This photo is of the very first get together of what eventually became the Stockton Society. It was in Alice Stockton's cottage on the main road at Spurstow. c1991
Stockton Society History
THE HISTORY OF THE STOCKTON SOCIETY
How did it come about?
David Reade and Susie Stockton-Link had been doing individual research on their own Stockton family ancestry for many years. On a visit to the Cheshire Record Office in 1989, Susie put a card on the notice board in the cloakroom, asking that interested parties get in touch. David saw the card and rang Susie.
From his first phone call, in November 1989, was born the idea of an annual get-together for those interested in researching the Stockton family, initially in South West Cheshire. To avoid research work being duplicated, it was felt that a Society might be created in order to act as a ‘clearing house’ and archive for research. Even then, a Millennium Reunion of Stocktons was on the agenda.
David had been in touch with other people who were researching his particular branch of the family. On Monday, May 7th, 1990, at the last day of Bunbury’s hugely successful “Harvest of the Years”, David & Mary Reade, Susie Stockton-Link, Maurice, David & Alice Stockton, Sylvia Pye and Phyllis Bromfield met for the first time in St Boniface’s Church, Bunbury, to watch the village’s wonderful historical pageant in the church and, afterwards, repair to the ‘Dysart Arms’ by the churchyard wall, to talk about the idea of a group and an annual meeting. John Elsworth, then Churchwarden at St Boniface’s and Bunbury’s unofficial church historian, took part in the pageant and joined us afterwards: we had all had contact with John previously.
On May 26th, 1991, Alice’s home on the main Whitchurch road in Spurstow was the venue for the meeting. Into her little house we packed Maurice and David, David & Mary Reade, Susie, Nancy Stockton, Tom & Elsie Stockton, Ken & Marie Stockton, Jean Lucas and Sylvia & Jim Pye (Phyllis having decided to pursue another branch of her own line). This meeting attempted to order the research already undertaken, and set about creating a ‘Society archive’, to be held by David Reade.
The first ‘proper’ A.G.M. was held on May 4th, 1992 at the “Crewe Arms”, Long Lane, Spurstow, Bunbury. Present were David & Mary Reade, Susie Stockton-Link, Maurice, Alice & David Stockton, Ken & Marie Stockton, John Elsworth, Sylvia & Jim Pye, Eileen Bates, Joan Phillips, Jill & Basil Rose, Albert Lewis Stockton, Alan & Elizabeth Welch, C. Paul Stockton and Vivien Slater, with apologies from Tom & Elsie Stockton, Jean Lucas, Nancy Stockton and Peter Morris. The Minute Book was officially begun at this A.G.M. It was agreed that subscriptions would run from May 1st in the future: it was agreed that David Reade should act as Archivist and Treasurer, and that Susie Stockton-Link should act as Secretary and Minutes Secretary.
A.G.Ms are now held at the Pavilion on the Jubilee Playing Fields in Bunbury.
The Stockton Family Tree