stopford family from hattersley

[salfordbob]

hello everyone im trying to find any information on JOHN & GRACE STOPFORD also there son WILLIAM & daughter BRENDA sadly i do know they have all passed away now william (billy) would be aged about 59/62 now any information would be great for a long lost cousin.

[Woody]

Hi salfordbob

If they’re from this area, there’s an outside chance of a trail leading back from Brenda Stopford. Although there’s no certainty, it might be worth following some of this stuff up.

STOPFORD, Ann Brenda b 1945/46 - birth registered at Audenshaw (AUD/13A/39)

If she is indeed your ancestor, in 1965 she probably married Dennis Smith at Denton (Trinity Methodist Church, Hyde Road: AP2/9/17).

There’s a marriage between JACK STOPFORD and ANNIE COOK (Audenshaw St Stephen: CE7/7/390) at the right time to be Brenda Stopford’s parents.

JACK STOPFORD’s birth might be that registered in 1920 at Audenshaw (AUD/89/47) and if so, his mother’s maiden name was PATTEN. There were at least three other children of this marriage – Harry b 1924, Sam b 1926, and Alice b 1929

CLARA PATTEN married THOMAS STOPFORD at Ashton under Lyne, St Peter in 1919 (CE5/9/371) which should get you back to the 1901 census for Clara Patten.

Actually, the most enticing 1901 entry for Clara Patten is the one who was born 1895, Ashton under Lyne and is living at 114 Wharf Street, Dukinfield. Her father is BRIGHT PATTEN, b 1869, Ashton under Lyne who owns a coffee shop and restaurant – and there really is a birth registered in that name.

As you’ve probably found, Stopford is a very common name in this area and finding THOMAS STOPFORD is an altogether different proposition.

It could be that he was born Dukinfield, 1881 and that his parents are ABRAHAM STOPFORD (b 1849, Ashton under Lyne) and SARAH KENYON who married at Ashton under Lyne, St Peter in 1872 (CE5/2/345).

One of their children, THOMAS STOPFORD, was born in 1880 at Ashton under Lyne and if the people you’re searching for originate in the Tameside area, he seems the most likely candidate to be JACK STOPFORD’s father.

These names ring any bells ?

Woody

[mavisg]

Hi Woody,

Just saw your message to SalfordBob about the STOPFORD name. My maiden name is Stopford and i am the sister of ANN BRENDA and yes she did marry Dennis Smith, later divorced. Our parents were FRED and ALICE (Dillon), they married 1934 in Ancoats as my mum came from Ancoats but then lived in Denton where my father was born.

I do have a lot of information on the STOPFORDs but don't know anything about a JOHN and GRACE. Mine are mostly in Denton and Haughton.

Regards
Mavis

[Woody]

Thanks Mavis

Mine was only a guess so it's good to have that confirmed.

Your message underpins the value of the forum so let’s hope salfordbob returns fairly quickly to look at the information you've posted.

Woody

[mavisg]

Hi Woody,

Only just saw your message and to let you know that I emailed salfordbob as I found his email address was on his profile after replying to you. Didn't know how often listers look at the forum.

Yes, the forum is of great value, I will certainly be back more often to check for any of my names. I see when looking at the messages you are a great helper.

Best wishes Mavis

[salfordbob]

hello all, sorry for not being in touch of late what with one thing & another any way cheers for all this info BUT if this brenda is the right one did she work at ( think ) it was hyde baths i know she was well liked there also does anybody know grace's maiden name if you wish to use my email address it's in my profile cheers every one once again bob

[Woody]

Hi salfordbob

Following your response, I did a little bit more detective work and can probably a give you a bit of good news.

I think the people you're looking for are John R Stopford who married Grace Hobson at Salford in 1946. You won't find the information in the FreeBMD index because it's not that up-to-date. If you want to trace the certificate, the England & Wales BMD reference is Oct - Dec: Vol 10 f, Page 1086.

I also found the two children you mentioned

William J Stopford (b 1947, registered May-Jun at Salford) Vol 10 f, page 974
Brenda Stopford (b 1949, registered in Jan-Mar at North Manchester) Vol 10 f, page 712

I'll e-mail the BMD registration reference sheets to you separately and Mavis might now be able to tell you if she's connected and how the family ended up in Tameside.

Cheers

Woody

[Woody]

Hi salford bob

Thanks for your e-mail confirming that the names I posted were correct for the ancestors you were enquiring about.

In my search, I also turned up the following information which you probably already have. I'm posting it here because it might help Mavis decide whether your trees are connected.

You'll find the burial records for John Robert, Grace and William James Stopford at public.tameside.gov.uk/candc/regenq.asp

John R Stopford's birth registration show his mother as 'Sutton' and there's a Prestwich marriage between James Stopford and Sarah A Sutton in March 1917.

There are FreebMD birth records for

James Stopford, born 1895, Prestwich
Sarah Ann Sutton, born 1897, Prestwich

The FreeBMD records also produce the following Stopford births registered at Prestwich where the mother's maiden name is 'Sutton'. They're not bound to be the same family but it's more likely than not

1918 - James Stopford
1920 - Florence
1921 John R

The Prestwich Regstration District was abolished in 1924 to be replaced by Manchester North:

1925 - Dorothy (Manchester North)
1927 - Stanley
1930 - Harold
1932 - Eleanor
1936 - Edward

Cheers

Woody

[mavisg]

Hello Woody,

Reference to your message of 3rd July to Salfordbob where you mention Bright Patten, I thought the name rang a bell. Today I have been sorting my Stopford files trying to update my Stopford database and found a marriage certificate for Robert Stopford and Hannah Brynes as below:

Marriage at St Paul's Church, Werneth, Stockport
26th December 1903
ROBERT STOPFORD 26 Fitter - Church Inn, Audenshaw -
Father SAMUEL STOPFORD (dec.) Blacksmith
HANNAH BYRNES 28 - 228 Kelvin Road, Ashton-under-Lyne
Father JAMES BYNES (dec.) Iron Driller
Witnesses: BRIGHT PATTEN and CLARA WALKER

I have had this certificate since 2002 but not found a connection to my STOPFORDs. I do have other certificates that I haven't found connections yet. Will look for them and post details. I am pretty sure I have THOMAS STOPFORD mentioned on one and a birth somewhere for ABRAHAM STOPFORD that is not mine.

Am copying it to Salfordbob's email address.

Bye for now.
Mavis

[mavisg]

Hi Bob,

I have today just come across a death notice in the Reporter of February 21, 2008 of JACK STOPFORD b Audenshaw 1920 and married to ANNIE COOK. I always cut out STOPFORD notices and did not realise I had this until now. I will scan it and send it to your email address. Jack died at home in Tarleton, Southport on 10th February 2008 aged 87 years. His mother and father were Clara (Patten) and Thomas Stopford. Very unusually, I think, there is a telephone number to contact Barry Stopford his son.

Best regards
Mavis

[Gay J Oliver]

ADMIN

I have just sent an email to Salford Bob, hope his email address is still current and that he get in touch soon.