The Family History of the Strefford   families   of
                Lanarkshire, Scotland and  Deeside, North Wales

                                        INDEX

Introduction:

This history starts by using information from the Shropshire (Hereford Diocese) Parish Records.  These records are held on microfiche, and some in transcription, at the Shropshire County Archives in Shrewsbury.  Some microfiches are also available on loan to members from the Shropshire Family History Society.  Also the South West Shropshire Historical & Archaeological Group produces scholarly transcripts for some Parishes, of which I used the transcripts for Bishops Castle.  I also used the Parish of Welshpool  1772-1812 Baptisms transcript of the Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society. Other transcriptions are also available on CD’s. Also available on CD are Burial and Assize records for Shropshire from S.F.H.S.  And last but not least are the records of the I.G.I. and the English 1881 Census, freely available on the Internet from the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons). 

I have used all of these resources and more, and wish to thank: Shropshire County Archives, Powys County Archives, Flintshire Record Office, Motherwell Library Heritage Centre. ‘Scotlands People’,  S.F.H.Soc., S.H.& A.Soc., S.W group; Ian Preece, Maggi Blythin, Simon Jervis, The Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society; S & N Genealogy, Ancestry.com, the I.G.I. (Mormons).  Also the Internet search and copying facilities of the U.K. National Archives and English G.R.O.  Others are specifically acknowledged in the text.

The Parish Records pre-date the beginning of the official recording of Births, Marriages and Deaths in 1837.  Until relatively recently Parish Records were kept in the Parish, where some have suffered the ravages of time.  Now nearly all are now kept at County or National Archives where the originals have been filmed – to be available to all, and the originals conserved.  The oldest Parish Records have little information other than names, often without ages.  Gradually the amount of information recorded increased and eventually recording forms were, more or less, prescribed.   However all these records were entered by hand, with varying legibility – early records may be written in Latin.  They are not universally indexed, though transcriptions may be indexed, so using the Parish Records means many hours of pouring-over a microfiche reader – often finding the frustrating gaps in the records, and even more frustrating illegible or missing records at important points.  But given all the problems these records are a fascinating glimpse into the past and we should be very grateful to those who have collected and preserved them.

After 1812 there is a period of recording confusion.  Parish records continued, and the official records, which started in 1837, did not become compulsory until 1875.  It is easy to miss a record in this period.  (e.g. David Strefford married at Pontesbury in 1841, after 1837, for whom there is no official marriage record).

After 1875 the official records should be completely reliable but there are oddities (e.g. the complete absence of any death record for John Strefford returning from Scotland to North Wales in 1901).

Fortunately the indexes to the official U.K. records from 1837 onward are available via the Internet and copies of the certificates may be obtained from the Registrar General, again via the Internet.  I have used these Internet facilities extensively, so thankyou to the U.K. G.R.O. But a special thanks must go to ‘Scotland’s People’ for the excellent facilities provided for Scottish family historians.  ‘Scotland’s People’ puts the U.K. Internet family history facilities to shame.

The whole Strefford history is a remarkable story of very ordinary people.  There are no hidden persons of (supposedly) great importance in these 300 years; just ordinary people trying to live as best they could – after 1841, endlessly moving for work.  Some are commendable, some perhaps less so; some are mysterious, and there are tragedies too.  One Herbert Henry is a WW1 hero, winning the Military Medal as a Highland Light Infantryman in 1917.

This history was undertaken for, and with, my wife, Pamela Strefford, as a result of our being curious about a gravestone in Hawarden Cemetery, North Wales.  A casual investigation of one person (Pam’s Uncle - Thomas Strefford who died in WW1) led to several years of research and travelling to Libraries, Archives and family history locations.   Also to our going to Abbeville twice to the War Grave of Pam’s Uncle Thomas,  and to my learning something of the rigours of serious research.

This history is still ‘in-progress’ and probably will always be so

 
It is dedicated to the memory of

                 Thomas Strefford, 2^nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose War Grave is at Abbeville in France.

Scottish born, serving in a Welsh Regiment he died in France long ago fighting for all of us, now.

Beginning with the Shropshire Parish Records:

   Note that Chirbury, Bishops Castle, Lydham, More, & Norbury are all adjacent Parishes in South West Shropshire.

(The ParishRegister family history succession is named in bold italic type)

From the Chirbury parish records:

 On 9^th. September 1744 John Strefford (the elder) married (1) Elizabeth Powell

 Elizabeth Powell was the daughter of Robert & Ann Powell - baptised Chirbury June 22^nd 1707

22^nd May 1828 David Strefford (the elder), age 64, abode Norbury, buried – More.
(dates tally 1764 to 1828 = 64 years)

On 24 March 1841 John Strefford (the younger), full age, Bachelor Labourer: married Mary Griffiths, full age, Spinster Servant – both of More, at More Parish Church, County of Salop: after Banns (dates unknown).  Both made their mark. John’s Father – David Strefford (the elder) Tailor.  Mary’s Father – Samuel Preece, Labourer.  Witnesses: David Strefford - made his mark (almost certainly John’s brother – David the younger); and Martha Preece – signed (probably the bride’s sister or half-sister).

Note that the reason for the Griffiths/Preece bride’s- surname discrepancy is probably that Mary, the bride, was born to Samuel Preece and his wife Ann Griffiths before they were married, or she was an illegimate daughter of Ann Griffiths before her marriage to Samuel Preece.

