(32) Adams family of Greenfield Hall and Woore Manor

Adams of Greenfield

The Adams family were landowners in Tunstall from the 13th century and established as potters by 1447.  In the late 18th century they were among the principal rivals to Josiah Wedgwood.   Several branches of the family were often active simultaneously, and since they all tended to use the Christian name William, they can be hard to disentangle.  The last family business was sold to the Wedgwood group in 1966.  In addition to large scale pottery works, the family were landowners in the Burslem-Tunstall area of Stoke-on-Trent and elsewhere in the county.  

Thomas Adams of Burslem, master potter, died in 1563.  His great-grandson, John Adams (d. 1641) left Bircheshead Manor to his eldest son Thomas and property at Sneyd Green, Tunstall and Bagnall near Leek to his younger son, William (d. 1677).  

Map of the Burslem area, 1775, showing the locations of the places mentioned

Bagnall Hall, as depicted in a photograph published in 1904.

William’s son William died unmarried in 1710 and he bequeathed Bagnall to his brother Edward, who was succeeded in turn by his son William (1702-75), grandson Richard (1739-1811) and great-grandson William (1772-1829), who sold it.  William Adams also leased Fenton Hall, but this seems to have been given up after his widow’s death and was demolished in 1847.  

His son William Adams (1798-1865), perhaps the most distinguished potter the family produced, lived at Greenfield Hall, Tunstall (acquired through his marriage to Jane, daughter and heir of Jesse Breeze) and purchased Newfield Hall, Tunstall from Sir Smith Child bt. in 1858.  His son, William Adams (1833-1905) inherited both properties and also acquired Moreton House, Wolstanton (Staffs).  Greenfield Hall passed to his eldest son, William Adams (1868-1952) but was demolished shortly before 1908 for coal mining; William lived thereafter at Oaklands, Barlaston (Staffs).  Moreton House was inherited by a younger son, Percy Walter Lewis Adams (1875-1952), who later acquired Woore Manor (Shropshire).  William’s son, William Anthony Adams (b. 1909) lived at Lea Head Manor, Aston (Salop) and Crawford, Oulton Cross, Stone (Staffs) in 1969.  Percy’s son, Joscelin Francis Whieldon Adams (b. 1919) then lived at Coombe House, Uley (Glos).

Fenton Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

The house stood on the low ground to the south-west of the manor house, and was a five bay, two storey pedimented house, probably of the late 18th century, with an early 19th century veranda, which was tenanted by William Adams (1772-1829) from 1818 and subsequently by his widow.  Adams was no doubt responsible for adding the verandah.  The house was demolished in 1847 to allow the construction of the North Staffordshire Railway.

Basford Hall, Wolstanton, Staffordshire

Basford Hall, Wolstanton, from a photograph published in 1904.

A five by three bay, three-storey pedimented late 18th century house, built for Dr James Justin Bent MD (d. 1814) and extended in the early 19th century for his son, Dr. Richard Bent.  The original house was made deeper and given a single-storey wing on the left hand side, into which a new pedimented entrance was formed.  The house was demolished in the 20th century, although some of the farm buildings associated with it survive.

Descent: Built for Dr. James Justin Bent MD (d. 1814); to son, Dr Richard Bent MD , who sold 1839 to Edward Adams (1803-72); who sold to nephew William Twigg (d. 1867); sold to Edward Challinor (d. 1879),  to nephew, Charles Challinor (d. 1893) who occupied the house by 1872 and began the development of the estate for housing.

Greenfield Hall, Tunstall, Staffordshire

A brick house with two original wings joined to a five bay central block by single-storey connecting links, built in 1791 for Theophilus Smith and originally called Smithfield.  

Greenfield Hall, Tunstall: an engraving of the house (then called Smithfield) by W.C. Wilson in 1794

Smith also created the nearby settlement of Smithfield and built a pottery there in 1793, but was bankrupted in 1800.  His assignees sold the house in 1801 to John Breeze, who renamed the house Greenfield.  His granddaughter, Jane Breeze married William Adams (1798-1865) in 1827, and they made additions in 1842.  The house descended in the Adams family and was demolished for coal mining shortly before 1908.  The site is now occupied by a housing estate.  In the late 18th century the estate was noted for its trees and lawns and a private swimming bath.

