Shropshire Family History Society Forum

I am planning an ancestral road trip with my Australian cousin at the end of November and will spend several days in Worcester researching and tracing the steps of our Bridgen and Atwood ancestors. We have discovered a lot of information about our Atwood line, but are finding it difficult to construct the family tree for our Bridgen ancestors.

What I know for certain is that Dr Thomas Atwood of Chaddesley Corbett married Catherine Bridgen in 1708. Her brother, William Bridgen, left an inheritance for Catherine's son, the Rev John Atwood of Cleobury Mortimer. I have many names of Bridgen family members from William Bridgen's will, but I am struggling to determine their relationships, as he often refers to them as "kinsmen" and "kinswomen" rather than using specific terms. William Bridgen's will was proved in January 1948. Some of the family names he lists are: James and Solomon Bridgen (kinsman). Anne Walker and Martha Large, sisters of Soloman. Mrs Law, his sister. Gregory Hickman and his wife Elizabeth (who may have been a Bridgen), Francis Bridgen (referred to as a brother-in-law), and Jane Bridgen, his daughter. Frances (kinswoman), the daughter of Henry Bridgen, married Richard Higginson. A nephew, William Bridgen late of London.

William Bridgen's estate passed to my 5x great-uncle Thomas Bridgen Atwood, on the condition that he changed his surname to Bridgen. William Bridgen owned messuages, tenements, and farms in Meaton, Kinlett, and Stotesdon. He also owned property on Castle Street, Listley Street, New Town Street, Underhill Street, Raven Street, and Pound Street, all in Bridgnorth. I have a copy of the property sale arranged by Thomas Atwood Bridgen.

Is anyone here researching the Bridgen family or knows where I can find information about their family lines? I have checked the online catalogues at the Worcester Archive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading.

Cheryl Hancock