Woolaston, Gloucestershire Family History Guide
Woolaston is an Ancient Parish in the county of Gloucestershire. Lancaut and Alvington are chapelries of Woolaston.
Alternative names: Wollastone, Woollaston, Woolaston with Alvington
Other places included in the parish: Brockweir
Parish church:
Parish registers begin: 1688
Nonconformists include: Roman Catholic
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Hewelsfield
- Tidenham
- Alvington
- Aylburton
- Hudnalls with St Briavel’s Common
- Tintern Parva Monmouthshire
Parish History
Woolaston
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
WOLLASTONE, or Woollaston, a parish, with a scattered village, in the district of Chepstow and county of Gloucester; on the river Severn, and on the Gloucester and South Wales railway, 5 miles NE of Chepstow.
It has a post-office under Lydney, and a r. station; and is a seat of petty sessions. Acres, 5,416; of which 1,040 are water. Real property, £5,992. Pop. in 1851, 1,110; in 1861, 971. Houses, 229. The manor belongs to the Duke of Beaufort.
The living is a rectory, united with Alvington and Lancant, in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. Value, £640. Patron, the Duke of Beanfort. The church is Norman, and was restored in 1859. There are a national school and charities £8.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1851
Woolaston, a parish in the hund. of Westbury, but locally in that of Blidesloe, union of Chepstow, county of Gloucester; 5 miles north east of Chepstow, on the river Severn.
Living, a rectory, with the curacies of Alvington and Lancaut annexed, formerly in the archd. and dio. of Gloucester, now in the dio. of Gloucester and Bristol; rated at £13 11s. 5d.; gross income £548. Tithes, moduses, &c, commuted in 1810. Patron, in 1841, the duke of Beaufort. In 1833 here were 3 daily schools: one of them endowed with £2 per annum. Endowed charities, in 1827, £8 per annum. Poor rates, in 1838, £318 13s.
The petty-sessions for the forest division are held alternately here and at Newnham. Acres 3,160. Houses 200. A. P. £3,159. Pop., in 1801, 613; in 1831, 880.
Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1851.
Brockweir
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
BROCKWEAR, or Brooks-Weir, a village, on extra-parochial ground, contiguous to Havelsfield parish, in Gloucestershire; on the river Wye, 6 miles N of Chepstow. Pop., 212. Here are a Moravian chapel, built in 1832; and remains of an ancient camp.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1851
Brooks-Weir, or Brockware, a village in the parishes of St. Briavell’s, Huelsfield, and Wollastone, hund. of St. Briavell’s, county of Gloucester; 5 miles north of Chepstow, on the eastern bank of the Wye. It is a place of some trade and activity. Vessels belonging to Bristol ascend the river to this place, for the purpose of receiving goods brought from Hereford and Monmouth in barges on the Wye. The tide seldom flows to any considerable height above Brooks-Weir, except during spring-tides.
Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1851.
Bankrupts
Below is a list of people that were declared bankrupt between 1820 and 1843 extracted from The Bankrupt Directory; George Elwick; London; Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; 1843.
Packer William, sen., Woolaston, Gloucestershire, tanner, Aug. 20, 1833.
Parish Records
FamilySearch
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England, Gloucestershire, Woolaston
Parish Registers
Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences 1689 to 1837
The following have been extracted from Allegations for Marriage Licences in the county of Hampshire. Parishes without a named county are parishes within the county of Hampshire.
CORNISH, Richard, of Woolston, co. Somerset [ sic, ? Woolstone or Wollastone, co. Gloucester ], gent., 21, b., & Elizabeth Batcheler, of Andover, 21, sp., at A.,
11 Sep., 1799.
Source: Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences Granted by the Bishop of Winchester. 1689 to 1837 Published 1893 Editor: William John Charles Moens
Marriages at Woolaston 1696 to 1837
Note. – This parish, described as the Rectory of Woolaston with the chapelry of Alvington, was originally in the diocese of Hereford, the Forest of Dean district having been taken over from Hereford when the diocese of Gloucester was constituted in 1541. The Registers of the Church of St. Andrew, at Woolaston, date from 1688.
Volume I has 20 parchment leaves, not all perfect, measuring 13 ½ inches by 7 ¾ inches, and is bound in cardboard. It contains Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials from 1688 to 1736.
Volume II has 36 parchment leaves, measuring 13 inches by 8 inches. It is bound in leather, and contains Marriages from 1737 to 1755, and Baptisms and Burials to 1796.
Volume III contains Baptisms and Burials only.
Volume IV (in paper cover) contains Marriages from 1757 to 1809.
