Letters from Olive Dale

Telephone: Newcastle, Staffs. 69015
“Kingsley,” 92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs.

27th March, 1955.

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

I was glad to hear that your nephew Richard Beardmore is interested in his family tree. Oddly enough, I had just had a letter from my only nephew asking how I was getting on with my digging into the past history, and asking me not to go too far, otherwise I might find our ancestors wearing tails and swinging from trees – in the next line stating that I was not to worry, as they were not believers in the Darwin theory!

You may tell your nephew Richard that the first definite ancestor of the Beardmores that I have so far traced was Richard de Berdmor (or Bordmor) acting as a Juror in 1280 at the time that Edmund the King’s brother proposed to endow a chantry at St. Mary’s, Tutbury; this Richard died in 1295, leaving a son Richard by his first wife Matilda, and sons William and Robert by his second wife Philippa. My working out of dates, etc., makes me believe that the William was the one who was Rector of Leek, stated by Jeremiah in 1905 to have become Bishop of Llandaff. I have looked up the Llandaff Bishops, and oddly enough one was appointed in 1361, whilst William is supposed to have died 1360, but no note of William de Berdmor amongst the list of Bishops. I went to Llandaff Cathedral last Whit.; three generations of us went; my sister her son and his wife and three boys, my husband and myself. It was badly bombed in 1940, but services are held in part of it. However, I have now got acquainted with the Diocesan Registrar’s Secretary at Lichfield, and knowing that the secret of William de Berdmor must lie entombed in two large volumes lying there – the registers of the then Bishop, Roger de Norbury (Northburgh, Northbury) I shall make another endeavour to find definite information.

With regard to his crest, I can find nothing as to where Jeremiah got this from – nor the motto. A Bishop’s mitre is not handed down to descendants, and in any case William a priest at that period, would hardly be married. Another crest, the stag’s head, which my uncle claimed we had, (also another, a boar’s head my sister vaguely recalls) is given on a seal attached to documents bearing this William’s name, as “W. de Leke”, but it might have been a Rudierd, of Rudyard. A stag’s head caboshed is also the crest of the de Bougheys of Whitmore, and one John Berdmor of Frogholle (with “lands lying in the lordshippe of Kingsley”) married Margaret Boughey. I enclose a draft of his will which I have examined at the Probate Office, B’ham, which may be the son of John and Margaret, or the Elizabeth mentioned may be John’s second wife. However, I am again “taking steps” to see what I can prove about this. I wondered whether Jeremiah’s notes might be a bit of “wishful thinking” and taken from Sleigh’s book, which is not too well-referenced, but I have examined both Sleigh’s big and little volume for all the references to William de Berdmor, but nary a mention of any crest or motto.

Jeremiah was an educated man, an architect, and of good position, and his sister is quoted on two occasions in the history of the Adams family, as Percy Adams visited her when writing it. She is referred to as Miss Helen, which might be correct, but the usual spelling in their branch was Ellen.

In Jeremiah’s notes which you quote, he was evidently trying to attach both John and Uncle George’s branch far too soon. On the copy I sent you, I think I had written “No.” where Jeremiah asks about the old will possibly being Uncle George’s g.g.g’fth’s. I did not know then that Ralph’s wife (my great-great-grandmother) was a Beardmore before she married Ralph, so that sent me off on another branch of the Beardmores, to discover that the will is that of her grand-father, therefore my four-greats and a grandfather’s. To be clear, I am the seventh generation from the Thomas, whose will it is in that branch, whereas Ralph’s immediate ancestors for three grandfathers, that is his father Thomas’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all George Beardmores.

Going back to Jeremiah and his note, he asks “Where do Robert and Mary come in”? Well, Robert and Mary were the parents of Mary who married Ralph, as you will see from the enclosed sheet, quoting notes from the will dated 1742. Unfortunately, Mary’s two brothers Robert and Thomas died in infancy, so your line is not connected through them nor is Jeremiah’s. I have had one or two Wills of Jeremiah’s line out, and found out the information about his family through these and the registers, which gives a lot more information about him that he knew before, but still nothing whatever to shew who were the parents of your William born 1759. Have none of your family any idea at all? However, I shall be getting hold of the Cheadle registers sometime and will let you know if I have any success there. He was not bap. at Alton, nor Kingsley; of course, he might not have been born at Cotton, although living there when he married. We might have to advertise yet, but shall see.

Rychard Berdmore [handwritten: bur. at K. 1575. I have seen his will at B’ham] was the Lord of the Manor of Lutley, otherwise Litley, Cheadle, in Elizabeth’s day, and you may tell Richard that there was a Richard and also a Robert from the Hundred of Totmanslow mentioned in the famous Muster Roll of 1539 as being liable for “a hors and harnesse for a man” which meant all war-harness for the horse and man, and this was the height of importance, some only producing a “bowe” or a “chiefe of arrowes”, or a “byll”. I feel so frustrated sometimes, but progress keeps progressing slowly. Shall eventually write a book on the Beardmores, I think. What do you say? I have a large family tree written out of my own folks, and you have William’s from 1759, and I have some of Jeremiah’s, but want William’s parents!

Yours sincerely,
O. A. Dale

[Typed at the top:] Thank you very much for forwarding the form to the Staffs. Socy. I have heard nothing further as yet; wish you luck with the book.

Telephone: Newcastle, Staffs. 69015
“Kingsley,” 92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs.

4th August, 1954.

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

Arnold Bennett business first, of necessity.

I heard from Mr. Bemrose and Mr. Ford that Mr. Swinnerton has declined the Presidency of the Society, and therefore another suggestion must be made.

Mr. Ford has seen the Chairman, Alderman Barks, and he agreed that a meeting might be held on September 24th, [handwritten: not] first preference, to suit me; second preference, September 21st, a Tuesday; but on hearing that you intend to be in the district for Oct. 26th, the Chairman wonders whether you would prefer to leave the Committee Meeting open to round that date. Please let us know if any of these dates would suit you.

I am glad to tell you that Mr. Frank Bell, who used to be the Secretary and a Director (I think) of Brittains Ltd., Paper Manufacturers, Cheadle (also Ivy House Paper Mills, Hanley) enclosing his cheque for 5/- subscription and saying that he was at the old Middle School when A.B. was still there. Mr. Bell is now aged 81, so cannot undertake any active participation, but wishes to be a member. I wrote him a nice letter and asked if he knew any other “old boys” who might like to join. I got another letter from him this morning, saying that most of them had now passed on, and that he himself was one of the members of the Foundation Committee of the Old Medians 60 years ago (or rather over 60 years on referring again to his letter). He also says he knew the Beardmore family fairly well many years ago and wonders whether I am related – I had told him that I took over a man’s job in 1918 at the Ivy House offices, working with his brother, Mr. Ben Bell, and of course I was not married then. However, through him, the Rev. V. G. Aston, the Vicar of Penkhull, has also joined the Society, who tells me that he has been for many years a friend of Mrs. Fanny Scott (Fanny Bennett) the widow of the “Sentinel” Editor; he knew her before she was married and when she attended the Sneyd Church. He officiated at the funeral at Cobridge of Jim Bennett, and preached at the dedication of the Memorial to him 36 years ago. He knew the Burslem Bennetts (though not A.B.) well.

