Nat Gould

Ralph Adams 1722-1784

Narrowdale

Ralph Adams was born in 1722 at Narrowdale in Alstonefield parish in Staffordshire, the son of George and Ellen Adams. He was baptised on 22 November 1722 at Alstonefield church.

Narrowdale lies north-north-west of the village towards Beresford Dale and Hartington. Only two farm houses now remain, formerly part of a larger settlement (1).

Ralph Adams became churchwarden of Alstonefield church in 1746.

In 1754 he purchased the village shop, and it remained in the possession of the Adams family for over 160 years (2).

On 25 October 1756 he married Elizabeth Wood at Alstonefield. They farmed at Narrowdale, and had the following children, all baptised at Alstonefield:

Ellen Adams. She was born in 1757, and baptised on 21 August 1757.

Ralph Adams. He was born in 1759, and baptised on 7 August 1759. He married Ellen Salt of Ellastone in Staffordshire at Alstonefield on 4 November 1787. She died in 1760 and was buried at Alstonefield on 12 February 1760. He married Mary Platt at Alstonefield on 9 June 1808. He died on 6 January 1832 aged 73 years.

Elizabeth Adams. She was born in 1761, and baptised on 29 September 1761. She was married to John Wright 1752-1840 and they eventually settled at Bradbourne in Derbyshire. They became the great-grandparents of Nat Gould.

Dorothy Adams. She was born in 1764, and baptised on 11 March 1764. She died in the same year, and was buried at Alstonefield on 2 November 1764.

Dorothy Adams. She was born in 1765, and baptised on 18 September 1765.

Thomas Adams. He was born in 1769, and baptised on 19 March 1769. He was the twin of Mary Adams.

Mary Adams. She was born in 1769, and baptised on 19 March 1769. She was the twin of Thomas Adams.

David Adams. He was born in 1773, and baptised on 23 October 1773. He died on 18 November 1842 aged 69 years, and was buried at Alstonefield, where there is a gravestone inscribed to his memory and that of his wife Mary who had died on 1 March 1821.

Timosin Adams. She was born in 1776, and baptised on 13 June 1776.

Millicent Adams. She was born in 1779, and baptised on 29 September 1779.

Richard Adams. He was born in 1784, and baptised on 7 May 1784.

Their father Ralph Adams died on 2 December 1784 aged 62 years,and was buried on 5 December 1784 at Alstonefield, where there is a gravestone inscribed to his memory.

His widow Elizabeth Adams died on 1 October 1809, and was buried at Alstonefield.

(1) "The Adams family lived at Narrowdale for some 600 years before moving to Gateham in 1909." Alstonefield Memories by Tim Eades, Dorothy Critchlow and Doris Goodwin (2002) page 92. Gateham Grange is nearby to the south west, also in the parish of Alstonefield.

(2) "The building was a shop as early as 1754 when it was sold by John Gibbs (grocer and flaxdresser) to Ralph Adams, husbandman of Narrowdale, for £40. It remained with the Adams family until George Adams retired in 1914, and was then run by a Mr Stone. Ernest Arme took over the tenancy in 1922, and later bought the property, which included a warehouse with a loft above that had been added by the Adams family during the 19th century as a store for feeding stuffs." Alstonefield Memories by Tim Eades, Dorothy Critchlow and Doris Goodwin (2002) page 16.

From 1851 at the latest the shop was run by Richard Adams 1809-1874, grandson of Ralph Adams, and from 1874 by great-grandson George Adams 1847-1926.