Shirleys of Burslem
Staffordshire, England
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Shirleys of Burslem (and Wolstanton), Staffordshire

Sent by Belinda in Feb 2013 (with additional info added by editor)

Jesse Shirley. He was born March 6th 1791, and christened on March 20th at St John the Evangelist Church Hanley. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Shirley. I can find no more detail of this generation.)

Jesse married Jane Knight in 1811.

He died in 1828 and Jane married again, to John Bourne in 1834. When John died he left his Bone Works to his step-sons, Joseph and Jesse, which was the beginning of Jesse Shirley's Bone and Flint Mill which is still around as Jesse Shirley and Son now, with a fifth generation Mike Shirley (officially Jesse Crawford Michael) in charge.

The original mill is a now the Etruria Industrial Museum. And the third generation Jesse (born 1848) went on to become Mayor of Hanley.

Jesse and Jane had 5 children, all born in Hanley.

1. Joseph, Supposedly the lineage below (need proof)
2, John, born c1815
3. Mary Ann, born c 1817
4. Jesse (another one) born c1819., who went on to found the Bone and Flint Mill,
5. Benjamin, born c1821.

The lineage shown above already appears on this website.

Joseph Shirley of Vine House Burslem christened in Hanley on 25 August 1813. His 1861 and 1871 census profiles say he was born in Hanley but living in Burslem parish Staffs at the time. Joseph is listed on his son William Shirley's (and Louisa's) marriage certificate as a salesman. In 1861 the family lived at Vinehouse, 194 Newcastle Road, Burslem, together with 9 of their children, Joseph's sister-in-law, Lucy Mary Orton Walker, Emma's younger sister and 2 servants, so a large household. Occupation Earthenware Manufacturer. He was co-executor of his brother's 1875 will. living at the time at Longport in Staffordshire, occupation: Agent. Joseph died on March 8th 1876. Probate for his will was first put at under £8,000, but later revised to Under £10,000. So quite wealthy. His estate was mentioned in the Stafford Sentinal for 6 May 1876 (and 20 May). Executors were Emma Orton Shirley, John Shirley and Charles Cooper.

15 April 1876, The Will of Joseph Shirley late of Longport in the Parish of Burslem in the County of Stafford Earthen- ware Manufacturer's Agent who died 8 March 1876 at Longport was proved at the Principal' Registry by Emma Orton Shirley of Longport Widow the Relict John Shirley of Longport Potter's Manager the. Son and Charles Cooper of Stoke- upon-Trent in the said County Post Master the Executors, L8000 (re-sworn at 10000)

married 1) Lydia_______ about 1835. Lydia died and was buried on December 30th 1847 at St Paul's Burslem, only 6 days after the birth of her 6th child, where all the children were christened.

married 2) Emma Orton Walker in April 1849; She was born c1822 in Edinburgh. By 1881 Emma Orton was a widow living with her daughters Elizabeth M and Emma and one servant. at 169 Howard Place, Stoke on Trent. By 1891 she was living alone.

children:

1(i). Jane Shirley christened 4 December 1836 at Burslem Staffordshire, She married Charles Cooper on 1 October 1868, Burslem, Stafford, England .

1(ii). Kitty Ann Shirley christened 24 January 1839 at Burslem Staffordshire. She married William Bates on 10 Sep 1862 Burslem, Stafford, England.

1(iii). William Shirley christened 25 December 1840 at St Paul's Burslem; He was about 7 years old when his mother died, and 9 when his father remarried. In 1861 he lived in lodgings in Chorlton-upon-Medlock, part of inner city Manchester, working as a druggists' assistant, but later gives his occupation as a chemist. On Nov 9th 1864 in Walton on the Hill, (now called Walton and a suburb of Liverpool West Derby) Sometime around 1869-1870 they moved to Wolstanton. Following the family through the censuses, in 1871 William and Louisa lived at 1, Lower Marsh, Wolstanton. In 1881, their address was 71 Newport Lane, Burslem, This time Louisa is listed as the head of the household, Again in 1891 Louisa and daughter Emma Louisa are listed as joint heads of the household, but William was listed on the census as a visitor at an address West Derby, the home of his cousin William Hillman (misspelt again as Helliman). Louisa's address was then 118, Liverpool Court, where she and Emma lived with Lilian, Constance, George and Clara., the others presumably having left home by then. Two men called William Shirley died in 1897 in Wolstanton, one of them must be our William. Louisa is described as a widow in the 1901 census.

married Louisa Hillman. Their "intended" marriage bond was dated 2 November 1864 and to be held at St. Chrysostom, Walton-On-The-Hill, Lancashire; both bride and groom were age 21. She was born in Nottingham and christened at St Paul's Nottingham on September 12th 1842. In 1861 Louisa Hillman was a live-in waitress at the Bath Hotel, 148 South Street, Great Crosby. Louisa died in Burslem in 1904, while living at Port Vale Street

children:

2(i). Joseph Walter Shirley born about 1866 at West Derby Lancashire, christened on October 1866 at Burslem, age 14 in 1881 census, his occupation was a warehouse boy potter.

