Sources as endnotes.
Private information as footnotes (removed before websave).

     The first database of parish records widely available was the LDS IGI (International Genealogical Index). It was initially only available on microfiche in a few record offices, and had been assembled from microfilmed parish records. It was transferred to a computer based system quite early: that was available in LDS family history centres from about 1990 on. The IGI is the basis for the LDS Family Search website and other sites such as Ancestry.com. The early IGI only had births and marriages: unless specially requested the image films were not available. These later became widely available on the other commercial sites, such as ancestry. Most of my early English research involved making lists of likely individuals from the IGI and then visiting record offices to see the originals, particularly to check the burials. Census records were only available on microfilm, either at county record offices and at the PRO in the dungeons in Chancery Lane. Until the mid 90’s there was no indexing when the 1881 census was done. Likewise, civil birth, marriage and death records had to be traced through indexes in large hard copy volumes.
    The LDS Ancestral file was an early computerised database, using mostly members trees. I used it for much of the mid period Listers. Whilst its broad outline was correct, much of the detail was not (or as transcribed by me!). Where there is no other source, I have left the records in, with their AF reference (of the form 21P6-D6 etc).

1/A. Civil BMD Records           2/B. Parish Records.
3/D. IGI/AF.                     4/C. Census.
5/E. Family interview.           6/F: Newspaper & other publications
7/G: Wills                       8/H: Tombstone
9/J. Family History              9W: JP&S Documented history.
9/ASP: AS Parkes.                 9P: Photo Albums.

Acom: ancestry.com

FMPi – Findmypast image (ie original PR etc)
FMPt – ditto, transcript only.
        Sometime will not search Probate records – find them in catalogue and then it works.
ACi – Ancestry.com image
ACt – ditto transcript.

Willenhall, by Bev Parker: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Willenhall/Contents.htm#contents.

Appendices and other References:
Lister Will full text
1. Reference to early Listers in Broseley in "Broseley Anti-Felons".
2. Background on Canals on the Severn .
2. List of Mines in Cheshire & Shropshire
4. Broseley Directories (Lister mentions)
5. Churches: All Saints Broseley (St Leonard's)
6.           Birchmeadow Chapel
7.
8. Piggots 1822:
BROSELEY COALBROOK-DALE, COALPORT, IRON-BRIDGE AND MADELEY.
9. Piggots 1835:
BROSLEY AND MADELEY WITH COALBROOK-DALE, COALPORT, IRONBRIDGE, BENTHALL & NEIGHBOURHOODS

Broseley Local History Society - source of much background information.

                       |BASE BORN
                 |Thomas Lister (1803-74)
                 |     |                 |William Lister NFI
                 |     |           |William Lyster 1716
                |     |           |     |Elizabeth
                 6     7     |Thomas Lyster 17 47
                 |     |     |     |
                 |     |     |     |     |John Traunter
                 |     |     |     |Mary Traunter (1715)
                 |     |     |                 |Thomas Bloomer/Milward
                 |     |     |           |Ann Bloomer/Milward
                 |     |     |                 |Mary
                 |     |Elizabeth Lyster (1784-)
                 |           |Ann Farmer
           |William Lister (1827-1884)
           |     |                                   |Nathaniel Bradley
           |     |                             |Thomas Bradley 1638
           |     |                             |     |Margaret
           |     |                             |
           |     |                       |Morris Bradley 1679
           |     |                       |     |Alice
           |     6                 |John Bradley 1710
           |     |                 |    |Elizabeth Rogers
           |     |           |Francis Bradley 1751
           |     |           |     |
           |     |           |     |        |Richard Bevan
           |     |           |     |    |Thomas Bevan 1690
           |     |           |     |    |   |Mary
           |     |           |     |Mary Bevan 1716
           |     |           |          |Elizabeth Clea???
           |     |           |
           |     |     |John Bradley 1778
           |     |Ann Bradley (1806-83)
           |           |     |Mary Evans
           |           |                 |Thomas Lister
           |           |           |Samuel Lyster 1721
           |           |           |
           |           |     |William Lyster 1749
           |           7     |     |              |Richard Roden
           |           |     |     |         |Samuel Roden 1655-1725
           |           |     |     |         |    |Elizabeth
           |           |     8     9     |Samuel Roden 1685
           |           |     |     |    |   |Jane (d1717)
           |           |     |     |Elizabeth Roden 1715-20
           |           |     |          |
           |           |     |          |
           |           |     |          |    |John Powell
          |           |     |          |Ann Powell
           |           |     |               |Elizabeth
           |           |Ann Lyster 1777
           |                 |                |William Stanyer
           |                 |           |Francis Bradley 1680
           |                 |           |    |Mary Bradley
           |                 |     |Francis Bradley 1716
           |                 |     |     |Jane
          |                 |Elizabeth Bradley 1750
           |                       |
           |                       9     |William Darby
           |                       |     |
           |                       |Elizabeth Darby 1718
           |                             |Jane Legg
           |
           |
           |
           |
     |Samuel Lister (1856-1923)
     |     |
     |     |                 |Timothy Roper
     |     |           |Timothy Roper 1740
     |     |     |Timothy Roper 1783
     |     |    |     |
     |     |     |     |                      |Richard Kidson
     |     |     |     |                 |John Kidson 1667
     |     |     |     |                 |    |Mary
     |     |     |     |           |Thomas Kidson 1692
     |     |     |     |          |     |
     |     |     |     |           |     |   |John Hughes
     |     |     |     |           |     |Mary Hughes
     |     |     |     |           |          |Ann
     |     |     |     |     |Charles Kidson 1721

| | | |Richard Shepherd

Lister Family Summary

    This is the family of Ethel Ann Lister, grandmother of Antony Maitland. The surname swapped between Lester, Lyster and Lister at various times: the name seems to have changed mid to late 19^th Century, most of the mid 19^thC family were shown as Lester, but there is no doubt that they are all the same. Ethel was born and brought up in Willenhall, but her father's family originated in the East Shropshire coal-fields of Broseley and Benthall, where they married with families of Bradley and Roper. They migrated to the Wolverhampton/Willenhall area in the 1830's. When the family moved to Willenhall, many lived in Portobello, a hamlet on the outskirts of Willenhall, west along the Wolverhampton Road; Portobello was significant in my early life as Josiah Parkes & Sons built a new factory there (my father was responsible for it) to supplement the main Union Street works, and I frequently visited it in my youth. The 19thC High Street has now been demolished to make way for road development. Ethel's mother was a Palmer from Enville, West of Wolverhampton, related to Hughes (farmers of Wrockwardine, Salop). Both families typify the movement of population into the Black Country from outlying rural communities.
    Much of this family was traced using paper records in the late 1990’s, and has been extended and confirmed in 2020 using online image sources, both for parish records, newspapers and a few wills. This later research confirmed much of what I found on paper, except for one Broseley line, the Rodens, in the late 17^thC and early 18^thC replaced a different family, the Scales.
    The Lister line back to the late 18thC is fairly certain and clear; enough detail exists to give an idea of the lives of Ethel’s father Samuel, grand father, William and great grandfather, Thomas Lister, all three of whom had significant commercial interests. The sections for each of these has a description of them. Before that, a succession can be seen from Parish records, but in the absence of wills and other documents, the line cannot be said to be certain. Shown here is my best guess, using the indexes and parish record images of the records available through internet sites. While the early family were centred about Broseley, it is difficult to know how far to cast the net in adjoining parishes. The family of Ann Bradley (Ethel’s paternal great grandmother) can be traced further back, although care is needed as the lines diverge and converge.
    The mother of Samuel Lister, Ethel’s father, was Martha Roper, also from another Broseley family of nonconformists. Her paternal line is difficult to trace accurately, there were too many similar families in the area: several lines are shown, but without more information, it is not possible to differentiate between them, the earliest being Timothy Roper (1740-1814): they were probably relatively simple people, who left no paper trail, but were probably involved on the early industrial development of the Severn Valley. Timothy senior’s his wife however, the mother of Timothy Roper (1783), Elizabeth Kidson is an example of how the population moved: over 4 generations, they moved parish by parish from west of Craven Arms along Wenlock Edge towards Much Wenlock. Several marriages show this progression. They were probably yeoman farmers, the later generations moving towards the burgeoning industry around the River Severn.
    Another extensive family was named Bradley, and were connected with the Listers in several places. Francis Bradley (1716-1765) married Elizabeth Darby who may have been connected with Abraham Darby, who founded the Coalbrookdale Company: that family were Quakers. There was a connection in Quaker families up and down the Severn. Broseley was a centre of (clay) pipe making, and a number of Bradley’s appear in lists of pipe-makers.
    The family of Ethel’s mother, Sarah Palmer, was another which migrated in from the country, in this case from the south Staffordshire, Shropshire, north Worcestershire area. Whilst it is not certain, David Palmer’s father was probably a descendant of a yeoman farming family, who had a number holdings south east of Bridgnorth. Sarah’s mother came from another farming family, the Hughes’s, near Wellington, Shropshire. As they were more connected with the land, these 2 families left a bit more of a paper trail than the Listers, Ropers and Bradleys.
    Like many of the industrial families, the Listers (and the Parkes) had a strong nonconformist thread running through them. My mother remembered that Sarah (Palmer) Lister, Ethel’s mother was strict about non religious activity on Sundays. Martha Roper was baptised as a Baptist, and some of the earlier generations were Quakers.
    During the late 18thC and early 19thC, many of the Lister family worked in the mines in Broseley and Benthall districts. Coal production in Broseley declined in the 1830's, with only 126 people being employed in coal mines in 1840. Ironstone and clay mining continued longer. This industrial decline probably led to Thomas Lister's migration to Wolverhampton where the mines were still developing and profitable. Some of the South Staffordshire miners, including some of our family, moved up to Yorkshire as experts when the fields in that part developed.
    The tithe records for Broseley show a number of Listers owning or renting property in Broseley: a Thomas Lister was one of these, but it is not likely that he is our ancestor, who moved to Wolverhampton about this time. He probably would not have done so if he had significant property interests.
    Broseley is located in the southern end of the Coalbrookdale coal-field. There are a number of minerals available, notably coal, ironstone, brick, red and tile clays and limestone to the west of the Broseley Fault, at Benthall. All these minerals have been exploited over the years. The minerals are at a comparatively shallow depth and were mined by insetts (adits, drift mining) into the hillside, by shallow shafts or in the case of limestone by quarrying. Thomas Lister variously described himself as a coalminer or stone miner (ironstone).
    While coal had been extracted from the Coalbrookdale seams since the 14thC, the main expansion did not the early 18thC, particularly when Abraham Darby started smelting iron in 1709. Before this era, most of the population was still agrarian.
    There were other Lesters around Willenhall in the 19thC, connected with Purslows in Wolverhampton.
    There were dissenters shown on the Benthall records, and the Quakers of Shropshire had a family of Bradleys in the 18thC, and the family of Julius Palmer in the early part of that century, one at least born in Bridgnorth in 1711. Amongst others were the Abraham Darby family and also Sankeys, another old Midland industrial name.

Broseley

Broseley Mining 1760.

http://www.broseley.org.uk/mines/CMines.htm

      Broseley is located in the southern end of the Coalbrookdale coalfield. There are a number of minerals available notably coal, ironstone, brick, red and tile clays and limestone to the west of the Broseley Fault, at Benthall. All these minerals have been exploited over the years. The minerals are at a comparatively shallow depth and were mined by insetts (adits) into the hillside, by shallow shafts or in the case of limestone by quarrying.
    It has been claimed that coal was mined by the Romans who had a large city nearby at Wroxeter. The first records of mining are from the 15th Century when in 1417-8 John Hadyngton and John Horsley rented a mine from the Lord of the Manor. In the 16th Century Wenlock Priory was involved in mining coal on its lands in Broseley.
    This part of Shropshire was pioneering modern techniques of extraction with longwall mining being used to extract coal from the early 17th century. Wooden railways were certainly in use from 1605 when Richard Wilcox and William Wells had a 1km waggonway carrying coal from the Birch batch in Broseley to the river Severn.
    In the early 19th century the coal gradually became exhausted. By the 1830's the local furnaces had closed partly because of the exhaustion of coking coal reserves. Ironstone was still however being exported to the Black Country where local ironmasters, such as John Onions, had built new works. Extraction continued until the 1880's however the scale of extraction was relatively small with only 126 people being employed at mines in Broseley in 1840.

Benthall

Benthall was once a thriving coal mining settlement but reserves were worked out at an early date and the parish reached its highest population in 1801. The monks of Buildwas obtained limestone from quarries on Benthall edge, an industry which continued to operate until the 1920s. There are remains of limekilns at Bower Yard, in Spout Lane and amongst the quarries themselves. In the late eighteenth century the Benthall valley, running down to the Iron Bridge, was the site of a large ironworks with associated boring mill. A series of pools provided power for the ironworks and several mills including the one which survives in ruins at the bottom.

Willenhall in history

      The first record of the settlement of Willenhall is from the eighth century when a treaty was signed there by King Ethelbald of Mercia. Willenhall was then referred to as Willenhalch which in Anglo-Saxon meant 'the meadowland of Willan'. Willenhala was mentioned in the Doomsday Book (1086) as a very small settlement, and it remained so until the growth of industry in the 18th century.
      In the Middle Ages, Willenhall was included in the parish of Wolverhampton. Although there was a church in the village, people would have to travel to Wolverhampton for weddings and funerals. It was not until 1840 that Willenhall had a parish church. St. Giles was the first church to be built. The present church is the third on the site, dating from 1867.
      Willenhall was a small agricultural village throughout the Middle Ages, in 1666 the population was only about 300. The population did not increase dramatically until the 18th century when iron and coal began to be fully exploited. The town grew up around the Market Place and Stafford Street with many tiny streets crammed with houses, workshops and pubs. Evidence of the town's growing prosperity is still visible today in the Dale House, once the home of the Hincks family and 33 Market Place, the home of the Clemsons, both maltsters.
     To make trading easier, New Road was opened in the early 19th century. Outside the town itself, settlements grew up around local industries. The area around Lane Head and Sandbeds had a thriving mining community and Portobello grew around the brick-making industry. There was a lot of coal mining in the Willenhall area until the 19th century when the industry came to a dramatic halt after a strike when the mines were flooded and lost forever. The main industry in Willenhall, for which it has become famous, is lockmaking. Lockmaking began in the area in Elizabethan times mainly in Wolverhampton, Willenhall and Bilston. It was concentrated in Willenhall by the mid 19th century; one source quotes 340 lockmakers in Willenhall in 1855, mostly in small workshops. Locks at this time were made entirely by hand. Young apprentices filed the metal which resulted after many years in their having hump backs. This deformity was so prevalent that Willenhall became known as 'Humpshire'. Famous lockmakers in Willenhall include Josiah Parkes & Sons, Yale & Towne and John Harper & Co.

The South Staffordshire Coal Field

Extract from A Geological Survey of Great Britain – the South Staffordshire Coal Field, by Jukes, 1858.

Among the Coal Pits, Staffordshire – John Keeley – ref Keeley-98134 50

Butty Miners.

The Listers of Willenhall were variously described as Butty Miners and Chartermasters:

Under the Butty system, during the early part of the nineteenth century, the coal miners were not directly employed by the owners but by a contractor, called a "Butty". He engaged with the mine owner to deliver coal or ironstone at so much per ton. He employed the labourers required using his own horses and tools. After the 1872 Coal Mines Act the ‘Butty’ system disappeared.
Miners were normally employed by charter-masters, who were a kind of labour sub contractor to the mine owner. This system was often abused causing great hardship to the miners. For example, charter-masters often owned "tommy shops" where miners under their employment were required to buy their goods, often at inflated prices for poor quality products[1].

Chartermasters

    Most mine owners subcontracted the day-to-day running of the pits to ‘chartermasters’. Two chartermasters were usually employed underground, at each pit, to cover the day and night shifts and, sometimes to oversee coal and ironstone workings separately. Occasionally a third would be in charge of surface operations. Many of the pits were known locally by the names of these contractors.
    The chartermasters were not responsible for the infrastructure i.e. the winding and pumping plants and the sinking of shaft, but were contracted to supply labour, horses, tools and such items as candles and explosives and even the light beer, which, at one time, was sent down the pit at mid-day. They also organised the work and negotiated with the mine owners regarding rates of pay for the amount of coal produced.
    They were also often the organisers of the ‘tommy’ or ‘lobby’ shop system whereby miners were paid, not in cash but in tokens which could only be exchanged for goods sold at the ’tommy’ or ‘lobby’ shops where were owned by the chartermasters. These goods were often of poor quality and sold at inflated prices. In 1842 when John Anstice gave evidence to the Midland Mining Commission which was investigating current unrest among West Midlands miners he told them that he would not allow chartermasters to serve concurrently as publicans and that he had no knowledge of the “evil system” of “tommy shops” in operation in the area. However, it is now known that, within just a hundred metres of one of the family homes (Bedlam Hall) part of an ancient half-timbered barn near the Bird in Hand public house was in use as just such an establishment.
     A chartermaster often had a second role as a publican and sometimes insisted that miners collect their wages (either weekly or fortnightly) from his drinking establishment. He would then encourage them to spend as much as possible before leaving allowing little for them to take home. John Anstice did not permit his chartermasters to double up as publicans but doubtless some got round this ruling by taking out licences in the names of their wives.
    The chartermasters were certainly a mixed bunch but the best were very knowledgeable. Although some became wealthy, many lived in houses little better than those of the men they controlled, as their contracts were very competitive. They had to bid against each other regularly and unsuccessful bidders soon returned to being ordinary miners or even shopkeepers or full-time smallholders. In Madeley, the more successful chartermasters seemed to come from ‘connected’ families and they all lived around the centre of the town. In the late 1800s at least five of them lived on Court Road or Court Street and a further five lived in Park Lane and Park Street, one section of which was known as ‘Chartermasters’ Row’. All were in close proximity to the Wesleyan Chapel often referred to as ‘the Chartermasters’ Chapel’[2].

    Mining has always been a dangerous occupation, with 85000 deaths between 1873 and 1953 and as many as 1800 in a single year. Thus much was done to learn from accidents and to develop safer processes and methods of working.
One annual figure found was for a mortality rate from accidents in the Staffordshire pits of >7/1000 people employed in a period 1849-53[3]. These include both surface accidents, where about 30% were employed) and underground working. An example of a death associated with mining is that of Amos Robinson, 1^st husband of Eliza Lister, eldest daughter of Thomas Lister when he fell down an unguarded disused pit in Portobello: one of the men trying to extract him was also killed in a collapse.
    Another later example was the Gresford mine disaster near Wrexham in 1934 when 266 were killed in an explosion and fire, among them the husband of Mrs Jones, Arthur & Ethel (Lister) Parkes’s cook.

5. * GENERATION 5 ***

SAMUEL LISTER

AM05/07

The father of Ethel Parkes.

Definitive Sources: BC/MC/DC/Will & RJL Parkes

Birth & Marriage certs held.
Born: 8/8/1856^BC @ Portobello, Willenhall
Parents: William & Martha (Roper) Lister.
Died: @ 229 Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton, 22/1/1923^DC.
Age 66 W'ton 6b 584 (Inquest natural causes)
Married: 26/12/1881^MC at Parish Ch, St John, W'ton, Sarah Palmer.


                             Samuel & Sarah Lister, Rosemary & Bunch
                             Ajp29a19 – cropped

   Born and raised in Portobello, Willenhall, Samuel’s father, William, was a coal miner, as were his mother’s Roper family who had migrated from Broseley. His early life was with his parents, starting down the mines by 1871 aged 14. By 1881, he had left home: the only Samuel Lister of the right age listed in 1881 census was probably him as a miner lodging in Ogley Hay, Brownhills.
    When he married Sarah Palmer, in December 1881, he was a miner resident in Paradise St, Wolverhampton, while she was a spinster of the same address. Not a lot is known of her, except a small comment by her grand-daughter, Rosemary (Parkes) Maitland that she was a splendid woman - had a cataract operation abt 1937. She and Ethel would go to London for evening shows.
    10 years later in 1891 Samuel had moved to 15, Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall where he was a "commission agent", and listed as a tea & furniture dealer in 1892. There is a curious reference in the London Gazette in 1892 of a Samuel Lister dissolving a partnership in the Etna iron foundry[6]. Our Samuel was the only one in Willenhall in 1891, so maybe he had made an investment in the foundry: it might have come via his grandfather, Thomas who seemed to have some commercial/industrial interests in Willenhall.
    In contrast to the commercial agent, the commission agent conducts business in his own name for the account of others. Like the commercial agent, he works for a commission, but he can claim it only when the deal he has made with the third party has actually been performed.
    By 1901, he and the family lived in Bank Street, Willenhall, (in “The Manor”) as a Furniture dealer: Ethel's later Parkes family live a few doors away! By 1911, they had moved yet again to Thompson St, Willenhall, still calling himself a furniture dealer.
    They moved from the Manor Estate, Willenhall (where they were in 1908 - postcards were addressed there), to Bakers Buildings (including son Howard) in Wolverhampton in abt 1910. Ethel and, presumably, Samuel wer at The Manor, probably 13 Bank St Willenhall when she married in 1915. At his death, he lived with his wife and Gladys and Howard at 229 Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton: Gladys lived here until her death in 1962, a house well remembered by the surviving Parkes descendants. It is not clear when they moved to Tettenhall Rd, but probably in the late 19 teens.
    He became a respected member of Willenhall community, and was a JP, and even had a street named after him: Lister Street. This street was originally named Mount Pleasant but was renamed Lister Street on 29.07.1910 in honour of Councillor Samuel Lister who was elected a member of the Willenhall Urban District Council on April 18th 1898 and served as chairman from 1908 until 1912. He also served as Overseer for the Poor. (Josiah Parkes jnr was also a councillor) (Willenhall History Society Website, 29/1/2000).
    These Listers were Methodists and observed Sunday's strictly - when Ethel and her children made their own meals and played games on Sundays, they were sworn to secrecy not to tell their grandmother Lister! They were probably teetotal. Samuel’s Funeral was held at the Trinity Wesleyan Chapel in Wolverhampton.
    He bought a carpet and drapery business in Chapel Ash for his son Howard, whose health was not good enough for military service in the Great War, according to Rosemary (Parkes) Maitland. A copy of a payment note from Samuel Lister & Son, dated 9 Aug 1933, was headed “House and Office Furnishers, Piano and Gramophone Dealers. Established 1880, proprietor Excors of the late H.F. Lister, then at 15 Lichfield Street.
    This business, Samuel Lister and Sons continued trading at 15 Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall until the late 1970s, and was finally wound up 24 April 1980. The property having been bought for £5750 in June 1961 (presumably rented before that) and sold for £10000 June 1979. The property was owned by RJLM & EUW and rented to the business. “The Shop” as it was known in the family used to supply the Wolverhampton family with furniture and bedding, and was to Antony & Lindley a slightly mysterious organisation!
    He left his house and contents to his wife with the rest of his estate (about £9500) in trust for his children with the income to his wife for life: an annuity was payable to Gladys, who needed help all her life.

Express and Star, January 23^rd 1923:
Lister January 22^nd at 229 Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton. Samuel Lister J.P. (suddenly) aged 66 years. Interment at Willenhall New Cemetery on Thursday 25^th at 12 pm. Service at Trinity Chapel, Compton Rd, Wolverhampton at 10.30 am.
Express and Star, January 25^th 1923: (print not clear)
The late Mr Samuel Lister today Thursday 25^th
Prior to the interment at Willenhall, service held at Trinity Wesleyan Chapel, Compton Rd, Wolverhampton. List of attendees, including the bench of Willenhall and strong representation of police.

The Lister Home, 229 Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton, about 1962

Dower House Collection.
Letters of condolence from many inter alia:
Darlaston St Circuit, Methodist
Willenhall Urban District Council
Staffs Education Committee, Walsall Rd School. "always found him conscientious sympathetic and helpful."
Wolverhampton (Rugby Union) Football Club
Murton & Varley Ltd - as a customer - a perfect gentleman.
Schedule of petty sessions - JP
3 post cards to Howard, Sarah & Ethel from France about 22 April 1908, while they were on holiday elsewhere (addressed to The Manor) or simply on holiday from school.

Married:

SARAH PALMER - 1856

AM05/08

The mother of Ethel Parkes.

Definitive Sources: BC/MC/DC/Will & RJL Parkes

Born: 1/10/1856^BC at Church St, Willenhall,
Parents: David & Hannah (Hughes) Palmer.
Died: of 229 Tettenhall Rd, W'ton @ Queen Victoria Nursing Institute, W'ton, 25/7/1938^DC.
Probate, B’ham, 27/9/1938 to AJP & Reginald Harris. £6986-10-10d
Will dated 7/11/1930 appointed AJ Parkes and Reginald Harris of Number 1 New Road Willenhall Executors.
Married: Samuel Lister 26/12/1881 @ the Parish Church of St John, Wolverhampton (age 24, of Paradise St).

Legacies:
To daughter Gladys Lister 25 pounds.
To Granddaughter Rosemary Parkes 25 pounds at 21 years old
To Granddaughter Elizabeth Ursula Parkes 25 pounds at 21 years

The remainder to daughter Ethel Parkes.

Witness Martha J Lister & Gertrude Nellie Humphreyson.

1881 Census, 98, Tettenhall Rd, W'ton: probably her. Sarah Palmer (23, Cook, Willenhall), Charles Matthews, Head.

Issue Samuel & Sarah Lister:
1/1. Ethel Ann Lister b. 1/9/1885

Mother of Rosemary (Parkes) Maitland.

