Thomas Trudgian's (husband of Margaret Stephens) Parents
Research note by Wesley Johnston - Begun 7 May 2018, Last updated 8 May 2018
https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/12001386/person/422003982381/media/20e4d017-3f80-48ff-8bbe-00124e0f20a4?_phsrc=iNx4188
Who were the parents of Thomas TRUDGIAN, who married Margaret STEPHENS 2 Jan 1806 at St Stephen in Brannel, Cornwall?
Current Uncertain Conclusion
The evidence found thus far does not support a definitive conolusion. The evidence, which itself is uncertain, weighs somewhat in favor of him being the Thomas TRUDGIAN, son of Anthony & Mary, baptized 13 Jul 1783 at St Austell. But some evidence also supports him being the Thomas TRUDGIAN, son of William & Elizabeth, baptized 2 Jul 1786 at St Stephen in Brannel.
Note that in the following all conclusions from specific records are in light magenta text.
Evidence Thus Far Found
Baptism 13 Jul 1783 at St Austell
"Thomas the Son of Anthony TRUDGIAN by Mary [July] 13th" gives minimal information in the 1783 St Austell baptisms. The image of the record is at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZZW-FYK?cc=1769414&wc=3CBW-6TG
Baptism 24 Apr 1785 at St Mewan
The St Mewan baptisms (and this record is also recorded in the Exeter Bishop's transcript) for this period are not online. The information on both the parish register and the Bishop's Transcript is from the Cornwall Online Parish Clerks database: (parish register) http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/more-info/?t=baptisms&id=3585508, (bishop's transcript) http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/more-info/?t=baptisms&id=4867283
St Mewan is the parish that lies in between most of St Stephen in Brannel (to the west) and St Austel (to the east). So St Mewan is right in the area of interest. However, two things weigh very strongly against this 1785 St Mewan baptism. First, there is no mention at all in any other record of Thomas TRUDGIAN of St Mewan. Second, all of the locations for Thomas TRUDGIAN, both in St Stephen in Brannel and in St Austell/Treverbyn are in the northern part, while St Mewan is in the southern part. It cannot be entirely ruled out, but it is so far from support by the evidence that very definitely does support the St Stephen in Brannel and St Austell baptisms that I do not consider it worth considering without very strong and clear evidence to the contrary.
Baptism 12 Mar 1786 at Madron
The Madron parish registers are not online. The baptism is included in the Cornwall Online Parish Clerks database at http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/search-database/more-info/?t=baptisms&id=3892872
This baptism can be eliminated from consideration. Madron is simply too far away (an hour drive even now), and there is no evidence at all (see below) that points to Madron.
Baptism 2 Jul 1786 at St Stephen in Brannel
"Thomas son of Wm and Eliz TRUDGIAN was Bap.d July the 2nd" also gives minimal information in the 1786 St Stephen in Brannel baptisms. The image of the record is at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTT9-WCZ?cc=1769414&wc=3CBW-T3F
Marriage 2 Jan 1806 at St Austell
Thomas TRUDGIAN married Margaret STEPHENS 2 Jan 1806 at St Austell. The image of the record is at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZZW-NCV?cc=1769414&wc=3CBC-N3X
He is identified as of the Parish of St Stephens in Brannel. She is identified as a spinster of this (St Austell) Parish. Both sign with their mark. The witnesses were Ann THOMAS and the proessional witness John JULYAN, who both signed their names. At this time, the relationship of Ann THOMAS to either the bride or the groom is unknown.
Thus the marriage record statement that he was of the Parish of St Stephen in Brannel weighs somewhat toward the 1786 baptism there. Of course, the norther parts of the parishes were adjacent (prior to the the northern half of St Austell becoming Treverbyn/Bugle in 1846), so that it is still entirely possible that he was born in St Austell in 1783 but by 23 years later had moved to St Stephen in Brannel.
