My BARRs were labourers from the Foleshill area of north Coventry. My records start with John BARR but little is known about him.
His son Joseph Barr, born in about 1799 was a labourer from Exhall. He married 3 times, as he suffered the deaths of 2 wives. He also lost a 6 months old baby. Joseph lived at Great Heath, Foleshill before moving to Lockurst Lane and then Carpenters Lane, now known as Station Street, all in Foleshill. Joseph fathered 12 children.
His son Charles Barr was born in 1837 and became a miner, then a weaver. When the weaving industry in Coventry collapsed, which put thousands of weavers on the streets, he became a labourer. Throughout his life Charles lived in the Foleshill area of Coventry, sometimes living very close to his father. He suffered the loss of his young wife, Ellen (nee Blackford) after only 6 years of marriage, and later remarried .
Their daughter Ellen Barr married William Harrison in 1876.

You can Click on any Chart link to see a Descendant Chart for the same surname. Brief information on some of the individuals can be found where indicated.

My BARKBYs were originally from Walsgrave-on-Sowe near Coventry. The earliest record I have of this family line is of Joseph Barkby and his wife Mary. Their first child was born in 1748 in Stoke, Coventry but their remaining children were born at nearby Walsgrave-on-Sowe. Their eldest son Thomas Barkby married Elizabeth Bennett a couple of miles away at Foleshill. They moved to Bedworth.
Their son Joseph Barkby was born in 1778, and became a Collier. He married Elizabeth Orton, from Bedworth, and they had 8, possibly 9, children. Joseph was a Miner.
Their eldest child was Sarah Barkby, 1796, who married into the Harrison name in 1822 at Exhall Church.

You can Click on any Chart link to see a Descendant Chart for the same surname. Brief information on some of the individuals can be found where indicated.

My BLACKFORDs originated in Middlesex around 1808 and then moved via Worcestershire to Foleshill in Coventry by 1834. They were Labourers and the family remained in the Foleshill area for many years.
NB. I have made contact with 2 other BLACKFORD descendants, one of which, Brian Blackford, has provided me with much useful information.

You can Click on any Chart link to see a Descendant Chart for the same surname. Brief information on some of the individuals can be found where indicated.

Little is known about my FLETCHERs. They were a family from Central Coventry who apparently later moved out to Exhall or Coundon. My records start in about 1759.

My WEST records start in about 1745 with John West in Exhall. north of Coventry.
His son William West, a Ribbon Weaver was born in 1771 and married a lady named Ann? who was born in Ireland. They lived all their life in Exhall and had 4 children which can be traced, although one of them died as a baby.
Their eldest was William West, 1803-1865, who was a Ribbon Weaver. He married Mary Fletcher, and the couple lived their lives at Longford, where they produced 12 children. Mary died in 1855 and William later remarried to Jemimah Hands. He died in 1865 ( This information was amazingly found in a Family Bible in Holland which belonged to descendants of one of William's children).
William's daughter Ellen West (1825) grew up to marry Thomas Harrison (my gt.gt.grandfather).

You can Click on any Chart link to see a Descendant Chart for the same surname. Brief information on some of the individuals can be found where indicated.