Thomas Creedy

  General Notes:

Family legend (from Gladys Creedy) was that Thomas was a bit of a layabout.
He was also a sailor (1891 census has a Thomas Creedy as a crew member of Vessel "Tom").
Crew Lists of Bridgwater Ships has the following entries for Thomas:
Name Date Age/DoB Name of Ship
Creedy Thomas 1868 17 Ryl Forester
Creedy Thomas 1869 19 Ryl Forester
Creedy Thomas 1870 18 Industry
Creedy Thomas 1871 19 Industry
Creedy Thomas 1872 20 Henry
Creedy Thomas 1876 24 D/Wellington
Creedy Thomas 1877 27 D/Wellington
Creedy Thomas 1880 28 Worcester
Creedy Thos 1873 22 D/Wellington
Creedy Thos 1874 24 D/Wellington
Creedy Tom 1891 1851 Tom

It appears that probably Thomas was a folk singer before they were known as folk singers. The web site http://www.folktrax.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/menus/search%20for%20titles_ra_raz.htm records that the song "The Rambling Sailor" was collected from a Tom Creedy of Bridgwater in 1906. This fits with the tradition of singing in the family. His son Henry was a chorister at Holy Trinity Church and his grandson Sid performed in amateur operatics.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Sailor, 1873.

• Occupation: Labourer, 1881.

• Residence, 1881, Bridgwater, 9 Stevens Court, West Street.

• Residence, 1901, 40 West Street.

Thomas married Elizabeth Jane Jennings, daughter of John Chedzey and Louisa Jennings, on 26 Nov 1873 in Bridgwater, Holy Trinity Church. (Elizabeth Jane Jennings was born on 26 Jan 1845 in Bridgwater Union Workhouse.)