William Bartleet & Sons (aka W. Bartleet & Sons): History

The Company

Most of the 19^th century advertisements found to date, like the one shown here[1], indicate W. Bartleet & Sons was established in 1750. The firm was surely founded by a man named William Bartleet, however there is some question as to which William, as there were at least two men with that name in the Redditch area around that time, a father and a son. If established by the father, who was born in 1724[2], he would have been twenty-six years old in 1750, whereas the son was not born until 1753[3]. During the Victorian Period it was not unusual for a firm to claim they were established when the founder was born, so in this case it could go either way. The son was definitely a needle manufacturer because he was listed as such in his 1824[4] will. The only evidence discovered to date that could be related to the occupation of the father who died in 1795[5] is a newspaper article from 1789[6] which lists a William Bartleet of Redditch as a needle manufacturer. Again, this reference could apply to either the father or the son making it nearly impossible to definitively know who established the company. An 1820[7] directory listed the firm as William Bartleet & Sons, needle makers. Two years later in the 1822[8] directory of the Redditch area there were two Bartleet companies listed as needle-making firms or factors, William Bartleet & Sons and Jas. Bartleet & Son. Possibly they were brothers or cousins which could indicate the family occupation goes back to an earlier generation.

W. Bartleet and Sons is consistently listed as needle and fish hook manufacturers in city and trade directories throughout the 19^th century[9]. In the 1828-29[10] directory the firm was listed for the first time as on Fish Hill in Redditch which is where their needle factory, known as Abbey Mills[11] or sometimes called Abbey Needle Mills, was located. During that same year there was another needle manufacturer in Redditch with a similar name, William Bartleet & Clark, however they went bankrupt in 1837[12]. It seems most likely that this second Bartleet firm was possibly related to the Jas. Bartleet & Son from 1822[13] mentioned above.

During the second half of the 19^th century W. Bartleet & Sons became very successful. In 1840[14] the firm appears to have been managed by three of the sons of William Bartleet (1753-1824): Thomas Moore Bartleet, William Bartleet and Charles Bartleet, although all three did not always live in Redditch[15]. Not only did they have their Abbey Mills needle factory but they also had representatives in New York as seen in the advertisement here[16]. In addition, they had offices at 37 Gresham Street in London by 1851[17] and later at 53 Gresham Street[18]. By 1871[19] the company employed 182 hands. After the deaths of the three Bartleet brothers, the firm was under the direction of Robert Smith Bartleet and two of his sons, Harold Stock Bartleet and Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet, the grandson and great-grandsons of William Bartleet (1753-1824).

Much of the company’s success was due to its adventures overseas. The firm was one of only a handful of needle manufacturers to be represented at the first World’s Fair in 1851[20], the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations at Crystal Palace in London where they received a prize. They also participated in at least thirteen additional World’s Fairs or international exhibitions between 1867 and 1900, often winning additional awards for their needles and/or fish hooks: 1867[21] Paris World’s Fair where they won a silver medal; 1873[22] Berlin, another silver medal and more silver medals that year at Boulogne & Bergen[23]; 1873[24] London’s Annual International Exhibition where they were awarded a prize; 1878[25] Paris World’s Fair also known as the Exposition Universelle where they received two gold medals; 1880[26] Berlin Fishery Exhibition where they won another gold medal; 1882[27] Falmouth where they received a First Class award; 1887[28] Adelaide International Exhibition in Australia where they won two medals; 1888[29] Melbourne’s Centennial International Exhibition in Australia where they received the First Order of Merit award; 1889[30] Paris World’s Fair where they were awarded another gold medal; 1893[31] Chicago World’s Fair known as the World's Columbian Exposition and in the 1900[32] at another Paris World’s Fair. At the Exposition Universelle of 1878[33] in Paris, France, Bartleet unveiled one of the most elaborate and elegant Avery style needle cases ever produced, the Arts and Industry. The patent for this item, pictured here, was register earlier in 1878[34]. This needle case contains a depiction of the winged Victory standing on the globe with wreaths in her hands. Statues of Victory were common during the Victorian Period and were sometimes used to represent Queen Victoria[35]. Near the bottom on the right side of the needle case is a depiction of a painter’s pallet and on the left a piece of machinery, hence the reason the item was named the Arts and Industry. It also has the words “Souvenir de L’Exposition 1878” stamped onto the brass. W. Bartleet and Sons also produced many elegant needle and fish hook displays for these events like the one pictured here. It was created for the company’s journey Down Under in 1887 and 1888[36] and is currently preserved at the Scienceworks Victoria Museum in Melbourne, Australia[37]. Bartleet was described as follows at the 1878 exhibition[38]:

“English Needles, Pins &c., at the Paris Exhibition. – Messrs. Bartleet & Sons exhibited at the late Paris Exhibition some very interesting examples of English pin and needle manufacture. The objects exhibited included needles of every description used by hand, needles for all kinds of sewing and embroidery machines, needle-cases of various designs in metal, paper and leather, &c., crochet hooks in steel, ivory, bone, and wood, and articles for every description of wool and other fancy work. There were pins of every description, and fish-hooks for sea and river fishing, also fishing-tackle, harpoons, eel-spears and shark-hooks, fishing-rods and silkworm gut for fishing purposes, &c. We note among the special features of the needles used by hand manufactured by this firm that they are only made of the very best quality of steel that can be manufactured; the varied shape of the eyes, including the Patent Oval Perfect, Rounded Oblong, Egg-Eyed, and Patent Ridged, is also a great feature. Messrs. Bartleet & Sons have patented processes for the smoothing of the eye; the temper is highly elastic, and the gradual long taper of the points makes them especially easy to sew with. They are beautifully polished and superior in finish and in the minutest details of manufacture to any other kinds. Glove needles are a specialty, too, for the French market, and are, of course very minute. These needles are papered in various, ways, to prevent the risk of upsetting the whole, and for the convenience of removing them one by one, thus avoiding rust through touching the whole. Messrs. Bartleet & Sons have paid great attention to the manufacture of sewing-machine needles, of which they exhibited a varied collection for all kinds of sewing and embroidery machines. They exhibited 2,993 needles and sewing -machine needles, each being different in some particular from any other. Several patents have been taken out for Messrs. Bartleet & Sons’ crochet hooks, and they manufacture handles of a great variety of shapes, to suit all tastes and kinds of work. The exhibits included 332 specimens of crochet hooks. There were also 1,041 sorts of fish hooks, the following features being particularly noticeable in them: - The taper and sharpness of their points, their perfect elasticity of temper, and their superior finish and the beautiful symmetry of their bends. The principle object in the arrangement of the case shown was to exhibit a classified list of these manufactures arranged in the most suitable manner to enable the public to appreciate the distinctive merits of each particular kind, their varieties and sizes, The firm in question was established in 1750, and has obtained Medals for excellence of needles and fish hooks at the following exhibitions: – Silver Medals Paris, 1867; Berlin, 1873; Boulogne, and Bergen; Prize Medals – London, 1851 and 1873; and two Gold Medals, Paris, 1878.”

Sometime between 1900 and 1912 the company was incorporated and became known as W. Bartleet & Sons Ltd. Then in 1903[39] the firm was amalgamated with another needle manufacturer, which was a common practice at the beginning of the 20^th century, and became part of H. Milward & Sons. Unfortunately, little remains today in the Redditch area of this once well-known and respected family. The Abbey Mills factory on Prospect Hill and the Bartleet residence known as Prospect House[40], which was originally located next to the factory, were demolished in the 1970’s and in their place an office complex known as Grosvenor House was built. The other Bartleet residences known as the Shrubbery and Derrington House along Prospect Hill were also demolished. Although several Bartleet family memorials are still visible in the St. Stephen’s church in Redditch and in the St. Bartholomew church in Tardebigg, the most important relic related to the family is the Bartleet Fountain on the Church Green in the center of Redditch.

The Owners

To date the earliest known Bartleet possibly associated with this firm was William Bartleet who was born in 1724. He married Mary Millard in 1751 at the St. Bartholomew church in Tardebigg, which is located about four miles west of Redditch. St. Bartholomew, pictured here[41], is one of the oldest churches in the area, and although the building one sees today was built in 1777[42], a church has been located at this site since at least 1138, which is why many of the oldest families in the Redditch area were baptized, married and buried here. William and Mary had at least six children: William, James, Mary, Sarah, Henry and Thomas. William died at age 71 in 1795 and was buried at the St. Bartholomew cemetery. Although no will has been found, it seems most likely that he left the majority of his estate to his eldest son, also named William.

