The Milsted Family and Their Connection to Cornwall

Albert Milsted’s Early Life

Albert was born in 1826 to Robert and Elizabeth Milsted in the city of Bristol. It is uncertain when and why Robert moved to Bristol from his home county of Cornwall. Having searched birth, baptism, marriage, death, burial, and census records, two other Milsted families (both heads of the family named John) are living in the St Paul’s area of Bristol from about 1800 onwards.

Robert’s father, John, married his first wife in Bath: John Milsted (1741-1792) married Elizabeth Mansfield (1739-1775) by license at Bath Abbey in 1769, and they are both recorded as residents of the St James area of Bath. The marriage was witnessed by Stephen White and Mathias Walter (Cabinet maker).

John Milsted’s Journey to Cornwall

John probably came from Kent and by 1771 had settled in Helston as an Inn Keeper. Before Elizabeth’s death in 1775, their two daughters, Sarah (b. 1771) and Mary (b. 1774), were born in Helston.

John remarried in 1779 to a widow named Margaretta Scadden (1750-1819) who was born in Helston and had previously married John Rogers at Wendron church in 1769: John possibly died in 1771, and there appear to be no children from this marriage. Records for the Cornish Scaddans or Scaddens reach back as far as the late 16th century.

A Legacy of Change and Connection

While researching the Milsted family, I often found myself reflecting on how small decisions—like moving to a new city or marrying into another family—shaped their legacy. I remember visiting Bristol and walking through St Pauls, imagining what life was like for Robert and Albert. The connections we make today, much like theirs, ripple forward in ways we may never fully understand.

The Milsted family’s story intertwines with the broader currents of British history, from the bustling port cities like Bristol to the rich cultural traditions of Cornwall. Have you ever wondered how the movements and decisions of your ancestors shaped your family’s present? Exploring history through genealogy can uncover fascinating connections and spark meaningful reflections.