*TBC Archive?* TOLLEY/MILLARD

[SteveT]

Hi All,

Found this forum yesterday so thought I'd join to see if it can help me in my slow but steady research. My roots are firmly in the Black Country with my parents both being born and bred right in the thick of it, my father (God rest his soul) who gave me the TOLLEY surname was a Tipton lad who lived all of his short life there apart from a spell of National Service in the 1950's. My mother was a MILLARD born and bred in Oldbury (Brades Village) and met my father whilst they were both working on the buses out of West Bromwich depot. I was born while we lived in Great Bridge prior to moving to Ocker Hill

My paternal Grandparents were Mark Tolley and Mary Ann Roberts, Mark was born out of wedlock (shock horror scandal in the 1900's) in 1899 Mary's birth year was 1902. I have managed to go back as far as circa 1822 with the direct Tolley lineage so far.

My maternal Grandparents were Herbert Millard and Beatrice Whyle (While) born 1906 and 1905 respectfully. I have managed to go back to 1875 with the direct Millard Lineage but have sconflicting information prior to this.

Steve

[Northern Lass]

Hi Steve Welcome to the forum

Well we just happen to have a dedicated section especially for the Black Country area!
Just scroll down the main board and pop your Black Country Posts in the Black Country Genealogy section.

We also have a bit of a Black Country tree going on that a load of us are involved in, This is called
Black Country Connections and you can access it via the weblink or signature line on any of my postings.

We have the General Discussion for any other Counties areas
and lots of other interesting sections too

So good to have you with us .....enjoy!

[dianel]

Welcome, Steve. Sounds like we all have loads of fun ahead with our Black Country ancestors. Looking forward to it.
Di

[grangers14]

Hi from me too! Hope you enjoy the forum and our company.
Jo

[peterd]

hi steve and welcome to the forum

[Maths girl]

Hi

Welcome to the forum

Maths girl

[Rob]

Hi Steve welcome.Tolley and Millward are both Black Country names.
We had a Susan Millard in our class and her father was from down Brades Village or nearer to Greets Green way.
I knew lots of Tolleys when i was a kid as well.In fact i have them in my Beard line.
Rob

[SteveT]

Many thanks to all of you for the warm welcome.

Rob, I have no information (as yet) on any Susan within the family, she's certainly not immediate family, but as you say Millard is quite a common name in the Black Country. Not sure of the road/street my mom lived in, but the name "Junction St" is tucked away in the grey matter somewhere so maybe that's what it was, and I do know there was a Banks's pub in the next street, my aunt and uncle ran the George on the main road sometime in the 60's.

SteveT

[Rob]

Junction Street is in Brades Village.Back in the 70's whenever i was in England that's where i'd go for a drink.The Blue Ball was my favourite but "The George" and "The Fountain" were other ports of call.The Fountain was the scene of a murder at the start of the 20th century.It was well documented in 'The Bugle"before anyone asks if i was there!! Nowadays i pop in The Jolly Collier just down the road from The Fountain whenever i'm in England .That's where the locals old and young drink and the Gaffers a good lad as well!!

[SteveT]

The Fountain, that was it. I remember my grandfather going out of the back yard and the rear entrance to the pub was just accross the alleyway which ran behind the terraced houses. I can remember the Anderson shelter in the back yard of their house as well. Wow, major flashback

Steve T

[apowell]

Hi,

Welcome Steve and I hope you have a bostin time with us on the forum.

I was really interested to read about your Tolley roots because my roots are also with the Tolleys of Great Bridge, my Grandmother was Ethel Tolley born and bred in Greets Green, Great Bridge. I was raised by her from a very young age in Great Bridge and I remember playing and fishing for sticklebacks down by the cut. My Nan would come rushing down the canal after me to make me go home because she was petrified I would fall in and drown because I couldn't swim Oh happy days

We need to compare our families because I have some information on my Tolleys who originated from the Worcestershire area and from my research their were two main branches of the Tolleys from Worcestershire and Devon. I thinks lots of Tolleys moved from the agricultural areas of Worcestershire to work in the mines and factories of the Black Country in the early 1800's.