 William Bartleet Jr. was born in 1753 and married Elizabeth Moore in 1786 also at St. Bartholomew. Although not much is known about William’s life, he left a very detailed will which listed most of his children and brothers and sisters who were alive at the time he wrote the will in 1823. It also indicates he was a man of considerable wealth who lived in the Redditch area and was a needle and fish hook manufacturer. William Jr. and Elizabeth had at least ten children who were all baptized in Redditch: Thomas Moore, Elizabeth, William, John, Mary, Henry, Anne, Charles, Richard and Maria. Unfortunately, because there were multiple people in the area with these names, some who were probably cousins, it is difficult to determine exactly what happened to all of these children, except the two eldest sons who carried on the needle business. We know the daughter Anne married Samuel Greame Fenton in 1832 and later in 1850 had a memorial font[43] created and placed in the St. Bartholomew church in honor of her deceased sisters, Mary and Maria. It seems most likely that William Jr. expanded the business considerably during his lifetime working with his sons and also attained the status of Esquire[44] at some point prior to his death. William Jr. died at age 72 in 1824 and his wife died at age 68 nine years later in 1833. Both were buried at the St. Bartholomew cemetery.

The eldest son of William Jr., Thomas Moore Bartleet, was born in 1787 and was baptized in Redditch. Details regarding his earlier years have not been found, however, by 1840 he achieved the status of Esquire and was also recorded as a magistrate and manufacturer. By the time of his marriage to Alice Jefferies in 1847 at St. Marylebone in London, he was living at Kent Terrace in Regents Park, a wealth section of London. On the marriage bands he was listed as a bachelor and gentleman and at the time of his marriage was 60 years old, approximately 33 years older than his wife. For roughly the next 25 years Thomas and Alice lived in Regents Park where their five children were born: Richard, Thomas Derrington, William Moore, Elizabeth Alice Moore and Arthur Greame. Thomas was listed in census records as a retired merchant, a magistrate for the county of Worcester, a landed proprietor and living on interest of dividends. At some point between 1871 and 1875 the family moved permanently to Redditch where they lived at Prospect House where he died in 1875 at age 87. In his probate he was listed as a needle and fish hook manufacturer with effects equal to roughly £100,000 which he left to his wife and nephew. His wife had a memorial plaque[45] created and placed in the St. Stephen’s Church in Redditch which reads: “This chapel is dedicated to Thomas Moore Bartleet by his widow Alice Bartleet Sept. 1894.” Alice died 20 after her husband in 1897 leaving an estate valued at £105,044 to her son-in-law and youngest son Arthur. Thomas Moore Bartleet’s obituary[46] says:

“DEATH OF THOMAS MOORE BARTLEET, ESQ., J. P. – The decease of this estimable and highly-respected gentleman, as it is a sad bereavement to his family and immediate friends, is no less a solemn subject for reflection to the inhabitants generally, and especially to the elderly ones of all the neighbourhood whose memory can revert to the earlier day of the Needle District. Mr. Bartleet was long the head of a firm - one of very few indeed - whose existence dates back to the very infancy of not only the town of Redditch, but even of the trade of the Needle District; as also one of the few firms and families which have grown with its growth, and strengthened with its strength, and by energy and enterprise, won - with their own prosperity - work and wages for the operatives, and the prosperity and progress for all classes of the community; constantly and largely helping in the many and heavy works which are necessary in the rapid rise of a small, obscure, straggling village towards the state of a tidy town; and also adding liberally every movement in a kindly and charitable direction.”

“His kindly consideration for all dependants, and his courtesy to all classes endeared him to all who knew him; and his funeral, which will take place to-day at three o’clock in the family vault at Tardebigge, will call forth much sincere sorrow.”

