I have traced my ancestry back to Jonathan Brindley (1776-1863) whom in the 1851 census is recorded as residing at Providence Grove Cottages, Hadnall, the home of writer, Charles Hulbert (found on the same page of the census). I wondered if anybody had any relevent information about the residents of Providence Grove and how my ancester (an agricultural labourer) came to live at the same address.
Many thanks in advance
Lee Brindley.
Hi Martyn.
Thanks very much for your help. I have tried as you suggested, but the search engine was unable to find any records for Providence Grove. Perhaps I am doing something wrong.
Hello Lee.
I have just repeated my search. Did you use the "exact words" panel?
However I will try to passte below the main item:
Thanks again Martyn.
Of course this only depicts who owned or leased the property and not its complete residence. According to Hulberts Memoirs of seventy years of an eventful life the property was built by (or at least under the commision of) Hulbert in 1832 as a home for himself, his family and a few select businsessmen and proffesionals (and of course their servants). The property was destroyed in a fire seven years later and was then rebuilt. It is this rebuilt property that my ancestor lived (I do not know whether he resided there before the fire).
What I am most intigued about is that as a farmer, my ancestor could hardly be described as either a proffesional or likely servant, so I wonder how he came to take up residence there.
I suggest going into the website www.a2a.org.uk . This is the Access to Archives section of the National Archives. Make an advanced search and type in providence grove. All entries relate to this property. The one that you want is the entry from the Sansaw and Hardwicke Estate Records held at Shropshire Archives. Revd C A Hulbert occurs. The list of legal transactions ends in 1892 when Mr James Jenkinson Bibby (the rich Liverpool shipowner) bought the property. He had been building up the estate since his purchase of Hardwicke Grange, Hadnall about 1868, followed in the 1880s or so by Sansaw Hall and estate next door at Clive. (Hardwicke Grange, suitable for entertaining the King aound 1907, was demolished - Sansaw was itself large enough). Some of the stone is incorporated in my house).
In earlier or mid part of the 20th century Providence Grove was the home of Mr Sixsmith, who was managing director of the Chatwood Safe and Engineering Company in Harlescott. I cannot say whether he owned or merely rented it.
I rather doubt that the Grove was of a much earlier date than Revd Hulbert's time: doesn't look older than 19th century.
Of course your ancestor was living somewhere next door, not, as you say, at the same address.