Wem, Shropshire Genealogy

Wem is a small market town and parish in Shropshire, England. It is the administrative centre of the rural North Shropshire District, which has its headquarters in the town.

History
The area is believed to have been settled prior to the Roman Conquest of Britain, by the Celtic tribe known as the Cornovii.

The name Wem is derived from the Saxon name Wamm, meaning "marshland", and refers to the area either side of the River Roden which passes through the town.

The town was granted the right to hold a weekly market by King John in 1202.

Much of the town was destroyed by fire in 1677, which appears to have been started accidental when a child set fire to the thatched roof of her home with a candle. Around 150 buildings were destroyed in the blaze.

In addition to the town of Wem, the ancient parish also comprises the townships of Aston, Cotton, Horton, Lacon, Lowe-with-Ditches, Northwood, Sleap, Soulton, Tilley, Trench and Wolverley, as well as the chapelries of Edstaston and Newtown.

Baron Wem
George Jeffreys was born in 1645 at the family estate of Acton Hall in Wrexham, across the border in Wales. He became notable during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor and became the 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem. He purchased Lowe Hall, on the outskirts of the town although he appears to have never lived there and had little contact with Wem. He presided over the "Bloody Assizes" at which harsh sentences were handed out to the Duke of Monmouth's followers after Monmouth's Rebellion. After this he was known as "The Hanging Judge". He later fell out of favour and attempted to flee the country but was captured. He died while in custody in the Tower of London in April 1689.

Census Records
NOTE: Many census transcribers have confused the town of Wem with "WEM", the Chapman Code for the county of Westmeath in Ireland! Beware of places of birth such as Edstaston, Westmeath, Ireland, as they should read Edstaston, Wem, Shropshire, England. There are many thousands of these errors!!!

Civil Records
The parish of Wem originally formed part of the Wem & Whitchurch Registration District when it was created on 1 Jul 1837. This was later renamed Wem Registration District when a separate registration district was created for Whitchurch. In 1935 the Wem Registration District was incorporated into the Whitchurch Registration District.

Church Records
The following records for Wem are available on the IGI:

Nonconformist Church Records
The following records for Wem are available on the IGI: