Francis Paradice (1847-1848)

Francis Paradice was one of the three sons of Ambrose Paradice who were mentioned in their father’s will.  Francis was also the father and grandfather of the Paradices who immigrated to Canada.  He was born in Corsham, Wiltshire on July 27, 1807 to Ambrose and (Elizabeth Lewis Paradice).  He came to Bristol with his parents as a young child.

The Bell Inn on East Street in 2001

As an adult, Francis worked as a publican and licensed victualer.  A victualer was a tavern keeper or a person who provided an army, navy, or ship with food supplies.  From 1832 to 1847 Francis Paradice was the proprietor of a tavern called the Bell Inn located on East Street, the main commercial street of Bedminster.  It is likely that the tavern was named for an old bell, reportedly of monastic origin, which was a landmark on East Street.

Given the location and the time, it is possible that Francis Paradice also supplied food to the navy or merchant fleet.  Bedminster lies on the south bank of the River Avon across from the port city of Bristol.  Located on the sheltered water of the Avon a few miles upstream from its confluence with the Severn Estuary, Bristol is a major seaport.  In the 19^th century, Bristol was a city of canals and wharves.

Francis and his father Ambrose may have relocated from Bristol to Bedminster because the town was growing rapidly and would have offered commercial opportunities to a publican and a baker.  Coal mining had begun in earnest in the area in the mid-18^th century, and by the turn of the 19^th century there were 18 coal mines in Bedminster and the adjacent Ashton Vale.  People were flocking to Bedminster to work in the mines and the various heavy industries that were springing up.  The population of Bedminster increased from 3,000 in 1801 to 78,000 in 1884.  However, for Francis the competition must have been fierce.  In 1843 there were 33 public houses in Bedminster.

On November 14, 1831, Francis married Elizabeth Lewis in the parish church of Filton, Gloucestershire.[1]  Despite having been married in Filton and living most of their married life in Bedminster, Francis and Elizabeth had a long association with St. Werburgh’s Church in Bristol.  Francis and Elizabeth had eight children, all of whom were baptized at St. Werburgh'.  The children were:

Charles Paradice, who was born on December 18, 1830 and christened on November 14, 1832;

Elizabeth Paradice, who was born on August 16, 1832, likely in Bedminster, and christened on November 14, 1832;

Francis Paradice, who was born on December 20, 1833, likely in Bedminster, and christened on February 19, 1834; he died at the age of three and was buried at St. Werburgh’s on March 5, 1837;

George Paradice, who was born on June 9, 1835, likely in Bedminster, and christened on July 8, 1835;

William Paradice, who was born on June 15, 1837, likely in Bedminster, and christened on July 23, 1837;

John Paradice and Ambrose Paradice, who apparently were twins[2], born in Bedminster on December 23, 1838 and christened on January 20, 1839;

Ann Paradice, who was born in Bedminster on June 30, 1841 ²⁵⁶ and christened on July 18, 1841; Ann married Thomas Richards on October 20, 1862 in Montpelier, Gloucestershire, England.

As the proprietor of the Bell Inn, Francis appears to have prospered.  The 1841 census shows that his family, who were residing at the inn, included a servant, Ann Filer[3]. 

However, the surrounding neighborhood was anything but prosperous.  Slums had developed in Bedminster along with the rapidly growing population.  Tenements that lined the narrow lanes lacked running water and sewerage.  The 1850 Health Report noted an open drain on North Street that collected waste from over 40 houses.  Farther along the drain collected waste for another 121 houses.  Due to these conditions, Bedminster had suffered particularly high death rates in the cholera epidemics of 1830, 1846 and 1849.  In addition, due to the burning of coal as a fuel in the industrial area, air quality was poor.  Bedminster was continually covered by smoke.

By 1848, the family had left Bedminster and were living at No. 2 Kingshead Court, Wine Street, in Christchurch Parish, Bristol, where their relatively comfortable life was coming to an end.  Francis Paradice became ill with a stomach disorder and began vomiting blood.  On April 4, 1848, at the age of 40, he died of gastritis and hemastemesis.  He was buried at St. Werburgh’s Church on April 9, 1848.

Francis’s family appears to have had a difficult time after his death.  According to the 1851 census, his widow Elizabeth was working as a charwoman.  Some of the children had left home, and most had gone to work.  The oldest son, Charles, was living with his mother and working as a tailor.  The oldest daughter, Elizabeth[4], was a servant in the home of James Wood, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, who lived on Queen Square, one of the finer residential areas of Bristol.  Fifteen-year-old George was living in a rooming house in St. Stephen Parish and working as a porter.  William and John (then about 13 and 12 years old) were living with their mother and working as errand boys.  Only the two of the youngest children, Ambrose and Ann did not have jobs.

Francis’s widow, Elizabeth, did not remarry but continued to live and work in Bristol until her death.  In 1861 she was living in with her son, Charles, in Castle Precincts and working as a sextoness.  She likely was sextoness of St. Werburgh’s Church, which was nearby, although there were several churches in Castle Precincts.  In 1871 Elizabeth still gave her occupation as “sextoness,” but she was living in St. Augustine Parish as a lodger in the home of Charles F. Jewell and his wife Susannah.

Elizabeth (Lewis) Paradice died at 16 Trinity Street in St. Augustine Parish on June 22, 1873.  She was about 62 years old.  Her daughter, Elizabeth, was with her when she died.

The cause of Elizabeth’s death was “irritation from prurigo.”  Prurigo is an itchy skin condition that would not normally be fatal.  However, in the 1870s (before the discovery of antibiotics) an infection that resulted from scratching could easily have been lethal.

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[1] Filton is a suburb of Bristol.

[2] Their civil birth certificates (transcriptions) show them to be twins (barring a mistake in the transcription or a misreporting).  The 1841 census shows them to be different ages (John age 2 and Ambrose age 1, but based on his christening date, Ambrose would have been 2).  The 1851 census shows them both to be 12.

[3] The census microfilm was poor quality, making ages and Ann’s last name difficult to read.

[4] Elizabeth appears to be listed twice in the 1851 census, once with her family and again with the Wood family.

 

Sources

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Francis Paradice Birth, Item 4 (Baptisms and Burials 1795-1812), 3rd page of 1807 records.

Listings in Mathew’s Bristol Directory, 1832 - 1847.

Bantok, A. (B. Lawrence, Ed.). 2001.  Bedminster. Bristol and Avon Family History Society Journal 106.  [online] Bristol and Avon Family History Society.  http://www.bafhs.org.uk/bafhs-parishes/other-bafhs-parishes/52-bedminster.  Accessed January 9, 2014.

Thomas, R.  2000-2005.  Bristol. [online] http://brisray.com/bristol/bemmy1.htm.  Accessed January 9, 2014.

Parish Church of Filton (Filton, Gloucestershire, England), "Marriages," Francis Paradice & Elizabeth Lewis Marriage; FHL microfilm 1596036, item 5 or 6.

1841 Census England - Bedminster - HO 107/376 (1.  Microfiche accessed in Bristol Public Library, 2.  LDS Family History Library Microfilm # 0288785).

St. Werburgh's Church (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1677-1865," Baptisms of Charles Paradice (1832); FHL microfilm 1595994, item page 24, item 196.

St. Werburgh's Church (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1677-1865," Baptism of Elizabeth Paradice (1832); FHL microfilm 1,595,994, item page 24, item 197.

St. Werburgh's Church (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1677-1865," Baptism of Francis Paradice (1834); FHL microfilm 1,595,994, item page 26, item 205.

St. Werburgh's Church (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1677-1865," Burial of Francis Paradice (1837); FHL microfilm 1,595,994, item page 14, item 106.

Certificate of Death - George Paradice (Photocopy of original supplied by Colorado Vital Statistics (City & County of Denver).

St. Werburgh's Church (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1677-1865," Baptism of George Paradice (1835); FHL microfilm 1,595,994, item page 27, item 211.

St. Werburgh's Church (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1677-1865," Baptism of William Paradice (1837); FHL microfilm 1,595,994, item page 29, it3m 229.

General Register Office, England, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth - John Paradice, Registration District & Sub-district Bedminster, Counties of Bristol & Somerset. 1839. Registration Year 1839, 1st Quarter, Vol. XI, Page 61.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Family Search Beta Site, Available online at beta.familysearch.org, England, Bristol Parish Registers, 1538-1900, Film Number: 4247264, Baptisms of John, Ambrose and Ann Paradice.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Family Search Beta Site, Available online at beta.familysearch.org, England, Bristol Parish Registers, 1538-1900 Film Number: 4188552, Paradice-Richards Marriage.

Townsend, P.  2007.  Bedminster Social History Archives.  [online] http://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/2130009667/  Accessed January 10, 2014.

Francis Paradice Death Certificate.  (1848, 2nd quarter.  Castle Precincts, City & County of Bristol.  Number 77.  Certificate issued 23 August 2001.  DXZ884361.)

1871 Census England, Images online at www.ancestry.com.  Accessed 25 Jun 2005, Bristol St. Augustine, RG10/2535, page 6.

1861 Census for the parish of St. Augustine, Bristol, England (LDS Microfilm # 0542857 Census sworn 9 Apr 1861), Bristol Castle Precincts, RG9/1715, page 20.

Elizabeth Paradice Death Certificate

Ambrose Paradice (About 1760-1843)

The earliest record of the Bristol Paradices is the marriage of Ambrose Paradice, which occurred in 1793 in the town of Corsham, Wiltshire.  Corsham lies on the southwestern edge of the Cottswold Hills approximately 13 miles from Devizes and 9 miles from Seend.  The town is distinguished by its limestone buildings, which include the 17^th century almshouses and Flemish weaver’s cottages that were standing when Ambrose lived there.  Corsham had approximately 2400 residents at the turn of the 19^th century.  Its economy centered on producing and spinning wool and weaving it into cloth.

The Parish Church of Corsham’s records show the marriage of Ambrose Paradice to Betty Toors (or Toose^[1]) on June 27, 1793.  Ambrose and Betty were married by banns.  For a marriage by banns (as opposed to marriage by licence), the parish priest makes the following announcement during the church service(s) on three consecutive Sundays:  “I publish the Banns of Marriage between N and N.  If anyone knows cause or just impediment why these two should not be joined, ye are to declare it.”  The Banns for Ambrose and Betty were read June 9, 16 and 23.

Although the Banns list both Ambrose and Betty as being “of the parish,” the Corsham parish register does not record their baptisms.  No other records of Paradice or Toors/Toose families occur within the Corsham parish records back to about 1765.  Based on their stated ages at death, Ambrose was born in about 1760, and Betty was born in about 1774.  If their families had been members of the Corsham parish, at least Betty’s baptism should have been recorded.^[2]

Ambrose and Betty resided in Corsham for about 15 or 20 years after their marriage.  Ambrose likely worked there as a baker, which was his primary (but not his only) occupation after the family moved to Bristol.  While residing in Corsham, Ambrose and Betty had at least eight children, who were baptized at the parish church.  Two more children were born later, at least one of them in Bristol.  The children were:

James Paradice, who was born on January 1, 1794 and christened on June 8, 1794;

George Paradice, who was christened on February 7, 1796;  George died in 1821 and was buried at St. Mary’s Redcliffe, Bristol on June 20, 1821;

John Paradice, who was born on November 27, 1797 and christened on December 31, 1797;

Ambrose Paradice, who was born on December 27, 1799 and christened on March 9, 1800;

Elizabeth Paradice, who was born on January 24, 1802 and christened on 10 Apr 1802^[3]; Elizabeth died on January 15, 1803 and was buried on January 18, 1803 at the parish church in Corsham;

Ann Paradice, who was born on December 24, 1803 and christened on January 22, 1804;

William Perry^[4] Paradice, who was born on January 26, 1806 and christened on May 25, 1806; William Perry died in Bristol and was buried on January 6, 1823.

Francis Paradice, who was born on July 27, 1807 and christened on August 23, 1807;

Elizabeth Paradice, who was born in about January 1812, likely in Bristol; she died at the age of 15 months and was buried on April 16, 1813 at St. George’s Church, Bristol;

Martha Paradice, who was christened on November 6, 1814 at St. George's Church in Bristol.

