Edward Bridgen of Lovel's Court, Paternoster Row Society of Constitutional Information original member 1780, elected Treasurer 8.12.1780.
Probably son of Edward Bridgen wine merchant of Philpot Lane and of Bridgnorth, Shropshire (carried there to be buried from St Dionis Backchurch London 13.1.1730/1) / 1756 EB steward of Socy of Ancient Britons /.1756 Bridgen & Waller lace merchants, Lovell Court / London City alderman 1757, 1761 / Inherited estate at Hackney under will of Rev John Bridgen DD of Gresham College PCC 1760 / Married 26.9.1750 Esther Dudley at Allhallows London Wall their dau Jane bapt 1.1.1754 at St Faith under St Paul / married 2ndly 22.4.1762 at Fulham Martha Richardson of Parsons Green dau of Samuel Richardson DNB 1689-1761 author of Pamela, Clarissa &c,, their dau died July 1771, Martha Bridgen died 13.2.1785 buried 21.1.1785 age 48 at St Faith under St Pauls and Edward Bridgen died 28.7.1787 buried 2.8.1787 age 67 at St Faith under St Pauls / He was a member of the Royal Society, a Vice-President of the Humane Society, Treasurer of the Society of Antiquaries, a steward of the Whig Club 1786. His will PCC 1787 mentioned no wife or children living but requested to be "returned to my mother earth next to my two dear wives and children under St Pauls". He left portraits of Mr Laurens and Mr Paine to Thomas Brand Hollis. His partner James Waller lace merchant was one of his executors.
Edward Bridgen history
I am in possession of a very old family bible which contains some handwritten script on a blank page facing Matthew chapter 1, which includes the words:
1730 Edward Bridgen Esq dyed Jan: 10th: 1730 aged 43
It also states that in 1732 Mrs Jane Bridgen Dyed July 18th: 1732 aged 47.
It also has entries for 1709 and 1710 and includes reference to Bridgnorth, Salop. It records the birth of an Edward 'son of the above Edward and Jane Bridgen' on May 24th 1710 and his baptism the following day.
I would be very interested to contact any present-day members of the Bridgen family or related descendents.
Thankyou Keith Fowler. If you
Thankyou Keith Fowler. If you want to contact other Bridgens via my website you'd best leave an email or real address in a comment. I note that the baptism in your bible is ten years earlier than I would have expected from the age given at death in the St Faith register, which could be wrong, or there could have been an earlier Edward who died young.