Family Trees of the Darlaston Family, written by Beryl McMullen

This was written by Beryl McMullen in June 2010, the original document is available as an Adobe PDF file.

Original PDF Document: DARLASTON_ANCESTRY.pdf

Family Trees of the Darlaston Family

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Darlaston family lived at Elford, a Norman village having a population at the end of the 19th century of 363, situated on the banks of the River Tame, between Tamworth and Lichfield in Staffordshire. Some of the family members were described in contemporary documents as “Yeomen”, that is to say men who owned and cultivated a small landed estate and who were qualified to vote and to serve on juries. Further members of the family lived just over a mile away in Harlaston which had a population of 229. Family tradition has it that the family name was originally d’Arlaston and this is borne out by papers in the Elford Hall estate, dating from1373, which refer to John and Joceus de Harlaston, a name which may eventually have elided into the present form. There is no formal evidence to establish a definite family line back to 1373, but there is a strong possibility if one drops the ‘H” that there is some connection with the de Harlastons living six centuries ago.

The Darlaston Family Background
Paternal Ancestors
My Father Arthur Charles Darlaston and his Ancestors
My father’s paternal ancestors were long established at Elford, near Lichfield. Towards the end of the 18th century his great-great-grandfather Samuel moved to live in a Georgian house in Caroline Street, Birmingham, establishing a small button factory there, in what is now called the Jewellery Quarter

Samuel may have lived in the house next door (to the right) - but unfortunately that has been demolished to make a car park for the one in the picture. (I can't guarantee this - it is quite possible the houses have been renumbered in the last 200 years!) The entrance to the building still looks attractive, but it's a shame about the replacement downstairs windows. . .

FAMILY TREES of the DARLASTONS

Arthur Charles Darlaston and his ancestors:
In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Darlaston family lived at Elford, a village having a population at the end of the 19th century of 363, situated on the banks

John de Harlaston and joceus de Harlason
clerks resident at Elford Hall near Lichfield 1373 I
Assumed connection
|
Homfrey Dorlaston
Married Christina Turner of Tamworth
24/6/1582
|
Samuel Darlaston
Married Mary Haddon
At Lichfield Cathedral
29/7/1682
|
Thomas Darlaston (Bart)
Baptised at Elford Hall near Lichfield 1726
Married Fanny?
|
Samuel Darlaston (1)
German Silver Worker
   Baptised at Elford Hall 1766
Married Ann Micklewright
At Aston 6/8/1793
|
   Samuel Darlaston (2)
Master Button Maker
Born 1803 –Died 1870
Married Lucy Fenton
St Mary’s Handsworth
   28/1/1827
|
Thomas Darlaston
Master Button Maker
Born 15/6/1831
Married Ellen ?
|
Beauchamp Harry Darlaston
Watchmaker
Born 12/1868
Married Ellen M Baldwin?
|
Arthur Charles Darlaston
Silver Spinner
   Born 13/2/1902 Died 22’3’1980
   Married Amelia Parish
St Mary’s Handsworth 26/1/1924
|
Martyn V Darlaston
Real Estate
Born 17/11/936 Died 14/8/1980
Married June Y Murcheson 1959
Toronto Canada
|
Steven Darlaston
Electrician ?

   Darlaston Webb Window
   Elford Hall

Elford Hall was a handsome mansion, erected about 1758. The Hall and much of the surrounding land was bequeathed, unexpectedly and much to the disappointment of his family, by the then owner Mr. Paget to 'the People of Birmingham'. It was given to the city with the understanding its amenities including extensive forests were to be used for day trips for the enjoyment of the working poor, who in all probability never even got to go on a day’s outing. Sad to say by the 1960s, the once beautiful, Elford Hall fell into disrepair by the 'People of Birmingham' so much so that it had to be demolished.

Few reminders of that past splendour remain today, but those which do, including a walled garden, are currently the subject of demands for a return to 'the People of Elford', who taking the long view could be more relied upon to look after it.

BECOME A FRIEND OF ELFORD HALL ...
9 min video - 10 Oct 2007 - Uploaded by hallgardens

Notes

Birmingham City Archives
   Elford Hall Collection
Elford Hall Collection
Reference   MS 3878
Covering dates   XII c - 1930
Held by   Birmingham City Archives
1542 Files

Extent

Christianity was brought to Lichfield in the 7th century by Saint Chad. He established his Church there and it was from there that monks travelled to outlying settlements to preach. However, the earliest known church at Elford was the Norman Church of St Peter’s probably in the 12th century. In the second half of the 14th century the church was altered to the style of the period and in 1598 the old Norman tower was replaced by this present one. . .

St Peter’s Church Elford

[attachment removed for upkeep purposes]