Thomas’s eldest son, Richard who was born in 1847, appears to have remained in the Middlesex area for most of his life until his death there in Sheppeton in 1915. At the time of his death his estate was valued at £5,237. The second son, Thomas Derrington Bartleet, who was born in 1848, died in infancy and the third son William Moore Bartleet who was born in 1850 died at the age of ten in 1860. Thomas and Alice’s only daughter Elizabeth was born in 1852, married Walter Hornblower in 1876 in Redditch and lived in Hampshire and Sussex. When she died in 1933 her estate was valued at £10,352. Although raised in the London area, the youngest son Arthur Greame Bartleet who was born in 1855 returned to Redditch presumably with his parents sometime between 1871 and 1875 and married the daughter of the well-known needle manufacturer James Smith, of Ashwood Bank in 1876. Shortly before his marriage he went into partnership with Richard Harrison and formed the needle manufacturing company known as R. Harrison, Bartleet & Co. Arthur and his family lived at Derrington House on Prospect Hill just north of the Abbey Mills factory. He died in 1901 leaving an estate valued at £15,550. It is unclear exactly what happened financially to Thomas Moore Bartleet’s children during the fourth quarter of the 19^th century but something must have as they were not nearly as wealthy as their parents. Additional information about Arthur Greame Bartleet can be found in Chapter 9 on R. Harrison & Co.

Now let’s take a look at William Bartleet Jr.’s second son, also named William, who was born in 1790 in Redditch. For the remainder of this narrative he will be referred to as William III in order to distinguish him from his father and grandfather. When William III was 31 years old, in 1821, he married Elizabeth Smith in Edgbaston, a wealthy suburb of Birmingham. At first the family lived in Redditch on Fish Hill near the Bartleet family’s needle factory, Abbey Mills, where their nine children were born: Robert Smith, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Willian Smith, Thomas Saunders, Harriette, Maria, Edward Robert and John Robert. The family also lived for a period of time at the chief house of the Bartleet family, known as “The Shrubbery” on the west side of Prospect Hill in Redditch. At some point prior to 1850[47] William III achieved the status of Esquire and between 1846[48] and 1850[49] the family moved to Blakedown near Kidderminster, approximately 17 miles northwest of Redditch where William III was listed as a retired needle manufacturer. A few years later they moved again this time to Harborough House (picture here[50]) in Edgbaston where William III died in 1860. He left much of his £10,000 estate, including the family home “The Shrubbery”, to his eldest son Robert Smith Bartleet who was managing the family’s needle business most likely with his uncle Thomas Moore Bartleet. After William III’s death his wife Elizabeth remained in Edgbaston until at least 1871. Between 1871 and 1881 she moved to Great Malvern, a town about 35 miles south of Redditch where she lived until her death in 1885. Of the nine Bartleet children only Robert Smith Bartleet appears to have carried on the family needle business.

Robert Smith Bartleet, the eldest son of William III, was born in 1822 in Redditch. He married Harriet Stock in 1851 in Kings Norton and shortly thereafter returned to Redditch where they lived at “The Shrubbery”. He was not only a needle and fish hook manufacturer but was also listed as a Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.), Justice of the Peace (J.P.) and magistrate for Worcestershire. In 1866 Robert commissioned the writing of a book entitled “The History of Bordesley Abbey, in the Valley of the Arrow, Near Redditch, Worcestershire” to document the history of this important part of Redditch. Also, that same year he wrote an article about how needles were made throughout history highlighting the working conditions faced by women who worked in the industry. He was especially concerned with how married woman were required to work considerable hours which he felt had a negative effect on their families and often lead to the neglect of their children. Robert and Harriet had at least eight children who were all born in Redditch: Edith, Harold Stock, Edgar Robert Smith, Ernest William, Constance Elizabeth, Victoria Harriet, Albert and Oswald. The two eldest sons, Harold Stock and Edgar Robert Smith became involved in the needle business whereas the third son Ernest immigrated to New Zealand. By 1877[51] Robert Smith Bartleet had reached a high status and was listed as one of the upper ten thousand inhabitants in the UK. The high standing with which the family was held is noted by the fact that a fountain was built on the Church Green in Redditch in 1883[52] to celebrate the coming of water works to Redditch. It was named the Bartleet Fountain because of the large donation Robert Smith Bartleet made to the cause. Robert died in 1902 at age 81 and left much of his estate valued at £66,173 to his eldest son. Shortly thereafter a memorial plaque[53] was placed in St. Stephen’s church which says “In loving memory of Robert Smith Bartleet J.P., D.L. of the Shrubbery Redditch. Born 21st November 1822, at rest 14^th December 1902. This memorial is erected by his children.” The following paragraphs in his obituary[54] give a detailed account of his life as well as a drawing of him:

“DEATH OF MR. ROBERT S. BARTLEET - AN ACTIVE AND USEFUL LIFE PEACEFULLY CLOSED - One of the few last remaining personal links binding the Redditch of the early part of last century to the changed condition of the Redditch of to-day was severed at an early hour on Sunday morning, when Mr. Robert Smith Bartleet, magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant of the county, passed peacefully away in his 81^st year at his residence, the “Shrubbery,” Redditch. For some years Mr. Bartleet had shown signs of waning vitality, and for several years he, with Mrs. Bartleet, had spent the winter in the south of France. In the past year the effects of growing infirmities of age have been very marked. For some months the deceased gentleman has been confined to his bed, and for the latter part of the time he has been unconscious of events. In the past week or two he lost strength rapidly, and for some days his demise was hourly expected by his medical attendant, Dr. O. C. Smith. So far as has been ascertained Mr. Bartleet suffered from no organic disease. In his case advancing age simply brought the inevitable loss of vital energy, and he passed peacefully away as stated at 1:15 on Sunday morning, unconscious, and free from pain. Although the condition of Mr. Bartleet’s’ health has been known for sometime, and the news of his death in a manner expected, that news, when it became definitely known, caused a very deep and genuine feeling of regret not only in the town, but over a very wide area. For some years Mr. Bartleet has taken but a small part in public affairs, but his retirement from active participation in business and public work is only of a comparatively recent date, and he had, prior to that, taken so active and prominent a part in public life, and was so well known by the townspeople, that the news of his death could not but come as a painful shock to those among whom he had for so many years lived and moved and laboured. It is needless to say that the deepest and sincerest sympathy is felt for the deceased gentleman’s widow and family, whose only consolation in their heavy bereavement is the knowledge that the close of a long life, extending a decade beyond the psalmists allotted span, and actively spend in useful and good works, came a peacefully and painlessly as slumber to a tired child.”

“To give even a brief and necessarily incomplete outline of the life and public work of Mr. Robert S. Bartleet – Captain Bartleet, as he was formerly more generally known – is to give a history of Redditch for the better part of a century. When Mr. Bartleet was born George IV had been but five years upon the English throne, so that he lived under four monarchies. It was only a few years before that Napoleon’s power had been finally and irretrievable broken at Waterloo. Redditch was at that time a struggling little manufacturing village of probably less than 3,000 inhabitants. We say struggling, for the times were hard. The country had not recovered from the effects of the long and costly struggle with the ambitious Corsican, prices of the bare necessities of life were high, trade was conducted under difficult and precarious conditions, education was only for the fortunate few, and the means of communication between town and town were of a very primitive sort. The laws relating to Local Government were of the crudest description then, and the town, or village, was ill-lighted – or rather unlighted – unpaved except with here and there a patch of “cobbles,” and the general sanitary conditions bad. Mr. Bartleet lived to see everything altered. In the span of his life the population increased more than fourfold, the town became a manufacturing centre of considerable importance in the county, with its railway and modern postal and other services and facilities. In Mr. Bartleet’s early life Redditch, formed part of Tardebigge and was in the Bromsgrove Petty Sessional Division. He lived to see it formed into a separate parish, for ecclesiastical and other purposes, and to have its own local governing body, and to be made a separate petty sessional sub-division for police purposes, with himself for many years as chairman of the Bench, and later to be made a petty sessional division.”