Volume V contains Marriages from 1809 to 1812. The two last volumes are in conformity with Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act.
Volume VI contains Marriages from 1813 to 1837. All, with the exception of Volume I, are in good preservation.
These Marriages have been extracted by the Rev. W. F. A. Lambert, M.A., Rector of Woolaston with Alvington, who has collated the proof with the Registers.
Transcriptions
Woolaston Marriages 1825 to 1837
John Croome & Charlotte Evans, 25 Jan. 1825
Joseph Lewis & Anne Randell, 16 May 1825
Henry Beach, of Bream, & Mary Roberts, 25 Sept. 1826
Thomas Craddock & Amelia Hawker, 23 Nov. 1826
Henry Price & Maria Croome, 26 Dec. 1826
Charles Williams & Harriet Price, 31 Dec. 1826
Isaac Cleverly & Sarah Long, 23 Jan. 1827
George Hayward, of Lydney, & Eleanor Gilbert, 8 Feb. 1827
William Croome & Anne Phillips, of Chepstow, 13 Sept. 1827
John Garsed, of Newland, & Harriet Brettell, lic., 29 Sept. 1827
Thomas Davies & Sarah Jenkins, 5 Nov. 1827
James Price & Margaret Williams, 4 May 1828
William Thomas & Rachel Reeks, 10 June 1828
John Cox, of Lydney, & Elizabeth James, 22 Sept. 1828
John Spring, of Awre, & Mary Richards, lic., 23 Oct. 1828
George Ball & Anne Ball, 28 Nov. 1828
Thomas Preest, of St. Arvans, & Elizabeth Martin, 9 July 1829
Benjamin Philips & Anne Davies, 13 July 1829
Abraham Morgan & Rebecca Harris, 23 July 1829
Thomas Reeks & Charlotte Thomas, 14 Sept. 1829
William Brittell & Anne Trumper, of Mangotsfield, lic., 18 Oct. 1829
James Williams & Anne Harris, 14 Nov. 1829
William Roberts & Charlotte Powell, 5 Dec. 1829
Thomas Farmer & Sophia Smith, 23 Feb. 1830
William Maddocks, of Alvington, & Elizabeth Drinkwater, 17 May 1830
John Young, of Alvington, & Hester James, 10 June 1830
Daniel Smith & Eliza Thomas, 5 July 1830
Thomas Tullet & Sarah Davies, 8 July 1830
James Davies & Sarah Morgan, 19 July 1830
George Williams & Margaret Davies, 1 Aug. 1830
Isaac Cleverley & Elizabeth Griffiths, of Alvington, 8 Aug. 1830
James Davies & Hannah Wicksen, of Alvington, 8 Aug. 1830
William Maybrey & Sarah Ellaway, 11 Oct. 1830
William Thomas & Eliza Parry, 27 Jan. 1831
William Williams & Harriet Davies, 6 May 1831
George Griffiths & Elizabeth George, 29 May 1831
Francis Young, of Michael Troy, & Eliza Davies, 13 June 1831
Francis Williams & Hannah Roberts, 5 Sept. 1831
George Cox & Hannah Evans, 23 Oct. 1831
John Parker, of Tidenham, & Anne Hicks, 5 Apr. 1832
John Phillips & Elizabeth Price, 23 May 1832
James Henry Ball & Anne Price, 4 Oct. 1832
Thomas Williams & Elizabeth James, 2 Dec. 1832
James Williams, of Alvington, & Mary Ball, 12 Mar. 1833
Samuel Edwards & Mary Maria Morse, 5 June 1833
Adam Barber & Mary Anne Jackson, 4 Nov. 1833
Philip Jones & Sophia Cross, 21 Dec. 1833
Thomas Maddox & Frances Saunders, 16 Apr. 1834
William Morgan & Sarah Stockham, 13 May 1834
William Kear & Ann Richards, 9 Nov. 1834
John Shillam & Margaret Knight, 4 Feb. 1835
John Ball & Elizabeth Lewis, 2 July 1835
William Reavenhill & Emma James, 3 July 1835
George Lewis, of Caerwent, & Elizabeth Symonds, 4 Aug. 1835
Abraham Davis & Mary Ellaway, 5 Aug. 1835
Samuel Croome & Sarah Jones, 31 Dec. 1835
Maurice James & Charlotte, Jottam, 4 Apr. 1836
George Fletcher & Elizabeth Richards, 15 Apr. 1836
James Williams & Ann Williams, 6 May 1836
James Ellaway & Johannah Taylor, 7 May 1836
Daniel Shillam & Anne Eddell, of Alvington, 1 June 1836
Richard Benfield & Susan Biggs, 5 Nov. 1836
Thomas Williams & Anne Cicell, 26 Dec. 1836
Richard Mapps & Ellen Jones, 18 Feb. 1837
Benjamin Davies & Sarah James, 5 May 1837
Source: Gloucestershire Parish Register. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol. XIV. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1908.
