Alderley Gloucestershire Family History Guide

Status: Ancient Parish

Parish church: St. Kenelme

Parish registers begin:

• Parish registers: 1557
• Bishop’s Transcripts: 1570

Nonconformists include:

Parishes adjacent to Alderley

• Kingswood
• Wotton under Edge
• Hillesley

Historical Descriptions

Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

Alderley, a village and a parish in Chipping-Sodbury district, Gloucester. The village stands on a hill of the Cotwolds, above the confluence of two rivulets, 3 miles ESE of Charfield r. station, and 4 NE of Wickwar; and has a post-office under Wotton-under-Edge. The parish comprises 898 acres. Real property, £1,800. Pop., 98. Houses, 23. The property is not much divided. The hill on which the village stands has yielded many curious fossils. The parish was formerly the boundary of the Kingswood forest. The estate of Alderley was the birthplace of Sir Matthew Hale, and continues to be held by his descendants. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. Value, £2,000. Patron, R. H. B. Hale, Esq. The church is a handsome building, conspicuously situated on the hill; and contains the grave and monument of Sir Matthew Hale.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A Fullerton & Co. N.d.c. [1870-72]

Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850

Alderley, 2 m. S. Wootton. P. 174.

Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850.

Lewis Topographical Dictionary of England 1845

Alderley (St. Kenelme), a parish, in the union of Chipping-Sodbury, Upper division of the hundred of Grumbald’s-Ash, W division of the county of Gloucester, 2 miles (S.S.E.) from Wotton-under-Edge; containing 174 inhabitants. The village is pleasantly situated on an eminence between two streams which unite and fall into the Severn at Berkeley, and commands an extensive and interesting view to the south and south-west. There is a manufactory of cloth which affords employment to between one and two hundred persons. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king’s books at £11 4. 7., and in the gift of R. H. B. Hale, Esq.: the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £155. 5. 8., and there are about 25 acres of glebe. The Rev. Potter Cole was, in 1730, presented to this benefice, which he held till the year 1800. Cornua ammonis and other fossils are found. Sir Matthew Hale, lord chief justice in the reign of Charles II, was born here, Nov. 1st, 1609, and lies interred in the churchyard.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV

The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1840

Alderley, a village and parish in the upper division of the hund. of Grumbald’s Ash, union of Chipping-Sodbury, county of Gloucester; 2 miles south-south-east of Wotton-under-Edge. It is situated on a hill between two rivulets, which here unite and fall into the Avon. Living, a discharged rectory in the archd. of Gloucester and dio. of Gloucester and Bristol; rated at £11 4s. 7d., and in the parliamentary return at £105; gross income £150. Patron, in 1835, R. H. B. Hales, Esq. The celebrated Sir Matthew Hale, lord-chief-justice in the reign of Charles II., was born here on the 1st November, 1609, and was buried in the church, which contains also his monument in marble. In the hill on which the village stands, many curious fossils have been found. The church is a handsome building; and being placed on a hill, forms a prominent and picturesque object. In 1838 there were 2 woollen mills, employing 42 hands, in this parish. This place was formerly the boundary of Kingswood forest. Pop., in 1801, 212; in 1831, 200. Houses 29. Acres 730. A. P. £1,787. Poor rates, in 1837, £181.

Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1840.

Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland 1833

Alderley, co. Gloucester.

P. T. Wotton-under-Edge (108) 2 m. SE. Pop. 233.

A parish in the upper division of Grumbalds Ash, situate on the side of a hill, between two rivulets, which unite here and fall into the Avon; the living is a dis. rectory in the archdeaconry and diocese of Gloucester; val. in K. B. 11l. 4s. 7d.; ann. val. P. R. 105l.; patrons (1829) Mr. and Mrs. Hale. The church being erected on a hill is visible for many miles around. This village was the birth-place of the celebrated judge, Sir Matthew Hale.

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.

Crosby’s Complete Pocket Gazetteer of England and Wales 1815

Alderley, (Glouc.) a parish near Wooton-under-Edge, 5 miles in compass, and situate on the side of a hill between 2 rivulets, which unite and fall into the Avon. It has a handsome church built on an eminence, and remarkable as the burial-place of Sir Matthew Hale, a native of this parish. On some of the adjacent hills are found great number of fossils resembling scollops, serpentine stones, &c. Dist. from Gloucester 22 miles. Population, 197.

Source: Crosby’s Complete Pocket Gazetteer of England and Wales 1815; Baldwin, Cradock & Joy.

