The Stratford genealogy was discussed by William Wragg (‘ancient citizen of Sheffield’) in The Sheffield Independent, 17, 20 December 1872; and in R. E. Leader, Reminiscences of Old Sheffield (1876).  The family was traced as far as the reign of Edward II.  The family gravitated from Gloucester to Henley-in-Arden and thence to Birmingham, where Thomas Stratford was apprenticed to Matthew Boulton at Soho Works.  He moved to Sheffield and worked for Barber & Genn, fender manufacturers, Spring Street.  He also apparently worked at home ornamenting scissors.  He became unemployed, suffered a bout of rheumatic fever, and was forced to rely upon menial work.  He died in 1808, aged 48.  

His son, William Stratford (1787-1859) became a silver candlestick hand and then a spinner.  He was listed in the directory (1833) as a silver plater in Bramall Lane.  He married Mary, the daughter of William Gray, and their sons included William and Henry.  Mary died at Bramall Lane on 22 October 1834, aged 41.  Towards the end of his life, William Sen. moved from Bramall Lane to Kildgate House, Mosborough, where he died on 18 April 1859, aged 71.  He was interred at St Peter & St Paul churchyard, Eckington.