Now, for the Beardmore family. As soon as I saw your papers, I said to myself, “That is Mr. John Beardmore’s writing”; I have a copy of the William Beardmore–Mary Critchlow family notes in his writing which he gave to my Uncle George Beardmore the Registrar when they were having the search in 1905. I note from your sheet that you give Mr. John Beardmore’s father and mother as George Beardmore (1815–1895) = Eliz. Bowyer, son of John b. 1792, whereas on the paper I have he gives –

William Beardmore and Mary Critchlow, marr. Dec. 26th, 1780, died June 11th, 1824, aged 65.
Their sixth son John Beardmore, b. 1792, died 1874 = Eleanor Luckcock, died 1859.
Their sons Thomas and John, both unmarried. Their other son Benjamin Beardmore, died 1890 = H. Thomas, died 1892.
Their daughter H. Beardmore, living 1905. Their son John Beardmore, Hanley (brassfounder), living 1905.

I shall be pleased to see what I can discover farther back in your section of the Beardmore family, but I feel that we must be related to each other, but quite some distance back. I know my own ancestors definitely back for eight generations, and don’t think we overlap by then. However, I have many details of the de Berdmor family (as its original name was) and I will say that we can definitely pride ourselves as descending from a very distinguished family, although the “broad acres” and money has been diminished gradually through large families, sales, etc.

Now, evidently your family would appear in the registers of Alton or Cheadle. The Alton register has not been transcribed, and only commences in 1681 (I think); I shall have to use my influence and drop a few hints with regard to this one being done. The Cheadle register has been transcribed, but not printed, and is deposited at the William Salt Library at Stafford; I shall try to spend a day or so there, but quite expect there will be literally hundreds of Beardmore entries, as I know our ancestors were all round that area, owning the manor of LUTLEY or LYTLEHEY – still known as Littley – from at least 1297 to 1574, when Richard Beardmore sold it. You will see what a task it is when I tell you that I have copied between 450 and 500 Beardmore entries from the Kingsley register alone, from 1561 to 1795, all of these “without benefit of clergy”. If one has to get the Rector’s permission to make an extract, the cost mounts up, so shall have to hope on with regard to Alton. I have a great deal of very interesting information regarding the de Berdmors (Beardmores) who are of Whiston, Ipstones, Kingsley, Froghall, Cheadle, Alton, Cotton, and all round for miles. I am very busy at the moment with various matters, but shall try to see Mr. John your cousin at Burslem. So Mr. John Beardmore, the brassfounder, was your grandfather; from his letters, he was a most interesting gentleman and keenly interested in his family, but does not appear to have any records preceding William and Mary. Did you sign as George Beardmore IV? If you saw my notes, you would think you were George Beardmore XLIV!

Please let us know about Bennett meeting.
Very sincerely,
O. A. Dale

[Typed at the top:] Must apologise for few omissions in script; please complete as you wish it to be…. A Beardmore can always “raise a laugh,” so …

Telephone: Newcastle, Staffs. 69015
“Kingsley,” 92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs.

5th March, 1955.

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

As I have many other things lying in wait for attention I have hurriedly typed out the notes I took of your lecture sorry, I mean “talk”, of Friday last. I have not even read it through for typing errors, as I know you will wish to alter some of it. After you have finally decided on any corrections and rewording, if you will let me have it back, I think I can get some stencils cut. I have typed it in double spacing to allow for ease in correction, but suggest that it be typed in single spacing to save paper and stencils.

Mr. Ford seems to want to send a copy to all those members who were unable to attend, as “so far they have had nothing for their subscriptions”, and I myself think it would be nice in the case of the Inaugural Lecture, but whether we should continue to do this for future lectures, I do not know. What is your opinion?

I am very glad you agreed to become the Society’s first President, as in my humble opinion, there is no-one more suitable from many aspects. I can understand your desire to obtain someone else, in particular nearer Bennett’s own age and of literary reputation, but unfortunately they are now either dead or too old to undertake any such office.

I am still continuing my investigations into the Beardmore family history, as time allows, together with other families when needed for the Field Club, etc. I had a good time searching through Elizabethan, etc., wills at Birmingham. They are very helpful for establishing definite relationships, but unfortunately, one or two do not appear in the Calendars; there are about six John Beardmores of Henry VIII. to Elizabeth and James I, and they take some sorting out. Anyway, I am trying another tack to see if I can get at the Cheadle registers, which I think I told you are locked up in the Bank, and the Rector and Churchwardens have to go together to get them out. It will make more work for me, as usual, but I may manage to get some desired information. I have got lots of information about Jeremiah’s family, which he did not know when John of Hallfields Foundry, Jeremiah and my uncle George were searching about in 1905. I find that one of my great-great-grandfathers, Ralph Beardmore, born 1751; marr. Mary Beardmore, born 1751, in 1773, both christened, married, and buried at Kingsley. Mary’s parents were Robert and Mary, grandfather Thomas, g’mother Sarah, of Woodhouses, Cheadle, and I have notes going back to round 1550 of Beardmores at Woodhouses, but not connected everybody up yet.

Did you ever examine the notes I put in the envelope which I handed to you when we had the last Committee Meeting and you spoke at the Grammar School? They were copies of letters between John, Jeremiah and Uncle George, and you would be able to see from John of Hallfields Foundry, Hanley, that he descended from the son of William that you had thought John of Burslem (P. & B.) descended from. When you get an opportunity to glance through them, please do. I have been to Newcastle, Hanley, Stafford and Birmingham in search of information, also to Whitmore and Kingsley several times. All this, and my work, too!

I hope you enjoyed your week-end; my husband and I have to attend the Annual Dinner of the Whitmore & Newcastle Cricket Club, of which he was captain for twelve years, and the only founder of the club that is still active. Mr. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, the President, is unable to be present, and has asked Frank to be there (as Senior Vice-President and Life Member) so we shall have to turn out, despite the weather – I prefer school when it is cold.

Let me know, please, when you have had a chance to consider the notes of your talk.

Kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
Olive A. Dale.

P.S. I am afraid I must apologise for the “roughness” of the transcript; I took down under difficulties – on my knee with a little notebook – and I am rather out of practice – teaching does not keep up one’s own speed much. Still, no doubt you can make something out of it. Best wishes.