Universal British Directory 1791

Alderley, near Wotton-under-edge, is a parish five miles in compass, and lies on the side of a hill between two rivulets, which join and fall into the Avon.  It has a handsome church, with a tower that has curious pinnacles, visible to a considerable distance, which commands an extensive view of the adjacent vale.  It is three miles from Wotton-under-edge, twenty-two from Gloucester, and was formerly the utmost bounds of Kingswood forest.  Its church is on an eminence, though small is neat, and rendered memorable for the burial-place of Sir Matthew Hale, a native of this place.  On some of the hills here, are found great numbers of cockle and oyster shells, or rather fossils resembling serpentine-stones and scallops.

Source: Universal British Directory 1791

Directories

Alderley Kellys Gloucestershire Directory 1863

Alderley is a parish and village, 4 miles east from the Charfield railway station, 20 north from Bath, 20 north east from Bristol, 20 south-south-west from Gloucester, 2 south from Wotton-under-Edge, 10 west-south-west froth Tetbury, and 110 west-north-west from London, In the upper division of Grumbalds Ash hundred, Chipping Sodbury union and county court district, West Gloucestershire, rural deanery of Hawkesbury, Bristol archdeaconry, Gloucester and Bristol bishopric. The church of St. Kenelm, the body of which was rebuilt about 1802, is an embattled stone building, with nave, chancel, square tower (date 1458) with clock and 1 bell; in the churchyard are several old tombs to the Hale family; one a neat monument of black and white marble, In memory of Sir Mathew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, who was born in this parish, and died December 5, 1676, aged 67; the old clock now standing in the tower was the gift of Sir M. Hale; it bears date November 1, 1673. The living is a rectory, value £162 yearly, with residence and 25 acres of glebe land, in the gift of Robert Blagden Hale, Esq., who is also lord of the manor, and held by the Rev. Martin H. Whish, M.A., of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Here is a mixed village school, supported by voluntary subscriptions, together with the weekly payments of the children. The population in 1861 was 98, and the number of acres 878.

Parish Clerk, Joseph Bruton.

Bowyer Edmund, esq. Alderley lodge

Hale Col. Edwd. Blagden. C.B. Mount ho

Hale Robt. Blagden, esq. J.P. Alderley ho

Whish Rev. Martin H., M.A. Rectory

Ashbee Charles, farmer

Hazle William, miller, New mills

Mills George, farm bailiff & steward to R. B. Hale, esq

Minett E. farmer, Lower Park farm

Post Office. — Joseph Bruton, receiver. Letters through Wotton-under-Edge received at 8 a.m; dispatched at 5.20 p.m. Wotton-under-Edge is the nearest money order office.

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.

Alderley Kellys Gloucestershire Directory 1856

Alderley is a township, parish and village, 4 miles east from the Charfield railway station, 20 north from Bath, 20 north-east from Bristol, 20 south-south-west from Gloucester, 2 south from Wootton-under-Edge 10 west-south-west from Tetbury, and 110 west-north-west from London, in the Grumbolds Ash Hundred, Upper Division, Chipping Sodbury Union, West Gloucestershire, Bristol archdeaconry, Gloucester and Bristol bishopric. The church, which was rebuilt about 1800, is a stone building, ornament with embattlements, nave, chancel, square tower with clock and 1 bell. In the churchyard are several old tombs to the Hale family; one a neat monument of black and white marble, in memory of Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, who was born in this parish, and died December 5, 1676, aged 67. The old clock now standing in the tower was the gift of Sir M. Hale; it bears date November 1, 1673. The living is a rectory, worth £162 yearly, with residence and 25 acres of glebe land, in the gift of Robert Hale Blagden Hale, Esq., of Cottles, Wiltshire, who is also lord of the manor. Here is a mixed village school, supported by voluntary subscriptions, together with the weekly payments of the children. The population is 145, and the number of acres 878.

GENTRY.

Bayly John J. L. esq.

Hale Robert Blagden, esq. M.P. Alderley house

Hayward Rev. Wm. Winstone Curtis (perpetual curate of Hillsley)

Penly Mr. Edmund

Whish Rev. Martin Henry, Rectory

TRADERS.

Ashbee Charles, farmer

Bruton Joseph, parish clerk & postmaster

Hazle William, miller

Hopkins Charles, farmer

Minett Edwin, farmer

Letters through Wootton-under-Edge which is also the nearest money order office.

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.

Parish Records

FamilySearch – Birth Marriage & Death records, Census, Migration & Naturalization and Military records – Free

FreeREG – free

Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813 (Ancestry)

Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Records (Ancestry)

Gloucestershire Parish Records (The Genealogist)

The Joiner Marriage Index

England, Boyd’s Marriage Indexes, 1538-1850 (FindMyPast) – free

National Burial Index (FindMyPast) – free

Marriages

Alderley Marriages General Information

Marriages at Alderley 1559 to 1812

Note. – The Registers are in good order. The entries from 1557 to 1647 were transcribed from an earlier volume by Rev. Giles Workman, rector of the parish, about the year 1647. Since that date the Registers have been regularly kept and the entries evidently made at the time the events occurred.