I've got back to my x4 Grt Granddad John Tolley born 1798 Lindridge, Worcestershire who was our first Tolley to move to Great Bridge around the 1820's. Theirs lots of Tolleys living in the Worcestershire area (Kidderminster, Rock, Pensax and Lindridge) around the late 1700's and then it seems lots of the younger Tolleys uproot and move to the Birmingham and the Black Country areas in particular.

If you have any relatives who served in the military feel free to request help on our military section because I've got lots of resources on the local regiments.

Your post brought back so many memories.

All the best
Adrian

[SteveT]

Hi Adrian,

I'm quite new to this genealogy research so I've not made great inroads as of yet, I have only traced my direct line back as far as 1822. Here is a brief overview of what I have so far starting with my father:

Kenneth Tolley b1934 - d1977 Married Doreen Millard b1936 Brother William Tolley b1926 - d? Sister Doris Tolley b1930 - d?

GFather Mark Tolley b1899 - d1969 (out of wedlock ) Married Mary Ann(e) Roberts b1902 - d 1982 Brother William Tolley b circa1903 - d? Sister Eliza(beth) Tolley b circa 1907 - d?

GGFather Mark b1872 - d? Married ? Brother Benjamin Tolley b 1870 - d?

GGGFather (I think) William Tolley b circa 1822 - d? Married Mary Bickerton b circa 1837 - d?

That's about as far as I've got so far, my research does indicate strong links to the Tipton area, in fact I spent the first 6 years of my life living in "Ballfields" in Great Bridge, we lived next door to my fathers parents. Fingers crossed that some of this marries up with your research which will obviously make life easier for me provided you are willing to share, which knowing that somewhere in your blood there is a Tolley gene or two, I know you're of a generous nature.

Regards

Steve

[apowell]

Hi Steve,

Of course I will help you and with you being part of the Tolley clan I'll be pulling out all the stops

I don't see any connections from just looking at the information you've given with mine but looks can be deceiving.

I've had a quick look at the census for the Tolleys you mentioned and noted the following which you may want to chew over

I'm not convinced that Benjamin Tolley was Marks brother because if you check on the 1871 census he's listed Benjamin Hollis born 1870, Tipton and interestingly the relationship to William Tolley is given nk (not known). In the household is Emma Hollis born 1844, Tipton and she's a domestic servant but is also William's daughter in law (I smell a bit of hanky panky going on here ). I think Emma was having a relationship with one of William's sons and had Benjamin out of wedlock. If you check the marriage entries you'll find Emma Hollis married William Tolley 1875 St Martins church (pepper box) Tipton, Staffordshire which confirms my idea (married 4 years after Benjamin's birth). Benjamin was Marks cousin and this was really common in those days and I've got a few relatives in similar situations.

The other point is William born 1822 may not have been born in Tipton because if you check the 1871 census again you see where born is given Upton maybe a spelling mistake for Tipton but next to it is written Worc and if you search there is a place called Upton upon Seven in Worcestershire (near Worcester). Then if we go back to my research and the findings that most of the Tolleys were originally from Worcestershire it gives more substance to the idea that like mine your Tolley family came to the Black Country in the early 1800's looking for work.

I'll keep looking and what do you think?

Kind regards
Adrian

[apowell]

Hi Steve,

It's me again scrap that Upton upon Seven idea I think we may have struck gold because I think William was born in Upton Warren, Worcestershire and I found the birth of a William Tolley that may match the year and place. If so I can go back a few more generations for you including siblings etc. It's not 100% but it never is in this game but something for you to look at and consider.

It maybe an idea to post this request on the general discussions board.

Regards
Ade

[Northern Lass]

I have moved this to the General discussion area
should I suppose be in the Black country section but we can run with it here a little first

and then Jo can decide if she wants it moved to there ...just wanted you to know Steve and Adrian now moved from Intros

Jo...move it to BC section if you wish...