On Friday 5 January, Andrew Dobraszczyc gave a talk on Josiah Stringer of Talke illustrating his talk with slides and gave a detailed handout to most of his audience. The size of the audience surprised Andrew and there were not quite enough handouts to go round.

Josiah Stringer had probably moved to Staffordshire from Cheshire by the end of 1692 when he was a beneficiary under the will of Robert Lawton of Newcastle. In about 1693 he bought the Hollens House estate in Talke, in the parish of Audley. He died in 1698 and was buried in the churchyard of St James’s church, Audley.

He had a son Dr Samuel Stringer (d 1759) who lived in Lower Street, Newcastle, and practised medicine. Josiah also had a daughter Mary who married Thomas Wedgwood, potter, and whose youngest son was the famous Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795). When Josiah Wedgwood became seriously ill with smallpox in 1742, Dr Samuel Stringer was most likely to have been called in to treat him. Some time in the 1750’s Dr Samuel Stringer moved to London where he died in about 1759.

Samuel’s daughter, Jane Stringer, set herself up as a milliner and linen draper in Newcastle at Steps House, Newcastle, which is now the site of the NatWest Bank. She married Robert Rhodes, grocer of Newcastle in 1763 at Whitmore Parish church where she is described as a milliner. It was very unusual for entries of women to include an occupation and this clearly indicates that she was an independent businesswoman. They were both Dissenters. Her husband supplied goods to Josiah Wedgwood at Burslem and Etruria.

Robert Rhodes and Josiah Wedgwood attempted to persuade a Mr Yates of Warrington to take over as Unitarian minister in Newcastle in 1777. Robert Rhodes also appointed Josiah Wedgwood as one of his executors.

In conclusion Mr Dobrasczyc throws light on Josiah Stringer and Josiah Wedgwood and their family’s connection with the Unitarian church in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

(The Editor would like to thank Wendy Wood for this review)

Sandra Burgess gave a very interesting talk to a very appreciative audience.

In 1753 a proposed Bill for Registration and Census was defeated by the House of Lords, because it would interfere with civil rights but 83 years later in 1836 the Births and Deaths Registration Act was passed, closely followed by the Marriage Act in 1837. Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages then became law in England and Wales, in 1855 for Scotland and 1864 in Ireland. Between 1837 and 1874, although not obligatory, a person could be fined if he refused to give information.

Before 1874 some deaths escaped registration but after 1874 registration became compulsory. although some deaths, in the workhouse, for example, escaped registration. Illegitimate children did not necessarily have the father’s name registered but after 1875 a father could accept paternity in the presence of the registrar. Quite often the space for the father’s name would have been left blank and lies were often told. Previous surnames were sometimes entered; maiden names or surnames of deceased husbands were used.

In the case of divorce, the state was usually declared as ‘single’. Six weeks was the limit in which to register a birth, after this time there would be a fine, consequently sometimes parents lied about the date of birth. Some births still escaped registration as in the case of Gypsies or travellers. As family historians we are strongly advised to check spellings very carefully as errors and omissions were easily made. Cross-references are recommended. Interestingly, Christian names can be changed within 12 months of the original registration.

As historians we also need to be aware that occasionally ‘pet’ names were used in registration rather than the correct Christian names. Regarding surnames, we need to be aware of the names beginning with ‘H’; as, in verbal translation, it is sometimes dropped and Hanson becomes Anson, for example.

Before 1875 the causes of death could be, and often was, vague. Sometimes there was even a blank where the cause of death should have been. At this time details could be as much as 30-40% inaccurate.

Sandra is enthusiastic about her subject and her talk was very much enjoyed.

(My thanks go to Joan Tomkinson for this review)

One of the members of the rescue party was Private George Bennett of the 1/5th North Staffords:

"I was on mining duty when I discovered there was gas in the sap. I informed the officer in charge and three officers and one sergeant went to find out if it was fit to continue working in, and on entering the sap they were overcome. On knowing this, I and two more put a wet sandbag on over our heads and entered the sap to get them out. We got two officers out, and then we had to give up for a few minutes to get breath. After being driven back a few times we succeeded in getting the other officer out alive, and then I was overcome by gas myself, and remember no more until half an hour later, when to my sorrow the other men told me that they had got to the Sergeant who was furthest in, and found he was dead."

Private W. Edwards, a soldier from Audley serving with the 1/5th North Staffords, also took part in the rescue attempt:

"Hearing a cry for volunteers to go to the assistance of some officers and one non-commissioned officer, I was the first to go, and succeeded in dragging one of the officers about eight yards when he got fast and I could not shift him. I tried all I could for about three minutes, and was almost overcome by gas, when another man came to my assistance. Feeling I could not do much more without a wet rag, I reached a wet sandbag and went back with the bag over my mouth to the other officer, whom we got back. Afterwards, I and one of the other chaps who had helped me with the officers became unconscious. Some of the other chaps worked splendidly also, but were too late to save the sergeant, who was a very nice non-com. The man who helped me got a D.C.M., but somehow I got missed. Never mind, I have the satisfaction of knowing I did the best I could."

Richard Molyneux, the eldest son of Sir Richard Molyneux of Sefton, first Viscount Molyneux Maryborough, was born about 1623. Lord Molyneux has remained a shadowy figure. Virtually nothing is known of his character or how his contemporaries regarded him. Furthermore most secondary accounts have failed to document in full the contribution Molyneux made to the Royalist side in a career which saw him rise to the rank of brigade commander and led to his fighting as far north as Cumberland, as far south and east as Brentford and as far west as Montgomeryshire.

There is no direct evidence that Molyneux participated in the disastrous defeat of Bryon’s army at Nantwich on 25th January 1644. It seems likely, however, that he was involved in the campaign prior to the battle. Molyneux was active around Audley, Staffordshire, about 12th January at the time when Byron was busy attempting to thwart Fairfax’s plans to put together a relief column at Stafford, a column designed to raise the Royalist siege of Nantwich.

Given that the Barthomley ‘massacre’ had occurred on the 23^rd December 1643, the phrase ‘active around Audley’ takes on a new meaning.

Betley A parsonage impropriated, held by Edward Egerton Esq., worth £20 p.a. Curate Ralph Eaton,

without Orders. Pension £8. No preacher.

Talke A chapel. Reader Thomas Beech. Stipend 4s; without Orders. No preacher.

The description of Vicar Kelsall as a worldling, i.e. a worldly person, seems to imply a lack of spiritual conviction.

I was very sorry to hear at this month’s meeting of the death of Ann Pointon, aged 61.  Ann was a member when we started to run the society by a committee in the early 1990’s and she was then a long-standing member of the society.  Eventually other interests crowded out her family history and she left the committee.  This was a matter of regret to me as Ann was an important member.  Her contributions were good and helpful and she was conscientious in carrying out those things she committed herself to.  I felt we had lost someone very important to the society. 

’61 is no age’, as we say, and I think Ann’s loss is now felt on a more important and general level.

Ian Bailey