Matthew and Dorothy Hazzard

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Mistress Dorothy Hazard and the Women of Bristol Defending The Frome Gate 1643.


Widow Kelly* and others barricading the Frome Gate Against Prince Ruppert at the Siege of Bristol 1643. From Bristol Past and Present Vol III by J. F. Nicholls and John Taylor 1882.

from IGI:

  • Anthony Kelly Spouse: Dorothy Tilly; Marriage: 03 SEP 1616 St Phillip & St Jacob, Bristol
  • probably Abell Kelly 1617
  • Dorothy Kelly Christening: 12 DEC 1619 St Philip And St Jacob, Bristol,
  • Martha Kelly Christening: 21 APR 1622 St Philip And St Jacob, Bristol
  • Sammuell Kellie Christening: 19 OCT 1623 All Saints, Bristol
  • Antipas Kellie Christening: 01 MAY 1625 All Saints, Bristol
  • Mary Kelly Christening: 21 SEP 1628 All Saints, Bristol
  • John Kelly Christening: 07 FEB 1629 All Saints, Bristol
  • Joseph Kellie Christening: 13 NOV 1631 All Saints, Bristol
    all above: - Father: Anthony/Anthonie Kelly/Kellie

  • probable marriage of Abell & Mary c.1646
  • Abell Kelly Christening: 24 OCT 1647 All Saints, Bristol
    Spouse: ELIZABETH Marriage: 1672 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • Antipas Kelly Christening: 01 FEB 1649 All Saints, Bristol
  • Elli Kelly Christening: 14 NOV 1651 All Saints, Bristol
  • Anthony Kelly Christening: 01 OCT 1661 All Saints, Bristol
    all above: - Father: Abell Kelly & (last one) Mother: Mary
    (Matthew Hazzard named Abell Kelly as 'grandson' in his will, followed by more brothers and sisters than we have recorded "and to his brothers and sisters Eli(?), Mary, Dorothy, Martha, Mathew and Anthony". It appears that Dorothy and Anthony had a son, Abell, possibly their first child for whom we have no record. The will also appears to mention a 'daughter in law' Martha Kelly, and her children, also Edward Kelly.)

Dorothy was probably born in the 1590s. She married Anthony Kelly, a grocer in the High Street, appears to have had eight children, and was widowed about 1631. About 1639 she married Revd. Matthew Hazzard, who had arrived in Bristol around 1633.

Oxford DNB: "Matthew Hazzard (1601/2–1671), son of George Hazzard of Lyme Regis, Dorset" (specific source not given) - however it seems more likely that George was Matthew's older brother, not his father, see John Hassard (his grandfather, Lord of Seaton and Beer).

We only know of one George Hassard of Lyme, but have no clear dates for him. However it appears that between 1660 and 1671, King Charles II granted large tracts of land, in Fermanagh Northern Ireland, to George and his son, Jason, for raising troops in South England on King Charles behalf. They then appear to have moved from Lyme Regis and settled there. This would have put Matthew on the oppsite side to the rest of his immediate family during the civil war.

One website, now gone, suggested that Matthew Hassard was somehow connected with the vicar of St. Mary's, Chard between 1630-1634 - which could then fit with him arriving in Bristol 'about 1633'. - this appeared to be an extract from St. Mary's Chard, A Guide and History by Timothy Peake which is not currently available.

This would fit with what we know of Matthew's cousins, who were most likely puritans, supporting Cromwell, in the Chard/Taunton area.

- - - -

Bristol

The records of a church of Christ meeting in Broadmead, Bristol, 1640-1687 (1847) (archive.org)

Mr. Hazard, "a young preacher who savoured of the Puritanic spirit," came to St. Nicholas on a temporary visit, and as a supply preached at Redcliff, but had to leave there because he used too much plainness of speech. This was in 1639, at which period the widow Kelly kept on the grocer's shop between the Guilder's inn and the High Cross.

"Mr. Hazzard was appointed preach at St. Ewins in 1639, where he ministered until 1643. In the early part of 1639 he was supplying Redcliffe Church, which led to the desire, on the part of [the later] Mrs. Hazzard, of obtaining a residence in that parish; a plan obviated by the appointment of her husband to St. Ewins."

When Mr. Hazard was driven from Redcliff, the people persuaded the widow Kelly to marry him, which she did. By then Dorothy would have been age 40-50, some sources mention her 'young husband'.

"Shortly after this, on a time called Easter [1640], because Mr. Hazzard could not in conscience give the sacrament to the people of the parish, he went out of town, and took that season to visit his kindred at Lyme."

"This is the same strong-minded lady who, with Mistress Joan Batten and others, stopped up the Frome gate with woolsacks and earth to keep out Prince Rupert, in 1643." They apparently fled to Hertfordshire for a while but returned to Bristol. From a local history: "Matthew Hazzard left Bristol during the civil war, and was Rector of East Barnet in Hertfordshire, where in July 1644 he refused to pay money for the support of the ejected rector's wife. He returned to Bristol in 1645."