Possibly the Joseph Walter Shirley, a post office clerk, who in 1911 lived in Friars' Wood Road, Newcastle under Lyme with his wife Lizzie, with whom he had 4 children, Arthur, born c1886, Hilda Mabel, born c1893, Evelyn Lucian, born c1897, and George, born, c 1901.

2(ii). Emma Louisa Shirley born in 1868 West Darby, Lancashire - although by the time she was 4 the family had moved to Wolstanton. Could she have met her future husband William Adams while he was in Liverpool and belonged to the Cycling Club, and she was visiting old friends/relatives? The Hillman family, her mothers relatives, all lived there. She was the second of the 10 children. She was a drapers' assistant before she married, like her sisters Lilian and Constance and Clara Georgina. She married William Adams in 1898. She moved with William and her 3 children to Llandudno, North Wales for William's health. She died possibly at Clarence Road, Llandudno, in February 1944. She and probably her husband William Adams are buried in the cemetery of Llanrhos Church, Llandudno.

2(iii). Florence Edith Shirley born 1869 in Knotty Ash, West Derby Lancashire, christened 30 December 1870 at Wolstanton, she never married. She died at Carmen Silva Road, Llandudno, late 1946

2(iv). Charles William Shirley born at Wolstanton, christened with Florence above., born in 1870. They lived in Wolstanton at the time of 1881 census. He died on April 16 1943, leaving £6,999/16s/1d.

married Evelyn Pidduck in 1901/2 in Congleton. She was born in 1876 in Macclesfield, her parents wereThomas and Ellen Pidduck ,

children:

3(i). Thomas Hugh Fitton Shirley born in Congleton in 1903. He was a company director, and he died at Walton Lodge, Stafford Road, Stone on September 20th 1979.

3(ii). Leslie Pidduck Shirley born Congleton 1905 and died 1992 listed as a canal carrier

3(iii). Ellen Fitton Shirley born in Congleton in 1907, married Arthur Bladen,

2(v). Lilian Shirley born in 1871 in Longport, Staffordshire, christened 24 February 1874 at Burslem. In 1911 she was a drapers' assistant. She married The Old Cock in 1924. He proposed on the way home from sister Jessie's funeral. She also died at Carmen Silva Road

2(vi). Constance Mary Shirley born in 1873 in Longport, Staffs, christened with Lilian at Burslem on 24 February 1874. She never married. She was also a drapers' assistant. She died at Carmen Silva Road in the 1950s.

2(vii). Jessie Shirley She married William Walker, (in 1911 a bank manager), at Burslem on April 19th 1900.

"He was known as "The Old Cock", He allegedly couldn't keep a maid long, and used to chase Josie and Consie round the garden, and once famously groped Enid under the family lunch table."

2(viii). John Woodward Shirley born December 6th 1877 at Burslem. He died before his first birthday.

2(ix). George Orton Shirley born 11 March 1879 at Wolstanton, and was a railway clerk there. He emigrated to Canada (1905?) where he became a bookkeeper. He enlisted in the Canadian Infantry (159th Battalion) in 1916, while living in Sudbury, Ontario. He died in a veteran's hospital in Winnipeg in 1965. Shirleys of Canada

George Orton Shirley was the son of Louisa Hillman and William Shirley, a commission agent. He emigrated to Canada (ca. 1905) and worked on trains and as a bookkeeper in gold mining towns. He was a pioneer in my hometown of Red Lake in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. He served in the First World War, and died in a veteran's hospital in 1965 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. On one mining employment record dated 1941, he listed his next-of-kin as "Mrs. William Adams, Llandudno, North Wales."

2(x). Clara Georgina Shirley born in 1884, at Milton, Staffordshire, and christened in Wolstanton on 3 April 1889. She was also a draper's assistant in 1901. She is named on records up to 1911 when she was visiting her sister Jessie in Halifax, but nothing more known

1(iv). Lydia Shirley christened 17 April 1843 at Burslem Staffs, still living with her father and stepmother in 1871 census. Lydia married Alfred Talbot, a marine broker.

