Notes:

Marriage searched under William H Smith to M-1901.
Not in 1901 census. A William Smith, born Stoke and married to Ellen living at Fenton is not him since the same couple were living with his mother Harriet in 1891 and she is incorrect.
Death searched from M-1924 to S-1943.
Marriage of William Smith to Ellen ? at Stoke, D-1890 6b 451 and M-1894, 6b 196.
1891 census has a William Harrison Smith, an architect's articled pupil, boarding at York. However his dob is given as 1868/9 and place of birth Pocklington. No birth of this person is registered at Pocklington at this time. He does appear in the 1881 census with his parents.
No death registered up to J-1910 (after which second fornames are not given).
Not in 1911 census.

Notes:

Died between 1881 and 1891 censuses.

Death not Stoke D-1899, 6b 148
Death not Wolstanton J-1893, 6b 90
Death not Stoke S-1883 6b 144
Death not Stafford J-1886, 6b 16
Deceased on 20/07/1897

James married Mary Lester on 09 Sep 1863 in Stoke on Trent. Mary (daughter of William Upton Lester and Margaret Harrison) was born about 02 Sep 1838 in Newcastle under Lyme; died after Apr 1911. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Living with daughter Margaret Annie and son in law Frederick Wooldridge in 1901 and 1911 census.

Death not Stoke, J-1912, 6b 273
Death not Newcastle J-1918, 6b 62
Death not Stoke, M-1920, 6b 164
Death not Stoke M-1926, 6b 97
Death not Stoke M-1927, 6b 309
Death not Stafford J-1917, 6b 34

Ralph married Ann Unknown. Ann was born between Apr 1816 and Apr 1817 in Stafford. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Newcastle under Lyme parish register gives birth of a William Lester on 21/05/1804 (baptism on 08/07/1804), father Thomas Lester, mother Rebecca Lester. However, the IGI has an entry for a William Upton Lester giving a birth date of 1805 at Stoke on Trent. This needs checking out.
Reference for the above entry is:-
Birth 1805 at Stokeryson Trent. Relative Henry Lester.
Column B:- 20MAR1923SL
Column E:- PRE-1970
Column S:- PRE-1970
Source:- Batch/film no. 0183496. serial/sheet:- FILM

Mayor of Newcastle under Lyme 1841-1842

Extracts from 'The soft silk industry of Newcastle under Lyme by Stephen M Adams':-
In May 1833 William Lester testified that prices were depressed and demand was falling.
J H Thompson and Co. and William Lester (who by 1841 had succeeded his father as head of the Friarswood Road Mill (ref 1841 census) were both able to survive the depression. Lester was the owner of the largest single mill in the area. Thomas Lester and later his son William had even managed to amass sufficient capital to render the Friarswood Road mill independent of the larger merchant-manufacturers and their commission work.
William proudly stated in 1833 'We can chose our own silk, being throwsters not for hire but mostly for our own use'.
They also entered the weaving business in addition to throwing.
No other local mill was able to reach such an advanced state of development.
William Lester was well-equipped for survival in 1842, yet even he did not possess sufficiently large resources to survive the next disaster.
'William Lester had been popular and influential during his years in Newcastle and had served the borough as Mayor in 1841 (ref. White's Directory 1851).'
'Nevertheless, his long association with the town finally came to an end when he was unable to survive in the face of increased competition.
J and T Brocklehurst took over the mill. By 1851 Lester had left Newcastle (ref. 1851 census).
With regard to child employees, William Lester admitted that a strap and a cane had been used to inflict punishment in certain extreme cases. He stressed that such occasions were rare, and when they did arise punishment was administered by him and not by one of the overlookers.
'Lesters was the largest local factory and capable of employing in excess of 240'.
Factory Commission Report on Newcastle under Lyme and the Staffordshire Potteries, 1833 :- 'Mr. Lister (sic) stated that he always prefers employing children who have regularly attended a Sunday School'.

