Rev. Henry Girdlestone

Christening at Wells 13 Sep 1785: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JS8T-FWG : 6 December 2014), Henry John Girdlestone in entry for Henry Girdlestone, 13 Sep 1785; citing Wells, Norfolk, England, reference 85; FHL microfilm 2,149,772.

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http://www.thepeerage.com/p19817.htm#i198168
"Reverend Henry Girdlestone was born on 11 September 1785 at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England. He married Elizabeth Anne Bolton, daughter of Thomas Bolton and Susannah Nelson. He died on 1 February 1871 at age 85 at Landford, Wiltshire, England.
He was Rector at Colton St. Andrew, Norfolk, England. He was Rector at Landford, Wiltshire, England."
(Last updated Oct 2016.)

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According to Venn, and checked with Trinity College via email (Mar 2018), Henry Girdlestone was the son of Henry John Girdlestone of Wells in Norfolk. He was admitted to Trinity on 3 July 1804, though College records suggest 1805/6 was his examination year, and migrated to St Catharine’s on 7 April 1807, whence he graduated BA in 1809.
Possibly "just a late starter – perhaps he tried something before and failed at it or changed his mind. The period from Michaelmas Term 1805 to Lent Term 1809 would have been the standard for the BA degree."

Online version of this volume of Venn (part 2, vol. iii), on the Girdlestone page, can be found here. Henry's online entry, enhanced since publication, is also available here. The full entry reads as follows:
Girdlestone, Henry. Adm. pens. at TRINITY, July 3, 1804. S.of Henry John, of Wells, Norfolk. Matric. Michs. 1805. Migrated to St Catharine's, Apr. 7, 1807; B.A. 1809.
Ord. deacon (Norwich) 1808; priest, June 21, 1812. R. of Colton St Andrew, Norfolk, 1815-71. R. of Landford, Wilts., 1833-71. Author, Sermons and tracts; The Hope of Israel, 1842, etc. Disappears from Crockford, 1872. Father of Francis G. (1852). (Crockford; Scott, MSS.; Foster, Index Eccles.)
(Pens. = pensioner, which means he was a full-fee-paying student. Crockford refers to Crockford's Clerical Directory).

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Marriage at West Bradenham church. 1791-1815 > image 9 of 12; Record Office, Norwich.
Emma Hamilton, Thomas Bolton and Richard Watson(?) were witnesses. Rev. William Bolton, uncle to both bride and groom (they were first cousins) officiated.
See attached source and original document here: "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D4J3-5PZ?cc=1416598&wc... : 25 June 2014), West Bradenham > Marriages >

Beloved Emma: The Life of Emma, Lady Hamilton, by Flora Fraser, tells us that she was guest of honour, that was Emma's last visit to Norfolk, and that Horatia was with her.

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Elizabeth and Henry were first cousins (her father, Thomas Bolton, was brother to his mother, Ann Bolton).

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From notes written by Rev. G. Girdlestone, Rector 1872, on the history of the church:

From the list of rectors: 1833 Henry Girdlestone, 1871 Francis G. Girdlestone, 1885 William M. Dewe. It says "In 1858 Francis Girdlestone was licensed “Curate” to the Parish, his father the Rector, then in his 74th year and in ill health, requested him to take charge of the Parish, he was therefore 13 years curate in charge previous to his induction as Rector in April 1871.
The Revd Robert Eyre possessed a theological library of some 200 volumes including the works of Bishops Andrews, Stilling fleet, Burnet, and other Divines of their period. These volumes were devised by the Will of Lady Nelson to her nephew, the Revd Francis G. Girdlestone, as Rector of Landford and to his successors. (These have been stored in packing cases)."
(Unfortunately, the source of this information, https://landfordchurch.wordpress.com/history-of-landford-church/ has been taken down.)

The Clerical Guide, and Ecclesiastical Directory, 1836 says that he was appointed to Colton around 1815.

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Henry Girdlestone Sr wrote a number of books, which can be seen in Worldcat here. The Hope of Israel is available as a free ebook on Google Books.

