William John Bridgeford (senior) was baptised with his sister Sarah on 16th April 1854 at Rushden, children of James, a shoemaker, and Belinda.
William Bridgeford married Sarah (nee Rice) at St Mary’s church on 23rd September 1873. They had two sons, William, born 1874, and Lancelot born 1877 at Rushden. William was well known in Rushden as a musician and choir master.
In 1901 the family was living at 24 Midland Road. On Christmas day that year William jun, married Emily Agnes Smith (daughter of Peter), and two years later Lancelot married Nellie Gilbert.
Sarah died tragically in 1904, and William John died in 1914 aged just 59.
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William John Bridgeford died on 17th Feb 1914 and he was buried in Rushden Cemetery in grave C465 and his headstone quotes "His long sufferings brought him to a peaceful end. Gone but not forgotten."
His wife Sarah is buried in C665 - "In loving memory of Sarah Ann beloved wife of William John BRIDGEFORD who died January 30th 1904 aged 49 years. Peace perfect peace."
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William, junior, and Emily lived at 92 Washbrook-road, and had 4children, Florence, Reginald, Mabel and Ethel by 1911. Also with them was Amelia Magee, a niece, and she had lived with her aunt and uncle from the age of two. Constance Eva was born in 1912 and Raymond in 1918.
Rushden Echo, October 5th 1923, transcribed by Kay Collins
BenefitLast night a meeting of the committee who arranged the benefit for Mr. W. Bridgeford (who has been ill) was held at the Trades Club, presided over by Mr. H. Travell, supported by the secretary (Mr. F. E. Palmer), the treasurer (Mr. F. J. Harrison), and representatives from the clubs in Rushden. The balance-sheet and auditors; report were presented. It was considered that the result (£26 15s. 9d. net) was very good, and the auditors’ report paid tribute to the able manner in which the secretary and officials had carried out their duties. A vote of thanks to affiliated club delegates for their assistance was passed.
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Tom Swindall's invoice for two passengers to USA 1922
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Florence with the Cooch family in 1923
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Flo c1921
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Florence married Alfred Cooch in 1923 and moved to lived in Ann Arbor, Mitchigan, America.
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The Cooch family: Ray, Alfred, Flo and Alfred junior.
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Their niece Amelia Magee was married to Reginald Frank Smith on 17th May 1921, at St Mary's Church.
They had one daughter, Eileen who later married Cliff Iliffe. Eileen looked on William and Emily as her grandparents.
When they celebrated their golden wedding in 1971 Flo returned to visit them.
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Reginald Bridgeford married May Smith in 1930.
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Reg Bridgeford married May Smith in 1930
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The family moved to 9 Tennyson Road, about 1936, where William junior kept a very tidy garden, with some fine blooms.
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William in the garden - and the view from the back garden before Tennyson Road houses were built
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In 1938 their daughter Connie died.
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Ray, Emily and Eileen Smith
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Eileen Smith
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