I understand that Robert Williamson who married James Brindleys widow Anne Hensahall from Bent (Now newchapel/ packmoor area) lived at Longport Hall. She had lived at Turnhurst Hall with James Brindley and had 2 daughters. She and Robert Williamson, who was more her age, had many children, and one seems to have been named Robert after his father and possibly grandfather too. Another, John, died, and another son Hugh Henshall Williamson, seems to have been named after Anne Henshalls brother Hugh Henshall. James Brindley is reported to have been very fond of Hugh Henshall, and he worked for Brindley, and later completed Brindleys work on the Harecastle legging tunnel after Brindleys death. Hugh Henshall and Robert Williamson (Anne Henshalls hubby) started pot banks at Longport, and they both had involvement in the Grand Trunk canal,(including the Henshall wharf), which helped the area to grow and prosper. This Robert Williamson also owned land and pits. James Brindley had owned a pit at Goldenhill, which Anne had possibly owned after her husbands death. Anne Henshall had met James Brindley as a schoolgirl as he had dealings with her father a land surveyor, and married him when she was 19 and he was 49. Brindley had amassed quite a fortune by then, and their marriage was cut short after 6 years, by his death leaving her with 2 young children. He was regarded by Erasmus Darwin, who saw him when he was dying having caught a chill, as having suffered diabetes for around 7 years. Annes brother Hugh also became wealthy, and had canal business interests, as well as the pot bank. Davenports later purchased the Williamson and Henshall potteries. Hugh lived at Greenbank Hall, Bemmersley area, which he left to his sister Anne, and his nephew Hugh Henshall Williamson (Anne Henshalls son) lived there and his brother Robert lived at Ramsdell with his wife who was also confusingly named Anne. She was the daughter of a Newcastle under Lyme banker. I think it was her who died in the 1820s, leaving him alone for many years until he died at 88 in 1869. He developed the canal wharf by Ramsdell which is hardly a surprise with the family history! It was this Robert who had command of the Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers, a 500 strong militia until 1814. The Rifleman pub at Acres Nook is probably so named due to this connection, as is target wood. The Williamson brothers owned many businesses in the area, as well as the village of Linehouses and pits,both marl and coal, ironworks, and farms. I am indeed a local, and grew up in the once gated village owned by the Williamsons at Linehouses. The Harecastle Tunnel ran under the village.
