Benthall mining families

[judijee]

Hi - I'm looking for information about coal-mining families working at Benthall, Broseley, during the 18th and early 19th centuries.  My direct forebear was Thomas BRADLEY, a miner born around 1812 at Benthall - can anyone help me find his baptism, please?  I know that he had migrated to Dudley before 1834.

Many thanks -
judijee

[pete edwards]

Hi Judijee

Can you tell us where you have got your info from,  It will save us searching stuff you already know,

For instance

THOS. RODEN BRADLEY

     Christening:      
06 MAY 1810      Saint Leonard, Broseley, Shropshire, England

      Father:       JNO. BRADLEY
      Mother:       MARIA

Have you got him on any  census?

Best wishes
Pete

[judijee]

Hi Pete

Thanks for your response.

My Thomas Bradley married at Dudley in 1834 and was there with his young family on the 1841 census.  He wasn't with them on the 1851 census; but in 1861 he and his wife Elizabeth (nee Ward) were living in Wolverhampton, and his birthplace is shown as Benthall, Salop.  I've already picked up on the Thomas Roden Bradley baptised at Broseley in 1810 - he's a possibility, but wouldn't Benthall families christen their children at their own parish church, or was it the practice then to take them to Broseley?

I've found a William Bradley, 25, a coal miner like Thomas, living at Benthall on the 1841 census (he married Emma Woof in 1840), but I don't know if he's a brother, or simply another of the numerous Bradley families living at Benthall.  The only reason I noted him is because my Thomas named his first surviving son William.

Regards
- judijee

[bristolloggerheads]

My ancestors were miners from Benthall. Where they lived it was just as close to Broseley church as it was to Benthall. Don't forget Madeley which was only on the opposite bank of the river.
There are Bradleys buried at Broseley Baptist Church.

[judijee]

Thanks for that info, bristollogerheads - it broadens the scope of my search a bit more - judijee

[bristolloggerheads]

Both the Bradley and Roden families are known pipemaking families - just in case the above does turn out to be yours.

[judijee]

Hi bristolloggerheads

This probably sounds a daft question, but what kind of pipes were made at Benthall - were they clay smoking pipes, or drainage pipes?  I only ask because I've noticed the occupation 'pipe maker' on the Benthall censuses, and have wondered about it.

- judijee

[bristolloggerheads]

Clay tobacco pipes.

[judijee]

Thanks for putting me right on that one