“For sixty years the deceased gentleman was one of the best known and most prominent figures in the needle district, and in that time, busily as he was occupied in building up the large needle and fishing tackle business which for as many years he controlled, and from which he only a few years ago retired, he yet found time to take a leading part in all that tended to the moral and material welfare and progress of the town. With great depth of feeling and the widest sympathies keen and quick of perception, rapid in adaptation and tenacious of purpose, he was very thorough in all he undertook. The extent of his knowledge was great, and the range and comprehensiveness of his powers was best shown by the varied works he engaged in and carried through so well. Although filling several high public offices and others of varying degrees of importance, as Deputy Lieutenant of the County, Chairman of the Bench of magistrates, and commander of a company of Volunteer Rifles, it is perhaps by his work in connection with education, the advocacy and encouragement of temperance, and the furtherance of social improvement generally, that the late Captain Bartleet is best known, and from which the strongest feelings of esteem and respect will long linger around his memory. Almost the whole of his life a total abstainer, he advocated accordingly the value and principles of temperance, and encouraged its teaching by all means in his power. He worked zealously in connection with the United Kingdom Alliance, and for many years attended the Social Science Congresses, in addition to which he was a strong supporter of the local temperance societies. At a time when Factory Acts imposed few restrictions Mr. Bartleet voluntarily made rules upon his own large factory shortening the hours of work for married women, for whom he made the hours from 9 a.m. to 12:30, and from 2 till 4:30 p.m., in order that they might be at their homes to prepare the meals for their husbands and families. In giving practical effect to his temperance principles Mr. Bartleet, in 1872, was chiefly instrumental in the opening of the “Star” Club House, on Church Green East, for men and boys, where healthy and rational recreation and entertainment could be had in the evenings, and where non-intoxicating refreshments were supplied. This was continued for many years until, in fact, the opening of the “Victoria” Crown (Public) House at the corner of Evesham Street 1880, in which house was under the management of a company. Mr. Bartleet recognized the value and pleaded the cause of education all his life. He was for a great many years one of the managers of the National Schools, which were founded in 1846, but beyond that he maintained at his own expense, for many years previous to 1870, free schools in the old Rifle Corps Room, also for many years providing the poorer children with hot dinner, free of cost, once a week during the winter. One fact may also be here noted which has a bearing on an important social and industrial problem: for many years the deceased gentleman maintained at his own expense a creche or day nursery, where we believe is now the Mission Room in George Street, where mothers employed in factories could leave their infants and have them properly tended. Finally, in connection with temperance matters, it may be mentioned that Mr. Bartleet presented to the town the fountain[55] standing in the Church Green enclosure. The female figure at the apex of the structure represents temperance, and it is to be regretted that either through the high price of water or District Council impecuniosity it is not seen playing more frequently. The fountain was formally opened in 1883 by Mrs. R. S. Bartleet, in the presence of a great gathering.”

“Until recent years no name figured more prominently in connection with the work of the Redditch Literary and Scientific Institute than that of Mr. R. S. Bartleet. A copy of the firm book of rules of the Institute, dated 1850, bears the name of Mr. Bartleet among the members of the committee. At that time the president was Sir Robert Clive, and one of the vice-presidents was the Rev. Dr. Mackarness, then vicar of Tardebigge and later Bishop of Oxford, another vice-president being the late Rev. G. F. Fessey. For more than half-a-century Mr. Bartleet worked zealously to extend the scope of the Institute work, and increase its usefulness. He filled all the important offices at one time and another, was a liberal subscriber to its funds, and was a vice-president up till the time of his death. Forty years ago Redditch was created as a sub-division of the Bromsgrove Petty Sessional Division, and Mr. Bartleet was one of the first magistrates appointed upon the Redditch Bench. For some years Mr. Bartleet has retired from magisterial work, but for many years he filled the office of chairman most ably and impartially. About the period mentioned - as near as we can ascertain 1881 - the decreased gentleman was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County by the late Lord Lyttelton, and he held the office until the time of his death. Mr. Bartleet took great interest in volunteering matters in the early history of the movement. The minutes and other records still extant show that he was one of those who attended the first meeting held at the “Unicorn” Hotel to consider the advisability and practicability of forming a Rifle Volunteer Company. The company - then the 17^th Worcestershire Rifle Volunteers, and later the “H” Company of the 2^nd Volunteer Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - was formed in 1860, and Mr. Bartleet was the first to be appointed to its command. He held the captaincy for about ten years. His lieutenants were the late Col. V. Milward, M.P., and Mr. W. Boulton, the command of the company being taken by the late Col. Milward on Mr. Bartleet’s retirement. Following Captain V. Milward’s promotion, the command of the company devolved in turn upon the late Mr. William Avery, and then upon Mr. Bartleet’s eldest son, the present Col. H. S. Bartleet. It is needless for us to say that at present the company commander is Major C. F. Milward.”

“Mr. Bartleet was a strong Churchman, but his sympathies were very broad, and he was every ready with advice and help in any movement for the advancement and spread of the principles of religion and morality. His religious work, however, was naturally mostly in connection with the church, and he was a regular and generous supporter of Church work, locally and generally. Formerly a regular attendant at the parish church of St. Stephens’s[56] Mr. Bartleet took an active part, and gave liberal financial assistance in the scheme for providing that edifice with proper heating apparatus. Mr. Bartleet made numerous visits to churches in various parts of the country and inspected the methods of heating and ascertaining the cost. It is largely his selection, and through his recommendation that the very satisfactory system of warming now in use at the church was adopted, the work being carried out by Messrs. Grundy and Co.”

