"OLD STOKIE'S WEBSITE"

As I stated earlier, The Lee's were a musical family and the picture above shows this.

For the record, I visited a few people in the villages of Froghall and Whiston, two hamlets within walking distance of Kingsley. From the information they provided, I have been able to devote a chapter to this family. My informants were; Mrs. Marjorie Stew of West View, Whiston, (before her marriage, she was a Pattison), and Mrs Hazel Robinson, great grand-daughter of George 1846.

During the 1880's, the two families parted. Robert and Margaret moved to Leek with their children, while George, their eldest son, continued to live in and around the Kingsley area for the remainder of his life. Descendants of George can still be found in the area today

William Lee born 1870, possibly married a Worthington, (Gertie). The story goes that she was a really strange woman. They had two children, one called John died at the age of 14. I was told that he was locked out of the house one night and, consequently, contracted pneumonia from which he died. Of the daughter, Gertie, nothing is known. William died in 1927 and his death was recorded in the Foxt or Whiston parish registers.

There was a double wedding at Whiston on February 9th 1907 when Robert Lee (born 1878) married Hannah Pattinson of Whiston and Job Lee (born 1880) married Lucy Pattinson, Hannah's sister. The snow was 12 inches deep on that cold winter day and the horse and trap carrying the two couples had great difficulty getting to the church.

Robert and Hannah lived at Whiston but they had no children.

Job and Lucy also had no children.

The Pattinson family kept the Ship Inn, and also the Sneyd Arms at Whiston.

George Lee born 1874, married Mary Pattinson of Oakamoor. They lived at Moorcourt Lodge, Oakamoor, and he was a gardener to the Bolton family. They also had no children.

Margaret Ann born 1876, married a Kirkland. They had a son, George, who farmed at Threapwood and the family are still believed to be in the area. Another son, Robert, went to live in Tean. He worked at Lymers at Tean and he had a son called Robert. It is believed that they are still in the area. Their daughter, Mabel, was believed to have married a Rainsford and went to live in Tean. Another daughter, Phylis lived at Cheadle.

Mary Jane born 1872, married Arthur Ratcliffe of Whiston. She died at Tean and was buried at Whiston. She was a staunch chapel woman. They had two boys.

John Lee, born 1872, Worked at Bolton's at Froghall on the first trans-atlantic cable. He took over the Staffordshire Knot and he was described to me as being a horticulturist and dog trainer. He met Elizabeth Bould and threatened to commit suicide if she didn't marry him. She must have taken the threat seriously for they were wed at Foxt on 30th December 1899. John died at Alton on 12th July 1948. There is no headstone.

John and Elizabeth's children were, George Samuel born 24th September 1900, and a daughter, Alice Evelyn, born 16th August 1905 at Tinker's Row, Whiston.

George Samuel married Lillian Waring of Leigh, Staffs. (she died in 1941). They had two children, Barbara Patricia born 19th November 1925 at Alton, and a daughter, Rosemary who died in infancy and was buried at Alton. Barbara Patricia married John Cohen on 20th November 1948 in London. They have three children. The eldest is Mark Lee, born 19th August 1959 who was married to Samantha in the Bahama's. (They have a daughter, Sophie). Julie Anna was their second child. Born 4th October 1961, she married Barrie Hibbard at Bournemouth. (They have a son, Adam), Their youngest child is Lisa who was born on 24th February 1968.

John and Elizabeth's second child, Alice Evelyn, married Chetwynd Sheldon on 21st May 1930 at Alton. They had a daughter, Hazel Marguerite who was born at Alton on 12th May 1935. Hazel married John Maxwell Robinson at Kingsley on 1st April 1959. They had a child, Peter, on 11th November 1959. Peter married Christine Ann Horton at Birmingham on 4th August 1984. They have no children.

And so ends my knowledge of the "Whiston" Lee's. If anyone is prepared to put in a lot of hours and knock on a few doors, there are perhaps many gaps to be filled on this branch of the family.

Here is an old picture of Froghall and two of Foxt, which were kindly sent to me by Tony Ferneyhough of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire and he has given me permission to use them.  Tony's ancestors came from the same area. The first one is of the bridge which crosses the river Churnet. The horses and carts are probably carrying lime or charcoal which was used to smelt iron ore, a product of this area. Tony describes this one ...."The Sheldon's shop, now demolished, is the gable end on the left of the row - you can just see the groceries in the window. My grandparents house is next door with the white curtains." 

For the second and third one, I will use Tony's descriptive narrative again. "Both show the same house from different views. Looking at the 'non-snow picture', Auntie Nellie (she was not my auntie but related to my grandmother) lived in the house bottom right. She actually posted this card to my grandfather - there is a stamp, address and message on the other side! My grandmother's brother (John Beard) lived in the larger building, which was also a shop. He played a violin and his wife played the organ - in the house. "   They will give you an idea of the nature of the area where most of the Lee's mentioned in this page resided. They are also very like most of the other places where the Lee's were to be found. Just click on the pictures to see them enlarged.