1(v). John Shirley christened 16 March 1846 at Burslem Staffs. He was named co-executor of his father's 1876 will, identified as a potters manager living at Longport Staffordshire

1(vi). Jesse Shirley christened 24 December 1847, and was buried on 26 December 1847, died young

1(vii). Henry Shirley (Harry) christened 10 June 1852 at Burslem Staffordshire; living with parents in 1871, age 19

1(viii). Elizabeth Mary Shirley christened 18 April 1854 at Burslem Staffordshire; living with parents in 1871, age 17

1(ix). Emma Shirley born about 1856. Not shown in 1871 family household

1(x). George Jesse Shirley (twin) born 10 October 1857 and christened 12 Novemeber 1857at St Paul's Burslem Staffordshire; Living in parent's household in 1871, ages 13

1(xi) Joseph Orton Shirley (twin) born on 10 October 1857 and christened 12 Novemeber 1857 at St Paul's Burslem Staffordshire; Living in parent's household in 1871, ages 13.

1(xii). Marianne Shirley born about 1860. Living with parents in 1871, age 11; visiting her half sister, Lydia in 1901, at 10 Cambridge Street, Mt Pleasant, Liverpool.

 


Edward Sherley born about 1829, Conisdon, Oxfordshire, Farm laborer, Crown Hotel yard, Lived Burlsem in 1881 census, age 52.

married Ellen ______ She was born about 1836, Waleby, Oxford Co.

children:

2(i). Edward Shirley born about 1862, Oxfordshire, age 19 in 1881 census, He was a potter

2(ii). Ann Shirley born about 1865, Oxfordshire, age 16 in 1881 census, She was a pottress

2(iii). William Shirley born about 1867, London, Middlesex, age 14 in 1881 census, He was a potter

married Elizabeth Ward on 5 June 1887 at Cobridge, Burslem, She was the daughter of Michael Ward

2(iv). Ellen Shirley baptised 13 October 1872, at St John, Burslem, Staffordshire, age 9 in 1881 census, She was a pottress; She married John Bamford on 30 Jun 1890 at St. Paul's, Burslem,

2(v). Henry Shirley born about 1874, Burslem, Staffordshire, age 7 in 1881 census

2(vi). Elizabeth Shirley born about 1877, Macclesfield, Cheshire, age 4 in 1881 census

2(vii). John Shirley born about 1880, Burslem, Staffordshire, age 10 months in 1881 census


1881 Burslem Census

Louisa Shirley b. 1843 (38yrs), Nottingham, Nottingham Co., MARRIED, 70 Newport Lane, Burslem
Joseph 14 yrs, Liverpool, Lancashire Co., Warehouse Boy potter
Louisa 13 yrs, ditto, scholar
Charley 10 yrs, Wolstanton, Stafford Co.
William 9 yrs, Burslem, Stafford Co.
Constance 6 yrs, ditto
Jessie (dau) 5 yrs, ditto
George 2 yrs, ditto

William Shirley b. 1846 (35yrs), Chell, Stafford Co., Wheeling ashes in Forge, lodger at: Joseph Hales, Chapel Lane, Wolstanton,

Olive Shirley b. 1846 (35yrs), Washerwall, Stafford Co., Charwoman, New St., Burslem
John 10 yrs, Whetley More, Stafford Co, scholar
Joseph 7 yrs, Milton, Stafford Co., scholar
Sarah Ann 6 month, ditto
2 lodgers

William Shirley b. 1830 (51ysr), Burslem, Stafford Co., Waggoner, 17 Davenport St., Burslem
Elizabeth 46 yrs, Smallthorne, Stafford Co.
Mary 14 yrs, Burslem, Stafford Co.

Samuel Shirley b. 1860 (21yrs), Burslem, Stafford Co., Bread baker, Station St., Burslem
Lodger at: Thomas Daniels

John Shirley b. 1847 (34yrs), Burslem, Stafford Co., Potters manager, Newcastle St. Ivy Cottage, Burslem
Ellen 30 yrs, Mirltey, Essex Co.
Canstance E. 5 yrs, Peckham, Surrey Co.
Gertrude 4 yrs, Burslem
2 servants

William Shirley b. 1842 (39yrs), Burslem, Stafford Co., Flint Glass cutter, 37 Freehold Terrace, Burslem
Ann 35 yrs, ditto
Thomas L. 17 yrs, Wolstanton, Stafford Co.
Marian (dau), 15 yrs, ditto
William 12 yrs, Burslem, Stafford Co.
Elizabeth 8 yrs, ditto
Eva 6 yrs, ditto
1 lodger

