The farm was still in the Shufflebotham family by 1871, but significantly reduced in size. Why such a large reduction? Had part of it been sold or had it been partitioned between the sons when Richard had retired/died? Maybe we will find the answers to this when we eventually recover the deeds from storage.

Roger Shufflebotham, 30 farmer of 46 acres (born Horton)

Susannah Shufflebotham, 35, his wife from Astbury, Cheshire

Roger Shufflebotham, 5 his son born in Biddulph

William Goodall Shufflebotham, 4 his son born in Horton, probably at Ladymoor Gate

John Shufflebotham, 2 his son, born in Horton, probably at Ladymoor Gate

Elizabeth Hannah Shufflebotham, daughter, 3 weeks old

There were three servants:

Ann Lancaster, 18, a general servant from Biddulph

James Hudson, 22, a wagoner from Longnor

Elizah Sherrat, 12 an indor farm servant from Norton.

 Source:

1871 Census RG 10/2883/93

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration District: Blackwood and Crowborough

In 1861 the farm had reduced by 5 acres and Richard now employed two people, although he no longer had servants living in his household. On 7th April, census day his household comprised:¹

Richard Shufflebotham, 46 a farmer of 87 acres employing 2

Elizabeth Shufflebotham, 32, his wife

John Shufflebotham, 21 his son, a carter (possibly for his father)

Roger Shufflebotham, 20, his son, an agricultural labourer (possibly on his father's farm)

Elizabeth Shufflebotham, 18, his daughter, a house servant

Ann Shufflebotham 15, his daughter also a house servant.

In 1861 a Thomas Shufflebotham, 60, born Rushton, now lived at Crowborough,  with his wife Dinah and he is listed as a "labourer" of 5 acres 2 rods². Is it possible that this Thomas is the brother of Richard and he has been allocated 5 of the original 92 acres to farm. The 1841 census records a Thomas Shufflebotham (rounded age 25) living  at Horton Common, with Ambrose Shufflebotham (rounded age 55) a potter, next door to a William Shufflebotham (rounded age 25), also a potter. No occupation is given for Thomas and there is no mention of Richard, although it is possible that by 1841 many of the siblings would have moved out. There are also many other Shufflebothams in area covered by the same sction of the census

Source:

1861 Census ¹RG 9/1947/147 and ²RG 9/1947/142 p9

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration District 20: Blackwood and Crowborough

1841 census HO 107/1004/4 p6

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration district: Horton Hay

On 30th March 1851, census day, Samuel Stonier was the only member of the family who had occupied the farm in 1841 still present. He was working here as an agricultural labourer for the farmer, 36 year old Richard Shufflebotham and his 22 year old wife Elizabeth.  Elizabeth must have been Richard's second wife as his eldest son was already 16. 

The occupants were:

Richard Shufflebotham, 36, farmer of 92 acres born in Horton

Elizabeth Shuffelbotham, his 22 year old wife

Richard Shufflebotham, 16, son working on farm (farmer's son)

Roger Shufflebotham, 10, son working on farm

Elizabeth Shufflebotham, 8, daughter

Ann Shufflebotham, 5, daughter

All the members of the family were born in Horton, the younger ones may even have been born here at Ladymoor Gate.

Two servants were listed:

Samuel Stonier, 20, an agricultural labourer and presumably a member of the Stonier family in occupation in 1841

Hannah Wilshaw, 19, house servant

There is a possible connection between the Stoniers and the Shufflebothams through the marriage of Richard Shufflebotham and Hannah Stonier, but it does not explain why the Stoniers move out? 

Source:

1851 Census HO 107/2008

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration District 7: Blackwood and Crowborough

On 7th June 1841, the day of the census, 13 people were in residence at Ladymoor Gate. In those days the house was smaller than today. It probably consisted of two rooms downstairs, including the kitchen and two or three room upstairs. We think there was also a cellar. It would have been very crowded by modern standards. The original part of the house is brick built, which apprently in those days was a sign of affluence.  We think the current house was built  about 1820 but we don't know who built it - unfortunately the deeds, which we have retreived from safe storeage, do not go back further than 1872. Maybe John Stonier, the farmer here in 1841 built it. 

The Stonier family who lived at Ladymoor Gate in 1841 were:

John Stonier, aged 55 (i.e. 55-59) a farmer.  Later censuses give the acreage of the farm but in 1841 it was not given.
Hannah Stonier aged 50
William Stonier, 21 (later census entries suggest William may have been nearer to 27)
John Stonier, 19 (ditto 24)
Matilda Stonier, 15 (ditto 18)
James Stonier, 15
George Stonier, 14
Elizabeth Stonier, 13
Samuel Stonier, 9
John Stonier, 3 months

Relationships between residents are not given on the 1841 census. Most of the children are likely to have been those of John and Hannah, but some, especially baby John, may have been grandchildren and it is always possible that some were nephews or nieces. In fact from subsequent census records it is likely that Matilda is the wife of William (aged 22). On the 1841 census some of the ages were rounded down so she may have been upto 4 years older. Baby John is most likely to be their child. Baptism records also suggest that William and John junior were older than recorded:

John christened on 18 July 1816 would have made him at least 24 and William christened on 22 Feb 1814 would have been 27 years old. Later censuses appear to confirm they were older. They also indicate that Matilda was at least 18 years old in 1841.

Also living on the farm were:
Jane Outram, 8 (Ind?)
Hannah Barth, 14 (surname best interpretation) FHS? Farmhouse Servant?
James Barlow, 15, a labourer

From 1851 census we see sthat Jane Outram is John and Hannah's granddaughter but we do not know whether either of the other two were related to the Stoniers.

We are guessing, but from the type of outbuildings surviving from that time we think the farm would have been primarily a dairy farm with some pigs and poultry. There would almost certainly have been horses.

It is likely that water would have been drawn from the well just in front of the house, which is still in use today but no longer for drinking water. It is almost certain that they would have grown much of their own food and provided their own meat.

Source: 1841 Census HO107/1004/5
Parish of Horton in Staffordshire
Enumeration District 15: Blackwood and Crowborough