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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: BonnieB on Wednesday 08 February 12 22:29 GMT (UK)
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My husband's 3x great grandfather was Joseph Grove/s & he was a Steel toy & spectacle frame maker in Wolverhampton during the 1794-1818 + period.
1818 Directory of Wolverhampton shows:
GROVE - Joseph, Steel Toy Manufacturer 24 Stafford Street
“ - J., Victualler & Steel Toy & Spectacle Maker, Union, Canal Street
He & his wife, Jane, had poss. 8 children bapt. at St Peter Wolverhampton 1794-1810.
From there is a bit of a mystery.
I have found information on 3 of the daughters:
Jane [1796] mar Joseph Whittall 1821 in Handsworth, Stafford - then lived in Birmingham.
Louisa [1803] mar William Templeman 1825 in Newington, Surrey - Lady's nurse.
Harriet [1806] mar Joseph Wood 1838 in Birmingham, Warwick . . . . our ancestor - to Australia.
Nothing on the other children has been found.
I searched for a Will for Joseph as Harriet had her own monies separate from her husband - looked in the PCC Indexes, Diocese of Lichfield & Royal Peculiar Court of Wolverhampton - nothing.
This has become a bit of a black stump & so any advice or assistance would be most welcome.
Thanking you,
BonnieB
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Hiya BonnieB
As you haven't given us any dates or names of the children its a bit hard providing information
On FreeREG http://freereg.rootsweb.com/cgi/Search.pl there are the following burials at St Peters all with the father being named as Joseph
Mary 18.9.1798
Maria 21.5.1799
Mary Ann 3.2.1811
Wolverhampton Archives have also a lot of information online http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes it might be worth e-mailing them to see if they have knowledge of a will as well
Willow x
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Morning Willow,
Sorry about that. I have been through the St Peter's records via the Archives & found the below bapt. to a Joseph & Jane:
Chn: John - 1794, Jane 1796, Mary 1798, Joseph 1800, Louisa 1803, Harriet 1806, William 1807, Henry 1810.
I looked at those burials - & kept them to one side until I could prove the connection. With the Jane, Louisa & Harriet they were either staying with relatives on a Census or mentioned in Wills or other docos to prove the link.
I've also done the Census search looking for all Grove* born W*pton - have found the name spelt as Grove / Groves.
Found 2 interesting docos yesterday -
Dated 1810 - Joseph Grove a Steel Toy Maker of Wolverhampton taking on a young apprentice.
Dated 1818 - John Groves Steel Toy Maker of Wolverhampton taking on an apprentice.
I thought that if I could find the father's Will that would / could lead to the children.
Cheers from Oz . . . . . . . BonnieB
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Hiya BonnieB
I have looked at the list of wills held at Wolverhampton but unfortunately it isnt listed
There is some interesting history about the town here including about steel toys (click the museum link)
I will keep my eyes open and let you know if I come across anything.
Willow x
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I forgot to say that I have posted a load of Wolverhampton links under Staffordshire Resources
The steel toy trade is mentioned in this link http://johnwoodfield.co.uk/oldwlv.htm (bout half way down)
Willow x
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Thanx muchly Willow.
Yes - have taken all the Grove/s listed on the PCC Indexes, Diocese of Lichfield & Royal Peculiar Court of Wolverhampton Probates - nothing to match so far.
That is a very good writeup on steel toys - I didn't really appreciate what it was until I read that Museum article.
Wonder if I can chase the business to see when it changed hands or is sold?
Thank you for answering my question & keeping an eye out.
BonnieB
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Hiya
I found this site which is searchable for items kept in local museams and archives (wandered off looking things up on it) http://blackcountryhistory.org/ itmight be worth looking at
Willow x