Wem, Shropshire Family History Guide

Wem is an Ancient Parish and a market town in the county of Shropshire.

Other places in the parish include: Tilley, Tilley and French, Wolverley, Aston, Cotton, Soulton, Lacon, Lowe and Ditches, Northwood, Sleap, and Horton.

Parish church:

Parish registers begin: 1583

Nonconformists include: Baptist, Independent/Congregational, Irvingite/Catholic Apostolic Church, Presbyterian, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan Methodist.

Adjacent Parishes

• Loppington
• Broughton
• Moreton Corbet
• Ellesmere
• Edstaston
• Weston under Redcastle
• Whixall
• Lee Brockhurst
• Newtown
• Clive
• Myddle
• Prees
• Bettisfield

Parish History

Wem

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

WEM, a small-town, a parish, a sub-district, a district, and a hundred, in Salop. The town stands on the Crewe and Shrewsbury railway, and on the Ellesmere canal, 11 miles N by E of Shrewsbury; is supposed by Horsley, but without any good evidence, to occupy the site of the Roman station Rutunium; belonged, at Domesday, to W. Pandulph; passed to the Howards, the Wycherleys, and Judge Jeffreys; gave to Jeffreys, in 1685, the title of Baron; declared for the parliament at the outbreak of the civil wars of Charles I.; sustained and repelled, in 1643, an attack by a party of the royal troops.

It suffered devastation by fire in 1677, with the loss of not less than £23,000 worth of property; numbers among its natives Lord-Mayor Adams who died in 1667, and Wycherley the dramatist; appears, at some time, to have been incorporated; is now a polling place; carries on malting and leather manufacture; comprises one large street, and several cross-streets and lanes; and has a post-office under Shrewsbury, a r. station, a banking office, a town hall of 1848, a market house, a church rebuilt in 1679, three dissenting chapels, an endowed school with £337 a year, a workhouse, charities £45, a weekly market on Thursday, and six annual fairs.

The parish contains eleven townships and a part; and comprises 13,841 acres. Real property, £24,834. Pop., 3,802. Houses, 814. The property is much subdivided. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield. Value, £2,300. Patron, the Duke of Cleveland. The p. curacies of Edstaston and Newtown are separate benefices. The sub-district contains 8 parishes and a chapelry, Acres, 34,547. Pop., 7,282. Houses, 1,515.

The district includes Prees sub-district, and formerly included also Whitchurch and Malpas sub-districts. Acres of the present district, 51,197; of the former district, 90,273. Poor rates in 1863, of the present district, £4,719; of the former district, £9,763. Pop. in 1851, of the present d., 10,625; of the former d., 21,995; in 1861, of the present d., 10,644; of the former d., 21,916. Houses of the present d., 2,230; of the former d., 4,567. Marriages, in 1863, of the present d., 71; of the former d., 166; births of the present d., 341, of which 34 were illegitimate; of the former d., 725, of which 98 were illegitimate; deaths of the present d., 187, of which 50 were at ages under 5 years, and 7 at ages above 85; of the former d., 440, of which 137 were at ages under 5 years, and 16 at ages above 85. Marriages in the ten years 1851-60, of the former d., 1,419; births, 6,037; deaths, 4,130. The places of worship, in 1851, of the former d., were 21 of the Church of England, with 8,225 sittings; 9 of Independents, with 2,125 s.; 3 of Baptists, with 710 s.; 9 of Wesleyans, with 1,090 s.; 1 of New Connexion Methodists, with 50 s.; 22 of Primitive Methodists, with 1,472 s.; 2 undefined, with 40 s.; and 1 of the Catholic and Apostolic church, with 140 s. The schools were 27 public day-schools, with 2,141 scholars; 28 private day-schools, with 519 s.; 28 Sunday schools, with 1,505 s.; and 2 evening schools for adults, with 19 s. The division contains three parishes and a part; and is part of North Bradford hundred. Acres, 35,029. Pop. in 1851, 6,691. Houses, 1,378.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Aston

Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850

Aston, in Wem parish. P. 212

Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850.

Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Aston. A township in the parish of Wem, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, North. 1 mile east of Wem. 51 houses, 262 inhabitants.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824

Cotton

Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Cotton. A township in the parish of Wem, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford North. 75 houses, 458 inhabitants. 3 miles north of Wem.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824

Horton

Gregory Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Horton. A township in the parish of Wem, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, North. 1 ½ mile north-west of Wem.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824

Lacon

Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Lacon. A township in the parish of Wem, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, North. 4 houses, 45 inhabitants. 1 ½ mile north-east of Wem.

Part of Lacon is said to belong to one Bannister, who was steward to the unfortunate Duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Richard the third. The memory of Bannister is rendered infamous by his base treachery to his master.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824

Lowe and Ditches

Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Lowe and Ditches. A township in the parish of Wem, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, North. 13 houses, 93 inhabitants. Lowe, 1 mile north-west, – Ditches, 1 mile north-west by west of Wem.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824

Lewis Topographical Dictionary of England 1845

Ditches, with Lowe, a township, in the parish and union of Wem, Whitchurch division of the hundred of North Bradford, N. division of Salop, 1 mile (W.) from Wem; containing 98 inhabitants.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.

Northwood

Shropshire Gazetteer 1824

Northwood. A township in the parish of Wem, and in the Whitchurch division of the hundred of Bradford, North. 33 houses, 182 inhabitants. 4 miles north-west of Wem.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824

Tilley

Lewis Topographical Dictionary of England 1845

Tilley, a township, in the parish and union of Wem, Whitchurch division of the hundred of North Bradford, N. division of Salop, 1 mile (S.) from Wem; containing 333 inhabitants.

Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis Fifth Edition Published London; by S. Lewis and Co., 13, Finsbury Place, South. M. DCCC. XLV.

Wem Parish Registers

Shropshire Parish Registers Diocese of Lichfield V. 9 includes Wem Parish Registers Part I 1583-1744 and Shropshire Parish Registers Diocese of Lichfield V. 10 includes Wem Parish Registers Part II 1745-1812

Transcriptions

Wem Nonconformist Registers

The Register of Wem Presbyterian Chapel 1755 to 1814 and The Register of Wem Chapel St. Independent Chapel 1785-1836 are included in the book listed below that can be downloaded for free.

Parish Records

FamilySearch

Shropshire Historical Directories

Directory Transcriptions

Wem Universal British Directory 1791

Wem is a market-town, near the source of the Rodan, distant from London one hundred and fort-eight miles, nine from Salop, thirty-two from Chester, and twenty from Newport.  Market-day on Thursday; and fairs May 6, June 29, and November 22.  it is a place of great antiquity.  Wem was the title bestowed by King James II on his worthless and wicked lord-chancellor Judge Jefferies.  In 1676 great part of the town was burnt down.  Sir Thomas Adams, lord-mayor of London, gave the house in which he was born to be a free-school for the children of this town.  The church has a square tower and six bells.

Post-Office – The post is dispatched for London Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, at eight in the evening; arrives from London every Morning at five o’clock, except Tuesday.  Dispatched for Whitchurch Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, at eight in the evening; arrives from Whitchurch Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, at the same hour: William Deakin, post-master.
There is no stage or mail coach to or from this town. – A wagon from the White Horse inn, to Manchester, every Tuesday. – James Brown’s cart to Shrewsbury Saturday and Wednesday; returns the same days. – The following are the principal inhabitants:

Gentry, &c.

Bickerton Mrs.
Cokebourn Capt. George, Navy
Dickin Thomas, Esq.
Hodgson Mr. John
Roberts Owen, Esq.
Wickstead Mr. Richard

Clergy.

Aslet Rev. William, Dissenting Minister
Dickin Rev. George
Edwards Rev. Peter, Dissenting Minister
Smallbrook Rev. Samuel
Spedding Rev. John
Walker Rev. Richard

Physic.