Sometime between August 1807 and April 1813, Ambrose Paradice and his family moved to the large city of Bristol in Gloucestershire, where he worked as a baker.  This occupation is shown on the christening record of his daughter Martha.  In addition, at some point Ambrose was involved in business as an auctioneer and appraiser in partnership with his son Ambrose, Jr.  From 1824 to 1831 Mathew's Bristol Directory listed Ambrose Paradice as “Auctioneer & Appraiser” operating at 25 Small Street in Bristol’s main commercial area.  The listing for the proprietor of this business changed from simply “Ambrose Paradice” to “Ambrose Paradice Jun” in 1827, the same year that a listing for “Ambrose Paradice, Baker” first appeared.  The London Gazette (October 6, 1829) announced the dissolution of the partnership between father and son:

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership (if any) formerly subsisting between us the undersigned, Ambrose Paradice the elder and Ambrose Paradice the younger, in the trade or business of Auctioneers, Appraisers, and Furniture- Brokers, carried on by us at No. 25, Small-Street, in the City of Bristol, was dissolved by mutual consent on and from the 25^th day of March last past; and that all debts due and owing by or to the late Copartnership will be received by and paid by the said Ambrose Paradice the younger.—Witness our hands this 1^st day of October 1829.

Ambrose Paradice, sen.

Ambrose Paradice, jun.

An Ambrose Paradice (it’s not clear whether this was the father or the son) was involved in an earlier enterprise that ended in bankruptcy.  Two notices in the London Gazette (October 7, 1823 and December 20, 1823) reported the bankruptcy proceedings:

WHereas the acting Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued forth against George Bradford and Ambrose Paradice, of the City of Bristol, Brokers, Dealers, Chapmen, and Copartners (trading under the firm of George Bradford and Co.), have certified to the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, that the said Ambrose Paradice hath in all things conformed himself according to the directions of the several Acts of Parliament made concerning Bankrupts; This is to give notice, that, by virtue of an Act passed in the Fifth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, and also of another Act passed in the Forty-ninth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, his Certificate will be allowed and confirmed as the said Acts direct, unless cause be shewn to the contrary on or before the 28^th day of October instant.

THE Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt, bearing date the 27^th day of September 1822, awarded and issued forth against George Bradford and Ambrose Paradice, of the City of Bristol, Brokers, Dealers, Chapmen, and Copartners (trading under the firm of George Bradford and company), intend to meet on the 10^th of January next, at One o’Clock in the Afternoon, at the White Lion Inn, situate in Broad-Street, in the City of Bristol, to make. a First and Final Dividend of the Joint Estate and Effects of the said Bankrupts, and also of the Separate Estate and Effects of the said Ambrose Paradice; when and where the Creditors, who have not already proved their Debts, are to come prepared to prove the same, or they will be excluded-; the Benefit of the said respective Dividends. And all Claims not then proved will be disallowed.

Possibly around the time that he dissolved the partnership with his son, Ambrose moved his business across the River Avon to Bedminster.  The address of Ambrose Paradice’s bakery in Pigot’s Directory (1830) was East Street, Bedminster, a location on the main commercial thoroughfare.  Mathew's Bristol Directory (1832) gave the address of Ambrose Paradice, Baker, as “3 Shim Lane, Bedminster.”  Ambrose’s sons James, John and Francis also lived and worked in Bedminster.

Ambrose must have prospered through his bakery or other enterprises.  When he died, he was the owner of “one sixth share of a house in Bath Buildings and of another house in Union Place both in the district of the united parishes of St James and St Paul, Bristol.”

Ambrose Paradice did not remain in Bedminster.  When his wife Betty died in 1834 she was buried at St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol on January 15.  By 1841, Ambrose was living with his daughters Martha and Ann in Wellington Place in the united parishes of Saint James and Saint Paul, Bristol.  He died in the suburb of Clifton on January 23, 1843¹ at the age of 83 and was buried at St. Mary's Redcliffe on January 30.

