For details of the book written by Jan Kuplis on the Gerrard family click here.

Eeley / Eely Family History

John Eely b.1846 Preston Bissett, Buckinghamshire. Coal Miner d.bfr.1897					Mary Brooks b. abt.1846 Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire d. 7 Jan 1917 Cheddleton, Staffordshire.
James William Eely b.1871/2 Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire	John Eely b.1873/4 Audley, Staffordshire	Sarah Ann Eely b.1875/6 Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire	David Eely b.1877/8 Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire	Hannah E Eely [photo' might be of Mary] b.1881 Audley Parish, Talk O Th Hill, Staffordshire	Joseph Eely	William Eely	Mary Eely

Joseph Eely	Amy
Joseph Eely b.1910 d. 8 Dec 1914

The 1881 British Census show John Eely, 32 a Coal Miner, born in Preston, living at Old Butt Lane, Audley, Staffordshire. With him are

• his wife, Mary 35, born in Audley
• his son James William, 9
• his son John, 7
• his daughter Sarah Ann, 5
• his son David, 3
• his daughter Hannah E, 6 months

The 1851 census has John Eeley age 5 living with his Grandparents in Preston Bisset but no sign of his mother.

From the above we can deduce that in 1881 John Eely had his 35th birthday and was not 32!

Sources: Lesley Busbridge,

In December 1914 the family were at 53, Skellern Street, Butt Lane.

In the 1891 census Mary Eeley (née Brooks) is living at Butt Lane, Stoke on Trent, Staffs;

Mary Brooks

1871 census records has Mary Brookes living in Butt Lane and born there, different house but same road as John Eeley.

David Eeley has a copy of her marriage certificate to John Eeley.

1881 census records her as living with husband John Eeley and sons James W, John and David and daughters Sara Anne and Hannah E

1891 census records her as living with husband John, sons William, David and Joseph and daughters Hannah and Mary.

In 1896 Mary, as beneficery under will of her mother, Mary is described as a widow.

She entered Staffordshire asylum on 29 Jan 1904 and died from a cerebral hoemorrhage in 1917.

I ordered a birth certificate for Mary Brookes, born 3rd of December 1846, daughter of William Brookes, Engineer, and Emma Brookes formerly Stevenson. The familt were living at Church Street Fenton. Details were "Brookes Mary, Stoke-on-Tt Dec 1846, vol XVII (17) page 142"

Joseph and Amy Eeley's son Joseph