Rushgrove - Gloucester

This document covers the Rushgroves who are descendants of Susannah (b.1815), the descendants of Abraham (b.1830) and other Rushgroves that we have not yet fitted into the family.

Susannah and her descendants - King's Norton c.1830

Susannah Rushgrove (b.1815). The daughter of Joseph and Hannah. She was baptised in Kington on the 13th January 1815. She appears on the 1841 census living at home in Kington, aged 25. She had two illegitimate children William (b.1840) and Anne (b.1848). She was at home with her two children at the 1851 census.

William Rusgrove (b.1840). The illegitimate son of Susanna. He was baptised in Kington on the 15th March 1840. His father was William Thomas. Susanna is described as a spinster and the address is given as 'Nailshops', Kington. William's wife was Jane (b.1843) and they were married in about 1861. At the 1881 census William, age 41, and Jane, age 38, were living at Beach Street 14 Court 5, in Birmingham. William is described as a Blacksmith and Jane as a Burnisher. There are no children living with them.

There are several young infants whose deaths are registered at King's Norton these might, sadly, be the children of the William and Jane.

Mary A E Rushgrove (1862-1866) died aged 4, registered in King's Norton in the June quarter 1866

Sarah Anne Rushgrove (d.1864) death registered in Birmingham in the June quarter 1864

Henry Rushgrove (bd.1867) death registered at King's Norton in the June quarter 1867

Frederick Rushgrove (1874-1875) died aged 1, registered in King's Norton in the June quarter 1875

Joseph Edmund Rushgrove (1883-1884) died aged 1, registered at King's Norton in the March quarter 1884

Harry Rushgrove (bd.1889) died aged 0, registered at King's Norton in the September quarter 1889

Anne Rushgrove (b.1848). The illegitimate daughter of Susanna. She was christened in Ludlow on the 29th July 1848 and her mother's name is given as Hannah.

Descendants of Abraham and Martha c.1830

Abraham Rusgrove (1830-c.1879). The son of Joseph and Hannah. He was baptised in Kington on the 18th July 1830; his parents' address is given as Waterloo Row. He was living at home in 1841 and is described as a Nailer aged 10.  He married Martha in about 1854. He is possibly the 'A Rushgrove' described as living at Bargates, Leominster in Kelly's trade directory of 1856 and as a Nailmaker in West Street, Leominster in Cassey's 1858 directory.

Abraham and Martha were originally living in Leominster and moved to Gloucester in about 1860 and had moved again to Smethwick by 1878.

Martha was born at Clee Hill, Staffordshire in 1836. At the 1881 census, age 45, she was living in Bromsgrove with some of the children but is not described as a widow. Abraham, age 49, Blacksmith is living with his daughter Louisa (Whittle) and his son Henry William, unmarried, age 15 at Wattville Street Handsworth. It looks as though Henry William was registered twice.

At the 1901 census, age 64, widow, Martha was living or staying with her daughter Ada (Gardener) at 58 Station Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire.

Abraham and Martha's children were:-

Eliza Rusgrove (b.1855). The daughter of Abraham and Martha. She was christened at Leominster on the 15th April 1855. She married George Elcox (b.1854) in the September quarter 1872 at King's Norton, Birmingham. At the 1881 census they were living at 14 Harding Street, Harborne, Staffordshire. They had four children, Mary Jane (b.1874), George Frederick (b.1876), Alice Louisa (b.1878),  and Harry Thomas (b.1889). Also living with them was William Road, unmarried, age 39, described as George's brother in law. George's occupation is given as 'Labourer Iron'.

Abraham Rusgrove (b.1856). Abraham Thomas. The son of Abraham and Martha. He was christened on the 11th June 1856 at Leominster. He married Martha Elizabeth Fennah at King's Norton in the June quarter 1879. At the 1881 census, age 24, he was living with Martha at Galton Street, Harborne, Staffordshire.  Both he and Martha are described as Iron Moulders. Martha was born in 1857 at Smethwick, Staffordshire.

Abraham is probably the Abraham Thomas who was described as a 'Tobacconist, 57 Monument Road, Ladywood, Birmingham', in Kelly's trade directory of 1898.

At the 1901 census they are living at 79 Woodland Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire, both aged 44. Abraham is described as a Wholesale Tobacconist working on his own account at home. Also living with them is Martha's brother Joseph Fennah, age 34, single, a machine tool turner.

An Abraham T Rushgrove was listed as a Private Resident in Kelly's directory of 1904, living at 86 Sycamore Road, Smethwick.

Martha was listed in Kelly's directory of 1934 as living at 73 Edgbaston Road, Smethwick. Martha died on the 1st September 1934. Probate was granted at Birmingham on the 12th October to Joseph Fennah a retired Turner (her brother) and Florence Jesson a spinster. Martha's effects were valued at £3,954 15s 7d.

