HALES OWENROOTS

FROM MANSFIELD WOODHOUSE AND RUABON TO HASBURY

The Wright/Roberts Family History

James Wright was born about 1786 in Nottinghamshire.

Mary Wright, nee Lee was born in Nottingham about 1790.

They had three sons:

James Wright born about 1821

George Wright born about 1821

Robert Wright born about 1831.

James and Mary did not marry until July 21^st 1830 at Mansfield Woodhouse.

In 1841 James and his two elder sons were employed as quarry labourers.

Nothing else is known of this family until 1851, when James Wright age 31, then  a chimney sweep, was living at Birmingham Street, HalesOwen. The 1851 census states that James was born in Mansfield

Living with him at the time were:

Mary, his wife, age 41, a Milliner from Leicestershire:

Emma, given as his daughter, age 16, a Nail forger from Leicestershire:

William Jackson, ages 11, a Servant and Sweep from Bristol:

Joseph Smith, age 30, a visitor and a Sweep from Bethnal Green:

William Juffs, age 16, a visitor and a Sweep from Gisalgorn? Suffolk:

George Walgrove, age 20, a lodger and a Sweep from Warwick.

The 1861 Census for Hales Owen has the following entry for 126 Birmingham Street:

James Wright age 41 Coal Dealer Nottinghamshire Mansfield

Isabella Wright age 41 Dress Maker Bristol

Matilda Wright age 17 Nail Maker Bristol

James R Wright age 8 Scholar Worcestershire Halesowen

Henry B Wright age 6 Scholar Worcestershire Halesowen

The IGI index has a record that shows that James Wright married Isabella Whitmore at HalesOwen Church on 17th March 1852.

From Holloway/Wright/Roberts family lore, the two boys are James Robert and Henry Bland Wright, but up to now Matilda Wright has been unknown.

By 1871 James and Isabella had moved to the Bull Ring Halesowen :

James Wright   age 52 Chimney Sweep Nottinghamshire Nottingham

Isabella Wright age 53                         Gloucester Bristol

James R Wright age 18 ditto               Worcestershire Halesowen

Henry B Wright age 16 ditto               Worcestershire Halesowen

Assumedly , James R and Henry B were chimney sweeps

James Wright died in the early summer of  1873 at the age of 54 years.

GRO 6c page 80

The 1881 census shows an Isabella Wright, age 66, a widow, born in Bristol, living at Tanhouse Lane with a family called Lashford.

A search of the 1881 census for a Matilda born about 1844, possibly in Bristol, was carried out and only one match was found.

Matilda Westwood, age 37, a Nail forger, born in Bristol, who was living at Whitehall, Hales Owen, with her husband, George and their ten children.

James Robert Wright was christened at Hales Owen Parish Church on 5th January 1853.

On 25th September 1871, James Robert married Lucy Sherrett.

She was the daughter of Henry Sherrett/Sharret and Mary nee Reid .

Henry Sherrett was born about 1807 at Hawne, the son of John and Mary.

On 21st October 1827, he married Ann, the daughter of Richard White and Martha Cole at Halesowen. Their children were:

Mary b circa 1827

Caroline b circa 1831

Fanny b circa 1834

David b circa 1836

Elizabeth b circa 1839

Henry b circa 1840

Sarah b circa 1843

Caroline married Benjamin Willetts born Hasbury 1831.

Sarah married Joseph Shilvock

Henry Sherret married his second wife Mary Reid at Halesowen on 31st October 1846.

Their children were:

Elizabeth b circa 1847

Benjamin b circa 1849

Maria b circa 1852

Lucy b circa 1854

In 1851  Henry, Mary and their children were living at the Crescent, Hasbury:

SHARRATT Henry Head M 39 Nailer WOR Hawn  

SHARRATT Mary Wife M 40 Nailer WAR Solihull 

SHARRATT Fanny Daughter U 18 Nailer WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT David Son 15 Nailer WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Henry Son 12 Nailer WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Sarah Daughter 7 WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Elizabeth Daughter 3 WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Benjamin Son 1 WOR Hasbury 

In 1861 they could  still be found at the Crescent, Hasbury:

In 1881 the Widow Mary Sherret was living with her daughter Sarah and husband Joseph Shilvock 

SHARRATT Henry Head M 52 Nailer WOR Hawn  

SHARRATT Mary Wife M 52 Nailer WAR Solihull 

SHARRATT Henry Son 21 Stone Pitt Miner WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Sarah Daughter 19 Nailor WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Elizabeth Daughter 15 Nailor  WOR Halesowen 

SHARRATT Lucy Daughter 7  Work? Girl WOR Hasbury 

In 1871 their address was given as Spring Hill Hasbury.

