Nat Gould

William Adams 1813-1898

Ludwell, Hartington

The Rakes, Alstonefield

William Adams was born in 1813 at Ludwell in Hartington parish in Derbyshire, between Pilsbury Grange and Hartington village. He was the son of John Adams (born 1782), and was baptised at Hartington on 1 August 1813.

He married Hannah Wood on 24 February 1834 at Alstonefield church. She was born in 1812 at Longnor in Staffordshire, the daughter of Thomas Wood 1775-1819 and his wife nee Ann Edge 1783-1821, and baptised there on 1 November 1812

They moved to Alstonefield, the village of his ancestors. In 1851 he was there with his family and widowed father living at The Rakes, the Adams family home (1).

William Adams and his wife née Hannah Wood had the following children, all baptised at Alstonefield:

Mary Adams. She was born in 1836, and baptised on 28 April 1836. She had a son Frederick Adams born in 1872. She died unmarried on 27 June 1898 aged 62 years. Her Will was proved on 28 October 1898 (2).

Anne Adams. She was born in 1838, and baptised on 5 August 1838. She was living there with her parents in 1851. In 1865 she was married to Thomas Oakden 1837-1903, and died in 1906.

William Adams. He was born in 1841, and baptised on 17 January 1841. He died on 13 June 1914 aged 73 years, and was buried at Alstonefield, where there is a memorial inscription. He was unmarried.

James Adams 1843-1886. he was born in 1843, and baptised on 12 February 1843. He married Mary Ellen Middleton of Tideswell.

Charles Adams. He was born in 1846, and baptised on 30 August 1846. He married Fanny Walker of Ashbourne, and died in 1923. They lived when first married in Ashbourne and later at Burton-on-Trent.

Edwin Adams. He was born on 8 March 1850, and baptised there on 31 March 1850. He married Sarah Downes in 1873. They lived at Jumper Lane Farm in Rainow, Cheshire. He was a farmer and builder, and died in 1917.

John Adams. He was born in 1853, and baptised on 13 February 1853. He became a carpenter and joiner, living at Burton-on-Trent. He married Sarah Elizabeth Harris in 1885, and died in 1932.

Ellen Elizabeth Adams. She was born in 1855 , and baptised there on 29 April 1855. In 1879 she was married to James Gibbs Bestwick 1842-1925, and they lived at Green Farm in Alstonefield. They had no surviving children, and it was their intention to leave the farm to Charles Adams, their nephew who worked for them. However he married without their approval, and they disinherited him.

When the Census was taken in 1851 their father William Adams was recorded as an agricultural labourer living with his family and widowed father at The Rakes. By 1871 he was farming seven acres, and in 1881 23 acres.

When the Census was taken in 1891, Frederick Adams was living with them. He was then nineteen years old, grandson of William Adams, and working as a grocer's assistant.

William Adams died on 12 February 1898, and was buried at Alstonefield.

His wife Hannah Adams née Wood died on 8 March 1902 aged 90 years, and was also buried at Alstonefield. There is a memorial gravestone there inscribed to their memory and also that of their eldest son William Adams 1841-1914.

(1) The photograph shows the Adams family home at the Raikes in Alstonefield in May 1970, taken while the house was being extended.
(2) "ADAMS Mary of Alstonfield Staffordshire spinster died 27 June 1898 Probate Lichfield 28 October to Frederick Adams grocer's-assistant Effects £492." England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1898) page 9.