1/2. Gladys Hilda Lister

Born 21/12/1890[7] at 15, Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall.
Father: Samuel Lister. Mother: Sarah, formerly Palmer.
Father's Occupation: Commission Agent.

Scholars Certificate given by London Institute for the Advancement of Needlework, "Very Good" in Plain Needlework "Bag", July 1904.
Very Fair in Plain Needlework, Pillowcase.

Aunt Gladys never married, and lived until she died at 229, Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton, where her parents had lived, and was rather eccentric:
AJP, her brother-in-law found her very trying (he said she must have been dropped on her head at birth!), but looked after her affairs. To children, she was fascinating and her house on Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton was a treasure trove, if a little dark and smelly!
She lived on the proceeds of a trust set up by her brother, the majority of which was the furniture shop in Willenhall – always just referred to as “The Shop”. Its effect of the rest of the family was a source of carpets and furnishings at cost price.
She died in 13/6/1962 at 229 Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton, of cancer of rectum, and in her will of 26/4/1962, left her nieces her jewellery and personal effects and the cash residue to her 4 nephews and nieces (£4830-6-1d each at Jan 1963, including 2677 JP&S 10/- shares, after scrip issue 50%).
Her estate was valued at £36240, (about £770,000 in 2020) and makes interesting reading: Aunt Gladys was must have behaved in a traditional manner towards traders and owed about £1075 (£23000 in 2005) locally, about 1/3 to James Beattie Ltd for "food supplied"!

Dower House collection:
Gladys H Lister confirmed 2 June 1906. First communion 17 June 1906. St Anne's Chapel.(P28-01)

1/3. Howard Frank Lister,

born: Willenhall, abt 1896 (census).
Died 2/11/1930 at 229 Tettenhall Rd, leaving £8215-9-2d.[8]
Was not strong and never married. His will of 3/1/1925 described him as a furniture dealer of Tettenhall Rd, Wolverhampton and appointed AJ Parkes and a solicitor as executors. He left the capital in trust, the income to go to his mother Sarah for her life, and after her death to his sister, Gladys. After Gladys' death the residue should have reverted to his other sister, Ethel but she predeceased Gladys.
It appeared that the capital became part of Gladys' estate on her death in 1963.
Referred to as "Bill" in many letters of condolence - obviously much liked. Also a member of the Rugby Club. Many of the letters referred to the suddenness of his death, and how much he was liked. I think this was reflected in his niece, Rosemary Parkes memory of him.

Details of SAMUEL LISTER:

Born at Portobello, Willenhall, 8/8/1856, reg 26/8/1856[9]
Father: William, a Coalminer. Mother Martha, formerly Roper.

Marriage Certificate:
Samuel Lister/Sarah Palmer: Wolverhampton 6b 908, 12/1881.
Married 26/12/1881 at Parish Ch, St John, W'ton.
Samuel L, age 25, Bachelor, of Paradise St. Occupation: Miner.
Father: William Lister, a Charter-master.
Sarah Palmer, age 24, Spinster, of Paradise St.
Father: David Palmer, Bolt-maker.
Witnesses: John Lister & Emily Edwards.

1861 Census, Portobello:
With parents: Samuel (4, Portobello):
1871 Census, Mill St, Willenhall: with family
1881 (mar cert): a miner @ Paradise St, Wolverhampton.
1881 Census, Chester Rd, Ogley Hay, Brownhills:
Samuel Lester, Lodger 24, Miner (born Portobello). In the house of a Robert Preece, whose children were born in Willenhall. Another lodger was Leonard Davis, also a miner from Willenhall.
1885 Ethel’s BC: @ 15 Lower Lichfield St, Commission Agent.
1891 Census, @ 15, Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall:
Samuel (34, Commission Agent), Sarah (34), Ethel (5), Gladys (6 mths) and a servant, Hannah Lloyd (niece, 16) all born Willenhall.
1892 Kelly's directory: Tea & furniture dealer, 15 Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall.
1901 Census, Bank St, Willenhall: (all b Willenhall)
Samuel Lister (Hd, 44, Furniture Dealer, Employer), Sarah (44), Ethel (15, Pupil School Teacher), Gladys (10), Howard F. (5)
1911 Census, 7 Thompson St, Willenhall:
Samuel Lister (Hd, 54, married 20, 3 children born & alive, Furniture Dealer, Willenhall), Sarah (54), Ethel (Dau, 25, Assistant Teacher Salop CC), Gladys (Dau, 20, Assistant Teacher Salop CC).
1915: of The Manor, Willenhall, House Furnisher.

Prob 18/4/1923, Lichfield to Howard Frank Lister, furniture dealer & Reginald Harris solicitor, £9459-19-3d.
Will of 8/2/1922 appointed Howard Lister, AJ Parkes & Reginald Harris (solicitor of Willenhall) as Executors.

Legacies:
Furniture and household effects to Sarah Lister.
Fifty pounds to his assistant Charles Henry Smith.
An annuity of one hundred pounds to Gladys until the death of Sarah.

The remainder after expenses and duty to be invested and the income (including rents etc from properties) to be for his wife, Sarah's use until her death. After her death, this trust fund to become the property of his children.

The “Shop”

Samuel Lister & Sons – Shop
London Gazette 26 May 1950: to be struck off Companies Register within 3 months if no cause given not to. Dissolved LG 21 Nov 1950.

http://blackcountryhistory.org:-

Conveyance Ref No: 35/31/3 Repository: Walsall Local History Centre

Date: 26 Jan 1914

Description: Conveyance. 1. Samuel Lister of Willenhall, furniture dealer. 2. John Albert Harper of same, ironfounder. For 475 (1) to (2) parcel land in Lister Street, Willenhall.

Extent: 1 item

For more information contact: Walsall Archives / Local History Centre
Abstract of title and supplemental abstract of title

Ref No: 35/30/6a-b Repository: Walsall Local History Centre

Date: 1903

Creator: unknown

Description: Abstract of title and supplemental abstract of title of Samuel Lister to lands near Birmingham Street, Willenhall Reciting deeds 18 May 1896 - 8 Oct

Extent: 2 items

For more information contact: Walsall Archives / Local History Centre

Conveyance 35/30/5a-c (8 Oct 1903)

Copy conveyance. 1. Wolverhampton Freeholders Permanent Benefit Building Society. 2. Samuel Lister of Willenhall, furniture dealer. For 3,200 (1) to (2) 4a. 3r. 5p., part of lands called Hovel Piece, Churchyard Piece, and Summer House Piece, near Monday Alley and Birmingham Street, Willenhall (Plan of property included) Enclosed Second copy of said deed.

Walsall Archives / Local History Centre

Ref No: D-NAJ/C/1/LI1

Repository: Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies

Date: 1894 - 1934

Description: Mrs Cotton to A. Lindop: Horsebrook Cottage; 1900.

James Linford decd: sale of property at Commercial Road and Pool Street; 1903.

Lister and Baker: valuations of properties at Sedgley; 1909.

J.M. Lister decd: property at Penkridge and Stafford; 1894.

Samuel Lister: Waverley Terrace, North Road; 1913-18.

London Gazette 19 May 1980:
Appointment of Liquidators
Name of Company: SAMUEL LISTER AND SON (FURNISHERS) LIMITED.

Nature of Business: FURNITURE RETAILERS.

Address of Registered Office: 15 Lower Lichfield Street,

Willenhall, West Midlands.

Liquidator's Name and Address: Norman Kirkham, 14 Lichfield

Street, Wolverhampton.

Date of Appointment: 24th April 1980.

By whom Appointed: Members.

6. GENERATION 6

WILLIAM LISTER - 1827

AM06/13

The father of Samuel Lister.
Definitive Sources: PR/MC/DC & Census backs up PR.

Ch: 14/1/1827^PR @ St Leonard, Broseley.
Parents: Thomas & Ann (Bradley) Lister.
Died: 24/12/1884^DC, Willenhall, aged 59, Miner, Died from Apoplexy, not from violence, Coroner's inquest, 27/12/1884 by Staffordshire coroner, BW? Phillips. (copy probably in Walsall).
Bur with Martha in Little London Baptist Chapel, Willenhall.
No will found.
Express and Star, Saturday 27 December 1884:[10]
Sudden Death at Willenhall.
A man named William Lister (age unreadable) residing in Willenhall died suddenly on Friday morning. The deceased went to bed the night previous apparently in good health. The cause is supposed to be apoplexy.

Married[11] 12/11/1848 at the Collegiate Church, W'ton. William Lister, full age, Bachelor, a miner, of Portobello and Martha Roper, full age, spinster of Portobello. His father Thomas, a miner.
Her father: Timothy. deceased. Witnesses: T. Wolding & J Biddulph.

     William Lister was born of a mining family in Broseley, son of Thomas & Ann who moved to Wolverhampton in about 1833 as the mines developed in the Black Country; his wife, Martha Roper was from another mining family in Broseley. Like his father and son Samuel, he started mining in his mid teens, initially in Wolverhampton and later in Portobello & Willenhall, with a short time in Bilston. There is an entry in an 1865 Trade Directory for a William Lister as a publican at the Old Malt Shovel in the High Street, Portobello, of which he was licensee between 1862-65: bearing in mind that his father was listed on the next line as a beer retailer and later publican, also in the same street, this must have been our William.
     His main job was in the mines around Willenhall & Portobello; the 1885 map shows numerous old shafts in the area. I remember as a boy driving between Wolverhampton and Willenhall and there being large areas of pit mounds still there: they were flattened in the 1960-80’s.
     He was described in Census 1881 as a miner and at Samuel's marriage as a Charter Master - this was the title for the gang boss of the labour in the mines. The charter master employed the other miners as a contractor. He was sued for libel as a Butty miner in 1869 over some comments he made in writing about the agent for the Osier Bed Colliery (the mine was where the Osier Beds are shown to the SW on the 1885 map, and is named on later maps), where he provided miners under the “Butty” system. William’s father, Thomas mentions in his will an interest in a plot of land at Moseley Hole: the Osier Bed Colliery was Just SW of Moseley Hole Farm.

    His death from “apoplexy not violence” suggests someone known for being rowdy; was he fighting in the pub the night before??

    He and Martha had 5 children, summarised:
Myra Elizabeth Lister, b 1854, married Ebenezer Lloyd, with issue.
Samuel Lister (1856-1923).
John Lister (b 1859), married Martha Jane Baker, with issue.
Jonas Abraham Lister, b 1861, married Clara Webb, with issue.
Sarah Lister (b1862), married Laban Broomhall.

    Portobello from the OS 1885 6” map (National Library of Scotland)
80 years later, Josiah Parkes and sons built a new factory on the north side of the railway to the west of the school.

1841 Oxford St, W'ton with parents, coal miner aged 15.
1848 (Mar. cert): over 21 and a miner living in Portobello,
1851 Census, New Village, Bilston:
William Lester (24, Coal Miner, Shropshire), Martha (27, Shropshire).
1856 (Sam L Bth): a miner in Portobello.
1861 Census, Portobello:
William (34, Miner, Broseley), Martha (37, Broseley), Mora (dau, 7, Portobello), Samuel (s, 4, Portobello), John (s, 1, Portobello), James Lister (19, servant).
1864 Trade Dir - was this him?
William Lister, Old Malt Shovel P.H., High St Portobello.
1869[12]: This must be him

WOLVERHAMPTON (COUNTY) — Monday.
(Before T. Cartwright. Esq.)
    Libel, on a Mine Agent. William Lester, butty miner, residing at Willenhall, appeared upon a summons charging him with writing and publishing a false, malicious, and defamatory libel upon Mr. William Blakemore, agent to the Osier Bed Colliery The letter was addressed to and received by the proprietor of the colliery, Mr. Sparrow, and was as follows
“Willenhall, 26th October, 1869”.
    Sir, -Having hitherto been unsuccessful in my efforts to obtain satisfactory settlement of the accounts due to me for the ironstone delivered to your furnaces, in obedience to Mr. Blakemore’s directions and as per account rendered, I beg to observe that the unsettled claim is just and correct in all parts, notwithstanding the unmanly and unchristian denial of the accuracy thereof. Although Mr Blakemore has been guilty of falsehood and injustice in this matter, he will scarcely have the assurance to deny his own personal liabilities. Will he deny that he has on several occasions, since his appointment to the situation he now holds, under your firm and under various pretexts borrowed considerable sums of money from the greater portion of which he has not repaid? I will give you two or three instances out of many. On one occasion he borrowed £13 10s. to purchase a horse, which he subsequently raffled away at Mr Pages, Vine Inn. Bilston. On another occasion £5 to meet the payment of his rent, and another time £2. The above sums are owing by him to me. Respectfully submitting the above for your consideration, as I am determined to have my money,—I am, sir, your humble servant,
William Lester.”
Mr. Underhill appeared to prosecute, and stated that the letter resulted from a dispute between the defendant, on his giving up his contract as a charter-master in the colliery, and Mr Blakemore, as agent to the colliery, as to the amount due to him from Mr. Sparrow. The amount claimed was between £70 and £80, and for this Lester had brought an action in the Court of Queen’s bench; and as the case would turn mainly upon the relative credibility of Mr. Lester and Mr. Blakemore, the letter showed the animus with which it was written. Mr Underhill contended that the letter was a defamatory libel upon the face of it, representing as it did that Mr. Blakemore used his position for obtaining money under the plea of borrowing it from those to whom he stood in the relation of overseer. Mr. Underhill said he had hoped from an intimation he had received that the defendant would have made the only reparation in his power by acknowledging that the letter was false, and withdrawing it -   Mr. Thurstans, for the defence (after a brief conversation with Mr. Underhill), said that while he was prepared to contend that the letter was not a defamatory libel, he felt as a gentleman that it was a most improper one; and, upon his advice. Mr Lester admitted that Mr. Blakemore owed him nothing, entirely retracted the letter, and would pay the expenses. —Upon the understanding that this retraction was unreservedly made, the prosecution accepted it, and the summons was withdrawn.

1871 Census, Mill St Willenhall:
William (45, Coal Miner), Martha (48), Mira (17), Samuel (14, Coal Miner), John (11), Jonas Abraham (10), Sarah (8),
1881 (Samuel's marriage.): A Charter Master.

1881 Census, 15, Clemson St, Willenhall: Lester
William (58, Coal Miner, Portobello), Martha (58, Broseley), John (21, Smith, Portobello), Jonas (20, Portobello), Sarah (18, Portobello).
Also at this address (b Willenhall):
Ebenezer Lloyd (30, lock-maker), Nora (wf, 26, Portobello), Clara (5), Arthur (4), William (3), Daniel (11mths)

MARTHA ROPER - 1822

AM06/14

The mother of Samuel Lister.
Definitive Sources: PR/MC/DC & Census backs up PR.

She is the most likely spouse for William Lister: they were both born and raised in Broseley. There is some doubt about her siblings, see her parents entry, which show a gap between their later children and an earlier group christened in the Anglican church: this may have been due to them having to "register" the birth under the Protestant church.

Ch: 26/6/1822^PR @ Birch Meadow Baptist Chapel, Broseley. "#30, Broseley" PR transcript.
(Census61: born 5/1823-4/24, C71,81 & 91 imply after 2/4/1822 DC show a slightly lower age). On balance, the 1822 Broseley baptism looks correct.

Parents: Timothy & Mary (Morris) Roper.

Died:
Martha Lester, 07/09/1900, 76, 87 Union St, Willenhall, Widow of William Lester, Coal Miner, Senile Decay, Informant William Lester Lloyd, 87 Union St, Willenhall, Wolverhampton 1900 Q3 06b 398

Married: William Lister 12/11/1848 @ the Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton.

1848 (marriage): over 21 living in Portobello, Willenhall.
1851 Bilston, age 27.
1861 Census: age 37 (b. in Broseley) @ Portobello with William.
1871 Census: age 48.
1881 Census: age 58 as above.
1891 Census: 15 Clemson St, Willenhall, with daughter Mora Lloyd.
Martha Lester (68, M-in-law, Willenhall???)
This must be the family, as William & Martha were at this address in 1871.

Issue of William Lister & Martha Roper (b. Portobello):
1/1. Myra Elizabeth Lister, Born 1854 (census).

Variously know as Mora, Mira and Nora on census. She might even have been Eleanor.
Married: St Mark’s Wolverhampton, 20/6/1875^FMPi, Ebenezer James Lloyd, bachelor, 24, Lock maker, of Ash St? Wolverhampton father Richard, lock-maker; Myra Elizabeth Lester, 21, Spinster, of Willenhall, father William Lester, charter master., Q2 1875, W’ton.
Died: Ebenezer J. Lloyd died Q3 1900^FMP Reg Wolverhampton, aged 48
Probate for Myra Elizabeth Lloyd of Willenhall, widow, died 6/11/1916, Admon 20/2/1917 to Cicely Hannah Lloyd, spinster, £137/11/6d^FMPi.
1881 Census, 15, Clemson St, Willenhall: Lester
William (58, Coal Miner, Portobello), et al.
Ebenezer Lloyd (30, lockmaker), Nora (wf, 26, Portobello), Clara (5), Arthur (4), William (3), Daniel (11mths)
1891 Census: 15 Clemson St, Willenhall (all b Willenhall).
Ebenezer Lloyd (38, Rimlockmaker), Nora (wf, 36), Cicely (15), Arthur (14, Assistant Boot Shop), William (13, Scholar), David (11, scholar) Martha Lester (68, M-in-law, Willenhall???)
1901 Census: 86, Union St, Willenhall. (all b. Willenhall)
Elizabeth Lloyd (Hd, wid, 46, Clothier), Cicely H (25), Arthur J (24, Boot Salesman), William G. (23, Factor Warehouseman), Daniel V (20, Clerk at Stone Quarry).
The issue are all listed as Elizabeth's children, so Elizabeth & Mora/Nora are the same person – the ages fit.
2/1. Cicely Hannah Lloyd, abt 1876

Probate, died 9/1/1922, at W’ton Nursing Home, to Arthur John Lloyd Ins agent £613/6/11d.

2/2. Arthur John Lloyd, abt 1877
2/3. William G. Lloyd, abt 1878
2/4. Daniel V. Lloyd, abt 1880

1/2. Samuel Lister, Born 8/8/1856. AM05/07
1/3. John Lister, Born Q4 1859, Reg. Wolverhampton. 1860. Nil 1901

Married, 14/4/1884^FMPi, Willenhall, Martha Jane Baker, He 24, bachelor, key-maker, father William, a miner, she 20 spinster, father Henry Baker, a hair dresser.
1881 with parents
1891 Census: 86, Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall. All b Willenhall.
John (31, Assurance agent), Martha (wf, 26, Milliner), William (6 scholar), Lily (4), Edith (2), Martha (1).
1901 Census, 2 Froysell St, Willenhall:
John (41, Draper), Martha (wf, 35,), William (16, Assistant Draper) Lilly (14), Edith (12), Martha (11), Doris (3).
1911 Census, Froysell St, Willenhall, 5 rooms, all b Willenhall.
John Lister (HD, 51, Married 27 yrs, 6 ch born alive, 5 living, Draper, Clothier etc, on own account), Martha Jane (wife, 48), William (son, 26, Drapers Assistant) Edith (dau, 22), Martha (dau, 21), Doris (13,
1923^FMPi Probate: of 2-3 Froysell St, Willenhall, died 11/2/1923 at the QVNI, Probate 22/3 to Martha Jane, widow & William Lister, general dealer £2469/11/10d.
A Martha J. Lister witnessed Sarah's will 1930, of Froysell St, Willenhall. Probably Mrs John Lister.
2/1. William Lister, abt 1885.
2/2. Lilly Lister, abt 1887.
2/3. Edith Lister, abt 1889.
2/4. Martha Lister, abt 1890.
2/5. Doris Lister, abt 1898.

1/4. Jonas Abraham Lister, ch 133/3/1861, Willenhall,

William a miner of Portobello.
Died Q4 1941, reg Bilston.

1881, 71 with parents.
1891 Census, 107 Wood St, Jonas 30 (Coal Dealer & Grocer), Clara (26) John (2), Francis Tunnicliffe, Servant (14)
1901 Census, 77 Wood St, Willenhall (all b. Willenhall):
Jonas Lister (40, Insurance Agent), Clara (37), John (12, scholar), Samuel (8, scholar), William (5, scholar), Norman (1), Myma Kynaston (boarder, wid, 33), George Kynaston (nephew, 4, America).
1911 Census, 8 Stringer Lane, Willenhall, 5 rooms, Listers born Willenhall, all “workers”. Signed as Jonas Abram
Jonas A Lister (Hd, 50, married 24 years, 4 born alive, 4 living, keysmith), Clara (wf, 46), John (son, 22, Groom), Samuel (son, 19, Caster), William (son, 16, bootmaker assistant), Norman (son, 12) 2 Boarders Samuel (56) & Bert Green (13)
Married, St Anne’s Willenhall, 7/3/1887^FMPi, he a coal dealer of 37 Wood St, aged 26, father William (dec, Miner), Clara Webb, 22, spin, Newhall St, father Joseph Webb (dec, Miner) by Banns[13]

Clara Webb b Q4 1864, mother’s name Taylor, reg Wolverhampton.
Clara prob died Q4 1950, aged 86, reg Bilston.
Issue, ch St Anne’s, Willenhall where shown[14]:
2/1. John Lister, ch. 26/10/1888, Stingers Lane, Coal Dealer.
2/2. Samuel Lister, ch. 2/3/1893, 20 Mill St, Key Manufacturer.
2/3. William Harold Lister, ch 13/2/1896, 30 Union St, Coal Dealer.
2/4. Jonas Abraham Lister, ch 23/7/1899, 71 Wood St, Insurance Agent.
2/5. Norman Lister, born abt 1900.

1/5. Sarah Lister, Born Q4 1862, Wolverhampton, mother Roper.

Married St Johns Walsall: 12/5/1884^FMPi. – must be the same one even if in Walsall:
Laban Broomhall, 25, Bachelor, Lockmaker, Bridgeman St, father Edwin, Lockmaker; Sarah Lister, Spinster, Bridgeman St, father William, Charter-master, witnesses John & Martha Jane Lister (brother).
1891 Census, Riley St, Willenhall:
Luban Broomhall (32, insurance agent), Sarah (27), John (7), Lillian (2), Ernest (1).
1901 Census, Layzell St, Willenhall, all b there:
Laburn Broomhall (42, Insurance Agent), Sarah (39), John (16, Grocer’s Assistant), Lillian (12, School), Ernest (11, school), Arthur (10, school), Oliver (6, school), William (2), Beatrice (1).
1901, Spaysell St Willenhall
1911 Census 6, Walsall St, Willenhall: LB
Laban Broomhall death Reg. Bilston, Q4 1939 aged 81.
Probate: of 8 New Rd, Willenhall, died 24/12/1939, Admon B’ham to Lillian Powis, (wife of William Powis). Effects 311/5/8d.
Re-granted 1/1/1942, Llandudno.
Sarah Broomhall death reg. Wolverhampton, Q3 1932 aged 69.
2/1. John Broomhall, B abt 1884
2/2. Lillian Broomhall, b abt 1889. M William Powis 1911 Greengrocer.
2/3. Ernest Broomhall, b abt 1890, Lock maker, 1911
2/4. Arthur Broomhall, b abt 1891. 1911 Insurance agent
2/5. Oliver Broomhall, b abt 1895. 1911, packer in warehouse
2/6. William Broomhall, b abt 1899
2/7. Beatrice Broomhall, b abt 1900.

DAVID PALMER - 1814

AM06/15

Definitive Sources: PR/MC/DC/Census.

The father of Sarah Palmer. Little is known of David Palmer, except for his being a lockmaker in Willenhall. His birth and parents names are speculative, see below under John Palmer.

IGI/PR:
Ch[15]: 2/10/1814^FMPi @ St Mary, Enville, Staffordshire, of 4 Ashes.
Parents: John & Mary Palmer. (re father's initial at marriage & age).
Died: 8/12/1878^DC, 15 Church St, Willenhall, aged 64.
Married: by banns @ the Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton 27/3/1843^{MC &
PR}.
David Palmer, full age, Bachelor, Locksmith, res Willenhall, father: J Palmer, dead[16].
Hannah Hughes, full age, Spinster, of Willenhall, father J Hughes, farmer.
Witnesses: J Bidulph & J Perkins (D & H illiterate).

1840: no Palmers in Enville Tithe, but Joseph Turner & William Cooper were there.
1841 Census: no relevant David Palmers in database.
1843 (marriage): locksmith in Willenhall.
1846: Lucy Bth, Locksmith @ King St, Willenhall.
1851 Census, Cannon St, Willenhall (this looks like the family in spite of ages of David & Hannah):
David Palmer (25, Locksmith, Wenham? Shropshire), Hannah (25, Wellington), Hannah (7, scholar, Willenhall), Lucy (5, Willenhall), Matilda (3, Willenhall), David (6mths, Willenhall)
1856 (Sarah Bth): Locksmith @ Church St, Willenhall.
1861 Census, Church St, Willenhall:
David (46, Lockmaker's Jouneyman, Envil), Hannah (40, Wellington), Harriet (17), Lucy (15), Matilda (scholar 13), David (scholar 11), Catherine (scholar 9), Eliza (scholar 7), Sarah (scholar 5), Eleanor (2), Mary Jane (3 mths).
1861 Enville: No Palmers (1851 illegible)
1871 Census, Church St, Willenhall
David (56, Widower, Rimlockmaker, Envil), Catherine (Schoolmistress, 19), Jane (10) & James (7).
1881 (Sarah P Mar.): A Boltmaker, @ Paradise St, W'ton (?).

Enville 1852.

HANNAH HUGHES

AM06/16

The mother of Sarah Palmer, from a farming family in Shropshire.

