Norton Green Village GuestBook | 1

Topic: Surname Holdcroft

Hello there,

I'm one of the Norton Holdcrofts and have traced my branch of the family back to (probably) Joshua born 1760-1770; it'll come as no surprise to Nortonites that most of the next 6 generations were miners.

From my casual research it appears that the Holdcrofts probably acquired their name from the place Holcroft in South Lancashire (a parish about 6 miles NE of Waddington). I can't find anything to link Holdcroft and Norton and would be interested to know if anyone has info relating to this - ? a move down to Staffs for work/mines? I've read that the H's have been in Norton for at least 500yrs - can anyone confirm this with evidence?

There is some information around about Norman landowners who took the (Anglo-Saxon) Holcroft placename as a surname from their land but nothing to suggest a link with the Staffs Holdcrofts. I suspect we're from lowly stock who acquired this surname when instructed to by their Norman overbears in 12th/13 Century!

Holcroft (place) was Ango-Saxon although was in the disputed (Anglo-Saxon vs Danes) territory between the Mersey and Ribble and eventually became administered (just) within the Danelaw. I had a genetic Y chromosome (ie male) 'SNP' test done which shows 'S21' haplogroup - this suggests 'invaders' from the European mainland but unfortunately you can't tell between Anglo-Saxons and Danish Vikings (not Norse Vikings - they mostly have a different markers). Either way male Holdcrofts are not part of the 70% indiginous English males - best guess would be an Angle lineage in view of it being Mercian Angle territory.

But I digress - any info relating to the Holdcroft/Holcroft/Houldcroft's appearance in Norton-le-Moors would be great.

Best regards,

Al Holdcroft (currently exiled to Northern Scotland)

Email: alholdcroft@waitrose.com

Topic: Surname Mere

On November 14th I discovered that I am a descendant of the de la Mare family. I have information going back to Ulviet Wulfgeat de la Mare c1070 but would like to go back further.

Does anyone have any information on Ulviet Wulgeat and his ancestors?

I read something which indicated that my family does back to the Saxon kings but I'm not sure if this is correct. It is all very exciting and I would be grateful to receive any information.

Any further information would be most welcome!

Pauline Flanagan

Email: pauline809flanagan@btinternet.com

Topic: Surname Ball

I am researching my family tree and know that my Grandad and Great Grandad came from Norton in the Moors.

I believe that my Great, Great Grandad was also born there. His name was Thomas Ball and was born about 1801.

His children were John, George, Thomas, Jane and Henry. I suspect he may have been married twice, his second wife being Hannah Darcy in 1839.

Any further information would be most welcome.

Barbara

Email: barbara@jpixton.freeserve.co.uk

Topic: Surname Sherratt

looking for any information on jamime sherratt born 1786 norton in the moors married john mellor 1804 norton in the moors or of john mellor norton in the moors her daughter mary mellor married john yates.

jamime is my gr gr gr grandmother she would have relocated to hanley, shelton area

Nora

Email: njsnyder007@att.net

Topic: Surname Sherratt

Hi

my name is Sharon Powell

My mother was Sarah Helen Sherratt. Her Father was John Bullock Sherratt. His father was James Sherratt. His father was Smith Sherratt. His father was William Sherratt, married to Maryann Murray. His father was William Sherratt, Married to Mary Bourne.

William Sherratt lived in Norton in the Moors. I know one of them formed a company called Cockshead Colliery in 1773, to mine iron I believe.

I was hoping that you have imformation about the families. Do you know who the 1st William Sherratt's parents and siblings were? Do you have any information about Mary Bourne's parents.

The names of thier children and what has happened to them. I have found parrish records for the birth of Amy, Martha, William, Rachel, and Smith, but I have been told that there was also a Thomas, Mary, Sarah, and Hannah.

I have not been able to find anything in Stafford Parish Records. I am also interested in the 2nd William Sherratt, the same questions for the most part.

I live in the United States, in California, a town called Ridgecrest. I have been bitten by the geneology bug and have enjoyed finding my family in England. I found your e-mail on a Norton on the Moors site with an invitation to contact you. I hope you can help and I would be very happy to share with you anything I have found.

Sincerely

Sharon Powell

Email: ridgepow@verizon.net

Topic: Surname Unwin

Hello
I am looking into my ancestors who were from the Norton in the moors Baddeley green area.

My great great grandparents were James Unwin & Phoebe Crompton they both died in their 30's in 1872 & 1871 respectively (I wonder how they died so soon after one another) they were from Bradley farm.

I do not know where this farm was of if it exists today. They had 2 sons who died at 3 weeks & 3 half years & a son Arthur James Unwin (my great grandfather) who married & Lived in London & a daughter Ann Lindop Unwin.

Lindop was also a local farming name as my great great great grand mother phoebe's mother (phoebe having her mother's maiden name) married William Lindop a farmer, and went on to have many Lindop children.

I wonder if there is any one living in the village who are descendants of Ann Lindop Unwin or of Hugh Unwin & Mary Leese the parents of James Unwin.

Regards
Maureen, nee Unwin (this line now died out)

Email: doublemdoubleu@talktalk.net

Topic: Surname Sheldon

I am currently researching my family tree and have a direct ancestor Charles Floyd born abt 1780 who married Elizabeth Sheldon 13.2.1804 in Norton in the Moors.

They relocated to Newhall in South Derbyshire where Charles set up the Floyd Till and Wildin Pottery. They had a number of children, one of whom, Benjamin travelled to Pittsburgh to join the Bennett Brothers pottery. All the children apart from Benjamin appear to have been born in the Stoke area.

I would be interested in finding out anything else about Charles and Elizabeth. I see that you have the Sheldon family as a name interest.

I have also seen other Floyd's on the Family Search site who seem to have got married in Norton in the moors. I beleive that Charles Floyd had a brother - Daniel who lived in Yorkshire.

I would be really grateful if you could pass this info onto anyone who may be interested and I would welcome any further queries. Also if you have any information that you may feel would be useful to me I hope you would be in a position to share it. Regards

Andrea Marshall

Email: fun2nou2@googlemail.com

Topic: Surname Holdcroft

We are currently researching my family tree and came across this excellent web site. From our research we have concluded that my great great grandfather was born in Norton Green in 1824, we only know him as Jas who married a Mary Ann [born 1826] they had six children;

Charles b. 1853

Elijah b. 1856

Harriett b. 1859

Samuel b. 1862

Thomas b. 1867

Enoch b. 1870

This information came from the family bible we have and also matches with census information

Elijah is our great grandfather, who moved north to the Durham area, he had at least one son (that we know of)

Charles b. 1888 who married a Mary Graham b.1895 [in Philadelphia but came from the Durham area and had returned by 1901 census]

Charles and Mary had three children

Charles Henry b. 1919 [my father]

Nora b. 1923

Jean b. 1926

If anyone has any further information that would help please get in touch.

Email: stephen.holdcroft@sky.com