Abraham Darby (1711 - 1763)

Born 12 May 1711 in Madeley, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Abiah (Maude) Darby — married 9 Mar 1746 in Preston Patrick, Westmorland, England

Descendants

Died 31 Mar 1763 at age 51 in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, England

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Biography

Abraham was a Friend (Quaker)

Abraham Darby is Notable.

Abraham Darby, often known as Abraham Darby II to distinguish him from his father and his son of the same name, was an iron founder.^[1]

Birth, Parents and Earlier Life

He was the son of Abraham Darby and his wife Mary Sergeant. He born at Madeley Court, Madeley, Shropshire on 12 May (Quaker 3rd month) 1711.^[2][3][4]

He was educated at a Quaker school in Lancashire.^[1]

Adult Life

In 1728 Abraham started work in the iron founding business established by his father at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, becoming a full partner in 1738. The business made cast-iron products: household utensils, steam engines used in mines, and (despite the Quaker peace testimony) cannons. In the second half of the 1750s he expanded the scope of the business by what would now be called vertical integration: he acquired interests in coal mines, set up blast furnaces in the Coalbrookdale area, sold coal to brickmakers and others, sold pig iron in addition to iron products, became involved in building early railways, and operated farms for the horses (and their feedstuffs) needed in the business.^[1]

From 1742 Abraham used a steam engine to pump back water that was used to power water-wheels for iron-making. This enabled the business to continue operating through the summer: before then, the risk of water shortages meant that iron-making ceased in the summer months. He also introduced a major technical improvements which facilitated the production of wrought iron:^[1] the use of coke pig iron as the feedstock for finery forges (a forge used to produce wrought iron from pig iron by decarburization in a process called "fining" which liquifies cast iron in a fining hearth and removes carbon from the molten cast iron through oxidation).

In 1750 Abraham and his second wife had a house built for them overlooking Coalbrookdale.^[1] The Quaker birth records for their younger children show that they were born there.

Marriages and Children

Abraham married twice. On 22 December 1733 he married Margaret Smith of Shifnal, Shropshire at Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire (her residence is transcribed Skitnall in a transcripts on FindMyPast and Familysearch). This was an Anglican ceremony, even though his family were Quakers.^[5][6] They had the following children:

• Hannah, born on 25 June (Quaker 4th month) 1735^[7][8]
• Abraham, born on 11 October (Quaker 8th month) 1736,^[9][10] died on 8 January 1740/1 (Quaker eleventh month 1740) on the same day as his brother Edmund, and was buried at Broseley Quaker burial ground, Shropshire^[11][12]
• Edmund, born on 21 May 1738,^[13][14] died on 8 January 1740/1 (Quaker eleventh month 1740) on the same day as his brother Abraham, and was buried at Broseley Quaker burial ground, Shropshire^[15][16]

Abraham's first wife Margaret died on 1 December (Quaker 10th month) 1740 and was buried at Broseley Quaker burial ground, Shropshire.^[17][18]

On 9 March 1746 (Quaker 1st month 1745) Abraham married again, his second wife being Abiah Maude, widow of John Sinclair and daughter of Samuel Maude and Rachel Warren.^[1] They married at the Quaker Meeting House at Park End in Preston Patrick in Westmorland.^[19][20] They had the following children:

• Rachel, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 2 December (Quaker 10th month) 1746^[21][22]
• Mary, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 6 October (Quaker 8th month) 1748^[23][24]
• Abraham, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 24 June (Quaker 4th month) 1750^[25][26]
• Sarah, born at Madeley, Shropshire on 24 August 1752^[27][28]
• Samuel, born at Madeley, Shropshire on 16 Jabnuary 1755^[29][30]
• William, born at Madeley, Shropshire on 12 December 1756,^[31][32] died on 11 July 1757 and was buried at Broseley Quaker burial ground, Shropshire on 14 July^[33][34]
• Jane, born at Madeley, Shropshire on 9 June 1758,^[35][36] died on 2 October 1758 and was buried at Broseley Quaker burial ground, Shropshire on 4 October^[37][38]

Death

Abraham died on 31 March 1763 and was buried at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire on 3 April on a plot of land he bequeathed for use as a Quaker burial ground.^[39][40]

His will, dated 7 March 1763, was proved on 26 July 1763. In it he:^[41]