From the Pontesbury Parish records:

3^rd May 1843 David Strefford (the younger), age 24, Bachelor Labourer; married Martha Aston, age 22, Spinster Servant – both of Arscott,  of  Pontesbury Parish, County of Salop: after Banns called 14/23/30^th April 1843 in the Parish Church of Pontesbury.  Both made their mark.  David’s father – David Strefford (the elder) Tailor.  Martha’s father – Nathan Aston, Engineer.  Witnesses: Frances Aston and Thomas Richards.

(Note this record is of the full post-1837 form but there is no official record)

 
A note here about the Strevort, Strefford naming.  In researching the Parish Records I realised that there was no standardised spelling.  Pre 1837 spelling seems to have been mainly phonetic.  P.H. Reaney ‘The Origin of English Surnames’, Routledge Kegan Paul 1967; draws attention in Chapter Two to the mis-pronunciation and/or mis-spelling of names and to the pronunciation of F as V which occurred in the south of England.  These pronunciation variables might account for the interchange of  Strevort and Strefford – and other variants – approximately twenty in total.  To support this view I found many examples in the Parish Registers of  the same persons being separately recorded as different variations  of Strefford.

Or, were there a separate group of Strevorts who were ‘converted’ to Strefford by the Clergy after 1837?  Note John Strefford (the younger) who could not write, being married in March 1841 as Strefford, but may have still thought of himself at the Census later in 1841 as Strevort – the name of his Father and Grandfather.  Or did the 1841 Census recorder at Hookagate, Shropshire, phonetically spell Strefford as Strevort?  The Shropshire Archive records of the name Strefford in the 16^th century would perhaps support the existence later of a separate Strevort group – possibly immigrant;, the name seems vaguely Germanic.

However the balance of evidence seems, to me, to favour the more prosaic phonetic-spelling explanation; perhaps together with some later regularisation in transcription.

From hereon information is mainly from the English & Scottish Census records - from 1841 to 1901; and from the English & Scottish Birth, Marriage & Death records - from 1837 (compulsory 1875), and from the I.G.I.

Children of John Strefford (the younger) & Mary:

From More John seems to have moved immediately after his marriage to Mary, to Hookagate south of Shrewsbury, where his mother Jane was living with the Harris family (1841 Census) – presumably after the death of her husband in 1828 (David the Elder).  John and Mary’s first child Mary was born at Hookagate.  Thier next child Samuel was Christened at Atcham so John & Mary may have moved from Hookagate to Atcham.  In 1850 Thomas was born at The Forge, Upton Magna; where John & Mary lived adjacent to John’s brother David Strefford (the younger) together with their mother Jane for the rest of their lives.

Name                Born (IGI)                Christened(IGI)                                    English G.R.O.

 
Mary                4/1/1842                11/1/1842 St Chad, Shrewsbury        Jan/Feb/Mar 1842 Shrewsbury

Samuel          31/3/1844                Atcham                                            not registered

Thomas                    -                    28/7/1850 Upton Magna                    Jul/Aug/Sept 1850 Atcham

Lizzie                       -                    2/6/1861 Upton  Magna                    April/May/June 1861Atcham

Jane Strefford (nee Vaughan) the wife of David Strefford (the elder) died at Upton Magna on the 15^th September 1863 aged 84 (actually 81- born 1782)

The death of John Strefford (the younger) was registered at Atcham in the second quarter of 1884 (born 1814=aged 70); and that of Mary his wife at Atcham aged 64 in the second quarter of 1888. 

Samuel Strefford

In the 1861 Census Samuel is not recorded in the parental home at Upton Magna. Samuel  is recorded as Samuel Straford at Southcott, Atcham – the estate of Ann Jones – Farmer’s wife employing 6 men and 1 boy; as a Carter & Ploughman, aged 19 (he was actually 17).  So Samuel had left home, but seems to return home, to marry in 1867.

Samuel Strefford’s 1867 Marriage Certificate confirms that he was the son of John and Mary Strefford, as follows: Samuel Strefford, full age, Bachelor, Labourer, of Upton Magna; father John Strefford, Labourer;  married to:  Hannah Preece, full age, Spinster, no occupation given, of  Pontesbury; father John Preece, Miner: in the Parish Church of Pontesbury on June 10^th 1867.  Witnesses were Thomas Preece, (his mark), Emma Strefford (signed), Samuel and Hannah both signed.  Samuel resided at Upton Magna, the known home of his parents John and Mary.

(Pontesbury is south west of Shrewsbury still in Shropshire)

After their marriage Samuel & Hannah lived at Pontesbury Hill and Samuel is said to be a Lead Miner.  Later Samuel & Hannah moved to Station Road, Pontesbury and Samuel became a Platelayer.  Whilst living at Pontesbury Samuel & Hannah had six children:

Edwin Strefford born 1868 (1868 Jan/Feb/Mar Reg. Atcham)  IGI says Christened 17/3/1868

John Strefford born 1870 (1870 Jan/Feb/Mar Reg. Atcham)  I.G.I. says Christened 28/2/1870

Martha Mary Preece Strefford (1872 July/Aug/Sept Reg. Atcham) IGI says born 25/8/1872 at Pontesbury.  She is not listed on the English 1881 Census              which means that she was not present at Pontesbury when the Census was taken.  Martha Mary Preece Strefford died on the 3^rd. December 1881,                  aged 9 at 115 Shieldmuir, Motherwell in Scotland.  (recorded as Martha Mary Strafford). Her death was notified by  her aunt -  D. Crampton .