Descent:  Theophilus Smith (fl. 1788-1801); to assignees in bankruptcy who sold 1801 to John Breeze (d. 1821); to son, Jesse Breeze (d. 1826); to daughter, Jane Breeze who married in 1827 William Adams (1798-1865); to son, William Adams (1833-1905), whose unmarried brother, Thomas, and sister, Jane, lived in the house; to son, William Adams (1868-1952), who demolished c.1908.

Newfield Hall, Tunstall, Staffordshire

A substantial two storey house with a five-bay entrance front and four-bay side elevation, built between 1764 and 1770 for Capt. (later Admiral) Smith Child (d. 1813).  

Newfield Hall, Tunstall in 1947, shortly before demolition.

A pottery works was built on the estate before 1800, but the house remained in private occupation until the mid 19th century, when it was divided into apartments.  In 1858 the estate was sold to William Adams for mining purposes and that family retained the hall until after c.1945.  It was then unoccupied and was demolished c.1948, with the site being reused for an industrial warehouse.  Some of the outbuildings survived in 1963.

Descent:  Thomas Baddeley (d. 1770); gave the estate 1764 to his nephew, Admiral Smith Child (d. 1813); to grandson, Smith Child (fl. 1838), who let to the Admiral’s partner, John Henry Clive until c.1825; sold 1858 to William Adams (1798-1865); to son, William Adams (1833-1905); to son, William Adams (1868-1952), who demolished c.1948.

Moreton House, Wolstanton, Staffordshire

Moreton House, Wolstanton

A five bay three-storey house of 1743, built for Ralph Moreton (d. 1787).  It was acquired in the late 19th century by William Adams (1833-1905) and passed to his younger son, Percy Adams (1875-1952), who sold it on acquiring Woore Manor.  The house had become derelict by the 1970s but has since been restored.

Woore Manor, Shropshire

Woore Manor, 2012

A five bay two storey house of around 1800, probably built for George Watkin Kenrick as a replacement for a house which had been in the Kenrick family since c.1600.  Older work may survive in the large rear extension, which is mainly late 19th and 20th century.  The house was for sale in 2013.

Descent: George Watkin Kenrick (1770-1839); to son, George Kenrick (1810-81), who sold... Percy Walter Lewis Adams (1875-1952); sold after his death to Douglas Moore Kenrick (1912-98).

The Adams family of Greenfield Hall and Woore Manor

Edward Adams (1660-1727) 

Adams, Edward (1660-1727) of Bagnall.  Seventh and youngest son of William Adams (1599-1676) of Sneyd Green and Bagnall (Staffs) and his wife Catherine Hanson (d. 1702) of Stoke-on-Trent, baptised 29 August 1660.  Probably a potter in partnership with his elder brother, William Adams, at Holden (Staffs), who retired after his brother's death in 1712. He married, 5 May 1687, Elizabeth (d. 1733), only daughter of John Meare of Handley Green (Staffs) and had issue:

(1) Grace Adams (1691-1701), baptised at Burslem, 1 June 1691; died young and was buried, 30 June 1701;
(2) William Adams (1702-75) (q.v.);
(3) Edward Adams (1709-45?), baptised 5 February 1709; married Martha, daughter of Joseph Adams of Burslem and had issue one son (William Adams (1746-1805), potter, who seems to have been apprenticed to Josiah Wedgwood); perhaps died 1745;
(4) Elizabeth Adams, married Joseph (d. 1756), eldest son and heir of William Hulme of Bagnall Grange.
He lived at Sneyd Green until he inherited his family's estate at Bagnall from his elder brother c.1710-12.
He was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors (Staffs), 22 April 1727; his will was proved at Lichfield, 7 May 1728. His widow was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 3 July 1733.

