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That all tallies up with what we'd uncovered. Just be aware that there's another George Clews, also born January 1842, but in Wolstanton, to a father George and mother Edna Lycett. They are easily mixed, as the birthdates are almost identical. The George Clews you want was born in Burslem.

Thanks Hhistorynut for the additional information. I am hoping to get around to doing more work on George Clews over Christmas, when I'm not busy doing my regular 'work'.

The date of George and Harriet purchasing a property in Bethesda Street in 1875 makes perfect sense, and concurs with the information I have. Their eldest child, Ada, was born in 1869, when they were in Bedford Street. Two other children died in infancy before Percy arrived in July 1875, a couple of months after their purchase of the house from William Allen. I'm surprised you suggest that George then let the property to Thomas Bullock in June, unless Harriet being close to term in her pregnancy meant they didn't want to move until after Percy's birth. Either way, by the time of the 1881 census, they were definitely living in Bethesda Street, at number 65, and George is cited as being a Potter's "Mould maker", not manager.

I'd be fascinated to know what these 3 other properties were by 1906. In the 1911 census George and Harriet are living with Percy and his wife Annie in Caverswall Lane, Blythe Bridge, which is where Harriet died in 1912. Subsequently, George moved to Romford in Essex to live out his days with his daughter Ada and her husband Frederick. He died there in 1918. Percy stayed on in Blythe Bridge and ran the company, George Clews & Co, until his death. He and his wife Emma never had children.

Interesting that you suggest that it was Harriet who sold the Bethesda Street property to Annie Allen. Somehow this suggests George had given the house to his wife at some stage?

Yes, George set up the company in 1906, but as far as we know, he never actually worked there. It was perhaps established as a career opportunity for the newly-married Percy.

I don't have the birth certificates. It starts to get expensive, but I'll give it some thought.

I'll delve some more. Thanks for the PM. I shall respond.

Further to my last post, have been delving into John Clews a little further, and after searching around, found a copy of the Staffordshire General & Commercial Directory, published in 1818 by Parson & Bradshaw. This would have been shortly before John Clews died, and in it, there is a listing for Newcastle-under-Lyme for "Clews John & Son; maltsters and hat manufac. Merrill street."

I had found several references to a "John Clews" of Newcastle in various listings for parliamentary polls, and cited as a hatmaker, but it was not definitive that they were one and the same. In the final such poll, dated 1807, John Clews is listed as "Bailiff" and a "Returning Officer". In the Directory of 1818, John Clews is listed as an Alderman of the town and there's a Ralph Clews "Gent" on the Common Council. So, all ties up quite neatly.

In another similar directory, from 1834 (presumably just before the crash) I find Ralph & James Clews listed as Coalmasters, and owners of Jackfield Colliery. This, then, ties in with other records I have found of Ralph, after his bankruptcy, operating still as a Coalmaster.

Just to add spice to the mix, the earlier Directory lists another pottery manufacturer; Rivers & Clews, of Shelton, but I can't find out anything more about the company. Perhaps it was short-lived? Either way, it's another avenue to explore ....

I've unearthed a bankruptcy reference from 1834 that suggests that Ralph and James Clews' father, John (1753-1819) was probably the original partner with Malkin, and that upon John's death, the two sons took over the business, bought out William, and ran it alongside their pottery. When the pottery went bust during The Great Strike, they lost the brewery as well. They owed over £70,000, which equates to roughly £3.5 million today.