Probate Index:-
'13/02/1877. Effects under £4000. The will of William Upton Lester, late of the Batch near Bridgnorth in the County of Salop and of Stoke on Trent in the County of Stafford, merchant, who died 05/02/1876 at Stoke on Trent was proved at Lichfield by William Lester and George Lester, merchants, the sons, and James Smith commission agent, all of Stoke on Trent, the executors'.
(James Smith may have been his son in law)

At time of second marriage address given as Stoke on Trent.

Not living with his wife on census day 1871. They may have been separated since he was the head of household at Weston on Trent and he also died at Stoke on Trent.

Was declared bankrupt in 1845. At this time he was a potter's merchant.

Partnership with Henry Mills of Shelton was dissolved on 25/01/1848. Partnership traded as Henry Mills and Co., china manufacturers.

William married Margaret Harrison on 31 May 1830 in Stoke on Trent. Margaret (daughter of Living) was born in 1803 in Newcastle under Lyme; died on 08 Jun 1863 in Stoke on Trent Registration District. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Probably born 1803 (baptism at Newcastle 09/10/1803, father Joseph Harrison)

Notes:

Occupation at time of marriage also given as 'painter' or 'printer'.
Started his first silk mill in 1815 in Newcastle under Lyme. Made a fortune in the silk business.
Had a prominent position in Newcastle under Lyme as a householder and churchman until his death in 1836. Lived at Friarswood i.e. at the silk mill.

Extracts from 'The soft silk industry of Newcastle under Lyme by Stephen M Adams':-
'Two enterprising gentlemen, Thomas Major Lester and Samuel Henshall entered into partnership and, in 1815 aand they erected a silk throwing mill in Marsh Parade'. (ref. Parliamentary Papers 1834 XX page 312).
'The partnership was a success; silk had established a firm foothold in Newcastle under Lyme but unforeseen difficulties were soon to shatter the dreams of lasting prosperity.'

'In the period 1829 to 1832, Henshall and Lester's mill in Marsh Parade was still a relatively modern factory employing 150 people and was powered by a 8 hp steam engine'.

'Richard Faulkner of the Friarswood Road factory entered into partnership with Thomas Lester, who ambitiously transferred his allegiance from the Marsh Parade Mill to the much larger Friarswood Road Manufactory. This new association was a relatively short one. It ended with the departure of Faulkner on 27/3/1830. The Friarswood Road Mill later became a family concern when William Upton Lester and his brother John were admitted to their father's business on 1/1/1834. In the meantime, Samuel Henshall had replaced his former partner by his own son William.'

Gravestone implies that he was born in 1776.

From Newcastle Museum: -
'Friarswood Mill wove both dress fabrics and ribbons. Ribbons were used to trim hats and bonnets and were also used as decoration on dresses, Silk dress fabrics were woven in narrow widths. The first silk mill in Newcastle was opened in 1822 by Henshall and Lester in Marsh Parade. By 1833 there were five silk mills in the area including two at Silverdale, which employed over 700 people in total including many children. The silk industry declined towards the end of the 19th century and the mills were converted to Fustian cutting'.

Friarswood Mill was used for silk production from 1835 to 1857 (Newcastle musuem). It was sold by auction on 13/05/1855. Another source says that the mill was built in 1825 and first used in January 1826.

Friarswood Mill was up for auction in July 1844. (His will was not proved until 1844!)

Thomas married Rebecca Upton on 30 May 1802 in Prestbury, Cheshire. Rebecca (daughter of John Upton and Rachel Barber) was born on 24 Dec 1779 in Butley, Macclesfield; died on 13 Jul 1851 in Newcastle under Lyme. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Marriage entry gives address as Macclesfield.
Baptised at Prestbury 14/01/1780.
Death checked S-1837 to D-1850.

Notes:

Married by licence.
Marriage register suggests that they were 'of Macclesfield'.