Definitive Sources: PR/MC/DC/Census.
The connection of her supposed parents is a bit speculative, but seems reasonable:

Ch: 7/5/1820^PR, Wrockwardine, consistent with Wellington in censuses.
Parents: John & Ann (Davies) Hughes
Died: 21/12/1865^DC, Church St, Willenhall, aged 42.

The most likely from IGI and other data is:
Ann Hughes C: 7 May 1820 - PR checked.
Parents: John Hughes & Ann, of "Lea", a labourer.
Wrockwardine, Shropshire, England.
Wrockwardine is the next parish West of Wellington.

a) Ann and Hannah seem to be synonymous.
b) Her father, "J. Hughes", a farmer at her marriage in 1843.
c) John became a farmer of 21 acres by 1842 (tithe apportionments)
d) John from Lea died in Bilston, but buried Wrockwardine.
e) Census61 data shows born 1820/1, Wellington, Shropshire.

Wellington transcript chkd, but probably not too reliable - all PR held at church (5/98) - original checked, but none found.

1841: not with family in Wrockwardine, too many alternatives elsewhere.
1843, marriage: Resident in Willenhall

Issue of David Palmer & Hannah Hughes (all b @ Willenhall re Census):
1/1. Hannah (C51) or Harriet C61) Palmer, born 1844, neither found on PR.
1/2. Lucy Palmer, B. 26/2/1846 King St. Willenhall (BC)

D. 10/2/1916, 86 Salop St. Dudley
1861 Census, with family.
Married William Wildgoose B. 29/7/1842 Tutbury Staffs, 31/10/1864 at the Wesleyan Methodise Chapel Willenhall
A file cutter in lock industry.
D. 12.12.1901 in Crocketts St. Dudley
This line provided by Dorothy (Wildgoose) Hickman^{^[i]}, 7/2006.
Most of this family still live in Gornal area.
2/1. Harriet Matilda Wildgoose B. 31.5.1869 Coseley

D. 17.11.1870 Dudley St. Bilston.

2/2. Lawrence William Wildgoose B. 1871 Bilston.
2/3. Fredrick Wildgoose B. 2.3.1874 27 Broad St. Sedgley

D. 15.7.1953 67 Merridale St. Wolverhampton), A boot-maker.
Married Mary Blakeway, 19.12.1896 at the Registry Office Dudley.
3/1. Gladys Hilda Wildgoose (B. 25.5.1897 Upper Gornal Staffs.)
3/2. Mary Elizabeth Wildgoose B 27.8.1899, 40 The Inhedge Upper Gornal
3/3. John Wildgoose (B.22.7.1901 The Inhedge Upper Gornal

married Mary Elizabeth Hyde(Mother) on the 26th Dec.1926 St. Peter’s Upper Gornal, A fitter & turner.
D. 20.7.1975 at 52 Kettles Bank Rd Gornal Wood West Midlands.)
All issue still live in Gornal and the surrounding areas except Kathleen who lives in Melbourne Australia.
4/1. Molly (Mary) Wildgoose, B.26.6.1928 in Lower Gornal

M. Bertram Bennett on 17.12.1049 at the Wesleyan Methodist Church Gornal Wood. And they had 5 children.

4/2. Jean Elizabeth Wildgoose, B.13.4.1930 in Lower Gornal

D.5.1.2003 in Wordsley Hosp. Wordsley
M. Richard Skidmore at St James’s Church Lower Gornal, and they had no children

4/3. John Frederick Wildgoose,

B.17.7.1932 in Upper Gornal
M. Beatrice Heath on the 19.3.1955 at Dudley Registrar
6 children.

4/4. Kathleen Wildgoose, B.8.6.1935 in Lower Gornal

M. Ivor Jansz on 4.2. 1956 at St. James’s Lower Gornal
4 children. Resident Melbourne, Australia 7/2006.

4/5. Dorothy Suzanne Wildgoose, B. 25.5.1940 in Gornal Wood

Who provided this line.
M. Donald Hickman 26.3.1960 at Dudley Registrar.
5/1. Stuart Hickman, B. 21.10.1960 M. Margaret Williams

6/1. Adam Hickman, (B 17.6.1979)
6/2. Daniel Hickman, B. 5.5.1993

5/2. Mark Hickman, B. 14.10.1961, M. Tracey Burns.

6/1. Joseph Hickman, (B 13.8.1992).

5/3. Allan Hickman, B.4.10.1965, M. Wendy Smith

6/1. David Hickman, (B.10.8.2005)

5/4. Janette Hickman, B.19.10.1967, M. Mark Bonaccorsi

no children. Mark died suddenly after 9mths of marriage.

4/6. Maureen Wildgoose, (B.22.1.1944 in Gornal Wood}

M. Terence Pearson, 7.10.1961, St. Francis’s Church Dudley. 6 children,

3/4.Florence Matilda Wildgoose,

(B.17.2.1905 39 The Inhedge Upper Gornal D.11.5.1956 at 107 Tipton Rd. Sedgley.

2/4. Emily Gertrude Wildgoose,

(B.29.5.1876 9 Bank Rd. Roseville Coseley D. 25.7.1880 51 Addison St. Wednesbury).

2/5. Albert Hughes Wildgoose,

(B. 7.9.1883 37 Trinity St. Oldbury D. 26.12.1889 7 Crockett St. Dudley.)

2/6. Edith Ellen Wildgoose,

(B.23.7.1878 8 Raglan St. Willenhall. D. 12.8. 51 Addison St. Wednesbury)

1/3. Matilda Palmer, born 1848 Reg Q1 1848^FMPt, Wolverhampton

Married Willenhall, 1/6/1868^FMPi, William Baker, 24, locksmith of Willenhall, father Benjamin, a miner & Matilda Palmer, 20 of Willenhall, father David, locksmith.
Death possibility, Matilda Baker reg Walsall Q1 1906, age 57
William Baker, Q1 1936, Wolverhampton, age 91 – neither in 1911 census
1871 Census, Russell St, Willenhall (all b Willenhall, ex William)
William Baker (27, Locksmith, Tamworth), Matilda (23, Milliner), Florence S (2), Ellener Palmer (sister-in-law, 12, servant).
1878: William Baker informant to David Palmer’s death, of 14 Riley St, Willenhall.

1881 Census, 98 New Hall St, Willenhall (all b Willenhall ex William)
William Baker (37, Assurance agent, Locksmith, Tamworth), Matilda (33), Florence Sarah (12, Scholar), Frederick Hughie (6, Scholar), James Thomas Palmer (b-in-law, 18, locksmith).
1891 Census, 49, Bearswood Hill, Harbourne, B'ham:
William Baker (47, Assurance superintendent), Matilda (43), Frederick R.H. (16, elementary teacher), John Cartwright (visitor, 25, elementary teacher).
1901 Census, 33 Prescott? Rd, Walsall:
William Baker (57, Assurance superintendent), Matilda (53)
2/1. Florence Sarah Baker, 1869.
2/2. Frederick Hughie Baker, 1875.

1/4. David Palmer, birth reg Q3 1850^FMPt, W’ton, mother Hughes. No C1871.

Married Willenhall, 27/12/1869^FMPi: David Palmer, 20, locksmith, father David Palmer, locksmith, Mary Wood, 18, father William Wood, pointsman (railway?).

1/5. Catherine Palmer, birth reg Q4 1852^FMPt, poss d Q4 1920 age 69, W’ton.
1/6. Eliza Palmer, born 1854^FMPt, reg Q4, W/ton.
1/7. Sarah Palmer, born 1/10/1856.
1/8. Eleanor Palmer, bth Q3 1858^FMPt, W’ton – with sister Matilda in 1871.
1/9. Mary Jane Palmer, born Q1 1861^FMPt, reg W’ton, mother Hughes.

1881 Census, 42, Walsall Rd, Willenhall - possibly her:
Jane Palmer, (19, Gen Servant, Willenhall), Edward Edwards head.

1/10. James Thomas Palmer, born Q1 1864^FMPt, mother Hughes.

1881 with sister Matilda.
Died Q1 1946, age 81 reg W’ton
Married Anne Elton, Q1 1890, Reg W’ton.
1891 Census, 16, Lower Lichfield St, Willenhall:
James Palmer (27, Brass Padlock Maker, Willenhall), Ann (27, W'hall), Fred (3 mths, W'hall)
1901 Census, 22 Riley St, Willenhall:
James Palmer (37, Electrical Fitter), Ann (37), Fred (10), Sammi? (5), Bert (<12mths).
Married Ann Elton (ref email Liz Freeman 7/08).
2/1. Fred Palmer, abt 1890.
2/2. Sammi (Minnie) Palmer, abt 1896.
2/3. Bert Palmer, ch St Anne’s Willenhall, 3/5/1900, Riley St, Brass Dresser[17].

7. GENERATION 7

THOMAS LISTER - 1803

AM07/25

The father of William Lister.
Definitive Sources: PR, Census, DC’s.

Ch: 9/10/1803^PR @ St Leonard, Broseley[ii].
(C61: 5/1805-4/06 C51:5/01-4/02).
Parents: Base son of Elizabeth (Lister), no father given.
Married: Ann Bradley, 20/4/1823^FMPi @ St Leonard, Broseley, B&S OTP, he signed.
Died: 31/12/1872[18], age 60 (should be 70/1), of Portobello, Willenhall, Coal Miner, Fatty degeneration of the Heart 4 years, informant Eliza Passant (her mark).
MI Wood St Cemetery, Willenhall:
"In Memory of Thomas Lister who died December 31 1872 aged 71 years. Also Ann his wife who died March 20 1883. Also daughter Mary."
(transcribed by Lynn (Tonks) Spearing: almost illegible 12/2000 - very sad and rundown).

     Thomas Lister was born in Broseley, Shropshire, base son of Elizabeth Lister, but had some education as he signed his marriage lines. He became a miner, probably like his sons, from an early age. Until about 1832, he was the local mines, but as Broseley declined in the 1820's with steel making finishing by about 1835, and the mines reducing, he seems to have moved to the newer pits in the South Staffordshire fields, first to Wolverhampton on the western edge of the field and then east to Willenhall, the pits of which remained active until the mid 20thC: pit mounds were still there in the 1950's. In 1861 he was described as a coal & stone miner: a reference to iron ore mining. He moved up in life in Willenhall, becoming a butty miner and charter-master, running his own gangs of miners, and, judging from his will, taking a financial interest in several mines and businesses. In 1858, he had been in partnership with a William Hughes as butty miners at the Waterfall Lane Colliery in Rowley Regis as descried in the notice of William Hughes insolvency notice. He was shown as a beer retailer in 1865, perhaps the beer selling was to his mining gangs?! By 1871, he was the owner of a public house, the Cock Inn, 63 High Street, Portobello: in August 1869[19] ....The following beer-house keepers had been fined for selling and keeping open during prohibited hours…..Thomas Lester, COCK INN, Portobello, 2s 6d and costs…..” His son-in-law, Thomas Passent became the licensee after Ann’s death.
    He married Ann Bradley in Broseley daughter of John Bradley, probably a miner. They had 13 recorded children:
Issue of Thomas & Ann summary:
1. Eliza Lister (1824-~1885), M Thomas Passent & Amos Robinson.
2. Ann Lister (1825-~1830)
3. William Lister (1827-)
4. Samuel Lister (1828-1864?) M Harriet Vaughan
5. Thomas Lister (1830-?
6. George Lister (1832-1905) M. Mary Mason.
7. Hannah Miah Lister (1834), M John Hastelow
8. John Lester (1836-?), M Ann Bayley
9. Abraham Lister (1838
10. Isaac Lester (1839-1840)
11. Jacob Lester (1841-1874) M Elizabeth Wilson
12. Martha Lester (1843-1843)
13. Sarah Lester (1845-1845)
    His surviving children can be seen in the census records, the sons following on in the mining industry. One, George, had an amusing write up in the local paper (see later under “The Big Hitter”). Thomas Passent who married Eliza took after his father in law in the pub: her first husband, Amos Robinson, was killed in a mining accident at Baldwin’s Fields Colliery in Bilston, the inquest makes interesting reading of the life and risks of mining. Another, Hannah married John Hastelow, who eventually moved to the Doncaster area with most of his sons: the South Staffordshire coal miners were seen as expert miners as the Yorkshire pits opened up. The LDS Ancestral file showed a daughter of son John, Betsey Ann who married Jessie Hobson, migrating to Idaho, USA and producing an extensive family there.
    Their 2^nd daughter died in tragic circumstances, dying as a result of burns in a fire in Thomas’s house, as reported in the paper[20]:
"1830 - Inquisition into sudden death of Ann Lister. January 21st 1830 at Broseley before John Davis, coroner, and upon the oaths of Thomas Blakeway, Thomas Poole, Bacheus Aston, John Bradley, Francis Everall, Samuel Matthews, Robert Ankers, Richard Howes, James Woodruff, Henry Wilcox, Thomas Rogers, John Smith, Richard Poole, Joseph Collins, John Garbett, John Lloyd and Alexander Hartshorne. It was decided that Ann Lister died accidentally at the house of her father, Thomas Lister, when her clothes caught fire.

2/ Witness statements from:

Sarah Reeves, single woman of Broseley, who said that at 7 o'clock on Monday she saw a blaze through the window of Thomas Lister's house and went up the stairs where she saw John Jones with his flannel frock over Ann Lister, a child of about 4, the fire was blazing from under the frock. The witness wrapped a blanket round the child but she was badly burned and died at 3am

John Jones, coal miner of Broseley, said he was minding the pigs at Mr Pugh's when he saw a light at Thomas Lister's room and realised it was on fire. He ran to the house and went up stairs. Ann Lister came running to him in flames and he wrapped her in his flannel frock. It was the early part of the night.

3/ Summons to the constables of Broseley, Benthall and Madeley to attend the inquest to be held at the house of Charles Jones, The Maypole Inn, Broseley."
Ann Lister, age 4, of Moseley, buried Broseley 22/1/1830^FMPi.

High Street Portobello, 1959.
The shop on the corner is Mr. and Mrs. Shevin's general stores and greengrocers and next door is the Cock Inn, that was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Davies. Behind it is the Cock Inn yard with its entrance to the left of the pub. Next on the left is the Portobello Post Office run by Mr. and Mrs. Weaver. A new post office was later built across the road and the Weavers took it over.
On the right is Bennett St. The old post office then became the home of Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard and finally was a grocer's shop run by Mr. and Mrs. T. Adams. At the end of the row of buildings is the entrance to Stone Street and beyond is the Malt Shovel pub. In the far distance the entrance to Primrose Street can be seen with the New Inns on the corner.

Probate Index: Thomas Lister 25 November 1873. The Will of Thomas Lister late of the “Cock” Inn Portobello in the Parish of Willenhall in the County of Stafford Butty Miner and Beer Seller who died 31 December 1872 at Portobello was proved at Lichfield by Hamlet Maitland of 91 Stafford Street Dudley in the County of Worcester Glass Painter one of the Executors. Effects under £20.

This Cock Inn was probably on High Street, Portobello, now the A454 Willenhall Rd. Probably about opposite the site of the 1950’s Union Locks Portobello factory.

Will:
Thomas Lister Royalty master Butty Miner and beer Seller of the Cock Inn, Portobello...was made 6^th January 1869...
Wife Ann to have all for life and then split between his children.
...lists his children: William, George, John, Jacob Lister Eliza the wife of Thomas Passant of Portobello miner and Hannah the wife of John Hastelow of Portobello Miner my partner in the aforesaid Collieries
Leaves:
... the interest I may have at my decease in the Willingshall Open Works Collieries under messrs Harper and Company Albion Works Willenhall... also all interest I may have in two pits and other effects situate at the Lunts Collieries near Bilston... that plot of land situate at Moseley Hole adjoining to land of Mr John Fishers and William Bills

What the connection with Hamlet Maitland in Dudley is difficult to imagine, particularly as Hamlet Maitland appears to have been a skilled craftsman, while Thomas Lister was probably unskilled!

1871 Census, 91 Stafford St, Dudley:
Hamlet Maitland (Hd, 57, Glass Decorator, Hanley Staffordshire Potteries), Mary (50, Glass Burnisher, Hanley), Thomas (son, 23, Glass Gilder, Hanley).

Internet search a forum message from 2008:
“My husband is a direct descendant of Hamlet Maitland, born 1821, married Mary Hackney in Hanley. Moved to Dudley in 1850s, and died in 1867. I would love to go further with Hamlet, but have drawn a blank. Any help anyone?”[21]

Collieries, in use 1869:
Lunt at Bilston, Dodd and Southam
Albion at Willenhall, Harper & Co.
Osier Beds, not mentioned in the 1869 list, but is shown on the 1900 map just southwest of Mosley Hole Farm. William Lister was a charter-master involved in this pit.

Staffordshire Advertiser 15 January 1853^FMPi
DOUBLE ACCIDENT.—MORE OPEN PITS.—On Tuesday Inst, Mr. Phillips held two inquests at the Brown Lion, New Town, Bilston—the first on the body of Amos Robinson, a butty on the colliery of Wm. Baldwin and Co., Bilston, who was killed on Saturday last in a pit at Baldwin's Fields, by the falling upon him of a large quantity of coal, whilst he was engaged “picking”. The coal was insufficiently propped by deceased himself, who it was though was thye only person to blame.

T. Wynn, Esq., the government inspector of mines, was again present, watching the proceedings. Having that the ground bailiff of the colliery had not been in the pit in question for a week previously to the accident, Mr. Wynn questioned him upon the subject, when the bailiff pleaded the experience of the deceased as a reason why be had not been in the pit more recently. Mr. Wynn then gave a general caution as to a mistaken notion which seemed to pervade the minds of the South Staffordshire colliers that ground bailiffs had no right to interfere between the workmen and the butties, but only to watch the conduct of the butties with reference to the interests of the proprietors. The inspector said that be held this opinion to be a most erroneous one, and it must be dispelled. It was as much the duty of the bailiff to watch the interests of the men as to watch those of the proprietors. Did he (the bailiff) consider that this was his duty? The bailiff acknowledged that it was. Mr. Wynn then added that everybody who read reports upon mining in South Staffordshire most know that the neglect of duty on the part of the bailiff, to which he had referred, was the common

complaint of every scientific man who had written upon the operations of this district. The fall of coal took place on Saturday afternoon, yet the body of the deceased could not be dug out before Sunday night, when it presented every evidence that death had been occasioned by suffocation. Verdict, "Accidental death.—The subject of the next inquest was Jonathan Tonks, aged sixty, a miner upon the same estate, who, at two o’clock on Sunday morning, was proceeding to the pit in which Robinson lay buried, to assist in his extrication, and fell into an open disused pit which lay in that portion of the field over which he would pass, in a direct line from his own house. He had lost the sight of one eye, and his daughter said that he left his home to go to the pit at one o'clock on Sunday morning, quite sober; but Joseph Kitson, an engineer upon the same colliery, deposed that deceased was intoxicated when he passed the engine an hour afterwards. The disused pit lay between the engine and the pit of the accident, upon the bank of which latter there was a beacon fire that, in the darkness of the night, might have obscured the already imperfect vision of the deceased. He was missed on Sunday afternoon, when that course was taken which seems first resorted to on such occasions. A lighted lanthorn was procured and let down into the old pits. The one in which the deceased was found was within 1½ yard of a cart track, and was protected only by a circling embankment, under three feet high, of stones and loose rubbish. It was given in evidence that upon this colliery there were at least twenty old pits uncovered and on fenced. The deceased was found with his skull forced in and his left arm broken. The jury returned a verdict of “Found dead” accompanied with a remonstrance on the unprotected state of the pits on this colliery of Baldwin and Co. Mr. Wynn was present, and put questions to the witnesses during the inquiry. It is earnestly to be hoped that proprietors of collieries will at length bestir themselves, and not permit their property to remain in such a state as constantly to endanger human life. Frequently it is said, as indeed was the case in this instance, that the pits are not in the high road of the colliery; but men. it is well-known, will go the nearest road to their places of work.

Beer Houses:[22]
In the late 17th century, and early 18th century, spirits, mainly gin, were available very cheaply. This led to a lot of drunkenness throughout the country, and so parliament decided to pass the 1830 Beer House Act as a way of providing the population with a less intoxicating drink, at an affordable price. Under the terms of the act, any householder who paid tax could apply for a licence, which would be given on the payment of 2 guineas. Anyone possessing a licence could open a public house or a beer house, and sell beer, but not spirits, or fortified wines.
    An extra licence to sell cider cost just 1 guinea. Anyone selling spirits or fortified wines would loose their licence. Beer houses were usually family homes, where beer was sold in the front room, or sometimes shops. They were scattered throughout the town.
    By 1842 Willenhall had 21 beer houses and 29 pubs. Ten years later the number of pubs had increased to 38. The pubs became an essential part of the working man’s life, especially after a hard day in the factory.

There was also a John Lister, son Thomas, wine merchant in Broseley at this time.
Also Thomas Lister, ch Broseley 17/2/1808, of William & Eliz Lister.

1824-32 (births): a collier in Broseley
1834: 2 Thomas Listers listed in Electoral List:
     a) freehold house, High St Broseley
     b) freehold house & Garden & Malthouse, Broseley.
1834: Thomas a miner of Wolverhampton.
1838: a miner of Wolverhampton.
1841 Broseley, Thomas Lister 40, Wine Merchant. yes.
1841 Census, Oxford St, W'ton:
Thomas Lester (40 Coal Miner, N), Ann (40, N), Eliza (15, N), William (15, CM, N), Samuel (10, CM, N), George (8, CM, Y), Thomas (7, CM, Y), Amy (5, Y), John (4, Y), Abraham (3, Y).
1848 (William's Mar): a miner (prob in Portobello)
1851 Census, High St Portobello:
Thomas (49, a coal miner, Broseley), Ann (45, Broseley), Thomas (s, 21, Coalminer, Broseley), Hannah (16), John (Coal Miner, 14), Abraham (12, Coal Miner), Jacob (10, Scholar) all W'ton ex noted.
1855[23]: a brief newspaper report of 1 gn being stolen from Thomas Lister, miner of Portobello.
1858[24]: " WILLIAM HUGHES, late of Willenhall, in the county of Stafford, Butty Miner, previously of the Oak Inn, Waterfall-lane, Rowley Regis, in the said county of Stafford, Licensed Victualler and Butty Miner, and during part of the same time being in partnership with Thomas Lister and carrying on business under the style or firm of “HUGHES AND Lister,"" as Butty Miners, at the Waterfall-lane Colliery, Rowley Regis aforesaid, previously of the Bird-in-Hand, Cross-street, Willenhall aforesaid, Beer-house Keeper and Butty Miner, and formerly of the Oak Inn aforesaid. Licensed Victualler and Butty Miner, part of the time being a Grocer, Provision and Flour Dealer, and part of the same time being in partnership with William Pritchard, and carrying on business under the style or firm of “Hughes AND PRITCHARD,"" as Butty Miners, at the Eagle Colliery, Rowley Regis aforesaid.

WILLIAM OVEKELL, 96, Warwick-street, Leamington Priors, and 3, Cherry street, Birmingham. Insolvents Attorney."
1861 Census, Portobello:
Thomas (55, a coal & stone miner, Broseley), Ann (53, Broseley), Thomas (s, 30, Coalminer, Broseley), Jacob (s, 20, Coalminer, W'ton), Samuel (g/son, 12, coalminer, Portobello) and Hannah (g/dau, 8, Portobello).

In later years kept the Cock Inn, High St Portobello.

1865 Trade Dir: Thomas Lister, Beer retailer, High St Portobello. (Jones)
1871 Census, High St, Willenhall, Cock Inn:
Thomas (68, Coal Miner & Publican, Broseley), Ann (67, Bushbury, Staffs - poss misunderstanding), Elizabeth (15, g/dau, servant, Portobello), Abraham (6, g/son, servant, Willenhall).

1881 Census, High St Willenhall, Cock Inn:
Ann (78, Widow, Portobello?), Thomas Passent (52, s-in-law, colliery labourer Shrewsbury), Eliza Passent (55, dau, Broseley), Abraham Lister (g/son, 16, Locksmith, Portobello).

Listers Wine merchants, Broseley
1881 Census, High St Broseley:
John CW Lister (wine merchant, W'ton, 39) + family - prob not ours.

Poss, but too young:
Ch: 14/2/1808 @ St Leonard, Broseley. (Census61: born 5/1805-4/06).
Parents: William & Elizabeth.
Siblings: Sarah (22/9/1810 & 30/6/1810)

London Gazette, 19 June 1849, Iss 20989, p1967:
...By indenture dated 8 May, William Smith of Much Wenlock )deeds) over to John Sanderson Thomas of Redcliff Street, Bristol and Thomas Lister, of Broseley, wine merchant all his estate on trust for themselves and his creditors...
This is probably another Thomas Lister.

1828 Directory (also in Piggot’s 1828-9):
Broseley, John Lister & Sons, Hope & Seed Merchant.
Also as a maltster.
1835: Thomas Lister, of Broseley, maltster & wine and spirit merchant.

ANN BRADLEY - 1806

AM07/26

Definitive Sources: PR, Census, DC’s.

Born: C51: Broseley 5/05-4/06 or C61: 5/07-4/08.
Ch: 31/8/1806^PR, St Leonard Broseley
Parents: John & Ann (Lyster) Bradley.
This is the most likely candidate, her ages in the census vary, but agree roughly.
Died: 20/3/1883^DC @ High St Willenhall aged 78 (wid of Thomas, coalminer) Erysipelas 5 days. Informant, Eliza Passant, dau (mark of).
Probate: 9/5/1883^FMPi of Ann Lister of the Cock Inn Portobello, widow who died 20 March 1883 at the “Cock”, to Eliza Passant of the “Cock” the daughter and one of the next of Kin.