P.P.S. Before I could post my notes off to you, I got your letter with yours in to help me. I have “improved” the three first pages, and left all ten for you to look through; I missed a few little words out, but have a few illegible ones, I am afraid, through writing on my knee. I think it would save time for you to read through and insert or correct anything you wish, and then if you return them to me, stencils might be cut shortly, before the Easter holidays, at any rate. Did I tell you I had enrolled Sir George and Lady Wade as members? You would see them on Sat. At our Dinner last night, Mr. Francis Wood (Mr. Harry’s eldest son) told me he had seen my portrait in the paper, (group in “Sentinel”) and he would like to join the Society, if he were asked (holding his head on one side and looking firmly at me, so I said, “Would you like to join”, and he said he would be delighted, so I am going to send him the “objects” and see what happens. He, too, appeared in the New Year Honours, so poor old Arnold has got two of our leading business men interested at this late date!

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 13th July, 1967.

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

As it is my birthday (alas, another year added on to the total!) and as usual, I have nothing to do, as you stated in one of your old letters, I thought I would get a letter off to you to show you that I shall endeavour to send you some particulars concerning the Beardmore family as soon as I can find the time.

As a matter of fact, I have been to Stafford this morning with my husband who had an Education Committee meeting (I am on the County Education Committee, as one elected by the County Council of “two women with special knowledge of education”, the other being a lady from Birmingham University) but having none myself, I spent the morning in the Record Office; we had lunch in the County Buildings, then visited a Special School of which my husband is the Chairman (and I am one of the Committee) to select a Secretary-Clerk, came home to tea and then Evening School. Yesterday we spent all day at Madeley College of Education with a meeting all morning, interviewing in the afternoon, Evening School at night, and that is how my life goes on.

Now, concerning the enclosed papers – these are copies of letters etc. which my cousin Olive, the daughter of George Beardmore, the Registrar of Births and Deaths, gave me when I had been working on the family for some time. She well remembers the old gentlemen, Jeremiah and John, visiting them, and she and her mother are the “ladies” referred to in one of the letters.

It is very amusing to me to read that Jeremiah thought they might search the registers at Kingsley in about two hours with three of them doing it. When I tell you that I have typed for a distant relative in America no less than fifteen long foolscap pages, single lines, of Beardmores in Kingsley registers alone, from 1561 to about 1840 or so, literally hundreds of them, you will see what an error they made. The trouble is, Kingsley is only one register, of course; many others are involved. I have visited Alton some years ago, and the then parson was very kind and produced the registers for my inspection, but I could not then – or since – find the baptismal entry of William, your “oldest” certain ancestor. I have got Jeremiah’s ancestry clearly back to 1568, although a little difficulty occurs mid-17th century, as one or two wills are missing. I feel that he is related to your William, but where the relationship between my little lot and the other two comes in, I cannot swear to. It took me many years to even find William’s marriage to Mary Critchley, but at last I know that the banns of marriage are contained in the Leigh register, the actual registers now being cared for in the County Record Office. The three dates are given as shown, but the marriage is not filled in. As Mary is stated at the time to be of “Draycott” perhaps they were married there. Anyway, I will get in touch with the Draycott Rector when time permits, but I do not suppose the entry will give their parentage, which is the necessary thing. Probably both William and Mary were working away from home at the time of their marriage. The “Squire Gilbert” referred to by John (Brass founder) who “took an interest” in the young William and his family was the brother of Thomas Gilbert the philanthropist, and it was John who acted as Steward or “middleman” for the Duke of Bridgewater and Brindley when the canals were built. Actually, there was a TV programme about them not long ago, although I already knew of this. John built Clough Hall, Kidsgrove, which is now a Golf Club, I think. We have the Bill of Sale of the contents in the Record Office (about 1812, I think). [In the margin: (Cotton)]

I have spent some fifteen years of my “leisure” time searching round wills, old documents, registers, etc., improving my knowledge of history all the time. I am very conversant now with where information may be obtained, families of many names and can almost tell you where they come from on hearing a name of any importance, and some of no importance.

Some of the information given by Jeremiah is quite wrong, but I will correct it when I write again. No Bishop of Llandaff, I am sorry to say, but Wm. was Rector of Leek, or rather Vicar, which used to be quite different. Am now off for a week to stay with my sister.

Sincerely, O. A. Dale

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 31st July, 1967.

Dear Cousin George,

It is an odd thing, but I have always felt a relationship does exist between us, although I cannot find where it occurs for several hundreds of years. I feel this more with regard to you than I do with most of my actual cousins, only one of which I correspond with, in this country, at any rate. She lived for many years at the beautiful old farmhouse called “The Black and White House”, but which was originally Old Consall Hall, but has recently had a bungalow built on some land a little distance away, and sold the farm. She has only one son and he also has a bungalow. I write to several relatives in Australia, and recently helped to trace the ancestry of a distant relative in Newcastle, N.S.W. right back clearly to 1529. She was very lucky, as very many of them left wills which was a great help. Sometimes the very ones you need have not been bothered about, or have been lost. You will see I have had to make such entries in the enclosed sheets.

Your naughty postcard of an ancestor amused me very much, but I sincerely hope ours had not such protruding chins or misshapen legs. I note it was made in Easter Island, of course, which explains the “design.”

Now, as you may imagine – I tried several years ago to trace out your ancestry, but got stuck with the baptismal entry of the William born 1759, buried at Audley 1824, aged 65. I tried to link up the three lines of Jeremiah (architect), John (brassfounder) and uncle George (my family) which they had made a start with in 1905. I got things clear regarding Jeremiah and John, presuming William 1759 to be the son of Robert 1719, brother of Jeremiah 1715, which Jere. (arch.) had put down guessing as 1705 to 1755, but poor man, the first Jeremiah only lived to be 40, whereas his son aged 7 when his father died, lived for another 80 years. Anyway, I have let Miss Hope Beardmore, of Longton, niece of Jeremiah (arch.) have the pedigree of her section, which is quite clear back to Thomas 1568. John (brassfndr.) thought William was the son of Robert 1714 as he put it, but he was really born 1719. I have been disappointed this week. The County Archivist (Frank, my husband, is the Chairman of the County Records Committee – and many other things) called at our house the other day, whilst our car was laid up through being knocked in the back by a man when Frank had to brake rather suddenly to avoid a darned dog, and said he was trying to get the Alton registers. He is trying to prevail on parsons to deposit the registers and other parish papers at the County Record Office where they will be cared for properly in the correct atmosphere and conditions instead of being allowed to get mouldy in the churches, as so often happens. However, unfortunately, Alton are just now in the position of being without a Vicar as they are having to build a new Vicarage, so he could not get them yet. When Frank and I went to see them some years ago, the Vicar was residing in a marvellous old stone house, but of difficult convenience, no doubt. This is just what happened at Kingsley. They were without a Rector for a long time, but luckily, the then Verger had been in the employ of my father for some years when we lived there, so he let me see the registers whenever I liked. Of course, I always tipped him, and when the new Rector came I paid contributions to him.

