Stopfords Court-Dukinfield

[mins-jones1]

Hi Everyone Can anybody help? I have a death certificate for my Ggrandfathers baby brother who died of bronchitis at 4 months of age. It says he died at "Stopfords Court" in Dukinfield. I have searched and cannot find any mention of it. The baby died in July 1868 so the place probably doesnt exist anymore. Has anybody ever heard of it? I would certainly appreciate any info that could be found. Tracie

[JDGen]

Hi Tracie,

Sometimes courts are just a collection of buildings and might not appear on maps so difficult to find any references to them.  Have you managed to find the family in 1861 or 1871 to see where they were living then?  It might help to pin down the location.

Jean

[mins-jones1]

Hi, thanks for the reply. No Francis Ditcfield-Radcliffe and Ann Radcliffe (his mother) never appear on a census. Francis first turns up in the 1901 census with his wife and family. I do not even have an age for Ann when she had my Ggrandfather Francis. There is no father listed on either of the birth certificates and Percy's death cert was signed in attendance of "Charlie Harrop" at Stopfords Court. Needles and Haystacks are becoming very friendly with me over this chap!!!!!!.  Tracie

[JDGen]

Have you got the census reference for 1901 for Francis?  Is he Ditchfield or Radcliffe and when was he born?  Who is Percy?

Sorry for all the questions but if you can supply some more names and dates I'll have a look for you.

Jean

[mins-jones1]

Hiya,  He was born Francis Ditchfield on 11 Oct 1866 at Chapel Hill, Dukinfield. His mother is isted as Anne Radcliffe. No father listed but there was a local publican called Francis Dithfield so we assume (rightly or wrongly) that he was the father. On 8 March 1868 Anne Radcliffe had Percy Ditchfield again Chapel Hill and again no father listed. Percy Ditchfield-Radcliffe died four months later on 31 july 1868. He is listed as "son of Anne Radcliffe". His COD was Bronchitis certified and died in attendance of Charlie Harrop at Stopfords Court, Dukinfield. I was hoping it was some kind of infirmary??

Francis Radcliffe turns up on the 1901 census (class RG13, piece: 3780, folio 131, page 57)He was married to my Ggrandmother Alice Maud Hews on 21 My 1894. Francis Ditchfield-Radcliffe was a comedian and actor and died by falling off a tram in Ellesmere port on 29 June 1931.

That is all the info I have now. My grandmother passed away a few years ago aged 92 and she was a fantastic and funny woman. I would love to find anything on her grandmother for her as we know nothing.

Do you think you can help?

Tracie

[JDGen]

Hi Tracie,

Could this be him in 1881 living with his supposed father?  RG11 4052/5 Page 4, Astley Arms, Chapel Hill, Dukinfield:

Frances DITCHFIELD, Head, Mar, 60, Inn Keeper born ? Staffs
Emma DITCHFIELD, Wife, Mar, 45 born Stockport
Frances DITCHFIELD, Son, 14, Scholar born Dukinfield
+ a visitor and 2 servants

I can't see a birth for a Francis/Frances DITCHFIELD that would fit.

I'll keep looking,

Jean

[JDGen]

OK, here is 1871 for Francis senior - he is unmarried so it's unlikely that the Francis junior in 1881 is the son of Francis and Emma: RG10 4082/84 Page 4, Astley Arms, Chapel Hill, Dukinfield

Francis DITCHFIELD, Head, Unm, 52, Inn Keeper born Staffordshire Ilam
Louisa LOUTH, Servant, Mar, 35, Barmaid born Bromyad? Herefordshire
Eliza BRADBURY, Servant, Unm, 22, General Servant born Lancashire Ashton

Francis DITCHFIELD m Emma BARLOW/SMITH in 1873 at Stockport St Mary - www.cheshirebmd.org.uk

Jean

[JDGen]

Just found death of Francis DITCHFIELD, Sep 1883 Ashton 8d 340 aged 67

Jean

[mins-jones1]

Yes this is the Francis Ditchfield who I thought was the Father. I hit a brick wall with the brewry who owns The Astley Arms though, but the landlady was lovely.
This Francis was married to Letitia Tavinor but there was some sort of scandel about the marriage and they were apparently divorced in 1868 (national archives). Could this of had anything to do with Anne Radcliffe and her children I wonder?
 
I Love old scandels, especially as nobody can get hurt now after so much time has passed.

Thank you for all your time and effort.

Tracie