Woolaston Marriages 1800 to 1824
George Williams & Mary Pritchard, 26 Dec. 1800
Edmund Woodroffe & Elizabeth Delaroche, lic., 26 Dec. 1801
Thomas Ivans & Susanna Thomas, 6 Apr. 1802
Benjamin Walters & Elizabeth Barber, 3 May 1802
James Reeves & Elizabeth Price, 2 June 1802
William Darby & Betty Ball, 8 June 1802
Thomas Lewis, of Alvington, & Sarah Hicks, 22 June 1802
Richard Crome & Betty Davis, 16 Aug. 1802
Edward Baldwyn & Anne Williams, lic., 1 Jan. 1803
David Jones & Sarah Thomas, 12 Mar. 1803
William Reeves & Ann Knight, 11 June 1804
James Price & Mary Thorn, 18 Sept. 1804
Thomas James, of Newland, & Elizabeth Hoskins, 9 Oct. 1804
Thomas Buckingham & Rebecca Griffiths, lic., 22 Apr. 1805
Charles Barrow, of Castle Combe, co. Wilts, & Elizabeth Holloway, lic., 11 July 1805
John Reeks & Amelia Sims, 25 July 1805
Moses Fisher, of Alvington, & Mary Reeks, 23 Oct. 1805
John Lewis & Prudence Watkins, 2 Dec. 1805
Samuel Joseph Harris, of Gloucester, & Eleanor Thomas, lic., 4 Aug. 1806
James Fletcher & Rachel Edmund, 16 Oct. 1806
George Reeks, of Tidenham, & Elizabeth Thomas, 18 May 1807
Charles Thomas & Alice Mercy, 28 June 1807
Richard Exell & Fanny Reeks, 13 July 1807
James Watts & Sarah Fletcher, 6 Apr. 1808
John Stockham & Mary Rees, 31 May 1808
James Price & Ann Reeks, 13 June 1808
John Price & Elizabeth Owen, 1 Nov. 1808
William Thomas & Martha Williams, 26 Nov. 1808
William Drew & Sophia Lewis, 11 Dec. 1808
George Williams & Anne Ball, 22 May 1809
Samuel Carter & Mary Williams, 24 Dec. 1809
William Ball & Sarah Hyett, 3 May 1810
William Power & Ann Saunders, 17 June 1810
Richard Martin, of Hewelsfield, & Elizabeth Mapps, 27 Mar. 1811
William Williams, a seaman, of Barmouth, & Anne Knight, 23 Aug. 1811
Thomas Harlland & Frances Excell, 16 Dec. 1811
John George & Rachel Williams, 25 Jan. 1812
William Fletcher & Sarah Evans, 21 Feb. 1813
Richard Croome & Mary Powell, 24 Dec. 1813
William Watkins & Ann James, of Tidenham, lic., 1 Feb. 1814
John Williams & Anne Croome, 7 June 1814
William Howell & Betty Cook, lic., 31 July 1814
John Ball & Sarah Power, 22 Nov. 1814
William Hurdman Jane, of Chepstow, & Hester Hammond, lic., 20 Dec. 1814
John Morgan & Rachel Hoskins, 30 Jan. 1815
Thomas Morgan & Mary Mapps, 2 Apr. 1815
John Barber & Anne Stephens, 16 Apr. 1815
John Croome & Jane Dobbs, 5 Oct. 1815
Benjamin Lewis & Mary Randall, 6 Oct. 1815
Charles Fisher & Mary Harrad, 5 Dec. 1815
David Jones & Elizabeth Jones, 21 Dec. 1815
George Blower & Sophia Reeks, 2 July 1816
John Jones, of Lydney, & Frances Fisher, 15 Oct. 1816
Jacob Reeks & Elizabeth Price, 8 Dec. 1817
William Neale, of Alvington, & Anne Parry, 3 Feb. 1818
Joseph Reeks & Keziah Ball, 21 Apr. 1818
William Davies & Sarah Lewis, 4 May 1818
Francis Dornford & Catherine Maria Forbes, lic., 23 Sept. 1818
John Thomas & Elizabeth Williams, of Tidenham, 6 Oct. 1818