Louisa Rushgrove (b.1860).  The daughter of Abraham and Martha. She was born in Leominster in about 1860. She married William Whittle at Bromsgrove in the June quarter 1879. At the 1881 census they were living at Wattville Street, Handsworth. William, age 24, born in Smethwick, is described as a Brass (lamp) Chandelier Finisher. With them is their son William Edward Whittle, age 1, born in Bromsgrove. Also staying or living with them are Louisa's father Abraham Rusgrove, age 49, and her brother Henry William Rusgrove, age 15, unmarried.

Grace Rushgrove (b.1861). Grace Ellen. Possibly the daughter of Abraham and Martha. Her birth was registered at Gloucester in the March quarter 1861. An Ellen Rusgrove married Charles Farmer or James Rathern at Birmingham in the December quarter 1879 - this might be the same person as 'Grace Ellen'.

 Charlotte Rusgrove (b.1863). Charlotte Elizabeth. The daughter of Abraham and Martha. She was christened on the 7th September 1863 at Gloucester, St Nicholas. At the 1881 census, age 18, she was living at home at Parkside, Bromsgrove and was working as a Wrought Iron Nailer. She married Albert Parkes (or Leon Idoine) in the December quarter 1884 at King's Norton.

Henry Rusgrove (b.1867). Henry William. The son of Abraham and Martha. He was born in Gloucester in 1867. At the 1881 census he was living at home at Parkside, Bromsgrove and working as a Horse nail maker. He married Hannah Bertha Bowen in King's Norton in the June quarter 1886. At the 1901 census  they were living at 56 Poplar Street, Handsworth. Henry is described as an Engine Fitter. Also living with them were nieces Lilian Summer, single, age 15 a clerk and Ellen Lowe, single, age 8.

Hannah (Fanny) was born in 1867 in Coalbrookdale, Staffordshire.

Albert Rusgrove (1870-1933). The son of Abraham and Martha. He was born in Gloucester in about 1870. At the 1881 census, age 11, he was living at home in Bromsgrove. He married Lilly in about 1899. He appears in Kelly's directory for 1898 and 1904 as a ‘Grocer, 76 Bolham Road, Smethwick'.

At the 1901 census Albert and Lilly were living at 76 Bolham Road Smethwick. He is described as a Grocer working on own account at home, age 31. Also there are their daughter Hilda, age 7, and son Eric, age 5.

Lilly was born in 1872 in Langley, Staffordshire.

Albert was later living at 162 High Street Smethwick. He died, age 63, on the 2nd April 1933. his effects were valued at £2,538 11s 1d and his death was registered in Smethwick in the June quarter 1933.

Albert and Lilly's children were; Hilda May Rusgrove (b.1894), Eric Rusgrove (b.1896) and possibly two others who were born in Smethwick circa 1902. These are:-

Albert R Rusgrove who is mentioned in Kelly's directory of  Birmingham in 1934 and 1944 as being a shipping agent and dealer in musical instruments as 162-164 High Street, Smethwick.

Norman Rusgrove who appears in Kelly's directory of Birmingham in 1934 as living at 65 Pitcairn Road, Smethwick. Norman married Winnie Patrick in about 1930. Winne's parents were Maude Parsons and a Mr Patrick.

Ada Rusgrove (b.1878). The daughter Abraham and Martha. She was born in Smethwick in about 1878. At the 1881 census, age 3, she was living at home with her mother in Bromsgrove. She married Frank Gardener in about 1899. At the 1901 census they were living at 58 Station Road, Handsworth. Frank, age 31, born in Handsworth, is described as a Cashier (Engineers). With them is their daughter Ada E, age 2, and Ada's mother Martha Rusgrove, widow, age 64.

Other Rushgrove families

These are notes about other Rusgrove families that we have not yet fitted into the family tree.

On the 1881 census there is a Catherine Rusgrove, widow, age 42, (b.1839) in Llanerfyl Montgomery. Living at Brewery Yard, Welshpool with her children:-

William Rusgrove, son, age 12, born Llanybodwell

Robert Rugsrove, son, age 9, born Llandisilio

Margaret Rusgrove, daughter, age 6, born Kinnerly, Shropshire

Walter Rusgrove, son, age 1, born Welshpool.

Ellen Rusgrove (b.1859). Ellen Lelitia or Leutia. Born in 1859 at Back Road, Welshpool.

Mary Rusgrove (b.1861). Mary Ann Emily. Born in 1861 living at Back Road Welshpool.

 Francis Harker Rusgrove, male, christened 22nd Feb 1863 at Arthuret, Cumberland. Father James Rusgrove and mother Hannah.