Chesterfield

And

District

Family

History

Society

Magazine Number 88 - Sep 2011

ISSN 1467-2693

C.A.D.F.H.S. OFFICERS and COMMITTEE MEMBERS E MAIL ADDRESS mail@cadfhs.org.uk

Chairman Mike Sims 4 Fawn Close Wingerworth Chesterfield

S42 6PZ Vice Chairman Marion Yeldham Members Interest Co-Ordinator Correspondence Secretary Doreen Rodgers 2 Highlow Close Loundsley Green Chesterfield S40 4PG Treasurer Keith Feltham 88 Top Road Calow Chesterfield S44 5SY Membership Secretary Ray Batteson 17 Orchards Way Walton Road Chesterfield S40 3DA Programme Secretary Jo Gott 130 Station Road Brimington Chesterfield S43 1LU Editor/ Magazine Co-Ordinator Carol Morris Members Interest Co-Ordinator 26 Tunstall Green Walton Chesterfield S40 2DY Committee Members John Bradley Terry Cocking Pamela Kemp Neil Wilson

CONTENTS Page

New Members 1 Help wanted 1 CADFHS Programme 2011-12 Jo Gott 4 Fiche copies for sale Ray Batteson 5 Members Meetings April 5th The Brontes, Hathersage and Jane Eyre Marjorie Dunn 5 May 3rd Journey through Brimington by Canal and Rail Philip Cousins 7 July 5th The History of the Queen’s Park Janet Murphy 10 Saddled with Ancestors- Bennetts of Chesterfield Maureen Pearce 13 Obituary Harry Clark 17 STAND UP AND BE COUNTED Mike Sims 18 Editors Jottings Carol Morris 18 Reminders 19 Where to find us St Hugh’s RC Church Littlemoor 20 Chapman Codes Outside Cover

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NEW MEMBERS WELCOME TO THE SOCIETY

No 953. Mr R Bambrick, 124 Princes Road, Hartshill, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7JL e.mail r.bambrick@btinternet.com DOOLEY Clay Cross DBY HOLLINGWORTH Grassmoor DBY LLOYD Hasland DBY No 954. Mr R Borman, 52 Weald Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5EX e.mail rogerborman@hotmail.co.uk HASLAM Ann Chesterfield DBY c 1783-1866 Wife of Anthony HASLAM LIMB Ann Chesterfield DBY c 1799 Wife of Robert LIMB Grassmoor

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Corrections to address and post code. No 932 Mrs E Samuelson 33 Hendham Road Tooting London SW17 7DH – e.mail eileen@esamuelson.co.uk KAY Chesterfield DBY 1860-1880+ KAY Chesterfield DBY 1887-1949+ MADIN Chesterfield DBY 1860

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HELP WANTED Can anyone help with the identification of the members of the following family The gentleman stood in the middle is WILLIAM MILNES b 1853, Saxilby, Lincoln. Who are the other people is the question ? We also know the father of William was HENRY MILNES b 1820, Barnby in the Willows. Notts Our WILLIAM had four sons. William b 1884, Daniel b 1886, John b 1887 and Christopher b 1890. “If” this is a four generation opportunity, could it be Henry seated and if it is a four generation opportunity, who are the other two pictured ?. Thank you Pete Lander Member no 952 Email address rednalretep@yahoo.co.uk

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CADFHS Programme for 2011

6th Sept AGM followed by: Your Family History in Photographs. Preservation and Presentation Debbie Whitehead 4th Oct An 18th century School in crisis Maureen Taylor 8th Nov History of Surnames Roy Yates 6th Dec Christmas party

2012 3rd Jan Research Evening 7th Feb The Victorian Schoolroom Keith Blood 6th March “Bounce –Backers” John Titford 10th April Food and Drink in North Derbyshire in Tudor & Stuart Times Mark Dawson 1st May The Restoration of Cromford Mills Darrell Clark 5th June Research Evening 3rd July Within sight of the Gibbet Ian Morgan

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FICHE COPIES FOR SALE Sept 2011

(These are hand written and are not indexed)

