First Generation  

1. James Bradbeer , son of James Bradbeer and Joan Dommett , was born in 1832 in Pitminster, Somerset and died on 31 Oct 1904 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

James Bradbeer is the forefather of the "Stoke Branch" of the Bradbeers, as it was James who moved from Somerset up to Stoke. He was born in Pitminster, Somerset and was baptised on 25 Mar 1832. This is recorded in the Pitminster, St Mary and St Andrew Baptisms 1649-1885 (http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/Pitminster/BapPit_Bo.html). James is noted as being the son of James (a labourer) and Joan.

In 1851, James was living with his family in Bradford on Tone, Somerset at Farmwood Cottage. James was 19 at the time and was unmarried. He was working as an Agricultural Labourer. James then moved from Somerset to Surrey, where he met his wife, Sophia Ferraby. They were married at Battersea Parish Church on 21st December 1851, where William Ferraby and Harriet Patterson were witnesses. James moved with his family to Stoke sometime around 1861-62, and his daughter Alice Mary Bradbeer was born in Stoke in 1862. James lived at 15 Copeland Street, Shelton at the time of both the 1871 and 1881 census. 15 Copeland Street was on the side of the street which was demolished in the 1970s to make way for the A500 which cuts through Stoke.

An article in the "Bradbeer Newsletter" said of James:
"James was ... of a Somerset family, born in Pitminster, nr. Taunton son of James Bradbeer and Joan Dommett. Their ancestors can be traced back to about 1670. James ... was an Agricultural Labourer until 1851 when he moved to London and married Sophia Ferreby of Lambeth. It is not known what he did in London apart from producing six children between 1853 and 1861. The family then moved to Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire where a further five children were born." [Source: Tony Milward, Bradbeer One-Name Study - Newsletter #11].

The 1901 census shows that James was still alive, and has him as living at 47 Shelton Old Rd., Stoke-upon-Trent. He is still married to Sophia and by this time is aged 72. He is still working, his occupation being down as "Clay Millwright Potters Manufacturer". His employment status is that of "Employer" so presumably he ran his own firm. Also at the address were his wife Sophia, as well as his son George and his daughter Annie.

James died on 31st October 1904 and was still living at 47 Shelton Old Road at the time. The house is still there as of 2002. James left money to his wife Sophia in his will.

James married Sophia Ferraby , daughter of William Ferraby and Unknown , on 21 Dec 1851 in Battersea Parish Church, Surrey. Sophia was born in 1831 in Lambeth, Surrey.

Sophia was married to James Bradbeer at Battersea Parish Church on 21st December 1851. She was living at 64 Princes Street, Lambeth in 1855 at the time of her son James William Bradbeer's birth. She moved to Stoke-on-Trent with her husband and children in the early 1860s, and the 1881 census has her as living at 15 Copeland Street, Shelton.

Sophia was still alive in 1901, and the census shows that she was seventy by this time. She was living at 47 Shelton Old Rd., Stoke-upon-Trent with her husband James, her son George and her daughter Annie.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 2 F    i. Sophia Elizabeth Bradbeer was born in 1853 in Lambeth, Surrey.

+ 3 M    ii. James William Bradbeer was born on 26 Jan 1855 in Lambeth, Surrey and died on 29 Jan 1935 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 4 M    iii. George Henry Bradbeer was born on 2 Feb 1856 in Lambeth, Surrey and died on 2 Dec 1918.

+ 5 F    iv. Sarah Jane Bradbeer was born in 1858 in Lambeth, Surrey.

+ 6 M    v. Charles Edmund Bradbeer was born in 1860 in Lambeth, Surrey.

+ 7 M    vi. Frederick William Bradbeer was born in 1860 in Lambeth, Surrey and died on 7 Oct 1934 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 8 F    vii. Alice Mary Bradbeer was born in 1862 in Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 9 F    viii. Emma Selina Bradbeer was born in 1864 in Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 10 M    ix. John Henry Bradbeer was born in 1865 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire and died in 1866 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 11 F    x. Annie Merretta Bradbeer was born in 1867 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 12 F    xi. Florence G. Bradbeer was born in 1868 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.

+ 13 F    xii. Maud Bradbeer was born in Mar 1870 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire and died in 1876.

+ 14 F    xiii. Beatrice Bradbeer was born on 5 May 1873 in Stoke, Staffordshire and died on 30 May 1951 in Shelton, Staffordshire.