Richard Griffiths I of Osbaston

Paternal Surnames Church Cowley Ebrey Ferrington Griffiths Grindley Poole Ridgeway Smith Tudor Williams Maternal Surnames Davies Ellis Jones Hughes Norris Paternal Parishes High Ercall (Ercall Magna) Stanton on Hine Heath Shawbury Rowton Ellerdine Muckleton Great Bolas Astley Upton Magna WatersUpton Hodnet Grinshill Weston Lee Brockhurst MoretonCorb.t Wem Maternal Parishes Berriew,Montg Guilsfield,Mont Llanfair,Montg Oswestry St Martins Stapleton Trefonen Westbury

From the High Ercall Parish Records ,the first three generations of Richard Griffiths's appear.Their origins are shrouded in mystery!The Poor Laws, first introduced in 1597, made each Parish entirely responsible for the care of its own destitute,sick and old parishioners.This was to be managed by the Church Wardens and Overseers. .Thus the Parish would except no newcomers unless 1. They were appointed to a Parish public office or 2.They were renting or buying land or property worth over £30 a year or 3.They were marrying a parishioner or 4.They had apprenticeship articles with a local tradesman.These Laws were strictly enforced by each Parish


	1742 Richard Griffiths I and Mary Church both of this parish wed.

X 1773 at High Ercall

Richard G Senior b 1748 at Osbaston

Mary Smith b 1746 at Stanton

Mary b 1745 at Walton



	Ann b 1773 at Osbaston. Married John Grindley1795



	Richard G Junior b 1777 Poynton Married Margaret Ebrey of Astley 1799



	Thomas b 1780 at Ellerdine Heath.



	John b 1787 at Ellerdine Heath d 1788


	RICHARD GRIFFITHS OF OSBASTON


	Walton,Osbaston,Poynton and Ellerdine Heath are all small hamlets within the Parish of High Ercall. Stanton and Astley are adjoining Parishes.--see 18th C Map of Shropshire. Almost certainly these Richard Griffiths's were Agricultural Labourers,who where working one year contracts for various farmers round the district.John Grindley was a shoemaker.


	High Ercall Records show that the first Richard Griffiths died young in 1749 at Osbaston and that his widow Mary Griffiths received money for coal every year from1754 plus 2s a week from village funds until her death as a pauper in 1785.Was this the reason for their son to join the High Ercall (Friendly)Society and also to make a will. ---- See Wills.

Who were their antecedents and were did they come from? -----------------Was it ? Richard Griffie who married Margaret at Stanton in 1668 or Richard son of Griffith Griffiths of Stakefast Bridge and Alice b 1679 or Richard Griffies of Shawbury who died in1726 near 105 years old or John Griffiths of Edgebolton or Griffith Richards of Peplow-Hearth Tax Rolls1672. Richard son of Richard Griffiths and Elizabeth of Lee Brockhurst bapt 1671. or Richard son of Richard Grifies and Elizabeth of Besford Wood bapt 1672. or John son of John Griffiths of Sleape,Clerici,bapt 1674.

Before the 19th Cent ,villagers rarely moved from their Parish of Birth,firstly because The Poor Laws enforced by the Parish Overseers would not allow them and secondly,most men and women could only travel to work each day ,within reasonable walking distance.However there were exceptions - see above.Richard Griffiths parents may have arrived in High Ercall through one of these exceptions or possibly 1.they came out of the nearest town e.g. Shrewsbury ,because the village needed a particular craftsman,tailor or shoemaker(of whom there were many in the Griffiths and Tudor Families) or 2.they settled as gypsies or travellers on the wild heathlands outside the Parish and gradually became absorbed into village life or 3.the Parish Records at this particular time are missing (see note on The Civil War disturbances). Finally it should be remembered that many freeholders and comparatively wealthy families fell upon hard times through the Enclosure movement or being on the wrong side during the Civil War or even through neglect, illness or early death.


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