John Thomas & Franciss [sic] Hartland, 27 Oct. 1818
William Ball & Martha Davies, of Bristol, 17 Nov. 1818
Richard Hodges, of Hewelsfield, & Martha Thomas, 18 May 1819
Stephen Clutterbook & Elizabeth Craddock, 13 Dec. 1819
William Jackson, of Ross, & Mary Harvey, 30 Dec. 1819
William Harris & Abigail Shillam, 27 Jan. 1820
Joseph Lewis & Sarah Watkins, 1 June 1820
William Skinner & Elizabeth Davies, 20 July 1820
James Harris & Mary Anne Williams, 26 Aug. 1820
George Lewis & Diana Griffiths, 23 Sept. 1820
Charles Gwilliam, of Newland, & Sarah James, 25 Sept. 1820
Thomas Fisher & Louisa Watts, 30 Jan. 1821
William Maddox & Mary Gilbert, 31 Jan. 1821
George Thomas & Elizabeth Watkins, 28 Feb. 1821
Joseph Williams & Anne Clements, 2 Oct. 1821
John Licel & Ann Jenkins, 30 Oct. 1821
Thomas Vaughan & Jane Evans, 30 Dec. 1821
James Williams & Jane Polkinghorne, 16 May 1822
John Shillam & Sarah Morse, 10 Sept. 1822
Thomas Fletcher & Ann Price, 20 Oct. 1822
Thomas Henry Ball & Elizabeth Hurd, 13 Nov. 1822
William Davies & Sarah Fisher, 26 Nov. 1822
James Vaughan & Mary Blower, 17 Dec. 1822
George Fletcher & Charlotte Lewis, 3 Apr. 1823
Thomas Roberts & Ellen Davies, 8 July 1823
James Maps & Margaret Davies, 28 Sept. 1823
James Bond & Elizabeth Price, 23 Dec. 1823
Roger Jenkins & Hannah James, of Lydney, 31 Dec. 1823
[1824 no Marriages]
Source: Gloucestershire Parish Register. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol. XIV. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1908.
Woolaston Marriages 1785 to 1799
John Weight & Mary Cox, 3 Jan. 1785
George Thomas & Ann Worgan, 2 Mar. 1785
James Price & Margaret Reeks, 23 Mar. 1785
John Ward & Mary Sadler Harris, lic., 10 June 1785
James Davis & Ann Carrier, 26 July 1785
Richard Philips & Jane Ball, lic., 28 July 1785
John Jones & Abigail Price, lic., 15 Oct. 1785
Robert Williams & Sarah Taylor, 22 Dec. 1785
James Foords & Mary Phillips, 15 Aug. 1786
Anselm Moulton, of Tidenham, & Jane Powell, 9 Dec. 1786
James Darby & Rachel Lewis, 1 Feb. 1787
William Knight & Margaret Morgan, 10 Apr. 1787
Edmund Fletcher & Martha Richard, 16 May 1787
Edward Llewellyn & Sarah Cox, 18 June 1787
John Williams & Anne Parry, 9 July 1787
William Carter & Mary Lloyd, 14 Aug. 1787
James Rudge, of Tidenham, & Anne White, lic., 28 Apr. 1788
Thomas Jenkins & Ann Lagas, 12 May 1788
Sampson Mortimer, of Alvington, & Sarah Gwillim, 7 July 1788
William Davis & Elizabeth Worgan, 28 Oct. 1788
William Hayward & Sarah Barber, 1 June 1789
Richard Parry & Sarah Jenkins, 27 Oct. 1789
Samuel Davis & Susannah Hoskins, 18 Jan. 1790
John Thomas, of St. Briavels, & Elizabeth Robert, lic., 22 Jan. 1790
William Thomas & Margaret Martin, 9 Apr. 1790
James Symonds, of Tidenham, & Rachel Swingle, 17 June 1790
William Craddock & Prudence James, 21 Sept. 1790
[1791 no Marriages.]