. ..the Hazards entertained sometimes two or three families at one time (who were expatriating themselves for conscience sake to New England), whilst they waited in Bristol for a ship or for a fair wind. (see Richard Hazard below...?) They also took in pregnant women to have their babies without them being 'subjected to the rituals of the established church'.

Matthew Hazzard was eventually dismissed from the Church of England in 1662. Oxford DNB: "he continued to live in Bristol until his death in 1671". - Will of Matthew Hassard (PDF 582k, hard to read! - as well his step-children from Dorothy, he mentions his sister Thomasine (possibly Swift) - and his daughter, Lidia who had died. It is not clear whose child Lidia was.)

'Dorothy Hazzard died, an active and honoured member of the (Broadmead Baptist) congregation on the 14th of March 1675.'

- this information is from the various sources linked above which give her as the founder of the Baptists in Bristol, leading to both the Pithay Chapel and the Broadmead Baptist church. In 1846 William Carey Davis married at the Pithay Chapel - his grandmother was Mary Hazard b.1791... In 1813 Mary Hazard married Richard Davis, a grocer like widow Kelly.

The Oxford DNB article is by Roger Hayden who gives as his sources:

  • R. Hayden, ed., The records of a church of Christ in Bristol, 1640–1687, Bristol RS, 27 (1974), 12–19, 85, 87–91, 131, 154, 293
  • P. McGrath, Bristol and the civil war (1981)
  • J. Latimer, The annals of Bristol in the seventeenth century (1900), 148–9, 151, 179, 186
  • W. Prynne and C. Walker, A true and full relation of the prosecution … of Nathaniel Fiennes late colonel and governor of the city and castle of Bristol (1644), pt 2, catalogue of witnesses, 10
  • S. Davies, Unbridled spirits: women of the English revolution, 1640–1660 (1998) (this only has two very brief passing references to Dorothy)
  • Calamy rev.

further reading:

- - - -

in Bristol at the same time (from ancestry world tree):
Richard Hazzard; Birth: 1652 in Bristol, England
Death: 20 MAY 1712 in Port Royal, South Carolina, USA
Marriage Isabella b: 1655 in England
Children: William Hazzard b: 1684 in St Helens Parish, South Carolina, USA

the only Hazards listed by IGI in Bristol for the entire 17thC:

  • DAVID HASSARDE Spouse: MARGARET REYNOLDS Marriage: 26 SEP 1623 Westbury-On-Trym, Gloucester
    • THOMAS HASSARDE Christening: 23 JAN 1624 Westbury-On-Trym, Gloucester
    • EDWARDE HASSARDE Christening: 03 JUL 1625 Westbury-On-Trym, Gloucester
    • WILLIAM HASSARDE Christening: 14 APR 1628 Westbury-On-Trym, Gloucester,
    • MARIE HASSARDE Christening: 03 APR 1631 Westbury-On-Trym, Gloucester,
      all above: Father: DAVID HASSARDE
  • William Hassard Christening: 26 NOV 1636 Bristol, Father: Thomas Hassard Mother: Joane
  • HANNAH HAZZARD Christening: 17 NOV 1639 Bristol Father: HENRY HAZZARD
  • Mary Hassard : Spouse: John Ford : Marriage: 30 SEP 1660 St Michael's, Bristol
  • JANE HAZARD : Spouse: JOHN GODSEL Marriage: 15 JUL 1670 Society Of Friends, Bristol
    "In 1640, a Baptist congregation formed in Broadmead, and from 1672 they met in Broadmead Baptist Church, (on the right at the bottom of Union Street), which had previously been used by Quakers."
  • WILLIAM HASSARD Spouse: ELLEN CRUMALL Marriage: 01 JUN 1676 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol

Kelly's in Bristol, 17th century:

  • John Kelly Spouse: Margery Hatton ; Marriage: 11 NOV 1593 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol,

  • Margaret Kellye Christening: 10 JUN 1608 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Roger Kellye Christening: 05 AUG 1609 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Rebecca Kellye Christening: 28 SEP 1611 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Anthonye Kellye Christening: 01 NOV 1612 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Rebecca Kelley Christening: 31 OCT 1613 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Nathanyelle Kelley Christening: 02 FEB 1614 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Christopher Kellye Christening: 25 FEB 1615 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Hester Kelley Christening: 03 SEP 1617 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Beniamen Kelley Christening: 06 FEB 1619 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Luke Kelley Christening: 06 MAY 1621 Christ Church, Bristol
  • Mary Kelley Christening: 01 DEC 1622 Christ Church, Bristol
    - all above Roger/Rogger Kelly, most mother Joane

  • CHARLES KELLIE Christening: 28 OCT 1629 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • FRANCES KELLY Christening: 19 JUN 1631 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol,
  • EDWARD KELLYE Christening: 11 MAY 1634 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • ELYZABETH KELLYE Christening: 04 APR 1636 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • THOMAS KELLYE Christening: 06 NOV 1638 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • JOAN KELLYE Christening: 16 JUL 1641 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol, Death: 18 JUL 1641
    - all above father Thomas Kellie/Kellye, last three mother Susan/Susanna

