Charles Bridgland (buried 1912)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Bridgland
First name: 
Charles
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
No
Burial number: 
675
Born: 
0/0/1865
Died: 
12/08/1912
Buried: 
17/08/1912
Occupation: 
Ironmonger
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SES
Cemetery row: 
9
Cemetery plot: 
13
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/asserts.person.swept
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of my dear husband Charles Bridgland died August 12th 1912 aged 47. Also of Eugenie Elizabeth Bridgland wife of the above died April 15th 1934 aged 73

Warning: this record has been marked as potentially upsetting

The information published on this website will include research obtained from the public domain. It may sometimes include things you might find upsetting, such as the details of their death or any misdemeanours that might have happened in their life. We feel it is important however to tell their full story.

Life story

Life story

Charles Bridgland was born in East Grinstead, Sussex, in 1864, he was baptised on 25th February 1865 at Halden, Kent. He was the youngest son of James Bridgland, Furrier and Leather Seller, 48yrs, and Sarah, 41yrs, nee Pretty. Charles had 6 siblings, William b.1849, George b.1851, Elizabeth b.1853, Mary Jane b.1858, Alfred b.1860, and Edwin b.1862.

In 1881 their father was running an ironmongery business in London Road, East Grinstead, and Charles, 16yrs, was an assistant ironmonger, along with his older brothers, William and Alfred. Charles went on to have his own ironmongery shop, in business with his brother, Alfred.

On 12th July 1886 Charles, 21yrs, married Eugenie Elizabeth Argent, 25yrs, in East Grinstead.

Eugenie's family lived next door to Charles' family in London Road, and the couple remained there for the next 15 years, they had no children. By 1901, Charles had retired at the early age of 37yrs, he was living on private income and shortly after, Charles and Eugenie moved to Worthing, Sussex. They lived at Bournecroft, Harrow Road, and Eugenie was in poor health.

Charles had suffered 3 bereavements in just 3 years; his brother Alfred died in 1906, his brother, George, committed suicide in Brighton in 1907, and Alfred's widow died in 1910, leaving 4 orphaned children. A sister with mental issues had died in an asylum. In 1912, he had a small loss on the Stock Exchange, and he showed signs of depression; on 12th August, at 5am. he was found drowned on the sands close to the Burlington Hotel. The inquest verdict was 'Found drowned'.

Probate was granted to Eugenie Bridgland, widow, and Sydney Buxton Argent, nurseryman, effects £7236 8s 10d. Value 2022 - £88,600.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1865
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Eugenie Elizabeth
Spouse one last name: 
Argent
Marriage one date: 
12/07/1886
Marriage one address: 
East Grinstead, Sussex, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
12/08/1912
Age (at time of death): 
47
Cause of death: 
Found drowned.
Address at time of death: 
Bournecroft, Harrow Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Eugenie Elizabeth Bridgland status: Widow: Sydney Buxton Argent status: Nurseryman
Probate pounds: 
£7,236

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1871 census: 

Living at London Road, East Grinstead, Sussex. James Bridgland, 54yrs, Furrier and Leather Seller, wife, Sarah, 47yrs, 7 children, William 21, Ironmongery Assistant, George 19, Ironmongery Assistant, Elizabeth 14, Mary Jane 12, Alfred 10, Edwin 8, Charles 6, mother-in-law, Jane Pretty, 75yrs.

1881 census: 

Living at London Road, East Grinstead, Sussex. James Bridgland, 64yrs, Ironmonger, wife, Sarah, 57yrs, sons, George 29, Alfred 20, and Charles 16, all Ironmongery Assistants, daughter, Mary Jane, 22yrs.

1891 census: 

Living at 210, London Road, East Grinstead, Sussex. Charles Bridgland, 27yrs, Ironmonger, wife, Eugenie, 29yrs, plus 1 domestic servant.

1901 census: 

Living at 212, London Road, East Grinstead, Sussex. John Argent, 62yrs, Solicitors Clerk, wife, Elizabeth, 64yrs, Eugenie Bridgland, m. 39yrs, Ada Argent, 36yrs, (Blind), Amy Argent, 30yrs, son-in-law, Charles Bridgland, 37yrs, Retired own means.

1911 census: 

Living at Bournecroft, Harrow Road, Worthing, Sussex. Charles Bridgland, 46yrs, Retired Ironmonger, wife, Eugenie Elizabeth, 49yrs, plus 1 domestic servant.

Miscellaneous information

Worthing Gazette Wednesday 21st August 1912.

SAD DEATH. Found Drowned. -  Evidence at the Inquest.

  An Inquiry was held at the Central Fire Station on Wednesday afternoon, when Mr. F. W. Butler, the Coroner for the Western part of the County, sat with a Jury to hear the evidence concerning the death of Mr. Charles Bridgland, of Bournecroft, Harrow Road, whose lifeless body was found on the beach on Tuesday morning, as reported in the last issue of the Gazette.  Ada Turner, a domestic servant in the employ of the demised, formally identified the body. She last saw Mr. Bridgland alive on Monday evening, just before he went out, when he said that he intended going on the Pier. The next time she saw him was when the body was found on the beach. When he went out, he had a mackintosh on, but this was missing when the body was found. He had been rather depressed lately, but she did not know the cause of his depression. Sydney Buxton Argent, of The Bays, Lingfield, a florist, and brother-in-law of the deceased, said that Mr. Bridgland was formerly in business as an ironmonger. He was forty-seven years of age. He stayed with witness for three weeks, returning home three weeks ago. Witness noticed that he was rather more quiet than usual. He knew the deceased had had a loss over some shares, but it was not enough to worry him. He had also had some domestic trouble, his wife being an invalid. Deceased's brother took his life at Brighton some three or four years ago, and a sister was also mentally affected, eventually dying in an Asylum. Frederick Butcher, a carter, of 21, New Street, deposed that be found the body of the deceased at five o’clock on the previous morning. It was on the sands, about forty yards from the beach, and just to the east of the Burlington Hotel. Witness went to the Central Police Station and informed the Police. Sergeant Carpenter said that be took the body to the Mortuary, in a pocket was a watch which had stopped at ten o'clock. A verdict of 'Found drowned' was returned by the Jury.