Saunders Sarah (Mrs.), farmer, Bridge yate
Sparrow John, farmer. Bridge yate
Summerhill Thomas, farmer
Wakefield John, farmer
Wall James, farmer
Letters are received through Wick
Wick.
Ashley Jacob, esq
Chitt Miss Sarah
Cole Capt. Thomas Henry
Hyatt Mrs. Wick green
Syle Mrs. Rose cottage, Bridge yate
Woodward Mrs.
COMMERCIAL.
Amos Henry, farmer, Lime Brook farm
Amos Samuel, tailor
Ashley Jacob, surgeon
Batterbury John Hen. farmer, Wick crt
Bedford Wm. farmer & cattle dealer
Boughton Henry, shopkpr. Bridge yate
Britten William, beer retailer
Bryan Wm. carpenter & wheelwright
Bryant Henry, shopkeeper
Davis James, Crown
Downs Thomas Beams, miller
Edmonds David, iron merchant & iron forger, Iron rolling mills
Edwards Mary (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Eyles William, miller
Gibbs William, farmer & lime burner, Wick rocks
Gooderep John Michael, farmer
Gunning William, mason
Heming William, wheelwright, carpenter & builder
Higgins William, iron merchant & Iron works, Boyd's iron forge
Holloway James, farmer, Wilks's farm
Kidd George Edward, farmer
Knapp Richard, farmer
Mathews Hy.farmer,Cold Harbour farm
Mizen John, farmer, Holybrook
Mizen Reuben, farmer
Nelms Guy, farmer
Nelms John, farmer
Nowell Charles, shopkeeper
Packer Edwin, tiler & plasterer
Packer James, blacksmith
Packer Joseph, shoemaker
Pritchard Isaac, farmer
Smallcombe Isaac, farmer, Holybrook
Williams John, shopkeeper, builder, plasterer, tiler & beer retlr. Holybrook
Young Thomas, Carpenters' Arms
Post Office. — Charles Nowell, receiver. Letters from Bath arrive at 9 a.m.; dispatched at 3 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Keynsham.
National School, George Malcomber, master; Mrs. F. Malcomber, mistress.
Source: Post Office Directory of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and the City of Bristol, Printed and Published by Kelly and Co., Old Boswell Court, St. Clement’s, Strand, London. 1863.
Abston Kellys Gloucestershire Directory 1856
Abston, with Wick, forms a township, parish and village, 4 miles east from Keynsham railway station, 7 east from Bristol, 7 north-east from Bath, 6 south-west from Chipping Sodbury, 3 south-east from Mangotsfield railway station, and 113 from London, in Pucklechurch Hundred, Chipping Sodbury Union, West Gloucestershire, Bristol archdeaconry, and Gloucester and Bristol bishopric. It is situated on the river Boyd, the old road from Bath to Bristol running through the parish. The church of St. James is an old some building, with square tower, in the early English style, and has lately been repaired; it has nave, chancel, porch, organ, font, two monuments, and 6 bells. The living is annexed to Pucklechurch, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Wells; the Rev. Thomas Boucher Coney, M.A., is the incumbent; the Rev. G. Butterfield is the curate. There are chapels for Independents and Wesleyans; also a small National school for boys and girls, with residence for the master. Lead, tin, and coal are found in this parish. The population, in 1851, was 826; and the acreage is 2,315 acres. The soil is loamy; the subsoil is chiefly rock. Richard Hayne, Esq., is lord of the manor; and Mr. Hayne and Miss Drumond are chief landowners.
Wick is a hamlet in the parish of Abston, from which it is distant 1 ½ miles south, on the Bath and Bristol road. It is situated in a beautiful and romantic valley, through which runs the river Boyd; but the most remarkable object of attraction is the rocks, a great natural curiosity, formed on each side of a deep glen, about three quarters of a mile in length, and rising in some places to above 200 feet in height. There is a beautiful sparry substance found on them in many places, called rock or Bristol diamonds. On the summit of the northern cliff is a fine Roman Camp; its form is oblong, and is defended an three sides by a broad ditch and double vallum; the interior contains about 12 acres of land, and several cottages. In a field near Tracey Park are several large stones, about five feet high, and said to be the remains of Druidical monuments, erected to British chiefs. A new church was finished and consecrated in April, 1850, dedicated to St. Bartholomew. It is in the early English style; the altar-rail, choir, screen, stalls and pulpit are of oak; the font is of Pennant stone. It will afford accommodation for 400 persons. Holybrook and Bridgegate, or Bridge Yate, are villages in this township. Here are Rolling Iron Mill and Boyd Iron Mill. Cold Harbour, Lime Brook, Tog Hill, and High field, are farms. Bridge Yate is a polling place for the Western division of the county.