Adams, William (1702-75), of Bagnall.  Elder son of Edward Adams (1660-1727) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Meare of Handley Green; baptised at Burslem (Staffs), 5 November 1702.  He appears to have had an interest in The Hadderidge pottery at Burslem, but combined this with farming activities.  He married 1st, 4 May 1730 at Stoke-on-Trent, Dorothy (1710-35), elder daughter of Francis Meare of Norton Green Hall, and 2nd, 16 July 1735 at Ipstones (Staffs), Sarah (1702-87), daughter of William Whieldon of Ipstones and Kingsley (Staffs) and widow of Samuel Braddock (d. 1734) of Howard Park, Cheddleton (Staffs), and had issue:

(1.1) Elizabeth Adams (1731-1806), baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 7 February 1730/1; married 1st, 20 April 1752 at Burslem, Joseph Warburton (1723-69) of Rushton Grange (Staffs), master potter, and had issue; married 2nd, 14 January 1771 at Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffs), Joseph Smith (d. 1796?) of Sene (later Sinai) Park, Burton-on-Trent (Staffs), canal carrier, but died without issue; her will was proved at Lichfield, 26 June 1806;
(1.2) Dorothy Adams (1733-44), baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 18 February 1732/3; died young and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 21 October 1744;
(2.1) William Adams (1736-1802), born 4 October 1736; farmer at Bagnall; died unmarried and without issue and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 21 September 1802;
(2.2) Edward Adams (b. 1738), born 13 March and baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 21 March 1737/8; farmer; died unmarried and without issue;
(2.3) Richard Adams (1739-1811) (q.v.);
(2.4) Thomas Adams (b. 1741), said to have been born in September 1741 and died in infancy;
(2.5) Ralph Adams (1742-1800), born 29 November 1742; of Milton and Endon; married, 17 January 1770 at Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs), Martha Ball (c.1747-1823) and had issue four sons and four daughters and further children who died in infancy; buried at Endon (Staffs), 15 January 1800;
(2.6) Sarah Adams (1744-69), born 4 July and baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 22 July 1744; died unmarried and was probably the woman of this name buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 13 December 1769;
(2.7) Mary Adams (b. 1746), born 21 August 1746; married, 25 February 1774 at Caverswall (Staffs), as his second wife, Thomas Gee of Caverswall, and had issue; living in 1775.

He inherited his family's estate at Bagnall from his father in 1727.
He died 20 December 1775 and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors (Staffs). His first wife was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 8 June 1735. His widow was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 14 April 1787.

Adams, Richard (1739-1811) of Bagnall and Cobridge Gate. Third son of William Adams (1702-75) of Bagnall, born 17 August 1739.  Apprenticed at the Holden Lane Pottery. About 1759 he borrowed money from his father and established himself as a potter at Cobridge in Burslem, making unmarked salt glaze and white stoneware; about 1780 he expanded the works and transferred to the production of painted and enamelled creamware; he retired in 1793 and turned to country pursuits, especially shooting.  He married, 12 May 1765 at Whitmore (Staffs), Elizabeth (1745-1834), daughter of John Jackson of Greenwood Hall (Staffs) and had issue:

(1) William Adams (1772-1829) (q.v.);
(2) Richard Adams (1774-78), baptised at Bucknall-cum-Bagnall, 6 October 1774; died young and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 26 July 1778;

(3) Edward Adams (1782-1813), baptised at Burslem, 13 March 1782; died unmarried and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors (Staffs), 29 October 1813.
He inherited his family's estate at Bagnall from his elder brother in 1802.
He was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 19 April 1811. His widow is reputed to have died as a result of being knocked down by a cow whilst out walking, 11 March, and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 14 March 1834.

