by Silver surfer » Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:24 pm
This is from an email I received from Nev (RRonline) a couple of years back but had forgotten it.
"You are probably aware that a sizeable part of early Cradley Heath was called Tibbetts’s Gardens. The family was in trade, philanthropists I believe and were also pioneers of methodism in the town, One of the founders of Grainger’s Lane Primitive Methodist Church was I understand William Tibbetts (1783 – 1855). I’m told the tower of the original church was partly paid for by John Tibbetts (1814 – 1860) and with it’s clock enabled everyone without their own to know what time of day it was. Nearer our own time was Dr. Thomas Major Tibbetts, who was much loved and respected in Cradley Heath. He was my father’s doctor.
There were and are other Tibbetts in the town but the foregoing are perhaps some who made the greatest mark. My own connection is a bit remote, I’m afraid. My 4 times great grandmother was an Elizabeth Tibbetts who married William Hodgetts on the 21st May 1777 I think at St Thomas’s Church, Dudley. Their surviving children were Ann (1778), William (1780), Elizabeth (1783), John (1785), Mary (1786), Samuel (1789) and Susanna(1791, my 3 times great grandmother)
I should be interested if you could fit anyone into your Tree."
Just had a look at my tree maker and I have Nev's Elizabeth and William Hodgetts. She was daughter of John and Susannah.
Researching Foley, Burley, Dean, Danks, Smith, Pugh, Hughes, Shakespeare.