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Elizabeth seems to be without Lindley in 1901:

Address: 8, Cumberland Street, Devonport County: Devonshire

BRIDGMAN, Elizabeth Head Married F 48 1853 Shell Fish Shop Keeper
Ilfracombe, Devonshire
BRIDGMAN, Constance Daughter Single F 18 1883 Assistant Storekeeper
Ireland

There is this record for a William Bridgman in the North Devon Militia.

Birthplace given as Bideford rather than Gosport though. Have you verified William's birthplace as Gosport , Colin, or was it just an educated guess?

British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s): William
Last name: BRIDGMAN
Calculated year of birth: 1788
Parish of birth: Bideford
Town of birth: Bideford
County of birth: Devon
Age at attestation: 7 years
Attestation date: 6 February 1795
Attestation corps:
Attestation soldier number:
Discharge rank: Drum Major
Discharge corps: North Devon Regt Of Militia
Discharge soldier number:
The National Archives reference: WO97 / 1093 / 4

He served from age 7 yrs,
6th Feb1795 to 7th May 1802,
and from 31 March 1803 to 10th Oct 1835 or 36 (can't read it very well).

28 yrs 285 days service.

His general conduct as a soldier was exemplary.

EDIT, found this at the bottom of the document.

To prevent misuse of this discharge by it falling into the wrong hands, a description is given.

Aged about 47 yrs. 5ft 10 1/2 "inches . Dark hair, grey eyes, dark complextion.
By trade or occupation a cordwainer (ie a shoemaker).

?????

name: William Bridgeman
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 30 Mar 1788
baptism/christening place: BIDEFORD,DEVON,ENGLAND
birth date:
birthplace:
death date:
name note:
race:
father's name: John Bridgeman
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother's name: Jane
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
indexing project (batch) number: C05032-1
system origin: England-ODM
source film number: 916812, 916813

Or possibly this one. Shame the actual birth dates aren't given.:

name: William Bridgeman
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 04 Jan 1789
baptism/christening place: BIDEFORD,DEVON,ENGLAND
birth date:
birthplace:
death date:
name note:
race:
father's name: Richard Bridgeman
father's birthplace:
father's age:
mother's name: Margaret
mother's birthplace:
mother's age:
indexing project (batch) number: C05032-1
system origin: England-ODM


If it's the first one, then it could be William named his firstborn son John after his own father.

William's death:

Surname: Bridgman
Forename: William
Age: 48
Year: 1836
Month: Aug
Day: 27
Notes:
Parish: Barnstaple
Town Or City:
County: Devon
Record source: Devon Burials - Transcripts

EDIT Guess that means it was 10th Oct 1835 he left the Militia.

Death of his infant daur Elizabeth?

Surname: Bridgman
Forename: Elizabeth
Age: 10 Weeks
Year: 1821
Month: Mar
Day: 6
Notes: D Of William
Parish: Barnstaple
Town Or City:
County: Devon
Record source: Devon Burials - Transcripts

This might be totally unrelated to your William Bridgman, but one of the Bideford baptisms had a father named John. Could he/his family possibly have moved from Bideford to Barnstaple at some point?

Surname: Bridgman
Forename: John
Age: 77
Year: 1837
Month: Aug
Day: 17
Notes:
Parish: Barnstaple
Town Or City:
County: Devon
Record source: Devon Burials - Transcripts

North Devon Journal - 17 January 1889

In a review of a concert given by a Mr S Bridgman at the Victoria Promenade:
"Mr Lindley Bridgman (of Barnstaple) has a substantial baritone voice which he used with effect, but his first song "The Raft" was not a wise selection for so large a place and for a mixed audience, the pianissimo parts being almost inaudible".
_________________________________________________________________

North Devon Journal - 22 October 1891

Lindley Bridgman, a surveyor from Barnstaple, was a witness in a court case about damage to a house caused by alterations.
_________________________________________________________________

North Devon Journal - 18 May 1893

Long article about new schoolrooms being built at Barnstaple and the laying of the foundation stone. The building was designed by Mr Lindley Bridgman of Ilfracombe and were described as "worthy of the cause and an ornament to the town".

(There was an article in the same newspaper 18 May 1905 about the Congregational Centenary at Barnstaple and it makes much reference to the pioneering schoolrooms designed by Lindley. It is described as having "ample lavatory accommodation" and there is a photo of the building).