William Adams (1772-1839) 

Adams, William (1772-1829), of Bagnall and Fenton Hall.  Only surviving son of Richard Adams (1739-1811) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Jackson of Greenwood Hall and Whitfield; born 20 July and baptised at Bucknall-cum-Bagnall, 13 September 1772.  He was a pupil of Lewis Heath of The Hadderidge pottery, Burslem, in which he acquired his grandfather's interest.  He sold this in 1804 and took the Cliff Bank works in Stoke-on-Trent, and gradually expanded the business, so that by 1818 there were five potteries, which he involved his sons in managing. Churchwarden of Stoke-on-Trent, 1814-15. He was an able amateur musician, playing both the violin and the flute. He married, 18 January 1793, Sarah (1774-1846), elder daughter and eventual heiress of Lewis Heath of The Hadderidge, Burslem, and had issue:
(1) Anne Adams (1793-1857), baptised at Burslem (Staffs), 29 December 1793; married, 15 September 1817 at Stoke-on-Trent, Joseph Twigg (1780-1861) of Bank Hall, Burslem, son of William Twigg, and had issue at least three sons and one daughter; buried at Burslem, 12 November 1857;
(2) Sarah Adams (1796-1831), born 2 September 1796; married, 4 July 1827 at Stoke-on-Trent, James Guest (1796-1885) (who m2, 24 February 1835 at Manchester Collegiate Church, Jane (1805-80), daughter of Charles Cross of Manchester) of Medlock Cottage, Ardwick (Lancs) and Bowdon (Cheshire), merchant, son of Henry Guest, and had issue one daughter; died 5 February and was buried at Chorlton-on-Medlock (Lancs), 10 February 1831;
(3) William Adams (1798-1865) (q.v.);
(4) Lettice Adams (1801-27), baptised at Bagnall, 2 March 1801; died unmarried and without issue and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent, 18 January 1827;
(5) Edward Adams (1803-72) (q.v.);
(6) Lewis Adams (1805-50), born 11 July and baptised at Bagnall, 14 July 1805 and again at Stoke-on-Trent, 8 August 1814; lived at The Mount, Penkhull (which he leased) and later at The Watlands, Wolstanton, which he purchased by 1842 (sold 1862); partner in the family pottery from 1826; first chief bailiff of Stoke-on-Trent, 1839-40 and churchwarden of Stoke-on-Trent, 1842; Master of the North Staffordshire Harriers, 1836-42 and later an active member of the North Staffordshire Hunt; died unmarried and without issue, 23 September and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent, 28 September 1850;

(7) Thomas Adams (1807-63), born 22 May and baptised at Bagnall, 31 May 1807 and again at Stoke-on-Trent, 8 August 1814; partner with his brothers in the family pottery businesses, but spent most of his time in Liverpool managing the firm's shipping office and making journeys to America and Mexico to develop new markets; after the dissolution of the partnership in 1853, he was sole proprietor of a works at Stoke; after the death of his brother Lewis he began betting heavily and made unwise speculations in railway shares, becoming bankrupt in 1861; died unmarried and without issue, 7 March and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent, 12 March 1863;

(8) Samuel Adams (b. & d. 1809), born 19 May 1809; died in infancy, 4 July, and was buried at Burslem, 7 July 1809;
(9) Elizabeth Adams (1810-62), born 14 July 1810 and was baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 8 August 1814; died unmarried and without issue, and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent, 12 July 1862;
(10) Frances Adams (1812-79), born 8 December 1812 and baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 8 August 1814; married 1st, 8 July 1868 at Sefton (Lancs), John Massey Morris (1802-69) of Burslem, son of Richard Morris, and 2nd, 30 July 1877 at Rhyl (Flints.), Joseph Walton (b. 1800) of Bowdon (Cheshire), corn merchant, son of John Walton, miller, but had no issue; died 24 February and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent, 1 March 1879; administration of goods granted to her husband, 20 March 1879 (effects under £800);
(11) Susanna Adams (b. & d. 1815), born 17 September and baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 21 September 1815; died in infancy, 15 December, and was buried at Norton-in-the-Moors, 17 December 1815.
He inherited his family's estate at Bagnall from his father in 1811, but sold it to Thomas Wolfe. From 1818 he lived at Fenton Hall, which he rented, and which his widow occupied until her death; it was demolished in 1847. In 1839 his widow inherited The Hadderidge estate from her brother.
He died 2 September and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs), 9 September 1829; he is commemorated by monuments there and in Lichfield Cathedral. Administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 6 July 1830 (effects under £3,000). His widow was buried at Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs), 14 March 1846.