Burslem Cemetery
in loving memory of/William SHIRLEY,/
of 12 Furlong Place, Burslem./
who died February 2nd 1897,/
aged 54 years./
also Ann, his beloved wife/
who died May 11th 1907,/
in her 62nd year./
"Father in thy gracious keeping,/
leave we now our servants sleeping"./
and of George Frederick GRIMSHAW,/
dearly loved husband of Marian GRIMSHAW/
of Holly Bank? Whitfield Manchester,/
and son in law of the above./
??? was Organist and Choirmaster of Stand Church Whitfield/
who died March 23rd 1937 aged 71 years./
also of the aforenamed/Marian GRIMSHAW,/
born May 12th 1865. died January 20th 1949.

Benjamin Shirley b. 1845 (36yrs), Wolstanton, Stafford Co., Potters Presser, 28 Upper Church St., Burslem
Eliza 21 yrs, Radway Green, Stafford Co.,
Benjamin 6 yrs, Turnstall, Stafford Co., Scholar
Alice 1 yr, Burslem, Stafford Co.

George Shirley b. 1854 (27yrs), Burslem, Stafford Co., Potters Gilder, visitor at John Smith Mandley’s, 8 Shaw St., Burslem

Elizabeth Shirley b. 1866 (15yrs), Tunstall, Stafford Co., Scholar, 50 Furlong Lane, Burslem
Sister in law of Michael Tunnicliffe

Henry Shirley b. 1853 (28yrs), Burslem, Stafford Co., Manufacturer Manager, Whitehall, Wolstanton–Chatterly
Kate 28 yrs, ditto
Mary Ann (sister), 21 yrs, ditto
1 servant

Edward Sherley b. 1829 (52yrs), Conisdon, Oxford Co., Farm laborer, Crown Hotel yard, Burlsem
Ellen 45 yrs, Waleby, Oxford Co.
Edward 19 yrs, Oxford, Oxford Co., Potter
Ann 16 yrs, ditto, Pottress
William 14 yrs, London, Middlesex Co., Potter
Ellen 9 yrs, Burslem, Stafford Co., Scholar
Henry 7 yrs, ditto, ditto
Elizabeth 4 yrs, Macclesfield, Cheshire Co.
John 10 months, Burslem, Stafford Co.

John Shirley b. 1832 (29yrs), Burslem, Stafford Co., Sagar maker (potter), visiting Alfred Challinor and wife, Emma 42 yrs, born Hanley, Stafford Co., 40 Newfield, Wolstanton

Burslem Parish Burials

1836 Feb 7 Thomas 2 yrs. 4 months St. Paul

1837 May 5 Mary Ann infant St. John

Jesse Shirley
birth: 1813
death: Burslem, Stafford, England
burial: 17 Aug 1862

Mary Ann Shirley
birth: 1837
burial: 05 May 1837 Burslem, Stafford, England

Eliza Shirley
birth: 1839
burial: 23 Jun 1839 Burslem, Stafford, England

Mary Ann Shirley
birth: 1870
burial: 24 Jan 1872 Burslem, Stafford, England

Marriages

Mary Jane GRAY b: Abt. 1868 married Thomas Leonard SHIRLEY b: Abt. 1864 m: 20 December 1886 in Burslem, Stafford, England Father: William Shirley Fact 1: December 1886 glasscutter

Kitty Anne Shirley marriage: 10 Sep 1862 Burslem, Stafford, England
parents: Joseph Shirley
spouse: William Bates

Jane Shirley marriage: 01 Oct 1868 , Burslem, Stafford, England
parents: Joseph Shirley
spouse: Charles Cooper

Olive Shirley marriage: 04 Apr 1825 Burslem, St.John, Stafford, England
spouse: James Forrester

Eliza Shirley marriage: 03 Aug 1828 Burslem, St.John, Stafford, England
spouse: William Williams

Eliza Shirley marriage: 09 Jul 1832 Burslem, St.John, Stafford, England
spouse: William Broughton Green

Mary Shirley, John Hackney, 1792, Burslem Staffordshire (Pallots Marriages)

Royal Navy Service Records

Name Shirley, William Edward 15 February 1860 ADM 188/99
Official Number: 91830
Place of Birth: Burslem, Staffordshire

Misc.

