John was supposedly the son of Charles Spurstow – according to the family tree and notes. I have not found a baptism for him yet, but it would be likely that his birth was in Cheshire, possibly in Bunbury, where the family lived for many generations. According to family records, he was the only child of Charles, 1662-1685, perhaps because his father Charles died young.¹ The name of Charles’ wife is not known.

John was married 4 Nov 1716 to Elizabeth Illidge in Bunbury, Cheshire, England.²

Elizabeth was the daughter of George Illidge, christened on 14 July 1687 in Nantwich, a small town in Cheshire not far from Chester, close to Crewe.³ Her father was a shoemaker according to her christening record.⁴ In the marriage license and allegation bond at the time of her marriage to John, she was from Stapeley, a small village near Nantwich.

John and Elizabeth Illidge Spurstow had two sons, George, christened 10 Feb 1717 in Chester, and John, christened 18 July 1720 in Chester. The family moved to Manchester eventually where John was listed as a freeman in 1747, his occupation chapman.⁵

John wrote his will in 1749 and Elizabeth wrote hers in 1756.⁶ Here is where problems arise.

John’s executors were his son John, his wife Elizabeth, and Mr. George Croxton of Manchester. George Croxton was most likely a relative of Elizabeth Illidge’s stepmother, Mary Croxton. This will appears to have been probated on 31 July 1769. At that time, only John Spurstow, his son, was still alive. Elizabeth wrote her will in 1756 and described herself as a widow, also mentioning her late husband. John must have died between 1749 and 1756, when Elizabeth wrote her will, not 1769. Is this the correct date of probate? Is it probate for a different John Spurstow? Was the probate delayed for some reason? Elizabeth’s will was probated on 9 Sept 1757, so she most likely died about that time.

No burial records have been found for John and Elizabeth yet.

1. Parish registers: Bunbury, Cheshire, England, 1559-1953, St. Boniface Church, FamilySearch.org indexed data from parish registers, FHL MF 2093505; Charles Spurtow, buried 17 June 1685, Bunbury.
2. Marriage License and Allegation Bond, October 1716 for John Spurstow and Elizabeth Illidge
   
   Marriage Record: John Spurstow and Elizabeth Illidge, 1716, Bunbury, Cheshire, England, 4 Nov 1716. FHL MF 1655425, Bishop's Transcripts for Bunbury, John Spurstow, merchant, of Chester, and Elizabeth Illidge of Stapeley, parish of Wibunbury, both age 21 or older, married by license.
3. Christening: Elizabeth Illidge, 1687, Nantwich, Cheshire, Parish Register, St. Mary's Church, 14 July 1687, FHL MF 2105029, Elizabeth, Dau of George Illidge, shoemaker, Family notes give place of birth as Stapely, Nantwich, which is just SE of the town of Nantwich in Cheshire.
4. Christening: Elizabeth Illidge, 1687, Nantwich, Cheshire, Parish Register, St. Mary's Church, 14 July 1687, FHL MF 2105029, Elizabeth, Dau of George Illidge, shoemaker, Family notes give place of birth as Stapely, Nantwich, which is just SE of the town of Nantwich in Cheshire.
5. A chapman would invest in the raw materials of the cotton, woolen or silk trade, put out the work to spinners and weavers at home on piece-rates, and sell the product for profit.
6. John’s and Elizabeth’s wills were obtained by my aunt at the Lancashire Record Office in Preston, Lancashire, in the 1980s.