Issue (ch @ St Leonard, PR & Census)
1/1. Eliza Lister, ch 7/3/1824^FMPi, of Thomas & Ann, collier.

This is the only one in the parish records of Broseley and agrees with the 1851 & 81 census’s
Eliza Ann Passant died Q4 1901^FMPt aged 75, Wolverhampton.
The above date comes from available records, but a cup found in the Maitland Dower House collection has “Elizabeth Lister born April 3rd 1826” in gold lettering; however, she was consistently named as Eliza, so this is probably someone else.
This date agrees with Elizabeth Lister’s stated ages on the census returns.
Perhaps Eliza (1824) was an earlier daughter who died early, but there is no record of this idea?

Informant at mother's death.

Married, 1^st, 1845 Sedgley, Eliza Lester, father Thomas Lester, to Amos Robinson, son of Griffiths Robinson – the full record of this is not available so we do not know her age.
Staffordshire Advertiser 15 January 1853 gives the inquest into his death in a collapse in Baldwins Field Colliery in Bilston. His Own fault!
He was buried 21/1/1853 in Bilston.
Married, 2^nd, Wolverhampton St Matthew, 4/5/1856^FPMi, Thomas Passent, full age, bachelor, Miner, Walsall Rd, father, William Passent, labourer & Eliza Robinson, full age, widow, of Walsall Rd, father Thomas Lester, miner.
an Amos Robinson born Wolverhampton Q3 1852, but no other sign of him, probably a son.
1841 Census: with parents age 15.
1851 Census, Walters Yard, Willenhall:
Amos Robinson (29, Mine Coal, Salop), Eliza (28, Broseley).
1853: Amos Robinson buried Bilston, 21/1/1853^FMPi, aged 32.
1861 Census, nothing found
1871 Census, ditto, only Thomas Passent, wife Mary, in Wednesbury,.
1881 Census, High St Willenhall, Cock Inn:
Ann Lister (78, Widow), Thomas Passent (52, son-in-law, colliery labourer, Shrewsbury), Eliza Passent (55, dau), Abraham Lister (g/son, 16, Locksmith, Portobello).
1891 Census, The Cock Inn:
Thomas Passent (62, beer seller, Salop), Eliza (66, Willenhall).

1/2. Ann Lister, born 10/7/1825.

Prob died Jan 1830, see above.

1/3. William Lister, born 14/1/1827.
1/4. Samuel Lister, born 3/12/1828.

IGI/PR show:
Ch: 3/12/1828 @ St Leonard, Broseley. (Cen51: born 5/1829-4/30).
1841 Census: with parents age 10
1851 Census, Booth Sq, New St, Portobello:
Samuel (21, Coalminer, Broseley), Harriet (20, Staffs, W’ton) Samuel (dau in census, 2M, Willenhall). Samuel L birth reg Q3 1850, W’ton.

Marriage Banns, Willenhall, July/Aug 1855 Samuel Lester & Harriet Vaughan B&S OTP. Married 6/8/1855^FMPi, St Stephens Willenhall, B&S, age 25 & 24, both of Portobello, he a miner, his father Thomas Lister, Miner, hers Stephen Vaughan a miner.
Harriet ch Wolverhampton, 19/1/1831^FMPt, of Stephan & Susanna Vaughan
Maybe him, the daughter Eliza is correct:
1861 Census: Not found
1871 Census, 83 Moore St W’ton: Samuel Lester (widower, 42, miner stone, W’ton), Eliza (9, W’ton), William (17, W’ton)

This is probably the Samuel Lister in 1861 Census:-
He was the licensee of the Red Lion in Willenhall for a short period:
Wolverhampton Chronicle 27/8/1862

“County licensing meeting held on Thursday last ….. There were no licenses suspended, but the following publicans

were reprimanded for misconduct in the management of their houses during the last twelve months ….. Samuel

Lester, the RED LION, Willenhall ….. As promises of amendment were made for the future, the licenses were again

renewed.”

Samuel Lister was also a miner.
London Gazette 26 July 1864 & August 19 1864
Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser - Wednesday 17 August 1864
Samuel Lister, late of Willenhall, in the county of Stafford, Victualler, having -been adjudged bankrupt by the Registrar of the County Court of Staffordshire, holden at Stafford, attending at the County Gaol of Stafford, on the 11^th day of July, 1864, and the adjudication being directed to be prosecuted in the County Court of Staffordshire, holden at Wolverhampton, is hereby required to surrender himself to Charles Gallimore Brown, Esq., a Registrar of the said last-mentioned Court, at the first meeting of creditors to be held before the said Registrar, on the 29^th day of July instant, at twelve o'clock at noon precisely, at the said Court. Charles Gallimore Brown, Esq., of Wolverhampton, is the Official Assignee

Issue of Samuel & Harriet, (b Willenhall):
2/1. Samuel (Vaughan?) Lister born Q3 1850 mother Ford (Vaughan?),

reg W’ton.
Married, 13/11/1875^FMPi, Willenhall, Samuel Vaughan Lister, 25, collier, Lichfield St, Willenhall, father Samuel Lister, collier; Jane Davies, 19 same address, father John Davies, Collier. B&S.
1871: probably boarding, Alma St Willenhall, coal miner, Willenhall

2/2. William Lester, born Q2 1854, reg. W’ton.
2/3. Eliza Lister, ch, 2/3/1856^FMPi, Willenhall,

of Samuel & Harriet, Miner of Portobello,
An Eliza Lester death registered Q2 1858^ACt, Wolverhampton.

2/4. Eliza Lister, birth was reg. Wolverhampton, Q2 1861^ACt.

Neither of these registrations have been seen, only the indices.
This birth registration ties in with the age in 1871 and later.
Married, 29/3/1880, W’ton: Isaac Jones, 20, bachelor, nut & bolt maker, of Steelhouse Lane, W’ton, son of George Jones nut & bolt maker, Eliza Lester, 19, of Steelhouse land, dau of Samuel , a collier. B&S,
1881 Census, 4 Court Eagle St, W’ton:
Isaac Jones (21, Nut & Bolt Forger, West Bromwich), Eliza (21, W’ton), Isaac (1, W’ton).

Other Samuel Listers:
Samuel & Eliza:
This Samuel, a full age miner, father Charles dcd married 15/5/1848^FMPi Eliza French, dau of Edward French, en edge tool maker.
Sarah of Sam & Eliza, ch 26/2/1849, W’ton.
Charles Edward of Sam & Eliza, 12 1/1852
William of Sam & Eliza, ch 10/7/1859, W’ton, Miner
Harriet ditto
C61, 46 Waterloo St, W’ton: Samuel (37, iron stone miner, W’ton), Eliza (30, W’ton), Sarah (12, scholar, W’ton), William (7, scholar, W’ton), Harriet (2, W’ton).

Samuel & Jane:
1881 Census, 13 Hall St, Willenhall:
Samuel Lester (30, coal miner, Portobello), Jane (25, Portobello), Henry (9, scholar, Portobello) Samuel (4mths, Portobello).
Samuel Lister of Willenhall Rd, Bilston, died 14/8/1897, Probate to Jane Lister widow £144/1/6/6d. D Q3 1897 age 54, reg W’ton.

Samuel & Caroline:
1846, Q4, Samuel Lester married Caroline Knowles, W’ton, Banns Oct 1846, W’ton

Married, ST Pete W’ton, Samuel Lister, 20, Bachelor, miner of W’ton, father J Lister, Miner; Caroline Knowles, 20, of W’ton, T Knowles, dead.
1851 Census, Sedgley Rd, Wolverhampton:
Samuel Lester (22, stone miner, Broseley), Caroline (20, Bilston), Charlotte (3, W’ton), John Thomas (2, W’ton).

1/5². Thomas Lister, ch 31/10/1830, Broseley.

1861 Census, with parents.
1871/81 not found.
Assumed Issue (no other sibling fits the bill! from 1871 & 1881 censuses):
2/1. Elizabeth Lister, b abt 1856

1/6². George Lister.

See later section on “The Big Hitter”
IGI/PR show:
Ch: 2/9/1832 @ St Leonard, Broseley. (Cen61: born 5/1832-4/33).
Died: 28/4/1905, bur Bentley Cemetery 3/5/1905.
Referred to as Willenhall strongman.
Married: 29/10/1849, George Lister, age 17, Bachelor, Collier of Bilston, father Thomas, a collier, Mary Mason, 19, spinster, of Bilston, father John Mason, collier.
Mary b. Dudley 1830.
Research on this Lister line has been given to me by Lynn (Tonks) Spearing, 12/2000, and transcribed:
   "All the Listers and their families still live in and around the Willenhall area, only one of Isaac's sons left Willenhall around the 1950's to live in Halifax he ran a carpet business I think it was Jacob. My mother remembers American relatives coming over to visit in the early 50's two of the cousins were named Irene and Clarice the same as my mother and her sister.
   The family also has "other links" with your Parkes line. Over the last 50 years most of the Lister family has worked at Josiah Parkes Portobello, my uncle John Lister recently retired after nearly 50 years.
   I was working there myself in the late 1960's and remember your grandfather AJ Parkes he was in a wheelchair at that time, I also remember Mr. Egar, Mr. Fryer and Mr. Maitland, would he have been your father?
   Most of the younger members of the family are still working at the Portobello works, I have very fond memories of the place I had a good job there and it was an excellent place to work and I enjoyed my time there until I married in 1971 and moved to Cyprus for three years as Allan was in the army at the time. Our son Simon was born out there in 1973 our daughter Lisa was born three years later back in the UK.
   A coal miner of some repute for his strength and endurance. Reputed to have fathered 35 children. A good write up of his feats was published in a local paper about 1984. Married Ann (1853-1918) later in life."

Both he and son Isaac went to Yorkshire to work in the Wakefield mines in 1891.

1851 Census, New St, Portobello:
George (19, iron miner, Broseley), Mary (20, Dudley), Thomas (s, 3 mths, Willenhall).
1861 Census, Portobello: (now Lister)
George (28, iron miner, Broseley), Mary (28, Dudley), Mary Ann (d, 9, Willenhall). Abraham (s, 5, Willenhall), Isaac (3 mths, Willenhall) Thomas probably dead.
1871 Albion St, Willenhall (all b Portobello exc parents):
This must be the same family in spite of disparity in ages, he they were next door to brother John. It looks as though Mary Ann was written down twice as Mary Ann & Ann.
George (46, miner coal, Broseley), Mary (42, Dudley), Isaac (15, miner coal) Elizabeth (10) Naney (8) Mary Ann (19) Ann (19) Eliza (14), Jacob (6)
1881 Census, 15, Shepwell Green, Willenhall:
George Lester (47, Coal Miner, Broseley), Ann (wf, 28, Dudley), Isaac (son, Coal Miner, 22, Portobello), Elizabeth (20, Portobello), Jacob (16, Bondsman, Portobello), Abraham (10, scholar, Willenhall), George (7, scholar, Bilston), Alice (5, Bilston), Eliza (4, Bilston), William (1, Bradley).
1891 Census Bailey’s buildings, Eastmoor, Wakefield, Yorks:
George Lister (58, Coalminer), Ann (36), Abraham (21, Coalminer), George (18, coalminer) Alice (15, Millhand spinner), Eliza (14, none), William (12), Ada (10), Arthur (5) all b Staffordshire except William in Shropshire.
1901 Census Broge Pl, Willenhall:
George Lester (68, Coal Miner underground, Broseley), Ann (46, Dudley), William (22, Coal Miner under ground, Bradley), Ada (20, Varnisher in Lock Factory, Willenhall), Arthur (15, Rim lockmaker, W'hall).
Ann must be 2^nd wife - ref age of Isaac and Ann! She died 1918.

Issue (b Willenhall):
2/1. Thomas Lister (1851-<'61),
2/2. Mary A. Lister (1852),
2/3. Abraham Lister (1856) died bef 1870,
2/4. Isaac Lister (1861),

1891 Census, 38, Piccadilly, Wakefield:
Isaac Lister (29, Coal Miner, Portobello), Ann (24, Willenhall), Mary (scholar, 5, Willenhall), Samuel (4, scholar, Willenhall), Isaac (2, W'hall), Elizabeth (3 mths, Yorkshire)
1901 not found.
Married Ann Gutteridge (1863-1931).
Issue:
3/1. Mary Lister, b. 1884,

married 1905 at St Giles, Willenhall, Samuel Blunt (b. 1879).
Issue:
4/1. Alice Blunt
4/2. Reg Blunt
4/3. Lily Blunt
4/4. Horace Blunt
4/5. Rose Blunt, b. 1911

Married Leonard Muir
5/1. Lawrence Muir, b 1933

6/1. Jayne Muir, b 1967, married M Gray[iii]
6/2. Helen Muir, b 1969, married Mr Rowe

4/6. George Blunt
4/7. Norman Blunt
4/8. Mary Blunt (alive 3/2007)
4/9. Eileen Blunt

3/2. Samuel Lister, b. 1886,

married 1907, St Giles, Willenhall, Harriet Wolverson.

3/3. Elizabeth Lister, b. 1888, married John Davies.

4/1. Frederick Davies, married Elsie,

5/1. Valerie Davies.

4/2. Doris Lister, married Joseph,

5/1. Pauline.

3/4. Isaac Lister, b. 1890, married Mary ....
3/5. George Lister, b.1892, married Ethel Troth.
3/6. Frederick Lister (1895-1961),

Married Jane Williamson (1898-1971, always known as Jinny).
4/1. Irene Lister (1920-1980), (known as Reenie)

married 1st cousin William Fergusson (see below).

4/2. Frederick Lister (1922-1933).
4/3. Clarice Lister, born 17/8/1924 (living 2/2008).

Married Joseph John Henry Tonks, (1926-1976).
5/1. Lynn Tonks, b. 1951,

married 1971, Alan Spearing.
The supplier of the descendants of George Lister. Lived and worked initially in Willenhall: later moved to Polperro, Cornwall. Died 5/11/2005 after a short illness.
6/1. Simon Spearing, b. 1973, Cyprus

(father in Army). Married Samantha Richardson in 2007 (living Sheffield 2/2008)

6/2. Lisa Spearing, b. 1976,

UK. Married Richard Whitehouse abt 1997 (living Oxford 2/2008).
7/1. Hannah Whitehouse, b 2003
7/2. Sophie Whitehouse, b 2005.

5/2. Deborah Tonks, b. 1962, Willenhall.

Married David Llewellyn in 1986. Living W'ton 2008
6/1. Kyrie Llewellyn[iv] b 1986

(emails 2/2008, supplied the later information).

6/2. Shane Llewellyn, b 1990.

5/3. Stephen Tonks.

4/4. John Lister, b. 1927, married Mary Rushton.

5/1. Stephen Lister.
5/2. Karen Lister.
5/3. Dawn Lister.

4/3. Doris Lister (1930-1980), called Dot

married Frank Green.
5/1. Frank Green.
5/2. John Green.
5/3. Alison Green.
5/4. Roger Green.

4/6. June Lister, b.1935, married Alan Gittins

(d. early 1990's).
5/1. Lorraine Gittins.
5/2. Anthony Gittins.
5/2. Adrian Gittins.
5/4. Maxine Gittins.

3/7. Jacob Lister, b. 1897, married, 1st, Alice Roberts,

2nd, Kathleen Lawless.

3/8. Alice Lister (1900-1940),

married William Fergusson, born 1897, died late 1980's.
4/1. William Fergusson (1920-2000), married Irene Lister

(1920-1980).
5/1. Jennifer Fergusson, b.1950.

3/9. Lillian Lister, b.1903,

died mid 1990's at the Blind Institute, Sedgley, where she had lived for many years, she had been blinded as a little girl by a doctor putting drops in her eyes, the doctor later committed suicide.

2/5. Eliza Lister, b 1857 (some doubt about this one)
2/6. Elizabeth Lister, b 1860
2/7. Naney Lister, b. 1863
2/8. Jacob Lister, b. 1866.
2/9. Abraham Lister, b. 1870
2/10. George Broadfield Lister, b 1874.

Married Julia Blanton
3/1. Fred Lister

4/1. Ivan Frederick Lister

5/1. Dawn Lister, M Mr Jones[v]

2/11. Alice Lister, b. 1876 Bilston
2/12. Eliza Lister, b. 1877, Bilston
2/13. William Lister, b. 1880, Bradley.
2/14. Ada Lister, b. 1881, Willenhall.

Married Samuel Thomas.

2/15. Arthur Lister (1885, Willenhall). 1901 with parents.

1/7. Hannah Miah Lester, ch St Peter’s, Wolverhampton, 7/8/1834[25].

Married John Hastelow, miner of Portobello, Q1 1852, Wolverhampton.
4/1/1852^FMPi, Wolverhampton.
JH, full age, Bach, Miner Berry St., son of William Hastelow, Miner, HL 19, spin, Berry St, dau of Thomas L, Miner.
John Hastelow in Thomas’s will.
Ch 13/12/1829, Chilver Cotton, Nuneaton, of William & Sarah.
John was in Doncaster with Joseph Hastelow, in 1881, a coal miner, while Hannah et al were in Bilston. There seemed to have been a move by some to Yorkshire, when the pits there were opening up: the S Staffs miners were regarded as being experts.
Issue from census’s born in Willenhall.
2/1. John Hastelow, b abt 1853, ch 18/2/1855^FMPi, Willenhall John a miner of Portobello Prob D by 1871, maybe W’ton Q1 1865.
2/2. Thomas Hastelow, b abt 1855, ch 15/6/1856^FMPi Willenhall. Married Emily. In Yorks in 1891, Miner.
2/3. Jacob Hastelow, b 7/2/1858, ch Willenhall 26/1/1862.
Miner, Yorkshire with wife Matilda, 1891.
2/4. George Hastelow, b 6/1859, ch 7/2/1862^FMPi, Willenhall M Harriet (b abt 1861). W’hall in 1891.
2/5. John Hastelow, ch W’hall 29/6/1866^FMPi, of Portobello, Miner.
2/6. Benjamin Hastelow, ch W’hall 29/6/1866^FMPi, D Q3 1866.
2/7. Eliza Hastelow, ch W’hall, 3/11/1872^FMPi, of Portobello,

John a charter master.

Mar William Rudge, coal miner from Tipton, in Yorks in 1891.

1/8. John Lester, ch St Peter’s, Wolverhampton, 28/8/1836[26].

1864-5 Trade Directory, John Lester, Shopkeeper of Portobello.
Married: Q1 1859, Ann Bayley, Reg. W’ton.
1861 Census, Portobello:
John Lister (25, Stone Miner, W'ton), Ann (25, Salop, Trench), William (10mths, Portobello), Charles Foster (23, Stone Miner, Broseley), David Foster (18, SM, Broseley).
1871 Census: Albion St, Willenhall.
John Lester (34, Miner Coal, W'ton), Ann (34, Salop), William John (11, Portobello), George Henry (8, Portobello), Eliza (4, Willenhall), Hannah M (2, Willenhall), Betty Ann (2mths, Willenhall).
1881/91 not found.

Ancestral File shows as descendants of Thomas & Ann Lester: John Lester (1JP7-8M)
Born: Aug 1835 Willenhall, Staffs,
Married: Ann Bailey (1JP7-9S), Q1 1859, Reg. Wolverhampton.
Born: 27 Oct 1836 Nuselsne, Salop.
2/1. Thomas Lester (21P6-D6) AF only, Born: [1859] – not found.
2/2. Mary Ann Lester (21P6-FC) AF Only, Born: [1861] Not found
2/3. William John Lester (1JP7-LC)

Birth Reg Q2 1860^FMPt, W’ton, mother Bayley
Ch: 26/2/1862^FMPi Willenhall of John & Ann, chartermaster of Portobello.

2/4. George Henry Lester (1JP7-MJ)

Birth reg Q4 1862, W’ton, mother Bayley.
Ch Willenhall, 21/10/1866, b 26/9/1862^FMPi, Willenhall, of John & Ann charter-master
Married (AF, not found): Nellie Ward (BBTK-ZX) Born: [1863]

2/5. Abraham Lester ch 21/10/1866, b 28/10/1864^FMPi,

Willenhall of John & Ann, charter master of Willenhall.
With Grandmother Ann Lister, 1881, see under Aunt Eliza above.
Married (AF, no PR): Susie Hilda Mitchel (BBTL-03) Born: [1865]

2/6. Eliza Lester (1JP7-PV)

Born: 26 Sep 1866 Willenhall, Staffs.
Ch 21/10/1866^FMPi, Willenhall with Abraham.
Married: Claude Hamilton (BBTL-18) Born: [1866]

2/7. Myra Hannah Lester (1JP7-Q2)

Hannah Myra ch 27/9/1868^FMPi, of J&A charter-master.
Married (AF only): Alma Hobson (BBTL-2F) Born: [1869]

2/8. Betsy Ann Lester (1JP7-54)

Ch: 2 Feb 1871^FMPi Albion St, Willenhall, Staffs.
None of the following has been confirmed by 2020 records, and may be doubtful!
Married: Jesse Hobson (1JP7-4X)
Born: 8 Aug 1850 Hillhouse, Huddersfield, Yrks.
3/1. Jesse Ver Hobson (52QW-FJ)

Born: 4 Mar 1889 Oxford, Franklin, ID
Married: Annie Sophronia Hadley (62PQ-KG) Born: 19 Sep 1891 Brigham City, B-Elder, UT[27], died 28/12/1923, dau of William Richard & Mary Sylvestia Hadley.
Obituary shows born 4/3/1889, Oxford, Idaho, married 4/6/1915, Idaho, died 7/2/1965, Arizona, Issue: Mrs Glen Bywater, Doris Hanks, Mavis Wrigley, Jess Vaughan Hobson, Clifford James Hobson

3/2. Amelia Ann Hobson (52QW-GP)

Born: 24 Dec 1891 Oxford, Franklin, ID
Married: Thomas Henry Bone (25CB-HH) 25/6/1912, Idaho, a carpenter
Born: 5 Jan 1890 Kaysville, Davis, UT
He died 13/8/1920, of flue (Spanish Flue epidemic).

3/3. Herbert Eugene Hobson (5B66-SF)

Born: 31 Jul 1895 Oxford, Franklin, ID
Married: Hazel Lillian Mcneal (D2VF-62) Born: [1895]

3/4. Alice Gertrude Hobson (52QW-55) Born: LIVING

Married: Robert Leon Paul (25TN-LT) Born: LIVING
4/1. Marjorie Lucille Paul (52QW-B1) Born: LIVING

Married: Raymond Roy Payne (4S4C-CL) Born: LIVING

4/2. Roberta Lorraine Paul (52QW-C6) Born: LIVING

Married: Lyman Weight Rothwell (5HG9-88)
Born: LIVING sp-LIVING (CZ98-NT) Born: LIVING

4/3. Betsy Jean Paul (52QW-3S) Born: LIVING
4/4. Robert Hobson Paul (52QW-DC) Born: LIVING

3/5. John Reynol Hobson (52QW-J2)

Born: 21 Oct 1900 Oxford, Franklin, ID
sp-Roseella Johnson (21P6-3M) 7/3/1922
4/1. Melba A. Hobson (6DGW-WT)

Born: 6 Jan 1923 Oxford, Bannock, ID

4/2. Derril Robert Hobson (6DGW-X1)

4/3. John Harvey Hobson (6DGW-Z6)

Born: 28 Sep 1926 Oxford, Bannock, ID DKMM-WS), d 13/2/1963.

4/4. Rose Ella Lorraine Hobson (6DGX-0B)
4/5. Alton J. Hobson (6DGX-1H)

sp-Betty Joyleen Salvesen (RWQB-J2)

4/6. Leah Hobson (6DGW-HR)

sp-De Wayne Madsen (6DGW-JX)

4/7. Phil Hobson (6DGX-2N)

3/6. Althea Betsey Hobson (52QW-K7), b 9/3/1903, Oxford ID

Married Orson F. Cox, 28/4/1921, Utah

3/7. Edith Eliza Hobson (1S2B-VQ)

Born: 18 Aug 1908 Swan Lake, Bannock, ID
Married: Joseph Gibson Hadley (1S2B-TK), 13/2/1928
Born: 12 Jun 1907 Ogden, Weber, UT
4/1. Kenneth Jay Hadley (5B66-FJ)
4/2. Colleen Hadley (5B66-55)

Married: Robert Lee Worley (5B66-6B)

4/3. Baby Hadley (5B66-GP) B: 10/6/1934 Ogden, Weber.
4/4. Baby Hadley (5B66-HV),B: 26/10/1936 Ogden, Weber.
4/5. Sharen Hadley (5B66-J2) B: 3/2/1938 Ogden, Weber.
4/6. Baby Hadley (5B66-LD) B: 18/6/1946 Ogden, Weber.

1/9. Abraham Lester, born Wolverhampton, ch St Peter’s 11/2/1838^FMPi, miner
1/10. Isaac Lester, ch St Peter’s, W’ton, 24/11/1839^FMPi, a miner.

Bur: 19/8/1840, age 9 mths, of Oxford St[28]

1/11. Jacob Lester, ch St Peter’s W’ton, 4/7/1841^FMPi, Oxford St, Miner.