  • Mary Kelley Christening: 19 MAY 1661 Christ Church, Bristol, Father: Edward Kelley Mother: Mary

  • MARGRETT KELLYE Christening: 01 MAY 1656 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol, Death: 21 SEP 1671
  • THOMAS KELLEY Christening: 04 MAY 1659 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • ELLYNOR KELLEY Christening: 23 JUN 1661 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol,
  • ANN KELLEY Christening: 05 AUG 1664 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • CHARLES KELLY Christening: 08 AUG 1667 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol
  • MARY KELLY Christening: 07 FEB 1670 Saint Augustine The Less, Bristol,
    - all above father Charles Kelly, mother Ellynor

The lack of records could be partly because the parish records were based on christenings in the established, Anglican, church - which the Baptists would have avoided.... though some may have come up from Somerset.

Matthew's will:

[opening paragraph appears to be in Latin]

Mathew Hafsard

In the name of God Amen

All the days of my ... concerning the worldly goods in ... God hath ... as followeth ... To my sister Thomasine ... my guilt Saltseller with my name in it. Item to her husband ... of gold of ... shillings. Item ... to my ... Mathew [same name Thomasine's] .... my ring with a... stone in it. Item to his daughter Rebetta (?) my ... looking glasse which my daughter Lidia (?) wrought ... in a box. Item... to my grandson Abell Kelly an emerald ring with the ... in the inside of it. And to his brothers and sister's ... Mary Dorothy Martha Mathew and Anthony ... of gold .. of them Also to my said grandsons Mathew Kelly my ... in my ... my wife's ... Item ... to my daughter in law Martha Tilly (?) ... of ... of King Edwards Coins And ... five pounds in money to be paid to her after he mothers .... Item ... Edward Tilly ... of twenty shillings Item ... to my grand children Mathew Tilly and Lidia Tilly twenty pounds ... to be paid them after my wife's ... Item to ... of the children of my son Samuell ... forty shillings to be paid to them. Item to my ... Elizabeth ... my Damask table cloth and dozen of mop: .... Item ... to my ... Abell... twenty pounds to be paid him after my wife's ... Item ... twenty shillings Item to my ... Susan ... twenty shillings [rest even harder to read]]

Bristol Tillys, presumable related to Dorothy:

  • Joane Tilly Spouse: Robertt Cory Marriage: 06 OCT 1577 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol,
  • John Tilly Spouse: Agnes Hawkyns Marriage: 21 JUN 1579 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • John Tily Spouse: Edythe Woodrooffe Marriage: 13 FEB 1583 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol, Gloucester, England
  • Phillippe Tylly Spouse: Elizabethe Bagwell Marriage: 05 JUL 1584 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • Joane Tillye Spouse: Nicholas Bicknell Marriage: 28 JAN 1587 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • Ellyn Tilly Christening: 21 JUN 1578 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tilly
  • Joane Tilly Christening: 13 NOV 1580 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tilly
  • Joane Tyly Christening: 14 JAN 1587 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tilie
  • Sibill Tilly Christening: 19 DEC 1590 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tilly
  • Edithe Tyly Christening: 22 JUL 1593 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tyly
  • Ellyn Tylly Spouse: Walter Sheaperd Marriage: 18 JUL 1594 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • Nicholas Tilly Spouse: Joane Clementt Marriage: 12 APR 1602 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol,
  • Joane Tilly Christening: 03 MAR 1602 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Nicholas Tilly
  • Annis Tilley Christening: 12 JUL 1604 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Nycholas Tyllye
  • Elizabeth Tillye Christening: 05 OCT 1607 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Edward Tillye
  • Elizabeth Tylly Christening: 09 SEP 1610 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Edward Tylly
  • Mary Tilly Christening: 13 JUL 1617 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Edward Tilly
  • Marye Tylly Christening: 02 SEP 1621 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Edward Tylly
  • Barbara Tily Christening: 24 NOV 1616 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: Willm Tily
  • John Tilly spouse: Christian Bundy Marriage: 09 APR 1618 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol,
  • JOHN TYLLEY Spouse: MARGETT JONES Marriage: 27 MAY 1619 St James, Bristol,
  • John Tilly Spouse: Elizabeth Roe Marriage: 05 JUL 1632 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • Marye Tilly Christening: 10 DEC 1621 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tilly
  • Elizabeth Tilly Christening: 04 AUG 1633 St Philip And St Jacob'S, Bristol, Father: John Tilly
  • Johan Tilly (Female) Spouse: Thomas Burges Marriage: 18 MAY 1620 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • Elizabeth Tilly Mother: Joane Tilly Spouse: William Fussell Marriage: 06 OCT 1627 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol,
  • Hester Tilly Spouse: Richard Mansen Marriage: 02 JUN 1634 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol
  • John Tilly Spouse: Liddia Winstone Marriage: 16 FEB 1664 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol,
  • Mary Tilly Spouse: Thomas Clemens Marriage: 07 AUG 1679 St Phillip & St Jacob'S, Bristol


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