Clay Joseph, Surgeon
Gwinn Edward, Surgeon
Higgins Thomas, Surgeon

Law.

Henshaw John, Attorney
Jeffreys William, Attorney
Lee John, Attorney
Walford John, Attorney

Traders.

Allison John, Shoemaker
Ashford Joseph, Hair-dresser
Bagshaw John, White Horse Inn
Baker John, Taylor
Basford Daniel, Clockmaker
Briscoe John, Baker
Brockham – , Wheelwright
Bucks Thomas, Currier
Bull John, Grocer
Cartwright William, Staymaker
Clayton Francis, Shoemaker
Colley Samuel, Maltster
Cook William, Farmer
Cottam John, Victualler, (Three Tuns)
Darlington Tho. Victualler, (Talbot)
Dawes George, Maltster
Drewry John, Victualler
Edwards James, Taylor
Elkes Tho. Victualler, (Buck’s Head)
Evans John, Shoemaker
Garbet James, Cabinet-maker
Golding Joseph, Victualler, (Hart)
Gough Edward, Currier
Gregory Thomas, Hair-dresser
Griffith William, Draper
Hales John, Victualler, (White Lion)
Hales Arthur, Smith
Hales John, Shoemaker
Hales Robert, Butcher and Victualler
Harris Thomas, Staffordshire-ware-shop
Hildish Joseph, Victualler, (Bull’s Head)
Howard Andrew, Hatter
Ireland Philip, Liquor Merchant
Jab William, Miller
Jeffreys Thomas, Miller
Jenkins Tho. Victualler, (New Crown)
Jinkes William, Sadler
Jones Arthur, Gardener and Seedsman
Kelvert Anne, Milliner and Mantua-maker
Kitching David, Draper
Kynaston John, Baker
Lane Anne, Black Lion Inn
Lawrence James, Boot and Shoe Maker
Lee Sarah, Huckster
M’Call Samuel, Linen-draper
Mason John, Cabinet-maker
Morris Andrew, Taylor
Newns Richard, Farmer
Newns John, Victualler, (Horse and Jockey)
Parker Timothy, Skinner and Breeches-maker
Pidgeon Thomas, Butcher
Pidgeon William, Chandler & Butcher
Prince Sarah, Milliner
Prince Charles, Shoemaker
Ralph Elizabeth, Huckster
Richards Edward, Schoolmaster
Roberts Benjamin, Breeches-maker
Sandland Thomas, Staymaker
Sandland Thomas, Cabinet-maker
Sharrat Richard, Grocer and Ironmonger
Shaw Thomas, Shoemaker
Shenton William, Plumber and Glazier
Snape John, Taylor
Swanwick Mrs. Ladies Boarding-school
Vickers Richard, Swan Inn
Wilkinson Thomas, Farmer
Walford George, Timber-merchant
Walker John, Roper
Wamsley William, Maltster
Wamsley John, Draper
Watkiss John, Smith
Yond Samuel, Dyer

About three miles and a half from this town are the delightful seat and park of Sir Richard Hill, member of parliament for the county. – Redcastle is near Wem, on a rocky hill, anciently called Radcliff.

Source: Universal British Directory 1791

Bankrupts

Below is a list of people that were declared bankrupt between 1820 and 1843 extracted from The Bankrupt Directory; George Elwick; London; Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; 1843.

Allmand Richard, Wem. Salop, victualler, June 1, 1832.

Astley George, Wem, Salop, farmer, July 14, 1821.

Bellingham Richard, Wem, Salop, boot and shoe-maker, Nov. 25, 1842.

Burton Henry, Wem, Salop, corndealer, Feb. 28, 1840.

Administration

• County: Shropshire
• Civil Registration District: Wem
• Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
• Diocese: Lichfield
• Rural Deanery: Wem
• Poor Law Union: Wem
• Hundred: North Bradford
• Province: Canterbury