As it is some years since I “did” the Beardmores, and have been employed full time day and evening teaching until two years ago, I do not now know where the Beardmore wills are, but I have managed to make a good stab at getting out the enclosed sheets for you. If only we had William’s [handwritten: 1759] baptism it would be splendid, and I will write as soon as possible to Draycott to see if the marriage took place there and whether the entry gives parents or not. After Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act 1754, much more information had to be given, but not always of use. (This Act was to prevent poor silly heiress girls being rushed off to Gretna Green by fortune-hunters.)

With regard to “The Side”, this was a farm where the Beardmores resided, Jeremiah’s ancestors in particular, and was probably in Kingsley parish (which was a big one) although maybe actually in or near say Whiston, Cotton, Alton, etc. All this area was under Kingsley until two divisions took place. You will note that one or two of the Jeremiahs resided at Kingsley or at least are entered in Kingsley register.

For myself, amongst my ancestral line comes common ancestry with two Lord Chancellors, including the Earl of Macclesfield and the present Lord Dilhorne. One dau. marr. the first Earl of Harewood, and quite a lot of Baronets, Earls, etc. occur along the lines. My father’s third or fourth cousin, Frederick Adolphus Fynney, of Manchester (late of Cheddleton) left over £350,000, died at the age of 75, was a bachelor when 75, so his wife came in for a nice little lot; my poor father would have been “passing rich” if he had had one or two thousands which could have been spared. Fredk. was a Railway Company director when times were good. However, I have traced the definite descent from 1500 or so without finding any clear relationship to either Jeremiah or John, unfortunately, but they must be related somewhere, or why did they come from the same area and bear the same name? I will try again when time permits, but get so many enquiries from America, Canada, Australia, etc., (they send me a few nice little dollars at times, too!) that I am kept very occupied, to say nothing of the fact that I am a member of the Staffs. Education Committee, and have many committees to attend; I am also still teaching at Evening School, and my husband is a Cricket TV addict, and if not cricket, it is tennis at Wimbledon, or football, or wrestling, or something, and this prevents my typing as much as I can even when at home. However, we have to give and take, as they say, and manage to keep busy, and try to rest when we can. I like Frank to get a little amusement as he works very hard as an Alderman on the County Council and an Alderman on the Borough Council; the past fifteen years have been very hard-working, no pay, of course, and sometimes little gratitude.

Well, look through the enclosed and see what you think about it. The first Beardmore in the vicinity was Richard de Berdmore 1290, and his three sons; first wife’s son Richard (she was Matilda), and second wife [handwritten: Philippa]’s two sons, Robert and William. I think the Alton and Cotton set descend from the Robert; the Froghall ones from Richard the eldest and William became a parson, leaving money to St. Mary’s at Leek in 1340–1360.

Must close now for a little rest, then get the ruling done on the pedigrees which takes quite some time, as you may imagine, otherwise you will wonder what it is all about.

Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Olive

Burchfield, Four Marks. 4th August 1967

My dear Olive,

I’ve come unstuck somewhere. Would you mind helping out? Put very simply it is that my grandfather was John Beardmore, the ironmonger, of Burslem. He I guess is the man you call a “brassfounder, living in 1905”. (He died in fact in 1909.) Now his father was George: this is indubitably so, and I enclose a letter from my Aunt Agnes, John’s only surviving daughter, giving one or two charming reminiscences about her grandfather George. BUT you say John’s father was Benjamin, the man who married Hope Thomas. In fact, in the rough sketch of the family tree you were good enough to enclose with yours of the 13th July, you say that John (brother of the Barlaston Edward whom I vaguely remember) is the son of George. I wonder if perchance you are under the impression that my grandfather was someone other than the Pidduck & Beardmore JOHN? Because he was. I know this, having spent my childhood Christmases with his widow (born Emily Hancock) at 188, Waterloo Road.

It’s quite on the cards that somewhere I have misread your tables. Just put me right on this one point and I will trace the rest back from your comprehensive tables.

Needless to say I can’t thank you enough and am looking for ways to repay you. Would you for example like a copy of the book I’ve got coming out on Thursday next? Funny you should say that you felt a relationship with me: when I got back in the car I told the missis (this was at the School): “I know it’s absurd, but I feel I’ve known that woman all my life.”

I enclose a note of the handwritten entries made in a 1794 Bible I inherited.

Best wishes

Enclosure: Transcript of handwritten entries in a Bible printed by Mark and Charles Kerr in 1795, now in possession of George Beardmore, Alton, Hants., 1967.

George Beardmore born July 18 1787, married Jan. 1st 1811 in his 24 year of age.
Mary Beardmore Born Nov. 27 1811, married July 30 1835 in hir 24 year of hir age.
George Beardmore Born Sept. 20 1813, died August 27 1834 aged 21 years.
William Beardmore Born July 9 1815 ½ pas 8. William Beardmore died June 24 1848 aged 27 years.
Hannah Beardmore died Nove 10 1816.
Emma Johnson Born Decm. 10 1816 [the Bible itself appears to read December 29, 1803]. (Here is stuck in a newspaper obituary: “Deaths, On the 14th inst., at Fegg Hays Villa, Chell, aged 56 years, Emma, the beloved wife of W. Ford Esq., chief bailiff of Burslem”. Handwritten are the words: “September 1860”.)
Hamlett Johnson born May 29 1805.
Catharine Beardmore Born June 5 1785 [added in pencil: m. Thos Repton of Norton 6/6/1805].
Elizabeth Leigh Beardmore Born June 3 1818, Burslem, Staffordshire.
William George Beardmore. Born Nov 25th. 1842. 37 Isah., 9 II Kings, 32 II Cron.
William G. Beardmore, Northwood, 186?

Within the end pages: George Beardmore died February 17 1839 in his 51 year of his age. Catharine Beardmore died on Sunday September 15th. 1844, her end was peace, aged 58 years. Mary Beardmore, sister to the above George Beardmore, died February 17th. 1860, aged 77.

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 7th August, 1967.

My dear George,

Many thanks for your letter and enclosure from your Aunt Miss Arrowsmith, which I have taken the liberty of copying and now return it herewith.

I should certainly very much like a copy of your new book, with a nice note from the author inside, of course! Thank you very much.

Now, to business. The old John referred to by me as the “Brassfounder” was not your grandfather John of Pidduck & Beardmore, Burslem, who must have been in his turn the son of George Beardmore, born July 18, 1787, the first entry in your family Bible. If you will consult the tabled pedigrees, you will see that the “Brassfounder” John states that he was the son of Benjamin, and grandson of John bp. Audley Nov. 2, 1792; this John was the sixth son of the old William and Mary, whereas George was the third son. I have not seen the baptisms etc. of the later descendants, but John “Brassfounder” must have crossed the two brothers’ descendants, as he gives George born July 18, 1787 as grandfather of the Rev. Wm. George of Highbury, and Thomas as your ancestor. Have you a verification of the ancestor of the Rev. W. G.?