St Bartholemew (Whittington) (some gaps) BAPTISMS 1650-1902 (13 fiche) £8.00 1902-1912 (3 fiche) £2.50 1912-1922 (3 fiche) £3.00 Brampton Methodist BAPTISMS (some gaps) (4 fiche) £3.00 St James the Apostle TEMPLE NORMANTON. MARRIAGES 1868-1919 (1 fiche) £1.25 All Saints HEATH MARRIAGES 1760-1929 (3 fiche) £2.50 St. Thomas’ Brampton, BAPTISMS 1832-1944 (7 fiche) £4.00 MARRIAGES 1832-1972 (11 fiche) £6.00 BURIALS 1832-1974 (6 fiche) £3.50 St Peter & Paul Old Brampton MARRIAGES 1756-1928 (7 fiche) £3.50 MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS (3 fiche) £2.75 St. John’s NEWBOLD MARRIAGES 1861-1920 (7 fiche) £3.75 1920-1937 (4 fiche) £3.00 Christ Church STONEGRAVELS MARRIAGES 1914-1953 (3 fiche) £2.00 Holy Trinity CHESTERFIELD MARRIAGES 1854 1933 (6 fiche) £4.50 St. Paul’s HASLAND/GRASSMOOR MARRIAGES 1851-1923 (3 fiche) £2.00 St Mary & All Saints CHESTERFIELD BAPTISMS 1761-1801 (4 fiche) £3.00 BAPTISMS 1908-1934 (7 fiche) £4.50 MARRIAGES 1761-1822 (6 fiche) £4.00 MARRIAGES 1822-1844 (4 fiche) £3.25 MARRIAGES 1844-1858 (4 fiche) £3.25 MARRIAGES 1858-1871 (4 fiche) £3.25 MARRIAGES 1871-1885 (5 fiche) £4.00 MARRIAGES 1885-1901 (4 fiche) £3.25 MARRIAGES 1901-1916 (4 fiche) £3.50 MARRIAGES 1916-1933 (6 fiche) £4.50

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MARRIAGES 1933-1967 (7 fiche) £5.00 St Mary & All Saints CHESTERFIELD BURIALS 1761-1801 (4 fiche) £3.25 St Laurence (BARLOW) MARRIAGES 1754-1942 (3 fiche) £2.50 Derbyshire Times Extracts MARRIAGES 1880-1894 (3 fiche) £2.00 DEATHS 1880-1894 (12 fiche) £8.00 1851 Chesterfield Town Residents Name Index (2 fiche) £2.00 Copies of the Microfiche can be obtained at the prices shown from Mr R Batteson, 17 Orchards Way, Walton Chesterfield, S40 3DA Please make all payments to C.D.F.H.S. Prices include UK postage, Overseas orders must be paid in Sterling and should include 2 IRC’s to cover postage.

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CD For Sale

The CD contains amongst others:

Beighton baptisms.

Beighton burials.

Beighton grave register.

Earlier than Registers –

Inhabitants of Beighton mentioned in

Eckington Manor Court Rolls,

Names from Beighton Manor Court

Rolls 1586 to 1590,

Scales Terrier – Beighton.

Rating Assessments.

The information on the CD is the result of research done by a group of friends who all have

an interest in Beighton, historically an ancient Derbyshire village with a wrttten history

going back to 1022 but now annexed by the City of Sheffield.Those involved were Doreen

Coyle, Sheila Rigby, Rosemary Richards who wrote the book on the Church of St.Mary,

the late Dorothy Buxton, Eileen Beech and three unknown pupils of Westfield School.

The information was collated and the CD produced by Neil Wilson

Produced in PDF format (Adobe Reader or similar required) and are available for £8.00

each, to order a copy contact Neil Wilson. mail@cadfhs.org.uk

© Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Chesterfield And District Family History Society Web master Neil Wilson

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MEMBERS MEETING 5th April 2011

“The Brontes, Hathersage and Jane Eyre” Talk by Marjorie Dunn illustrated with slides.

Before Marjorie commenced her talk she explained that she was not an expert on the Brontes but was intrigued by them. She also mentioned how fortunate it was that over 700 letters written by the Brontes have survived and of these 400 were written by Charlotte Bronte to her friend Ellen Hussey. The story of the Brontes begins in 1777 in Ireland when Patrick Bronte was born in a poor cottage there. His father was named Hugh and his mother Eleanor. They had four more sons and five daughters. Patrick taught himself to read and by the age of sixteen was teaching other children. The family surname was originally spelt in a variety of ways from Prunty, Brunty and Bruntee. When Patrick went to university at St. John’s College Cambridge his Irish accent led to his name being entered as Bronte and he adopted this spelling perhaps because Nelson was the Duke of Bronte. Patrick graduated as a BA in 1806 and was appointed as a curate in the parish of Wethersfield in Essex. He was ordained as a priest in 1807. He met his future wife Maria Branwell at Woodhouse Grove and they married on 29 December 1812. Their first child was Maria and their second Elizabeth. Over the next eight or nine years they had four more children, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne. The Brontes had a good life but because their family was now bigger they needed more room. In April 1820 they moved to the parsonage at Haworth. In January 1821 Patrick’s wife Maria was taken dangerously ill with cancer and she died on 15 September 1821, she was 38 years old. Patrick was now left with six small children to look after as well as his duties in the parish. Inevitably the children were left to their own devises, however they were not lonely and to amuse themselves they wrote adventure stories in miniature books which have survived. Maria’s sister Elizabeth Branwell had come to Haworth from Penzance to tend her when she was ill and stayed on after her death to look after the children. Aunt Branwell wanted to return to Cornwell so Patrick decided that the children should go to a school for clergymen’s daughters at Cowan Bridge. It is thought that Charlotte Bronte based her novel Jane Eyre on her experiences at the school. The conditions and treatment of the children at the school were not good. The food was greasy and the infected water resulted in two children dying of typhus. Maria became seriously ill and was taken home by her father where she died of consumption on 6 May 1825. She was 11

