JANE AUSTEN ANCESTORS/RELATIVES
Above the door of the porch of St Luke’s church, Brislington is a memorial to Stephen Stuart Bridges ( 1741 – 1787 ) who died aged 46. Nothing is known about him or why he has a memorial in the church. It’s tucked away in a dark corner , passed by anyone coming into or leaving the church and is virtually unnoticeable . It is believed Stephen Bridges was an illegitimate son of the Bridges/Brydges family who were landowners of Keynsham from the 16th – 18th centuries . Their mansion, which once stood on the site of Keynsham Abbey , was demolished about 1776.
Stephen Bridges ’s epitaph reads:
“ It now avails thee not,
To whom related , or by whom begot,
An heap of dust alone remains of thee,
It’s all thou art, and all the proud shall be”
Although illegitimate , Stephen Bridges would be a tenuous relation of Jane Austen whose 250th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year . Jane’s maternal great grand mother was the Honourable Mary Brydges ( 1666 – 1703 ), sister of James Brydges ( 1673 – 1744 ), first Duke of Chandos ( Chandos Road perpetuates the name ). Keynsham is referenced in Jane Austen ’s “Northanger Abbey” ( 1817 )
Mary Brydges married Theophilus Leigh ( c. 1645 – 1725 ) in 1689 at St Mary Magdalene church, Aldestrop , Gloucestershire and she is buried in the churchyard . Adlestrop Park was the Leigh family home until 1960. Jane Austen is known to have visited at least three times in 1794, 1799 and 1806. It is believed the area inspired locations in “Mansfield Park “ ( 1814 ).
Jane Austen’s nephew in law is buried in St Luke’s churchyard. John Hubback (1811 – 1885 ) was a patient at Brislington House Asylum for 35 years until his death. His, wife Catherine Anne Hubback ( 1818 – 1877 ) was the daughter of Jane’s brother , Francis. Catherine also became a novelist and in 1871 emigrated to the U.S.A to join two of her three sons. She continued to visit her husband, even after emigrating . The last time she saw him he did not recognise her. Catherine died in Virginia in 1877 aged 59. She is commemorated on the gravestone in St Luke’s churchyard , which bears the words , “ And there was no more sea”.
Jane Austen is also the eight times great grand daughter of Catholic martyr , writer and Tudor statesman , Sir Thomas More ( 1478 -1535 ). Sir Thomas’ last living male descendant ( also Thomas More ) was a Jesuit priest who died in 1795 aged 72 who is buried in St Joseph’s Catholic chapel, Trenchard Street, Bristol.
Jane Austen and Katherine, Princess of Wales are 11th cousins, six times removed !
Jonathan Rowe 2025
Brislington Community News 