Recorded as Tedridge, Tidridge, Titherridge and possibly others, this is an English surname. It is locational and of medieval origin and describes a person who lived 'atta ridge,' which is also the name of a now apparently "lost" medieval village in the Hampshire area. Locational surnames are usually 'from' names. That is to say names given to people after they left their original village to move somewhere else.

Spelling over the centuries being at best erratic and local accents very thick, soon lead to the development of 'sounds like' surname spellings. In this case examples of the name development over the centuries and taken from the surviving registers of the county of Hampshire include William Titherige of Cheriton, on November 18^th 1705, James Tidridge, a witness at New Alresford Independent Church on October 12^th 1834, whilst on February 4^th 1844, Jane Tedridge, the daughter of Henry and Ann was christened at Bishops Waltham. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Titheridge. This was dated June 13^th 1642 when he married Erne Garret at Bighton, North Petersfield, during the reign of King Charles 1^st of England, 1625 1649.

Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research www.surnamedb.com (1980-2006)

Please note our own records tend to disagree with the above assessment

In order to present (it is hoped) a more direct link to individuals their ancestors will be added above the last personally known family member. It is hoped this will not confuse issues. It should also be noted that the Tidridge clan enjoys(?) many and varied spellings of their names.

According to material from Geoff Higgins [scroll down] both William and Priscilla were buried as Tetheridges

Maureen Tidridge nee Barrett

Investigations have begun with the Hampshire Genealogical Society to add a few more pages to the Barrett and Norris family shrubs! (May 2012: Hmm, not much help, joined Ancestry.ca much better success)

To see some of the Barretts click here

The Barretts:

Jane, known as Susan: her father Joseph, a seaman, born 1846 in Southampton, Hants, mother Elizabeth A. Unknown born circa 1846. Their children were: William J, (1870-?), Elizabeth A (c 1872-?), Joseph H.. (c 1874-?), Jane Susan (c 1875-?), Albert J (c 1877-?)

Winifred was a widow at the time of her marriage to George. Her first husband, Walter Henry Grant (1911-1934) a seaman (fireman), died in Honolulu, Hawaii. George, her second husband was a painter and decorator.

Maureen, before marrying John, was a secretary at Wm. Dibben and Sons, Southampton, and a stay at home mum during her marriage. John was in Law Enforcement

The Norris side:

 James Rainsley/Rensley a butcher, living in Wadhurst, Sussex prior to moving to Southampton, married Harriet Medhurst (1828-1905)
Their 8 children were:

James 1848-49), Thomas (1850-?), Robert (c 1853-1937), John James (1857-?), William (1858-1932), Charles (1860-1932), George (1863-?),

Ann Hannah (1865-?)

August 2002

To John and Maureen TIDRIDGE.

Dear John and Maureen,

As one family history fanatic to another, may I congratulate you John, in your capacity of editor, on a superb web site. It is quite the best that I have ever seen.

I had best start by explaining how I know Ivan and Phyl. I was born on 22^nd June 1935. I was a police officer for 28 years and 9 months. The whole of my service was in the uniformed branch. I joined the Southampton City Police in 1955, serving in the Central and Bitterne divisions. In 1967, Southampton amalgamated with the Hampshire Constabulary, and the following year I was promoted to Sergeant and moved to Petersfield. Ivan was then a beat motorcyclist for the A3 road, stationed at Petersfield and living in Buriton. For the next two years, I worked closely with him. He then moved to Oz in 1970. At about the same time, another Petersfield P.C. Tony HARDING also resigned and moved to Perth. My wife and I are close friends of the HARDINGs, and we have kept in touch with them over the years. In 1987, we visited them in Perth, and whilst we were there, we all met up with Ivan and Phyl, and had a meal out together. This was the last contact that we had with Ivan and Phyl. We have seen the HARDINGs several times on their visits to the UK, the last time being in April this year.