It is also important to note that because the couple both signed with a mark, they were most likely illiterate and innumerate. Thus later statements of their ages have to be evaluated with this awareness.
1841 Census of Nanpean, St Stephen in Brannel
The image is at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8978/CONHO107_146_146-0434/517303
In the 1841 census, ages of adults were rounded down to the nearest 5 years. Thomas and Peggy are both shown as 50, thus possibly actually 50-54, if the information given to the enumerator was accurate and if the enumerator rounded correctly. Thomas is shown as a Clay laborer [sic]. They are shown with their children James (also a Clay labborer] and Jane, both shown as age 20. All were born in Cornwall.
If Thomas' age range 50-54 is correct, his birth would have been about 1787-1791. Thus this record places his birth most closely to the 1786 baptism. But the apparent illiteracy of the couple on their 1806 marriage record makes it uncertain that they really knew how old they were, so that if the enumerator's source was one of them, then the age shown in the census may be inaccurate.
1851 Census of Bridge Cottage, St Stephen in Brannel
The image is at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8860/CONHO107_1908_1908-0426?pid=7106296
This census radically differs from the 1841 census. Instead of ages 60-64, as would be expected by adding 10 years to the range given in the 1841 census, Thomas is 66 (thus aging 12-16 years in 10), and Margaret is 72 (thus aging 18-22 years in 10). So this census places his birth year about 1785, which is still closest to the 1786 baptism at St Stephen in Brannel. But this 1851 census gives the birthplace of both as St Austell -- which would correspond with the 1783 baptism at St Austell. Thus his age supports one of the two candidate baptisms, while his birthplace supports the other candidate baptism. So, is Thomas' age correct, or is his birthplace correct?
Thomas is shown as a farmer occupying 6 acres of land.
The precision of the dates in the 1851 census is worth noting, possibly indicating that they had found out their correct ages. Margaret/Peggy's age at death in 1858 was given as 79, which conforms with her age in the 1851 census that shows her born at St Austell. And there really is only one candidate baptism for her at about 1778-1779 in St Austell: 26 Oct 1778 to Thomas and Alice STEPHENS. So it does appear that her age in the 1851 census is correct.
If the age 66 for Thomas TRUDGIAN in the 1851 census is then also correct, for which we have the evidence that his wife's age apparently is correct, then the 1851 census would weigh more heavily toward supporting the 1786 baptism at St Stephen in Brannel and not the 1783 baptism at St Austell.
1861 Census of Carnsmerry, St Austell
The image is at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8767/CONRG9_1546_1549-0371?pid=17762128
The widower Thomas TRUDGIAN is living with his daughter Jane's family (husband John CRADDICK Junr) with her widowed father-in-law John CRADDICK Senr also living there. Thomas is a retired farmer, age 76 (aging 10 years in 10) born at St Austell. Once again his age supports one of the two candidate baptisms, while his birthplace supports the other candidate baptism. So, is Thomas' age correct, or is his birthplace correct?
Since he aged 10 years in 10, then the question about his age reverts back to the accuracy of his age in the 1851 census, with the same conclusion: If the age 66 for Thomas TRUDGIAN in the 1851 census is then also correct, for which we have the evidence that his wife's age apparently is correct, then the 1851 census would weigh more heavily toward supporting the 1786 baptism at St Stephen in Brannel and not the 1783 baptism at St Austell.
1869 Burial at Treverbyn
The image is at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-68D3-ZMV?cc=1769414&wc=3CB4-BZF
The parish of Treverbyn (known locally as Bugle) was created in 1846 and was previously the northern half of the parish of St Austell, which was the part that was adjacent to the parish of St Stephen in Brannel.
Thomas TRUDGIAN, age 85 years, was buried 13 Mar 1869. It calculates to a birth year of about 1784, which is closest to the 1783 St Austell baptism. But this age shows him aging 9 years in the 8 years since the 1861 census, so that it conflicts with both the 1851 and 1861 census ages.
Evaluating the Evidence