1834 History, Gazetter, and Directory of Staffordshire

Shirley, Thos, bookpr, Fountain Place, Burslem (Potteries)

1851 Slaters Directory of Birmingham, Worcester and the Potteries

The Potteries

Shirley, Benjm. Shoeing smith, Dale Hall, Burslem

The Bankruptcy Act, 1869. In the County Court of Staffordshire, holden at Hanley, Burslem, and Tunstall. In the Matter of Proceedings for Liquidation by Arrangement or Composition with Creditors, instituted by William Shirley, of White Hall, Longport, in the parish of Wolstanton, in the county of Stafford, Commission Merchant. "NOTICE is hereby given, that a First General Meeting of the creditors of the above-named person has been summoued to be held at my offices, Furlong-place, Burslem, on the 27th day of October, 1874, at twelve o'clock at noon precisely.—Dated this 10th day of October, 1874. F. CREED MAYEK, Furlong-place, Burslem, Attorney for the said William Shirley. THE LONDON GAZETTE, OCTOBER 20, 1874

21 Feb 1872. [vellum] Indenture being a Conveyance of four messuages or dwellinghouses land and hereditaments situate in Sneyd’s Croft near Newport Road in the parish of Burslem in the County of Staffordshire dated 21 February 1872, Mr William Astin, farmer of Childs Ercal, Shropshire. Lent £600 to William Shirley by Indenture of 25 November 1856. Also party to Indenture of 6 August 1857 to Mrs Mary Ann Wright, Widow of Wolstanton, Staffordshire; Samuel Fitton party to an Indenture dated 24 November 1856; Owner of adjacent property, William Lightfoot; Occupants of one of the cottages: Widow Holdcroft, John Jeffery, Michael Sherlock, and Richard Shirley, former owner of property. Borrowed £600 from William Astin by Indenture of 25 November 1856 which was secured on the property. Defaulted in payment of Mortgage and therefore the property is being sold by William Astin under the Power of Sale. Also party to Indentures of 24 November 1856 and 6 August 1857. Signed and sealed by William Astin. Witnesses: Fred W Tomkinson, Solicitor of Burslem, Staffordshire


Emails

From Belinda Taylor (nee Adams) May 2012

I thought you might be interested to add to your section on the Shirleys of Burslem (and Wolstanton) Staffordshire.

Emma Louisa Adams, nee Shirley, mentioned in the note under George Orton Shirley, was my paternal grandmother. She was the youngest daughter of William Shirley and Louisa Hillman. She died in Llandudno sometime between 1942 and 1950, and is buried in the cemetery in Llanrhos Church there.

She and William A. Adams had 4 children, Dorothy Josephine ( married Frank Wilkes 1940), Louise (who died in childhood), Constance Lilian (who never married) and my father William Shirley Adams, (he married Enid Mary Jones in 1937)

I knew her sisters Florence, Constance and Lilian as a child in Llandudno, where they lived together in Carmen Silva Road. They died there in either late 1940s or early 1950s.

I know that Jessie, who married William James Walker, died while her children were quite young. I think she had three sons, Harold, Shirley and William.

After her death William James Walker married her sister Lilian who became step-mother and Auntie to the three boys.

I knew Jessie's youngest son, William (Uncle Billy to me) well as his and my family used to have holidays in Llandudno. He married Christina, had 3 children, and was still alive in 2007, and lived in Allwoodly, Leeds then.

There is another strand to the Shirley family closely related, connected with Congleton in Cheshire.
1. Clara Shirley, younger than Emma Louisa, was I think her cousin, She married Joseph Keeling who was connected to the Keeling Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent. They had no children and at the time of their death, both killed in a road accident in the early 1950s, lived in Congleton, Cheshire. I don't know her parents names.
2. Ellen Fitton Shirley (married name Bladen) was born in Congleton (again) in 1907. Her brother Leslie Pidduck Shirley, born in Congleton in 1905, died in 1992, in Stone, Staffordshire. There was another brother who was called Fitton Shirley, the youngest I think. These three were cousins of my father, William Shirley Adams.
Their mother was called Evelyn - maiden name unknown, and I don't know their fathers' name. Ellen and Leslie are listed against the will of Thomas Hugh Fitton Shirley who died in Walton Lodge, Stafford Road, Stone on September 20th 1979 - I'm almost sure this is the youngest brother mentioned above. Evelyn also died at this address.

Further to my email of last week, I have a correction to the information. and a small addition.
The correction - Emma Louise was the second child of William Shirley and Louisa Hillman - I have found her listed in the 1871 census as second child, then aged 3.
The addition - Evelyn Shirley, mother of Leslie Ellen and Fitton, was Evelyn Pidduck before her marriage, but I still can't find who she married. I shall keep looking.
Belinda Taylor (nee Adams)


Sent by Belinda in Feb 2013 (with additional info added by editor)

Jesse Shirley. He was born March 6th 1791, and christened on March 20th at St John the Evangelist Church Hanley. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Shirley. I can find no more detail of this generation.)

