Chapter 7: James Hingley (1792-1873)

James was the oldest child of James and Mary. He was baptised in Rowley Regis parish church in April 1792, four months after his parents marriage. On 30 March 1812 James married Mary Williams in Clent parish church. Six months later Mary gave birth to the first of their fourteen children. The couple spent their early married life in the Haden Hill are of Rowley Regis, moving to the Cradley/Cradley Heath area around 1818. James was first and foremost a farmer, but he was also an ironmonger in his later years. At the age of thirty he was farming 60 acres at Hammerlane Farm on Forge Lane in Rowley Regis. In 1851 James and his family were living in the home of Mary's brother, Elijah Williams a nail master. A decade later Elijah had disappeared, but the family were still on Forge Lane and James was still farming. He employed three men and a boy, and had his grandson James Tibbetts, a carter and a housemaid living-in. By 1871 James had moved to Netherend but was still farming, albeit a reduced acreage (25 acres) on which he employed a man and a boy. A dairymaid and farm servant were living-in. James was farming just over 9 acres in Cradley when he died in June 1873. Mary predeceased James by thirteen years.

Of James and Mary's children nothing is known of their first born, Edwin, other than he was baptised in Park Lane Presbyterian Chapel as were at least twelve of his thirteen siblings. Sarah died at less than a year old, with her the next daughter being given the same name. The second Sarah went on to marry Joseph Tibbetts who became a publican and grocer, following work as a maltster and labourer. His 'pub' was the Malt Shovel on Turnpike Road in Cradley. Sarah and Joseph had eight children; three sons and five daughters. One of the sons died age 31, the other two age 34. One of the latter, James, left a widow who had a child born after his death.

James and Mary's son Tobias married and had a family of his own. His sister Nancy Williams married Samuel Leonard. Samuel had a variety of occupations and trades including roller in an iron works, publican, iron forge manager and farmer. Samuel's 'pub' was the Maypole Inn at Cradley Forge.

James Henry inherited his father's ironmongery business, but like his father was firstly a farmer. He farmed 126 acres at Porch House Farm, Hunnington. Twins Elijah and Timothy both worked as carpenters in their early years, but the latter later became a nail master and farmer. John to appears to have become a farmer in his own right after working on his father's farm.

4 . . . . . . James HINGLEY b.1792 d.1873 m.Mary WILLIAMS
5 . . . . . . . Edwin HINGLEY b.1812
5 . . . . . . . Sarah HINGLEY b.1815 d.1816
5 . . . . . . . Sarah HINGLEY b.1816 d.1891 m.Joseph TIBBETTS
6 . . . . . . . . .William TIBBETTS b.1836 d.1870
6 . . . . . . . . .John TIBBETTS b.1838 d.1869
6 . . . . . . . . .James TIBBETTS b1840 d.1874 m.Eliza -
7 . . . . . . . . . . James Bertie TIBBETTS b.c1869 d.>1881
7 . . . . . . . . . . Joseph TIBBETTS b.1870 d.>1881
7 . . . . . . . . . . Percival Edgar TIBBETTS b.c1875 d.>1881
6 . . . . . . . . .Mary Ann TIBBETTS c.19 Mar 1843
6 . . . . . . . . .Eliza TIBBETTS c.4Jan1846
6 . . . . . . . . .Ann TIBBETTS c.23Jan1848
6 . . . . . . . . .Sarah TIBBETTS c.3 Feb 1850
6 . . . . . . . . .Maria TIBBETTS c.1 Aug 1852
5 . . . . . . . Tobias HINGLEY b.1817 d.<1861 m.Eleanor (aka Ellen) FINNEY (Chapter 8)
5 . . . . . . . Nancy Williams HINGLEY b.1819 d.1870 m.Samuel LEONARD
6 . . . . . . . . .Betty LEONARD b.1845 d.1846
6 . . . . . . . . .Thomas LEONARD b.1850
6 . . . . . . . . .John Hingley LEONARD b.1853 d.1855
6 . . . . . . . . .James Henry LEONARD
6 . . . . . . . . .Samuel LEONARD
6 . . . . . . . . .Edwin Hingley LEONARD d.>1890
6 . . . . . . . . .female LEONARD d.>1890 m. ANSON
6 . . . . . . . . .female LEONARD m.Joseph HILL
6 . . . . . . . . .Harriet LEONARD d.>1890 m.WILLIAMS
6 . . . . . . . . .Hannah LEONARD d.>1890 m.SIDAWAY
7 . . . . . . . . . . Leonora SIDAWAY b.c1864 d.>1881
6 . . . . . . . . .Rebecca LEONARD m.- MASON
7 . . . . . . . . . . eight MASON children
5 . . . . . . . Mary HINGLEY b.1822 d.>1854 m.Alfred TAYLOR
5 . . . . . . . Eliza HINGLEY b.1824 m.Thomas HUGHES
5 . . . . . . . James Henry HINGLEY b.1826 d.>1881
5 . . . . . . . Martha HINGLEY b.28 d.<1854
5 . . . . . . . Samuel Elijah (known as Elijah) HINGLEY b.1830 d.1864
5 . . . . . . . Timothy HINGLEY b.1830 d.1877 m.Ann ATTWOOD
5 . . . . . . . Caroline HINGLEY b.1832 d.>1854
5 . . . . . . . John HINGLEY b.1834 d.1855
5 . . . . . . . Jane HINGLEY b.c1838 m.- -