Stephen Bignell b. 1841

 Introduction - Explanation 

Discovery

I have decided to split the information about this person into two main sections. The first is discovery. Generally the first discovery is from Ancestry Trees and Hints. For the avoidance of repetition, I will not repeat that in the Discovery section for each person. Sometimes the lead maybe from MyHeritage, or other similar genealogy sites. Where that is the case, I will state so. Another lead could be DNA, including Ancestry's ThroughLines, again to be stated.

However, the main point of the discovery section is to create something of a story for the person and his or her life. A  brief synopsis, sometimes over and above that created by Ancestry's AI.

Data Sheet

The next part is the Data Sheet. Designed to be the collection of all the records, and information found about the person. It can include records already shown in the Discovery Section, for completeness of the Data Sheet. However, although the template is structured for lots of possible information, I am sure that there will be times when there will be many gaps, which will be left so, just in case more information comes to light at a later time.

Structure

The structure of the family website is multifaceted. It depends of where you come into the site as to how transparent this is. The most simple page is that of a single person. More complicated is a single family, where there is a father and the articles within for associated people such as wife and children. The next level is multi-generation built around a hub, Articles within articles, generation after generation. With time it slowly grows. Each person within the growing mass, has a single focused article with a similar structure. This method, I think, gives structure to the reader, and to me.

This itself is a snippet which is frequently repeated, and not therefore specific.

Transcription of records is generally shown in this colour.

Census and Voting Registers 

UK Census dates

 UK Census dates from 1911Census.org;

• 1841 Census Sunday 6^th June 1841
• 1851 Census Sunday 30^th March 1851
• 1861 Census Sunday 7th April 1861
• 1871 Census Sunday 2^nd April 1871
• 1881 Census Sunday 3^rd April 1881
• 1891 Census Sunday 5^th April 1891
• 1901 Census Sunday 31^st March 1901
• 1911 Census Sunday 2^nd April 1911
• 1921 Census Sunday 19^th June 1921
• 1931 Census Sunday 26^th April 1931
• 1941 Census -- Not held - WWII --
• 1951 Census Sunday 8^th April 1951
• 1961 Census Sunday 23^rd April 1961
• 1971 Census Sunday 25^th April 1971
• 1981 Census Sunday 5^th April 1981
• 1991 Census Sunday 21^st April 1991
• 2001 Census Sunday 29^th April 2001
• 2011 Census Sunday 27^th March 2011
• 2021 Census Sunday 21^st March 2021

In March, 4; April, 12; June, 2.

• <1939 Register Friday 29^th September 1939>

The Spelling of Surnames

It is commonly accepted that for the printed word, the spelling system became standardised by the end of the seventeenth century. Powerful influences had been the introduction of the printing press (with spelling conventions set by the printers) and the publication of dictionaries. This standardisation was not echoed in the recording of surnames. Famously, Shakespeare had 5 other variants of his name, in his lifetime. Indeed, standardisation did not arrive until the advent of mass literacy in the twentieth century.
In surname studies, there is a complicated relationship between pronunciation, orthography and, presumably, the influence of the standardisation conventions of printed text.

 Bignell - Bignel - Bignall - Bignal - Bignail

Probably due to the times, and general level of illiteracy, the spelling of surnames fluctuates. The current consistent surname is Bignell, and that will be our theme irrespective of the spelling on individual documents, unless stated otherwise.

Research, general digging and discovery

Discovery for Stephen Bignail [Bignell]

Early documents

One of the early documents found was his marriage record.

 The 1861 Census

From the 1861 Census for Bishop's Sutton, Hampshire, England we find Stephen Bignall [Bignell], relationship to head, servant, Unmarried, of 20 years of age with an occupation of Carter. Place of birth Hampshire, Bishop's Sutton. Estimated year of birth 1841.

We need to look at the previous page to get the location, and who the head of the family was.

 Joining the two pages together, there is a potential for something of a story here.

Light blue marker, highlights William and Mary Bignell, Stephen's parents living at Northside Farm.

The next property on the enumerator's walk is Sutton Farm, highlighted in brown. It would therefore appear the Stephen had just moved next door to find work. Not only did he find work but he also found romance. Highlighted in yellow we find Elizabeth A Russell, relationship to head, servant, Unmarried, of 19 years of age with an occupation of Dairy Maid. Place of birth Hampshire, Itchen Stoke. Estimated year of birth 1842.

That romance appears to have resulted in the marriage recorded above, given the proximity, and the matching of names and ages.

The head of the family at Sutton Farm is George Judd, Male, age 46, estimated year of birth 1815 and place of birth Winterslow, Wiltshire, England. He is a farmer of 875 acres, employing 8 men and 3 boys.

George Judd had an entry in Kelly’s Directory of Hampshire 1855 as a Farmer in Bishop's Sutton.

The image below is a repeat of the 1851 Census in Bishop's Sutton, showing the same parents. The siblings shown below have probably moved out to find work, apart from Mary Ann, who, by 1861 Census 13 years of age which matches the entry above. 

The Data Sheet for Stephen Bignail [Bignell]

Probably due to the times, and general level of illiteracy, the spelling of surnames fluctuates. The current consistent surname is Bignell, and that will be our theme irrespective of the spelling on individual documents. 

Baptism

Found by page turning the images of the document instead of using search or hints. Slower, but then I can pick up changes in spelling and/or transcription errors.

 An extract of the Baptism register for Bishop's Sutton, Hampshire, England.

On 11th April 1841, Stephen, son of William and Mary Bignail [Bignell] was baptised. They resided in Bishop's Sutton, abbreviated as Sutton, and his father was a Labourer.

Marriage

 Marriage of Stephen Bignel and Elizabeth Ann Russel in 1863

The marriage in the parish church (of St Nicholas) in the Parish of Bishop's Sutton, in the County of Southampton ( now known as the county of Hampshire)

 On January 22 1863 Stephen Bignel [Bignell], of 22 years of age, a bachelor, whose occupation was recorded as a Labourer residing in Bishop's Sutton, married;

Elizabeth Ann Russell, of 20 years of age, a spinster, residing in Bishop's Sutton,

It was an established church, Church of England marriage by Banns. There appears to be no explicit approval of the wedding in respect of Elizabeth Ann being only 20.

Their fathers were recorded as being  William Bignel [Bignell] and a not recorded person, respectively, the former a Labourer.

Stephen Bignell did not signed his own name and is annotated with X. Elizabeth Russel appears to have signed her own name.

The marriage was in the presence of Henry Bignell and Charlotte Bignell, and conducted by the curate, Henry Watts.

Census and Voting Registers

Children

Elizabeth Ann Bignell nee Russell and Stephen Bignell children's Baptism Records.

Work and locations

Death

Conclusion

Key data about Elizabeth Eldridge and her family.