Richard C.(Charles) Strefford born 1880 (April/May/June 1880 Reg. Atcham)

In late 1881 Samuel and his family moved from Pontesbury to 85 Shieldmuir, Motherwell, Scotland.  Martha Mary Preece preceeded her family to Scotland; her aunt D. Crampton was of the Preece family – into which Samuel had married.

At Motherwell Samuel & Hannah had one more child:

Samuel Alfred, born October 14^th 1884 at 85 Shieldmuir, Motherwell, fathers occupation - Engineers Labourer

 
On December 23^rd 1890, Samuel Strefford, cited as Samuel Strafford, died, still at 85 Sheildmuir, Motherwell.  He was 46 years of age and the cause of death is given as ‘Tubular Disease of the Heart’ from which he had suffered for four months.  His death was notified by Hannah, his widow, 
who signed as Hannah Strafford (?).

Edwin Strefford

On the 17^th November 1888 at Trinity Church, Motherwell, Parish of Dalzeil; after publication according to the forms of the Episcopal Church (of Scotland); Edwin Strefford, Bachelor Iron Shearer married Mary Ann Messenger Spinster Nail Cutter.  (I think that this occupation refers to Mary’s earlier employment in Dukinfield).  Edwin’s address was given as 85 Shieldmuir  - the home of his mother and father Samuel & Hannah.  His age is said to be 20.  His father was Samuel Strefford, Iron Works Labourer; his mother Hannah Strefford, nee Preece.  Mary’s address was given as 91 Shieldmuir.  Her age is said to be 23,  Her father is Thomas Messenger, her mother Ann Messenger, nee Walton(?).  Witnesses were Thomas Messenger and Isobel Whitehead.

Note that Mary Messenger, like Edwin Strefford was an immigrant to Scotland from Stalybridge/Dukinfied, near to Manchester; from where the Messenger family had moved to Shieldmuir, Motherwell between 1881 and 1888.

 
Obviously Edwin was employed in the Motherwell Iron Trade, as were his all his brothers excepting Richard Charles and Samuel Arthur.  William was employed as an  ‘Ironworker’ aged 13.  Presumably opportunities in that trade had brought their Father Samuel from England to Scotland.  Perhaps they worked at the ‘Excelsior’or ‘Etna’ Ironworks in Shieldmuir, where English workers were employed.

George born 28^th December 1889  at 73 Shieldmuir, father Edwin an Iron Shearer

 
William born 10^th October 1890 at 73 Shieldmuir, father Edwin an Iron Shearer

 
Samuel born 17^th June 1892 at 73 Shieldmuir, father Edwin an Iron Shearer

 
Thomas born 14^th January 1895 at 67 Shieldmuir, father Edwin an Iron Shearer

  Note that Edwin and his family have moved from 73 to 67 Shieldmuir

 
John born 3^rd March 1897 at McGregor’s Land, father Edwin an Iron Shearer

   Edwin and his family have moved again from 67 Shieldmuir into Mc Gregor’s Land  which was a Lodging  House – near to Shieldmuir.

   Why did Edwin and his family move from 73 Shieldmuir to 67 Shieldmuir then to the Lodging House?

However Edwin and Mary Ann did not stay in Scotland.  Before 18/7/1899 (the birthdate of Mary Ann’s next child), Edwin and his family moved from Scotland to Stalybridge, Cheshire, England (to the south of Manchester). Stalybridge was Mary Ann’s original English home.  At Stalybridge was the Iron Works of John Summers.  At Stalybridge Frank was born:

 
Frank was Edwin and Mary Ann’s first English child - born 18^th July 1899 at 4 Harrison St., Stalybridge, father an Iron Shearer – Journeyman.

  (Frank Strefford was my wife Pamela's father)

Edwin and Mary Ann had three more English children:

 
Millicent, (the only girl) born 30^th January 1902 at 24 Gladstone Avenue, Chester; father Edwin an Iron Shearer. 

  Edwin and Mary Ann and their family have moved again, from Stalybridge to Chester.

 
Edwin, born 6^th July 1903 at Queensferry (no address given), father Edwin an Ironworker.

  Edwin and Mary Ann have moved again from Chester to Queensferry.

 
Lastly:  Alfred, born 27^th June 1904 at Queensferry (no address given), father Edwin an Ironworker. 

 
Alfred was the last of Edwin and Mary Ann’s nine children. They now stayed in Queensferry for the rest of their lives.

The Strefford descendants of Edwin & Mary Ann’s children still live on Deeside.

The next we hear of Edwin Strefford is from the County of Flint War Memorial Index where he has a record card giving some details of his First World War service:

 
Edwin Strefford  joined 2/9/1914 (on the outbreak of war) aged 46, the 3^rd (reserve or recruiting battalion at Wrexham) Royal Welch Fusiliers; transferred to Middlesex (Regiment – whose Depot was at Mill Hill, London) 1916, afterwards Labour Centre Trials R.D.C.  Discharged 17/11/1918 from 68^th Protection Company R.D.C. with the rank of Sergeant.  (Royal Defence Corps – formed in 1917 from ‘Garrison Troops’ – like the W.W. 2 Home Guard). (For trials, read tribunals).

            (No WW1 Service Papers survive for Edwin Strefford).

Mary Ann Strefford (nee Messenger) died on 24^th April 1948 and Edwin Strefford died one year later on 30^th April 1949.  When Mary Ann died they had been married for 59 years.  They had moved from Birmingham and Pontesbury, Shropshire; to Motherwell where they met and married, then to Stalybridge, then Chester, and finally to Shotton where they made their home.  They had nine children.  On all the records Edwin’s occupation is  Iron Shearer or Iron Worker.  Mary Ann does not seem to have worked after she was married.  Edwin and Mary Ann are commemorated in Harwarden Churchyard, near to the Chapel in the newer cemetery below the road.

 
Underneath their inscription is an inscription commemorating their son Thomas who died on 15^th November 1918 in No. 3 Australian General Hospital, Abbeville, France; of wounds probably sustained at Englefontaine/Foret de Mormal on November 4^th 1918 when serving with the 2^nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers. 

                                            To whose memory this history is dedicated.

John Strefford    The second son of Samuel & Hannah

On the 25^th October 1895 at Shieldmuir, Parish of Dalzeil; after Banns according to the forms of the Primitive Methodist Church; John Strefford, Iron Shearer married Mary Gibson, Dressmaker.  John’s address was given as McGregor’s Land  - The lodging house – he was not therefore living in the Strefford family home at 85 Shieldmuir where he had been enumerated for the 1891 Scottish Census.  His age is said to be 25.  His father was Samuel Strefford, deceased, his mother Hannah Strefford, nee Preece.  Mary’s address was given as 9 Shieldmuir.  Her age is said to be 28,  Her father is John Gibson – Engine Driver, her mother Margaret Gibson, nee Lindsay.  Witnesses were Thomas Joseph Strefford (John’s brother) and Margaret Lindsay Gibson
(probably the brides mother).

So like his brother Thomas Joseph (see next), John seems to have become associated with Primitive Methodists.  Also like Thomas Joseph he was living at the local lodging house, not the family home, when he married.

On 8^th January 1898 John and Mary had a baby girl – Margaret Jane Lindsay Strefford, born at Beechaven View, Shieldmuir.  The birth being registered by John Strefford, Iron Shearer.  Query – Beechaven View – a Nursing Home?

  (Margaret Jane Lindsay survived and later married in Scotland).

 
On May 11^th 1899 John and Mary had a second child – Samuel born at 65 Shieldmuir.  The birth was registered by John Strefford, Ironworker.

  (Samuel also survived and was later married in Scotland).

 
On January 13^th 1901 John and Mary had a third child – Hannah Preece Strefford born at 65 Shieldmuir,  (possibly now John and Mary’s family home).  But the birth was registered not by John Strefford but by Mary’s  brother James Gibson.  (Hannah also survived - of which later).   The fact that this birth was not registered by John Strefford may indicate that he was not at home.

  (Hannah also survived and was probably a witness at her sister's wedding in 1924).

The next that we read of John and Mary is on the 1901 English Census where they are at Old Ferry House, Sealand – Parish of Hawarden,
Deeside, North Wales!

 
On the 1901 English Census they are listed as:  John Strefford – Head of Household, aged 31, Ironworker;  also John’s wife – Mary, nee Gibson, aged 33; and their children:  Margaret J.(3), Samuel(1) and Hannah (2 months); also Hannah, mother of John (and widow of Samuel) aged 60 with her children, John’s brothers:  William (23) and Richard C. (21) - both Marker Ironworks; also Samuel A.(Alfred or Arthur) (16) – Scrap Cutter Ironworks.   All at Old Ferry House, Hawarden.

So it would seem that John and his family, his mother, and John’s three unmarried brothers have moved from Motherwell, Scotland to Hawarden, England.  (John’s older brother Edwin had  also moved from Scotland to England in 1889).  John’s move would seem to be confirmed by looking at the Scottish 1901 Census which shows that 65 Shieldmuir was now occupied by Mary’s father, his wife and their family.  In 1895 Mary was married from 9 Shieldmuir, presumably her spinster home, her first child was born at Beechaven View, her other two children at 65 Shieldmuir.  From which it could be deduced that John and Mary had made their home at 65 Shieldmuir with Mary’s parents living at 9 Shieldmuir and John’s mother at 85 Shieldmuir.  Alternatively, John and Mary could have made their home with Mary’s parents who had moved from 9 Shieldmuir to 65 Shieldmuir – this would have made a household of eleven souls!

On April 27^th 1902 a fourth child is born to John, Iron Shearer, and Mary  AT 65 SHIELDMUIR, Parish of Dalzeil, Motherwell.  The child is Jeannie Strefford and the birth is registered not by the father, but by Annie McKenzie.  (Annie McKenzie we shall later find out to be Mary’s sister).

Mary, with John and all their family were in Hawarden for the 1901 English Census, and not at 65 Shieldmuir which was occupied then by Mary’s parents.  Now in April 1902 Mary is back at 65 Shieldmuir, where two of her previous three children had been born, having John’s baby – Jeannie, but the birth is again not registered by John.

On May 22^nd 1902 Annie McKenzie, Mary’s sister registered the death of Jeannie Strefford aged three weeks.  The cause of death is given as Asthma from which the baby had suffered for 14 days.  The address from which the death was registered was again 65 Shieldmuir.

Note that John’s brothers Richard Charles, William, and Samuel Arthur, and his mother Hannah did NOT return from Deeside to Scotland with John’s wife Mary.

Hannah Strefford, wife of Samuel and mother of all the Strefford, Pontesbury-born and Scottish-born, brothers died on the 28th Novemember 1913, aged 73, registered at Hawarden,   Born in Habberley Shropshire, of the Preece family, she married Samuel, moved to Scotland, then to Hawarden.  She had seven children - six boys and a girl Martha Mary Preece who died aged 9 in 1881 in Scotland.

William Strefford, Richard Charles Strefford and Samuel Arthur Strefford must have remained on Deeside with their mother Hannah; they worked at John Summers Ironworks, married, and their descendants still live on Deeside.

Of John and Mary we read no more until July 17^th 1917, when the death of John’s wife Mary is recorded on ‘Scotland’s People’:

Mary Strefford WIDOW of John Strefford, Sheet Iron Worker; died July 17^th 1917 at 50 Petershill Road, Glasgow.  Father - John Gibson, Iron Works Engine Keeper, deceased.  Mother - Margaret Jane Gibson, nee Lindsay, deceased.  Cause of death: sub acute pulmonary congestion and chronic rheumatism.  Registered by Annie Mckenzie, sister, in Glasgow.  So John was not alive to register his wife’s death, but there seems to be no record of his death.

 
John has no official death record, except by proxy; from the 1901 English Census onward.  I can find no record of the death of John Strefford on ‘Scotlands People'; on the English G.R.O. deaths index; or on the Commonwealth  War Graves register of those who died in WW1; or on the ‘Overseas’ or ‘Marine’ deaths registers; or the Boer War records.  Newspaper research at both Motherwell Library and  Hawarden  Archives 1900-1903 shows no event that could account for Johns death.  A John  Strefford is on the emigration records, but aged 25 in 1924. There are no recorded wills for any Strefford, or name variant, in Scotland at all.

His death remains unexplained.

Possible further researches are:  Scottish births  -  this might show if John and Mary had any further children.  English wills. Researches into other places where a death might be recorded – foreign country, murder?  prison?  Or perhaps his death went unrecorded – perhaps he died at Hawarden?  Did he die unrecorded in WW1?  But note that he is NOT recorded as deceased on the birth or death certificate of Jeannie Strefford in April/May 1902. The 1911 Census may  have more information.

Returning to the story of John and Mary’s children, from ‘Scotland’s People’:

 
First:

Margaret Jane Lindsay Strefford, Paper Worker,  aged 26, married  James Grosert Dryden, Litho Artist, aged 31,  at 44 High Street, Burntisland after banns according to the forms of the Ecclesiastical Church of Scotland on the 22^nd July 1924.  They were both resident at 56 Laverack Hall Street, Carstairs, Glasgow.  James’s father is cited as John Dryden, Joiner, deceased, and his mother as Isabella Lawson Dryden nee Allan.  Margaret’s father is cited as John Strefford, Iron Shearer, deceased; and her mother as Mary Strefford nee Gibson, deceased.  Witnesses were Thomas Gibson of Primrose Place, Whitegates (probably the bride’s uncle – 1901 Scottish Census at 65 Shieldmuir) and Hannah Strefford also of 56 Laverack Hall Street. (almost certainly the bride’s sister.)

Margaret Jane Lindsay died on 28/9/1956 in Glasgow Royal Infirmary – the widow of James Grosert Dryden, Lithographic Artist.  Her death being notified by her son J.(?) Dryden.     Margaret’s Husband James Grosert pre-deceased her on 5/6/1952 at 9 Empsay (?) Road, Bishoprigs, (?) – a Block Printer and Artist, his death being notified by his Brother in Law.

Second:

Samuel Strefford,  Boilermaker, aged 24, married Marion Primrose, Domestic Servant, aged 20, at 103 Bath Street, Glasgow by Declaration (special license) in the presence of two witnesses: 1) Gilbert Wines?, Thornwood Road, Glasgow; and 2) Edith Noris?, 210 Nithdale Road, Glasgow; on the 25^th July 1923.  (The witnesses may have been Sheriff’s Office staff).   Samuel was resident at Poleshill Road, Glasgow,  Marion was resident at Midlen(?) Street, Glasgow.  Samuel’s father is cited as John Strefford, Iron & Steel Worker, deceased; and his mother as Mary Strefford nee Gibson, deceased.  Marion’s father is cited as Robert Primrose, Locomotive Works foreman and her mother as Marion Primrose nee McRail?, deceased.  The warrant for the marriage was issued by the Sheriff on July 25^th 1923.  Marriage by warrant was not uncommon in Scotland, or by licence in England.  This marriage did not seem to involve either family.

Third:

Hannah Preeece was born on 13th January 1901 at 65 Shieldmuir but the birth of this child was registered not by her father John but by her mother's brother.  Hannah was probably a witness to her sister's wedding in 1924.  Her death is recorded in 1996 aged 95 in Glasgow, her 'other' (married) name being given as McArthur.

The Strefford descendants of Samuel and Marion Strefford may still live in Scotland

.

 Thomas Joseph Strefford  (The third son of Samuel and Hannah)
 

On the 13^th April 1897 Thomas Joseph Strefford, Bachelor, aged 22, Ironworker; of  McGregor’s Land, Shieldmuir: married Adeline Elizabeth Bill, Spinster, aged 24, no occupation given: of 2 Duke St., Motherwell.   Thomas’s father and mother were cited as Samuel Strefford, Engine Fitter, deceased; and Hannah Strefford, nee Preece.  The witnesses were David and Louisa Nassell.  The marriage took place at McGregor’s Bgs(?) after banns according to the forms of the Primitive Methodist Church.  This marriage is interesting because for whatever reason John was no longer resident at 85 Shieldmuir, the Strefford family home of the 1891 Scottish Census.  He was married from and at McGregor’s Land.  In Scotland a ‘Land’ was a lodging-house of which there were many.  McGregor’s Land figures again and again in the Scottish Strefford story.  It also seems that the Bill family were Primitive Methodists.  These were Methodists who wished to return to the original teachings of John Wesley and had separated from the main Methodist movement in 1810.  Primitive Methodists were strict, which would have been significant as Adeline was expecting a baby when she and Thomas married.

On August 2^nd 1897 Adeline and Thomas’s first baby, Adeline Blanch, was born at Duke St., Motherwell.  The birth was registered by Thomas who gave his occupation as an Ironworker. 

 On August 17^th Thomas registered the death of this child at 2 Duke St., Motherwell, aged 14 days, the cause of death being given as Gastric Catarrh.

(2 Duke St was Adeline’s parental home).

On November 25^th 1898 Adeline and Thomas’s second baby, Samuel James, was born at 65  Milton St., Motherwell.  The birth was registered by Thomas who gave his Occupation as an Ironworker.

 On August 25^th  1899 Thomas registered the death of this child at 65 Milton St., Motherwell, aged 9 months, the cause of death being given as diarrhoea.

(Adeline and Thomas now seem to have their own home or perhaps they were still living with Adeline’s parents but they all had moved to Milton St.)

On June 20^th 1900 Adeline and Thomas’s third baby , Hannah, was born at 65 Milton St., Motherwell.  The birth was registered by Thomas who gave his occupation as an Ironworker.

On July 14^th 1901 Thomas registered the death of this child at 65 Milton St., Motherwell, aged (incorrectly) 3 months, the cause of death being nausea (I think).
 

On July 18^th (two days before the death of Hannah)  Adeline Elizabeth, Thomas’s wife,died at 65 Milton St, Motherwell.  She was 27 years old and the cause of death is given as Anaemia from which she had suffered for four months.  Her death was registered by her father, James Bill - who made his mark and gave his occupation as an Iron Roller. Adeline’s mother is cited as Adeline Bill nee Nassell.

(The cause of death should have been continuous child bearing and probably poor diet!)

On the 1901 Scottish Census  Thomas Strafford (spelt incorrectly) is listed as: son in law – widower, Ironworker; aged 26, in the household of  James Bill at 65 Milton St,  Motherwell.

 The whole household comprised: James Bill, Head of Household, aged 60, Ironworks Labourer;   Adeline Bill, wife, aged 52, no occupation;   James Bill, son, aged 29, Ironworks (?);   David Bill, son, aged 24(?), Ironworks Labourer;   Joseph Bill, son, aged 25, Ironworks Labourer;   Thomas Strafford, son-in-law, aged 26, Ironworks Labourer;   James M. Bill, Grandson, aged 7, no occupation;   Agnes Peacock, aged 17(?), General Domestic Servant.

            Obviously The Bill family had moved from 2 Duke St., to 65 Milton St.  Maybe Thomas and Adeline had lived their short married life there, with her family.

The next we read of Thomas Joseph Strefford is the death certificate of yet another daughter:  Mary McLintock Strefford on April 24^th 1909 at 33 Milton Road,  Motherwell – usual residence 126 Caledonian Road, Motherwell, aged 7 weeks, the cause of death being acute bronchitis.  The father is Thomas Joseph, Ironworker;  but the mother is Mary Strefford nee Neilly -  Thomas Joseph had married again.  ('Scotlands People' records the birth of Mary McLintock Strefford in 1909 at Dalzeil, Lanark.)

 
Thomas Joseph, now aged 71, notified the death from cerebral haemorrhage of his second wife Mary Strefford, nee Neilly, aged 73,  on August 11^th  1946.    (So they were married for 40 years +)  Thomas still gives his occupation as an Ironworker now of 23 Milton St., Motherwell (So he had not moved far in 50 years).  His wife’s father is cited as James Neilly, deceased; and her mother as Mary Neilly nee McLintock   (Hence the unusual naming of the deceased little girl of 1909).

After his second wife died Thomas Joseph stayed in Scotland – his death is recorded at  34 Harthorden Gardens, Bonnyrigg, Cockpen, Midlothian; on June 1^st 1955, the cause of death being cardio vascular degeneration.  He is recorded as a retired steel worker, widower of Mary Neilly and his death was notified by his SON, T. Strefford (perhaps Thomas Joseph was living with this son when he died?).  So Thomas Joseph and his second wife Mary did have at least one more child, a son.