At any rate, John “Brassfounder” was described on his letter-headings as “Iron and Brassfounder,” of Hallfields Foundry. Somehow, I do not think he was married; I will check up with my cousin Olive, dau. of my Uncle George who was engaged with the two of them in 1905. She may remember.

There is just one thing, in John’s list he gives Thomas b. Apr. 7, 1789 as father of George, grandfather of John (P. & B., Burslem and Edward of Barlaston) but your Bible gives George as bap. 1787. On thinking it over, I hardly think your Aunt Agnes Arrowsmith even if elderly would have a grandfather born 1787, and this generation may make the difference of name. However, try to find this out. I must tell you that my dear old friend, Mr. S. A. H. Burne, M.A., Barrister, etc., who used to be the Coroner for North Staffs., is still going strong, and his grandfather was born in 1775! My great-grandfather, Thomas Beardmore, was born 1775. It just depends how many children and what age at marriage, of course.

If this does not explain it, John Brassfounder must have crossed the descendants of the two brothers, Thomas and George. You say that Benjamin Beardmore married Hope Thomas. John only gave her initial as H., I did not know her name was Hope, but oddly enough, Hope is the name of Jeremiah’s niece, Miss Beardmore of Longton.

This morning, Frank my husband had a Planning Meeting at Stafford, so I took the opportunity of looking at the Burslem Register. I found the following indexed under Beardmore – there were also Aaron, Chris. and Charles indexed, but no entries to be found.

1771. Mar. 31. Sarah, dau. John & Hannah Beardmore. Bapt.
1775. Mar. 20. Hannah, wife of John Beardmore. bur.
1780. June 4. Mary, dau. John Beardmore. bur.
1811. Dec. 1. Mary, dau. George & Hannah Beardmore (Furlong). Bapt. (in Bible)
1812. Dec. 20. Sarah, dau. Josiah & Rebecca Beardmore.

If you can tell me when your grandfather John was born in addition to when he died (you say 1909) it might help to sort the generations out. I must admit that I have examined the will of Edward of Barlaston and one or two recent wills, but the maddening part to a researcher is that one or two crucial ones either never made one, or they are lost. By the way, talking about baptisms, as we were at Wolstanton, in the Burslem registers there are incidents of four children of varying ages being baptised at the same time.

I took the opportunity this morning of also examining a “Rentall” of the Earl of Shrewsbury dated 1581, etc., and found several Beardmore entries, including William, will pr. 1598, and Francis Beardmore’s wife (really widow) paying tithes, etc. and rent “for her ferme”. However, I shall have this Microfilm on again at a later date, as I had to use the beastly wornout machine, a young couple using the new big one (which, privately, I “pushed” my husband to agree to the purchase of). The old one is useless and almost crippled my arm to get it to work, so will look later.

Now, one point in your aunt’s letter intrigued me very much. She refers to the Beardmore dwarf’s photographs, and says that “Joan” has the actual painting from which the photograph was taken. Who was Joan, please, and is it possible to obtain any additional copies of this photograph, do you know? If only one, I could get it rephotographed at the Record Office, probably. The odd thing about this is, that, Miss Beardmore (Jeremiah’s niece) lent me a copy of this painting, calling it the “Beardmore Dwarf”. I have unfortunately mislaid it, and am unable to return it to her, although after I had sent her Jeremiah’s pedigree back to 1568, she said not to worry, send it back when it turns up, but if she could see the papers at my house (although we have a garage full waiting for the salvage men to take it for burning) she would wonder when that could be! Now, your aunt says the “2 dwarf’s names” escape her, but on searching my long-suffering memory after reading the list of names from your Bible, I recall that this girl was called ..something Leigh Beardmore, and there is an entry “Elizabeth Leigh Beardmore, born June 3, 1818, Burslem, Staffordshire.” Now, how did Miss Beardmore, Jeremiah’s set, obtain this photograph? She could not recall who had the painting. On looking at the picture, I do so wonder whether in actual fact the child was a dwarf (and ? two) as she looks more like a child in Georgian dress, with the long white frock and wide sash – see “Pinkie” the wellknown painting, and the “Little Mob Cap”, just that style. What do you think? I should so like to get another two photographs, one to send to Miss B. and one for myself.

The last entry, “Mary Beardmore sister to the above George B. died Feb. 17, 1860, aged 77” was the eldest dau. of William & Mary, bap. Mar. 24, 1783, died unmarr., as did his other two daughters. I have all their wills somewhere, but the darned old Wm. did not make one, and if he had, of course, a thousand to one he would never have said who his parents were! Strangely, Frank and I have visited Audley C/yd. several times, have found the grave of Mary and dau., but not that of William. Samuel is also there.

The Burslem registers have only been printed up to 1812, so I could not check the other children’s entries, but no doubt they were the children of George, born 1787 and his wife Hannah, d. 1816. There is a Hamlett Johnson referred to; there is a Hamlet Beardmore somewhere, but I have not got the will handy where he is mentioned. If you can find out anything further about the “dwarf” and the Leigh connexion, I will look up again.

By the way, in 1955 you sent me a note of rate books you had examined with Beardmore, Birks, etc., Earthenware Manufacturers, also including “Jerry” or “Jeremiah” Beardmore. On consulting the pedigree lists, you will see that the Robert who we think was the father of the old Wm. had a son named Jeremiah, and these are the Jeremiahs potters, etc., of Lane End, etc.

Shall be glad to hear from you again soon. Have had a letter this morning from my distant relative in Australia, whose pedigree (some of it mine, also) I have helped to trace right back to 1529. We are intrigued by the murder of one William Mountford, a famous actor, connived at by Lord Mohun, who engaged him in conversation whilst Capt. Hill stabbed him. This was occasioned by unfounded jealousy of Mountford’s friendship with the famous Mrs. Bracegirdle, with whom he acted: Hill tried to abduct Mrs. B., but fled the country after killing Mountford. There is an account of the State Trial of Lord Mohun for the murder, but he got off as he did not strike the actual blow; Mohun was afterwards killed in a duel with the Duke of Hamilton. Mountford was born in Staffs. 1664, son of Captain Mountford, and was a protégé of Judge Jeffries! Best wishes, Olive

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 12th August, 1967.