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About Colton church: Norfolk Churches - Colton

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About Landford:

General history: https://landfordnews2.wordpress.com/history-of-landford/

This source quotes from Kelly's Directory of Wiltshire for 1855, which states that, 'The church of St. Andrew presents nothing worthy of notice' and goes on to say that "in 1856 the church was so dilapidated that the Vestry meeting decided that it was past repair. Subscriptions were started to build a new church on the site with Countess Nelson giving £1,000 and the Rev. Henry Girdlestone giving £100. The architect was William Butterfield and the builder John Crook of Whiteparish. The church was almost entirely rebuilt at a cost of £1,490 with beams from the earlier church being used for woodwork in the porch. The new church had a nave, chancel, south transept, vestry, a south chapel containing monuments from the old church, a porch and a bell turret with 3 bells. It was consecrated on 7th October 1858. In 1882 the building was enlarged by raising the roof of the vestry and creating a north transept while adding a new vestry to the east.""

This National Archives item is an "Order of exchange of lands. Place: Landford, Wiltshire. Parties: Dowager Countess Nelson and W F Webb Date: 1854 Mar 21"

This BBC Domesday Book item gives more information about the Countess Nelson, who was Rev. Girdlestone's brother-in-law's wife, Frances Elizabeth Nelson, Countess Nelson of Trafalgar and of Merton

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CENSUS RECORDS

Name Henry Girdlestone
Event Type Census
Event Date 1841
Event Place Landford, Wiltshire, England
Residence Note Landford Rectory
Gender Male
Age 55-59
Age (Original) 55
Birth Year (Estimated) 1782-1786
Registration District Alderbury Union
Parish Landford
County Wiltshire
Page Number 9
Registration Number HO107
Piece/Folio 1176/7
Henry Girdlestone M 55-59
Elizabeth Girdlestone F 50-54
Henry Girdlestone M 25-29
Elizabeth Girdlestone F 20-24
Horatio Girdlestone M 20-24
Anne Girdlestone F 15-19
Maurice Girdlestone M 12
Francis Girdlestone M 8
Ellen Bolton F 20-24
Jane Billing F 20-24
"England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M73Y-9M6 : 13 December 2017), Henry Girdlestone, Landford, Wiltshire, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

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Name Henry Girdlestone
Event Type Census
Event Date 1851
Event Place Landford, Wiltshire, England
Registration District Alderbury
Gender Male
Age 65
Marital Status Married
Occupation Rector Of Landford Wilts
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Birth Year (Estimated) 1786
Birthplace England
Page Number 6
Registration Number HO107
Piece/Folio 1846 / 157
Henry Girdlestone Head M 65 England
Elizabeth Girdlestone Wife F 61 England
Elizabeth Anne Girdlestone Daughter F 30 England
William Bolton Girdlestone Son M 35 England
Frances Caroline Girdlestone Daughter In Law F 33 England
Sarah Mazzolle Servant F 23 England
Mary Cheater Servant F 19 England
"England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGZK-9JQ : 20 October 2017), Henry Girdlestone, Landford, Wiltshire, England; citing Landford, Wiltshire, England, p. 6, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

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Name Henry Girdlestone
County Wiltshire
Event Type Census
Event Date 1861
Event Place Landford, Wiltshire, England
Registration District Alderbury
Residence Note Brooklands
Gender Male
Age 75
Marital Status Widower
Occupation Rector Of Landford
Relationship to Head of Household Head
Birth Year (Estimated) 1786
Birthplace ..., Norfolk
Page Number 4
Registration Number RG09
Piece/Folio 1313 / 110
Henry Girdlestone Head M 75 ..., Norfolk
Elizabeth A Girdlestone Daughter F 42 Hethersett, Norfolk
Francis G Girdlestone Son M 28 Earlham, Norfolk
Eloisa Girdlestone Niece F 26 ..., ... [This is his brother William's daugther, Eloisa Girdlestone]
Marry Hammersley Servant F 40 ..., Staffordshire
Anne Browning Servant F 23 Burley, Hampshire
William Dibden Servant M 17 Nomansland, Wiltshire
"England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7KV-5FQ : 13 December 2017), Henry Girdlestone, Landford, Wiltshire, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

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Death registration:
GIRDLESTONE, HENRY 85
GRO Reference: 1871 M Quarter in ALDERBURY Volume 05A Page 137
and "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JXD-714 : 31 December 2014), Henry Girdlestone, 1871; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Alderbury, Wiltshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

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Another family tree

Kirkpatrick family archives for Rev. Henry Girdlestone here.

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