The Shufflebotham family were living at Ladymoor Gate at the time of the 1851 and 1861 censuses. Richard Shufflebotham was a farmer of 92 acres, presumably the size of Ladymoor Gate farm. Parish records indicate that Richard was the son in law of John and Hannah Stonier by marriage to two of their daughters. Poll registers also suggest that Richard was a tennant farmer and did not become owner of the freehold, so it is reasonable to assume that the freehold remained with John Stonier.

Hannah Stonier, daughter of John had married Richard Shufflebotham on 2nd February 1837 at St John's church, Burslem.

In 1841 Richard Shufflebotham, 25 was living near to Ladymoor Gate, at Greenhouse, Crowborough, with his wife Hannah 30, and their children Richard 7, Abel 7, John Stonier 5 years and Roger 5 months.  

Elizabeth Stonier, daughter of John, and Richard Shufflebotham, son of Abel, married in 1847 at the same church in Burslem where Richard had earlier married her sister Hannah.

1851-1860

The Shufflebotham family are resident at Ladymoor Gate Farm. Richard Shufflebotham and his wife Elizabeth, who has become step-mother to her nephews and nieces, have taken over the running of Ladymoor Gate's 92 acres, with assistance from Samuel Stonier, Elizabeth's brother.

1861-1870

The same family is still in residence in 1861 although the holding had reduced by 5 acres to 87 acres (had it been sold or had a plot been made available to another member of the family?).

The death at Ladymoor Gate of Ann Shufflebotham, the youngest daughter of Richard on 6th August 1862 in her seventeenth year, after a severe illness was announced in the Staffordshire Advertiser on 12th April 1862.

Richard died on 21st December 1862 and his will was proved on 20th July 1863. His sons Roger and John were his executors.

In 1863 Elizabeth married Enoch Bailey in Audley. The farm however stays in the family. 

1871-1880

By 1871 Roger Shufflebotham, the Richard's and Hannah's youngest son, now 30  is identifed as the farmer. He is living at Ladymoor Gate with his wife and family of young children. John Stonier's grandson (and William Stonier's great grandson) is now running the family farm although the size of the farm is now considerably smaller - just half its size in 1841, at 46 acres. Who had taken over the rest? Had the land been split between family members, possibly between John's grandchildren? Had John died and the farm been split up and sold off to neighbours? John had given his age as 82 in 1861 (although from previous census entries and probable christening record this is likely to be high), so it is likely that he did die between 1861 and 1871 triggering some sort of change on the farm.  Although I have found a death notice in confriming that John Stonier, formerly of Ladymoor Gate died on 17th August 1863, aged 84, I have not yet found any information about the disposal of land.

Roger's older brother John (Stonier)  Shufflebotham with wife Ruth was, in 1871, at the neighbouring farm, Cowall farm, farming approximately 55 acres, which he must have at some point since 1861 taken over from James Smith. [In 1861 James Smith was farming 56 acres and 2 roods at Cowhall Farm, so this doesn't account for the land removed from Ladymoor Gate]

The bundle of deeds I have obtained shows Richard Harrison takes a morgage on Ladymoor Gate Farm in 1872, so my next research is to determine what happened to the other half of the farm and to identify the link, if any between Roger and Richard Harrison or otherwise determine why the farm which had stayed in the family for at least 60 years was sold to an outside party.

An advertisement in the Staffordshire Sentinel of 5th November 1870 shows that Ladymoor Gate Farm is to be sold by private contract along with two other land properties, either separately or in combined lots. The advertisement does not mention the seller but mentions the names of the sitting tenants, including Roger Shufflebotham.

An advertisement of sale in the Congleton and Macclesfield Mercury of 4th November 1871 shows that Roger Shufflebotham had instructed auctioneers to sell his livestock and farm equipment from the farm yard on Saturday 9th November as he was leaving the farm. Could the change of landlord have prompted his departure? Did a better situation come along or was there another reason for him to move and sell up his family's farm stock and equipment?

1881-1911

In 1881 Roger and Susannah are living at Ashmore House, Rushton James, about 3.5 miles North of Ladymoor Gate and farming 98 acres. The census page is full of Shufflebotham families so they may all be related. They are still there in 1888 according to Kelly's 1888 trade directory but by the time of the 1891 census they have moved to Butt Lane Farm, Church Lawton. Roger is still there with two of his sons through to at least 1911. Susannah died between 1891 and 1901.

In 1881 John Shufflebotham, aged 41 is still at Cowhall farm, but now he is farming only 41 acres.