John Beardmore’s letters of 1905
Typed copies, made by Olive Dale, of three letters from John Beardmore, iron and brass founder of the Hallfields Foundry, Hanley, to her uncle George Beardmore, Registrar of Births and Deaths, of Hall Croft, Kingsley. The originals were then in Olive’s possession. A copy of the pedigree he enclosed is on his grandfather John’s page.
Transcription
COPY OF LETTERS FROM MR. JOHN BEARDMORE, Hallfields Foundry, HANLEY. ORIGINALS in possession of OLIVE A. DALE, 92 Hassam Parade, NEWCASTLE.
JOHN BEARDMORE, Iron & Brass Founder. Hallfields Foundry, Hanley, August 12, 1905.
Dear Mr. Beardmore,
I enclose a List of my Grandfather’s Brothers and Sisters – all the women were unmarried – the only married ones were – William. George. Thomas. Francis 2nd. John. Samuel.
I have had an interview with Jeremiah Beardmore, Bucknall – he said he should very likely go to Kingsley – something has to be done to the Church – He is in about the same fix as myself – he has got “stuck” at his Great Grandfather.
With kind regards to the Ladies,
Believe me ever,
Yours sincerely,
Jno. Beardmore.
WILLIAM BEARDMORE of Cotton near Oakamoor – was my Great Grandfather; he married a MARY CRITCHLOW from Licks Head, near to Ramsor.
WILLIAM BEARDMORE = MARY CRITCHLOW, married Dec. 26th, 1780. Had issue as follows. (Note from O.A.D.: “I have inserted dated baptisms. Mr. B. only gave years in this letter.”)
- FRANCIS, born July 11, 1781 – died young
- MARY, born Mar. 24, 1783
- WILLIAM, born Dec. 16, 1784
- GEORGE, born July 18, 1787
- THOMAS, born Apr. 7, 1789
- FRANCIS, born Sept. 7, 1790
- JOHN, born Nov. 2, 1792
- SOLOMON, born Jan. 1, 1795
- SAMUEL, born Mar. 26, 1797
- DANIEL, born Apr. 23, 1799
- KITTY, born Jan. 29, 1801
- JAMES, born Dec. 22, 1804
- ELIZABETH, born Oct. 27, 1806
JOHN BEARDMORE – was my Grandfather.
THOMAS – was the Grandfather of JOHN BEARDMORE, Burslem – (Pidduck & Beardmore, Ironmongers).
Letter No. 2. Hanley, November 12th, 1905.
Dear Mr. Beardmore,
I enclose my pedigree as far as I can go. If you have copies out the registers – send them on to me – or to J. Beardmore. It does not matter which, so that he and I can copy them we can each have them then for mutual reference. If you have a chance to look over the Register again, see if you can find the Marriage Register Dec. 26th, 1780. At any rate, I intend to have another good search – “wind and weather permitting”.
Yours ever sincerely,
Jno. Beardmore.
Letter of November 15th, 1905 (to Mr. George Beardmore, Registrar of Births and Deaths, Hall Croft, Kingsley, Staffs.)
Dear Mr. Beardmore,
Many thanks for yours to hand and for the trouble you have taken – I keenly appreciate it.
No doubt if we have patience we shall be able to piece things together to our Mutual Satisfaction.
Mr. J. Beardmore intends to write for the particulars of that ½ Million when he gets it. – No doubt he will let us know.
In my great grandfather’s days a man of the name of Gilbert (Squire Gilbert) – lived at Cotton Hall – or was brother to the man who lived there – (of this I am not certain) – and he came over to the North Staffs. district – he was the Builder of the present “Clough Hall” – whether my Great Grandfather was in his employ I do not know – but he must have had a high opinion of him for he brought him over – and put him on a small farm called the “Foxholes” close to Talk-o’th’-hill – and also Bought Stock – for my Great Grandfather who was – a poor man at least he had not sufficient means to take the Farm on his own account – This Gilbert – also took a great interest in the Sons of my Great Grandfather – and used his influence to “put them apprentice” – to different trades – one a Builder – one a Blacksmith – one an Ironfounder and one a Potter – the one who was the potter – got killed when about 14 years old.
The Estate owned by Gilbert of course Contained Coal and Iron and a Colliery and Ironworks was owned – or rather rented – at the Hall-o’th’-Lee – by a Family of Luckcocks – My Grandfather “John” being put apprentice to these Luckcocks – to learn the Business of an Ironfounder.
At the period my Great Grandfather – came into Staffordshire he must only recently been married for I believe all his children were born at the Foxholes Farm.
My Great Grandfather – walked from “Cotton” to Talk-o’th-Hill – and carried a small cheese with him – I believe the date of this journey could be fixed – for I am told – that it happened on the same day as the Great Gunpowder Explosion happened at Talk-o’th’-Hill and my Great Grandfather – when about ½ way on his journey, felt the concussion – but of course did not know what it was–
The Event was this, a Large waggon – (drawn by several horses) was passing through “Talk” – and it is said that a spark from one of the Horse’s hoofs set fire to the Powder – which Exploded with Terrific effect – and Blew down a good number of Houses – some of which I am told were never rebuilt – and where the waggon stood was excavated a great hole – the waggon and Horses being all blown to atoms–
I almost fancy this “Gilbert” was a Bachelor – at any rate he died – and the Estate passed into other hands.
Do you know this for certain? Did your “Robert & Mary” Live at Cotton? Did they ever Live at the “Side” Farm?
Yours sincerely,
Jno. Beardmore.
What they tell us
These are the sources of the list of William’s children and of the story of the walk from Cotton quoted above. The “Jeremiah Beardmore, Bucknall” who had also got “stuck” at his great-grandfather made the rough sketch of the family tree that follows. The “J. Beardmore” and “Mr. J. Beardmore” mentioned are probably John Beardmore of Burslem, of Pidduck & Beardmore, whose grandfather was William’s son Thomas. The “Robert & Mary” that John asks about were, as Olive Dale explained in 1955, the parents of George Beardmore of Kingsley’s own ancestor Mary, who married Ralph Beardmore.