SWINDLEY FAMILY HISTORY PAGE
SWINDLEY FAMILY HISTORY PAGE
The earliest Swindley I have traced and positively linked my Family to is one James Swindley who was born in Coddington just outside Chester about 1727. He Married one Hannah Powell in Aldersey, Cheshire in January 1754. I have traced 4 Children including one John Swindley who was born in 1757 at Aldersey.James Swindley died on the 17th April 1763 and is buried in Coddington. [Back to Top]
John Swindley Married Sarah Roberts and had at least 8 children. John died in July 1851 at Eccleston where the family was now in residence at the local Smithy. He was buried on the 24th July 1851 aged 94 years. The 1851 census tells us he was a Blacksmith aged 94 years employing 4 Men The Swindley's were now Blacksmiths to the Duke of Westminster continued to carry on their business in Eccleston until about 1895 when the moved to a purpose built Smithy in Handbridge, Chester. [Back to Top]
James Swindley son of John was born in 1789 at Aldford. He Married Elizabeth Edwards at Eccleston on the 23 December 1822. They had 3 the first John Swindley born in 1823 and baptised at Eccleston on the 19 October 1823. James died on the 15 October 1825 and was buried on the 20th October at Eccleston, he was only 36 years old. [Back to Top]
James' son John married Catherine Gough in 1845 and they had 3 children Hannah, Mary Eleanor who died in 1873 and James who was born in Victoria Buildings, St Marys Parish, Chester on the 11th September 1847. [Back to Top]
John's son James (it is complicated as John and James was a popular name with the Swindley's and also there is a John who was known as Jim, just as I thought I had cracked it!) married Mary Davidson on the 18th September 1871 in St Johns Parish, Liverpool. Why Liverpool I do not know at this stage as the Davidson's seemed to have lived in Chester at this time having originally been from Workington, Cumberland. They had twelve children. James died on the 28th June 1917 and was at that time one of two brothers carrying on the family business. Messrs Swindley were noted iron workers and their name had been known in the industry by this time for two centuries, the firm having been founded over 200 years previously. Messrs Swindley's activities covered ornamental ironwork of every possible kind and they were responsible for important works all over the country.
Messrs Swindley were responsible for the very fine ironwork on the well known Eastgate Clock at Chester and another contract which brought the firm praise was the restoration of the Church Gates at Wrexham. The entrance gates to Park of the Duke of Westminster's grounds at Eaton Hall, and the entrance gates at Lord Lever Hulme's Hampstead estate were also constructed in the Overleigh Road workshops. James was 69 years old when he died. [Back to Top]
Not yet completed [Back to Top]
More Details to be added as time permits, comments welcome
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Jon Swindley (swindley@one-name.org )