Dear George,

I am replying to your letter fairly quickly, as next week I am off with Frank my husband to stay a day or two with my sister, who lives at Walmley, a few miles from Sutton Coldfield. We are getting a day or two off before being snowed under with County Council meetings, evening school, etc. I don’t know whether you know, but I am a member of the Staffs. County Education Committee, being one of the two women “with special knowledge of education” elected by the actual Council (not sitting as Councillors), the other one being a nice youngish woman from Birmingham University. As a result I am on a lot of Committees, Governorships, etc., including Madeley College of Education, Clayton Grammar School for Girls, etc., etc.

Now to business: C/W does mean “Churchwarden”, and I usually copy this if such an entry appears in a Register, as it gives a good idea of the standing of the persons concerned, and also that they are still living at that date, if their date of death should not be known.

(2) Farley is a lovely village situated between Oakamoor and Alton, see attached rough sketch map. One crosses the Churnet at Oakamoor, rises sharply up to Farley, drops down again to Alton Bridge across Churnet, rises sharply up to Alton village and Church. Absolutely beautiful scenery – the Churnet Valley has few equals.

(3) “Critchley” is used in various references; it is only another spelling for “Critchlow” and is probably just the countryway of saying the name. The changes in many names are simply careless or fashionable pronunciations, even “chumley” for spelling “Cholmondeley”.

(4) Dwarfs. I am sorry it is awkward about the owner of the painting; I would have liked to have obtained photographs of it.

The eleven B’s and s’s amused me; I shall now think of them as brandies and sodas.

I return your notes on grandfather John. You will see in the “second coach” Mr. J. Beardmore, (Hanley). Thus if you read the letter carefully, you will see that this is the same old John who was busy with Jeremiah and my Uncle George, but did not get very far in their researches. Your Grandfather John was, of course, of Apsley House, whereas this John sitting with the Rev. W. G. was of Northwood.

Not only the notepaper, but the style and the signature and handwriting shew it to be dear old John (Brassfounder, as I have called him to distinguish him). I will write to ask my cousin Olive if he was unmarried – I rather think so. She told me that he laughingly said he “thought he was descended from a woman”, and I asked, “Aren’t we all?” He was joking that the old William had no father, as John did not know who he was!! He appears to have been rather a “card”!

Now, 1712 or 1713 marked as date of Samson’s death (marr. Ellen Hunt). This is accounted for by the fact that in the old days the years were reckoned from March 25th to March 25th, Lady Day, not Jan. 1st, so in many old registers the dates are written 1712/13 or whatever, so one has to be careful in assessing the right thing, otherwise one might find a child being dated as born before its parents’ marriage, when it was not so.

As I have been so busy tracing other people’s families for them, I have rather lost track of the Beardmores, but by a very “Hodd coin-side-ence” I have been turning out a lot of notebooks, wills, etc., and found two books containing many Beardmore wills, including Edward of Barlaston (by the way, your grandfather’s coffin plate is printed as died 1908, whereas the pencilled note on extract says October, 1909) and many others, particularly sisters Catherine, Mary and bro. Samuel and William, children of your old Wm. marr. 1780.

These confirm, amongst other things, that reference of John (Brassfounder) in letter returned herewith to Thomas Beardmore’s son Robert being “off his head” a bit, as amongst my notes there is the “Oath” taken by ROBERT FRANCIS BEARDMORE the younger, dated 8 November 1920 that his father, ROBERT FRANCIS BEARDMORE the elder, of 127 High Street, Tunstall, a retired Wheelwright deceased, had died on 1 Aug. 1920 at the County Mental Asylum, Cheddleton, a Widower and intestate, “and the son was to administer the estate.
Bond: ROBERT FRANCIS BEARDMORE, the younger, of 127 High Street, Tunstall, in the cty. of Staffs., Schoolmaster; JOSEPH HENRY COLLIS, of Porthill Lodge, Longport, Brickworks Manager; FREDK. WALKLEY, of 130 High Street, Tunstall, Hairdresser.

If you would like me to copy out some of the Wills concerning your people, I will do so when time permits.

By the way, the only thing that has given me pause years ago when searching for old William’s birthdate is that he had no child called either “Robert” or “Grace” whom I assume to have been his parents, nor although there is a William bap. 1759 at Kingsley, son of Thomas and Ellin, does he call a child “Ellen”. The name “Thomas” was very much used at one time. My “lot” had Thomases galore until one dau. marr. Ralph Oakden about 1730, and then I think “thousands” of Ralphs have appeared in all directions; my great-great-grandfather, Ralph was nephew to Ralph Oakden who was perhaps his godfather, and this Ralph had four sons, who each had a Ralph, and so on ad finitum, so if ever you come across a Ralph Beardmore anywhere at all, you can guess there is a relationship to me somewhere.

Did Miss Ruth Bennett ever tell you that her uncle – and yours – Mr. Kennerley, asked her to ring me up and asked me to go to see him at her house, where he wanted to know whether I had traced your family any more; I had to tell him the only “sticker” was the old Wm’s birth. By the way, at Audley churchyard we found two gravestones; one to one of his daughters (or perhaps two – note mislaid for the moment) and his wife MARY, adj. gravestone to their son SAMUEL, but we could not see one to old William. Anyway, the Rector told Frank (my husband) we could examine the Registers anytime if we let him know in advance, but we just have not had the time. I have spent years on these things, at varying costs, but don’t begrudge a penny of it. It has been well-spent for the useful interest it has brought me – also a few nice dollars from America and Australia!

Must get this off now, will write again when time permits.

Best love, Olive

P.S. Thought you might be interested in the enclosed article I wrote some years ago pub. in the “Sentinel”, although no name is attached. The verse I also wrote, which delighted Sir Edric Wolseley when I sent it to him after visiting his house. His predecessor (he is desc. from a brother) Erasmus Wolseley was imprisoned together with my ancestor Edward Thornbury of Thornbury Hall; for hearing Mass in Stafford Gaol when they were finally taken there after refusing to attend the Prot. Ch. they were condemned to death, but reprieved, but the poor old priest was “barbarously murdered” becoming a Cath. martyr. Edward lived another twenty years after this, so was lucky. [In the margin: 1586] I used to correspond with Sir Edric until he died in America.

[Sketch map: the River Churnet, with Farley, Oakamoor, Cheadle, Kingsley, Alton Castle, Alton Church and Alton Village.]

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs., 22nd August, 1967.

My dear George,

I was delighted to receive the autographed copy of your new book, and feel that it should be very successful indeed. I started to read it, but was reluctantly torn away to go with my husband to Stafford.

This morning he had a ’phone call from the County Librarian (several things she wished to consult him about, one thing being about him performing the official opening of the Barlaston Library – he is the Chairman of the County Libraries Committee, amongst so many other things, and has opened quite a large number of Branch Libraries, also the huge County Library Headquarters a few years ago.) We took the opportunity to take your new novel with us, and asked if the Library had any copies – of course, we do not wish to be accused of nepotism, but still –. They have got three copies, and I showed the County Librarian and her Deputy my copy. I also borrowed from their stock two of your previous novels. Some years ago I very much enjoyed “A Tale of Two Thieves” and was very anxious to obtain “The Staffordshire Assassins” but was unable to do so at the time. The two I have got out of County stock are “The Staffordshire Assassins” and “Madame Merlin”, which I should think are two of your best.

