Bridget Byles
[nee Beuzeville] - 1770 - 1829

The following is based on an account of the life of Bridget Beuzeville in the book Memorials in Practical Piety (1830) written by her sister Esther (Copley)

Bridget Beuzeville was born in London on 21 October, 1770 and it is likely that she was born prematurely as her birth was precipitated by her mother, Mary, falling down a flight of stairs. She was a sickly child, completely deaf in one ear, and extremely short-sighted so that for the first two years of her life she was considered to be blind. However, when Bridget was two years old, one bright August morning her Aunt, who resided with the family, placed her on a chair near a window facing east to dress her, and as the morning sun shone full on her face she uttered a plaintive cry "hurty, aunty, hurty" and began to rub her eyes.  From that time her eyesight improved and quite soon afterwards her sight was very good, and her health was good.  However, throughout her life she suffered from deafness.

Initially, Bridget's education was in the hands of several governesses, and her education was completed at a private school in Mile End which was at first conducted by Mrs. Wood.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Wood died suddenly during Bridget's time there and that distressed her greatly. The school was then administered by Mrs. and Miss Lepine who were admired with fondness by Bridget.

When Bridget was nineteen years old the family, which had resided at Hackney moved to Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, and a town house was retained where Peter, her father, resided during the week so that he could continue to manage his business with Bridget as his housekeeper. From Saturday until Tuesday of each week Peter and Bridget joined the family at Cheshunt.

In 1793 the family returned to live at Hackney, and  on 25 October, 1796, aged 26 years, Bridget married the brother of Mrs. Lepine, John Curtis Byles of Henley-on-Thames where she remained for the rest of her life.   (It is of interest to note that Mrs. Isabella Lepine was buried in the Beuzeville vault under the Dissenter's Meeting House in Henley-on-thames some time after 1801).

John Curtis Byles (1773 - 1833) was a corn and coal merchant and owned a wharf at Henley-on-Thames where barges unloaded freight which was stored in a warehouse owned by him.  The family lived at Wharf House in Friday Street, a large two storey dwelling.

In 1797 Bridget's parents, Peter and Mary Beuzeville, moved to Henley-on-Thames and Peter commenced a silk weaving business at Twyford nearby.

Bridget and John Curtis Byles, and the Beuzeville family became members of the Independent Church at Henley-on-Thames during the ministry of Rev. James Churchill.

Esther provides us with insights into the personality and character of Bridget describing her as being "always alive and awake to the call of duty; always active and prompt in feelings of kindness and deeds of benevolence to all with whom she was connected.  Indeed, it may be questioned whether she was ever half an hour in any person's company without devising some plan for doing them good, either in their temporal or their spiritual concerns.  She was an early riser, and a strict economist of time, and thus was enable quietly to effect more real good than several noisy, irregular bustlers". 

Her benevolence is described as "unexpensive and unostentatious... that her deeds of kindness were rendered doubly acceptable by a peculiar delicacy in the manner of conferring them.... Her sympathy, counsel, and assistance, were tendered with so much real modesty, humility, and regard to the feelings of others, as could not fail to soothe as well as relieve". 

Esther describes her as being "habitually contented, grateful, with a cheerful disposition ... ever ready to pass over vexations and disappointments lightly; always inclined to put the best construction on the motives of others - always ready to justify the ways of God, even when they were most afflictive to herself".

John Curtis and Bridget Byles had ten children: Samuel, born 1799 who became a doctor; Ann Margaret ( 1799 and died in infancy); John Beuzeville, born 1801; Marianne (1803 - 1810) who was buried in the Beuzeville vault; Margaret, (1804- 1877), James Hodge, born 1806 who became a pharmaceutical chemist; William (1807-1890) who became a journalist and founded the Bradford Observer; Elizabeth (1809-died in infancy); Henry Beuzeville (1810- 1888) who became a bookseller; and Peter Beuzeville (1812-1814). The death of her daughter Marianne in 1810 was particularily distressing for Bridget and Esther believes that it was the cause of the beginning of the break-down of her health. Marianne's death was closely followed by the death of her mother in 1811, and the death of her father in 1812.

For a number of years Bridget kept a diary, recording events of providence relating to her family and friends, church affairs, the activities of a benevolent society, the illness and death of her sister Marianne, and her own health. The entries reveal much care and concern for her familiy and friends, and those in need.   They also reflect a deep committment to, and faith in God. Bridget's wedding anniversaries were very special days for her, and family gatherings recorded give the reader a sense of the closeness of the family members to each other, and the esteem and respect each had for the others. Bridget was actively involved in the Mother and Infants' Friend Society, however, in her latter years her deafness marred her enjoyment of church services and public gatherings.

From the year 1821 Bridget suffered from exhaustion, and it seems may have been depressed.  She had several illnesses, including jaundice, and in 1826 had what her sister Esther describes as a "paralytic seizure" which was treated by the application of leeches and blistering on her neck.  She was bedridden at that time for four weeks. In November 1826 she had another stroke and a third on 10 March, 1829 and died on 17 March of that year and was buried in the family vault on 23 March.