James Griffiths & Frances Smith, 18 June 1792
Joseph Prosser & Mary Hughes, 15 July 1792
Edmund Ormond & Joyce Williams, 24 Sept. 1792
John Thomas & Mary Morgan, 2 Oct. 1792
Joseph Williams & Mary Jones, 13 Nov. 1792
William Croom & Margaret Knight, 22 Jan. 1793
William Bevan & Ann Lewis, 11 Feb. 1793
John Wheeler & Ann Hughes, 23 Feb. 1793
George Bannister, of Newland, & Charlotte Stephens, lic., 12 Apr. 1793
John Davis & Maria Bayton, 29 July 1793
John James & Mary Thomas, 11 Aug. 1793
Morris James & Elizabeth Tute, 24 Sept. 1793
James Fryar, of Berkeley, & Sarah Howell, lic., 3 Oct. 1793
Thomas Jenkins & Mary Davis, 9 June 1794
John Price & Mary Phillips, 24 July 1794
James Vaughan & Elizabeth Beal, 21 Sept. 1794
Edward Beard & Ann Barber, 7 Oct. 1794
James Williams & Thomasin Bond, lic., 25 Nov. 1794
James Lewis & Ann James, 30 June 1795
John Thorn & Mary James, 25 May 1796
John Blower & Elizabeth Morgan, 18 July 1796
John Bowen & Susannah Hopkin, 27 Sept. 1796
John Wade, of Lidney, & Margaret Thorne, 3 Oct. 1796
David Jones, of Tidenham, & & Francis Griffiths, 20 Nov. 1796
Samuel Evans & Ann Thomas, 6 Dec. 1796
William Barber & Ann Crocket, 27 Feb. 1797
James Griffiths & Margaret Reeves, 19 May 1797
Charles Clark & Dinah Shaw, lic., 19 July 1797
James Dart & Hannah Clarke, of Monmouth, 1 Nov. 1797
Thomas Reeks & Mary Reeks, 28 Dec. 1797
John Rogers & Ann Price, 3 Oct. 1798
James Hughes & Sarah Morgan, 17 Dec. 1798
Henry Hughes & Sarah Stephens, 20 Aug. 1799
Source: Gloucestershire Parish Register. Marriages. Edited by W. P. W. Phillimore, M.A., B.C.L., Vol. XIV. Issued to the Subscribers by Phillimore & Co., 124, Chancery Lane, London. 1908.
Directories
Woolastone Kellys Gloucester Directory 1856
Woolastone, or Woollastone, a village and parish and railway station, 5 miles north-east from Chepstow, 12 south-east from Monmouth, 11 south-west from Newnham, and three-quarters of a mile north from the station on the Gloucester, Swansea and Carmarthen line, situated on the western bank of the river Severn. The village, which is very much scattered, partly lies on the high road from Newnham to Chepstow. It is in the Hundred of Westbury, Union of Chepstow. The church is an ancient and curiously formed structure, in the Norman style; living, a rectory, worth about £800 yearly, with residence, in the archdeaconry of Gloucester and bishopric of Gloucester and Bristol; patron, the Duke of Beaufort; the Rev. Charles Bryan, M.A. is the incumbent, and the Rev. John Browne, B.A., is curate.
Here are chapels for Independents and Wesleyans, and a daily and Sunday school. The acreage is 3,169; rateable value, £4,950. The Duke of Beaufort is lord of the manor, and chief landowner.
Gentry
Blundy Mr
Browne Rev. John, B.A. (curate), Rectory
Purchas Mr. Robert Nathaniel
Traders
Ball Edward, farmer
Brettell Josiah, farmer, Madjett
Butler Charles, blacksmith
Clarke Francis, tanner & currier
Fletcher Joseph, boot & shoe maker, Common
Fletcher William, ‘Old Duke’s Head,’ & butcher
Higgins Henry, farmer, Grange
Higgs James, shopkeeper, Common
Howell Nigel, farmer, Woodside
James John, ‘Swan’
James Thomas, grocer, draper & postmaster
Jones James, beer retailer, Common
Leedham William, shopkeeper
O’Hare John, shopkeeper, Common
Packer William, relieving officer & registrar of births & death for Lydney district
Proctor George, farmer
Proctor John, farmer
Rymer Charles, farmer
Sandford, paper maker
Shillam George Lodge, boot & shoe mkr
Shillam John, shopkeeper & shoemaker, Common
Silcox Thomas, blacksmith
Smith George, parish clerk
Sperrin William, farmer
Stephens James, farmer
Tamplin Richard, ‘Queen’s Head,’ & mason
Wade Thomas, farmer
Willett William, farmer
Williams James, fisherman
Woodroffe John, farmer
Worgan Edward, shopkeeper
Post Office. – Thomas James, receiver. Letters arrive by foot post from Lydney at 9 a.m.; dispatched 6 p.m.; Lydney is also the nearest money order office.
Insurance Agent. – Star Life, W. B. Robinson
Registrar of Births & Death & Relieving Officer (Lydney district), William Packer
Parish Clerk, George Smith.
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: Chepstow
- Probate Court: Pre-1541 – Court of the Bishop of Hereford, Post-1541 – Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)
- Diocese: Post 1835 – Gloucester and Bristol, Pre 1836 – Gloucester
- Rural Deanery: Forest
- Poor Law Union: Chepstow
- Hundred: Westbury (Gloucestershire)
- Province: Canterbury