I will try whenever I can to find the baptism of William Beardmore born 1759, but he is not in the Alton register, where other children of Robert and Grace are, but their dau. Mary was bap. at Leigh, so one never knows. William & Mary had their banns read at Leigh, and their first son Francis bap. there, but have not yet asked at Draycott if the marr. actually took place there. Of course, when Jeremiah, John and my uncle George were trying to find their joint relationships, they deducted William’s death date wrongly, writing 1749 for birth, but if he was 65 at death in 1824, it would be 1759. On one sheet I have Mary died 1824 aged 65, so there may be an error there. If only they had had a marr. lic. and had been under age, the names of guardians would have been of help. However –

I have now run up against two or three snags for your modern descent. Old John of Hallfields (Brassfounder) stated that William & Mary had ten sons and three daughters, the latter all dying unmarr. He named them as Elizabeth, Mary and Kitty. From somewhere else (it escapes me for the moment) I had a list which gave Catherine B. as a sister, born June 5, 1785, which of course fits her in nicely between William b. Dec. 1784 and George b. Jy 18, 1787. One might have thought from other entries that the three entries within the end pages of your Bible shewed George d. Feb. 17, 1839 aged 50; Catharine d. Sept. 15, 1844, aged 58 and Mary sister to the above George died Feb. 17, 1860 aged 77 were two sisters and brothers. Have you by any chance misread or mistyped any of the dates you gave to me, do you think? Catharine Beardmore born June 5, 1785 is entered in your Bible but the will I have of Catharine B. of Audley is dated 14 Nov. 1832, pr. 2nd May 1833, and in it she refers to her brother Samuel, sister Mary (spinster) and sister Elizabeth, residue to surv. s. & b. share and share alike. All these were children of William and Mary.

Then in Mary’s will dated Feb. 13, 1860, pr. Mar. 5, 1860 she refers to Mary, dau. of my late nephew James B. (Farmer) decd., niece Eliz. Machin, wife of Alfred Machin of Talk o’th’ Hill, writing clerk, Eliz’s son Frank Machin (under age), makes the Rector and bro. Samuel exors., and if nephew Frank did before 21, residue equally between surviving bros. Samuel, Francis, John, and the children of decd. bros. William, George, and Francis [handwritten: Thomas]. Also will of Wm. B. (one of dec. bros.) d. 1857 [handwritten: will dated July 12, 1856, pr. May 1857] refers to his wife Mary, son John, daus. Eliz. & Martha B. and dau. Kitty marr. to Wm. Mason. But turn over for biggest snag.

[Overleaf] FRANCIS BEARDMORE of Burslem, Bricklayer and Beerseller. I nominate my brother GEORGE BEARDMORE of Burslem, Blacksmith, and JOHN WATKIN of Burslem, Builder, exors. and trustees, they or their heirs to sell, etc. and invest the parcels thereof in Govt. or Real Securities (the will gives £100 as value), income to be for “my infant daughter MARGARET until she shall attain the age of 21 years. George B. and John W. to be guardians. Refers to wife SUSANNA BEARDMORE. Also desires that if his dau. MARGARET shall die before 21, his said real and personal estate shall go to nephews JOHN BEARDMORE and EDWARD BEARDMORE, the two sons of my brother GEORGE BEARDMORE. Witnesses: CHARLES HODGES, HAMLET BEARDMORE.

Now sort that one out! You can see what a frustrating job genealogical research can be.

Your grandfather JOHN was born in 1848, EDWARD round the same time, so were infants when this will was made, but how do you account for the GEORGE dying 1839 Feb. 17 (presumably the one born July 18, 1787) being referred to as father of JOHN and EDWARD when they were born after that date. There must have been another generation, and old John (Brassfounder) who stated that Thomas b. 1789 was grandfather of John and Edward and the George who heads the list in your Bible must have been the anc. of Rev. W. G. If so, why did the Bible come to you? Or is the FRANCIS will above bro. as he says of your great-grandfather George, and not the brother of Mary, will 1860, etc. You will note she refers to her brother Francis as being alive in 1860. I think you will find after asking your cousin John of Burslem that your great-grandfather George had a bro. Francis who died 1853, and an uncle Francis alive in 1860. What a tangle!

Dates have been put wrongly before – for example, my ancestor JAMES FYNNEY born late 1739 is entered in the Cheddleton register as dying aged 74 in 1804, whereas he was only 64. And one of his brother’s WILLIAM is not entered in the Alstonefield register, although all the others are, even one born after him, and yet I have his wife and all his descendants, to say nothing of the fact that he is included in his father’s and his uncle’s wills in the correct order of age. Oh, oh, these careless parsons and parish clerks. To say nothing also of my ancestors Thomas Beardmore and Sarah Bostock entered in the marriages in both Kingsley and Leek, also another marr. in Caversall and Kingsley, and my g-g-g-g (I am not counting) uncle ROBERT SHENTON is entered as buried in Kingsley and Cheadle. The answer is that both parsons wanted their fees for the marr. and the burial was entered in both as Robert S. left a charity to both villages, but why couldn’t the Kingsley parson say “bur. this day at Cheadle”? I know he was there as his gravestone is in the tower of Cheadle church!!

Again many thanks indeed for the lovely book – Charlie Pocock seems like a Potteries character to me.

Must close now for the time being. If you can think of any clues, or if I can, letters must follow. I have a terrible tangle to sort for an Australian distant relative, who I have got back to 1529 without any doubt, but she now wants to link up another branch (one who had big ideas of their descent from a kinsman of William the Conqueror!) Heigh-ho!

Best love from
Your affectionate cousin,
Olive

Please excuse dirty paper. I have bags of it, but too busy to sort it out. I have to study my agenda for an Educ. Metg. at Stafford to-morrow and take Ev. Sch. to-night.

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs., England. 12th September, 1967.

My dear George, [added:] I loved the Staffordshire Assassins, but talk about horrific!!

Oh, dear! I have been trying to get some letters off to my various relatives in Australia, etc., but think you will be well aware that I do live in England!

Thank you for your letter of 28th August, enclosing list of “Brothers and Sisters” which I appear to have seen before, as I note a pencil note in my writing giving “Solomon” who was omitted from the list; probably he was the one killed by a truck at the age of 14. “Catherine” is also omitted. I think the old John (Brassfounder) must have made an error when he said William and Mary had 10 sons and 3 daus. They evidently had 4 daus., but I will try to see the Audley register sometime. Frank (my husband) says he will be seeing the Vicar at a Library meeting soon, and will then ask him again about the registers. He [handwritten: the Vicar] has already told him that I can go when I choose, so long as he knows in advance to get the regs. out.