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years old. Elizabeth also died of consumption on 15 June 1825. Patrick removed Charlotte and Emily from the school and they returned home. In 1831 Charlotte went to Roe Head school and it was here that she made two good friends, Ellen Nussey and Mary Taylor. At this time Charlotte was only 4 feet 7 inches tall, short sighted and had an Irish accent. In 1832 Charlotte, aged 16 left school and returned home where she taught her younger sisters Emily and Anne. In 1835 Charlotte and Emily returned to Roe Head, Emily as a pupil and Charlotte as a teacher. After just 3 months Emily returned home unwell. The sisters eventually took up various jobs, Emily as a teacher and Charlotte and Anne as governess but none of them were happy in these jobs. In 1841 Charlotte and Emily joined their friend Mary Taylor in Brussels to study languages. It was here that Charlotte fell for her tutor, Monsieur Heger. He did not reciprocate her feelings so she decided to return to Haworth. In the meantime her brother Branwell had become a writer, been sacked from his job and after an affair with a married woman he turned to drink. Branwell, Emily and Anne all died of consumption leaving Charlotte as the only surviving child of Patrick Bronte. Marjorie then showed pictures to illustrate her talk. The first was a portrait of Charlotte drawn by George Richmond. Charlotte was reputedly ugly and shy but this picture shows her as an attractive young woman and it is said that she received four or five proposals of marriage. The next picture was of Patrick Bronte. He was accused of being cruel to his children because he slept with a pistol under his pillow and discharged the bullets out of the front door but this was to prevent a fire in the house. Pictures of the little houses in Haworth show what an unhealthy place it was. In 1850 the Health Inspector reported that there were 53 manure stacks in the area and that the “juices” ran out of these when it was hot, there were flies and they stank. The drinking water was putrid, average life expectancy at the time was 25.8 years and 40 out of 100 children died by the age of 6. The graveyard in Haworth was situated on a hill and when it rained the “juices” ran down the hill to the town. Some of the gravestones were flat topped which meant that the bodies took twice as long to decompose. In addition the drinking water well was situated in the churchyard.

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One picture showed the miniature books that the Bronte children produced. These were less than 13 centimetres square and written by hand designed to look like book-print. In 1845 Charlotte spent three weeks in Hathersage and it is believed that the visit was a major influence in shaping the novel Jane Eyre. The surname of the heroine is thought to have been taken from the medieval brasses of the Eyre family in Hathersage church and that the 15c Eyre home of North Lees may have been the inspiration for Rochester’s Thornfield Hall. Charlotte’s own journey across the moors from Sheffield to Hathersage may have provided the setting for Jane Eyre’s flight from Rochester and Hathersage to become the village of Morton. Charlotte discovered a notebook of Emily’s poems and decided to publish them together with some of her own and her sister Anne’s under the Pseudonyms of Currer, Acton and Ellis Bell. Bell being the middle name of Patrick Bronte’s Curate Arthur Bell Nicholls. The book was not a commercial success but spurred the sisters on to get their novels Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall published. Despite the success of her books Charlotte, became lonely. She decided to accept the proposal of her father’s curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls whom she had known for seven years. Sadly they had only been married for nine months when she too died of consumption. She is buried in the family vault in the church at Haworth. The parsonage at Haworth is open to the public and its rooms are laid out as they would have been when the Bronte family lived there. The vote of thanks was given by Yvonne Mason. Marjorie’s latest book “From Beyond the Crooked Spire” about French Prisoners of war in Chesterfield is now available.

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MEMBERS MEETING 3rd

MAY 2011

“Journey through Brimington by Canal and Rail” Talk by Philip Cousins using a Powerpoint presentation Philip began his talk by saying that the canal now has a brighter future because of the plans to restore it for leisure purposes. Sadly though a lot of the old railway lines have disappeared.