Adams, William (1798-1865), of Greenfield Hall, Tunstall and Liverpool.  Eldest son of William Adams (1772-1829) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Lewis Heath of Burslem; born 9 November 1798.  In 1819 he joined his father's pottery businesses in the Stoke area, and gradually took over the management of his father's concerns with his brothers. In 1834 he built the Greenfield pottery in Tunstall. He developed his company's American market, and visited America in 1821 and 1825, after which the firm produced transfer-printed china with scenes taken from American engravings.  In 1853 he dissolved the partnership and sold all the works except the Greenfield site, which he continued to operate himself. He married 9 May 1827 at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), Jane* (1804-64), elder daughter and co-heiress of Jesse Breeze (1776-1826), potter, of Greenfield, and had issue:
(1) Sarah Adams (1828-1907), born 20 March and baptised at Burslem (Staffs), 7 May 1828; married, 9 May 1867 at Tunstall, Harry Ward Astbury (1831-1900) of Stand Lodge, Radcliffe (Lancs), eldest son of John Meir Astbury, but had no issue; died 22 November 1907; will proved 14 January 1908 (estate £3,800);
(2) Jane Adams (1829-89), born 12 July and baptised at Burslem, 21 July 1829; died unmarried and without issue, 4 January and was buried at Tunstall, 8 January 1889; her will was proved 24 July 1889 (effects £9,338);
(3) Lettice Adams (1831-90), born 7 February and baptised at St Augustine, Everton, Liverpool, 12 March 1831; married, 18 April 1855 at Tunstall, Charles Challinor** (1829-93) of Basford Hall, Wolstanton (Staffs), coal mine owner, son of William Challinor, and had issue five sons and six daughters; died 20 April 1890 and was buried at Tunstall; will proved 7 October 1890 (effects £2,906);
(4) Lt-Col. William Adams (1833-1905) (q.v.);
(5) Mary Adams (1834-95), born 23 November 1834 and baptised at St Augustine, Everton, Liverpool, 28 January 1835; married, 4 January 1865 at Tunstall, William Simms Bull (1837-1919) of Tyn-y-Coed, Arthog (Merioneths.) and had issue three sons and five daughters; died 30 March, and was buried at Llanaber (Merioneths.), 3 April 1895; will proved 20 March 1899 (estate £12,813);
(6) Thomas Adams (1836-1905), born 19 August and baptised 12 October 1836; died unmarried and without issue, 18 February, and was buried at Tunstall, 22 February 1905; administration of goods granted 9 May 1905 (estate £1,448);
(7) Anne Adams (1840-42), born about August 1840 and baptised at Tunstall, 19 October 1840; died in infancy, 9 December and was buried at Tunstall, 16 December 1842.
He acquired Greenfield Hall, Tunstall, through his marriage in 1827, and made additions to it in 1842.  He bought the Newfield Hall estate from Sir Smith Child, bt. in 1858 and 1865.
He died at Rhyl, 23 October, and was buried at Tunstall, 30 October 1865, but is commemorated by a monument at Wolstanton; his will was proved 18 December 1865 (estate under £20,000). His wife was buried at Tunstall, 28 July 1864.

* For reasons which are obscure, she took her mother's maiden surname of Rainbow after her father's death, and she was married in that name, which has caused some confusion. Her sister Mary married Edward Adams of Basford Hall in 1833, and also gave her name as Rainbow.

** Charles Challinor met a sad end when he was crushed by a pumping engine at his mine while examining the machinery, 13 February 1893.