Volume I, which contains the entries of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, from 1557 to 1647, is of parchment. The entries of Marriage are mixed with those of Baptisms and Burials.

Volumes II and III gives the Marriages from 1755 to 1796, and 1798 to 1812. They are on parchment, and are not the usual printed form.

These entries have been extracted by Major-General Robert Hale, of Alderley, and are now printed, after collation with the Register, and under his supervision, by leave of the Rev. C. M. Perking, rector of Alderley.

Source: Gloucestershire Parish Registers. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol X. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1905.

Marriages at Alderley 1559 to 1812 – UK Genealogy Archives

Transcriptions

Alderley Marriages 1798 to 1812

Volume III.

Daniel Hewett & Sarah Painter, of St. Augustine, in the City of Bristol, w., lic., 15 Nov. 1798

Benjamin Farthing, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Mary Vizard, 23 Dec. 1798

Christopher Skinner, of Hillesley, & Mary Andrews, 1 Jan. 1799

William Holliday, of Hawkesbury, & Sarah King, lic., 30 May 1799

John Long, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Betty Jourdan, lic., 16 June 1799

Samuel Frankcom, of Hawkesbury, & Mary Ford, lic., 20 June 1799

Thomas Bartlett & Ann Clark, 29 Nov. 1801

Nathaniel Witcomb & Sophia Stouer, of Kingswood, lic., 14 Apr. 1804

William Povey, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Mary Hill, lic., 11 Oct. 1804

James Collins & Isabel Chappel, 24 Jan. 1805

Isaac Holborow, of North Wraxall, & Mary Penly, lic., 12 June 1806

John Wright & Susannah Williams, 14 July 1806

John Hopkins, of Hawkesbury, & Anne Ravenhill, 23 June 1807

Thomas Saunders, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Nancy Smith, 14 Jan. 1808

Samuel Rouch, of Hillesley, & Ann Lewis, 15 Dec. 1808

John Arthur & Elizabeth Wheatherstone, 1 Jan. 1809

James Roach, of Hillesley, & Ann Bilford, 10 Feb. 1809

Robert Morris, of Sopworth, & Ann Wood, lic., 5 Apr. 1810

Joseph Vines, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Hester Horwood, 9 June 1810

James Phelps, clerk of the parish of Brimsfield, & Mary Ann Blagden Hale, lic., 21 Aug. 1810

Martin Richard Whish, clerk, of the parish of Saint Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, & Elizabeth Blagden Hale, lic., 30 Oct. 1810

James Pope, p. St. George, Hanover Square, London, & Sophia Bruton, 5 Nov. 1810

William Edge, w., & Elizabeth Lewis, 6 Jan. 1811

Thomas Dunn, of Wotton, near Gloucester, & Elizabeth Watts, 18 Feb. 1811

John Greening, of Upton St. Leonards, & Ann Harrison, 17 Apr. 1811

Robert Collier & Susannah Richards, 4 Aug. 1811

Daniel Sittinton, of Stanley St. Leonards, & Mary Hall, 25 Jan. 1812

Samuel Pugh, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Elizabeth Hart, 25 Jan. 1812

Thomas Kington, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Rebecca Crips, 1 June 1812

John Kedington Whish, clerk, of the parish of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, & Anne Blagden Hale, lic., 12 Nov. 1812

Source: Gloucestershire Parish Registers. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol X. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1905.

Alderley Marriages 1775 to 1796

Edward Harris, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Sarah Cross, lic., 17 Aug. 1775