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The journey by canal from Brimington towards Chesterfield starts with a picture of a converted Reliant Robin car in the Chesterfield Canal. This was known as the “Bobbin Robin”. Building of the canal was started in 1771 by the engineer James Brindley and was completed by John Varley in 1777. The canal was successful for over 100 years but as the railways developed the canal traffic declined and in 1907 when part of the Norwood tunnel collapsed the Derbyshire section was isolated. A picture of Hollingwood Lock house taken in 2009 shows a small cottage. This is now being restored and extended to provide a small café on the canal. Hounsfield Bridge over the canal was named after George Hounsfield who was a craft metal and fork manufacturer. Dixon’s Lock was the first lock to be reconstructed by the Canal Society in 1994. Richard Dixon was producing fine glass in the early 1700’s using Sheffield plate. This was where the name Whittington Glasshouse originated. A picture of Bilby Lane Bridge taken in 2009 shows that it is now a popular spot for fishermen. It was formerly a derelict and polluted part of the canal. Going west from Bilby Bridge Road towards Whittington and New Whittington is the site of the start of what was to have been the Brimington by-pass, but it never happened. A plan shows the proposed line of the by-pass over the canal. In 1922 the Derbyshire Times reported that a new arterial road was proposed and that Charles Markham had a scheme to fill in the canal but again it never happened. Moving on to Blue Bank Lock, here one picture shows the hull of an old boat. In 1892 the MSLR new railway diverted the canal so that they could use the old route for the railway. The newspapers at the time reported that a lad of 13 was crushed here and although he was taken to Chesterfield Hospital by steam engine he was dead on arrival. Another young lad died in similar circumstances a week earlier and the inquest criticised the Railway Company for not sending a representative to the inquest. A notorious murder took place on 3 April 1886 at Blue Bank Wood. Herbert Crookes of Cutthorpe was taking a short cut over the bridge from Clowne to Cutthorpe. He was robbed of £70 and killed. His screams were heard at the New Inn at Wheeldon Mill. Wheeldon Mill Lock on Newbridge Lane was restored in the 1990’s and opened in 2001. It is believed that the name “Newbridge” was coined

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because it was a new bridge to replace the old “Goose Acre Bridge”. This bridge was closed in 1603/4 to prevent infection spreading from Brimington when 5 men and 4 women died of the plague in Brimington. Wheeldon Mill Lock is thought to derive its name from a Mr. Wilden whose mill was for sale there in 1789. The mill had a water wheel for flint grinding which in turn produced chert for use in the manufacture of bone china. The present car park at Wheeldon Mill has a few remnants of the water mill’s tail- race. In 1892 Wheeldon Mill was the site of a turnpike road with a wharf to the canal together with a row of cottages which have survived. There was also a pottery here and records show that the cottages were owned by Smith and Bellfield who produced stoneware bottles. A plan of the area also shows that there was a brickworks at Wheeldon Mill and bricks at a local cottage are stamped “Wheeldon Mill”. John Farey’s book records that bones were bought to Wheeldon Mill from London (Chatham) to manufacture bone-meal. Greyhound racing took place at Wheeldon Mill from 1945 until it closed in 1992. It was also the site of a colliery drift mine. The Railway Bridge near Sainsburys was built in 1830 by George Stephenson to carry the North Midland Railway over the canal. A North Midland Railway construction drawing of the skew bridge shows its unusual design and photographs of the bridge show the marks made by the towing ropes. The journey by rail from Brimington is on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway – the MSLR. This line opened in 1899. The railway line ran alongside the canal at Blue Bank. A photo taken at New Whittington shows the building of Hurst Nelson & Co. Ltd. This later became The Wagon Repair Works. . In 1856 there was a furnace in this area producing puddle steel for places as far away as India. This closed in 1887.

The line from Bilby Lane to Staveley became derelict in 1986. This was the site of the Railway stockyard. One photograph shows a Railway Tank Engine 1921, an ex Midland Railway Deeley 0-4-0. This is now housed at Barrow Hill Engine Shed.

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An aerial view of Staveley works taken just after the Second World War shows the clock tower, the sidings and the signal box. Pictures taken in 1955 show the traditional wooden station buildings. The gardens on the platforms were landscaped and the railings were painted “malachite green”. The same view taken today has little trace of the station but the stone platform edges have been taken away to be used in future restoration work. The last picture Philip showed was taken in 1947at the Devonshire works at Staveley and shows the men travelling home on the train on a “workman’s ticket” for 1/6d. This signalled the end of Philip’s talk. The vote of thanks was given by Clyde Anderson.

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MEMBERS MEETING 5th JULY 2011

Talk by Janet Murphy “The History of the Queen’s Park”, using a Power Point presentation. (Janet is chairman of The Friends of the Queen’s Park). Before Janet began her talk she showed a picture of the statue that stands in the conservatory in the park. Member Carol Morris explained that the little girl was her great aunt, Alice Evelyn Sybil Lee, nicknamed Lalla. Lalla had picked a rose from her father’s garden without permission. She heard footsteps and hid the rose behind her back, finger to her lips. She turned to see her father, Herbert Lee, a stone mason. He carved a statue of her in that pose. The statue stood in the family garden and friends wanted to acquire it. Herbert gave it to the council to stand in Queen’s Park, where it remains to this day.