Like yourself, John, I have lived a very full life, and our two careers have been similar in some respects. I attended Prices Grammar School at Fareham from 1946 - 1952. I then worked with Southampton Libraries for 15 months, before doing my national service. This 15 months turned out to be a most important factor in my life, for years later, when I was approaching my retirement from the police, I was allowed to " buy back " this period of service for a ridiculously small sum of money, and was thus able to retire from the force with a 30 year maximum pension after 28 years and 9 months service. I had been promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1975, and served at Fratton (Portsmouth), Alton, and Cosham (Portsmouth) before retiring in 1984. We continued to live at Petersfield for this period, but on retirement we moved to our present home which is a 1960's built bungalow on a very pleasant quiet estate at Horndean, right on the boundary

with Cowplain. Whilst I have no regrets about being a policeman - after all, when all's said and done, it is a very interesting job - I had had more than enough by 1984, and I was relieved to be able to retire with my physical and mental health intact. Whilst I have no regrets about being a policeman - after all, when all's said and done, it is a very interesting job - I had had more than enough by 1984, and I was relieved to be able to retire with my physical and mental health intact.

I then did nothing for almost two years, but in 1986 I took up a position as senior assistant at Havant Museum., a branch of the Hampshire County Council museum service. There, I found my true niche in life, and I became very much "into" local and family history. In 1992/93, I attended part time at King Alfred's College,Winchester, where I obtained an advanced certificate in English local history (equivalent to one third of a degree !) At about the same time, I started to seriously investigate my own family history. I very rapidly became totally hooked on this, and "although I says it as shouldn't" as my old Mum used to say, I have become a very successful family historian. In a most perverse manner, there is no doubt that my condition of Parkinson's disease has been a major factor in this. The silver lining to this particular cloud in my life has been the sheer amount of time which it has enabled me to spend on my "hobby". It has now become the equivalent of a full time job with lot of overtime !

I finally retired in June 2000 at the age of 65 years. I have the dubious honour of being Hampshire's longest ever serving employee. 44 years, or 46 if national service is included.

All of which brings me to probably the most important thing which I have to discuss with you. I note with very great interest the fact that you were born at Hedge End, and also the horticultural background of your forbears there.

My mother, Ivy Nesta TOMLIN was born in Southampton in 1908 Her father William (1863 - 1928) was a grocer, but he came from a family of market gardeners at Hedge End. His father, my GGF Charles, is shown on the 1881 census as a market gardener, as is his son Frank, aged 13 yrs. I believe that Frank continued with the business after his father retired. Surely therefore the TOMLINs, CLARKs and TIDRIDGEs would have known each other ?

Do you have the Hampshire Gen Soc journal for May of this year ? If you do you will find an article in there by me concerning my friendship with a Rodney WHALE. (Ivan may in fact know of Rodney. He was promoted to Sergeant in the same year as myself, and went to Andover as Traffic Sergeant, staying there in that job for the rest of his time in the Force. He still lives at Andover.)

Anyway, Rodney is also a fellow FH fanatic, and he is quite an expert on Hedge End. His wife Beryl nee SHARP has SHARP ancestors in the village, and she and I are distantly related. I am forwarding a copy of this message to Rodney to see what he makes of it all.

Returning briefly to my earlier life, I must also mention my national service, where it would appear, John, that you followed in my footsteps ! Whilst I was only a humble Royal Artillery clerk, I served in the Suez Canal Zone for twelve months from February 1954 to February 1955. I spent most of my time there at Fayid beside the Great Bitter Lake. Whilst stationed there, I took two weeks leave in Kyrenia in Cyprus. Almost fifty years ago now - where have the years gone ? ! Thirty years on, in 1984, whilst on holiday in Egypt, Marion and I spent a magical day researching my roots. We hired a taxi in Cairo, and went to Fayid, where we found the remains of the camp.. Several of the more substantial buildings, such as the cinema were still standing and in use for other purposes. We then raced the ships along the canal to Ismailia. The enduring memory there is nervously sipping a coke in a cafe surrounded by gentlemen puffing on their hubbly bubbly pipes. All in all, a fantastic day - we did not see another white face between leaving and returning to our hotel.

In 1990, we had two weeks holiday at Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus. This has changed little over the years. Neither has the view from St. Hilarion castle, which has surely got to be one of he most beautiful in the world !

Well, I had better pack up now or I will never get this off. I still have one most important (to me) matter which I would like to discuss with you concerning a GGF who emigrated to Canada in 1911, but that's going to have to wait till next time.