Ambrose prepared his will on December 29, 1842 and apparently signed it with his own hand.  It was proved at Bristol on July 15, 1843.  In the will Ambrose gave all his furniture, books, linen, china, and all other items of his personal estate to his daughter Martha, whom he appointed as executrix.  He also gave her the one-sixth share of the houses in Bath Buildings and Union Place with the directive that:

…if the persons entitled to the remaining five sixth parts or shares of the said houses, or such of them as shall be in England shall, after my decease, be desirous of selling their shares therein and of such desire shall give notice in writing to my said daughter Martha, then if my said daughter shall join with such persons in selling the said houses she shall, upon receiving her share of the purchase money for the houses, or, if she shall not join with such persons in selling the said houses then within six calendar months from the time of receiving such notice, pay to each of my sons James Paradice, John Paradice and Francis Paradice the sum of Ten pounds.

The will further directed that if “any sum of money shall be due from my estate to Thomas Jefferys the younger of Melksham, Wilts, Mealman, for flour bought by me of him on account of my said son John, then” the ten pounds bequeathed to John should be given to Thomas Jeffertys the younger to liquidate or partially liquidate the debt.

Ambrose’s will raises some interesting questions that have yet to be answered.  The first questions relate to what happened to Ambrose, Jr., the only son presumably still living who was not mentioned in the will.  Who were the persons entitled to the remaining five-sixth shares of the houses?  Was Ambrose, Jr., one of these, and was he no longer in England?  An Ambrose Paradice, a merchant from England, age 30, arrived in New York on the ship Britannia on July 6, 1831.  Could this person have been Ambrose, Jr.?

Another question is who was Thomas Jefferys the younger of Melksham?  Melksham is about 30 miles from Bristol.  Why was Ambrose buying flour from someone so far away?  Was this the nearest source of flour, or did Ambrose have some personal connection to Thomas Jefferys the younger?  Melksham is less than six miles from Corsham, where Ambrose formerly resided, and about halfway between Corsham and Devizes.

Genealogy research is never complete.

Sources

St. Mary's Church, Redcliffe (Bristol, England), "Baptisms, marriages, burials, 1837-1849," Burial of Ambrose Paradice (1843); FHL microfilm 1,595,694, item page 288.

Mathew's Bristol Directory (1823-1841, 1846 and 1847) (Viewed in Bristol Public Library, April 2001 and May 2003.) .... General Register Office, England, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death - Ambrose Paradice (Registration District Clifton, Subdistrict of Ashley in the City in the County of Bristol and County of Gloucester.  Application No. PAS835295/9.  Copy issued 8 Nov 2002).

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Paradice-Toors Marriage, Item 11, Page 61, No. 241 (Marriage); Page 47, No. 233 (Banns).

J. Baker, They Lived in Bristol: Bristol Burials 1813-1837, CD Rom (Gloucestershire, England: Bristol and Avon Family History Society, 1996), Ambrose Paradice Burial, p. 739.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), James Paradice Birth, Item 3, second page under 1793 and first page under 1795.  There are two entries for James in the Parish Register.  The first seems to indicate that he was born 3 June 1794 and baptized 8 June.  However, there are 5 children listed as having been born June 3, which seems unlikely.  Also, there are numerous 3's in the birth date column.  Apparently "3" means something other than a day.  The second entry under 1795 shows "January 1" in the "born" column and no date of baptism.  This entry appears to be a correction of the birth date.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), George Paradice Birth, Item 4, Page 1 (bottom line).

J. Baker, They Lived in Bristol: Bristol Burials 1813-1837, CD Rom (Gloucestershire, England: Bristol and Avon Family History Society, 1996), George and William Perry Paradice Burials, p. 740.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), John Paradice Birth, Item 4, page 5 (near top).

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Ambrose Paradice Birth, Item 4, 2nd page under 1799.

George Elwick, Bankrupt Directory Complete Register of all Bankrupts from December 1820 to April 1843 (London, England: Simpkin, Marshall and Co., 1843), 50.

Mathew's Bristol Directory (1823-1841, 1846 and 1847) (Viewed in Bristol Public Library, April 2001 and May 2003.)

