Saturday 12 March 2016

William Pritchard (c1757- c1839) - Hereford

It is only thanks to a very generous person that I am able to write about my six times great grandfather – William Pritchard.  Trying to find the maiden name of my five times great grandmother has been a 20+ year brick wall so getting the name of her father and her mother in law in one go is incredible!  So a massive, massive thank you.

William Pritchard (c1757- c1839)

William Pritchard may have been born in 1757. We know his will was proved in 1840 (a copy is on order - see update here - unfortunately it doesn't include the date of death) and a search of the BMD shows a William Pritchard aged 82 dying in November 1839 in Hereford. There is also the following entry on 20th November 1839 in the Hereford Journal (on Find My Past).

On Sunday last died, at his residence, Bridge-street, Mr William Pritchard, in his 84th year, one of the oldest inhabitants of this city.

There is also a burial entry (another Find My Past find).  A William Pritchard, aged 82 years, was buried on 22nd November 1839 at St John's Church, Hereford, Herefordshire, England.

We know William Pritchard and Elizabeth had the following children:

Elizabeth Pritchard (C1780-1840)

Elizabeth Pritchard was born in 1780 (based on recorded age at date of death). She married Robert Mitchell on 22nd August 1802 in Herefordshire, England. She died on 20th December 1840 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. We know she is the child of William Pritchard due to the information provided to me by the generous person mention above -

Robert Mitchell of Birmingham, Saint Philip's Parish, married Elizabeth Pritchard at Saint John the Baptist's Church, Hereford, 22nd August 1802, by License according to the marriage indexes published by the Herefordshire Family History Society.

I later found (on Find My Past!)

Hereford Journal - 23rd December 1840

Dec. 20, aged 60, Elizabeth, relict of the late Mr. Robert Mitchell, of Birmingham, and eldest daughter of the late Mr. William Pritchard, of Wye Bridge-street, in this city.

Ann Pritchard (C1784-1838)

Ann Pritchard was born in 1784 (if the 1838 newspapers notice of the death is correct). She married Thomas Bishop on 16th June 1812 at St Martin's Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. (Thomas Bishop and Robert Mitchell were partners at one point – see Robert and Elizabeth's story here). 


The information I had been given was

Robert and Elizabeth Mitchell were also both witnesses to the marriage of Thomas Bishop and Ann Pritchard at Saint Martin's Church, Birmingham, 16th July 1812. This was also by Licence and fortunately findmypast have the bonds and allegations for Lichfield Diocese, where it states that Bishop was a Dealer and Chapman and Robert Mitchell, a fellow bondsman, was a Jeweller. Ann was a spinster of Saint John the Baptist's Parish, Hereford.

See the actual document at Find My Past -

Ann died according to Aris's Birmingham Gazette (yes another Find My Past find) on the 2nd May 1838 at Hereford.


Aris's Birmingham Gazette May 7, 1838

At Hereford, in her 54th year, Ann, the beloved wife of Mr. Thomas Bishop.

And a lovely entry in the Hereford Times of May 5, 1838

On Wednesday evening last, after a few hours illness, Ann, the beloved wife of Mr. Thomas Bishop, of Wyebridge street, in this city, draper, in the 54th year of her age. She was a kind, tender and affectionate wife and parent, and her premature dissolution will be long and deeply regretted by her family and acquaintance.

Sarah Pritchard (c1787 – 1835)

Sarah Pritchard was born in 1787 (if 48 years old at time of death in 1835). According to Ancestry - Sarah married Thomas Lockett on 26th December 1813 at Saint John Baptist, Hereford, Hereford, England.

Sarah died on 2nd April 1835 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England according to the Hereford Times of the 4th April 1835 (on Find My Past).

On Thursday last, after a lingering and painful illness, borne with great patience and resignation, aged 48, Sarah, the beloved wife of Mr. Thomas Lockett, chemist, of this city.

Catharine Pritchard (c1789 – 1837)

Catharine Pritchard was born in 1789 (a newspaper states she was 48 when she died in 1837).   She married, according to Ancestry, Francis Barrett on 18th January 1818 at Saint John Baptist, Hereford, Hereford, England.

Catharine died in February 1837 according to the Hereford Times of February 11, 1837.

On the 2d inst., in the 48th year of her age, after a lingering illness, which she bore with the greatest fortitude and resignation, Catharine, the beloved wife of Mr. Francis Barratt, of Burghill, in this county, and youngest daughter of Mr. William Pritchard, of Bridge-street, in this city.

Note - Catharine and Francis Barratt appear on numerous trees on Ancestry - but my feeling is that the trees are wrong (in terms of the details for Catharine's parents), and people seemed to have just copied each other as the only evidence/source appears to be other trees, so be careful if you are researching this family.   

As if all the above wasn't evidence enough that these girls were the children of William Pritchard of (Wye)Bridge Street, Hereford - here is a clue from the Herefordshire Wills index search

W 09/04/1840 Pritchard William Hereford Thomas Bishop, Thomas Lockett, Francis Barrett 200.00.00


And this on National Archives

Reference: AW28/15/5
Description: Assignment and further Mortgage
1 Thomas Bishop of Hereford, Mercer, Thomas Lockett of Hereford, Carrier, and Francis Barrett of Burghill, Farmer
2 William Robins of Little Birch, Labourer
3 Mary Mathews of Mantleys, Newent, Glos., widow

Following the assignment to 1 of Wm. Pritchard's interest in the above mortgage, Now: £50 paid by 3 to 1 and £30 to 2.

Date: 25 Jan. 1840

Held by: Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre, not available at The National Archives


Updated 15 March 2016

Following the receipt of William's will we can now add the following details to this family. The will is share by 7 sets of people.

  • Daughter in Law Eliza or her daughter Eliza (Job?) if Eliza dies within William's life time.
  • Son in Law - Thomas Bishop
  • Daughter - Elizabeth Mitchell
  • Daughter - Mary Jennings
  • Son in Law - Francis Barrett
  • Son - Edward Pritchard
  • Children of late son - Thomas Pritchard
Updated 19 March 2016

Hereford Journal 15 July 1835


On Saturday last died, after a short illness, in the 68th year of her age, Elizabeth, the beloved and much la-mented wife of Mr. Wm. Pritchard, sen. of Wyebridge-street, in this city.







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