Married W’ton St Mat, 12/12/1859^FMPi, Jacob Lester, minor, a miner, of Willenhall Rd, Wolverhampton, father Thomas Lister, miner to Elizabeth Wilson, full age, same address, father John Wilson, dcd.
Elizabeth Wilson ch Llanfair Waterdine, Salop, 23/5/1828^FMPi of John & Sarah Wilson.
1861 with parents, Elizabeth not there.
1864-5 Trade Directory, Jacob Lester Grocer of Portobello.
1871 Census, High St, Willenhall:
Jacob Lester (30, Miner & grocer, Bewdley, Stafford), Elizabeth (38, Knighton, Radnor), Emily Jane (5, scholar, Portobello), Mary Elizth (3, Portobello).
1881 Census, Green Hill, Codsall, Staffs:
Emily J Lester (16, housemaid, W'ton). Probably her.
MI of Wood St Cemetery, Willenhall:
"Jacob Lester of Portobello, who died July 15 1874. Age 33 years. Also Mary Elizabeth daughter of the above Jacob and Elizabeth Lester Who departed this life May 17 1879 aged 11 years and 6 months."
Issue of Jacob & Elizabeth Lester:
2/1. Emily Jane Lester, born abt 1866, Portobello.
2/2. Mary Elizabeth Lester, born abt Dec 1867, died 17/5/1879.

1/12. Martha Lester, ch St George, Wolverhampton, 19/10/1843^FMPi,

miner of Oxford St, probably born about 2/1843, with a late baptism.
Martha Lester bur St George’s, 29/10/1843^FMPi aged 9 months, of Oxford St[29]

1/13. Sarah Lester, ch St Peter’s, 25/5/1845, Oxford St Miner[30].

Bur 1/6/1845^FMPi W’ton, St George age 3 months, of Portobello.

Probably son of Thomas & Eliza Lister, b 1813 Wolverhampton:
1851 census 51, Green Lane Wolverhampton (eastern):
Thomas Lister, (38, Miner), Eliza (38), William (Miner, 9), Martha (6), Charles (4), ?? (son, 2), Samuel (7mths). All b W’ton.

1891 Census, 39 Chapel St, Wolverhampton, all b W’ton:
Samuel Lester (43, Coal Miner), Mary (45), Richard (20, Tool Fitter) Mary A (15), Rosanna (13), Harriet (10), Samuel (8), Arthur (3).

TIMOTHY ROPER - 1783

AM07/27

2020
The father of Martha Roper. His and his wife's origins are very uncertain. The best alternative is listed below. There are effectively 2 groups of his children, the earlier christened in the established church, the latter christened as Baptists. It is assumed that they were of the same parents. Son William had 2 children baptised as non conformists

IGI/PR alternatives, (A) is the more likely, (B) would be very young at marriage.
(A) Ch: 19/1/1783 @ St Leonard, Broseley. (PR)
Parents: Timothy & Elis. (Tim = Elizabeth Kidson 3/10/1775 Barrow)

(B) ch: 3/10/1790, Broseley of Timothy & Sarah Roper.

Died: before 11/1848 (Martha's marriage), nothing found, so probably before 1837, although possibly Wolverhampton XVII 257 1840 Q4.

A Sarah Roper aged 12 was a servant to Esther Lister, aged 60, in Broseley House Green in 1841.

1838 Tithe: Timothy Roper renting from Benjamin Leadbeater, House & Garden ref 93f 0/0/5.

Married: Mary Morris, 14/12/1807 @ St Leonard, Broseley
(PR chkd, nothing more shown).

MARY MORRIS

AM07/28

Alternatives, A is more probable from the children’s names. Morris is a common Welsh name, and there are many in the area

(A): Ch: 2/3/1788, Broseley (PR) (more likely due mother's name and her daughter & granddaughters & father’s name & son Samuel)

Parents: Samuel & Martha (Evans) Morris.

(B): Ch: 20/8/1786, Broseley, at Linley, (PR)

Parents: Henry & Hannah Morris.

Issue of Timothy Roper & Mary Morris:

It is probable that these are all the same family, who became Baptists in mid life. He is described as a collier in all but John's record, daughters called Martha run through sons daughters.
1/1. William Roper, ch St Leonard, Broseley, 23/4/1809^PR.

Married, Dawley Magna, 11/12/1831^FMPi, Sarah Bates, both OTP & B&S.
1841 Census, Cannon St, W'ton, a possibility:
William Roper (30, moulder, N), Sarah (30, N), John (8, N), Martha (1, Y)., informant at nephew Timothy’s DC
2/1. John Roper born 22/12/1832, of “Wood” ch 18/8/1833, Broseley non conformists.
2/2. Martha Ann Roper b Hockley, Broseley 12/5/1836 NC.
2/3. Martha Ann Roper, B reg. W’ton Q3 1839, mother Bates.

1/2. Samuel Roper, ch 6/6/1813, St Leonard, Broseley.

Married, 28/9/1834^FMPi, Samuel Roper & Elizabeth Hartshorne?, B&S, Broseley, OTP, witnesses William & Sarah (brother)
1841 Census, Canon St, Wolverhampton:
Samuel Roper (27, Forge-man, Y), Elizabeth (27, Y), Mary (6, Y), Martha (2, Y).
1851 Census: Kimberworth, Yorkshire.
Samuel Roper (37, Mill Furnaceman, Bradley, Shropshire), Elizabeth (37, Benton), Martha (11, Scholar, W’ton), Timothy (7, W’ton), William (4, West Bromwich), Samuel (2, West Bromwich).
1861 Census, 77 Midland Rd, Kimberworth:
Samuel Roper (47, Mill furnace-man, Broseley), Elizabeth (47, Benthall), Timothy (17, Iron Puddler, W’ton), William (14, Iron roller, W Bromwich), Samuel (12, Lab at iron works, W Brom), Charles (9, Scholar, Masbro).
1871 Census: Kimberworth, 62, Foundry St:
Samuel Roper (59, Iron Worker, Broseley), Elizabeth (57, Benthall), William (son, 24, Iron Worker, West Bromwich). Charles (son, 19, Ironworker, Masbro, Yorkshire).
2/1. Mary Roper, b abt 1835
2/2. Martha Roper, b Q3 1839^FMPt, W’ton, mother Heartshorn.
2/3. Timothy Roper, b abt 1840.

ref DC: died 1/11/1840, informant was William Roper.

2/4. Timothy Roper, b abt 1844, poss Q3 1843, W’ton, mother Hodson.
2/5. William Roper, b Q4 1846^FMPt, West Brom, mother Heartshorn.
2/6. Samuel Roper, b abt 1849
2/7. Charles Joel Roper, b Q4 1851, reg Rotherham, mother Hartsone

1/2. Ann Roper, ch St Leonard, Broseley, 1/10/1815 (PR).
1/3. Sarah Roper, ch St Leonard, Broseley, 10/1/1819 (PR).

A possible line from Andrew Hill[vi]
M. Robert Gething (collier) 3/4/1836^FMPi
Robert Gething b 1816 d 1883 married Sarah Roper b 1816 d 1847 on (No 602) 3rd April 1836^FMPi at St Leonard’s Broseley, Shropshire. Both signed X. Witnesses were: John and Charles Smith.

1841 Census Broseley:
Robert (25 coalminer) Sarah (25), Mary Ann (11), Harriet (2)
Ref Andrew Hill of Dudley, 11/2002.

Robert Gething married again after Sarah's death on 16th May 1847 Benthall, Shropshire.
22nd January 1849 at the Parish Church, Benthall. Robert Gething married Diana Harris b 1811 d 7/12/1878 (nee Boden).

2/1. Mary Ann Gething, ch 30/6/1837^FMPi St L Broseley., Rob a collier

M. Alfred Edwards, s of William Edwards, 22/2/1857, Dudley
3/1. Eliza Edwards, M. Luke Garbett 12/7/1884, Dudley.

4/1. Beatrice Alice Garbett, 11/9/1884, Dudley.

Gt Grand son Andrew Hill.

1/4. Martha Roper, ch @ Birch Meadow Baptist Chapel (nc),

Broseley 26/6/1822. (PR)

1/5. John Roper ch @ Birch Meadow Baptist Chapel (nc),

Broseley. 29/7/1825, (PR) #30, Hockley, Broseley.

1/6. Timothy Roper ch @ Birch Meadow Baptist Chapel (nc),

Broseley 22/8/1828. (PR) #30, Broseley.
He appears to vanish.

The Birchmeadow [Strict and Particular] Baptist Chapel was built in 1803 following a split in the Old Baptist Church in Broseley. This engraving shows the chapel as it was built. It ceased to be used for religious worship c.1927

Alternative for Timothy:
Probably too young.
Ch: 3/10/1790 @ St Leonard, Broseley.
Parents: Timothy & Sarah.
Siblings: Charles (2/7/1780), Elizabeth (1/6/1777)??
No Ropers voting 1834.
This may be the Timothy Roper with wife Sarah in Bilston 1851 aged 63, a coal miner born Broseley.
Timothy Roper Married Sarah Danks, Wolverhampton St Peters, 28/6/1813 (IGI).

Also:
1851 Census, Camphill, Wednesbury, Lodgers:
Thomas Roper (60, Brazier Tinman, Broseley), Mary (59, Broseley)
1851 Census, 159 High St, Bilston:
Timothy Roper (63, Coal Miner, Broseley), Sarah (59, Bilston).
Probably Timothy ch 3/10/1790 of Timothy & Sarah

Broseley Birch Meadow Chapel. 17

Particular Baptist. Extracts.
1822 " June 26. Martha, d. of Timothy & Mary Roper, 30, Broseley, Salop.
1825, July 29. John, s. of Timothy & Mary Roper, No. 30, Hockley, Broseley, Salop.
1828 " Aug. 22. Timothy, s. of Timothy & Mary Roper, No. 30, Broseley, Salop.
1831 " Oct. 26. James, s. of Thomas & Maria Roper, No. 58, Broseley, Salop.
1832 " Dec. 22. John, s. of William & Sarah Roper, Wood, Broseley, Salop. Aug. 18, 33.
1832 " Dec. 22. John, s. of William & Sarah Roper, Wood, Broseley, Salop. Aug. 18, 33.
1833 " Oct. 27. William, s. of Thos. & Maria Roper, Ockley, Broseley, Salop.
1835 " Mar. 7. Mary, d. of Samuel & Elizabeth Roper, Cherry Tree Hill, Dawley, Salop.
1829 Mar. 14. Selina, d. of Richard & Mary Lister, Church Street, Broseley, Salop.
1831 " Dec. 23. Fanny, d. of Richard & Mary Lister, nr. Delph, Broseley, Salop

JOHN PALMER

AM07/29

The father of David Palmer:

All that is certain is that he was “J. Palmer, farmer, dcd” in 1843 on David’s marriage certificate, and that censuses etc show that David was born in Enville about 1814; no obvious death of John been found in Shropshire & Staffordshire. On the assumption that “J” is John, the only family that fits is John & Mary Palmer who were in Enville at the time. There is a possible Mary Palmer buried in Enville in 1848. Between 1811-14 (children's births) the parish records show him as a labourer of Four Ashes, which is near Enville.
Four Ashes Hall is a historic house, of 1660 with later additions. From the PR abode information, it is likely that John Palmer was a worker on the estate, probably living in a cottage there[31]. There is also Enville Hall, whose estate marches with 4 Ashes Hall to the north. There is another settlement called 6 Ashes to the north of Enville. Further south, Kinver was on the edge of the industrial area, with a large iron works.

Image result for iron works kinver palmer

   There were 2 possible John Palmers, one born in 1768, the other born in Kinver in 1781. If the John Palmer baptised in Kinver in 1797 was of this couple, then the 1781 date is too late; this latter John was probably married to Susannah Worrall in 1800. However, the John & Mary Palmer having issue between 1797 and 1817 means a long breeding period, although the children are fairly evenly spaced. By the 1851 and 1861 Censuses there were a number of Palmer families in the area local around Enville and Kinver; there was an iron works there in the early part of the 19thC[32], where some of them worked.
    A descendancy from Thomas Palmer (born about 1638 in Highley) can be deduced with reasonable certainty from parish records and a few wills down to John Palmer (1768). They were a wealthy farming family having extensive interests in the area east of the Severn and west of Wombourne and Stourbridge. A few wills clarify the generations around 1750. It would seem that by the time John appeared in 1768, some of the wealth had been diluted!
    There are documents to be examined in the record offices which might reveal more.
   A Mary Palmer was buried at Enville, 12/3/1848 of Tettenhall Work House, aged 74. The fact that she was buried in Enville, rather than Tettenhall indicates a strong connection with Enville. She was probably the wife of John Palmer, in spite of the age difference. She was not at the workhouse in 1841. The workhouse was the Seisdon Union, but in Tettenhall Parish.

    No wills of this immediate family have been found, but some for earlier generations, which permitted the establishment of the family from mid 17^thC onwards.

Origin of the name:
A pilgrim, so called from the palm-branch, which he constantly carried as a pledge of his having been in the Holy Land. 'Here is a holy Palmer come, From Salem first, and last from Rome.' Scott's Marmion.

The following is a the most likely possibility:

John Palmer, ch 29/12/1768^PR, Alveley of William & Ann Palmer.

Alveley is a parish just west of Enville.
The ancestry of this John is shown in a later section and can be traced back into the 17thC with reasonable confidence into a farming family.

This marriage looks to be a possibility, although there is a gap in the births between Kinver and Enville:

John Palmer Married 5 Apr 1795 Mary Stringer @ Saint Mary, Enville, he OTP, she of Kinver.
Mary Stringer dau of Thomas & Margaret ch Bobbington, 24/3/1771^FMPi.
Thomas Stringer M Margaret Richards by Banns Bobbington, 2/4/1762^PR.
Possibility, but looks old:
Thomas Stringer ch Quatt, 11/9/1721, of Roger & Katherine.
Margaret Richards ch Quatt 31/1/1736-7 of Daniel & Elizabeth.

Issue of John Palmer & Mary:

1/1. John Palmer, ch 8/1/1797^PR, @ St Peter, Kinver.

This looks to be correct.
Married, 28/8/1831^FMPi, Mary Pritchard, Claverley, both OTP, by banns.
1851 Census: Swindon, Wombourne:
John Palmer (53 , Ag Lab, Enville), Mary (41, b Claverley), Ann (14, Swindon), James (8, Swindon), Charles (5, Swindon)
1861 Census, Swindon village, Wombourne:
John Palmer (63, Ag Lab, Kinver), Mary, (53, Worfield), James (17, Ag Lab Swindon).
Bur John Palmer, Swindon, aged 84 15 June 1882.
2/1. William Palmer ch 19/9/1831^FMPi, Wombourne, abode ..apstone.
2/2. Mary Palmer, ch 9/2/1834^FMPi, Wombourne of Swindon, Lab.
2/3. Ann Maria Palmer, ch 21/9/1836^FMPi, Wombourne, of Swindon, Lab.
2/4. John Palmer, b 6/7/1839, ch 18/8/1839^FMPi, Wombourne of Swindon, Lab
2/5. James Palmer, ch 12/6/1843^FMPi, Enville, Labourer of Swindon.
2/6. Charles Palmer, B & ch 30/1/1846^FMPi, Wombourne, Lab of Swindon.

@ St Mary, Enville:
1/2. William Palmer, ch 15/5/1803^PR.

was this the one who was a rimlock maker in Willenhall?

1/3. James Palmer, 6/10/1811^PR. (father a Labourer of 4 Ashes)

1851/61 not found.

1/4. David Palmer, 2/10/1814^PR. (Labourer of 4 Ashes)
1/5. Ann Palmer, 16/11/1817^PR, of 4 Ashes. Nil further to 12/1824

Also in Willenhall was William Palmer, the date is right for him to be the William Palmer born in Enville 1803, but his place of birth is consistently Worcester, except for 1841:
Married: William Palmer & Mary Brindley, B&S 15/5/1826 Wolverhampton, both OTP.
1835: Trade Directory of Willenhall: William Palmer, rim lock maker, Stafford Street.
1841 Census, Union St. Willenhall:
William Palmer (35, Lock M, Y), Mary (35, Y), Antony Cassery (10mths, N).
Anthony Cassera, born 1840, bap 9/5/1842, Dudley RC of Charles & Anna Cassera.
1848: Mercy Palmer birth reg Wolverhampton, Q2 1848.
1851 Census, 83 Union St, Willenhall:
William Palmer (50, Locksmith, Worcestershire), Mary (40, Willenhall), Mercy (3, Willenhall).
1851 Wolverhampton Directory, Willenhall Union St:
William Palmer, Iron Rim lock Manufacturer.
1864 Trade Dir: William Palmer, Rimlockmaker, Union St, Willenhall.
1861 Census, Union St, Willenhall:
William Palmer (59, Locksmith, Worcester), Mary (55, Willenhall), Mercy (13, Scholar, Willenhall).
1871 Census, 15 Union St, Willenhall:
William Palmer (70, Rim Lock Maker, Worcester), Mary (65, Willenhall).

Other Palmers of this Era

John Palmer/Paumier Ch:
a) 3/10/1781^FMPi Kinver
Parents: Richard & Mary (PR chkd)
There is no record of a marriage or Richard & Mary, nor is there any plausible birth near Kinver.
The searches in the databases are complicated by the variations in spelling of Palmer.
Issue of Richard & Mary Palmer (IGI, ch Kinver):
1/1. Mary Palmer C: 29 Dec 1776, bur 25/11/1777.
1/2. Thomas Palmer C: 25 Dec 1778^FMPi
1/3. John Paumer C: 3 Oct 1781
1/4. Richard Palmer of Richard & Mary, Kinver 27/6/1784
1/5. James Palmore C: 25 Nov 1787
1/6. Ann Palmer C: 15 May 1791

1841 Census, Kinver:
John Palmer (65, Farmer, no), Hannah (60, yes), John (25, yes) +2 others.

Enville No Palmers 1861 and 1851 (1851 difficult to read).
Several Palmers in Kinver 1851, but none obviously relevant.

John & Susanna Palmer, probably born in 1781:
John Palmer Married 15 Apr 1800^PR Susanna Worrall @ Kinver, both OTP, bachelor & spinster.

1841 Census, Kinver:
John Palmer (60, Milkman, yes), Susannah (60, yes), Richard (20, Roller, yes).

Issue of John Palmer & Susannah:
Ch @ Kinver, Staffs:
1/1. Richard Palmer C: 16 Jan 1803

Married: Mary Quarry, 1/7/1821, Kingswinford, Staffs.
Issue of Richard Palmer & Mary, Ch @ Kinver, Staffs:
2/1. William Palmer C: 21 Oct 1821
2/2. John Palmer C: 23 Nov 1823
2/3. James Palmer C: 20 Mar 1826
2/4. Richard Palmer C: 17 Aug 1828

1/2. Mary Palmer C: 17 Mar 1805
1/3. William Palmer C: 22 Nov 1807
1/4. Harriott Palmer C: 22 Jul 1810
1/5. Ann Palmer C: 22 Jul 1810
1/6. John Palmer C: 27 Sep 1812^FMPi

C61 James St, Kinver:
John Palmer (48, roller of Iron emp 2 men & 4 boys, Kinver), Mary Ann (wf, 45, Gorsty Bank)

1/7. Caroline Palmer C: 6 Feb 1818 Parents: John Palmer & Susan
1/8. Elizabeth Palmer C: 7 Jan 1821

Also:
John Palmer Married 13 Apr 1818 Ann Haverley, Sedgley, Stafford,
John Palmer Married 27 Aug 1804 Ann Steel, Sedgley, Stafford.
Henry Palmer C: 27 Dec 1813 Parents: John Palmer & Susanna Bishops Castle, Shropshire,
Thomas Palmer C: 26 Mar 1815

Richard Palmers:

Richard Palmer C: 4 Apr 1774
Parents; William Palmer & Mary, Kinver, Stafford.

1851 Census, Claverley:
Richard Palmer (77, farmer of 137 acres & 1 lab, Stourport), Catherine (72, Highley), Catherine (37, daughter, Kinver), Catherine (g-dau, 14, Kinver), William (brother, 80, annuitant, Stourbridge).

Richard Palmer C: 8 Sep 1734
Parents: Richard Palmer & Kesiah, Kingsley, Stafford.

Richard Palmer C: 3 Jun 1771
Parents: William Palmer & Ann, Wolverhampton, Stafford.

Richard Palmer C: 29 Nov 1818
Parents: Richard Palmer & Catherine, Kinver, Stafford.

9. * GENERATION 9

THOMAS LYSTER

AM9/99

2020
Ch Broseley 1/11/1747^PR of William & Mary (Traunter) Bradley
The no others Thomas Lister listed between 1735 & 1763, and burials checked.

An alternative would be, but probably too young (16 at marriage): Ch St Leonard, Broseley, 16/1/1763^PR - Parents: Thomas & Mary (Bradley) Lyster

A Thomas Lister owned, rented or let a number of properties in Broseley Tithe 1838.
Edward and John Lister were also property owners 1838.

Married: Anne Farmer, St Leonard, Broseley, 4/5/1779^PR.

ANN FARMER

AM09/100

None found near Broseley, Claverley the nearest.

Issue of Thomas Lyster & Ann Farmer:
1/1. Eleanor Lister, ch @ St Leonard 14/5/1780.
1/2. Sarah Lister, ch @ St Leonard 26/5/1782.
1/3. Elisabeth Lister, ch @ St Leonard 21/11/1784^PR. AM08/50
1/4. Richard Lister, ch @ St Leonard 3/6/1787.
1/5. Abraham Lister, ch @ St Leonard 25/12/1790.

FRANCIS BRADLEY - 1751

AM09/101

2020
The father of John Bradley

This looks the most likely couple: the ages of Francis & Mary Evans look OK. There was an earlier Francis in Benthall, but he seems to have married another Mary earlier, and had an appropriate sequence of children. This Francis may have been married twice, see below.

IGI, most likely sequence:
Ch: 14/7/1751^PR, St Leonard, Broseley
Parents: John & Mary (Bevan).

A Francis Bradley of Broseley buried Barrow, 16/7/1809^FMPi.
Another, more likely, although the age is somewhat different:
Francis Bradley, buried Quakers 3/12/1832 aged 76, of Horsehay, late of Coalport, servant to the Coalbrookdale Co., bur Coalbrookdale 5/12/1832^FMPi.

Married: Mary Evans, 26/5/1772^PR, St Leonard, By Licence.
There were a number of Mary Evans’s about in the right period: it is a common name, so it is not possible to say with any certainty who she was. There were 2 possibilities at Broseley, neither of whom were buried as children:
24/6/1750 of John & Rebecca or,

1/1/1750 of John & Eleanor

Issue of Francis Bradley & Mary Evans, ch @ St Leonard, Broseley, PR:
1/1. Elizabeth Bradley, 19/2/1775
1/2. George Bradley, 3/8/1777.
1/3. John Bradley, 25/10/1778.
1/4. Mary Bradley, 26/3/1780.
1/5. Anne Bradley, 20/5/1782.

1/6. Francis Bradley, 24/10/1784.

A Francis Bradley bur Broseley 10/2/1786.

1/7. William Bradley, 12/9/1786.

The next 7 children to Francis and Mary were probably by a 2^nd Mary: 30 child bearing years seems too long! The possibility is that Mary 1^st was buried 27/8/1788 at St Marys Broseley, and that Francis then married Mary Morris 11/5/1790 at St Leonard. There does not seem to have been another Francis Bradley between 1751 and 1803.

1/8. Elisabeth Bradley, 10/10/1790.
1/9. Anne Bradley, 26/8/1792.
1/10. Sarah Bradley, 13/4/1794.
1/10. Francis Bradley, 3/1/96. (PR - of Fras. & Mary)

A Francis Bradley, House & Garden Broseley Tithe 1838 (938b)

1/11. Jane Bradley, 17/6/98.          PR&IGI
1/12. Mary Bradley, 29/11/1801.       PR
1/13. Maria Bradley, 21/3/1804.       PR

WILLIAM LYSTER - 1750

AM09/103

2020
Ch: 3/1/1750, Barrow, Shropshire
(IGI & PR - at marriage "of Barrow")
Parents: Samuel & Elizabeth (Roden) Lyster

Married: (1) Elizabeth Bradley 16/8/1775, Willey. "William Lister of Barrow, wheelwright, & Elizabeth Bradley, spinster OTP, by sp. licence, wit Juli Forrester & Elizabeth Forrester"

1779: William Lister, of Much Wenlock, wheelwright, had an apprentice Edward Bennet.

(2) Ann Davis, Much Wenlock. 6/2/1780. "William Lister, widower, OTP & Anne Davies, Spinster OTP" - both signed themselves.
Issue: 8 children by 2nd marriage.

ELIZABETH BRADLEY - 1750

AM09/104

2020
Seems the only one of the right age in the area.
Ch: 14/7/1749-50^PR, Benthall.
Parents: Francis & Elizabeth (Darby) Bradley.
Buried: Broseley 7/7/1778^FMPi, by affidavit, so an adult.
Married: William Lyster, 16/8/1775, Willey. (as 1st wife).

Issue of William Lyster & Elizabeth Bradley:
1/1. Ann Lyster, ch Much Wenlock, 5/1/1777^FMPi. AM08/52

Issue of William Lyster & Anne Davies, Much Wenlock.
1/2. Sarah Lyster C: 22 Nov 1780^FMPi
1/3. Elizabeth Hannah Lister C: 13 Mar 1783
1/4. Jane Lister C: 6/11/1785 – bur MW 24/4/1787^FMPi, an infant.
1/5. Mary Jane Lyster C: 1/6/1788^FMPi
1/6. Frances Lyster C: 2/7/1790 – bur MW 9/10/1790^FMPi, an infant.
1/7. Catharine Lyster C: 27 Nov 1791
1/8. Mary Lister C: 11 Apr 1795, prob bur 18/4/1795, an infant
1/9. William Leister C: 20 Sep 1796

TIMOTHY or MICHAEL ROPER

AM09/105

At this time (3/2010 & 6/2019) it has not been possible to narrow down the origins of Timothy Roper born about 1740. Three alternatives are shown below, all of which could originate with Francis Roper:

There appear to be only 3 Timothy Ropers of the right birth date range, all at Broseley.
(A): Ch 15/1/1730 of Timothy & Joyce

Looks a bit old for ours, and probably married Charity Rice, 1755 with issue.