Janet began her presentation with a picture of Chesterfield dated 1849. By 1887 the town had not changed much, the borough of Chesterfield covering approximately half a square mile. In 1887 prominent local inhabitants wanted to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. They came up with three choices: A public recreation ground

A medical ward at the hospital Or to pay off the debt on the Stephenson Memorial Hall

They chose to buy land for recreation. There were already two recreation grounds, one at Saltergate and one at Tennyson Avenue but people had to pay. As people were poor, particularly in the Dog Kennel area, it was decided to purchase land that would belong to the people of Chesterfield. Two pieces

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of land were acquired, one of 19 acres for £3,000 and another of 5 acres for £1,000. An appeal was launched to raise the money and by August 1887 sufficient had been promised to go ahead. On 21 September 1887, later than most, Chesterfield celebrated the Queen’s Golden Jubilee with a procession through the town. Members may recall a recent article in the Derbyshire Times about a souvenir four page silk copy of the Derby Courier produced in 1887 to commemorate the event. A bazaar was held by local ladies to raise money to purchase the land. The council proposed to close the park so many days a year and charge admission to produce income to maintain the park. There were objections and in 1890 a Public Health Amendment Act was passed allowing councils to close parks for up to 12 days a year and this still happens when there are cricket matches in the park. A competition was held to design the park and was won by William Barron a landscape artist who had worked at Elvaston Castle. Sadly he died shortly after the plans were submitted but his son oversaw the work.

The park was closed during 1893 for the landscape contractor, Joseph Tomlinson, to begin work. Finally the park was ready and on 2 August 1893 the council exercised its right to close the newly laid out park for Chesterfield Horticultural Society to hold a flower show and more than 4,000 people paid admission. In the 1890’s the park became an important part of town life. A photo of the 1899 flower show includes South Lodge, fashionably dressed ladies and children with flower decked prams.

In 2001 when the park was being restored people were asked for their

recollections of the park. One old scratched photo shows a bridge over

Brampton Railway and a footbridge over the river Hipper.

Another photo of the park shows the pigeon house (no longer there), the embankment to the railway and the Market Station. It also shows North Lodge the original entrance to the park.

In 1895 a start was made on the construction of the railway embankment and the Market Station for the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway. As these blocked the main access to the park the Railway Company had to make a new road from the Market Place to what is now Park Road. It also had to provide £500 to build a new cottage in case the original was damaged, however, the council used the money to repair North Lodge and to build South Lodge which became the park keeper’s house.

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The cricket club decided to move from Saltergate to the park and the second piece of land was used to lay out the ground. The first match was played in 1894 and the pavilion came from the recreation ground. The ground was laid out to a high specification and in 1897 Chesterfield Cricket Club applied to play first class cricket. The old pavilion was replaced by a new larger one that cost £499.18s.6d, in time for the first county cricket match in 1898.

Early pictures of the first bandstand show that it was a wooden structure that stood near the lake. The band played there 30 times a year. When the water froze in the lake people skated there and in 1894 rowing boats were introduced. One photo shows Miss Amy Bostock, her brother (who was killed in WWI) and two friends in a rowing boat. The flower show was an annual event in the park. In 1906 an air balloon failed to ascend because the coal gas was damp. The show also staged athletics and cycling events. Photos of the people attending show them in their fashionable clothes. There was a procession from Saltergate to the park on 19 July 1919 to celebrate the end of WWI. The wooden bandstand had decayed during the war and was demolished in 1919 and replaced with an iron one in 1922. Janet showed a picture of the ornate wrought iron gates at the entrance on Boythorpe Avenue. During WWII many iron gates and railings were taken by the Ministry of Works for their metal to be used in the war effort. The Town Clerk said the gates and railings were needed for security and fortunately they were saved. Plants for various parks in Chesterfield were raised in glasshouses in Queen’s Park and in 1930 a conservatory was built in the park to display the plants.

During the 1939/45 war people were encouraged to “Holiday at Home” and parks held various events. Queen’s Park held concerts with brass bands, sports events (Geoffrey Archer ran for the Oxford University team) and donkey rides.

The 1960’s saw the building of the swimming pool on the site of the children’s playground. This used to have swings, a seesaw, slide, a roundabout and a “witches hat”.

After the war the park began to decline, people had cars, visited the Peak District and went away on holiday. The paddling pool was closed in the 1950’s and the glasshouses were demolished. In 1989 the council proposed

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to demolish the bandstand but a public enquiry was held and the bandstand restored.

In 2001 the park was designated Grade II and lottery funding was obtained in 2003 to conserve the historic buildings in the park for community use. North Lodge was enlarged to provide a Café, the cricket pavilion was extended and the conservatory restored.

A final picture of Queen’s Park at blossom time shows it in its restored beauty.

A vote of thanks was given by John Bradley.