 

Lt-Col. William Adams (1833-1905) 

Adams, Lt-Col. William (1833-1905), of Greenfield Hall, Newfield Hall and Moreton House, Wolstanton.  Elder son of William Adams (1798-1865) and his wife Jane, daughter of Jesse Breeze of Greenfield; born 13 June and baptised at St Augustine, Everton, Liverpool, 29 July 1833.  Educated at Rugby School.  Worked as a potter, in the family business; he closed the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent and transferred the company to the works at Tunstall; in 1872 he also bought the Newfield pottery. JP for Staffordshire; Lt-Col. of 1st battalion, Staffordshire Rifle Volunteers.  He married, 20 May 1864 at Leek (Staffs), Laura Eliza (1840-1914), elder daughter of Andrew Jukes Worthington of Ball Haye Hall, Leek (Staffs) and had issue:
(1) Laura Mildred Adams (1865-1912), born 5 May 1865; died unmarried 3 June 1912 and was buried at Wolstanton;
(2) Cecily Janet Adams (1866-1946), born 24 September and baptised at Wolstanton, 15 November 1866; lived at The Little Croft, Wolstanton; died unmarried, 28 June 1946, and was buried at Wolstanton;
(3) William Adams (1868-1952) (q.v.);
(4) Hugh Worthington Adams (1870-1928), born 12 February and baptised at Wolstanton, 10 April 1870; educated at Rugby; solicitor; HM Coroner for North-West Staffordshire, 1901-28; lived at Highfield, Barlaston (Staffs); a freemason from 1897; married, 24 July 1900 at Daventry (Northants), Clarice Sophia (1874-1959), fifth daughter of Charles Bennett Roche of Daventry, Flecknoe and Silverstone (Northants) and had issue two daughters; died 19 March 1928; will proved 25 August 1928 (estate £20,221);

(5) Frank Pemberton Adams (1872-1919), born 3 April and baptised at Wolstanton, 26 May 1872; silk manufacturer at Leek (Staffs), died unmarried, 5 November 1919; will proved 11 May 1920 (estate 39,476);
(6) Percy Walter Lewis Adams (1875-1952) (q.v.).
He inherited Greenfield Hall and Newfield Hall from his father in 1865, and purchased Moreton House, Wolstanton in the late 19th century.
He died of a heart attack at Moreton House, 5 March 1905 and was buried at Wolstanton; his will was proved 29 April 1905 (estate £15,782). His widow died 27 April 1914 and was buried beside her husband at Wolstanton; her will was proved 28 August 1914 (estate £2,227).

Adams, William (1868-1952), of Greenfield Hall and Oulton Grange (Staffs). Eldest son of Lt-Col. William Adams (1833-1905) and his wife Laura Eliza, daughter of Andrew Jukes Worthington of Balle Haye Hall (Staffs), born 12 August 1868.  He joined the family pottery business as partner in 1889 and after his father's death managed it in partnership with his brother Percy.  He seems to have been responsible for steering the business through a financial crisis in the 1890s, and by the First World War it was again financially secure. As a young man he played rugby for Stoke, being captain for four years. He married, 16 November 1904 at St John, Inverness, Mildred Mary (1875-1966), daughter of Rev. James Jordan Serjeantson of Hanlith Hall, Kirby Malham (Yorks), rector of St. Michael, Lichfield (Staffs), and had issue:

(1) Lt-Col. William Anthony Adams (1909-85), born 30 December 1909; JP for Staffordshire (from 1938) and Stoke-on-Trent (from 1952); played cricket for Staffordshire County Cricket Club (captain, 1936-39); married, 10 July 1936 at Eccleshall (Staffs), Margaret Elizabeth (1915-2006), daughter of William Edward Carter of Eccleshall Castle and had issue two sons; died 18 March 1985; will proved 12 September 1985 (estate £241,495);
(2) Richard Patrick Adams (1911-46), born 21 July 1911; managing director of Davenport Adams & Co., silk millers; was unmarried and without issue and lived with his friend, E.R. Watson; committed suicide by shooting himself, 15 June 1946; administration of goods granted 20 January 1947 (estate £24,090).
He inherited Greenfield Hall from his father in 1905, but demolished it c.1908 for coal mining in the area. The lived subsequently at The Gables, Alsager (Ches.) and Crawford, Oulton Cross (Ches.).
He died 27 December 1952, aged 84; his will was proved 15 April 1953 (estate £99,159). His widow died 29 July 1966; administration of her goods was granted 27 September 1966 (estate £4,078).