I have to say that nothing has appeared in the “Sentinel” about me, nor the Beardmores. The Robert you mention was a collateral of Jeremiah’s set and I think yours, and was Curate at Kingsley in 1680, then went to be Rector at Nassington, Peterborough, where he was bur. in 1730, so not “pre” Thomas, will dated 1568, pr. 1573.

Now, I arranged with Mr. Beard at the Hanley Ref. Lib. to put out the 1851 Census for me on the Reader machine and went up a fortnight ago. It took me all morning to run through the Burslem reel alone, and I did not have much luck, as you will see from the attached entries. The nuisance is that Hanley only have part of the Potteries area, whilst Stafford have the majority of the county, excluding the Potteries, so Audley part is at Stafford, and Burslem part at Hanley.

Isn’t it a game? There are two Thomas Beardmores with sons John and Edward, but I found the second entry interesting. I have not typed out the other few entries for Beardmores, one “Head” born at Newcastle, another “Liverpool”, both in the pottery industry, and an Eliz. Widow, son George aged 5, she born Uttoxeter, George b. Burslem.

Your entries are clear, according to your family letters, etc.

Liverpool Road: Thomas Beardmore, Head, Marr., 38, Ironfounder, born Alsager, Ches.; Mary, Wife, 34, born Burslem, Staffs.; Margaret, Dau., Unm., 13, Scholar; Thomas, Son, 12; Phillip, 10; Robert, ?13 or 3.

Garden Street: Thomas Stevenson, Head, Wdr., 82, Retd. Smith, born Northwich, Ches.; George Beardmore, Neph.-in-Law, M., 37, Blacksmith emp. 4 men, born Lawton, Ches.; Elizabeth, Niece, M., 40, born Northwich; John, Grandnephew, 6, Scholar, born Burslem; Edward, Grandnephew, 2, born Burslem; Elizabeth Bowyer, Visitor, 14, born Northwich.

It appears that George B. born at Lawton [handwritten: your great-grandfather] m. a girl from Northwich and lived with her old uncle, although George was employing 4 men. The Eliz. Bowyer might have been a sister of his wife, or cousin.

Pleasant Street: Thomas Owen, Head, 45, emp. 2 men, born Whitchurch, Salop; several in family. Hamlet Beardmore, Lodger, 20, Carpenter, born Burslem, Staffs.

The Thomas 38, and George 37, must have been the two brothers who did not “speak” for years. Write when you get time, as will I. Up to neck level at the moment. Best love, Olive

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 20th December, 1967.

My dear George,

I am just sending you a few lines to let you know that I have made a little progress regarding your old WILLIAM BEARDMORE, died at Audley. I found at long last an entry in LEIGH Register (of which we now have the original books at the County Record Office) stating that Banns were read for WILLIAM BEARDMORE of the par. of Leigh, and MARY CRITCHLEY of the par. of DRAYCOTT-IN-THE-MOORS, during December, 1780, but no mention of the marriage having taken place. I therefore found out the name of the Rector at Draycott-in-the-Moors, wrote and gave him the exact date Dec. 26, 1780, and asked him please to check if they were married there. I hoped that the entry might give a clue to father’s name. I also asked him to please make any charge necessary. I received the following reply.

“22nd November, 67. Dear Mrs. Dale,

Thank you v. much for yr. letter of yesterday, & I have spent part of this morning in looking up our registers. Your luck is in & I enclose a copy of the entry 107, entered in our Marriage register started 2 Nov. 1754.

The name of your ancestor is clearly CRITCHLEY, like the great majority of people (esp. the women) then she could not sign her name but made her mark & the name of the second witness appears to me to be NEWTON IKIN but the forename is not clear. It may be a family name. We have a Doomsday farm here in Totmonslow called NEWTON.

Strangely enough you live in a Parade called after my father’s cousin (his mother & my grandmother were sisters, BURGESS) and I have his gold pencil & pen (this unserviceable) in my desk at this moment. He died in June 1926 & I came down from University to his funeral at S. George’s, N.C., at my father’s urgent request.

As regards payment, make it what you like & divide it into 2 equal parts, one for me & one for the church of S. Margaret’s, Draycott. Best Wishes, (sd) Charles Healy, Rector.

P.S. The two slips in the copying are mine. Sorry. I will keep the book (a most interesting volume from other points of view) at the Rectory for a week or so, & if you could care to run over you can see it in my study. We are usually in (one of us), but it would be wise to ring first. Many years ago I knew a Miss Beardmore who married Cyril Shingler. They were both in the Repertory players & I remember that she was related to (? niece) Arnold Bennett.

Extract from Marriage Register: “Banns of Marriage between WILLIAM BEARDMORE & MARY CRITCHLEY were published on the 3rd, 10th & 17th of Decr. 1780. No. 107. The said WILLIAM BEARDMORE of the parish of Leigh, Farmer, and MARY CRITCHLEY of this parish, Spinster, were married in this church by banns this twenty-sixth day of December in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty – by me, J. Bill, Rector. This marriage was solemnised between us, WILLIAM BEARDMORE. The mark X of MARY CRITCHLEY. In the presence of WILLIAM ASTON, NEWTON IKIN. C. W. Healey, 22. Nov. 67.”

In view of the above, I was rather bothered as to what sum to remit to the Rector, but as I had given him the exact date and he had only to consult that book and check the entry, I eventually decided to send him 10s. (Previous parsons have charged say 1s. 6d. per entry if one examines the book oneself.) I have also recently had four entries sent by a friend who paid 3s. 5d. to the Rector there – at that parish I mean. I never heard again from the Rector, even an acknowledgment, so do not know whether he was offended at the smallness of the sum or not. However, this verifies that WILLIAM seemed to be of age on marr. and was evidently living at Leigh at the moment, as their first child Francis was bap. there in July, 1781.

I have studied the pages of the “Staffordshire Advertiser” Births, Marriages and Deaths, and found the following three entries:

1834. Sept. 6. At Burslem, on the 27th ult., George, son of Mr. George Beardmore, builder, aged 21.
1836. Oct. 15. At the Parish Church, Burslem, on Tuesday, Mr. J. Beardmore, blacksmith, to Miss Mary Lea, daughter of Mr. Lea, of the Old Crown, of Burslem. (Presumably “Billy Lear”.) (Entry states “Lea”.)
1839. Feb. 23. On the 17th instant, at Burslem, Mr. George Beardmore, aged 51, late of that place, builder.

If I can get any other information of help, I will write again.

In the meantime, I am busy spending millions with other members of the County Educn. Cttee, and struggling through the horrid fog, working all day and earning nothing.

So cheerio for the moment, – wishing you everything you wish yourself for a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

Best Love, Olive