Just posting odds and ends that I find:

THE CORNISHMAN - 4 February 1904

"Marriages"

ROWE - BRIDGEMAN. December 23rd at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, President Street, Johannesburg Soyth Africa, by the Rev. Frank Hawlkey - John Harris Rowe of Turfontein, Johannesburg to Constance Bridgman of Devonport, only daughter of Lindley Charles Bridgman, architect and surveyor, late of Ilfracombe, North Devon.

Two of William and Elizabeth's daughters remained spinsters in 1861.

(Eliza is actually recorded as unmarried on the census image, not married)

Census 1861:

Address: Boutport Street, Barnstaple County: Devonshire

BRIDGEMAN, Eliza Burgess Head Married F 40 1821 Dressmaker Employing 5 Females Barnstaple, Devon
BRIDGEMAN, Susanna Sister Unmarried F 42 1819 House Keeper Barnstaple, Devon

Looks like Lindley's wife and daughter going to SA:

Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960

Name: Mrs L BRIDGMAN
Date of departure: 21 November 1903
Port of departure: Plymouth
Destination port: Cape
Destination country: South Africa

Date of Birth: 1852 (calculated from age)
Age: 51
Marital Status: Married
Sex: Female
Occupation: Nil
Notes:
Passenger recorded on: Page 1 of 3
The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -
Miss C BRIDGMAN (age 21)

Ship: CORINTHIC
Official Number:
Master's name: J Sealby R N R
Steamship Line: Weekes Phillips & Co
Where bound: New Zealand
Square feet: 15034
Registered tonnage: 7832/12231
Passengers on voyage: 74

The Jubilee school rooms at Barnstaple that Marie Celeste mentioned previously, designed by Lindley Bridgman in 1894.

Image on this page:

http://www.ribapix.com/index.php?a=subjects&s=item&key=SYToyOntpOjA7aTo0ODg7aToxO3M6OToiRXhjaGFuZ2VzIjt9&pg=24

We haven't even started on James John Mansfield as no details were provided to start us off by Colin.

Noticed this - is there a link?

Auckland City Council Engineers Department Register of Employees 1901-1930

MANSFIELD, Charles Lindley Bridgman


Name MANSFIELD, Charles Lindley Bridgman
Designation Clerk
Service From 5.3.1926
Location Patteson Street, Depot
Address 14 Altham Avenue, Mount Albert

To order this record, please note the following: Archives Reference: ACC 237 Item No: 10 Page No: 62
Record Title: Register of Employees


http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll

Okay.....

Census 1891

Name: Charles Lindley Burdgman
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1873
Relation: Nephew
Gender: Male
Where born: Devon, England
Civil parish: Ilfracombe
Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity
Town: Ilfracombe
County/Island: Devon
Country: England

Registration district: Barnstable
Sub-registration district: Ilfracombe
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1778
Folio: 72
Page Number: 20

Household Members:
Name Age
James John Mansfield 50 Ironmonger Exmouth<<<<<<<<<<
Maria Baken Mansfield 52
Charles Lindley Burdgman 18 nephew Ironmonger's apprentice<<<<<<<<
Lionel Burdgman 16 nephew
Elizabeth Warder 21

EDIT Burdgman could be Bridgman on the image, which would tie in with the following birth:

Births Jun 1873 Bridgman Charles Lindley Barnstaple 5b 467

and the other nephew mentioned:

Births Jun 1874 BRIDGMAN Lionel Barnstaple 5b 476

Names reversed on census 1901 and Lindley has now become 'son'.

Address: 88, High Street, Ilfracombe
County: Devonshire

MANSFIELD, John James Head Married M 60 1841 General Ironmonger
Exmouth, Devonshire
MANSFIELD, Maria Baker Wife Married F 61 1840 Barnstaple, Devonshire
MANSFIELD, Lindley Charles Son Single M 28 1873 General Ironmonger Barnstaple, Devonshire
BENNETT, Beatrice Servant Single F 21 1880 General Servant Domestic Caombmartin, Devonshire

EDIT: Totally random thought, but might Maria Baker Mansfield be related to the Maria Baker who married John Bridgman/Brideman 13th may 1837 Barnstaple (see page 1 of thread) ?

This baptism seems a few years early, albeit in the vicinity of Exmouth.

Surname: Mansfield
Forenames: James John
Father's Forename: James
Mother's Forename: Jane
Father's Occupation: Schoolmaster
Year: 1835
Month: Jul
Day: 8
Abode: Exmouth In Withecombe
Parish: Withycombe Raleigh
Town Or City:
County: Devon
Record source: Devon Baptisms - Transcripts

EDIT: This child almost certainly died, but was his name recycled for a later child?