Adams, Percy Walter Lewis (1875-1952) of Moreton House, Wolstanton and later Woore Manor.  Fourth son of Lt-Col. William Adams (1833-1905) and his wife Laura Eliza, daughter of Andrew Jukes Worthington of Balle Haye Hall (Staffs), born 24 January 1875 and baptised at Wolstanton, 4 April 1875.  Educated at Rugby School.  Operated the family pottery business in partnership with his brother William.  JP for Stoke on Trent. Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and published the parish registers of Wolstanton and works on family history. He married*, 26 April 1916 at Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffs), Ada Gladys (1889-1966), daughter of Archibald Douglas of High Park, Salwarpe (Worcs) and Kingsland, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and had issue:
(1) Ralph Douglas Gresley Adams (1917-64), born Apr-Jun; died unmarried and without issue at Fulbourn Mental Hospital (Cambs), 6 March 1964; administration of goods granted to his mother 8 July 1964 (estate £269);
(2) Joscelin Francis Whieldon Adams (1919-91), born 22 March 1919; educated at Uppingham; an officer in the territorial army (Maj.) who served in the Second World War; a director of William Adams & Co., potters, and Davenport, Adams & Co., silk millers; lived at Coombe House, Uley (Glos); JP for Gloucestershire; married, 5 June 1952 at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), Pamela Joan (1926-2020), daughter of Lt-Col. Reginald Wilmot Blomefield Peel OBE, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 23 June 1991; will proved 6 September 1991 (estate £535,025);

(3) Lettice Carol Adams (1920-93), born 7 November 1920, married, 10 July 1947, Frederick Thomas Lawrence McCallum Dawson (1918-89) of The White House, Hadstock (Cambs) and had issue; buried at Hadstock (Essex), 16 August 1993; will proved 8 February 1994 (estate £373,321).
He inherited Moreton House, Wolstanton from his father in 1905, but sold it on purchasing Woore Manor.  Woore Manor was sold after his death.
He died 6 December 1952; his will was proved 20 April 1953 (estate £31,639). His widow died 3 April 1966; her will was proved 14 September 1966 (estate £2,993).

* An earlier engagement, in 1904, to Kathleen Constance May, daughter of Col. Charles James Briggs of Hylton Castle (Co. Durham) did not lead to marriage.

Adams, Edward (1803-72), of Basford Hall.  Second son of William Adams (1772-1829) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Lewis Heath of The Hadderidge, Burslem, baptised at Bagnall, 16 July 1803.  Partner in William Adams & Co., potters. He married, 16 July 1834 at Walton-on-the-Hill (Lancs), Mary* (1811-63), youngest daughter and co-heiress of Jesse Breeze (1776-1826) of Greenfield, and had issue:
(1) Edward Richard (k/a Dick) Adams (1835-94), born 22 June 1835; lived at Leek and Congleton; an officer in Kings Own Staffordshire Militia (Lt., 1853; Capt., 1858; Quartermaster, 1869; retired 1881) and later a potters' colour manufacturer and a cashier in a silk mill; a freemason from 1883; married, 19 June 1873 at Sneyd (Staffs), Grace (1850-1912), daughter of Charles Bower May of Sneyd House, Burslem (Staffs), colliery owner, and had issue one son; evidently emigrated to Australia after 1891 and died in Melbourne (Australia), 22 December 1894 and was buried at Carlton North Cemetery there;