(B) Ch: 3/2/1739-40, Broseley of Tim & Ann Roper.

Timothy ch 1699, son of Timothy & Sarah (Leadbeater) Roper

Timothy ch 1668, son of Francis & Margaret (Rhodes) Roper.

Francis ch 1643, son of Francis & Margaret Roper.

(C): Ch: 17/2/1739-40, Michael & Phebe Roper (PR Transcript)

Michael ch: 3/9/1716, Son of Edward & Sarah Roper

Edward ch 1/1/1681, son of Timothy & Mary Roper.

One of these Timothy Roper’s was probably the Timothy Roper who was a minister to the Bailiff of Broseley in the late 1740’s and 1750’s. An entry of 1748 has Timothy Roper snr & jnr. This makes it probable that this was Timothy (b1705) and his son Timothy (b1730).

Francis Roper, b abt 1615

This is the earliest suitable Francis Roper found.

Francis snr bur Broseley, 25/1/1673-4 (snr to Francis 1643).
Margaret Roper, widow bur Broseley, 4/1/1701-2

Issue of Francis & Margaret Roper:
1/1. Thomas 16390721:
1/2. Anna 16410321
1/3. Francis 2/7/1643.

Margaret Rhodes probably dau of Thomas & Margaret ch Broseley 27/2/1649 (IGI/PR T/Script).
Margaret Roper, wife of Francis, Bur 28/3/1706.
Issue of Francis & Margaret Rhodes:
2/1. Timothy Base son of 16/61668 Francis & Margaret Rhodes

Marriage: 27/2/1693 of Timothy Ropier & Sarah Leadbeater
Issue of Timothy & Sarah:
3/1. William 10/6/1694
3/1. Jane 18/10/1696
3/3. Timothy Roper 2/2/1698-9, AM09/105

One Possibility
Issue of Timothy & Ann Roper (no marriage found):
4/1. Margt Roper, (4/7/1725),
4/2. Anne Roper, (19/4/28),
4/3. Jane Roper, (29/7/30),
4/4. Sarah Roper, (10/12/32),
4/5. William Roper, (2/2/35),
4/6. Elizabeth Roper, (31/8/1737)
4/7. Mary Roper, (31/8/1737),
4/8. Timothy Roper, (3/2/1739-40), AM08/53
4/9. Thomas Roper, (26/6/1743).

3/4. Sarah 12/2/1700-1 NFI

Issue of Francis & Margaret Roper (probably Margaret Rhodes).
2/2. Frances 16/3/1669-1 – NFI
2/3. Joan 6/2/1671-2 NFI
2/4. Edward 2/2/1673-4, of Francis Jnr
2/5. Mary 16810307
2/6. Francis 16811103
2/7. Margaret 16830311, Bur 20/7/1684
2/8. Thomas 16850630
2/9. John 16870208
2/10. Margaret 16890403
2/11. Francis 16911103
2/12. Samuel 16940318

1/4. Margaret 16451230

Married: John Bagnall, 1/5/1672

1/5. John 16500210
1/6. Edward 16521219
1/7. William 16551202 Bur 6/8/1676

Another unidentified Timothy Roper:

Issue of Timothy & Mary:
3/1. John 16701210 Bur 5/4/1678
3/2. Michael 16730413 Bur 11/6/1676
3/3. Mary 16780922, Bur 16790831
3/4. Edward 1/1/1681

Issue of Edward & Sarah (no Mar on IGI):
4/1. Timothy Ropier, 15/4/1705

A possible line, Broseley:
Bur Joyce, wife of Tim 7/4/1742
Marriage of Timothy & Joyce Benbow, Broseley, 28/12/1724.
Issue of Timothy & Joyce roper, Broseley:
5/1. Elizabeth Roper     13/10/1725, poss bur 2/5/1742, dau of Tim
5/2. Mary      Roper     15/10/1727
5/3. Timothy Roper     15/01/1730
5/4. Ann     Roper     02/04/1732
5/5. Michael Roper     18/12/1737
5/6. Francis Roper     03/08/1735

Timothy Roper M Charity Rice, 5/5/1755, Broseley^PR
Note name of 1^st daughter.
Issue of Tim & Charity
6/1. Joyce 23/9/1759, bur 5/2/1763, Broseley dau of Timothy.
6/2. Andrew 11/7/1756.
6/3. Gertrude 5/11/1761, bur 5/2/1763, Broseley dau of Timothy
6/4. Gwenllian 15/1/1764. M John Howells 15/4/1782, Broseley, OTP, Banns
6/5. Charity 11/1/1767, M 20/7/1789, Thomas Ramsel.
6/6. Joyce 2/12/1770

4/2. Francis Ropier, 3/11/1707
4/3. Margarett d. of Edward Roper & Sara 17101227
4/4. Will. s. of Ed Roper & Sarah 17131102
4/5. Michael s. of Ed. Roper & Sara 3/9/1716.

Bur: Michael Roper, Broseley, 9/4/1788.
Issue of Michael & Phebe:
5/1. Timothy Roper 17/02/1740 AM08/53

5/2. Mary Roper 10/04/1743

5/3. John Roper 09/03/1745

5/4. Phebe Roper 06/12/1747

5/5. Susanna Roper 26/08/1750, bur 12/15/1758.

5/6. Michael Roper 19/08/1753, prob bur Broseley 3/1/1771.

5/7. Hannah Roper 29/05/1757

4/6. Mary d. of Ed. Roper & Sarah 17190607
4/7. Ed. s. of Ed. & Sara Roper 17220401

3/5. Francis 16840413

George Ropier, ch Bridgnorth of Robert & Anne Ropier:
Bur George Roper, Barrow, 3/6/1715, a poor old cripple from Linley

Issue of George & Dorothy Ropier, Broseley:
1/1. John 16760406
1/2. George 16780924
1/3. George 3/8/1684
1/4. Elizabeth 2/2/1686-7
1/5. Timothy, of Linley 12/11/1689 – probably not ours.

Bur Timothy Roper, Broseley, 6/4/1720, a poor smith from Linley.

CHARLES KIDSON

AM/9/107

This is a line which fits the dates, although Ditton Priors is quite a way from Barrow & Broseley, but the progression towards Barrow is correct.

Charles Kidson, ch Ditton Priors 25/1/1721 of Tho & Mary.

There were a number of Kidson/Kitson/Kytsons in the area around Ditton Priors, at various parishes along the Corve Dale.
There were no relevant wills found.

Charles Kidson M Elizabeth Knowles, July 1742, Much Wenlock.
He sejourner of Monk Hopton, she OTP by licence.

Charles Kidson buried Monkhopton 2/5/1779^FMPi, of Wenlock.
William & Elizabeth Kidson buried Monkhopton, 4/4/1763.
Elizabeth Kidson (of) Sherlitt, bur Much Wenlock, 16/4/1775 (about a mile SE from MW, a forest).

The only Elizabeth Knowles in the area and era were born in Wolverhampton, Cleobury Mortimer & Worfield.
Cleobury Mortimer ch 1/8/1712 of Stephen & Mary, looks a bit early.

Issue of Charles & Elizabeth Kidson:
1/1. Elizabeth Kitson, ch Barrow 17/3/1745.
1/2. Mary Kidson ch 23/10/1742, Barrow

11. ** GENERATION 11 *

WILLIAM LISTER

AM11/393

2020.
The only ch of a William Lester found was in Wombourne, 4/7/1689 of Mary Lester, which does not look very likely.

Issue of William & Elizabeth:
1/1. William Lister, ch Broseley 6/8/1716 of William & Elizabeth:
1/2. Michael Lister, 20/5/1722
1/3. Elizabeth Lister 11/11/1723
1/4. Jane Lister 1/5/1726.
No marriage of William & Elizabeth found.

AM12/785:

Several John's, none very convincing.
1. ch 14/11/1686, ex Samuel & Rosamund, Broseley. PR
2. ch 29/5/1692, ex John & Catherine, Broseley. PR

Issue of John & Eleanor, no marriage found.

Other Listers at Broseley:

Thomas Lister
ch 29/5/1635, St Leonard’s, Bridgnorth (Broseley?).
Parents: Charles & Elizabeth
Siblings: John (10/5/1643)

Samuel Lister
ch 16/11/1656, Broseley (PR)
Parents: Thomas & Isabel
Siblings: Eliz. (12/12/1652 PR), Edward (15/10/1654 PR), Rosamund (6/2/1659 PR), Richard (30/9/1660 PR), Anne (26/11/1663 PR), Mary (18/11/66 PR)

Samuel Lyster married Rosamund Roberts 30/9/1683^PR, Broseley.

MORRIS BRADLEY - 1679

AM11/401

2020
(AF 1LJC-VW)
Ch: 31/8/1679^PR, Broseley (Maurice on bth) PR.
Parents: Thomas & Alice Bradley.
Bur: Broseley 11/7/1713 – the only one listed in the era.
An Elizabeth Bradley, widow buried at Benthall 3/1/1716.
Married: Elizabeth Rogers, 15/5/1709^FMPi, Broseley.
Many Elizabeth Rogers' on PR – nearest Tong, 29/9/1681 of Thomas & Elizabeth on FMP.
Issue:
1/1. John Bradley, (1/3/1710),
1/2. Mary Bradley, (20/1/1712).

THOMAS BEVAN

AM11/403

2020
This looks to be the most probable:
Ch Broseley, 13/5/1690^FMPi
Parents: Richard & Mary Beavan
Bur: Broseley, 28/3/1698^FMPi, Mary wife of Richard
No further info on Richard.
Richard Bevan married Ann Mayor, 13/2/1698-9^FMPi, Broseley.

Married????: Elizabeth Clea 14/2/1711-2, Bridgnorth. (no others match).
(Several Elizabeth Clea's at Bitterley, 1668, 1683, 1685).

Issue of Thomas & Elizabeth Beavan:
1/1. Richard Beavan, ch Benthall 24/3/1714^FMPi.
1/2. Mary Bevan, ch Benthall, 5/4/1716. AM10/202
1/3. Martha Beavan, ch Benthall 30/8/1718

1/4. Thomas Beavan, ch Broseley, 12/11/1721^FMPi.

THOMAS LISTER – 1672

AM11/409 or AM12/817

2020.
The father of Samuel Lister, but which family is correct is not known

CH: 27/5/1672 of Humphrey & Elizabeth, Broseley, most probable
Humphrey Married Elizabeth Smith 3/1/1663.

(A) Married Jane Lane, 22/7/1695, Broseley.
Issue of Thomas & Jane at Broseley
Thomas Lister 07/04/1696 Possibly AM11/409

Richard Lister 01/11/1697

Elizabeth Lister 16/11/1701, prob bur 5/9/1715.

William Lister 14/05/1704

Margaret Lister 02/04/1707

Margaret Lister 19/06/1709

Samuel Lister 15/04/1714

It is possible that the Thomas married to Mary was the eldest son of Thomas & Jane: no other suitable Thomas has been found, and Thomas & Mary’s first born daughter was named Jane.
(B) Married Mary – not found.
Bur Mary, wife of Thomas Lister, Broseley 7/2/1733-4^FMPi

Issue of Thomas & Mary at Broseley:
Elizabeth Lister 12/11/1716

Jane Lister 02/08/1719, Prob bur 1/12/1725

Samuel Lister 25/02/1720-1 AM10/205

Thomas Lyster 31/03/1723, Prob bur 20/11/1725

Anne Lister 17/01/1727

Michael Lyster 16/01/1731

Thomas Lister 20/05/1731

Mary Lyster 04/02/1732

John Lyster 16/03/1733-4^FMPi

SAMUEL RODEN - 1685

AM11/411

2020
A Quaker Carpenter, with some association with Abraham Darby, who was at his marriage.

B 15/3/1685, Quaker record, ch Broseley Anglican 24/3/1684-5
Parents: Samuel & Jane Roden.
Died, Broseley Quakers:
Samuel Roden of Coalbrookdale, 19/3/1762, bur 21/3/1762^FMPi.
Ann Roden, wife of Samuel of Coalbrookdale, 31/3/1762, bur 2/4/1762^FMPi.

Married (A) Ann Powel, 26/11/1711, Broseley, Quaker
Daughter of John & Elizabeth Powel of Tockington, Glos. (just north of Bristol)
From an age point of view, this is the most likely.

Issue of Samuel & Ann, Broseley Quaker:
1/1. Grace Roden b. 16/11/1712^FMPi

1/2. Esther Roden b. 19/7/1715

1/3. Sargeant Roden b. 22/11/1717

1/4. Elizabeth Roden b. 6/2/1720

1/5. Jane Roden b. 30/9/1720

Ann Roden was buried as wife of Samuel 16/12/1754, Broseley.

Quaker records on FMP:
Whereas it doth appear by the monthly meeting of the people called Quakers held at Salop that on the 8^th day of the 9^th month 1711 Samuel Roden Carpenter son of Samuel Roden of Broseley in the county of Salop and Ann Powel daughter of John Powel of Tockington in the county of Gloucester, did publickly declare their intention of taking each other in marriage, and whereas by the report of two persons appointed by the said meeting to enquire of the clearness of the said Samuel Roden and Ann Powel from all others, made at the next months meeting of the people aforesaid held at Broseley on the 9^th day of the 10^th month anno domini 1711
There appearing nothing to obstruct the sd marriage we whose names are hereunto subscribed do certifie that on the 26^th day of the 10^th month called December in the year of our lord 1711 They the said Samuel Roden and Ann Powell appeared in a public assembly at the public meeting house in Broseley where Samuel Roden taking Ann Powell by the hand did openly declare that in the presence of Almighty god and before this assembly he took Ann Powell to be his wife and Ann Powell whilst holding Samuel Roden by his hand did mutually promis each other to live together by god’s assistance as husband and wife in love, and faithfulness according to God’s holy ordinance until by death they should be separated or words to that effect.
Witness Abraham Darby, Jone Darby, Thomas Harrison, Mary Langley
Relations: Samuel Roden snr, Peter Smythes, Grace Smythes, Elizabeth Roden, Jane Roden, Rachel Roden, Thomas Roden, Sarah Hughes.

next part: Ann Powel dau of John & Elizabeth Powel of Talkinton, Glos, at Salop meeting and Samuel son of Samuel & Jane Roden of Broseley.

Married (B) Elizabeth Legg 14/7/1708, Broseley, Anglican
Issue of Samuel & Elizabeth, Broseley Anglican:
1/1. Joyce 17090426

1/2. Jane 17110823

1/3. Samuel 17140330

1/4. Elizabeth 8/11/1715

1/5. Mary 1/5/1718

1/6. Samuel 3/6/1720

2 Elizabeth Leggs, either could be the one, no relevant burials or Wills:
ch 10/10/1680 of Richard & Elizabeth, Broseley
ch 14/3/1683 of John & Ann, Broseley.

Samuel Roden ch Broseley of James & Joan, 29/2/1679-80
James Roden married Joan Hoodley, Benthall 24/5/1677.

A number of wills & administrations are on file, but none seem relevant: they relate to a yeoman family at Kemberton & Sutton Maddock at the turn of the 17-18thC.

FRANCIS BRADLEY - 1680

AM11/413

2020
ch: 19/9/1680^FMPi, Benthall - best bet.
Parents: William Stanyer & Mary Bradley. No marriage found.
PR seems as though the parents were not married.
Married: Jane (from children's Bapt), no marriage found.
This is probably this couple:
Buried Benthall, Jane Bradley wife of Francis 31/10/1734
Buried Benthall, Francis Bradley 3/12/1736

Issue IGI/PR of Francis & Jane:
1/1. Margery Bradley, ch Benthall, 21/4/1706^PR.
1/2. Mary Bradley, ch Benthall, 30/5/1708^PR.
1/3. Elizabeth Bradley, ch Benthall, 14/2/1711^PR
1/4. Jane Bradley, ch Benthall, 30/8/1713^PR.
1/5. Francis Bradley, ch Benthall, 22/5/1716. AM10/207
1/6. Larans Bradley, ch Benthall, 23/2/1718^PR.

Probably married Sarah, issue, inter alia:
2/1. William Bradley, 14/4/1751^PR
2/2. Mary Bradley, 29/2/1756^PR.

1/7. Martha Bradley, ch Benthall, 24/4/1720^PR.
1/8. Joyce Bradley, ch Benthall, 28/4/1723^PR.
1/9. Joyce Bradley, ch Benthall, 13/5/1726^PR.

Sarah Bradley, ch Benthall, 3/9/25, dau of Edward & Sarah.

WILLIAM DARBY

AM11/416

2020
There is no indication of his origins, but he may have been the same family as Abraham Derby, who originated in Tipton.

William Darby M Jane Legg, 23/6/1700^FMPi, Broseley
Jane Legg ch Broseley, 17/3/1675-6 of Richard & Jane.
Possible burial: William Darby 17/1/1722-3, Broseley

Issue of William & Jane Darby.
1/1. Ann Darby, ch Broseley 18/2/1710-1^FMPi
1/2. Mary Darby, ch Broseley 18/4/1714^FMPi
1/3. Mary Darby, ch Broseley 13/5/1708, bur 4/2/1711-2, Broseley.
1/4. Thomas Darby, ch Broseley 22/12/1700
1/5. William Darby, ch Broseley 3/5/1705-6^FMPi.
1/6. Jane Darby, ch Broseley 18/4/1703^FMPi.
1/7. Elizabeth Darby, ch 30/3/1718, Broseley.

It is possible that this was one of the same family as Abraham Darby, ironmaster at Coalbrookdale, and Abraham the Elder was born at Woodsetton, just north of Dudley, and close to Tipton, but there is no Elizabeth listed.

The family of Abraham Darby is recorded in the Shropshire Quaker records, but does not seem to have had an Elizabeth.

This looks unlikely, too far away.
William ch 5/12/97 ex Thomas & Sarah Alveley, Shrops.
Siblings: Thomas (22/12/1700), Jane (18/4/1703), William (3/3/06), Mary (13/5/08), Anne (18/2/11), Mary (18/4/1714).
IGI has:

Thomas Darby marrying Sarah 1696 Alveley – not found on LDS or Findmypast – the only one being Thomas marrying Sarah Hipkice, Tipton, 3/7/1695.

Thomas ch Much Wenlock 1/11/1644 of John & Mary.

JOHN KIDSON - 1667

AM11/425

2020
Ch. 19/2/1666-7, Monkhopton
Parents: Richard & Mary Kidson.
Married: at Culmington, John Kidson & Mary Hughes 24/2/1684 He of Monkhopton, She of Hopesay.
Hopesay is a small parish just west of Craven Arms, Culmington is on the River Corve, north of Ludlow.

Mary Hughes was probably baptised 9/4/1667^FMPi, of John Hughes & Ann, Clunbury, which adjoins Hopesay.

No further information on Richard & Mary. There were other Kidsons at parishes more towards Bridgnorth, but without further evidence one cannot go further back. Hughes’s too numerous to be definite.

Issue of John & Mary Kidson, Monkhopton:
1/1. Thomas Kidson 15/2/1685

1/2. Richard Kidson 8/3/1687

1/3. John Kidson 6/5/1690

1/4. Thomas Kidson 16/3/1692
1/5. Charles Kidson 23/3/1695

1/6. Edward Kidson 6/3/1700

Married Anne Lancaster, 18/5/1719^FMPi, Monkhopton, by banns.

JOHN WILLIAMS

AM11/427

2020
No suitable births or marriage for John & Margaret Williams, a very common Welsh name!

Issue of John & Margaret Williams:

1/1. Mary Williams 9/6/1689^FMPi Rushbury

1/2. Anne Williams 1/11691-2^FMPi Rushbury

1/3. Charles Williams 16861201 Rushbury

1/4. Elizabeth Williams 16861201 Rushbury

These Eaton is adjacent to Rushbury. These are of John & Margaret Williams, but Martha’s baptism is too close to Charles & Elizabeth, so may not be the same parents.
1/5. Martha Williams 16860726 Eaton under Heywood

1/6. Margaret Williams 16981218 Eaton under Heywood

1/7. Catherine Williams 23/3/1700-1 Eaton under Heywood

Also of a John & Margaret, but probably not the same ones:
John Williams 16910401 Bridgnorth

15. HUGHES FAMILY

They were farmers of The Lea, Wrockwardine, near Wellington, Shropshire, several generations mention the hamlet name.
Like other families, some of them moved to the Black Country. The Watling Street (A5) ran on the south side of the parish, but the area is now dominated by the M54.

A sketch of Lea in about 1833 done by Revd Edward Pryce Owen is in the Shropshire Archives, ref 6001/201 P38.

“Lea, Wellington, Salop. From this place Charlton castle was supplied with spring water”.

Wrockwardine Wood

JOHN HUGHES - 1767

AM07/31

From Shropshire PR printed, and original:
John, s of John of the Lea and Mary, bap 20/4/1767, Wrockwardine.

   The fact that he was "of the Lea" makes this the most likely candidate, and the age is similar to that from 1841 Census (due to the rounding of ages, he could have been as much as 79 in 1841), although does not agree with the 1851 and d/c and burial figures which give a birth about 1762-3, perhaps he was baptised late or got his age wrong – he was illiterate at marriage.
   The father of Hannah Hughes, he was a farmer at The Lea, Wrockwardine, near Wellington, Shropshire. He rented just over 21 acres (about 8 ha) from the Duke of Cleveland in Charlton township, astride the Watling Street (A5).
   A John Hughes also owned 2 cottages in Wrockwardine which were rented to John Hall: it is assumed that this was our John Hughes. He died in Bilston, where he must have been visiting or living with family. By 1851, there appeared to be only one Hughes family in Wellington/Wrockwardine (Edward, b. 1802).

Alternative: Jn Hughes C: 1 Jan 1762
Father: Wm Hughes, Wellington, Shropshire, Mother: Judith
This John buried 5/12/1768, Wellington, son of William.

Buried Wrockwardine: 8/4/1851 aged 89.
("Died Bilston, but his usual abode till the last 9 days of his life was the Lea in this parish.")
Death Cert: died 4/4/1851 at New Village, Bilston, aged 89, formerly farmer, informant Thomas Lloyd of New Village, Bilston (his son-in-law).

1841 Census, Charlton, Wrockwardine, all b salop:
John Hughes (hd, 75 farmer), Ann (68), Mary (35), Elizabeth (25), Martha (25), John (24), Charles (15), Margaret (5).
Margaret Hughes ch Wrockwardine, 8/7/1837 of Mary of the Lea

1851 Census: with the Lloyds, aged 89.
   Lodging with Thomas & Martha in 1851 were William Adams (spelling?) aged 57 and Elizabeth Adams, a widow of 23. No indication if they were related.

Married at Wrockwardine: John Hughes bachelor OTP married Anne Davies of Holy Cross, Shrewsbury, spinster, 22/1/1806^FMPi, licence shows them both 21^FMPi and upwards.

ANN DAVIES

There are several Ann Davis’s baptised in Shrewsbury about the right period, but it is difficult to know which one; none of them quite agree with her quoted age at death. The age at marriage puts the latest birth date as 1785.
Both the examples shown here seem old, but agree with age at death, which implies born about 1774-5.

1. Ch 6/8/1775^FMPi, St Julian Shrewsbury, of Morgan & Ann, labourer.
2. Ann, dau of Thomas & Marg't b 11/7/1777, ch 15/8. St Chad, Shrewsbury.

Died: Ann Hughes of Lea bur Wrockwardine 23/1/1842 aged 67.
D/C: died 17/1/1842 at The Lea, age 68, wife of John Hughes, labourer, abscess of liver, informant Martha Hughes (her mark) of the Lea.

Issue of John & Ann Hughes:
(only Ann found on IGI: 2/2001, were the rest in Wellington - not on IGI - not found on Wellington PR either)
1/1. Mary Hughes, 1806
1/2. Elizabeth Hughes, 1816, no birth found.
1/3. Martha Hughes, 1812-6 – no birth found.

(Census's 41 & 51, if same person, disagree) None found 1861 – too many.
Ref Census, married Thomas Lloyd,
Married, Wrockwardine, 17/8/1842, Thomas Lloyd, Labourer of the Lea, father John Lloyd, labourer, Martha of The Lea, father John a farmer, both full age B&S.
1851 Census, New Village, Bilston:
Thomas Lloyd (45, Labourer in Iron Works, Numtage), Martha (39, Salop, Oswestry), Amey (7, Lear, Salop), Thomas (4, Lear), Eliza (grand dau? 1, Lear), William Adams?? (lodger, 57, Blacksmith, N/Known), Elizabeth Adams?? (widow, 23, N/K), John Hughes (lodger, widower, 89, Lear).
Lear presumable = Lea
Not found 1861.
Issue:
2/1. Amey Lloyd, ch (as Ann) 3/3/1844^FMPi of Lea, Tom a labourer.
2/2. Thomas Lloyd, ch 6/9/1846^FMPi of Lea, Tom a labourer.
2/3. Eliza Lloyd, b. Q2 1850^FMPi, reg Madeley, mother Davies, b. Lea.

1/4. John Hughes, 1817 (age from C41 - unreliable?).

John Hughes of Lea bur Wrockwardine, 5/11/1843 aged 34
Son of John & Mary, ch 9/7/1809.

1/5. Ann (Hannah) Hughes, 7/5/1820, Wrockwardine.

QR441/172 1854 Q3 – John Hughes, deceased, Wrockwardine, inqstn.
John Hughes of Wrockwardine, died 10 May 1855 of mortal scalds. Coroner’s court, with jury.

