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Staffordshire / The Clews family of Stoke on Trent
« on: Friday 15 September 17 10:44 BST (UK) »
I am researching the Clews family, based largely in the Wolstanton, Burslem and Hanley areas of Stoke, and their associations with the Potteries.
Two branches are of particular interest. Around the start of the 19th century, Ralph and James Clews set up a business in Cobridge manufacturing traditional creamware ("blue and white" wares mainly). Their mother was a Stevenson, and they had links with Andrew Stevenson's factory, which they took over in 1827. Around 1835 the Potteries suffered "The Great Strike", when many workers in Stoke rebelled against low wages and poor conditions. The Clews brothers were among many to suffer as a result, and went bankrupt. James (b1789) moved to America, and did well enough there to return, ten years later, a wealthy man, and able to settle into a comfortable retirement on a large estate near Stone. He died in 1867.
However, little is known of what happened to Ralph (b1788) after bankruptcy, aside from being assaulted on one occasion on his brother's farm! Any information gratefully received.
The second branch that I'm working on relates to George Clews (1842-1918), who set up a works in Tunstall in 1901, and which was managed and run by his son, Percy Swinnerton Clews. I am, however, missing about twenty years of George's life, between 1855 and 1875. I know he married Harriet Swinnerton in 1866, and they had at least four children (two died in infancy, but Percy Swinnerton (b1875) and Ada Harriet (b1869) survived), but I have no idea where George was between these dates. He fails to show up in the census returns for 1861 or 1871, for example.
Any leads would be wonderful. Thanks
Two branches are of particular interest. Around the start of the 19th century, Ralph and James Clews set up a business in Cobridge manufacturing traditional creamware ("blue and white" wares mainly). Their mother was a Stevenson, and they had links with Andrew Stevenson's factory, which they took over in 1827. Around 1835 the Potteries suffered "The Great Strike", when many workers in Stoke rebelled against low wages and poor conditions. The Clews brothers were among many to suffer as a result, and went bankrupt. James (b1789) moved to America, and did well enough there to return, ten years later, a wealthy man, and able to settle into a comfortable retirement on a large estate near Stone. He died in 1867.
However, little is known of what happened to Ralph (b1788) after bankruptcy, aside from being assaulted on one occasion on his brother's farm! Any information gratefully received.
The second branch that I'm working on relates to George Clews (1842-1918), who set up a works in Tunstall in 1901, and which was managed and run by his son, Percy Swinnerton Clews. I am, however, missing about twenty years of George's life, between 1855 and 1875. I know he married Harriet Swinnerton in 1866, and they had at least four children (two died in infancy, but Percy Swinnerton (b1875) and Ada Harriet (b1869) survived), but I have no idea where George was between these dates. He fails to show up in the census returns for 1861 or 1871, for example.
Any leads would be wonderful. Thanks