Richard Kilmister & Mary Hale, 25 Jan. 1776

Edward Jordan & Sarah Orchard, 22 Apr. 1776

John Shermer & Sarah Clayfield, 2 Apr. 1776

Francis Broome & Alice Iddols, 14 Apr. 1777

John Lacey & Betty Arters, 20 May 1777

John Lewis & Martha Rodway, lic., 27 Apr. 1778

Charles Elliott & Ann Clayfield, 11 Oct. 1778

Thomas Wall & Mary Chapel, 24 Jan. 1779

Samuel Hook & Hester Rugg, 15 Feb. 1779

Thomas Neal & Caelia Sherman, 23 Mar. 1779

Robert Hayward & Ann Chappel, lic., 3 Apr. 1779

Joseph Bruton & Rebecca Allin, 4 May 1779

Thomas Humphreys & Ann Crew, 18 May 1779

Nicholas Exell & Hannah Orchard, 11 July 1779

John Wood, of Wortley,& Hannah Long, lic., 17 Dec. 1780

John Gill & Ann Hicks, 28 Mar. 1782

Richard Blake & Margaret Ward, 27 June 1782

John Hicks & Mary Stockton, 8 July 1782

William Rummals & Ann Shearman, 23 Feb. 1783

James Churches, of Minchinhampton, & Christian Workman, lic., 20 May 1783

James Chapel & Ann Nichols, 13 Jan. 1784

Edward Tandy & Elizabeth Rodway, 12 July 1784

Francis Clayfield & Ann Hart, 27 Apr. 1786

Daniel Hitchcock & Susannah Jones, 7 May 1786

Alexander Mainstone & Betty Hopkins, 4 July 1786

Joseph Wakefield & Bridget Archard, 11 Feb. 1787

Daniel Davis, w., & Ann Chapple, lic., 5 Apr. 1787

Thomas Cornock & Betty Clayfield, 10 Apr. 1787

Jacob Tanner, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Elizabeth Hitchings, w., 31 Oct. 1787

James Band & Sarah Jordan, 1 Feb. 1789

Aaron Riddiford & Sarah Mainstone, 16 June 1789

Francis Stinchcomb, of Hawkesbury, & Susannah Briton, 10 Nov. 1790

William More Adey, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Sarah Larton, lic., 16 Mar. 1795

Rev. Osborne Wight, clerk, of the parish of Pontesbury, in the county of Salop, & Ann Adeane, 28 Mar. 1795

James Ettery, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Jane Beer, 24 Nov. 1796

Source: Gloucestershire Parish Registers. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol X. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1905.

Alderley Marriages 1755 to 1774

Volume II.

John Stephens & Mary Weaver, 4 Nov. 1755

Daniel Pincott, p. Hawkesbury, & Martha Williams [Note: She is described as “of this parish”, but after this date the residence is rarely given except in the case of foreign parishes. When no parish is named, it may be presumed that the parties were of Alderley.], 13 Jan. 1756

Deane Baily, p. Christ Church, in the city of Bristol, & Heber Larton, lic., 15 July 1757

Francis Clayfield & Alice Higgs, lic., 19 Dec. 1757

Moses Higgs & Mary Hart, 30 Mar. 1758

Samuel Ward, p. Dursley, & Ann James, 28 July 1761

William Ailing, p. Wotton-under-Edge, & Mary Veysey, 14 Sept. 1761

Matthew Cox & Mary Bert, 2 Nov. 1761

Nathan Parslow, of Stroud, & Eliz. Parslow, lic., 31 Dec. 1761

William Lokear & Sarah Coal, 3 Sept. 1762

Robert Cousins & Mary Merrett, 15 Nov. 1762

Thomas Cousins & Mary Cob, 4 Sept. 1763

Stephen Jenkins & Betty Haglet, 15 Oct. 1763

John Gill & Hannah Adkins, 11 Sept. 1764

Luke Griffin & Betty Estmead, 8 Apr. 1765

Thomas Kilmister, w., & Ann Walkley, s., lic., 9 July 1766

Thomas Briton & Mary Chapell, 22 Nov. 1767

Edmund Penly & Mary Gardiner, lic., 17 May 1768

Joseph Turner & Jane Beer, 23 Feb. 1769

James Sims, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Rose Trotman, 28 Mar. 1769

William Skinner & Sarah Teakle, 23 Apr. 1770

Joseph Walker, w., & Anna Maria Gale, lic., 25 July 1770

Joseph Sims, of Wotton-under-Edge, & Martha Lewis, lic., 22 Sept. 1772

Daniel Britain & Sarah Bruton, 25 Nov. 1773

Mathew Mountjoy, p. Biddestone, & Sarah Badge, lic., 14 Dec. 1775 [sic]

Joseph Osborne, p. Westerleigh, & Ann Chandler, lic., 20 Aug. 1774

Matthew Hale, of Hillesley, p. of Hawkesbury, & Mary Cross, 1 Nov. 1774

George Stephens, of Frome, & Mary Exal, lic., 18 Nov. 1774

Source: Gloucestershire Parish Registers. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol X. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1905.

Administration

• County: Gloucestershire
• Civil Registration District: Chipping Sodbury
• Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)
• Diocese: Pre 1836 – Gloucester, Post 1835 – Gloucester and Bristol
• Rural Deanery: Hawkesbury
• Poor Law Union: Chipping Sodbury
• Hundred: Grumbald’s Ash
• Province: Canterbury