1842/Q3, QR383/156 Martha Hughes, spin, Wrockwardine, recognizance
(summons to appear before the ¼ sessions as witness).
24/6/1842, Martha Hughes of Overley Hill, Wrockwardine, spinster, assigns £50, to appear at next sessions at Shrewsbury, to prefer a bill of Indictment against Elizabeth Haywood, wife of Thomas Haywood of Uckington, labourer, for stealing a gown, her property.

Tithe Apportionments:

Charlton township, Wrockwardine Parish (#69), 1838:
Hughes, John (Lea) 21-0-32 acres of mixed pasture, meadow & arable, rented from Duke of Cleveland.
109, Far Bank & Old House Meadow - Meadow, 3-1-24
116, Cottage Garden, 0-3-7
117, Croft - Pasture, 0-0-22
118, Sidelong Piece, - Pasture, 0-2-36
119, Sidelong Piece, - Arable, 0-2-36
120, Far Leasow, - Meadow, 2-1-16
122, Saw Pit Leasow - Arable, 1-2-0
129, Clover Leasow - Arable, 3-1-4
130, Hill Leasow - Arable, 4-2-11
133, Sheep Leasow - Arable, 1-3-1
133a, Patch - Arable, 0-1-1

Leasow = pasture.

This holding was on either side of the Watling St (A5) London to Shrewsbury Rd, a few hundred yards east of the cross road between the A5 and the side road to Charlton hamlet.

The site was visited by A Maitland March 2005. The line of the Watling Street road is unchanged from that shown on the tithe map. The area where John Hughes' holdings lay is shown as having a small loop track to the North of the main road, with some buildings on it. This track has disappeared, although there is a trace of it in a depression in the field and a couple of Oaks beside it. The immediate area has been greatly changed by the building of the M54 just South of the holding area. It seems probable that the main farm to the west, between the Lea and Charlton has grown and taken in the surrounding land and buildings.

Hughes, John (Ocuby Hill???), Croft, 2-0-2 acres arable.

Wrockwardine township:
Hughes, John 2 cottages rented to John Hall.

1851 Census: no sign of John & family.
1851 Census, Bealton:
Edward Hughes (49, Ag Lab, Dudley? Staffs) Mary (40, Ercal), Frances (8, W'dine), John (5, W'dine), Beth (1, W'dine).

Miscellaneous references:

Census 41, Mossey Green, Wellington:
John Hughes (Labourer, 60), Elizabeth (50)
           Overley Hill:
John Hughes (65), Mary (65).

Other Hughes Found:
Burials @ Wrockwardine:
Hughes      Roseanna      18340812 of Wrockwardine age 28
                  (Thomas & Roseanna parents in Wellington 1829)
Hughes      Phillip       18290123 of Wellington
Hughes      John          18240905 of P. House, age 100
Hughes      John          18491130 of Broomfield age 75
Hughes      Harriet       18501106 of Bratton aged 3

There were also a number of Hughes' found in the 1841 Wellington township Census. Also found in the Tithe records:
Ketley, Wellington:
Elizabeth Hughes, House & Gdn from Duke of Sutherland.
Wellington Township, both near New St:
Mary Hughes, 12 houses - tenanted.
Eleanor Hughes, 2 houses to Enoch & Thomas Hughes.
John Hughes, tenant of William Lawley.

----------------------------------------------------------------************************* GENERATION 8 ************************
----------------------------------------------------------------

From Ancestry.com PR online & IGI: Wrockwardine Also PR transcription.
Probable sequence (11/2003):

JOHN HUGHES - 1737

AM/08/61

Born: 18/4/1737, Wrockwardine,
Parents: John & Mary Hughes, "of the Lea" – she probably Shephard (PR Printed).

Bur: John Hughes, 5/9/1824^FMPi aged 100, Wrockwardine of the Poor House.
Bur: Mary Hughes, 9/7/1819^FMPi aged 90, Wrockwardine of the Poor House.

P316/L/8/19 Apr 27,1763 (Settlement examinations)

Examination of John Hughes, Wheelwright, 14yrs ago Apprentice to Jn Onions, Uppington, wheelwright, after 1 yr moved with Master to Aston, Wellington, after 5yrs they moved to Wroxeter. 5yrs ago hired as servant to Wm. Edwards, Watling St. Wellington, wheelwright.

Married St Julian’s Shrewsbury (PR transcript):
26/1/1762: John Hughes of Wrockwardine, Wheelwright, Bachelor & Mary Roberts OTP, Spin, by licence.

MARY ROBERTS

There are a several alternatives born in Shrewsbury, without more information, it is not possible to choose, although the last mentioned is probably the correct one, being the same parish where she was married. There are no suitable wills listed.

(A) ch 17/6/1738 of Philip & Martha, St Chad’s
(B) ch 13/1/1739-40 of Thomas & Elizabeth St Mary’s
(C) ch 24/4/1739 of David & Mary, St Julian’s

Issue (Wrockwardine, Shropshire) - all PR:
1/1. John of J&M (privately) bap 7/3/1763 & bur 23/3/1763

(IGI & Acom)

1/2. Alice Hughes C: 1 Jul 1764^FMPi (IGI & A.com)
1/3. John Hughes, s of John of the Lea and Mary, bap 20/4/1767.

(IGI & Acom)

1/4. William Hughes C: 6 Oct 1769^FMPi (IGI & A.com)
1/5. Mary of J&M ch 21/5/1772, bur 16/2/1778 age 5 (IGI & Acom)
1/6. Martha Hughes C: 19/6/1775 (IGI & A.com)

Also on Acom:
1/7. Thomas, s of J&M ch 31/12/1780 Wrockwardine PR
1/8. Ann d of J&M bur 31/12/1799 Wrockwardine PR.

----------------------------------------------------------------************************* GENERATION 9 *************************
----------------------------------------------------------------

JOHN HUGHES - 1712

Gen 9:

Born: 23/8/1712^FMPi, Wrockwardine. (IGI & Acom) PR
Parents: Edward & Alice (Pearce) Hughes, "Tayler of the Lea"

Prob Salop 23/9/1761 of Wrockwardine <£20, admon husbandman to Mary Hughes widow & relict. Died abt 7/1761. No burial found.

Married, Wrockwardine, John Hughes, OTP & Mary Shephard of Wellington, mar 16/4/1732^PR.

MARY SHEPHARD - 1713

Ch: 13 Dec 1713 Wellington, IGI PR
Father: Richard & Sara Sheapard
No burial found. To 1810

Issue, Wrockwardine, Shropshire (All on PR transcript and Findmypast):
1/1. Alice d of J&M of the Lea, ch 5/6/1734 (IGI & Acom)
1/2. Mary of J&M ch 9/1/1735/6 (IGI & Acom)
1/3. John s of J&M of the Lea, ch 18/4/1737 (IGI & Acom)
1/4. Thomas s of J&M, ch 4/6/1738, prob bur 9/6/1749

(IGI & Acom)

1/5. William, s of J&M, ch 3/5/1741, Prob bur 17/12/1743

(IGI & Acom)

1/6. Edward, s of J&M ch 26/5/1745, bur 14/6/1746 (IGI & Acom)
1/7. Edward Hughes C: 5 Nov 1751 (IGI & A.com)

IGI Other alternatives:
Mary SHEPHERD C: 23 May 1714
Father: John SHEPHERD Deuxhill And Glazeley, Mother: Elizabeth
Mary SHEPHERD C: 9 Jun 1712
Mother: Mary SHEPHERD Quatt Malvern, Shropshire,
Mary SHEPHERD C: 29 Dec 1708
Father: John SHEPHERD Ditton Priors, Shropshire, Mother: Mary

----------------------------------------------------------------************************* GENERATION 10 ************************
----------------------------------------------------------------

EDWARD HUGHES - 1674

Gen 10:

Ch: 9/1/1673-4^PR, Wrockwardine
Parents: John & Judith (Bartlom) Hughes.
The only one on record.

Probable:
Edward Hughes of the Lea, bur 12/12/1737 (PR Transcript)

Administration: Probate Salop 28/4/1738^FMPdl of Wrockwardine, Inv £4/10/0. to son John Hughes.

Inventory of Edward Hughes of Rockwardine
Appraised by George Smith & Thomas Ffelton 28/4/1738
One Cow                                         £2/0/0
The Goods in the House Place                   £0/15/0
Goods in the Chamber one bed & other things     £1/5/0
and over the house a very old bed               £0/10/0
                                                £4/10/0

Edward Hughes of the Lea, tayler, and Alice dau of John Pearse? of the Brook m. 12/5/1708^FMPi.

ALICE PEARSE - 1672

Ch: 12/1/1671-2, WrockwardineError! Bookmark not defined..
Parents: John & Jane (Jones) Pearce
Alice wife of Edward Hughes of the Lea, bur Wrockwardine 20/11/1725

Issue, Wrockwardine, the only recorded child:
1/1. John, s of Edward of the Lea, taylor, bap 23/8/1712^PR

RICHARD SHEPHARD

(Shephard spelling unified!)
Ch: 24/10/1684, Wellington PR
Parents: William & Jane (Owen) Shephard

Married: Sarah Degg, Wellington 10/9/1710^FMPi B(anns) Both OTP.
Nothing further on her, although Ann Degg ch Wellington of John, 28/5/1707, and a James & Ann were having children in the 1670’s & 80’s, so she might have been a child of them.

Sarah, wife of Richard Bur 23/9/1747, Wellington
Richard bur 20/10/1747 pauper

Issue, Wellington:
1/1. Bur Sarah 9/6/1716F^MPi dau of Richard
1/2. Mary Shephard, ch 13/12/1713^FMPi.
1/3. Joan 26/5/1716^FMPi of Richard, bur Joan 5/3/1721^FMPi of Richard
1/4. Thomas Sheapard C: 6 Mar 1719-20^FMPi of R & S

----------------------------------------------------------------************************* GENERATION 11 ************************
----------------------------------------------------------------

JOHN HUGHES

Gen 11:

No plausible birth found, both his and Judith’s would have been in the disturbed time around 1640.

This is shown on the Findmypast index, but with no reference to an image: the PR image for this time does not show this entry.
John Hughes & Judith Bartlom, m 16/7/1658^FMPi, Wrockwardine.

Issue, Wrockwardine, (Acom):
1/1. John Hughes, son of John bap 4/4/1662
1/2. David, s of J&J ch 30/5/1665 (IGI also) PR
1/3. Judith, d of J&J ch 17/9/1667 (IGI also) PR
1/4. Edward s of J&J, ch 9/1/1674 (IGI also) PR
Also on Acom:
John of Aston, bur 1/4/1684 pr

pr: John Hughes of the Wilmore bur 3/12/1660
PR William h bur w 23/12/1669

Possible:
John Hughes Bur Wrockwardine, 31/12/1674

Prob 26/3/1675 Wrockwardine inv 9/3/1674-5, £50/13/4. memo 26/12/1674 John Hughes of the Lea, Wrockwardine, Taylor, bequeathed all to wife, Judith. A verbal will witnessed by Alice Jenks, his nurse.

Inventory of John Hughes[34]
March 7 1674 also 26 March 1675.
Mention of Charlton ref 19thC census’s

Imp. The lease of the house wherein he did live                         £4
The moneys due to the Testator in the hand of Thos Binell of Alscot       £10
In the hand of Roger Mannering of Charlton                              £10
2 Cows                                                                  £6
1 Horse                                                                 £2
12 sheep                                                                £2/10
4 beds with all the things belonging to them                            £6
Brass & Pewter                                                          £4
Trinen Ware                                                             £0/10
Bacon                                                                   £1
Iorne Ware as pott, pothooks and other materyalls belonging to his
oration                                                                 £0/10
Corne and Hay in the house and Barne and in the ground                  £2
Wearing Apparell                                                        £4
All things forgotten                                              £0/3/4

Other Early Hughes:
17/6/1624: William Hughes M Katherine Ashwood. P16
9/5/1638: David Hughes Bur (25)
4/4/1657: David Hughes Bur (32)
16/11/1648: Elizabeth Hughes (28)
1/1/1678-9 Mar Edward Hughes & Dorothy Edwards 51
23/4/1680 Bap Joyce dau of Edward & Dorothy Hughes 54
22/6/1671 Bur Elizabeth Tristram alias Hughes 44
30/12/1616 Bur Nicholas Hughes 12
14/12/1624: Bur Maude Hughes 17
17/6/1651: Bur Walter Hughes 30
17/6/1624: mar William Hughes & Katherine Ashwood 16.
30/3/1656-7: Bur Mary Wife of William Hughes 32
10/4/1657: Bur William Hughes 32
23/12/1669: Bur William Hughes 43

31/12/1799: Bur Ann dau of John Hughes & Mary (255)
12/10/1800: Bap John s of Richard & Mary Hughes (256)
10/1/1808: Bur Sarah, dau of John Hughes & Mary (267)
9/7/1809: Bap John, s of John Hughes & Mary (270)
23/6/1811: Bap John Base son of Mary Hughes (272)
4/8/1811: Mary dau of John Hughes & Mary (272)

15/5/1784: Mar Richard Manwaring b, Mary Hughes. (287)
7/5/1798: Mar Thomas Hughes & Mary Evans (by Thos Oliver, Minister) (294)
21/5/1810: mar John Welch & Mary Hughes (308)
13/11/1803: Mar Thomas Rolands & Mary Hughes (300)

Administration of William Hughes Lichfield 3/4/1661.

JOHN PEARCE

No birth found.
John Pearce of Longlane, bur Wrockwardine, 25/1/1680
John Pearse, of the Lea, pauper, bur 18/1/1715 (Acom)
Katherine Thomas, a servant of John Pearce, bur Wr 4/7/1675

John Pearce & Jane Jones mar Wrockwardine, 12/6/1665^PR

JANE JONES

Ch 13/3/1643-4 Wrockwardine of Thomas.
No plausible marriage of Thomas found.
Jane, wf of John Pearce of the Brooke, bur 3/3/1710-1 pr

Issue of John & Jane Pearce, Wrockwardine:
1/1. Alice Pearce, ch 12/1/1671-2. pr 44
1/2. Mary Pearce, ch 21/5/1669 of J&JP (Acom). Pr p42
1/3. John Pearce, ch 18/5/1666 of J&JP[35]
1/4. Elizabeth, d of John & Jone ch 27/9/1672. pr 45

Ralph Pearce s of John bur 6/3/1678-9 (B 24 Jan of John & Isabel)

Also:
Robert Pearce Bu Wrockwardine, 18/7/1647.
Thomas Pearce of Admaston bur W 27/4/1670.
Ralph Pearce Bur W 21/5/1671.
Anne Pierce of ye Long Lane bur 24/8/1664.

Robert, s of John Pearce of Admaston, yeoman, ch 27/5/1711.
William, s of JP of Alscott, yeoman, ch 5/1/1703

WILLIAM SHEPHERD - 1659

William ch 12/4/1659 of Richard & Anne, Wellington
Died before July 1692.
Richard Shepherd bur Wellington 1/12/1702^FMPi, pauper.
No information on Richard & Ann.
No Shepherd wills found.
Also Jone, dau of Richard & Ann, ch 7/2/1676-5^FMPi

M: 25 May 1681 Jane Owen Wrockwardine, Shropshire PR no further info.

JANE OWEN

None of these look very plausible: Owen is a common Welsh name, so there would have been many around.
Jane OWIN C: 9 May 1661
Father: John OWIN Newport, Shropshire, Mother: Ellen
Jane OWEN C: 3 Sep 1660
Father: Thomas OWEN Lilleshall, Shropshire, Mother: Jane
Jane OWEN C: 9 Jun 1660
Father: Hugh OWEN Saint Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Mother: Mary

Ancestry.com:
Martha, d of Hugh Owen, bur 30/6/1667, St Chad
Hannah, d of Hugh & Margaret Owen, ch 1/10/1657, St Chad
Jane, d of Hugh & Mary, ch 9/6/1660

Issue of William & Jane/Jone: Wellington, Shropshire (IGI):
1/1. Richard Shepherd C: 24 Oct 1684^FMPi
1/2. William Shepherd C: 8 Sep 1682
1/3. Sarah Shepherd C: 24 Jul 1692, posthumous dau of William.

DAVIES FAMILIES of SHREWSBURY

Issue of Thomas & Margaret Davies:
IGI has a number of marriages in Shropshire during the period.

From the children’s dates, the most suitable marriage was:
Margaret Jones, 15/7/1775, Great Ness. IGI only – PR not available on line.

Maria Davies, ch 11/2/1776, St Chad.
Ann Davies, ch 15/8/1777, St Chad.
John Davies, b 21/9/1781, ch 15/10/1781, St Chad, d. 1/4/1786.
Eliz Davies, ch 15/9/1782, St Chad
Willm Davies, ch 9/12/1783, St Chad.
Sarah Davies, b. 9/6/1784, ch 1/8/1784, St Chad
Martha Davis, ch 15/6/1785, St Mary.

James Davies, ch 18/3/1768, Wellington.
Eliz Davies, ch 15/1/1771, Wellington.
Jn Davies, ch 31/5/1776, Wellington.
John Davies, 26/12/1778, Wellington.
Phebe Davies, 10/1/1783, Wellington.

On the IGI the following alternatives are shown, but neither agree with age at burial.

Born (1) C: 16 Jun 1771 B: 20 May 1771
Parents: Thos. & Ann Davies, Saint Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire,

Born (2) C: 22 Jul 1770
Parents: Robert & Mary Davies, Saint Martins, Shropshire,

St Martins: of Robert Davies of the Rock, sawyer, and Mary:

Mary, ch 9/10/1768
Ann, ch 22/7/1770
Robert, b 9/4/1773, ch 17/4/73
Rebecca, b 4/8/1775, ch 13/8/75
Sarah, d of RD Rock, bur 1/12/1780
Robert D, blacksmith, & Mary Boodle, banns, 20/5/1755.
St Chad:
Bur woollen, Thos, d of Robt & Mary b. 17/8/1764, bur 23/9/64.
Robert, s of Robert & Mary, labourer, born 11/4/1780, ch 16/4
Robert, s of Robert Davies, bap 19/1/1767, bur 20/1/1767
Eliz, dau of R&M born 3/8/1770, bur 19/8/1770
Eliz, dau of R&M, born 11/9/1776, bap 6/10/1776
Willm, s of R&M born 28/4/1774., bur 3/2/1781
Geo & William s of R&M born 25/9/1778.

16. Other Lister Information

Apprentices

From Findmypast.

Lister

First name(s) William

Last name Lister

Role Master

Indenture or registration year 1779

Indenture year 1779

Registration year 1780

Place Wenlock

County Shropshire

Apprentice's first name(s) Edward

Apprentice's last name Bennett

Master's first name(s) William

Master's last name Lister

Master's occupation Wheelwright

Master's place Wenlock

Master's county Shropshire

The National Archives reference (IR 1 series) 61 f 81

Society of Genealogists number 208495

Notes

Note apprentice names faint

Record type Records

Record set Britain, Country Apprentices 1710-1808

First name(s) Samuel

Last name Lister

Role Apprentice

Indenture or registration year 1785

Indenture year 1785

Registration year 1785

Place -

County -

Apprentice's first name(s) Samuel

Apprentice's last name Lister

Master's first name(s) Edward

Master's last name Nicholls

Master's occupation Mason

Master's place Madeley

Master's county Shropshire

The National Archives reference (IR 1 series) 63 f 128

Society of Genealogists number 219832

Record type Records

Record set Britain, Country Apprentices 1710-1808

Bradley

London Apprenticeship Abstracts, 1442-1850

First name(s) Lawrence Bradley

Apprentice year 1717

Livery company Blacksmith

Details: Bradley, William son of Lawrence, Broseley, Shropshire, collier to John Baynham 4 Feb 1713/4 <7 Mar 1716/7 turned over to William Nordum, citizen and dyer>, Blacksmiths' Company

Birth county Shropshire

William Bradley

Role Master

Indenture or registration year 1718

Indenture year 1718

Premium £5 .0s 0d

Place Perryfields, Shropshire

Apprentice's first name(s) Thomas Dale

Apprentice's place Perryfields, Shropshire

Apprentice's parent's first name(s) Mary

Master's first name(s) William Master's last name Bradley

Master's occupation Locksmith

Master's place Perryfields Shropshire Country Apprentices 1710-1808

First name(s) William

Last name Bradley

Role Apprentice

Indenture or registration year 1720

Indenture year 1720

Premium £0. 5s 0d

Place Broseley

County Shropshire

Apprentice's first name(s) William

Apprentice's last name Bradley

Apprentice's place Broseley

Apprentice's county Shropshire

Apprentice's parent's first name(s) Edward

Master's first name(s) John

Master's last name Goulden

Master's occupation Ship carpenter

Master's place Broseley

Master's county Shropshire

Palmer

First name(s) William

Last name Palmer

Role Master

Indenture or registration year 1804

Indenture year 1804

Registration year 1804

Place Old Swinford

County Worcestershire

Apprentice's first name(s) Elijah

Apprentice's last name Pagett

Master's first name(s) William

Master's last name Palmer

Master's occupation Leather cutter

Master's place Old Swinford

First name(s) William

Last name Palmer

Role Master

Indenture or registration year 1799

Indenture year 1799

Registration year 1799

Place Oldswinford

County Worcestershire

Apprentice's first name(s) Joshua

Apprentice's last name Coley

Master's first name(s) William

Master's last name Palmer

Master's occupation Cordwainer

Master's place Oldswinford

First name(s) William

Last name Palmer

Role Master

Indenture or registration year 1780

Indenture year 1780

Registration year 1781

Place Ripple

County Worcestershire

Apprentice's first name(s) John

Apprentice's last name Mathews

Master's first name(s) William

Master's last name Palmer

Master's occupation Cordwainer

Master's place Ripple

Master's county Worcestershire

First name(s) William

Last name Palmer

Role Master

Indenture or registration year 1772

Indenture year 1772

Premium £6 .0s 0d

Place Upton upon Severn

County Worcestershire

Apprentice's first name(s) John

Apprentice's last name Davis

Master's first name(s) William

Master's last name Palmer

Master's occupation Cordwainer

Master's place Upton upon Severn

Master's county Worcestershire

Pipe Making in Broseley

Nearby Broseley was the pipe-making capital of the world - well almost. Pipes, for smoking tobacco, were made there from the mid 1500s until the late 1950s. As pipes are regularly dug up there is a big interest in them archaeologically as most were stamped with the makers initials. They are useful for dating purposes so any details on a pipe-maker are most welcome by archaeologists. The pipe-making families of the Severn Gorge inter-married and were very closely knit.

Below is a list of known Bradley pipe-makers:

AB Andrew Bradley       Broseley     c1690 1730
EB Edward Bradley       Bridgnorth   1861 1871       c1854 1871+
EB Elizabeth Bradley    Bridgnorth   1871    +1871+
GB George Bradley       Broseley      C18
GB George Bradley       Broseley     1783 1788       +1783 1788
HB Henry Bradley        Benthall     c1660 1700
IB John Bradley Broseley                C18
IB John Bradley Broseley             1828 1834       +1828 1834+
MB Mary Bradley Bridgnorth           1871    +1871+
RB Richard Bradley      Broseley     1851 1861       +1851 1861+
WB William Bradley      Bridgnorth   1841 1871       c1831 1871+

The Broseley Anti-Felons

By JOHN CRAGG

This article was originally published in the Wilkinson Journals 9 and 11 - 1981&83

(Extracts only, see Full Text)

“The Anti-Felons” was the name by which they were popularly known. Their full title was “The Broseley Association for the Prosecution of Felons”. They were one of many such associations existing in the 18th, 19th and well into the 20th centuries, which originally had the sole purpose of bringing petty criminals to justice. They flourished in the days prior to the compulsory establishment of borough and county police forces.

The Prestwich family were vintners. Early in the 19th century they left Broseley for London where their trade flourished. Joseph Prestwich married Catherine Blakeway in 1809 in Broseley. They had a son Joseph who became Professor of Geology at Oxford and was the author of a well-known work on “The Coalbrookdale Coalfield”. After the departure of the Prestwich family for London their business in Broseley was taken over by the Listers.

At the Anti-Felons’ meeting held on April 20th, 1820, at the Fox Inn, Broseley, a new committee was formed consisting of: Mr. A. Brodie, Mr W. Hazeldine (represented by Mr. Thomson), Mr. W. Fifield, Mr. Thos. Roberts, Mr. Jno. Lister, Mr. Abr. Wyke, Mr. Samuel Roden, Mr. Geo. Hartshorne. Any four of these men could act in conjunction with the Treasurer who had been in office since before 1789.

LISTERS AND BRADLEYS in BROSELEY DIRECTORIES

Pigots & Tibnams, 1822, 1828 & 1835.

Hop and Seed Merchants:
Lister John and Son, Broseley: 1822, 1828 (and wine & spirit),
Lister Thomas, Broseley: 1835

Maltsters
Lister John and Son, Broseley: 1822, 1828
Lister Thomas, Broseley: 1835

Wine & Spirit Merchants
Lister John and Son, Broseley 1822, 1828
Lister Thomas, Broseley: 1835
Thomas Lister, 1841: Wine-merchant, High St, Broseley, aged 40.

