Richard Jones was born in 1830 in Whitchurch. His parents were Richard and Sarah Jones, and his father was a Shoemaker. Richard was on the 1841 census, living in Hollins Lane, Tilstock, with his younger siblings Samuel and Henry, and older stepbrother William. By 1851 Richard has left home, and is living in Market Drayton. He is living with Samuel and Martha Jones, Samuel is a Shoemaker and Richard was recorded on this census as a Cordwainer Journeyman (this means he has completed his apprenticeship and is a Shoemaker. A Cordwainer is a boot & shoemaker)
On the 26th June 1851, Richard married Sarah Jones. Sarah was the daughter of Samuel Jones, Richards employer and boss, and with whom Richard was living on the 1851 census. They were married at the parish church of Market Drayton, and both signed the marriage certificate. (Sarah had a son out of wedlock, John Jones was born in 1849, his father was John Benyon, who was also a Shoemaker). In the Bagshaws Directory of 1851, there is an entry for Richard Jones, Boot and Shoemaker, Little Drayton. Also listed in this directory is William Jones, Shoemaker, Little Drayton. Could this William be Richard's grandfather? (Richard's father, Richard, is still in Tistock in 1851).
Richard and Sarah moved to Staffordshire, and on the 1861 census they are recorded as living at No 15, Ashley, Staffordshire (just over the county border of Shropshire & Staffordshire). Richard is working as a Shoemaker, and they have three sons - Samuel, Elijah and Henry. The 1868 Post Office Directory has an entry for Richard Jones, Shoemaker, in Ashley.
When the 1871 census was taken, the family are still in Ashley. Richard is a Shoemaker, and the family has grown. Three daughters have been born - Sarah, Agnes and Mary Ann. At some point between 1871 and 1877 the family move to Market Drayton. The 1877 Post Office directory shows Richard Jones, Bell Lane, Little Drayton, Shoemaker. Richard died a year later, on the 23rd June 1878, aged 48 years.
Sarah Jones Sarah Jones was baptised on the 22nd September 1830, the daughter of Samuel and Martha Jones. Her father, Samuel was a Shoemaker, and the family were living in Market Drayton (known then as Drayton in the Hales). In 1841, Sarah was ten years old, and was living in Cheshire Street with her parents, and her siblings - older brother Hugh and younger sister Mary. In 1849 Sarah gave birth to John Jones, his father is named on his birth certificate as John Benyon, a Shoemaker. Sarah and John did not marry, it is not known where John Benyon came from and no trace of him can be found as yet. In 1851, the family were in Bell Lane, Sarah now has a younger sister Ann. Her father employs 5 men, all Shoemakers or apprentices. One of these is Richard Jones, Cordwainer Journeyman aged 19. Sarah married Richard later that year.
Sarah and Richard have a large family of eight children - see notes below. After the death of her husband Richard in 1878, Sarah remarried. She married John Parker, a Farmer, however this marriage did not work out and she left him.
The children of Richard and Sarah Jones Richard & Sarah had eight children, a brief outline of their lives follows: Samuel Jones b.1852. Samuel was born in Market Drayton. On the 1871 census he is aged 20, living in Ashley with the family and he was a bricklayer. Ten years later, he was living in Crewe, & was married with a family. Elijah Jones b.1854. Born in Ashley, family legend suggests that he became a soldier. No proof to support this has been found. Henry Jones b.1857 Born in Ashley, and like his older brother Samuel he was a bricklayer. He was married to Mary, and on the 1891 census he was living in Aston (Birmingham area) with Mary and their two sons (William b.1881 & John b.1886) Sarah Jones b.1859 On the 1861 census Sarah was living with her family in Ashley. On the 25th February 1878, Sarah married George Bancroft. Three years later she was living with her mother Sarah, her two youngest sisters Lillian and Letty, and her first born child George Richard. Her husband George is recorded living in the Workhouse. Her second son Elijah was born in 1881. (Sarah Bancroft's husband George was transferred to the Asylum in Shrewsbury in October 1881, and he died there in 1882. He was buried in consecrated ground in Shrewsbury cemetery on the 24th Feb 1882, aged just 27 years of age) These details provided by Sheila Hickman grandaughter of Elijah Bancroft Agnes Jones b.1866 Very little is known about Agnes at the moment. Mary Ann Jones b.1867 By 1881 Mary Ann had left home and was working as a Domestic Servant in Ashton under Lyme. The census recorded her at 221 Stamford St, Ashton under Lyme, working for Jane Herald. Lily Jones Letty Jones
Family legends: There are a few stories that surround the Jones family history. 1 Were Richard and Sarah Jones cousins? As yet I cannot find a link to these two families, the connection here would need to be either through Richard's father and Sarah's father or, through the surname Madeley - Sarah Jones mother Martha was, before she married Samuel, Martha Madeley. 2 Did Richard inherit Sarah's father's shoemaking business. This is yet to be proved. 3 Richard died in 1878. He left his wife destitute, as he had gone bankrupt after putting up money for a bail bond for a friend. This friend then left for America leaving Richard to find the money 4 Richard had a shoemaking factory in Ashley, not just a shop but instead a factory. Again yet to be proved.
If anyone can help increase the knowledge on this branch, or could prove or disprove the legends, I would be thrilled to hear from them. Please use the contact buttons or the contact form to get in touch.
Marriage certificate for Richard and Sarah Jones 1851
Death certificate for Richard Jones 1878
Marriage certificate for Sarah Jones and John Parker in 1880