SHARRITT Henry Head M 71 Nailer WOR Hawne 

SHARRITT Mary Wife M 6 Nailer WOR Solihull 

SHARRITT Elizabeth Daughter 24 Button Maker Nailor  WOR Halesowen 

SHARRITT Lucy Daughter 1 7  Buttomn Maker  WOR Hasbury

In 1881 the Widow Mary Sherret was living with her daughter Sarah and husband Joseph Shilvock   

James and Lucy had three children:

Mary Anne christened at HalesOwen Church on 10th January 1872 (and called Polly);

Elizabeth born circa 1876;

Edward born circa 1879.

The 1881 census shows the family living at Hasbury:

The Crescent, Hasbury

Henry Bland Wright was christened at Hales Owen Parish Church on 18th July 1855.

On 18th April 1875, Henry Bland Wright married, according to the IGI record, Jane Brown. However, this is a spelling mistake as her name at the time of the ceremony was Jane Broom. Unfortunately, it gets even more confused, because for most of her life, Jane Broom was known as Jane Cotterill.

It was only when it was discovered that her parents were not married that she changed her name to her mothers maiden name , Broom. 

Jane was the daughter of John Cotterill and his ‘wife’ Ann nee Broom. 

Ann Broom was the daughter of James and Ann Broom and she was born

on 12^th October 1829 in Birmingham and was baptized at St Phillips Cathedral Birmingham on 2^nd November of that year.

The 1851 census gives the following information:-

Back of 5 Castle Street Birmingham

PRO Reference HO/107/2054 Folio 62 Page 23

James Broom had married Ann Newton on 6^th April 1818 at St Martins Church Birmingham. Family lore states that Ann Newton was from a well off family and she had ‘run off’ with the groom.

They appear to have had four children:

Ann b 1829

Mary baptized 25 Feb 1822 at St Phillips

William baptized 29 December 1823 at St Phillips

George baptized 29 December 1824 at St Phillips. 

There is no evidence of any child other than Ann surviving to adulthood. 

By 1871 Ann Broom had left home and had three children by John Cotterill

86 Buchall Terrace Aston Deritend Warwick

 Ref RG10/3135 Folio11 Page 16  

In 1881, Ann Cotterill (Broom) was living in Brook Road, Birmingham Street with her children and granddaughter. She was still classified as married but John Cotterill was not at home. (or was he?)

Birmingham Street Brook Road Halesowen 

RG11/2885 Folio 114 page 36 

62 Norton St Birmingham Warwick 

RG11/3010 Folio 19 Page 31 

A search of the 1861 Census reveals:

25 Soho Road Birmingham 

 RG9/2168 Folio 51 Page 18 

A further search of the 1871 Census revealed

370 Park Road ( All Saints) Birmingham 

RG10/3132 Folio 39 Page 16

It appears that John Cotterill had two families. It is therefore no great surprise that Jane and the rest of Ann’s children changed their name to Broom.

Sarah Cotterill was christened at St Martins Church in Birmingham on 9th July 1861.      

Jonathan Cotterill was christened at the same church on 14th October 1862?.                   

Sarah Cotterill , like her sister Jane, reverted to the name Broome and married Thomas Holloway at HalesOwen in 1882. They had a daughter Mary. In 1899 they emigrated to Cook County Chicago. There Mary met and married William Sawyer whose family had also moved from Halesowen.

Sarah Cotterill/Broome Holloway with her great grandson Walter, daughter Mary Sawyer and granddaughter Gertrude in Cook County in 1937

 The 1881 Census gives the following information about Henry Bland Wright and his family:

Jane age 23 born Birmingham Warwick

Sarah Ann age 4 born Hales Owen Worcestershire

Emma age 10 months, born Hales Owen Worcestershire

Henrys occupation is given as a Chimney Sweep

By the 1891 Census  Henry’s family  had increased:

Ellen age 8

Minnie age 2

Jane age 2 months

The family lived at 36 Birmingham Street and Henry's job was given as a Coal Miner.