(2) Elizabeth (k/a Bessie) Adams (1837-93), baptised at Stoke-on-Trent, 18 January 1837; married, 13 September 1864 at Newcastle-under-Lyme (Staffs), William Holt (1826-83) of Great Yarmouth (Norfk), solicitor, elder son of George Wells Holt of Great Yarmouth, and had issue three sons and three daughters; died 11 November and was buried at Great Yarmouth, 15 November 1893;

(3) Edward William Adams (1838-66); born 15 June 1838; pottery manufacturer; married, 1 February 1865 at Over Peover (Ches.), Hannah (b. 1845), daughter of Thomas Jones, potter, and had issue one son and one daughter; died 10 October and was buried at Wolstanton, 15 October 1866; will proved 20 January 1871 (effects under £2,000);
(4) Frederick Thomas Adams (1840-1906?); born 17 January and baptised at Wolstanton, 20 February 1840; solicitor; emigrated to New Zeakand; married, 22 January 1870 at Tunstall, Hannah, daughter of John Tomkinson, manufacturer but had no issue; said to have died in New Zealand, 1906;

(5) George Alfred Adams (1843-44), born 23 March and baptised at Wolstanton, 19 April 1843; died in infancy and was buried at Stoke-on-Trent, 8 November 1844;

(6) Sarah Marian Adams (1841-1911), born 13 May and baptised at Wolstanton, 22 June 1841; married 1 November 1870 at Shelton (Derbys), James Johnson Charlesworth MD (d. 1864), eldest son of Moses Charlesworth of Longnor (Staffs), and had issue one son and two daughters; died 1911;

(7) John Adams (1844-84), born 26 October and baptised at Wolstanton, 22 November 1844; educated at Uppingham; surgeon in Burslem and later at Birmingham; married, 11 August 1875 at West Derby (Lancs), Margaret (d. 1884), daughter of William Henry Wordley of Liverpool, architect, and had issue one daughter; died 16 May 1884 and was buried at Ward End, Birmingham;
(8) Albert Adams (1846-97); born 7 June and baptised at Wolstanton, 10 July 1846; educated at Uppingham School; bank clerk; died unmarried 12 March, and was buried at Wolstanton, 16 March 1897;

(9) Frances Adams (b. & d. 1848), born and baptised 5 January 1848; died in infancy, 12 June 1848;

(10) Charles Lewis Adams (b. 1849), born 11 July 1849; emigrated to New Zealand, where he died unmarried at Dunedin.
He acquired Basford Hall before 1839, but sold it to his nephew.
He died 1 January and was buried at Wolstanton, 5 January 1872; administration of his goods was granted at Lichfield, 5 December 1872 (effects under £100). His wife was buried at Wolstanton, 3 December 1863.

* For reasons which are obscure, she took her mother's maiden surname of Rainbow after her father's death, and she was married in that name, which has caused some confusion. Her sister Jane married William Adams of Fenton Hall in 1827, and also gave her name as Rainbow.

Sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1925, p. 3 and Supplement, p.2; W. Turner, William Adams: an old English potter, 1904; VCH Staffordshire, vol 8, 1963, pp. 81-104, 205-24; T. Mowl & D. Barre, The historic gardens of England: Staffordshire, 2009, pp. 51-52; P. Nanney Williams, Adams: Britain's oldest potting dynasty, 2022;

http://www.thepotteries.org/tour/027.htm, accessed 7 September 2012; http://www.thepotteries.org/potters/adams.htm, accessed 27 April 2013.

Location of archives

Adams family of Greenfield Hall and Woore Manor: deeds and papers, 1670-1933 [Stoke-on-Trent City Archives, no ref.]

Coat of arms

Adams of Greenfield: Ermine, three cats passant guardant sable in pale, within a bordure azure.

Revision and acknowlegements

This post was first published 28 April 2013 and updated 3 September 2020, 4 April 2021, 18-19 July, 1-5 September and 17 November 2023. I am grateful to John Sutherland for an additional image, and to Philip Nanney Williams for supplying me with a copy of his recent book on the family.