Abraham Darby (1750 - abt. 1789)

Born 24 Jun 1750 in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Smith) Darby — married 3 May 1776 in Warmsworth, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died about 20 Mar 1789 at about age 38 in Madeley, Shropshire, England

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Biography

Abraham was a Friend (Quaker)

Abraham Darby was an ironmaster who is known for his involvement in the construction of the first cast iron bridge, across the river Severn at what is now Ironbridge, near Coalbrookdale, Shropshire.^[1] He is often known as Abraham Darby III, to distinguish him from others in his family of the same name engaged in the same business.

Birth and Parents

Abraham was the son of Abraham Darby II and his second wife Abiah Maude. He was born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 24 June (Quaker 4th month) 1750^[2][3][4]

Life

Abraham was educated at Worcester, Worcestershire.^[1][5] His father died in 1763,^[6][7] when he was 13 and Richard Reynolds, husband of his half-sister Hannah, took charge of the Darby family iron industry business until 1768, when Abraham took over day-to day running of the Coalbrookdale part of it. From then on, he worked in partnership with Richard Reynolds.^[1][5] His keenness to modernise and improve the business led to it incurring substantial debts, many of them to Richard.^[1][5]

Abraham chief - and expensive - achievement was the construction of the Iron Bridge across the River Severn. A 1776 estimate of the cost was £3200, but the final cost was over £6000.^[1] The cost of construction alone (excluding materials and the cost of land) was over £2700, some five times the initial estimate.^[5] Abraham was personally liable for much of the overspend.^[1]

The bridge was opened on 1 January 1781.^[5] By then Abraham and his brother Samuel owed the then huge sum of £60000 to Joseph Rathbone: in a financial rearrangement, Joseph gained freehold of the Coalbrookdale site, and, in 1782, was made senior partner of the Coalbrookdale business.^[1] Richard Reynolds and his son William acquired Abraham's shares in the Iron Bridge, and Abraham also sold them some land.^[5] Over the next few years, Abraham managed to repay Richard Reynolds and substantially reduced the debt to Joseph Rathbone.^[1]

On 6 December 1787 Abraham was notified that he had been awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Society of Arts for the building of the Iron Bridge.^[8]

Besides his business interests, Abraham was a trustee of several turnpike trusts in Shropshire. He was also interested in geology, and he and Erasmus Darwin exchanged fossils.^[5]

Marriage and Children

On 3 May 1776 Abraham married Rebecca Smith at Warmsworth Quaker Meeting House, Yorkshire. The Quaker marriage record describes him as an ironmaster of Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, son of Abraham Darby (deceased ironmaster of Coalbrookdale) and Abiah; and her as daughter of Francis Smith, a grocer of Doncaster, Yorkshire, and Ruth.^[9][10][11] They had seven children:

• Abraham Maude, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 23 January 1778,^[12][13] died on 4 December 1788 and was buried on 9 December at Coalbrookdale Quaker burial ground^[14][15]
• Ann, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 10 June 1779,^[16][17] who married Barnard Dickinson on 9 April 1805^[18][19]
• Mary, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 24 July 1780,^[20][21] died, age 21, at Coalbrookdale on 13 May 1801 and was buried at Coalbrookdale Quaker burial ground on 18 May^[22][23]
• Francis, born at Hay Farm, Madeley, Shropshire on 5 April 1783^[24][25]
• Joseph, born at Sunniside, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 9 February 1785,^[26][27] died, age 13, at Burford, Oxfordshire on 21 August 1798 and was buried on 24 August at Burford Quaker burial ground^[28][29]
• Hannah, born at Hay Farm, Madeley, Shropshire on 15 August 1786,^[30][31] who married William Tothill on 22 October 1818^[32][33]
• Richard, born at Hay Farm, Madeley, Shropshire on 1 January 1788^[34][35]