Kind regards. Gavin and Marion MAIDMENT

MAIDMENT Gavin Paul Died suddenly but peacefully on 30 July, aged 75 years after suffering with Parkinson's for many years. Dearly loved husband of Marion, father to Angela, Kim and Mark.

Published in the Petersfield Post on 4^th August 2010

DECEMBER 2008

Those who have read this web page, will have realized the webmaster and the editor are far removed from each other, country-wise. The webmaster, John Bathgate lives in England, and the editor, John Tidridge lives in Canada.

It was considered wise to export the page from England to Canada for reasons of continuation, as the majority of the remaining Tidridges reside in Canada

The editor wishes to thank John for all of his help, which is continuing, as the editor masters the skills necessary to maintain the website in its present high quality state. We Tidridges are deeply indebted to John B.

For more information about John B click here

MAY 2010

This is almost a commemorative spot: the fountain in memory of John Tidridges' parents, and Eliza their geat grand daughter. 

The tallest delphinium is 6' 9" tall, the roses are just about at their best. The roses in the foreground are hardy shrub roses, which survive our winters with no covering.

In the Tidridge family of John, Jean & Ivan, Jean was (is!) the gardener supreme. John Tidridge is of the opinion that even if she planted stuff (seeds? plants) upside down they would grow. He is sure Jean would insist that it takes effort. Ivan would rather feed fish or bowl. John's efforts have been 'satisfactory"!

When all three of us were much (much) younger and we lived in Totton, Hants, Aunt Mabs lived with us for several years. John Tidridge fondly remembers her quoting the following poem

John also remembers there was a gardening feature in the Daily Mirror called, (I think) "Adam the Gardener", which John followed religiously (pun intended)

Strange happenings in the 'once-upon-a-time' colonies...

During July each year the City holds an exhibition week (at the end of 2010 there is some discussion that changes need to be made) That being said City employees were encouraged to take part in inter-departmental competitions.. the sillier the better.

Here John Tidridge does his best to get the attention of the crowd..this from a mature manager!!

November 21, 2010

From: Geoff
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:45 AM
Subject: New address

Hello Everyone,

Please note that I now have a new email address.

Would you be kind enough to use this new address with immediate effect.

Many Thanks,
Geoff Higgins of Emsworth

From: John Tidridge
To: Geoff
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: New address

Hello Jeff,

Lovely to get your e-mail... but I have no idea who you are.... enlighten me! Please!

John T

From: Geoff
To: John Tidridge
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: New address

Sorry, I think we corresponded some two years ago because we had a common ancestor - Priscilla PARGENT. Coincidentally, I work as a volunteer at the Hants Genealogical Society. Are you the John from Canada that recently joined?

Please excuse me if this is all gibberish to you.

regards Geoff Higgins UK.
My mother was a Pargent.

From: John Tidridge
To: Geoff
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: New address

Hello Geoff (got it right this time)

Good to hear from you, and no, it was not gibberish.

Yes, I am the one who has newly joined... for the second time... must confess I have been disappointed with the lack of responses from people I wrote to regarding my wife's family.... but I guess someone else made the same complaint...about other people. Why do people give their e-mail addresses if they don't want to reply? :)

I'm sorry our correspondence petered out... too late to start again? I'm not sure how it happened as I have only Priscilla listed.... do you have more info?

I am now the 'editor' of the family webpage but my brother-in-law helps me with formulae! The page has under gone some changes....here

Cheers from chilly Edmonton (-16 C)

Regards,
John T

SEPTEMBER 15 2012

John Tidridge finally becomes an author with his own book. compiled in collaboration with others, but he gets top billing. The book is about the neighbourhood he lives in and describes the parks, memorial benches and the like. While not a full size volume (51/2 by 81/2 and 48 pages long) it does contain colour photographs and lots of information.

The book launch took place in the Highlands Park and the launch was part of the celebration of the 100 ^th anniversary of the Highlands subdivision. Tidridge was very pleased at the reaction of people to the book and more pleased that almost 50 copies were sold. Another 100 have been ordered.

The project started as simply gathering facts for his family website. At some point he ran off the information and it was seen by a City of Edmonton Parks representative who suggested it was good enough to have properly printed. This was about 3 years ago.

