About
About me.
I’ve been researching my family history for a number of years and over time this has developed into an interest in local history. To help develop this interest further I’m currently studying on the Certificate in Local History course at Keele University, and would like to eventually carry this forward into a Masters Degree.
With regards to local history my area of interest is the North Staffordshire Moorlands, and more specifically what is now the parish of St. Lawrence Rushton Spencer originally consisting of the three townships Heaton, Rushton James and Rushton Spencer in Leek parish. The reason for an interest in this area is simply that one branch of my family farmed in the area for over 400 years, and through research into this family I became interested in the local community.
The family that I’m most interested in when carrying out family history research is the Buxton family from North Staffordshire, as I previously mentioned my direct ancestors farmed in Rushton James and Heaton up until about 1900 when they moved to Barlaston.
Although I’m a “townie”, I’m the first generation that has not been directly involved in someway with agriculture since the 1600s and so feel drawn to the subject as it must be in my blood as they say.
About this blog.
This is a replacement for my original blog which was initially intended to support my main website rushtonspencer.info. However as things progressed I started to blog more about other issues and focus shifted away from its original purpose. I still intended to write about my experiences in developing rushtonspencer.info, but at the same time also cover broader themes in local and family history, as well as on other rural subjects that I find to be of interest.