17th Century Isle of Wight, Bridger
It seems that the first of the Bridger family in Gloucester, England, was Lawrence Bridger, beloved Rector of the Parish of Slimbridge for 55 years. He was a fellow of Magdelen College, Oxford 1568; B. A. 23 of Oct., 1570, M. A. 21st of June 1574; Canon of
Gloucester 1586. (Foster's Alumni.)
Magdelen College was patron of the Rectory of Slimbridge and it was from this college that he received his appointment as Rector which he held for such a long time.
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John Smyth (1567 - 1640) a stewart to the Berkeleys wrote in 'The Berkeley Manuscripts', in volume 3 page 203 that he sold Gossington Hall to Lawrence Bridger, clerke parson of Slimbridge , with 60 acres of land. Smyth also wrote that Lawrence was one of 'the persons charged to finde horses for the trayned band under Sir Gabriell Lowe, Knight, and Captaine of Dragoons of Berkeley Hundred in Anno 1626'.
In what is a rather nice epitaph Smyth says that Lawrence died 'a very rich and honest man'.
Lawrence married twice but died in 1630 a widower. In his will he makes bequests to nine children, Samuel, Lawrence, Joseph, Benjamin, Arthur, Elizabeth, Faith, Mary, and Anne with Samuel being the eldest son by his first wife and Joseph the eldest by his second wife, neither wife having so far been identified.