Middlemore Family Genealogy

Middlemore's of Birmingham

71. Richard Middlemore, of Walsall, where he was engaged as a saddlers' ironmonger at the Bridge, and acquired a considerable fortune. He was born about 1731, but no record of his baptism exists, due, doubtless, to the fact that there are no entries in the registers of St. Peter's Roman Catholic church, Birmingham, for the years 1726 to 1735. It is evident that he conformed to the English church, for his children were all baptized in the parish church at Walsall. He filled various parish offices at Walsall, and his death was notified in the " Staffordshire Advertiser," which described him as "a tender husband, indulgent father, and truly honest man." He died 9 November, 1803, aged seventy-two, in Bath Street burial ground, where he and his family are remembered by a large tomb surrounded by iron railings. His will, in which he names his brother-in-law, William Lewin, was proved in the Prerogative Court in 1804.

He married at Tipton, co. Stafford, in February, 1766, Elizabeth Worsey, who died at Walsall "from her clothes catching fire." She was buried at Walsall, is January, 1810, m. i., aged sixty-eight. Admon. granted at Lichfield, 8 June, 1810, to her daughter, Maria Mold.

Richard Middlemore and Elizabeth Wersey had issue:

  1. William Middlemore, baptized at Walsall parish church, 21 September, 1767, died 25 September, 1792, aged twentyfive, buried, 30 September, at Walsall, m. i.
  2. Elizabeth, baptized at Walsall parish church, 5 May, 1769; married there 18 December, 1794, Robert Garner, of Lane End and Stoke-upon-Trent, co. Stafford, and left issue amongst others: Richard Middlemore Garner, died young, Robert Garner, of "The Quarry," Stoke-on-Trent, who left issue, and Maria Middlemore Garner, married, 1821, Josiah Spode, who settled in Tasmania. Their daughter, Anna Maria Spode, married, 1839, Hon. David Erskine. Of them there are numerous descendants.
  3. Maria, died in infancy, and buried at Walsall, 6 May, 1771
  4. Maria, baptized at Tipton, 28 May, 1775, died 17 August, 1811, m. i. at Walsall. Married 15 November, 1804, at Walsall, William Mold, of Walsall, factor but left no issue.