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Elizabeth Paradice Birth, Item 4, 1st page labelled 1802.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Elizabeth Paradice Death, Item 4 Deaths and Burials.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Ann Paradice Birth, Item 4, 1st page labelled 1804.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), William Perry Paradice Birth, Item 4, 1806.

Church of England, Parish Church of Corsham, Parish registers, 1563-1971. (LDS Family History Library Microfilm No. 1279378.), Francis Paradice Birth, Item 4 (Baptisms and Burials 1795-1812), 3rd page of 1807 records.

St. George's Church (Bristol, Gloucestershire, England), "Burials, 18134-1823," Elizabeth Paradice Burial; FHL microfilm #1596488, Items 7-9 1,596,488, item 9, 4th page (not numbered).

Paradice, Ambrose, Last Will and Testament of Ambrose Paradice (Proved 15 Jul 1843.  Bristol, Gloustershire, England.  Photocopy provided by the Bristol Records Office.  Reference No. FCL/1843/8 H26-28.), “Gentleman I give all my furniture books linen china and all other my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my dear daughter Martha Paradice as her own property absolutely.”

St. George's Church (Bristol, Gloucestershire, England), "Baptisms, 1804-1823," Martha Paradice Baptism; FHL microfilm #1596488, Items 7-9 1,596,488, item 7&8, page 34, #267.

Ancestry.com.  2003.  New York, 1820-1850 Passenger and Immigration Lists, Item Ship Britannia, 6 June 1831 arrival, Microfilm Serial Number M237, Microfilm Roll Number 15, List Number 186. [Database online] www.ancestry.com.  Accessed 10 Nov 2003.

Ambrose Paradice partnership dissolution:  London Gazette Date:  6 October 1829  Issue number:  18617 http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/18617/pages/1831

Ambrose Paradice Bankruptcy 2 notice:  London Gazette 20 December 1823  Issue number:  17985   http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/17985/pages/2133

Ambrose Paradice Bankruptcy 1 notice: London Gazette Date:  7 October 1823  Issue  number:  17964  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/17964/pages/1658/page.pdf

Paradice, Ambrose, Last Will and Testament of Ambrose Paradice (Proved 15 Jul 1843.  Bristol, Gloustershire, England.  Photocopy provided by the Bristol Records Office.  Reference No. FCL/1843/8 H26-28.)

General Register Office, England, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death - Ambrose Paradice (Registration District Clifton, Subdistrict of Ashley in the City in the County of Bristol and County of Gloucester.  Application No. PAS835295/9.  Copy issued 8 Nov 2002), Age at death - 82.

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[1] The handwriting in the Corsham Parish Register is difficult to read.  The marriage record appears to say TOORS (as transcribed by the LDS in the IGI) or possibly TOORO.  The Banns from the same source appear to say TOOSE.

[2] However, missing records are not uncommon.  There is room for further research into records from the first half of the 1760s or earlier to search for the baptism of Ambrose.

[3] Her christening date could be April 18.  The person who copied this parish register made 8's that looked like 0's.

[4][4] The name in the parish register is difficult to read; it could say “William Percy”.

The Paradice Family

This is the history of the Paradice family of Bristol, England, who immigrated to Canada and later to Colorado, USA.  It focuses on Ambrose Paradice and his descendants, particularly Francis, George, Francis Henry (Frank) and Frank’s children, but includes sketches of other family members.

The Paradice family has its roots in Wiltshire, England.  An article in Wiltershire Notes and Queries (June 1914) states that a branch of the family had settled in the town of Devizes by the early part of the sixteenth century.  By the early 1700s another branch of the family was residing in the nearby town of Seend.  The names Ambrose, Francis and George were prominent in these families.  However, it has not been possible to connect the Paradices of Devizes or Seend with the Paradices of Bristol.

Acknowledgements:  Special thanks to Elizabeth D'Oliveira for newspaper clippings and historical background regarding George Paradice's emigration and work at Abbey Shipyards and to Bill Stark, Sr. for copies of Frank Paradice's letters to his father (George).