Jesse married Jane Knight in 1811.
A trade directory has a Jesse Shirley listed as an earthenware manufacturer in Hanley in 1828, this could be him.

He died in 1828 and Jane married again, to John Bourne in 1834. When John died he left his Bone Works to his step-sons, Joseph and Jesse, which was the beginning of Jesse Shirley's Bone and Flint Mill which is still around as Jesse Shirley and Son now, with a fifth generation Mike Shirley (officially Jesse Crawford Michael) in charge.
The original mill is a now the Etruria Industrial Museum. And the third generation Jesse (born 1848) went on to become Mayor of Hanley. Fame!
Google to find much more.

Jesse and Jane had 5 children, all born in Hanley.

1. Joseph, See below
2, John, born c1815
3. Mary Ann, born c 1817
4. Jesse (another one) born c1819., who went on to found the Bone and Flint Mill,
5. Benjamin, born c1821.

The pedigree shown above already appears on the this website. The pedigree below is new

Joseph Shirley of Vine House, Burslem Staffordshire

Joseph Shirley christened in Hanley on 25 August 1813. His 1861 and 1871 census profiles say he was born in Hanley but living in Burslem parish Staffs at the time. Joseph is listed on son William Shirley's (and Louisa's) marriage certificate as a salesman., but he later became an earthenware manufacturer's agent. His estate was mentioned in the Stafford Sentinal for 6 May 1876 (and 20 May). Executors were Emma Orton Shirley, John Shirley and Charles Cooper.

He married 1) Lydia (maiden name unknown) c 1835.

He married 2) Emma Orton Walker in April 1849; She was born c1822 in Edinburgh.

1861 Staffordshire Census

SHIRLEY Joseph of Vine House Head M M 47 Agent In Earthen M.Facturing Staffordshire - Hanley
SHIRLEY Emma Wife M F 39 Scotland - -
SHIRLEY Jane Dau U F 24 Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY Kitty A Dau U F 22 Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY John Son - M 15 Earthen M.Facturer's Cl. Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY Henry Son - M 8 Scholar Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY Elizabeth M Dau - F 7 Scholar Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY George J Son - M 3 Scholar Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY Joseph O Son - M 3 Scholar Staffordshire - Burslem
SHIRLEY Marianne Dau - F 1 Staffordshire - Burslem
WALKER Lucy M O Sislaw U F 27 Scotland - -
STONES William Visitr U M 20 Chemist Lancashire - Manchester
SHAW Sarah Serv U F 24 Cook (Domestic) Staffordshire - Alton
MOUNTFORD Mary A Serv U F 20 Housemaid Staffordshire - Hilderstone
SHIRLEY Emma Dau - F 5 Scholar Staffordshire - Burslem

Joseph and Lydia had 6 children.

1. Jane, christened Dec 4th 1836 at Burslem Staffs, who later married Charles Cooper.
2. Kitty Ann, christened 24 January 1839 at Burslem Staffs. She married William Bates.
3. William - chr 25 Dec 1840 at Burslem Staffs. (see below)
4. Lydia, christened 17th April 1843 at Burslem Staffs, still living with her father and stepmother in 1871 census.
5. John, christened 16 March 1846 at Burslem Staffs. Later became a potters manager.
6. Lastly, Jesse, and here is a tragedy. Jesse was christened on Dec 24th 1847, and was buried on the 26th.
Lydia also died and was buried on December 30th 1847, both at St Paul's Burslem, where all the children were christened.


Joseph and Emma Orton had 6 children

1. Henry, born c1852, but known as Harry, christened June 10th 1852 at Burslem Staffs; living with parents in 1871, age 19
2. Elizabeth Mary, born c1853, christened April 18th 1854 at Burslem Staffs; living with parents in 1871, age 17
3. Emma, born 1856. Not shown in 1871 family household
4 and 5 George Jesse, and Joseph Orton, born on October 10th 1857. and christened at St Paul's Burslem Staffs on Novemeber 12 1857; Living in parent's household in 1871, ages 13.
6. Marianne, born c1860. I found a record of Marianne visiting her half sister, Lydia in 1901, at 10 Cambridge Street, Mt Pleasant, Liverpool. Lydia by then was married to Alfred Talbot, a marine broker.; Living with parents in 1871, age 11

In 1861 the family lived at Vinehouse, 194 Newcastle Road, Burslem, together with 9 of their children, Joseph's sister-in-law, Lucy Mary Orton Walker, Emma's younger sister and 2 servants, so a large household.