The initial attempt was through the Highlands Community League and a meeting with the then Executive looked promising. However nothing came of this and Tidridge laid low for a while. Later Yvette Cioran of Im-Solutions, who saw potential in re-visiting the project. The Highlands Community League executive took up the challenge and endorsed the idea with some concrete support in the way of finances.

Enter now Barb. Martowski, who with Yvette now became the driving force behind the idea of getting thew book into print. As always, finances were a problem, or rather the lack thereof. Although the League had been generous in helping and the Northlands group had made funds available with some requirements, funding was short. An effort to involve the local business people did not work out well and in hindsight, that was to be expected. Why would they sponsor an unknown? It became obvious that some other financial means were needed and an anticipated launch of June was becoming obviously more and more impossible. .

While all this had been going on Barb. Martowski had sought and found, as she called them, 'angels'. Boyd and Laura England, were 'interested' in becoming involved. Subsequent meetings revealed they were in fact prepared to become the publishers of the book. Tidridge had persistently called the effort a booklet...until severely reprimanded by Martowski.

Several meetings later all plans were in place and the book was set to be launched September 15 ^th 2012. The group was saddened that Yvette had to withdraw because of other commitments. The financial aid of the League and Northlands had to be declined because of the emergence of the publisher.

September 15 ^th dawned early (it usually does!)looked promising... sunny and warm. Coming to the Park, Tidridge found a table and signs had been set up by Boyd. We were in business!! The launch was scheduled to take place between 11.00 a.m. and 2 p.m. The first book was sold before the official opening to Isaac Tyler, Tidridge's grandson... People came and went some commented some merely looked and walked away... another author Murray Hoak (?) passed by and suggested the stall occupants (Tidridge and Boyd) should be more aggressive and almost demand people buy... they graciously demurred...but did step up the pitch ever so slightly.

By the end of the session we were talking reprints...

JANUARY 2013 Interest seems to have died.. perhaps a hundred copies have been sold

The demise of the family trumpeter has caused John Tidridge to post his early life story...here

JANUARY 2013 The photograph (one of many) came from Florence Haven, a cousin, living in New Jersey: She was downsizing and thought I might like them. They make interesting viewing and efforts have been made, with some success, to identify the 'victims'!

John Tidridge remembers little about his grandmother, except she was old and wore long dresses.

The photograph is taken in the garden at 2 Silverdale Road, Southampton. It was a row house, but had a small front garden, complete with a privet hedge.. It was quite posh, there were tiled scenes on the walls leading up to the front door, hunting scenes I think. Most often entry was through the back yard... Dad and I would leave our bikes there when we went to a soccer game at the Dell which was just down the street from the home.

The garden was quite small, a lawn and flower beds is all I recall... you walked along the path and came to the back door, on your right. You entered into the kitchen, then into the dining room...both rooms seemed large. Leaving the dining room there was a bedroom on the left then the front parlour. The stairs were on the right... the front door straight ahead. I only vaguely remember going up stairs... the house always seemed dark to me. Across the street was a walled premise I believe the Deanery School were granddad was the head gardener. The church was down the street, turning right coming out the front door.

PRISCILLA PARGENT by Geoff Higgins of the UK

History related to John Tidridge great grand mother times 3 or is that 4?)

William Pargent (1775-1862)

William2 Pargent was baptised at Bishops Waltham on October 18^th. 1775. He was the second son of William1 and Rebecca Pargent (née Kiver) who married on August 13^th 1765 by licence at Bishops Waltham.

In the 1841 census, William2 was noted as 60 years old (actually 66) and he was a tailor, in the 1851 and 1861 censuses, he was listed as retired tailor. The 1861 census said he was 85 years old. He was unmarried and he lived next door to Henry Tidridge, a Cabinet Maker and family in the High Street, Bishops Waltham. His housekeeper was his niece, Fanny Tidridge (aged 30 in 1841), she lived, as Housekeeper, with William2 in 1841, 1851 and 1861. Also, Alfred Tidridge (11), nephew (of whom?), was with them in 1861. Fanny died in the June ¼ 1866, (South Stoneham 2c 33).