 
The Strefford descendants of Thomas Joseph’s son ,and perhaps other sons, may still live in Scotland.

Returning now back to Upton Magna to consider the children of David Strefford (the younger) & Martha:

From More, David Strefford (the younger) married Martha Aston at Pontesbury, then seems to have moved to Shrewsbury (Meole Brace) then finally and permanently to Upton Magna where he lived adjacent to his Brother John (the younger) until his death.  All these places are to the south of Shrewsbury in Shropshire.  David worked as a Farm Labourer all of his life.

Their Children were as follows:

  
William     born Meole Brace   no record found Christening or Registration

George      born Upton Magna   27/10/1850   Registered 4^th quarter 1850   Died 21/3/1855

 
Benjemin  born Upton Magna  8/2/1857   (see following)   Not registered

 
Jane        born Upton Magna  20/2/1859   (see following)   Registered 1^st quarter 1859

 
John           born Upton Magna     22/9/1861   Registered 4^thquarter 1861                             

Edward      born Upton Magna     21/2/1869   Registered 1^st quarter 1869

 
(Birth/Christening, George’s death, information from the IGI)

 
David Strefford (the younger) died on 20^th March 1892, aged 78 (? actually 74), residence: The Forge, Upton Magna.  The death of Martha Strefford is recorded in the English GRO. Deaths index for Oct/Nov/Dec 1896, aged 73 registered at Atcham.

Benjemin and Jane Strefford are not central to this Family History. However it is possible that the descendants of Benjemin live on Deeside, and that the descendants of Jane live in Lanarkshire in addition to the central family line through John Strefford (the younger) and his son Samuel.

Benjemin Strefford:

 
The 1861 English Census records a Benjemin (?) Strefford aged 4 resident with his father David and mother Martha Strefford at The Forge, Upton Magna (IGI says Christened 8^th Feb 1857 at Upton Magna), but there is no record of Benjemin on the 1871 English Census or any subsequent Census.  However in 1884 a Benjamin Strefford lived at 18 Henllan St., Denbigh, working as a Butler and registered the birth of a daughter Martha Annie on 7^th May 1884.  Benjamin’s wife was Annie nee Roberts, but I can find no marriage record.  Nor can I find any death record for either Benjamin or Annie.  Note that the death of a Martha Annie cited as born 16^th February 1920 was registered at Shrewsbury in September 1995 – was this a daughter of Benjamin’s daughter?  Benjemin is a mystery, but if any children of Benjamin stayed in Wales after 1884, then there were Streffords in North Wales before the return of Samuel’s children, Edwin & John; William, Richard Charles & Samuel Arthur, in 1899 – 1901.

Jane Strefford – her son  Herbert Henry Strefford M.M.:

 
Herbert Henry Strefford seems to have been the illegitimate son of Jane Strefford, daughter of David Strefford the brother of John Strefford (father of Samuel Strefford who moved to Scotland) all at Upton Magna, Shropshire.

 
Jane Strefford was Christened 20^th February 1859 (IGI): father David Strefford, mother Martha.

 
Herbert Henry Strefford was born on the 4^th January 1890 at 9 Beeches Lane, Shrewsbury.  On his birth certificate the boxes for father’s name and occupation are empty, except the name Henry has been written then crossed out in the ‘Father’s Name’ box.  Herbert Henry’s mother is recorded as: Jane Strefford, a domestic servant, of The Forge, Upton Magna, nr Shrewsbury.  The birth was recorded on the 21^st January 1890 by Jane Strefford – mother.

 
On the 1891 English Census Jane and Herbert Henry are recorded as follows: William Phillips, Head of Household, aged 31, Waggoner, recorded at 1 Downton Lane, Upton Magna.  WIFE Jane Phillips, aged 42, no occupation. Herbert H. Strefford, son, aged 11.     William Phillips, son, aged 6.

 
 Nothing further is recorded (except in the 1911 Census?) of Herbert Henry Strefford until 27^th November 1915 when he volunteered to serve in WW1 (conscription was not introduced until May 1916).  Fortunately the enlistment document for Herbert Henry still exists, without unfortunately any other part of his WW1 service record.  This document records Herbert Henry as employed at Nordeston(?) Castle, Newtown Mains, Scotland, as a Gardener, aged 25 years 11 months.  He enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry.

 
So between the 1901 English Census and 1915 Herbert Henry left Shropshire and moved to Scotland to work as a Gardener.

 
On 21^st July 1919 – obviously having survived WW1, Herbert Henry married Mary Marston, at Church Stretton, Shropshire.

Details of this marriage are as follows:

Herbert Henry Strefford, aged 29, Bachelor, Gardener, Residing at Upton Magna at the time of his marriage, father David Strefford, deceased. (Herbert Henry seems to have recorded his grandfather David as his Father?) married: Mary Marston, aged 31, Spinster, no occupation, residing at Marshbrook; father John Marston, Platelayer.  Witnesses:  Charles Mapp & Lucy Elizabeth Lancaster;  at the Parish Church of Church Stretton; Sidney C. Woods, Rector.  The birth of Mary Marston was registered April/May/June 1888 at Atcham as Mary Elizabeth Marston.  She is recorded on the 1901 English Census at Marshbrook, Little Stretton (The same place as on her wedding certificate.  Mary seems not to have used her second Christian name).