Death

Abraham died of scarlet fever at Hay Farm, Madeley, Shropshire on 20 March 1789. He was buried on 26 March at Coalbrookdale Quaker burial ground.^{[1][5][36][37]} His remaining debts meant that there was a 5-day sale of his farm stock and house contents, which included a valuable library. Another home in Coalbrookdale was arranged for his wife and children.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Edward H Milligan. British Quakers in Commerce and Industry 1775-1920, Sessions Book Trust, 2007, pp. 139-140
2. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
3. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWFK-2SW : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Abraham Darby, 24 Jun 1750, Birth; citing p. 33, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
4. ↑ Abraham son of Abraham and Abiah born at their dwelling house in Coalbrookdale the twenty fourth day of fourth month 1750, Shropshire Monthly Meeting birth record, The National Archives of the UK: reference RG 6/1327 fol. 62, Ancestry Record 7097 #456389
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry by Barrie Trinder for 'Darby, Abraham (1750–1789)', print and online 2004, revised online 2006, web (£)
6. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, FindMyPast
7. ↑ Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale, died thirty first day of third month 1763 and buried third day of fourth month: Shropshire Monthly Meeting burial register: The National Archives of the UK, reference RG 6/1003 fol. 17 Ancestry Record 7097 #467376
8. ↑ Shropshire Archives, ref. 1987/47/5, Letter [to Abraham Darby] from Samuel More, Adelphi, Discovery Centre catalogue entry
9. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/152, YORKSHIRE: Monthly Meeting of Balby (comprising Sheffield, Doncaster, etc): Marriages, FindMyPast
10. ↑ Abraham Darby, ironmaster, of Coalbrookdale, son of Abraham Darby, ironmaster, deceased, and Abiah his wife; and Rebecca Smith, daughter of Francis Smith, grocer, of Doncaster, Yorkshire, and his wife Ruth; married third day of fifth month called May, 1776: Balby Monthly Meeting marriage register: The National Archives of the UK: reference RG 6/152 fol. 5, Ancestry Record 7097 #248514
11. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJDC-L2N : 11 March 2020), Abraham Darby, 1776
12. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
13. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F31P-RYP : 11 December 2014), Abraham Maude Darby, 23 Jan 1778, Birth; citing p. 18, Shropshire, Montgomeryshire & Merionethshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
14. ↑ The National Archives, Piece 0457: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Burials (1777-1794), Ancestry.co.uk
15. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQBN-XZP : 11 December 2014), Abraham Maude Darby, 09 Dec 1788, Burial; citing p. 43, Shropshire, Montgomeryshire & Merionethshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
16. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
17. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7N4-JFS : 11 December 2014), Ann Darby, 10 Jun 1779, Birth; citing p. 44, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
18. ↑ The National A archives, ref. RG6/372, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Marriages, FindMyPast
19. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQF2-JZQ : 11 December 2014), Ann Darby, 09 Apr 1805, Marriage; citing p. 44, Herefordshire, Worcestershire & Wales, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
20. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
21. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWF1-KPB : 11 December 2014), Mary Darby, 24 Jul 1780, Birth; citing p. 45, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
22. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/241, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Burials, FindMyPast
23. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3YP-SN5 : 11 December 2014), Mary Darby, 18 May 1801, Burial; citing p. 28, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
24. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
25. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7JG-WV3 : 11 December 2014), Francis Darby, 05 Apr 1783, Birth; citing p. 29, Shropshire, Montgomeryshire & Merionethshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
26. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
27. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWN9-S38 : 11 December 2014), Joseph Darby, 09 Feb 1785, Birth; citing p. 47, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
28. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/253, BERKSHIRE AND OXFORDSHIRE: Monthly Meeting of Witney: Burials, FindMyPast
29. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7QL-PJ7 : 11 December 2014), Joseph Darby, 24 Aug 1798, Burial; citing p. 31, Witney, Oxfordshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
30. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
31. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7G7-D9G : 11 December 2014), Hannah Darby, 15 Aug 1786, Birth; citing p. 47, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
32. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/372, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Marriages, FindMyPast
33. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWGP-37Z : 11 December 2014), Hannah Darby, 22 Oct 1818, Marriage; citing p. 37, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
34. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
35. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F75W-RMG : 11 December 2014), Richard Darby, 01 Jan 1788, Birth; citing p. 38, Shropshire, Montgomeryshire & Merionethshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
36. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/457, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Burials, FindMyPast
37. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQTD-2YJ : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby, 26 Mar 1789, Burial; citing p. 63, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London

• Wikipedia:Abraham Darby III
• Arthur Raistrick, Dynasty of Iron Founders. The Darbys and Coalbrookdale, 2nd edition, William Sessions, 1989