Died
11 January 1844
Born
1803
Sources
Ancestry
Lancashire On-Line Parish Clerk
Place
Walks
Themes
Christopher Rigg
Bailiff
This is a fine headstone set against the north wall of the churchyard. It shows the value placed on his trusted bailiff by one of the local large landowners.
Notice the variety of fonts used, and the misspelling of ‘servent’.
M. S.
MR CHRISTOPHER RIGG
Many Years
Bailiff
At
Conishead and Bardsea
Died Jany 11th 1844,
Aged 41.
In testimony of regret
For the loss
Of a most honest & faithful Servent
This Stone is erected
By
T. R. G. BRADDYLL, ESQUIRE
Of
CONISHEAD PRIORY
From Ancestry we know that a Christopher Rigg, of the “Parochial Chapelry of Kellet and Parish of Bolton le Sands, married Bella Sandham, Spinster, of Glasson on 17 August 1829.
Baptisms at Urswick include:
- 20 August 1834 Bella Rigge, Daughter of Christopher Rigge & Bella; Bardsea; Occupation: Farmer.
- 8 November 1835 Richard Rigge, son of Christopher Rigge & Bella; Bardsea; Land Agent to T. M. (sic) G. Bradyll, Conishead Priory.
- 20 August 1837 Henry Rigge, as above
- 14 October 1838 Christopher Rigge, as above
- 19 July 1840 John Rigge, as above.
None of the above were married or buried at Urswick in the dates published by Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk.
1841 Census
In the 1841 Census living at Bardsea Town End, and mis-transcribed as Kegg, are:
Christopher Rigg (30); Bella Rigg (30); Thomas Rigg (10); Mary Rigg (12); Elizabeth Rigg (8); Bella Rigg (6); Richard Rigg (5); Henry Rigg (3); Christopher Rigg (2); John Rigg (11 Months).
Note that adult ages were rounded in the 1841 Census, though Christopher would be nearer 40. All the residents were born in Lancashire, except the Head of the household. Bella is short for Isabella.
1851 Census
After Christopher’s death, the family moved to Ulverston, where in the 1851 Census the family were living at Mountbarrow, Ulverston. In the household are Isabella Rigg (45) Head, Widow, Laundress, born Lancaster, Lancs; Elizabeth Rigg (18) Unmarried, Dressmaker, born Over Kellet, Lancs; Bella Rigg (16) Daughter, Scholar, born Urswick, Lancs; Christopher Rigg (11) Son, born Urswick; John Rigg (10), Son, born Urswick, Lancs; Frances Rigg (8) Daughter, born Urswick, Lancs; Edward Rigg (7) Son, born Urswick, Lancs; and Mary Sandham (74) Widow, Mother, born Myerscough, Lancs.
1861 Census
By the time of the 1861 Census they had moved back to Bardsea Green. The household is Bella Rigg (55) Widow, Laundress, born St Nicholas, Lancs; Elizabeth Rigg (28), Daughter, Unmarried, Laundress, born Over Kellet, Lancs; John Rigg (20) Unmarried, Agricultural Labourer, born Bardsea; Alice Pladdy (6) Granddaughter, born Stainton, Lancs; Mary Sandham (84) Widow, Mother, born Myerscough, Lancs; and Edward Rigg (17) son, Gardener (Domestic), born Bardsea. I don’t know why Edward is left until last on the list.
1871 Census
The 1871 Census shows some family developments. Living at Bardsea Green in the Old School are: Bella Rigg (65) Head, Widow, Laundress, born St. Michael’s on Wyre, Lancs; James Hutton (36) Son-in-Law, Iron Miner, born Cartmel, Lancs; Elizabeth Hutton (38) Daughter, Laundress, born Bardsea; John Lewis (37) Son-in-Law, General Labourer, born Lyth, Westmorland; Bella Lewis (36) Daughter, Laundress, born Bardsea; Frances R. Lewis (6) Granddaughter, Scholar, born Bardsea, Lancs; Christopher R. Lewis (4), Grandson, born Bardsea, Lancs; John E. Lewis (2), Grandson, born Bardsea, Lancs; Elizabeth Lewis (1) Granddaughter, born Bardsea, Lancs; and Alice P. Pladdy (possibly Pitt-Pladdy) (16) Granddaughter, born Stainton, Lancs.
Isabella Rigg
Isabella Rigg died in the fourth quarter of 1879. In spite of the variety of the locations given for her birth, her baptismal record is from St. Michael’s On Wyre, Lancs, and reads Bella, daughter of Richard & Mary Sandham, of Upper Rawcliffe. Born Aug. 4th 1805; baptised Aug. 25th 1805.