• described himself as an iron master of Coalbrookdale in the parish of Madeley, Shropshire
• named, among others:
  • his wife Abiah
  • his four under-age children Mary, Abraham, Sarah and Samuel
  • his deceased daughter Hannah, wife of Richard Reynolds (son of another Richard Reynolds), and her children William and Hannah
• appointed as executors Thomas Goldney (of Clifton, Gloucestershire), Thomas Beesley (of Worcester, glover), John Young (of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, shopkeeper), Robert Gilpin (of Coalbrookdale) and John Brooke (of Bridgnorth, Shropshire)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry by Barrie Grinder for 'Darby, Abraham (1711–1763)', print and online 2004, revised online 2022
2. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1002, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Births, FindMyPast
3. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NQ-RB6 : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Abraham Darby, 12 May 1711, Birth; citing p. 25, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
4. ↑ Abraham Darby, son of Abraham and Mary Darby, born at their dwelling house at Madley Court, twelfth day of third month 1711: Shropshire Monthly Meeting birth register: The National Archives of the UK, reference RG 6/1002 fol. 9v Ancestry Record 7097 #182034
5. ↑ Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland, ref. DE2541/1, parish register of Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire, transcript on FindMyPast
6. ↑ "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP47-NTZF : 6 June 2018), Abraham Darby and Margaret Smith, 22 Dec 1733; records extracted by findmypast, images digitized by FamilySearch; citing Marriage, Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, page 23, citing the Record Office of Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland, Wigston, UK
7. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
8. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWFD-R6B : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Hannah Darby, 25 Jun 1735, Birth; citing p. 31, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
9. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
10. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQQN-Z7M : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Abraham Darby, 11 Oct 1736, Birth; citing p. 31, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
11. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, burials, FindMyPast
12. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQGN-XT1 : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby, 08 Jan 1740, Death; citing p. 23, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
13. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
14. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ2J-V5X : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Edmund Darby, 21 May 1738, Birth; citing p. 31, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
15. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, burials, FindMyPast
16. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWZS-6X3 : 11 December 2014), Edmund Darby, 08 Jan 1740, Death; citing p. 23, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
17. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, FindMyPast
18. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQXG-KJ9 : 11 December 2014), Margaret Darby, 01 Dec 1740, Death; citing p. 23, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
19. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1282, WESTMORELAND: Monthly Meeting meeting for Kendal: Marriages, FindMyPast
20. ↑ Abraham Darby, of Coalbrookdale, Salop, ironmaster; and Abiah Sinclair, of Kendal, Westmorland, widow; married ninth day of first month commonly called March, 1745; married in Friends' meeting at Park End in Preston Patrick, Westmorland: "9 March 1745" taken to be 1745/46 because it follows a marriage on 30th of 4th month 1745: The National Archives of the UK: Kendal Monthly Meeting marriage register, reference RG 6/1282 Ancestry Record 7097 #6057604
21. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
22. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQY2-YM2 : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Rachel Darby, 02 Dec 1746, Birth; citing p. 50, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
23. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
24. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWFB-29Z : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Mary Darby, 06 Oct 1748, Birth; citing p. 33, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
25. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
26. ↑ "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
27. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
28. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQHS-HZJ : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Sarah Darby, 24 Aug 1752, Birth; citing p. 51, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
29. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
30. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW2H-TPD : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Samuel Darby, 16 Jan 1755, Birth; citing p. 35, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
31. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
32. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQGL-3JP : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for William Darby, 12 Dec 1756, Birth; citing p. 53, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
33. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1003, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Burials, FindMyPast
34. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQPJ-JZV : 11 December 2014), William Darby, 14 Jul 1757, Burial; citing p. 25, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
35. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, births, FindMyPast
36. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VWZ9-95Z : 11 December 2014), Abraham Darby in entry for Jane Darby, 09 Jun 1758, Birth; citing p. 36, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
37. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, burials, FindMyPast
38. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQSV-9ZF : 11 December 2014), Jane Darby, 04 Oct 1758, Burial; citing p. 26, Broseley, Shropshire, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London
39. ↑ The National Archives, ref. RG6/1327, HEREFORDSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND WALES: Monthly Meeting of Shropshire: Broseley Meeting, FindMyPast
40. ↑ 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
41. ↑ The National Archives, ref. PROB 11/889/468, Discovery Centre catalogue entry

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