FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
ELIAS ASTON, SR.
AND MARY ELLIOTT

Elias Aston, Sr. was christened 15 January 1798 in Wollaton, Nottingham, England to Joseph and Alice Aston. He married Mary Elliott 3 July 1825 in St. Mary's parish, Nottingham. Witnesses to the marriage were Joseph Elliott, Mary's brother, and John Pawson. Mary was born in 1798 in Nottingham to John Elliott and Martha Theobald, and christened 24 June 1798 in St. Nicholas, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.

The Astons lived on Woolpack Lane from 1826 to 1830, at the christenings of three of their children.

Woolpack Lane in Nottingham

Elias was a nail manufacturer in Nottingham. He was listed in the 1834 Nottingham city directory on Mansfield Road.

Nottingham City Directory, 1834

By 1840 Elias is listed on Milton Street in Nottingham.

1840 Orange's Directory of Nottingham

Elias also appeared in an electoral register in Nottingham in 1840. He was entitled to vote because he occupied a house in St. Mary's parish in the town of Nottingham.

1840 Electoral Register, Nottingham

The 1841 British census shows the family living in Nottingham, and Mary's mother Martha Elliott living with them.
   

1841 census, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Elias Aston was found in the 1844 Glover's History and Directory of Nottingham on Milton Street.

1844 Glover's History and Directory of Nottingham



Milton Street in Nottingham

A commercial directory of 1848 for Nottingham shows Elias Aston of Milton Street as a nail manufacturer:
   

Nottingham Commercial Directory, 1848

In 1849 Elias was still on Milton Street.

1849 Post Office Directory, Nottingham

The family was found residing at 27 Charlotte Street in the 1851 census. Mary’s mother, Martha, lived with the family. In the 1851 census Elias was listed as a nail maker, daughters Alice, Mary Anne, Martha, and Phoebe were cap makers, and son William was a cabinet maker. Mary’s mother Martha was a cheviner—someone who embroidered designs on knitted stockings. The census showed that all of the family were born in Nottingham, except Elias, Sr., who was born in Wollaton.
   

1851 census, 27 Charlotte Street, Nottingham

Elias was also listed as a nail maker of 27 Charlotte Street in Slater’s 1851 Directory of Nottingham.
   

Elias was listed in the 1854 Nottingham directory still on Charlotte Street.

1854 Wright's Directory of Nottingham

Charlotte Street in Nottingham

In 1861 the family was still living in Nottingham.
   

1861 census for Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

The 1861 census for Nottingham shows the family living at 67 Charlotte St.

Elias Aston, head, age 62, Nail Maker, born in Nottingham, Wollaton
Mary Aston, wife, age 63, born in Nottingham
Alice    "   , dau, unmarried, age 32, Lace Jennyer,  born in Nottingham
Mary Ann   "   , dau, unmarried, age 26, "   "  , born in Nottingham
Martha   "   , dau, unmarried age 24, Maker up of Stonery,  born in Nottingham
Kate Buxton Aston, gdau, age 6 , born in Nottingham

In 1864 Elias was still on Charlotte Street.

 
1864 White's Directory, Nottingham

Elias was listed in a poll book in St. Ann's Ward, Nottingham in 1869 on Windsor Street.

Poll Book, Nottingham, 1869

  

1871 census, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

The 1871 census for Nottingham showed:

Elias Aston, head, age 73, smith, born Nott, Wollaton
Mary Aston, wife, age 73, born Nottingham
Mary Aston, dau, unmarried, age 23, lace jennier, born Nottingham
Kate Aston, grandau, age 14, lace jennier, born Nottingham
William Aston, grandson, age 5, born Nottingham (this is likely William Darbyshire, Phoebe's son)

Elias died 25 December 1880 in Nottingham, and was buried 28 December 1880. Mary died the next year, in 1881 in Nottingham.

 

Elias and Mary had the following children, all born in Nottingham:

 

1. Joseph, christened 16 June 1826 in Nottingham (at the time the family lived on Woolpack Lane) Elias' occupation was shown as a whitesmith at the christening; married Jane; had children Mary Ann (1849), Eliza Jane (1856), Caroline (1869); occupation: whitesmith (tinsmith); died 1887 in Nottingham.

2. Alice, christened 30 March 1828 in Nottingham (at the time the family lived on Woolpack Lane); occupation: lace jennier; died 1907 in Nottingham.

*3. Elias, born 24 October 1830 in Nottingham (at the time the family lived on Woolpack Lane); married Eliza Fowlke, 5 January 1851 in Nottingham; died 7 September 1906 in Lindon, Utah.

4. William, born in 1833; married Drucilla Fowlke 22 June 1856 in Nottingham; occupation: cabinet maker; died 1897 in Nottingham.

