Isaac J Fletcher - farmer
IJ Fletcher - from a private collection
Isaac Joseph Fletcher was born on 3rd November 1844 at Croppings Farm, the youngest son of George Fletcher and Mary Anne (nee Pritchard).
Croppings Farm no longer exists but it was situated at the top of Jiggers Bank, which leads down into Coalbrookdale.
Research still continues to find out how long the Fletcher family farmed at the Croppings but it is known that Isaac’s grandfather Thomas Fletcher (1766-1827) and father George Fletcher (1806-1866) both farmed there for many years.
Isaac went on to be a successful farmer himself. He and his sons Edmund & Harry farmed Cuckoo Oak, Cottage and Springhill Farms in Madeley as well as High Ercall Hall, Stirchley Hall and Great Hay Farm overlooking the Gorge just slightly down river from the Ironbridge.
He married Elizabeth Hartland from Much Wenlock in Gloucester in 1871 and sadly died 16th June 1932
IJ Fletcher & E Hartland (1870) - from a private collection
More details about Isaac will follow shortly but we start with extracts from his account ledger book which includes diary entries of general interest. Note the entry re the Titanic on April 14th 1912
If anyone has a photograph of Croppings Farm we would love a copy
All extracts from IJ Fletcher’s ledger are from a private collection