In Pigots 1844 directory are :–
William Pargent, a tailor in the High Street, Bishops Waltham.
Merit Hale, a boot and shoe maker, (died 1845)
Henry Tidridge, a carpenter and joiner.
Edwin Dowse, a bricklayer, (died 1870 aged 55) or (died 1872 aged 79).
In Kellys 1855: William was listed as Gentry, living in the High Street, Bishops Waltham. Together, in the Bishops Waltham section of the 1859 Hants Directory, are a Mr. Chas. and Mr. Wm. Pargent (as Tailors?).

William2 Pargent died at Bishops Waltham on November 1^st.1862, aged 87. He was described as "Proprietor of Houses" on the death certificate. He died of Chronic Bronchitis. The informant was Henry Tidridge (next door neighbour). There is no will recorded at York.

Priscilla Pargent (1780-1840)

William1 and Rebecca Pargent's third daughter was Priscilla (baptised 13^th August 1780, died 24^th August 1840, aged 69, at Bishops Waltham). See the William1 Pargent page for more family details.

On August 12^th1806 at Alverstoke Priscilla Pargent married William Tidridge baptised 15^th March 1775, died 11^th November 1851, aged 76, a Tailor). Henry Tidridge was the informant at both William and Priscilla Tidridge’s deaths. On Priscilla’s death certificate all the surnames were spelt Tetheridge.

Note- Henry Tidridge born 1817 married Ann Newell born 1818 at Bishops Waltham in 1840 (ref. March ¼ 1840, Droxford 7 85) Henry Tidridge died June ¼ 1868, Droxford 2c 61. Ann Tidridge (née Newell) died Dec.¼ 1873, Droxford 2c 75.

William2 Pargent (1775-1862)

William2 Pargent was baptised at Bishops Waltham on October 18^th. 1775. He was the second son of William1 and Rebecca Pargent (née Kiver) who married on August 13^th 1765 by licence at Bishops Waltham.

In the 1841 census, William2 was noted as 60 years old (actually 66) and he was a tailor, in the 1851 and 1861 censuses, he was listed as retired tailor. The 1861 census said he was 85 years old. He was unmarried and he lived next door to Henry Tidridge, a Cabinet Maker and family in the High Street, Bishops Waltham. His housekeeper was his niece, Fanny Tidridge (aged 30 in 1841), she lived, as Housekeeper, with William2 in 1841, 1851 and 1861. Also, Alfred Tidridge (11), nephew (of whom?), was with them in 1861. Fanny died in the June¼ 1866, (South Stoneham 2c 33).

In Pigots 1844 directory are :–
William Pargent, a tailor in the High Street, Bishops Waltham.
Merit Hale, a boot and shoe maker, (died 1845)
Henry Tidridge, a carpenter and joiner.
Edwin Dowse, a bricklayer, (died 1870 aged 55) or (died 1872 aged 79).
In Kellys 1855: William was listed as Gentry, living in the High Street, Bishops Waltham.
Together, in the Bishops Waltham section of the 1859 Hants Directory, are a Mr. Chas. and Mr. Wm. Pargent (as Tailors?).

William2 Pargent died at Bishops Waltham on November 1 ^st. 1862, aged 87. He was described as “Proprietor of Houses” on the death certificate. He died of Chronic Bronchitis. The informant was Henry Tidridge (next door neighbour). There is no will recorded at York.

Priscilla Pargent (1780-1840)

William1 and Rebecca Pargent’s third daughter was Priscilla (baptised 13^th August 1780, died 24^th August 1840, aged 69, at Bishops Waltham). See the William1 Pargent page for more family details.

On August 12^th 1806 at Alverstoke Priscilla Pargent married William Tidridge (bap. 15th March 1775, died 11^th November 1851, aged 76, a Tailor). Henry Tidridge was the informant at both William and Priscilla Tidridge’s deaths. On Priscilla’s death certificate all the surnames were spelt Tetheridge.

Note- Henry Tidridge born 1817 married Ann Newell born 1818 at Bishops Waltham in 1840 (ref. March ¼ 1840, Droxford 7 85) Henry Tidridge died June ¼ 1868, Droxford 2c 61. Ann Tidridge (née Newell) died December. ¼ 1873, Droxford 2c 75.