Hendley Family History

This is what I have to date, but I am still working on this one. Please email me with any connections or help. This family ranged from Oxford, through Warwickshire,Derbyshire/Leicestershire into Staffordshire where they were boat builders at Sedgley, up to Ellesmere Port and my line finally came to rest in Birmingham.

William Henley/Sarah Neale b. 1781 m. 1812

William Hen(d)ley comes from somewhere unknown at the present time and with an unknown  birth date. He was a master canal boat builder.He married Sarah Neale(e) who was born in Middleton Cheney, Northants at St Mary's Church, Banbury on 14 December 1812. Their first child Benjamin  was born in Birmingham on 25 August 1813 and then they settled in Brinklow, Warwickshire where William, Henry, John and Emma were born. Sarah was the daughter of Henery Neal and Ann Bragington who married in Middleton Cheney on 12.10.1781.

Henry Hendley b. 1825/Ann Wright m. 1845

William's son Henry was born on 26 December 1824 in Brinklow. He followed his father as a master canal boat builder. He married Ann Wright at Measham, Derbyshire on 20 May 1845, she was a knitter. The big industrial knitting machines had been introduced in that area at that time. Their first 2 children Sarah and Emma were born in Measham. The family then migrated to Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, where Hannah, Henry, Jane Ann, George, Fanny, Alfred, William and Laura were born. Ann Wright was the daughter of Thomas Wright a coal miner and Hannah Waterfield both of Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

Henry Hendley b. 1854/Mary Hall b. 1850 m. 1873

Henry's 4th child Henry was born at Ettingshall Colliery on 22 July 1854. He stayed in the family tradition as a canal boat builder. He married Mary Hall on 22 December 1873. Mary was the widow of John Hill whom she had married on 5 June 1870. Their children were Mary, Henry, George William, Thomas, Ann, John, Edward and Francis. Mary Hall's father was William Hall, Brickmaker.

George William Hendley b. 1879 d. 1965/Martha Elizabeth Smith b. 1890 m. 1913 d. 1954

My grandfather George, known as Will. He was born in 1879 in Sedgley and worked as a labourer in the ironworks, traditional boat building giving way to iron boats. He married Martha Elizabeth Smith, Service overall finisher, on 31 March 1913 at Aston Register office in Birmingham. His occupation then being a steal shearer. Their first child was William. Where he was born I am not sure, Birmingham or Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. They moved there for the work in the steel mills. Then George went off to war. After his return my father Dennis was born in Ellesmere Port followed by Florence Nancy and Harry. Martha's parents were John Edward Smith and Ann Fowler. John Smith being a Railway Engine Coal Loader.

Dennis John Hendley b. 1919 d.1994/Delia Wright b. 1921 m. 1947 d. 1991

May Dad Dennis-The tales he could tell, from learning to swim in the Manchester Ship Canal to stealing a railway engine when he was 12! Are all the Hendley's the same I wonder? Dennis worked at the BSA factory in Small Heath, Birmingham on munitions until he blagged his way into the army and went to war. He was born on 8 October 1919 and met my cockney mom through a penpal letter whilst he was in Germany. They got married on 26 July 1947 at St. John's Church, Sparkhill, Birmingham. In 1949 I was born-an only child.

John Edward Smith b. 1861/Ann Fowler b. 1862 m 1885

John Edward Smith married Ann married Ann Fowler  on 24th December 1885 at St. Georges, Wolverhampton. John's father was key smith, locks and keys being a big industry there at the time. Ann Fowler was the daughter of Charles Fowler and Elizabeth Nightingale.

Charles Fowler/Elizabeth Nightingale

George Wright b.1870/Ellen Maher b. c 1889 m. 1918. d.1939

These are my maternal Grandparents. George and Ellen (Nellie) married at Hackney Register office on a8 August 1918. George was a widower and although Ellen puts herself down as a spinster she had been married before to someone with the surname Wood. George was a costermonger and his father was John Wright-Bricklayer. Ellen was born in Ireland the daughter of Edward Maher, a tailor. ANY more information on Ellen would be greatly appreciated.

I think this is  my paternal grandmother Martha  Hendley nee Smith with my father Dennis and his brother William and a picture of my great grandfather Henry Hendley.

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