Abston.
Saunders William, esq. Bridge Yate house
Traders
Bryan James, farmer
Camery Joseph, farmer & beer retailer
Harrington John, parish clerk & gardener
Hudd – , lime burner
Jefferis Leonard, carpenter, builder & timber dealer, Bridge Yate
Jefferis Thomas, carpenter & blacksmith, Bridge Yate
Marshall Henry, farmer
Perry David, farmer
Perry Henry, beer retailer, surveyor of roads & assistant overseer
Perry Matthew, farmer
Perry William, farmer & beer retailer
Saunders John, farmer, Bridge Yate
Sparrow John, farmer, Bridge Yate
Summervill Thomas, farmer
Trubody Thomas, “White Hart,’ Bridge Yate
Wakefield John, farmer
Wilmot Robert, farmer, Bridge Yate
Wick.
Gentry.
Ashley Jacob, esq
Boulton Thomas, esq
Butterfield Rev. George, Wick court
Chitt Miss Sarah
Cole Capt. Thomas Henry
Syle Mrs. Rose Cottage, Bridge Yate
Woodward Mrs.
Traders.
Allen Moses, shoemaker, Holybrook
Amos Henry, farmer, Lime brook farm
Amos Samuel, tailor
Amos William, ‘Crown’
Ashley Emma (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Ashley Jacob, surgeon
Ashley Samuel, farmer & lime burner, Wick rocks
Bedford Wm. farmer & cattle dealer
Boughton Henry, shopkpr. Bridge Yate
Brain George, shoemaker
Britten William, beer retailer
Bryan Daniel, tailor
Bryan Wm. carpenter & wheelwright
Crew Henry, farmer, Toghill farm
Davis Edward, shoemaker
Downs Thomas Beams, miller
Edmonds David, iron merchant & iron forger, Iron rolling mills
Edwards George, shopkeeper
Gibbs Moses, farmer, Highfield farm
Gibbs Wm. farmer, Highfield Lodge farm
Gooderep John Michael, farmer
Gunning William, mason
Heming Elizabeth (Miss), schoolmistress
Heming William, wheelwright, carpenter & builder
Holloway James, farmer, Wilks’s farm
Hyatt Henry, miller
Kidd George Edwd. Carpenter & farmer
Knapp Richard, farmer, Wick court
Knight George Toghill, ‘Carpenters’ Arms,’ & postmaster
Lambert Emily (Miss), schoolmistress
Mathews Hy. farmer, Cold Harbour farm
Mayberry Margaret (Mrs.), iron merchant & iron works, Boyd iron forge
Mizen John, farmer, Holybrook
Mizen Reuben, farmer
Nelms Guy, farmer
Nelms John, farmer
Nowell Charles, shoemaker
Packer James, blacksmith
Packer Joseph, shoemaker
Packer Samuel, tiler & plasterer
Pritchard Isaac, farmer
Smallcombe Isaac, farmer, Holybrook
Williams John, shopkeeper, builder, plasterer, tiler & beer retlr. Holybrook
POST OFFICE. – George Toghill Knight, receiver. Letters from Bath arrive at 12 a.m.; dispatched at ½ past 2 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Keynsham.
Source:Post Office Directory of Gloucestershire with Bath and Bristol. Printed and Published by Kelly and Co., 19, 20 & 21, Old Boswell Court, St. Clement’s, Strand, London. 1856.
Administration
- County: Gloucestershire
- Civil Registration District: Chipping Sodbury
- Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)
- Diocese: Gloucester and Bristol
- Rural Deanery: Hawkesbury
- Poor Law Union: Chipping Sodbury
- Hundred: Pucklechurch
- Province: Canterbury
- Petty Sessional Division:
- Couty Court District: Chipping Sodbury