In 1924 ‘Scotlands People’ records the death of a child Gladys Clare Strefford, aged 2 ½ years from malignant scarlet fever.  Father Herbert H. Strefford, a Gardener.  Mother Mary Strefford, nee Marston, no occupation.  Residing at Browntons Cottages, Bankle, Parish of Dalzeil, County of Lanark, Scotland. (The birth of Gladys Clare is also recorded on 'Scotlands People' for 1924 at Dalzeil, Lanark)

 
But the birth/death records for Gladys Clare shows that Herbert Henry Strefford and his wife Mary did return to Scotland, where he had enlisted in 1917, after their marriage in 1919. Today their descendants still live in Scotland including Herbert Henry's Grandson, also named Herbert Henry, born 1951.

Summarising –

The Deeside Streffords:

The descendants of the nine children of Edwin & Mary Ann, who returned from Scotland in 1899 to: Stalybridge, Chester, then Shotton 1903.

The descendants of William, Richard Charles, and Samuel Arthur; Edwin’s younger brothers; who returned from Scotland in 1901 with John - also Edwin’s brother, & Mary his wife.  What happened to John is a mystery but Mary and her children were back in Scotland  in 1902. William, Richard Charles and Samuel Arthur stayed with their mother Hannah on Deeside.

Possibly the descendants of Benjemin Strefford, son of David Strefford (the younger) born at Upton Magna in 1857, married to Annie Roberts, working as a Butler in Denbigh and registering a daughter Martha Annie there in 1884.

So the Streffords now living on Deeside are probably descendants of David Strefford (Tailor) the elder and his predecessors.  Then - of either of the two Upton Magna brothers: John Strefford (the younger) via Samuel – to Scotland 1881:  then Samuel’s sons: Edwin, William, Richard Charles & Samuel Arthur, all of whom, by various routes, returned from Scotland to England 1899-1901.  Or also possibly David Strefford (the younger) via Benjamin his son – in Denbigh 1884.

The Scottish Streffords:

With the exception of  Thomas Joseph Strefford , ALL the Streffords who went to Scotland in 1881 from Pontesbury; except Samuel (Upton Magna & Pontesbury) son of John Strefford the younger, and the little girl Martha Mary Preece; both of whom died in Scotland: plus those born in Scotland since that time, moved back from Motherwell to England: Edwin & family to Stalybridge c. 1899,  John & group to Hawarden c. 1901.

None of Thomas Joseph’s Scottish children by his first marriage survived, but it is recorded, by inference from his death certificate of 1955 that he had at least one Scottish son by his second marriage, whose Strefford descendants may still live in Scotland.

John Strefford and his family seem not to have settled at Hawarden, and very quickly moved back to Scotland, or John’s wife Mary did with her three Scottish children: Margaret Jane Lindsay, Samuel and Hannah Preece.   These three all survived and the Scottish marriages of Margaret Jane and Samuel are recorded (see later). Their mother, Mary, died in 1917 her death certificate recording her husband John as deceased. The Strefford descendants of Samuel may still live in Scotland.

Herbert Henry Strefford M.M., (Upton Magna) son of Jane Strefford, daughter of David Strefford the younger – the brother of John Strefford the younger, must have moved from the household of William Phillips (his mother’s husband) at 1, Downton Lane, Upton Magna between the time of the English 1901 Census and 1915 when he volunteered in Scotland to serve in WW1.  He married after WW1 and had a child, Gladys Clare, who survived only 2 ½ years.  Today the descendants of Herbert Henry Strefford M.M. still live in Scotland.

So the Streffords now living in Scotland are probably descendants of David Strefford (Tailor, the elder) and his predecessors.  Then - of either of the two Upton Magna brothers: John Strefford the (younger) via Samuel – to Scotland 1881; and David Strefford (the younger) via Jane/Herbert Henry – to Scotland 1901-1915.

.

Acknowledgements:

Shropshire Archives, Shrewsbury.    Parish Record on Microfiche & Transcripts – Books & Boxes
            (Thankyou to Mrs Christine Abram S.F.H.S. for showing to me the books & boxes)

            Powys Archives, Llandrindod Wells. Welsh Parish Records on Microfilm

Shropshire Parish Register Research via the Microfiche loan service of the Shropshire Family History Society
            (Thankyou again to Mrs Christine Abram, S.F.H.S.)

            South West Shropshire Historical & Archaeological Society – Bishops Castle Registers

            Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society – Welshpool Birth Register 1772 - 1812

            Scotland’s People – the Scottish Official Family History Internet resource

English General Register Office Birth, Marriage & Death records and Census information1841 – 1901 (all via the Internet)

            Shropshire Parish Records Sets 1 & 2 – S & N Genealogy Supplies – 2 CD’s 

            Shropshire Burials Index 3^rd Edition.  Shropshire Family History Society CD

            English Parish Records Shropshire (Hereford Diocese) – Ancestry.com CD

            LDS International Genealogical Index  (Mormons) (via Internet)

Contact at:  geoffrey.jefftee@gmail.com   

Geoff Taylor 24/12/2007-OneTel/Nvu,16/3/2008, 16/8/08-amend, 22/2/09 - Zen/Nvu/FileZilla/123-Reg, 25/2/09, 4/3/09-amend