Joseph died on March 8th 1876. Probate for his will was first put at under £8,000, but later revised to Under £10,000. So quite wealthy.

By 1881 Emma Orton was a widow living with her daughters Elizabeth M and Emma and one servant. at 169 Howard Place, Stoke on Trent. By 1891 she was living alone.

 

 

William Shirley

He was born in Burslem c1840, christened in St Paul's Burslem on Dec 25th 1840. He was about 7 years old when his mother died, and 9 when his father remarried.
In 1861 he lived in lodgings in Chorlton-upon-Medlock, part of inner city Manchester, working as a druggists' assistant, but later gives his occupation as a chemist.
On Nov 9th 1864 in Walton on the Hill, (now called Walton and a suburb of Liverpool West Derby) he married Louisa Hillman. She was born in Nottingham and christened at St Paul's Nottingham on September 12th 1842
In 1861 Louisa Hillman was a live-in waitress at the Bath Hotel, 148 South Street, Great Crosby.

Sometime around 1869-1870 they moved to Wolstanton.

Following the family through the censuses, in 1871 William and Louisa lived at 1, Lower Marsh, Wolstanton.
In 1881, their address was 71 Newport Lane, Burslem, This time Louisa is listed as the head of the household, Again in 1891 Louisa and daughter Emma Louisa are listed as joint heads of the household, but William was listed on the census as a visitor at an address West Derby, the home of his cousin William Hillman (misspelt again as Helliman). Louisa's address was then 118, Liverpool Court, where she and Emma lived with Lilian, Constance, George and Clara., the others presumably having left home by then.


Louisa died in Burslem in 1904, while living at Port Vale Street
Two men called William Shirley died in 1897 in Wolstanton, one of them must be our William. Louisa is described as a widow in the 1901 census.
They had 10 children - see below

 

 

Emma Louisa Shirley
My grandmother (although I don't remember her) She died when I was 2.

She was born in 1868 West Darby, Lancashire - although by the time she was 4 the family had moved to Wolstanton. Could she have met William Adams while he was in Liverpool and belonged to the Cycling Club, and she was visiting old friends/relatives? The Hillman family, her mothers relatives, all lived there.
She was the second of the 10 children. She was a drapers' assistant before she married, like her sisters Lilian and Constance and Clara Georgina.
She married William Adams in 1898. She moved with William and her 3 children to Llandudno, North Wales for William's health.
She died possibly at Clarence Road, Llandudno, in February 1944.
She and probably her husband William Adams are buried in the cemetery of Llanrhos Church , Llandudno. I remember going to the grave with flowers every summer as a child.

 

Siblings of Emma Louisa

The 1871 census lists Joseph Walter and Emma Louise as being born in West Derby, Lancashire, and Florence Edith at Knotty Ash. Charles William at (Woletanker, probably a house name) Wolstanton. so presumably in 1869 the family moved from Lancashire to Staffordshire.

1.; Joseph Walter, b. 1866 at West Derby Lancs, christened on October 1866 at Burslem. In 1881, age 14, his occupation was a warehouse boy potter.
I think he's possibly Joseph Walter Shirley, a post office clerk, who in 1911 lived in Friars' Wood Road, Newcastle under Lyme with his wife Lizzie, with whom he had 4 children, Arthur, born c1886, Hilda Mabel, born c1893, Evelyn Lucian, born c1897, and George, born, c 1901. Although none of these names ring any bells as Dad's cousins. I feel sure he died before 1916 when his youngest brother, George Orton enlisted in the Canadian Infantry, as Emma Louisa, the next eldest is given as his next of kin.

2. Emma Louisa was the second child, she's listed in 1871 census as being 3 years old, also born in West Derby.

3. Florence Edith, b.1869 in Knotty Ash, West Darby ,christened at Wolstanton on December 30th 1870, she never married.
She died at Carmen Silva Road, Llandudno, late 1946

4. Charles William, b. at Wolstanton, christened with Florence above., born in 1870.
Charles William, married Evelyn Pidduck. She was born in 1876 in Macclesfield, her parents wereThomas and Ellen Pidduck , and they lived in Wolstanton at the time of 1881 census. Charles William and Evelyn married in 1901/2 in Congleton.
He died on April 1 6 1943, leaving £6,999/16s/1d.
Charles and Evelyn had 3 children, 1.) Ellen Fitton, born in Congleton in 1907, married Arthur Bladen, 2.) Leslie Pidduck, born Congleton 1905 and died 1992 listed as a canal carrier, and 3.) .Fitton, whose full name was Thomas Hugh Fitton Shirley, born in Congleton in 1903. He was a company director, and he died at Walton Lodge, Stafford Road, Stone on September 20th 1979. Aunty Evelyn lived here too.
Sue and Phil visited Evelyn, in 1966ish, and then Ellen much later.
Coincidentally, their friend Norman (from Canonbie) knew Fitton.
(Where does the name Fitton come from?) There was a large firm of Fitton & Pidduck who were flour merchants in the area.