It appears that Emma failed to survive the 1880’s and no mention is made in either census of children James or Elsie but she is known to have died on November 19th 1918 aged 25 and is buried in HalesOwen Church Yard. It is believed Henry,s son James died at an early age between the censuses.

Kellys Directory for  Worcestershire 1896, lists Henry Bland Wright and 

James Robert Wright as Chimney Sweeps of Birmingham Street, HalesOwen.

Sometime between 1896 and 1901 Henry Bland Wright disappeared and nothing was heard of him again. It is rumoured that after the death of his son James he was overcome with grief and life got just too much for him.

The Wright Family Hymn Book 

Ellen Wright married William Roberts, the son of Charles Roberts and Sarah nee Rudge of 48 Hill Street. Prior to marrying Charles, Sarah was married to Benjamin Holloway. They married on Christmas Day 1863 according to the Latter Day Saints records. Sarah was 18 and Benjamin 20 years old.

Benjamin Holloway died in 1874 age 31 years 

Sarah Holloway, in the 1881 Census, was the head of the household in Hill Street, living there with her children from her marriage to Benjamin Holloway, her father Charles Rudge and her boarder Charles Roberts, whose birthplace is given as Stourbridge.  

In 1861, Charles Rudge was living at 54 Islington Street with his wife Sarah and their six children.

Charles aged 58

Sarah aged 54

Charles aged 21                                          

Thomas aged 19

James aged 13

Edward aged 11

Martha aged 17?

Sarah aged 16

Also living at that address was Edward Shilvock aged 5

The 1891 Census shows Charles Roberts, aged 36, living in Hill Street with Sarah, William Charles, aged 8, Charles William aged 6 and Martha, aged 4.

Sarah and the children were born in Hales Owen, while Charles senior’s birthplace is given again as Stourbridge. Charles Roberts’ birthplace will need more investigation as Roberts/Wright family lore gives Ruabon as his birthplace

In 1891 he was a spike nail maker.

Charles Roberts and Sarah Holloway were married at the Parish Church, Blackheath on June 13^th 1882.  Charles was 27 years old and Sarah was 34. Charles’s father is recorded as Thomas Roberts, a shoemaker. Charles Rudge , a nailer was, Sarah’s father . The witnesses were William and Sarah Hall and Walter Insull carried out the service.

Jane Wright’s daughter Jane born 1891, had an accident as a child and had one leg amputated.

She married Herbert Cooper on July 18^th 1915 at Halesowen. They had eight children:

Herbert born 5/5/1917 died March 2005

Stanley born 17/11/2005 died 19/10/1992

George born 2/5/1921 died 195?

Vera  born 12/4/1923 date of death unknown

Minnie born 22/11/1926  date of death unknown

Reggie born 2/2/1928

Elsie born 6/4/1930

Wilfred born 5/12/1931 Emigrated to Australia  

Minnie Wright married Charles Golden. She died on 24th August 1930 aged 42 and shares the same grave in Hales Owen Church yard as her sister Elsie.

Ellen and William had the following children: 

Henry    born 29/12/1913

Min       born  1906

Joe        born  about 1909

Wilf

Sarah     born  25th January 1912

They adopted Dorrie Cross after her mother died.

Joseph Roberts, the husband of Gladys May, died on active service, in Italy, on Monday 20th September 1943. His age is given on the Memorial at Catonia War Cemetery, Sicily as 37. This appears to be a mistake.  

Click here to view the Commonwealth Graves Commissions details for gunner Joseph Roberts

Sarah Roberts was born at 6, Birmingham Street, Hales Owen.

At the age of 22 years, on the 18th July 1934 she married Charles Clifford Holloway, aged 23 years, and a general labourer of 35, Uffmoor Estate, Hales Owen. The Witnesses were her sister, Minnie and her husband, William Williams.

William Roberts died on August 26th 1955, aged 72, and is buried in  Hales Owen Church Yard. Ellen Wright died on 18th October 1965 and shares the same grave as her husband . Their son Josephs name appears on their grave but he is buried in Sicily.

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