RECORDS RELATING MAINLY TO THE STRADLING FAMILY

Records relating mainly to the Stradling family

STRADLING FAMILY AND THEIR ESTATES

1 Deeds of Bridgwater

2 Deeds of Bridgwater and Chedzoy

3 Deed of Glastonbury

4 Deeds of Bridgwater

5 Deeds of North Petherton

6 Deeds of Cannington

7 Deed of Bawdrip

8 Deeds of Chilton-upon-Polden

9 Deed of Cannington

10 Deed of Huntspill

11 Deed of Henbury, co. Glos.

12-15, 22 Personal and business papers (various members)

16-21 Papers and correspondence of and documents accumulated by Wm. Stradling

ANSTICE FAMILY

23 Personal and business papers

LIGHT FAMILY AND THEIR ESTATES

24 Deed of Compton Dando

25-29 Deeds of Backwell

30 Deeds of Yatton, Kenn and Week

31 Deeds of Chelton

32 Deeds of Bridgwater

33-39 Personal and business papers

BENNETT FAMILY

40 Personal and business papers

PARSONS FAMILY

41 Personal and business papers

PARKER FAMILY

42 Personal and business papers

No original bundles were found, most of the documents in the first accession having been placed in individual envelopes, and those in the second accession being in no significant order. The collection has therefore been sorted into headings under the various families to which they formerly belonged. The pedigrees which follow this note indicate how the documents came into the possession of the Stradling family.

N/47, W/51/2

Little is known of the circumstances under which this collection was acquired by the Somerset Record Office. In May 1932 a group of documents was purchased from and in May 1944 a larger accumulation was transferred from the Somerset Archaeological Society. It is presumed that this second group is connected with a general purchase of objects for the museum made by the Society in June 1902 from which is reported in the Society's Proceedings, 48, i, 81. This lady can be identified as the second wife of the only son of the antiquarian, whose correspondence, historical notes and business papers form the central part of this collection.

The Stradlings claimed to descend from the Stradling baronets of St. Donats Castle, Glamorgan, and were settled in Chedzoy from the late 17th century, if not earlier. William Stradling, son of a Bridgwater clergyman, became particularly drawn to antiquarian pursuits and the part he played in the excavation of Roman villas with his friend Samuel Hasell makes his correspondence an illuminating commentary on the activities of antiquarians in Somerset and beyond during the early 19th century.