“The deceased gentleman’s interests in antiquities and archeological affairs led to local researches being made, which yielded results of the highest interest and considerable local importance. In the year 1862, at his initiation and entirely at his own expense, excavations were made of the old Cistercian Abbey of Bordesley, situated about a mile to the north-east of Redditch. One result of the excavations was the compilation of a fully illustrated and very complete history of the Abbey by the late Mr. James Mills Woodward. The history, which is dated 1866, was written “at the suggestion and under the instructions” of the late Mr. Bartleet, and was dedicated to the late Baroness Windsor. Many copies of this interesting work are in the hands of residents of the district, one volume being in the Reference library of the Redditch Institute. Some of the glazed and ornamental tiles unearthed from the ruins, good examples of the productions of the period, now form part of the flooring of the vestry of the parish church of St. Stephen’s, and other tiles and ornamental stonework discovered were built into parts of Mr. Bartleet’s residence, the “Shrubbery”. As a memorial of the excavations and discoveries Mr. Bartleet planted, in the “old chapel yard,” near the site of the Abbey, two fir trees of the Wellingtonia Gigantea which are still standing and thriving.”

“As head of the well-known firm of Messrs. Wm. Bartleet and Sons, needle, fish hook, and fishing tackle manufacturers, the deceased gentleman was a large employer of labour, and formerly took a leading part in all movements connected with the industries of the district. He has taken but little part or interest in business matters for the past ten years, the present head of the firm being the deceased’s eldest son, Colonel H. S. Bartleet. Mrs. Bartleet, a daughter of the late Mr. Stock of Northfield, survives her husband. The deceased gentleman leaves several sons and daughters, all of whom are married, the head of the family being now Colonel H. S. Bartleet, J.P. The news of Mr. Bartleet’s death has evoked widespread expressions of sympathy and regret throughout the town and district, and from many other areas of the country where the deceased gentleman was well known and had many friends.”

“At the Police Court, on Wednesday, before proceeding with the ordinary business, the Chairman (Mr. E. W. Haywood) referred to the loss the Bench had sustained by the death of Mr. Bartleet. He said that since their last meeting they had had to deplore the loss of Mr. R. S. Bartleet, who was not only the oldest magistrate in the district, but one of the oldest in the county. He had always manifested the greatest interest in everything which had for its object the benefit and welfare of the town and district, and they deeply regretted his death. He moved that a vote of condolence be passed with the widow and family in their bereavement. – Mr. J. F. Milward, in seconding, paid a tribute to the memory of the deceased gentleman, whose death, he said, they extremely regretted. - Mr. G. W. Hobson, on behalf of the solicitors practicing at the Court, asked to be associated with the vote. Speaking from considerable experience, he said they had always found Mr. Bartleet extremely courteous and kind, and desirous of doing justice in all that came before him.”

Harold Stock Bartleet who was born in 1853 was the eldest son of Robert Smith Bartleet. Harold spent most of his life carrying on the needle business established by his ancestors. In 1880 he married Edith Elizabeth Kemp in Castleford, Yorkshire and they returned to the Redditch area where they lived in neighboring Ipsley and Headless Cross. Harold and Edith had five children, all girls, born in the area: Lilian, Evelyn, Norah, Marjorie and Dorothy. He was consistently listed as a needle manufacturer and gentleman managing the W. Bartleet & Sons business until it was amalgamated in the early 20^th century. Harold died in 1920 and his estate was valued at £40,068. His death was listed as follows in two newspapers:

“The death took place on Thursday at Headless Cross, Redditch, of Colonel Harold Stock Bartleet, one of the principles of the firm of Messrs. William Bartleet and Sons, Ltd., needle and fishing tackle manufacturers, Abbey Mills, Redditch. Colonel Bartleet, who was 68 years of age, was a pioneer of the Volunteer movement in the Midlands, and one of the best known and most highly respected personages in the district.”[57]