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SADDLED WITH ANCESTORS-BENNETT’S OF CHESTERFIELD

MARY BENNETT, Widow of THOMAS

We have seen that MARY and her son WILLIAM inherited the family business in 1806 when. WILLIAM was 32 years of age. For eight years they continued trading, until WILLIAM died in 1814. After WILLIAM’s death MARY continued trading. She placed entries in Trade Directories in 1818, 1821, 1822 and 1823 with an address at the “Bottom of the Market Place” We can safely say that these are the same premises as those earlier referred to in the Shambles. The Shambles adjoin the eastern part of the Market Place. MARY did not run the continuing business on her own. An advertisement placed in a local paper., dated January 18th 1828, by JONATHAN ELLIOTT tells us that this man, a saddler, collar and harness maker, was opening his own. business in Vicar Lane. So that people will, know him he says that “he was upwards of thirty years assistant to Mrs. BENNETT MARY made her Will on July 14th 1824. The business was jointly inherited by MARY and her son WILLIAM, she could not therefore dispose of any of the business assets, only her personal assets. These she left equally between her issue, HANNAH, THOMAS, ELIZABETH and ANN WHOLEY the wife of JONATHAN of London. The Will is in a clerks hand excepting the names of the Executors, which MARY has written in herself. The Executors appointed are RICHARD TOMLINSON of Chesterfield and JONATHAN WHOLEY of London.

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The Probate of the Will was granted to RICHARD TOMLINSON, one of the Executors, reserving a power for JONATHAN WHOLEY. The personal Estate was sworn at less than £450.

WILLIAM, son of Thomas and MARY. WILLIAM inherited the business of his father jointly with his mother WILLIAM had married MARY, a daughter of ROBERT COX, of Tapton near Chesterfield. The COX family had been felt makers since the mid 17th century. They had married at the Parish Church on April 10th 1803. By the time his father died WILLIAM. and MARY had two young children. They went on to have a total of seven children. WILLIAM took an active part in the affairs of the Parish. He attended many of the Borough Vestry Meetings. In 1812 he was one of those nominated for the position of Surveyors of the Highways. I have been very fortunate in tracing an account dated 1812 for goods and services supplied to the Executors of the late Mr. T BROCKSOP. The period covered is from January 1st to November 5th. The account gives an excellent picture of items sold and supplied by WILLIAM, including the two final items which were for three men working one day, and four men working one day. Were these men employed by WILLIAM full time or were they employed as and when required on a casual basis? The account is not in WILLIAM’s own hand. Mr BROCKSOP was one of the leading business men in the town. He had colliery, iron and farming interests. His Executor, JOHN GORRELL BARNES, was also a leading tradesman and industrialist. BARNES was one of the committee appointed to oversee the formation of “The Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking Company” in 1833. BROCKSOP came from a long standing local family of Quakers. WILLIAM died in November 1814. His wife and mother were still alive. He bequeathed all his assets to his wife, MARY, including his share in the family business. We now have a position in which the business is in the joint partnership of two MARY’s, mother and daughter-in-law. He took care to protect his wife as he includes in his Will “if it should so happen that my said wife should not be permitted to hold and enjoy such Premises so devised to her then and in such case I will and direct that she shall not be charged with or liable to the Legacies and Payments mentioned hi the Will of my said father”.

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The Executors appointed were his wife MARY, WILLIAM BATTY, cordwainer and JONATHAN CARTLEDGE, book-keeper. The Probate .was granted on April 13th 1815 to WILLIAM. BATTY and JONATHAN CARTLEDGE reserving powers for MARY BENNETT, widow of WILLIAM. His Personal Estate was sworn at less than £600. We have seen that JONATHAN ELLIOTT left the BENNETTs to establish his own business in 1828. We can, I believe, safely assume the two women ran the business with ELLIOTTs help and also that of CARTLEDGE A near neighbour of the BENNETTS was a coppersmith. by the name of JOSEPH BUTLER. In 1824 he was manufacturing gas in his cellar and with a little public support erected a cast iron column which. carried a “lanthorn” on the top. He connected this to his gas supply, providing the first street lighting in town. The lamp-post is still preserved being sited in the Parish churchyard. The post was originally placed at the corner of the Market Place and the Shambles before being moved to the corner of Packers Row and Low Pavement. The Gas and Water Company were established by Act of Parliament in 1825. Water was piped into premises, which had to be a vast improvement on the many wells. The gas works was built in 1826 and shortly afterwards street lighting was seen on the main streets of Chesterfield. The availability of gas enabled some houses and shops to be illuminated by this “modern wonder” Following the death of William's mother, his wife Mary would be left to run the business with help. Her eldest son, John, would be 19 years old, and whilst not fully trained, we assume well into his apprenticeship, would be of help to his mother. The youngest child 11. Trade directories of the period show Mary trading at "The Bottom Market Place". In 1830, for a short time, John left the business and took premises in West Bar leaving his mother to run her own business in the old family premises. We shall never know the cause of the break up, but it had dire effects on Mary. The Derbyshire Courier dated July 3rd 1830 carried a notice of "Mrs Mary Bennett's Assignment"; “The Creditors of MARY BENNETT, now or late of Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, Saddler are respectfully required to take notice, that by an