5. Mary Ann, christened 14 December 1834 in Nottingham (at the time the family lived on Milton Street in Nottingham); occupation: lace jennier; died 1913 in Nottingham.

6. Martha, christened 29 January 1837 in Nottingham (at the time the family lived on Milton Street).

7. Phoebe, christened 19 November 1838 in Nottingham (at the time the family lived on Milton Street) ; occupation: lace cap maker; married William Darbyshire in 1856 in Nottingham; had children Mary (1857), Eliza (1959), William (1866). William Sr. died in 1866. Phoebe then married George Emmerson 1882; died 1902 in Nottingham.

 

 

Some of the Aston children are found on the 1881 British census in Nottingham:
 

Mary Aston, head, unmarried, age 38, born Nottingham, England, occupation: Shopkeeper
Joseph Aston, brother, unmarried, age 56, born Nottingham, England, occupation: Smith
Alice Aston, sister, unmarried, age 48, born Nottingham, England, occupation: Lace worker
Kate Aston, niece, unmarried, age 24, born Nottingham, England, occupation: Lace worker
William Derbyshire, nephew, unmarried, age 15, Nottingham, England, occupation: Lace worker
 

Dwelling: 30 St. Ann St.
Census place: Nottingham St. Mary, Nottingham, England
FHL# 1341802
Page #: 8
 

(Elias, Jr. and his family had moved to Utah by this time.)
 
 

Joseph Aston was christened 30 June 1754 in Sedgley, Staffordshire, England, the son of Joseph Aston and Mary Aston. Sedgley is a large parish in Staffordshire. The principal businesses in Sedgley were coal mining and nail making. Joseph was a coal miner. Joseph's son, Elias, was a nail maker.
   

Sedgley was described in the History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire in 1851 as "Sedgley parish is a large and populous district in the centre of the great mining district of Staffordshire, lying betwixt Wolverhampton, Bilston and Dudley, and extending to within two miles of each town. It contains 5,170 acres of land, and has now about 27,000 inhabitants. It is in two divisions, called Upper and Lower Side, sub-divided into nine constablewicks or hamlets, viz - Sedgley, Gospel End, Cotwall End, and Upper and Lower Gornall, in the Upper Side, and Ettingshall, Brierley, Coseley, and Wood Setton, in the Lower Side. The coal and iron works are mostly at Coseley and Ettingshall, near those of Bilston, and give employment to a vast number of workmen. Several hundred hands are also employed at their own homes in making nails and fire irons."  Sedgley is in the area known as the Black Country, due to the coal mining activity.
   

Coal mining in Sedgley is described at www.sedgleymanor.com "It was the mineral wealth that was to determine the area's future, especially the coal. The Black Country can thank its geology for much of its growth with surface outcrop coal mining recorded as early as 1273 in Sedgley. The famed "10 Yard seam" ran from the east side of the limestone ridge (where it was near enough to the surface to be mined using open cast and small "Gin pit" methods) to the west side of the ridge where it disappeared deep underground... The "10 Yard seam " - the thickest coal seam in Britain - was mined at depths of 1800 feet using the Pillar & Stall method with pit ponies used to transport the coal underground. In some places tunnels went as far as Wolverhampton, 3 miles away. Boys as young as 14 were employed at 12 shillings & 6 pence per week and at the height of production the pit employed 3,000 men and extracted 12,000 tons of coal per week. Open cast mining was carried out mainly in the Coseley and Woodsetton areas of the manor. Gin pits were also used in these areas. The Gin pit was usually a small shallow mine employing a maximum of 4 or 5 men. Often whole families (men, women and children) worked these pits."

Sedgley

 
Joseph married Alice Handley 15 July 1778 in Sedgley. Alice was christened 26 November 1749 in Uppington, Shropshire, the daughter of William Hanley and Martha Tudor. Joseph and Alice's first children were born in the hamlet of Ettingshall in the parish of Sedgley. The History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire in 1851 describes the hamlet in this way: "Ettingshall is a large mining village, about a mile SW of Bilston, with surrounding suburbs in Ettingshall Lane, Catchern's Corner, etc., extending into Bilston and Wolverhampton townships. The Rev. J.L. Petit has a large estate here, which was anciently a park, but has long been disfigured by extensive coal and iron works, and quarries of limestone. A large number of houses, which were thrown down or rendered untenable in consequence of the mining excavations under them, were rebuilt a few years ago on the adjoining pit banks, and now compose Ettingshall New Village."

Joseph and Alice's first children were born in Sedgley parish. By 1794, the family had moved to Wollaton parish in Nottinghamshire, and their remaining children were born there. Joseph's occupation was listed as a collier or miner, and he was shown as being "of Ettingshall".

Map of Sedgley from www.sedgleymanor.com
(Ettingshall is shown at the top of the map)

Joseph died and was buried 2 March 1800 in Wollaton.

Joseph and Alice had the following children:
 

1. Phebe, christened 14 November 1779 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

2. Ann, christened 23 September 1781 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

3. Samuel, christened 14 November 1784 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

4. Mary, christened 22 January 1787 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

5. Sarah, christened 8 February 1789 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall; died 12 February 1794 in Wollaton.

6. Eleanor, christened 7 February 1792 in Sedgley parish; buried 19 January 1793 in Sedgley, "Buried Nelly, daughter of Joseph Aston of Ettingshall".

7. Joseph, born before 16 February 1794; died 16 February 1794 in Wollaton, Nottinghamshire, England.

9. Sarah, christened 1 May 1796 in Wollaton.

*10. Elias, christened 15 January 1798 in Wollaton, married Mary Elliott 3 July 1825 in St. Mary’s parish, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, died 25 December 1880.
 
 

SOURCES: IGI; Sedgley parish register, FHL# 1040788; History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire, 1851; The Black Country Nail Trade by Arthur Willets, online at www.sedgleymanor.com.
   
 

Joseph Aston was christened 27 November 1712 in Sedgley parish, the son of John and Ann Aston of Coseley. Joseph became a collier like his father, John. Joseph married Mary Aston 16 December 1735 in Sedgley. Both were listed as "of this parish" at the time of their marriage.

Mary was christened 24 May 1719 in Ettingshall, the daughter of Edward Aston and Margaret Smallman. (To see the ancestors of Mary Aston, click here.)
 

Many of Joseph and Mary's children were born in Ettingshall, and some of the later children were born in Coseley. Coseley is "a populous but straggling village and district, two miles east of Sedgley". Joseph died 19 November 1770 in Ettingshall.

Joseph and Mary had the following children:
 

1. Sarah, christened 20 March 1736 in Sedgley, of Ettingshall; died 22 August 1737.

2. Sarah, christened 6 June 1738 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

3. Thomas, christened 15 February 1740 in Sedgley, of Ettingshall; died 30 August 1741 in Sedgley.

4. Esther, christened 25 July 1742 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

5. Thomas, christened 31 March 1745 in Ettingshall, Sedgley parish.

6. Richard, christened 4 June 1749 in Sedgley.

7. Mary, christened 18 February 1750 in Sedgley.

8. Benjamin, christened 24 November 1751 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

*9. Joseph, christened 30 June 1754 in Sedgley parish, of Coseley; married Alice Handley 15 June 1778 in Sedgley.

10. Samuel, christened 12 Dec 1756 in Sedgley parish, of Coseley.

11. Phoebe, christened 4 March 1759 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall; died 29 June 1759 in Sedgley.

12 Phebe, christened 11 October 1761 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall; died 11 July 1764 in Sedgley.
 
 
 

SOURCES: IGI, Sedgley parish register, FHL# 1040788; History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire, 1851.
 
 

John was mentioned in the Sedgley Manor Rolls 1 August 1710: "Samuel Whitehouse vs. John Aston in a plea of debt". On the same day Daniel Aston was mentioned in the Sedgley Manor Rolls: "Samuel Whitehouse vs. Daniel Aston in a plea of debt". Perhaps Daniel is John's brother, as John later names his son Daniel.

Anne died and was buried 11 February 1757 in Sedgley.

John and Ann had the following children:
 

1. Sarah, christened 29 January 1709 in Sedgley parish, of Ettingshall.

2. *Joseph christened 27 November 1712 in Sedgley, of Coseley; married Mary Aston 16 December 1735 in Sedgley; died 19 October 1770 in Ettingshall.

3. Anthony, christened 27 February 1714 in Sedgley, of Ettingshall.

4. Mary, christened 12 May 1717 in Sedgley.

5. Daniel, christened 22 November 1719 in Sedgley, of Ettingshall.

6. Clement, christened 23 December 1722 in Sedgley, of Ettingshall; married Lydia.

7. William, christened 24 August 1726 in Sedgley.

8. Rebecca, christened 8 September 1729 in Sedgley; died 10 October 1731 in Sedgley. The parish register lists the burial for "Rebecca, daughter of Anne Aston of Coseley, Wid."
 
 

SOURCE: IGI; Sedgley parish register, FHL# 1040788; Sedgley Manor Rolls extracts.
   
 

Will and Anne had the following children:

1. William, christened 13 December 1666 in Sedgley.

2. Henry, christened 29 August 1668 in Sedgley.

Robert and Ann had the following children:
 

1. Esdras, christened 7 January 1676 in Sedgley, "of Sinderhill"; buried 9 January 1676 in Sedgley.

2. Thomas, christened 25 October 1677 in Sedgley "of Sinderhill".

3. Elizabeth, christened 26 September 1680 in Sedgley "of Sinderhill"; died 21 February 1681.

*4. John, christened 8 October 1682 in Sedgley "of Sinderhill"; married Ann Harvey in about 1708; died 8 September 1729 in Sedgley, of Ettingshall.
 
 

SOURCE: IGI; Sedgley parish register, FHL# 1040788.
 
 

Robert Aston was born 4 March 1620/21 in Sedgley, the son of Owen Aston and Isabell Fullwood. He married Ann in about 1643.

Robert is mentioned in the Sedgley Manor Rolls on 3 October 1654: "Richard Whitehouse vs. Robert Aston in a plea of debt".

There is mention of the death of a Robert Aston in the parish register in 1658: "Robert Aston, ye younger, Etingsole, killed in the Colepits, 10 Mar 1658." Robert's father was Owen Aston, but there was a possible uncle Robert Aston who had a daughter Sara christened in 1625 in Sedgley. He may be the Robert Aston the elder implied in the burial record. No other Robert Astons of the right age appear in the parish records. Robert Aston the younger's last child was christened in November of 1658. Since the calendar year started on March 25 (Lady Day) at this time in England, then the youngest child was christened about four months before her father's death.

Robert and Ann had the following children:
 

*1. Robert, christened 9 June 1644 in Sedgley; married Ann (widow Weightwicke) 18 March 1675 in Sedgley; buried in Sedgley.

2. Elizabeth, christened 16 November 1648 in Sedgley.

3. William; christened 17 April 1651 in Sedgley.

4. Edward, christened 13 November 1653 in Sedgley.

5. Ann, christened 25 November 1658 in Sedgley "of Ettingsole".

SOURCE: IGI; Sedgley parish register; Sedgley Manor Rolls extracts.
   

Owen Aston was born in about 1578 of the townland of Ettingshall in the parish of Sedgley. He married Isabell Fullwood 15 October 1615 in Sedgley. Owen's occupation was nailor.

Owen is mentioned in the Sedgley Manor Rolls twice: On 8 October 1633, "Richard Whitehouse vs. Owen Aston in a plea of trespass upon the case", and 5 June 1634, "Richard Whitehouse vs. Owen Aston in a plea of trespass upon the case". This is a phrase from English Common Law - it is a tort which alleges a civil injury without force or violence, such as libel or slander, fraud or breach of duty.

Isabell died and was buried 12 March 1662 in Sedgley: "Buried Izabell. widow of Owen Astan, Ettings."  Owen died and was buried 24 April 1679 in Sedgley: "Buried Old Owen Aston, Ettingsole, aged above 100 years".

Owen and Isabell had the following children:
 

1. Ann, christened 22 September 1616 in Sedgley.

2. James, christened 22 November 1618 in Sedgley.

*3. Robert, christened 4 March 1620/21 in Sedgley; married Ann.

4. Mary, christened 14 March 1624 in Sedgley.

5. William, christened 19 November 1626 in Sedgley.

6. Elizabeth, christened 2 November 1629 in Sedgley.

SOURCE: IGI; Sedgley parish register; Sedgley Manor Rolls extracts.
    
 
 

Astons are found in the earliest parts of the parish register, but no christening record has been found for Owen Aston, born in about 1578. The following Aston families were in Sedgley at that time:
 

Laurence Aston and Joone Whitehouse were married 13 November 1559 in Sedgley.

The following Aston were born between 1559 and 1577. During this time the child's name was recorded on the parish register, but no parents.They are likely Laurence's children, as no other Astons appear in the parish register at this time.

William, christened 25 April 1567 in Sedgley.

Katherine, christened 14 December 1571 in Sedgley. 

After the parish records start recording the father's name, this christening appears: 

Alice, daughter of Laurence Aston, nayler christened 2 Feb 1580 in Sedgley.

Richard Aston and Agnes Richards were married 5 February 1578 in Sedgley.  

A christening is next recorded for a daughter of William Aston in 1593.

Elnor, daughter of William Aston, naylor christened 25 March 1593 in Sedgley.
 

It appears that the Astons were tenants of the Manor of Sedgley. "The Sedgley Manor Rolls were extracted by Janet Rowley. The period covered is 1614-1803. The Lord of the Manor had legal jurisdiction, devolved from the Crown, and held Court sessions for dealing with criminal and civil matters. Civil matters frequently related to land transactions and probate. The tenants of the Lord held land under the legal status of copyhold (so called because the tenancy was recorded in the court rolls and the tenant was given a copy). Rents were low, being fixed by custom of the Manor, but when land changed hands, it was described as surrendered. The Lord levied a large “fine” on the new tenant, effectively a one-off registration fee for his admission to the Manor. Copyhold was valuable because there was a right of inheritance attached to it, but death of the copyholder caused a surrender." The Whitehouse family were later steelmasters in Coseley.

SOURCE: Sedgley parish register; Sedgley Manor Rolls extracts online at www.users.waitrose.com.