Hello Gill . I am researching my Smalleys from England to Australia . Do you know of any of your Smalleys that came to Queensland or Victoria ? Have you seen this at all ?
Occupation: Holywell, Flintshire Cotton Mill Owner
MarcS70l3- Christopher, son of John Smalley, wine merchant, Preston, Lane.
Christopher Smalley, son of John Smalley, who is known as being connected with Sir Richard Arkwright in business (see Bames's Lancashire, vol. ii. pp. 430-1), The original partners finally split up. Samuel Need died in 1781 and Smalley in 1782. Arkwright and Strutt bought Smalley's share in the partnership from his son for £10,751 and Arkwright bought Strutt out of his share. The latter had a thriving business of his own in stockings with mills in Belper and Milford. having in the first instance assisted him with money, and subsequently entered into partnership with him, became a cotton spinner and partner in the Holywell Twist Company. He was originally intended for holy orders, but was removed from school and placed in business — for which he had no great talents — much, it is said, to Mr. Lawson's regret, who regarded him as a pupil of much promise.
Pennant, in his History of HolyioeU Parish, p. 2 1 4, states that Mr. " John Smalley, senior, had long been engaged in a cotton work at Cromford, near Matlock, in Derbyshire, unhappily within the baneful influence of a tyrant rival, which forced him to seek the protection of S. Weuefrede, under which he prospered, and his children still prosper, blessing the benefit of the change made by theirinjured parent." He adds, " it is to Mr. Christopher Smalley, one of the partners, and eldest son of the founder of these great manufacturies (The Cotton Twist) I am obliged for the account of what relates to them."
The circumstances of the family, I believe, changed afterwards for the worse.
There is in Whitford churchyard a tombstone bearing the following inseription :
" Here rest the remains of John Smalley, late of Preston, in Lancashire. He died at Holywell, on 28th day of January 1782, aged 53 years, where he established the cotton manufactory in the year 1777. Ann Smalley, eldest daughter, died May 20th 1790, aged 38. Eli2abeth, his wife, died January 2nd 1796, aged 65. Here also lie the remains of Christopher Smalley, late of Holywell, esq. He died January 11th 1829, aged 74 years. Also of Sarah, his wife, who died 8th November 1832, aged 77 years. Also of John, their only son, who died 8th October 1808, aged 16 years."