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Indenture of Assignment, dated the second day of July 1830 she assigned to Trustees all her Stock in Trade, Household Furniture, Debts, Estates and Effects for equal benefit of all such of her Creditors as should, within two months from the date thereof, execute or assent in the same; and also that the said Assignment is left with Mr. NICHOLSON, of Chesterfield, Auctioneer and one of the Trustees, for the inspection and signature of her Creditors. By Order, HENRY BROOMHEAD, Solicitor.” The following week the paper carried the notice of the auction of Mary's goods, giving a full list of her possessions down to the sale of bed and kitchen equipment. Also included was the Stock-in-Trade of her business and the futures in the house. I am of the opinion that John purchased all his mother's possessions as listed in the sale notice. He certainly appears in an 1830 Trade Directory at Bottom Market Place. I do not think that Mary left the property when John moved back, for in the Manor Court Leet records of October 27th 1830 MARY BENNETT is amerced for having a faulty spout on her premises "being a common annoyance”

The Derbyshire Courier dated Saturday June 13th 1835 carries an obituary for Mary saying that she died after a lingering illness, which she bore with patience, on the 8th instant, at her sons in Sheffield. She was aged 58. This son was WILLIAM, born 1807, died 1843. He moved to Sheffield and established a grocery business.

JOHN, son of William and Mary When John left the business in 1830, the local paper, The Derbyshire Courier carried the following notice: JOHN BENNETT, Saddler and Harness Maker, Chesterfield, Begs leave most respectfully to announce to his friends and the public, that he has taken, and entered upon, the Shop lately occupied by Mr JOSEPH COWLEY, at the top of West Bars, where he purposes carrying on the above business with all its branches. He is encouraged to hope, from the long continuance of public favour, bestowed on his late Father and Grand-father for so many years, and by keeping on hand a general assortment of good articles, (with assiduity and strict attention to Business) that he shall receive a share of public encouragement.

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J.B. begs to assure those who may be pleased to favour him with their commands, that they shall be executed with neatness, punctuality, and dispatch; and on the most reasonable terms. Chesterfield, Jan. 29, 1830. After moving back to the original business premises he placed an advertisement in the paper for an apprentice. On February 26th 1834 he married ANN FRITH at the Parish Church. Ann was a grand-daughter of the JOHN FRITH, Quaker, who had not been accepted as one of the Executors to the Will of THOMAS BENNETT in 1806. John was a grandson of THOMAS BENNETT. It is obvious that the ruling of the Archdeaconry Court did nothing to damage the friendship between the two families. The two families still ran their business' within 100 yards of each other. Maureen Pearce member no 9. Taken from her husband Malcolm’s stories. To be continued.

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HARRY CLARK (1924-2001)

It is with regret that I inform you of his death at home in Exmouth, Devon on 16 June 2011 aged 87 years. His funeral service took place at the East Devon Crematorium. Married to Dorothy for 67 years both of them joined CADFHS in September 1991. They were regular attendees at monthly meetings and ever present at our Open Days assisting members old and new with their family history research. Harry was a dedicated member of CADFHS for many years holding office as Treasurer from 1992 - 2003.. He was passionate about his cricket, not only watching local and county teams but acted as an umpire in the Hope Valley League. Another love of his was crown green bowls playing for Robinsons and several other teams in the Chesterfield area. In 1994 CADFHS received a request for help from a firm of local solicitors who were administering the estate of a deceased batchelor who had died intestate. Along with wife Dorothy and myself we toured Local Studies Libraries and County Record Offices seeking information which produced this batchelor's family tree. He was highly delighted the following year to receive a

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handsome donation of £2000 from the solicitors in gratitude for the work done which allowed the estate to be settled. This donation has been a major factor in keeping CADFHS solvent until the present day. Harry will be greatly missed, comments from fellow members include: - he was a gentle man, always supportive and courteous - very pleasant, helpful and contributing enormously to CADFHS - always willing to give time and assistance to beginners to family history. Our condolences go to Dorothy, son Geoff and family as well as his many friends in Chesterfield and the West Country they moved to Devon to be near their family.

" Stand up and be counted" - a plea from the Chairman

After twenty two years CADFHS is at crisis point . The membership has been notified electronically or through this issue of the magazine to attend, where possible, the AGM on Tuesday 6th September 2011. The future of the society will be discussed by all those present on that night. An under-strength committee has soldiered on over the last few years and attendances at monthly meetings have dwindled to alarming proportions this last six months. Indeed, only 14 members attended the July meeting and half of those were committee members. It is your society and attendance on the night will show the feelings of the local membership. Mike Sims Chairman CADFHS

Editors Jottings --mail@cadfhs.org.uk The Chairman has had a response from members who have already received his plea by email but many of these are not local. They have given support, advice and positive comments for the continuation of the Society. Could local members please try and attend the AGM

Thank you Carol

REMINDERS

One of the benefits of joining a Family History society is that you can make contact with other members who are researching your family names. Most Societies produce a list of Members Interest and the Chesterfield and District Family History Society produce theirs on microfiche each year. This is updated and distributed annually with the June magazine Other versions available are, printed, or emailed, for members who prefer it.