Public Houses:
Elephant, John Bradley, Broseley: 1828
Elephant & Castle, Edwd. Lister, Broseley: 1835
Edward Lister 1841: Elephant St, Innkeeper, aged 65.
Spirit Vaults, Thomas Lister, Ironbridge: 1835

Retailers of Beer
Lisseter William, Ironbridge 1835

WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS.
Lister William, Iron bridge: 1828
Lisseter William, Ironbridge: 1835

Surgeons
Lister John Matthews, Broseley 1835

Listers in 1838 Tithe Apportionment:

Davenport, John;
Thomas Lister, 800, Upper Brier Acre, Arable, 5/1/30
               846, Lower Brier Acre, Arable, 5-2-5
Forrester, Lord;
John Lister,    78, Garden, 0-0-13
         300a, House & Garden (H&G), relet to John Brown, 0-0-25
               407, H&G, relet to George Mason
Thomas Lister, 159, Barn Field, Yard, poole
                379a, H&G, Shop, relet to Francis Glaze
                907, Pitch Hirst, Meadow, 5-2-5
Edward Lister, 214, Elephant & Castle PH
                215a, House & Yard, relet to Edward Glover
                215b, Shop, relet to Francis Littlehayes
                215c, Shop, relet to John Fenton.
                327, H&G, relet to Thomas Higginson
                217b, House & Yard, relet to Francis Littlehayes
John Roper      251e, H&G, relet to Lucy Roper
                251f, H&G, relet to George Jones
                251g, H&G, relet to Thomas Farmer
George Bradley 387d, H&G
John Raby       397a, H&G, relet to Samuel Morris
Thomas Morris   548c, H&G
Towing Path Co 767, H&G used as storehouse & Garden, relet to Richard B
Francis Bradley 923b, H&G
Thomas Morris   1071b, H&G

William Gwynn:
Edward Lister   29g, House
Francis Blythe Herries:
Edward Lister   505, Garden in Worf Field
                508, Worf Piece, 1-1-3
                510, Weavers Garden, 2-0-11
                896, toll Gate Piece, 1-3-35
Margaret Lister 691a, H&G
                697, Garden
James Foster    685b, H&G, relet to John Lister

John & Lloyd Lister:
Henry Grove     32, Cottage & Garden

John Lister:
Thomas Haines   89c, House & Yard (H&Y)
William Parsons 89d, H&Y
John Hayman     89e, H&Y
John Dearborn   89f, House
William Davies 91a, H&G
William Cartwright 193d, H&Y, Shop, Stable
Hannah Guest    219, H&G
John Lister     282a, house

Thomas Lister:
Thomas Lister   89g, Warehouse
John Westhay    339b, H&G
Abraham Westhay 339c, H&G

Edward Lister:
William Allison 287c, House
William Hopton, 282b, H&G

John Potts:
Sarah Roper & James Harrison, 42d, H&G
William Roper:
Benjamin Bradley 108d, H&G & Pigsty

Thomas Wilde:
Elizabeth Roper 37f, House
Samuel Morris sen 38d, H&G

Rev Thomas Forrester (Glebe):
Thomas Lister   824, Parson's Piece
Lord Forrester 266b, carthouse, relet to Edward Lister.

Barrow:
Richard Scale: Piece of Land, 3-0-0
Sir John Acton:
Thomas Roper    220, Cottage & Land, Meadow, 0-0-30
                227, Garden, Meadow, 0-0-15
                222, H&G & Croft, 0-2-14

      Mon, 25 Nov 2002 21:24:21 +0000
Andrew Hill[viii].

I began searching my family history about 2 years ago. I knew from people alive and who I can remember some of my ancestors. I remember my Great Grand mother Beatrice Alice Garbett who died in her 90's. I looked her birth up and found:

No 306, 11/9/1884, 5, Fisher Street, Dudley, Beatrice Alice Garbett, Girl, Father, Luke Garbett (Puddler) mother, Eliza Garbett (formerly) Edwards. registered 23/10/1884 by X Eliza Garbett, 5, Fisher Street, Dudley.

I then looked for a marriage for Luke and Eliza.

No 396, 12/7/1884, St John's Church, Dudley,
Luke Garbett, 23, Bachelor, Iron worker, Dudley Port, (father) Benjamin Garbett (deceased) Moulder.
Eliza Edwards, 20, Spin, Fisher Street, Dudley, (father) Alfred Edwards (deceased) Brewer.
X Luke and X Eliza, Witnessed by Daniel and Sarah Ann Smart.

Eliza was around 7 months pregnant and Daniel Smart was the church beadle and Sarah Ann his sister. So unsure if there had been a family rift?

I then looked on the 1881 census to find their parents and where they were living?

Luke Garbett drew a blank and I have not been able to get any further? Luke was probably not his first name. I checked deaths of Benjamin Garbetts before 1881-1863 and only came up with a few that could have been his father, but ages were not supplied on early ones. I have checked Dudley Port, Tipton area parish records and found no Benjamin Garbett with a male son of Lukes age?

Eliza Edwards was living with her parents at 5, Fisher Street, Dudley:
Alfred Edwards,Brewer,49, born, Lanterdine, Hereford.
Mary A. Edwards, wife, 44, born, Broseley, Shropshire.
William Edwards, son, 20, Maltster, un, born Dudley, Worcs.
Alfred Edwards, son, 18, Moulder (mf), un, born Dudley, Worcs.
Eliza Edwards, daugh, 17, un, born Dudley, Worcs.
Harriet Edwards, daugh, 11, un, Scholar, born Dudley, Worcs.
Clara Edwards, daugh, 9, Scholar, born Dudley, Worcs.
Julia Edwards, daugh, 5, Scholar, born Dudley, Worcs.

There was a multitude of Eliza Edwards on G.R.O. in the Dudley area, so to move on quickly I searched, found and got Clara Edwards birth certificate (to get Mary's maiden name)

No 294, 13/10/1871, Court no 8, 30, Castle Street, Dudley, Clara Edwards, girl, father, Frederick Edwards (Inn Keeper, Brewer) mother, Mary Ann Edwards (Gething), registered 9/12/1871 by X Frederick Edwards.

I then looked for a marriage between Frederick and Mary Ann before 1861:

No 118, 22/2/1857 St James Church Dudley,
Alfred Edwards, Full age, Bach, Labourer, Dudley, Father William Edwards (farmer) Mary Ann Gethen, Full age, Spin, Dudley, Father Robert Gethen (miner)
X Alfred X Mary Ann     Witnesses: James Webb, X Elizabeth Webb.

So I knew Mary Ann Gethen, or Gething born about 1837, Father Robert (miner). I went to Shrewsbury Archives and found the baptism:

N0 580, 31/6/1837, St Leonards Broseley, Salop, Mary Ann Gething, parents, Robert (collier) and Sarah Gething, Broseley Hill.

As I have told you I then found Robert Gething and Sarah Ropers Marriage on I.G.I. as a down load. I also saw the 1841 census details.

On the 1861 of Dudley:
Frederick Edwards, 29, Labourer Railway, born Adforton, Hereford.
Mary A. Edwards, 24, Wife, born Broseley, Salop.
Sarah A. Edwards, 3, Daugh, born Dudley, Worcs.
William Henry Edwards, 7 months, son, born Dudley, Worcs.

All ages on the 1841 census of Broseley are all given (not rounded up to the next 5th year)
So Sarah would have been born around 1816. She married Robert on 3/4/1836, aged about 20 and had Mary Ann 30/6/1837.
I know Sarah was christened in 1819 but families often couldn't afford it just after the birth of a child.
Do you know if any other Roper was christened at the same time?
No father was given for Robert or Sarah, on their marriage certificate.

THE WILLENHALL SUPERMAN (George Lister 1832-1905)

(Received from Lynn Spearing about 2011)

Whose amazing coalface feats installed him as King of the Black Country Colliers over 100 years ago

In a recent issue, Mrs. L. Spearing of Wednesfield, asked readers for information about her ancestor, George Lister, of Willenhall. She believed that he had been a noted strongman at the end of the last century, when, apparently, he attracted the nickname of the "Big Hitter".
The tale of this amazing Black Country great of the 19th century has, until now, remained unpublicised. and we are eternally grateful to Heath Town reader, Leonard Muir, for allowing us to borrow a remarkable document, dating from the 1890s, that describes some of George Lister's strongman feats. The hand-written document consists of a large square of card, with a photograph (reproduced right) of the ageing "Big Hitter" mounted at its centre. The scribe who assembled this unique record remains unknown - even though the wording begins, "Dear Reader, I George Lister, born on the 16th August, 1832...", it is believed that the writer's educated and styled hand could not have been that of the 'hard as nails' miner from Willenhall.

Ancestral Links

Mr. Muir has distant ancestral links with the "Big Hitter", who was the great grandfather of his wife. Rose Elizabeth (nee Blunt). She was born six years after his death, in 1905. The document had previously been in the possession of Rose's aunt, Lilly Lister (George's grand-daughter), who lives in Sedgley.
   It appears that George Lister was a man highly proud of his strength, and, in particular his ability to work harder and longer than any other man - in his job as a collier. He was obviously well-known throughout the Black Country and beyond, as he worked at a number of collieries, on a freelance basis. Often wagers were staked on his ability to cut further into a seam than another powerful grafter, or, even, a gang of men. As the photograph shows, George was a stout, hard-featured fellow, and he must have won much more money than he lost in these gruelling encounters!
   Born in Broseley, Shropshire, he moved with his family to Willenhall at an early age. It is stated at the beginning of the document, "I cannot boast of my own strength, but of God who enabled me by his Almighty power to do the following work..." The first feat recorded took place in 1850, when he was 18 years of age - "In Sparrow's Field I did twenty and a half days work in one week". In this and following statements he was obviously comparing his workrate to that normally expected.
   A similar feat was recorded for the year 1851, in Badger’s Field, for Charles Simms. The fields referred to would have been the site of the coal-workings.
   Ten years later, in 1861, “At Tividale, for W. Rounds, three and a half days holing in one day”. In 1862, “In Priestfield, for John Easilow, 21 ½ yards and six inches in one day”.
   During this period other similar feats were recorded at The Junction (for Messrs Willetts), at Lums in Lancashire, at Bilston (for Edward Reynolds), at Polesworth, at Brownhills, (for Joseph Owen), at Sneyd Pool (for Charles Hathers), at The Meadows (for Richard Willetts), at Hednesford Old Pits, at Lane Head (for John Adams).

Wager At Ashmore Park

    The first wager he referred to was connected with a feat at Ashmore Park Colliery (for John Hill), in 1881, when he worked against James Jaques and Richard Brazier, one on nights, the other on days. "The two drove nineteen yards in one week, I drove nineteen and a quarter yards."
    A little earlier, in 1872, he told how he had a miraculous escape in Joseph Owen's Brownhills pit - "I had been working all nights, and after ringing to be drawn up I turned to reach a bottle, and the cage started up without me. During its ascent a carriage wheel (about 1cwt) was thrown down the pit, and knocked the end of the cage off".
   Referring to another wager, he describes how he worked against a man called Samuel Boughey, who cut ten feet in longer time than ittook the "Big Hitter" to cut thirteen.
   In the early 1890's, when he was almost 60 years of age, he was still "gooin strong". He did four and a quarter days work in six hours at Whitehouse Field, Moseley Village (for John Southan), and also recorded similar achievements at Granville Colliery, Swadlincote, Stanton Lane, Colliery, Derbyshire, and Fenn's Old Colliery (for William Bickley).
   Not only did his employers have ample reason to appreciate George Lister's phenomenal work-rate.   "In 1860, an accident happened at Peascroft. I rescued a man named Clayton, after he had been buried for 13 hours...In 1861, Joseph Probert, and Thomas Rudge were stopped up. I was sent for and drove over nine yards in a little head and got them both out alive...In 1872 Thomas Bradley of Spring Bank was stopped in by a fall of roof. I cleared from 6 to 7 yards and got him out alive".
   And the feats go on - so numerous that space does not allow us to mention them all.
   There is no reference to the nickname, "Big Hitter", or why he should have been so-described. But, in those tough old days, men were used to settling arguments with their fists, and, no doubt, George's strength was often put to good use on such occasions.
    The barons of 19th century industry expected no less than blood, sweat and tears from their workers, who, when viewed in the light of today's expectations, were a cruelly downtrodden class. Even so, a man of George Lister's calibre would have been something of a phenomenon, much sought after and well rewarded by the coalmasters of his time.
   Today, the tables have been turned - industrial, rather than human muscle is generally in the ascendancy, and technological developments have reduced physical exertion at the pitface and on the assembly line. Nevertheless, in any age, the 'hard work' ethic of the Big Hitter would be wholly worthy of emulation. He was a legend in his own time, and is rightly described as The King of the Black Country Colliers!

MORE ON “THE BIG HITTER”

Following last month’s article on “The Willenhall Superman”, George Lister, we have received further correspondence from Wednesfield reader, Mrs L Spearing, who originally made mention of her strongman ancestor several months ago.

She has managed to unearth more details relating to the remarkable life of George Lister (alias "The Big Hitter"). It is believed that during his two marriages he fathered over thirty children, and, on one occasion, fellow miners at Brownhills tried, unsuccessfully, to kill him, because his phenomenal work-rate resulted in less work for themselves. Mrs. Spearing has also managed to obtain a copy of his 'burial card', dating from 1905. She writes...
"With reference to the front page article for May, "The Willenhall Superman". Since writing to you, asking for information from your readers, I, and my cousin, Mrs. J Schubert, have done some research.
   I was able to copy the document in the possession of Len and Rose Muir. You were quite right when you said it could not have been written by the "hard as nails" miner, because George Lister could neither read nor write. It was, in fact, written by a poet, named Thomas Bratt, who also wrote the verses enclosed. These were discovered only recently by my uncle, John Lister, in a wallet belonging to his father who was "The Big Hitter's" grandson. He was given the name of "The Big Hitter" by his fellow workmen, because of the way he could swing the hammer.
   It is said he fathered 35 children, but we have yet to prove this fact. When he was 19, he was married with a baby son, Thomas, who was named after George's father. Thomas, who. in his later years, kept the Cock Inn. High St., Portobello (which no longer exists). When he was 53 years old, "The Big Hitter" fathered a son, Arthur, who was born in 1885.1 do not know if this was his last child, or if there were more after this date.
   About the time of the photograph you printed, "The Big Hitter" was living in Bridge St, Portobello, and he kept pigs. My grandfather, Frederick Lister, used to tell of the hams, hanging round the room in his grandfather's house, so the family obviously ate well.
   As it says in the tribute, he was a very generous man to his starving neighbours, and very peace-loving. Even so, the men who worked with him, in the Brownhills pit, tried to kill him in 1872, by throwing a carriage wheel down the shaft. They said he was a Demon, because he could do so much work and they thought he was doing their share, when, in fact, he never took work from them maliciously. He just worked hard to earn a living.
   He died in 1905, at the age of 72, a great age for a hard working miner of thos days. His death was brought about him shovelling a large mound of earth that had to be levelled. He was doing this on a cold snowy day in April. A few days later he developed pneumonia. He never recovered.

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In memoriam: George Lister.

A Tribute from a Friend.
Another genius has passed away,
And left this humble mortal coil of clay,
To mingle with the angels pure and free,
In that bright land, to us a mystery.

In days gone by by at times, he’s tried to save
His fellow comrades from a lingering grave,
He’s oft assisted others who were poor
When hearing they were starving near his door.

Gifted by god a mysterious way,
One of the greatest workmen in his day.
But one who never dropped his fellow’s wage,
Not even when he was advanced age.

But unexpected. Death, he came one day,
And took his power, and gifts and life away
But farewell friend, I hope all shall meet
Some day around our loving Saviour’s feet

Portobello      Thomas Bratt (Braft?)

[i] Dorothy Hickman "D.Hickman" <dh004a8317@blueyonder.co.uk>

[ii] This seems to be the only individual, in the right age, even though there is a certain amount of variability in his quoted age in the census's and his gravestone, but there do not appear to be any other Thomas Listers in Shropshire of anywhere near the right age.

[iv] (email 26/2/08) <kyrie.llewellyn@mortgagestop.co.uk>

[viii] benny_hill100@hotmail.com:
A relative of mine (I have still not met) was interested in the family tree, so I sent him details slowly ( as not to confuse him ). I sent him a copy of 1881 census and Mary Ann's marriage certificate. Before I sent him the details from Broseley, he sent photocopies of all the details I had found! He has not got any further either.

I can send you all copies if you are interested, but the marriage of Robert and Sarah are poor? As I have said before it is a down load on the Latterday Saints Website.

Yours Truly Andrew Hill.

[1] http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/coal/organization/buttysystem.htm.
Coal Mining in North Staffordshire, Staffordshire Multi media archive 3/2013

[2] https://www.ninemen.org/victorian-madeley/the-mining-community/the-chartermasters/

[3] Hair, P. E. H. “Mortality from Violence in British Coal-Mines, 1800-50.” The Economic History Review, vol. 21, no. 3, 1968, pp. 545–561. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/2592750. Accessed 21 Oct. 2020.

[4] Civil Registration for Bth & Mar

[5] Family Records

[6] Commercial Gazette, London 30/11/1892, winding up of partnership Lister Harvey & Hall, Etna? Foundry, Birmingham St Willenhall, iron founders. Nov 11. Newspapers.com
Our Samuel Lister is the only one in Willenhall 1891 Census
London Gazette, 22/11/1892:
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership which has for some time past been carried on by Samuel Lister, Oliver Joseph Harvey, and John William Windsor Hall, under the style or firm of Lister, Harvey, and Hall, at the Etna Foundry, Birmingham-street, Willenhall, in the county of Stafford, in the trade or business of Ironfounders, has been dissolved by mutual consent. — As witness our hands this 11th day of November, 1892.
SAMUEL LISTER.
OLIVER JOSEPH HARVEY.
JOHS W. W. HALL.
The name reappeared in 1918 trade directory as the Etna & Russell foundry, Walsall Rd, Willenhall.

[7] Birth Registered at Wolverhampton 3/1891 ref 6b 616 (646?)

[8] Probate

[9] Birth Certificate: Wolverhampton 6B 419, 9/1856

[10] Online copy source

[11] Marriage: William Lister/Martha Roper, W'ton XVII 437, 12/48.

[12] Staffordshire Advertiser - Saturday 04 December 1869 1

[13] Wolverhampton History Centre, online, 011574&5.pdf

[14] Wolverhampton History Centre, online, 011572.pdf

[15] PR – there is no definitive evidence that this is the correct one!

[16] Marriage Certificate: Wolverhampton 17 296, 3/1843.

[17] Wolverhampton History Centre, online, 011573.pdf

[18] DC W'ton 1873 Q1 6b 387, age 60 is this right??

[19] Birmingham Daily Gazette 27/8/1869

[20] Salop Archives, XWB/F/3/3/143.

[21] Curious Fox internet forum, 2008. Nothing further, 3 2013.

[22] Internet download: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Willenhall/Pubs.htm.
Willenhall though the Ages by Bev Parker. 3/2013

[23] Birmingham Journal 21 April 1855

[24] Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser 07 July 1858

[25] Wolverhampton History Centre – W’ton Burials.

[26] Wolverhampton History Centre – W’ton Burials.

[27] Box Elder Journal (Brigham City, Utah)11 Feb 1965, Obituary

[28] Wolverhampton History Centre – W’ton Burials.

[29] Wolverhampton History Centre – W’ton Burials.

[30] Wolverhampton History Centre – W’ton Baps.

[31] Four Ashes Hall lies in extensive gardens and grounds within a private estate and remains largely unaltered, even untouched, for the last one hundred years.

It has remained in the same family for 350 years. Lack of change or modernisation has resulted in something of a time capsule. In 1997 Stephen Thompson became the latest member of the family to inherit and he is now in the process of restoring the house, outbuildings and gardens.

As you enter through the Victorian Gothic porch the long processional hall leads into large rooms with original furnishings, family portraits and books. Tall windows give spectacular views over the gardens and fine trees. The kitchen wing retains a mass of original features. Upstairs twenty four rooms are largely unaltered. Wardrobes contain Georgian costumes and medicine cabinets are lined with hundred year old remedies.

The earliest parts of the house were built by Henry Wollaston in the 17th century with extensive alterations and additions in the 18th and 19th centuries by successive generations of the family. Original architects plans for the alterations together with alternatives considered are all still in the house. The stable block was built in about 1765 by Joseph Amphlett with funds from the East India Company. It is a magnificent example of Georgian architecture, The complete restoration of this is planned with assistance from English Heritage. A variety of uses are being considered which would include access to the public.

[32] The Hyde Mill

Less than one hundred and fifty years ago Kinver possessed a flourishing iron industry with major ironworks at Lower Whittington and at the Hyde.

Both these enterprises owed their existence to Hyde Mill, the iron slitting mill which Richard Foley built in 1629 and generally accepted as being the first commercially successful slitting mill in England. This was a time when three quarters of all iron produced in the country was used for making nails.

Before the introduction of the slitting mill iron, from the forges, had to be rolled and then slit by hand using chisels in order to render it suitable for nailmaking. Foley's process, after rolling the reheated bar, was to pass the resulting plate between sets of meshing cutting discs. working rather in the manner of the cutting discs of a modern geared can opener. The mill was powered by the River Stour and here there is conjecture that there may have been two water wheels on the site to drive the two shafts of the mill machinery.

The existence of the mill site at the Hyde is undisputed for there is documentary evidence to support the claim. Indeed, in the first year of its operation, the mill was the subject of a protracted lawsuit whereby Foley's neighbours sought compensation for flooding caused by damming the Stour and the damage to the land from the passage of carts to and from the mill. Most of the supplies of bar iron at that time came from forges to the north of Kinver, on the Smestow, from Myddleton Forge in Shropshire and iron delivered from Bewdley. Accounts exist for the output of Hyde Mill in the 1670 s detailing the tonnage's of iron supplied and slit. Later, when the so-called 'Ironworks in Partnership", a consortium of Stour Valley ironmasters founded by the Foleys in 1692, became dominated by the Knight family, iron supplies to the mill came from other sources. Whittington forge supplied up to 1735, together with Cookley Forge who continued to supply Hyde Mill until 1776. That year accounts record a dramatic drop in tonnage slit, down to 50 tons from a previous record of 890 tons, caused by the Whittington Forge possessing their own slitting mill and thus able to process their own forged iron.

The introduction of Henry Cort's process in 1784, to produce small diameter iron rod by rolling instead of slitting, saw the demise of slitting so far as Hyde Mill was concerned. By 1791 it too was rolling iron bar.

The economic decline, following the Napoleonic Wars, brought further changes and by 1828 Hyde Mill, Hyde House (originally built by the Foleys) and a corn mill adjacent to the slitting mill, were leased to Joseph and Thomas Parkes who were spade manufacturers. Later, in 1865, the mill was again leased to another Thomas Parkes also making spades and shovels . After a period of uncertainty Hyde Mill was taken over in 1888 by Isaac Nash & Sons, the well known scythe and edge-tool makers of Belbroughton in Worcestershire. The mill survived as a spade works until about 1912 and the buildings became derelict.

It is the footings of these structures and the boundary walls fronting the lane, leading from the Hyde to Hyde Lock, which are visible today. Behind them, on private property, are the dangerous overgrown remains of culverts and sluices which powered and controlled the water-driven tilt hammers and the spade works. The course of the River Stour at the Hyde was possibly changed: on a map of 1820 (drawn for the sale of the estate), today's course, rushing over a weir under the bridge, was marked as Back Brook. The main flow of the river fed the mill and with the sluice controlled overflow, passed into the channel that is now a tributary rejoining the Stour below Hyde Lock.

Of the larger ironworks at the Hyde, making wrought iron, with its ultimate total of 21 puddling furnaces, steam driven hammers and rolling plant, hardly anything remains. We can however gain a good impression of the works from an engraving published in Griffith's 1873 "Guide to the Iron Trade of Great Britain' and the 25 inch Ordnance Survey map of 1882. The site was completely razed in 1901 when the Kinver Light Railway was built, crossing the site and using the furnace slag heaps for track ballast.

The expansion of the works dates back to 1789 when the Homfray family of Gothersley acquired lands from the Dunsley estate and erected furnaces and forges. By 1797 the Homfrays had installed Kinver's first steam engine to operate a trip hammer.

In 1809, on the death of Francis Homfray, the ironworks was put up for sale but in the event it was purchased by his heirs. By 1819 the business was failing and Thomas Homfray was declared bankrupt.

The outcome of the sale of administration was for the business to pass to the bankers who in turn leased out the various operations. They also lent considerable sums for the renovation of furnaces, machinery and the purchase of new equipment. A detailed inventory of the ironworks property was drawn up in 1831 from which some idea of the scale of operations can be assessed. The works by this time was employing several hundred men.

The tenancy changed in 1838 to Bolton and Lee who continued to expand the facilities with more puddling furnaces, rolling plant and a canal wharf. By 1862 the works was entering its busiest period but gradually the competition from cheaper steel began to bring the inevitable decline and by 1888 it was forced to close.

Surprisingly its near neighbour Hyde Mill as a spade works, was able to survive for another 25 years.

Thus ended a significant chapter in Kinver's history which, in its time, embraced one of the important landmarks in the advance of British ironmaking.

A more detailed study of the subject is contained in M V Cooksley's paper "The Iron Industry of Kinver", published in 1976 and available in Kinver Reference Library,

[33] XWB/B/1/1/22

[34] Yeomen & Colliers in Telford, Supp, Shrops Archives. Download from Findmypast, 9/2017.

[35] PR Transcript P39

4. GENERATION 4 *****

5. * GENERATION 5 ***

6. GENERATION 6

7. GENERATION 7

8. * GENERATION 8 ***

9. * GENERATION 9

10. * GENERATION 10 *

11. ** GENERATION 11 *

12. ** GENERATION 12 *

13. ** GENERATION 13 *

14. EARLY PALMER FAMILY

15. HUGHES FAMILY

16. Other Lister Information

17. Changes & Footnotes: