Genealogy Chat

Has anyone ever heard or know anything about a place called Stubley Mill in the Parish of Rochdale, Lancashire? I found a Will dated 5 April 1815 online for John Woolfenden who died there, leaving his Will to his sons Robert & Joseph Woolfenden. My gg grandfather was Joseph Woolfenden & he had a brother named Robert, so I'm thinking John could be my ggg grandfather. My ancestors came from the area in & around Rochdale. Joseph married my gg grandmother Betty Dania in St. Chad's church in 1831. I have proof of that.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Nancy

Have you tried Google its probably your best bet

Hi Nancy. I know there is a Stubley Mill Road in Littleborough near Rochdale.

Possible baptism for Joseph

Name: Joseph Woolfenden
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 21 Feb 1796
Christening Place: Hollinwood, Lancashire, England
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John Woolfenden
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Ann Woolfenden
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C01019-7
System Origin: England-EASy
GS Film number: 1545717
Reference ID: item 3

And possibly his brother

Name: Robert Woolfenden
Event Type: Baptism
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Christening Date: 20 May 1798
Christening Place: Rochdale, Lancashire
Marriage Date:
Marriage Place:
Death Date:
Death Place:
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Father's Name: John Woolfenden
Mother's Name: Ann Woolfenden
Affiliate Publication Number: RG4_1154

Nancy...

Stubley Mill Parish of Littleborough...

From Trade Directory 1879....

Thompson Abraham. fulling millers. "Stubley Mill."


Woolfenden James farmer "Light Hazels"

Perhaps Stubley Mill is/was the water mill belonging to Stubley Hall, as mentioned here:

http://www.holtancestry.co.uk/stubley.htm

And here:

"Deed leading to the uses of a fine: (i) James Holte of Castleton, esq., Dorothy his wife, Vincent Grantham of Goltho, co. Lincoln, esq., and Edmund Jodrell the elder of Twamlow, co. Chester, esq., and (ii) Roger Nowell of Read, esq. -- manor of Chesham with specified properties in Bury; specified properties in Hundersfield and Butterworth, including Stubley Hall and Stubley water-cornmill -- to use of J.H. "
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=055-ddx402&cid=-1#-1

Have just sent Nancy a newspaper article from 1802 with an advert for the sale of Stubley Hall, mill and surrounding messuages. John Wolfenden is mentioned.

It's described as a "fulling mill" - I think that had something to do with treating cloth in water as part of weaving, it's where fuller's earth came from.

For those that are interested:
http://www.witheridge-historical-archive.com/fulling.htm

MarieCeleste...Now I know where the expression "on tenterhooks" came from...!!

The area of "Light Hazels" mentioned for Jas.Woolfenden (above) is a Reservoir now.....

Thank you to all of you who educated me on Stubley Hall & Mill. It's been exciting to know all about this location of my ancestors. I never had heard of "fulling", but now know it has to do with wool cloth that has been woven. Apparently, the water helps to remove the oils & other troublesome stuff in the weave.

I live in California, so traveling to the Rochdale location would be a dream for me. My Woolfendens immigrated to Massachusetts & can be found in our US Census in 1840. Our 1850 Census lists my gg grandfather, Joseph Woolfenden, working as a Spinner in a mill. In the 1860 Census he's a farmer in Wisconsin, my home state.

Thanks again.
Regards to you all,
Nancy

Hi Nancy.

For different reasons, your interest in Stubley Hall is similar to mine except that I am trying to trace the derivation of the name.

My surname is Stubley and although there are many of that name listed around the Batley / Dewsbury area in the 19th century, all my ancestors appear to come from Lincolnshire or Rutland (at least back into the 16th century).

The original Stubley Hall appears to have been sold in 1330 by someone called Johannes De Stubley, who may be the father (or possibly the same person) of the Johannes De Stubley - chaplin of Bures St Mary 1382-1385.

I am sure there is a link between the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Stubleys somewhere, and maybe the surname originates from Stubb's Ley meaning an area of pasture belonging to Stubb.

This is further complicated by a 17th south Lincs family called Stubbleday, who slowly changed their name to Stubley over the following 150 years. Why this happened I have yet to discover.

If anyone has any ideas, or information about this subject, please let me know especially if it concerns Johannes De Stubley and/or Stubley Old Hall near Rochdale.

Jon