Surname: Mansfield
Forename: James
Age: 7 Months
Year: 1836
Month: Jan
Day: 14
Notes: Of Exmouth In Withycombe
Parish: Withycombe Raleigh
Town Or City:
County: Devon
Record source: Devon Burials - Transcripts
Data provider: Devon Family History Society

Census 1911, and James John has grown a lot younger!

Address: 99 High St Ilfracombe County: Devonshire

census says one child born, child is deceased.

MANSFIELD, James John Head Married M 58 1853 Ironmonger Exmouth Devon
MANSFIELD, Maria Baker Wife Married F 60 1851 Barnstaple Devon
BAMENT, Rose Servant Single F 44 1867 Domestic General Swinbridge Devon
GREGORY, Emily Nurse Single F 51 1860 Domestic Nurse Calne Wilts

Maybe the 8th July 1835 baptism I posted earlier for James John was an elder sibling who died, as parents in census 1851 look the same:

Census 1851:

Address: Strand Manchester Street, Littleham, Exmouth County: Devonshire

MANSFIELD, James Head Married M 41 1810 School Master Devonport, Devonshire
MANSFIELD, Jane Wife Married F 40 1811 Governess Exeter, Devonshire
MANSFIELD, James Son M 10 1841 Scholar Exmouth, Devonshire<<<
MANSFIELD, Frank Son M 7 1844 ScholarExmouth, Devonshire
MANSFIELD, Charlotte Daughter F 12 1839 Scholar Exmouth, Devonshire
DYER, Selina Unmarried F 36 1815 Governess Exeter, Devonshire
DYER, Matilda Unmarried F 28 1823 Governess Exeter, Devonshire
DAVIES, Emma Servant F 36 1815 Genr Serv Greenwich, Kent

At last - the connection!

Marriages Dec 1864
Bater George Barnstaple 5b 866
>>>BRIDGMAN Maria Baker Barnstaple 5b 866
>>>MANSFIELD James John Barnstaple 5b 866
Vanstone Eliza Barnstaple 5b 866

Going by her age in 1891 and 1901 Maria Baker Bridgman seems to be the eldest daughter of John Bridgman and Maria Baker, older sister to Lindley Charles Bridgman.

Census 1861

Address: 91, High Street, Barnstaple County: Devonshire

BRIDGEMAN, John Head Married M 48 1813 Boot And Shoe Maker Master Employing 4 Men & 1 boy Gosport, Hampshire
BRIDGEMAN, Maria L Wife Married F 48 1813 Crediton, Devon
BRIDGEMAN, Maria B Daughter Unmarried F 23 1838 Barnstaple, Devon<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BRIDGEMAN, Susan Daughter Unmarried F 21 1840 Barnstaple, Devon
BRIDGEMAN, Charles L Son M 13 1848 Scholar Barnstaple, Devon<<
WILKEY, Elizabeth Servant Unmarried F 16 1845 House Servant
Bratton Fleming, Devon

Name: Charles Lindey MANSFIELD
Date of departure: 20 December 1924
Port of departure: London
Passenger destination port: Sydney, Australia
Passenger destination: Sydney, Australia

Date of Birth: 1872 (calculated from age)
Age: 52
Marital status: Married
Sex: Male
Occupation: Iron Mgr
Passenger recorded on: Page 21 of 36


The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -

Mrs Beatrice M MANSFIELD Page 21 of 36
Beatrice Maude MANSFIELD Page 21 of 36
Faith R MANSFIELD Page 21 of 36
John Charles MANSFIELD Page 21 of 36
Lindley Cecil B MANSFIELD Page 21 of 36
Miss Ruth K MANSFIELD Page 21 of 36

BARRABOOL
145424
Captain R Bidwell
P. & O. Australia Via The Cape Service
Australia

Before living with and being 'adopted' by the Mansfields, Charles Lindley Bridgman lived with his grandparents

Census 1881:

Address: Boutport St, Barnstaple County: Devonshire

BRIDGEMAN, John Head Married M 68 1813 Accountant Gosport, Hampshire
BRIDGEMAN, Mary J Wife Married F 68 1813 Crediton, Devon
BRIDGEMAN, Charles L Grand Son Single M 8 1873 Scholar
High Bray, Devon <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BALE, Kate M Servant Single F 17 1864 Gen Dom Serv Altarnum, Cornwall


His marriage to Beatrice:

Marriages Jun 1902
>>>Bennett Beatrice Mary Barnstaple 5b 955
>>>Mansfield Charles Lindley B Barnstaple 5b 955
Roberts Ellen Barnstaple 5b 955
Thorne Arthur William Barnstaple 5b 955