Barnabas Blessed (bef. 1781 - 1822)

Born before 28 Jun 1781 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Atkinson) Blessed — married 5 Jul 1801 in London, England

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1822 after age 41 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

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Biography

Barnabas was born in 1780 to William Blessed born 1746 in London and Martha Baxter Blessed who were married in 1775 at Bethnal Green, East London. He was the youngest child. His brothers and sisters were Mary, Martha, William (1), William (2), Sarah, William (3).

Marriage: 1801 St Pancras Old Church, Somers Town, Camden, Middlesex to Elizabeth Burk Allen Atkinson born 1781-1822.

Occupation: Before 25 December 1814. Bull Inn Court, The Strand, Westminster, Middlesex, London. Book Binder and Stationer.

Children to Barnabas and Elizabeth Blessed:

William Curven Blessed (1803-1841), Died age 38 years and buried St John the Evangelist church in Lambeth, Surrey. William Curven was also a Bookbinder like his father, Barnabas, and lived in Lambeth where he met his future wife, Isabella Storey who was born 16/5/1804 at Shoreditch, East London. Isabella was daughter of John Storey Snr. and Esther Cook.

George Wilkinson Blessed (1804-1846) died age 41 years buried 26 June 1846 St Luke Old Street Finsbury Westminster, Middlesex.

Martha Atkinson Blessed 1808-19 November 1822) at Union Workhouse, St Martin-in-The Fields, Westminster aged 14 years.

Elizabeth Grace Blessed (1810-1812) died age 2 years.

Barnabas Charles Blessed ( 24th April 1814- June1889), Barnabas was also known as 'Charles' and he died at Kensington, Middlesex aged 75 years.

Jabez Blessed (1816 and died 20/6/1890 at Glanford Brigg, Lincolnshire, England aged 73 years.

Elizabeth 1819- 3rd December 1822 in Union Workhouse St Martin-in-the Fields, Westminster where her sister, Martha Atkinson Blessed also died on 19th November 1822. Elizabeth was 3 years of age at the time of her death.

Residence: 1813 moved to Hampshire. Barnabas and Elizabeth were living at Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England in 1816 when Jabez was born and also Elizabeth born in 1820.

Barnabas passed away on 8 November 1822, Portsea, Portsmouth, aged 41 years. Barnabas was buried as a Pauper in St Mary's Churchyard, Portsea, Hampshire.

Their youngest child, Elizabeth Blessed died on 3rd December 1822 at the Union Workhouse, St Martin in the Fields, Westminster, Middlesex aged 3 years.

His wife, Elizabeth Blessed also died in 1822, aged 40 years at Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire. This left the younger children orphaned, being Barnabas 'Charles' and Jabez.

In 1825 'Charles' was apprenticed to a Cordwainer in London. Jabez was apprenticed onto a Newcastle coal ship in 1829 when he was 11 years of age and later married and lived in the Hull area around 1840. The English actor, Brian Blessed is descended from Jabez Blessed and revealed his family story on the television show 'Who Do You Think You Are' in 2014.

Sources

• FreeReg baptisms: Database entry for Barnabas Blessed, 1781, Wisbech, accessed 1st June 2021
• England Marriages, 1538-1973, database, FamilySearch: 13 March 2020, Barnabas Blassed (sic), Elizabeth Atkinson, 1801, London

FamilySearch.org. Free Family History and Genealogy Records for England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 for Isabella Storey (1804). Accessed 19 April 2012 by Helen Etheridge.

'Who Do You Think You Are' television show report retrieved on 23/04/2016 from http://findtreefhm.blogspot.com.au written by Sarah Halton, written about the interview and family story of the English Actor, Brian Blessed on 19th August 2014.