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Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England
Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England
Buckden (originally Bugden) in Cambridgeshire (historically in Huntingdonshire), is a village around 10 km south of Huntingdon and 80 km north of London.
If we are to adopt an English place of origin, then the village of Buckden, would be a good choice, due to the fact that at least 3 direct generations of our ancestors resided there and 2 of those generations are buried there.
Any corrections, additional information, pictures or stories relevant to this chapter can be submitted via the contacts in the footer section of this page. Accreditation is given, where applicable. Many thanks to all those who have contributed.
Merv Priestley email
Generation 1 - Stephen & Sarah
Generation 1 - Stephen & Sarah
The grandfather of Charles Priestley (b. 13 Jun 1826), Stephen Priestley (b. 29 Dec 1740) was born in Faldingworth and moved to Huntingtonshire at some point. He was already a widower when he met another widower Sarah Green.
They married 11 December 1781 and had two children
Augustine Priestley born 17 June 1783
Sarah Priestley born 1785
Stephen passed away 6 Oct 1790 (aged 49). Sarah passed away 16 Feb 1826 (aged 83).
They are buried beside each other in the St Marys Churchyard, Buckden (Red Section Plots 164 &165).
(Stephen and Jane's lives will be covered in more depth in another chapter).
click images to enlarge
Stephen Headstone
Sarah Headstone
To put the age of these headstones into context,
the Treaty of Waitangi wasn't signed until 1840
Generation 2 - Augustine & Amelia
Generation 2 - Augustine & Amelia
The parents of Charles Priestley - Augustine Priestley (b. 17 Jun 1783) and Amelia Scarborough (b. 5 May 1795) were both born in Buckden.
They were married 12 July 1812 and raised a large family here.
1. Stephen Priestley, b. 1813, d. 1850 (Age 37 years) buried St Marys Churchyard, Buckden
2. Thomas Longland Priestley, b. 1815, d. 1894 (Age 79 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
3. William Priestley, b. 1816, d. 1847 (Age 31 years) buried St Marys Churchyard, Buckden
4. Amelia Priestley, b. 1818, d. 1862 (Age 44 years)
5. Sarah Priestley, b. 1819, d. 1905 (Age 86 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
6. Augustine Priestley, b. 1821, d. 1878 (Age 57 years) buried St Marys Churchyard, Buckden
7. Harriet Priestley, b. 1823, d. 1892 (Age 69 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
8. John Priestley, b. 1824, d. 1902 (Age 78 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
9. Charles Priestley, b. 13 Jun 1826, d. 15 May 1889, (Age 62 years) buried Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland
10. Maria Priestley, b. 1827, d. 1890 (Age 63 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
11. Emily Priestley, b. 1830, d. 1890 (Age 60 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
12. Henry Priestley, b. 1833, d. 1888 (Age 55 years) buried Lucks Lane Cemetery, Buckden
13. Frances Priestley, b. 1835, d. 1835 (Age 0 years) buried St Marys Churchyard, Buckden
14. George Priestley, b. 1837, d. 1862 (Age 25 years) buried St Marys Churchyard, Buckden
Augustine passed away on 24 Sep 1856 (aged 74). Amelia passed away on 28 Jan 1863 (aged 68). They are buried beside each other in the St Marys Churchyard, Buckden (Red Section Plots 84 & 85).
(Augustine and Amelia's lives will be covered in more depth in another chapter).
click images to enlarge
Augustine Headstone
Amelia Headstone
To put the age of these headstones into context,
the first game of rugby wasn't played in New Zealand until 1870.
Generation 3 - Charles
Generation 3 - Charles
Charles Priestley (b. 13 Jun 1826) was born and raised here. He moved to New Zealand in 1852 (aged 26) and became our common English ancestor. He died 15 May 1889, (Age 62 years) and is buried in Waikumete Cemetry, Auckland, New Zealand.
Charles story is covered in more depth in another chapter - Charles
The St Marys Churchyard
The St Marys Churchyard
There are several Priestley headstones in the churchyard, all noted in the 'Monumental Inscriptions' booklet at the back of the church.The booklet was compiled by the Huntingdonshire Family History Society in 1995 when many of the stones were more legible than now. Volunteers continue to keep the churchyard clean and tidy but it is a never-ending task for just a few people.
There are eleven Priestley headstones in the churchyard in two family plots fairly close to each other. The Priestley graves are all in the Red/Western section and date from 1778 to 1881. They are numbered Red 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86 and Red 161, 163, 164, 165, 167. Link - Streetview
Excerpts from the St Marys Churchyard 'Monumental Inscriptions' booklet
Barry Jobling
The Vicar
St Mary’s Church of England
Church St
Buckden
Buckden Flour Mills
(now residential units)
The Priestleys were major land farmers and millers at Buckden from at least 1772 until the last one died in 1979.
In 1772, Stephen Priestly leased part of the Buckden Great Tithe Barn from the Bishop of Lincoln,
In 1774 Stephen Priestley was a church warden.
In 1843 another Stephen Priestley was also a church warden.
In the Kelly's business directory, Augustine Priestley is shown as a farmer in 1854 as is also Mrs Stephen Priestley. separately.
In 1869, Augustine Priestley is still shown as a farmer.
William Priestley (born Buckden 7 Aug 1842) set up the Buckden Flour Mills with his uncle John Bowyer in the 1860s and was still running same in 1911. Link - Streetview
His eldest son, Percy William Priestley married in 1910 and by 1915 was in the forces at the Front. He bought a major local farm, Coneygarths, in 1919 and lived there until his death probably in the 1930s. His wife died in 1979 at Coneygarths and was the last of the Priestleys in Buckden.
Coneygarths
Percy William Priestley
Buckden Links
Buckden Links
History of Buckden Village - http://www.buckden-village.co.uk/history/
Wikipidia - Buckden, Cambridgeshire - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckden,_Cambridgeshire
The Lion at Buckden - http://thelionbuckden.com/
Buckden Photo Album - http://st-neots.ccan.co.uk/content/category/categories/villages/buckden-villages
Buckden Media
Buckden Media
Buckden village - Overview
Buckden appears to be a rather nice place. Stop in if you're ever passing by.
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