The Mountford Family Living in and around Smallthorne
As a child I remember being in Smallthorne with my father in the early 1950’s and him saying that half of the population of Smallthorne was named Mountford. We must have been visiting relatives as my father’s mother was a Mountford who lived in Milton, and my grandmother on my mother’s side of the family lived on Nettlebank. For some reason his comment has always stuck with me, and now having the time, and information being readily available, I decided to see if it was true. What he said wasn’t true, but it was probably the most numerous family surname in Smallthorne, as revealed in census returns and other documents. It must also be remembered that daughters who married were included in the census returns with the husband’s surname. The early census returns in most instances did not include addresses.
MOUNTFORD FAMILY NUMBERS IN SMALLTHORNE CENSUS RECORDS
As a further comparison a 2002 telephone directory only lists 9 Mountfords
The numbers reflect the social changes following the industrial revolution in the mid 1800’s when houses were built to accommodate the labour force needed with the opening of Norton, Hanley Deep, and Sneyd collieries, and the iron works at Ford Green. Many of the new arrivals were farmers and coalminers from the numerous small mines dotted around the neighbouring villages, who often lived in wood and stone structures (hovels) built illegally on common land; this was particularly true of Brown Edge, Norton Green, Norton, Bemmersley, and Ball Green. Most of the families included in the above numbers can trace their forebears to the following:
- Absalom Mountford (born 1806) coalminer and Elizabeth (nee Addison) living in Brown Edge
- George (born 1764) farmer at Fernyhough Farm, Brown Edge, and wife Elizabeth (nee Stanyer)
- Isaac (baptized Endon) living at Ford Green, and described in the 1841 Census as being “the proprietor of houses”,
- Joseph (born 1753) and wife Ann (nee Brindley) living in Norton
The largest family
Samuel (1836-1905) and wife Ann (nee Shaw) – 11 children
In the 1841 Census Ford Green Farm was located at the junction of Spragg House Lane and Leek Road and farmed by John Mountford (born 1817). Mr. Mountford stated that he had been born in Norton but no record of his birth or parents has been identified. John Mountford married Mary Joynson and they had a family of 4 sons Samuel (1836-1905), John William (b 1840), Ralph (1842-1884), Hugh (1847-1883) and 2 daughters, Ann (b 1835), and Mary (b.1851). By 1871 ownership of the farm had transferred from John to his eldest son Samuel, who with his wife Ann (nee Shaw) of Old Rode, and their 3 children, were living together along with parents John and Mary. By 1881 the parents had died, and the family of Samuel and Ann had increased to 11 children.
| Mary Ellen* (1868-1917) | John William* (1869-1932) |
| Ernest James (1871-1951) | Martha J* b 1874 |
| Arthur (1875-1946) | Leonard C* (1877-1950) |
| Samuel* (1878-1937) | Ann* b 1880 |
| Kate C b 1882 | Alice* b 1885 |
| Freda G* b 1886 |
Most of the children lived at the farm until the mid-1930’s when it was sold
Mary Ellen is buried with her parents in Smallthorne, Ernest James married Annie Wilkinson in 1921, Arthur married Ellen Ball, and in 1911 was a grocer with a shop in Smallthorne, Leonard and his unmarried sisters Martha, Ann, and Freda had moved to Brown Edge by 1939. The farmland is now covered by houses and the farmhouse is still standing.
Other large families
Frank (b1875) & Elizabeth (nee Bourne) – 8 children
Felix (b1879) & Ann (nee Bourne) – 8 Children
George (born 1838) & Elizabeth (nee Turner) 7 Children
William (born 1852) & Mary Taylor – 7 children
Workplace
Whilst most of the male members moved to work in the mines and iron works a small number became shopkeepers –
Ralph and Hugh, the sons of John Mountford and his wife (of Ford Green Farm) became shopkeepers in Smallthorne and by 1871 Ralph had married Matilda Hulme, Hugh had married Mary Alice Plant, and both lived in adjacent properties at 5 & 7 Market Street Smallthorne. Ralph was a butcher and Hugh was a grocer and sadly both died at a fairly young age. Ralph, his wife, and 2-year-old son John Thomas are buried at Smallthorne. Ralph’s son (also Ralph born 1874) never married and carried on the butchery business, which had moved around the corner to Leek Road, until his death in 1936. Hugh’s son, John Henry (born 1868), lived at number 9 Market Street and was self-employed as a designer/engraver and his son Robert (born 1896) carried on the same profession. Another son of Hugh (also Hugh born 1894) was a barber living at 4 Market Street.
