Thanks JeannieR - very kind of you to have taken the trouble to look into this for me. It's the sort of generous assistance that makes forums like this so enjoyable to take part in. Best wishes to you, and good luck in your own researches.
For others interested in this family group, I should mention that a 'Crofts' family lived in the Mollington/Backford/Lea areas of Cheshire from the early 1800s onwards, with some researchers suggesting a link, a generation earlier, with a family recorded living in Broughton (Flintshire). I'd always resisted making this connection myself, although my ancestor Peter Croft (b. Backford 1813) had parents named 'Samuel' and 'Margaret' who would appear to tally with individuals recorded in the IGI, who married at Hawarden in 1801, and that this 'Samuel' was baptised at Broughton in 1779 - his wife 'Margaret' probably being 'Margaret Lindsley' as other researchers have noted. Although neither the 1841 or 1861 census returns for Mollington/Backford give any definite evidence of Croft individuals being born in Flintshire, the compelling evidence for Samuel Crofts being the same one baptised at Broughton would appear to be furnished by the age given at his death at Mollington, in 1837*, which tallies exactly with the 1779 birth of the Broughton Samuel Croft. This, together with Peter Croft's mother being named 'Margaret' seems to draw all these suggested links together. Looking at a map. the proximity of these various townships to the Welsh border seems to suggest that it would perhaps have been common for families to move back and forth - although the Crofts were more likely to have been essentially English in origin than Welsh. If anyone has any documentary evidence for Croft family members in Mollington/Backford having Broughton/Hawarden origins, it would be of great interest.
*Samuel died of consumption at Glebe Cottage, Coalpit Lane, Mollington, 6 Dec 1837 (aged 58). His son Samuel (b. 1802) died there 16 Sept 1886. Glebe Cottage stood until about 10 years ago, when it was demolished (!) and a new residence built on the site. Luckily, someone was kind enough to send me a photo of it prior to its destruction. The only other remaining Croft residence remaining in the Mollington area, stands next to the Mollington Banastre Hotel and is still identical in layout to its representation on the 1830s tithe map.
The details for Samuel's will read:
Title: Will of Samuel CROFT (ca.1802)
Page: 10 September 1886
Note: 'I Samuel Croft of Coalpit Lane, Great Mollington in the County of
Chester, Farmer, hereby revoke all wills, codicills and other
testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to
be my last will and testament.
I hereby direct that after my death all my estate (illegible) or
personal whatsoever and wheresoever, (together with the oven and
grate in kitchen) shall be sold by public auction by Messrs.
Pickering and Nightingale Auctioneers of St. Werburgh Street in the
City of Chester.
I direct that all my funeral and testamentary expenses shall be paid
out of the proceeds of the said sale, together with the sum of two
pounds to Eliza Moody, wife of George Moody, Gardener, Mollington,
and also the sum of ten shillings to the executor of this my will. I
direct that the remainder of the said proceeds, together with any
insurance or other money that may be due to me, shall be placed in
(illegible) Parr's Bank, Eastgate Street, Chester, as a deposit
account bearing interest. And I direct that such deposit and interest
shall accumulate for the period of ten years after my decease, the
fund then existing to be disposed of in manner following.
I give devise and bequeath one half of the said fund to the Chester
Infirmary, and I give devise and bequeath the other half of the said
fund to the trustees for the time being of the Mollington Infant
School, expressly for the educational purposes of the said school.
And I hereby appoint Arthur Hughson of Lea by Backford, Land
Surveyor, in the said County of Chester, and William Davies, High
Looms(?) Farm, Mollington, my executors. And I direct that my
executors shall give to George Moody, before mentioned, a hive of
bees. In witness whereof I, the said Samuel Croft, have to this my
last will and testament set my hand the tenth day of September in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty six.
Samuel Croft.
Signed by the said testator Samuel Croft, as and for his last will
and testament, in the presence of us who at his request in his
presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed
our names. Witnesses - William Pryce, Station Master Mollington,
William Haigh, joiner, Mollington.
Proved at Chester the 1st day of October 1886 by the oaths of Arthur
Hughson and William Davies, the Executors, to whom Administration was
granted.
The testator Samuel Croft was late of Coalpit Lane, Mollington, in
the County of Chester, Farmer, and died on the 16th day of September
1886, at Coalpit Lane, aforesaid.
Gross amount £92.3.9
E. B(illegible) Solicitor, Chester
