ELDRIDGE family from NITON,Isle of Wight

[wjebill]

I'm starting to trace my maternal grandfather's history. He was Frank John? Eldridge born at Niton IoW in about 1846. He was one of 12? children of John Eldridge of Niton, joined the Gloucesters and served in India (probably 1870s +). He later moved to Malta, where he was a civilian in the Army Pay Office (Valletta?). He married Evelina (?)Abela in Malta (1909?), their daughter Ruth Mary was born in Sliema in 1910. He died in Sliema (?) in 1920/21.

[olliecat]

Do you have his service record? There is a record on findmypast for a Frank Eldridge born abt 1849 in Niton, Venton, Hampshire. He attested to the Gloucestershire. Wife's surname was Abella but her first name was not Evelina.

WO97 / 2743 / 39

[Bertie]

Hi wjebill - take a look at the following site (esp. the BMD section) it has loads of Eldridges and usefully shows the mother's name for all births too.

http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/index.htm

By the way 'Venton' is probably a mis-trascription of Ventnor

[Bertie]

Re. Malta this is always a good site to look at...

http://www.maltagenealogy.com/

[Bertie]

Familysearch has 9 children showing as christened to John Eldridge and Ruth including Frank:

Name: Frank Eldridge
Gender: Male
Baptism/Christening Date: 30 Apr 1848
Baptism/Christening Place: Niton, Hampshire, England
Father's Name: John Eldridge
Mother's Name: Ruth
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C02816-4
System Origin: England-EASy
Source Film Number: 1470881
Reference Number: item 18 p 77
Collection: null

[olliecat]

Looking at the 1861 census, along with Frank there are quite a few other children
Niton North, Isle of Wight. RG09 Piece: 661 Folio: 28 Page: 1

Looking up some of the children births it looks like Ruths's maiden name is GOSDEN.

1848 ELDRIDGE Frank GOSDEN Godshill G5/P98

1859 ELDRIDGE Walter GOSDEN Godshill G11/P32

1852 ELDRIDGE George GOSDEN Godshill G8/P24

Could be the parents marriage.

groom's name: John Elderidge
bride's name: Ruth Gosden
marriage date: 21 Jun 1834
marriage place: Shorwell, Hampshire, England
(from family search)

[Bertie]

Likely marriage: is John Eldridge to Ruth Gosden, 21 Jun 1834, Shorwell (IoW) film: 1470891

[olliecat]

He married Evelina (?)Abela in Malta (1909?), their daughter Ruth Mary was born in Sliema in 1910.

I'm wondering about this marriage now. Do you have any more details?

[Wyvern]

Hi,

A couple of websites that might be of use to you

www.
your-family-history.com/e/eldridge-family-history.php

http://
genforum.genealogy.com/eldridge.

Have you tried the IWFHS? - there are a number of members who are researching the Eldridge family. I have nine people named Eldridge in my own family tree who were born in Niton but sadly not your relative although it would not surprose me to learn that we were relate albeit distantly.

Regards,
Peter