Arthur, the grandson of John Mountford, and his wife, Ann (nee Ball) was a grocer trading from different addresses in Smallthorne.
Joseph Mountford (born 1808) was the youngest son of George and Elizabeth (nee Stanyer) who were farmers at Fernyhough Farm, Brown Edge. Joseph married Martha Proctor and they had 11 children. Between 1841 and 1871 he was the landlord of the Duke Inn at Norton and was also a master tailor. After his death 4 of his sons moved to Smallthorne; George (born 1838) who was also a tailor married Elizabeth Turner and he continued his business on Leek Road. John (born 1841) married Elizabeth Holdcroft and with 2 of his sons – Felix and Frank – operated a crate making business at Nettlebank. Joseph (born 1848) who married Ann Frost worked at the iron works and the family lived at various addresses in Smallthorne. Felix (born 1854) married Elizabeth Badderley and was initially a grocer at number 4 Market Street before moving to other addresses in Smallthorne.
Street name changes made in the 1950’s
| Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| Hill Street | Fell Street |
| King Street | Kinver Street |
| Leek Road | Ford Green Road |
| Market Street | Ashman Street |
| Stanley Street | Livingstone Street |
| Victoria Street | Regina Street |
| William Street | Whatmore Street |
Properties in Smallthorne occupied by Mountford family members
1861 – 1911
| Address | House No. |
|---|---|
| Broads Row | 2 |
| Broads Row | 22 |
| Camp Street | 56 |
| Camp Street | ? |
| Chell Heath Road | 5 |
| Chell Heath Road | 28 |
| Chetwyn Street | 30 |
| Chetwyn Street | 41 |
| Cliffe Street | 4 |
| East Terrace | ? |
| Heath Street | 28 |
| Hill Street | 19 |
| King Street | 65 |
| King Street | ? |
| Leek Road | 24 |
| Leek Road | 101 |
| Leek Road | 110 |
| Leek Road | 120 |
| Leek Road | 131 |
| Lord Street | 10 |
| Market Street | 3 |
| Market Street | 4 |
| Market Street | 5 |
| Market Street | ? |
| Market Street | ? |
| Market Street | 7 |
| Market Street | 9 |
| Mars Street | 25 |
| Mars Street | 49 |
| Mars Street | ? |
| Nettlebank | 6 |
| Primitive Street | ? |
| Primitive Street | 2 |
| Smith Street | 26 |
| South Lord Street | ? |
| South Street | 23 |
| Spragg House Lane | ? |
| Stanley Street | ? |
| Victoria Street | 14 |
| Victoria Street | 16 |
| William Street | ? |
| Ford Green Farm | (Farm) |
1939
| Address | House No. | No. Occupants |
|---|---|---|
| Chell Heath Road | 3 | 2 |
| Chetwyn Street | 4 | 2 |
| Cliffe Street | 4 | 2 |
| East Terrace | 41 | 4 |
| Hayes Street | 4 | 2 |
| Leek Road | 101 | 3 |
| Leek Road | 110 | 3 |
| Gardeners Arms | (Pub) | 2 |
| Leek Road | 120 | 4 |
| Lord Street | 10 | 4 |
| Market Street | 4 | 3 |
| Mars Street | 49 | 6 |
| Nettlebank | ? | 3 |
| Oakview Avenue | ? | 4 |
| Primitive Street | 2 | 6 |
| Spragg House Lane | ? | 3 |
| Unwin Street | 90 | 3 |