Members Interests are listed alphabetically by surname, relevant dates and County using the Chapman County Codes. These were introduced by Colin Chapman and are a set of County Codes universally used by Family Historians to show the counties of the UK in an index without reproducing the full name. Eg DBY-Derbyshire NTT-Nottinghamshire. A full list of Chapman County Codes is reproduced on the back page of this magazine.

If you find another member is researching the same family name(s) as you, you can share your research and problems, and if you are lucky you may trace that elusive ancestor.

Meetings will be on the first Tuesday of each month except August, when there is no meeting. They will be held at 7.30pm at St Hugh’s Roman Catholic Church, Littlemoor. Chesterfield.

C.A.D.F.H.S. membership and Renewal is from September 1st to August 31st. This includes free magazines in December, March, June and September for the coming year. New Members joining at any other times of the year will be entitled to back copies of these magazines for that year as compensation. Committee members, the Library and limited research material is available to assist you in your search for ancestors and to answer any questions you may have from 7pm onwards. A readers query column ( Help Wanted ) is available so that readers can publish their queries in the Magazine. This column is free to members, but non-members will have to make a remittance with their query on the basis of £2 (minimum) for 50 words maximum.(or donation). Dates count as one word. Typed queries should be sent to either the Editor, Chairman or the Secretary at the addresses inside the front cover or via the web site mail@cadfhs.org.uk

Please remember to show your name, address, and where appropriate your membership number. Readers are reminded that correspondence requiring either a reply or a receipt should be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Overseas readers should send appropriate British Stamps or International Reply Coupons.

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located on the B 6150 at the corner of Littlemoor and Duke’s Drive in Newbold village

The venue can be accessed from Chesterfield town centre via Newbold Road B6051 or from Chesterfield by-pass A61 (Whittington Moor

roundabout) via St Johns Road, B6150

The Chapman Codes for County and Country (pre 1974 countries)

England ENG London LND SCOTLAND IRELAND Ireland IRL Middlesex MDX Aberdenshire ABD Antrim ANT Scotland SCT Norfolk NFK Angus ANS Amargh ARM Wales WLS Northamptonshire NTH Argyllshire ARL Carlow CAR All Counties ALL Northumberland NBL Ayrshire AYR Cavan CAV Nottinghamshire NTT Banffshire BAN Clare CLA ISLANDS Oxfordshire OXF Berwickshire BEW Cork COR Channel Islands CHI Rutland RUT Bute BUT Donegal DON Alderney ALD Shropshire SAL Caithness-shire CAI Down DOW Guernsey GSY Somerset SOM Clackmannanshire CLK Dublin DUB Jersey JSY Staffordshire STS Dumfriesshire DFS Fermanagh FER Sark SRK Suffolk SFK Dunbartonshire DNB Galway GAL Isle of Man IOM Surrey SRY East Lothian ELN Kerry KER Isle of Wright IOW Sussex SSX Fifeshire FIF Kildare KID Warwickshire WAR Forfarshire ANS Kilkenny KIK ENGLAND Westmorland WES Inverness-shire INV Leitrim LET All Counties ALL Wiltshire WIL Kincardineshire KCD Leix

(Queens) LEX

Bedfordshire BDF Worcestershire WOR Kinross-shire KRS Limerick LIM Berkshire BRK Yorkshire YKS Kirkcudbrightshire KKD Londonderry LDY Buckinghamshire BKM YRS East Riding ERY Lanarkshire LKS Longford LOG Cambridgeshire CAM YKS North Riding NRY Midlothian MLN Louth LOU Cheshire CHS YKS West Riding WRY Moray MOR Mayo MAY Cornwall CON Nairnshire NAI Meath MEA Cumberland CUL WALES Orkney Isles OKI Monaghan MOG Derbyshire DBY Anglesey AGY Peeblesshire PEE Offaly

(Kings) OFF

Devonshire DEV Brecknockshire BRE Perthshire PER Roscommon ROS Dorestshire DOR Caernarvonshire CAE Renfrewshire RFW Sligo SLI Durham DUR Cardiganshire CGN Ross & Cromarty ROC Tipperary TIP Essex ESS Carmarthenshire CMN Roxburghshire ROX Tyrone TYR Gloucestershire GLS Denbighshire DEN Selkirkshire SEL Waterford WAT Hampshire HAM Flintshire FLN Shetland Isles SHI Westmeath WEM Herefordshire HEF Glamorgan GLA Stirlingshire STI Wexford WEX Hertfordshire HRT Merionethshire MER Sunderland SUT Wicklow WIC Huntingdonshire HUN Monmouthshire MON West Lothian WLN Kent KEN Montgomeryshire MGY Wigtownshire WIG Lancashire LAN Pembrokeshire PEM Leicestershire LEI Radnorshire RAD Lincolnshire LIN