 

5. Lilian, born in 1871 in Longport, Staffs, christened at Burslem on Februay 24th 1874. . In 1911 she was a drapers' assistant. She married The Old Cock,(see entry for Jessie below) in 1924. He proposed on the way home from Jessie's funeral. She also died at Carmen Silva Road

6. Constance Mary, born in 1873 in Longport, Staffs, christened with Lilian at Burslem on February 24th 1874. She never married. She was also a drapers' assistant. She died at Carmen Silva Road in the 1950s.

7. Jessie. She married William Walker, (in 1911 a bank manager), at Burslem on April 19th 1900. He was known as "The Old Cock", He allegedly couldn't keep a maid long, and used to chase Josie and Consie round the garden, and once famously groped Enid under the family lunch table. (He'd be arrested now!)
In 1911 the family lived in Lindenhurst, Linden Road, Halifax.
Jessie died in 1923 aged 47 in Halifax.
Jessie and William Walker had 4 sons,
1.Joseph Shirley, b1901, died 1942.
2. Herbert Milnes, b1903,
3. Harold Unsworth b1907 and
4. Billy (William) b. after 1911 (I know he was younger than Mum). Billy Walker lived in Alwoodley Leeds and was still there and rang me when Mum died in 2007.
He married Christina, and they had 3 children. I remember Billy and Christina well, and they used to be at family holidays in Llandudno with their eldest son (whose name I can't remember), staying at Carmen Silva Road with his step-mother, Lilian. I visited them with Sue and Phil when they lived in Leeds. It was a fairly chaotic household, we were given beer and Jaffa cakes, and the youngest child produced a pet? hedgehog with a leg missing who ran round the lounge leaving a trail of blood from his injury!

8. John Woodward, born December 6th 1877 at Burslem. He died before his first birthday. (Where does the name Woodward come from?)

 

9. George Orton, Born March 11 1879 at Wolstanton, and was a railway clerk there. He emigrated to Canada (1905?) where he became a bookkeeper. He enlisted I n the Canadian Infantry (159th Battalion) in 1916, while living in Sudbury, Ontario. He died in a veteran's hospital in Winnipeg in 1965. Google his name and his details come up under Canadian Great War Project.

 

10. Clara Georgina. Born in1884, at Milton, Staffs, and christened in Wolstanton on April 3rd 1889. She was also a draper's assistant in1901.
She is named on records up to 1911 when she was visiting her sister Jessie in Halifax, but I can find no further records of marriage or death

Here is a mystery.
I remember an Auntie Clara and Uncle Jo who came to stay in Llandudno, but this Clara is named on marriage and death certificates as Annie Clara Shirley, birth registered in 1884 also but in Leek, Stafforshire.
She married Jo (Joseph?) Keeling in 1915, and lived in Norton House, Mossley, Congleton at the time of her death in a car accident in 1958, actually recorded as dying on the Congleton Road in Weston-under-Lizard.
They had no children. After her death the house and contents were all auctioned, I remember going to it. She left £16,945 17s 10d.
Joseph was born in 1876 in Congleton, and listed as an earthenware manufacturer. I have a set of plates and dishes made by them. I remember his characteristic of saying everything at least twice. He had 2 sisters, Ruth and Ellen (Nellie). We had coffee with them before the auction. He died on May 31st 1957, leaving £34,624/7/6d.

In the 1940s and 50s, the three sisters Florence Edith (Aunty Florrie), Constance Mary (Aunty Connie) and Lilian (Aunty Lily) all lived together at Carmen Sylva Road, we used to visit them when we were on holiday there and always took them out for coffee to a strange ship-shaped hotel near the paddling pool in Llandudno.

A little local interest here. Carmen Sylva was the pseudonym of author Queen Elisabeth of Romania, who stayed in Llandudno for 5 weeks in 1890. Frank Wilkes and Josephine lived on Romania Crescent.

 

 

 

   


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