“THE LATE COLONEL H. S. BARLEET, J. P. – REDDITCH MAGISTRATES’ SYMPATHY – Prior to the commencement of the business of the Redditch Petty Sessions on Wednesday the Chairman (Mr. I. F. Lambert) said he would like to say a few words with regard to the death of Colonel Harold S. Bartleet. Colonel Bartleet was very well known in Redditch. He was always ready to give personal service in any good cause, and he had done valuable work as a Territorial soldier and as a magistrate. Colonel Bartleet was appointed a magistrate in 1900. He took great interest in the work, and from 1916 until last year, when he had to give up the work owing to ill-health, he made an excellent chairman. Colonel Bartleet was a man whom everybody liked, indeed he (the speaker) never heard anyone speak ill of him, and he upheld the dignity of the court as long as he was chairman. One of the hardest things that Colonel Bartleet had to do, when he was giving up his public work, was to write and resign the chairmanship. The magistrates especially mourned the loss of a colleague on the Bench, and he would like the magistrates’ clerk to write to Mrs. Bartleet and express the regret and sympathy which they felt.” [58]

The second son of Robert Smith Bartleet, was Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet who was born in Redditch in 1855. Although Edgar was consistently listed as a needle manufacturer, he didn’t always live in the Redditch area, instead residing in Beoley in Kings Norton, a small village a few miles north of Redditch. He was listed as the manager of a needle manufactory and was one of the principles of W. Bartleet and Sons. In 1881 he married Mary Ada Grace Freer in neighboring Pershore. Edgar and Mary had at least four children born in the Kings Norton and Bromsgrove districts: Gerald, Leslie, Hugh, and Doris. Sometime between 1890 and 1899 he wrote a book entitled the “History of the Needle” which included seventeen drawings related to his writings. Unfortunately, Edgar lived a sad life and at age 48 committed suicide in 1902. He left an estate valued at £11,064 and was buried at the Beoley church cemetery. Surely his death by suicide must have had a profound impact on his father who thereafter died six months later. Edgar’s wife lived another seven years and died in 1909. After his death the local newspaper printed the followed obituary[59]:

“TRAGIC DEATH OF MR. EDGAR R. S. BARTLEET - A SAD ENDING TO A GOOD AND USEFU LIFE” “Redditch has had more than an ordinary share of tragic occurrences of late, but no greater shock has been known by the inhabitants of the town and district for many years, than was felt on Monday when it became know that Mr. Edgar R. S. Bartleet had met with his death under most tragic and painful circumstances. Mr. Bartleet, who was in his 48^th year, was second son of Mr. Robert S. Bartleet, J.P., D.L., The Shrubbery, Redditch, and a member of the firm of Messrs. W. Bartleet and Sons, needle and fishing tackle manufacturers, Abbey Mills, Redditch. It had been known for some time by relatives and friends, and those who had met him in public matters, that Mr. Bartleet had not enjoyed good health. He had suffered very acutely at times from dyspepsia, and headache and neurologic pains, which combined have led to great depression. The deceased gentleman has for some time been under treatment for these ailments by Dr. Stevenson, and some time ago, at the advice of his local medical attendant, he consulted Dr. Suckling, of Birmingham. Of late there has appeared to be an improvement in his general health, and it was hoped and believed he would be quite cured of his ailment. Some months ago Mr. Bartleet made a journey to the United States for business purposes. We believe Mr. Bartleet himself thought the change and the journey would be beneficial to him, but the fatigue of the journey appears to have tried him, in his unsatisfactory state of health. On Sunday he was seen by Dr. Stevenson at his home, St. Leonard’s, Beoley, and that gentleman thought he then seemed better and more cheerful than usual. On Monday morning Mr. Bartleet attended business as usual and appeared quite as well as he had been of late. Shortly after midday he left the works presumably to go to the “Old Mills” - the firm’s scouring mills, laying off the Birmingham Road. He was seen by a painter in the employee of the Midland Railway Co. at about 2:30 in a field near the railway, but was not seen again until his mutilated remains were found on the line at a spot about a mile from the Redditch station. There is no room for doubt but what is was a case of suicide. The last pathetic letter written by the deceased gentleman is conclusive. The facts are clear, and the conclusion is unavoidable that in a fit of depression, the unfortunate gentleman threw himself in front of the 3:20 p.m. train from Redditch.”

“There is not an inhabitant of the whole town and district, without reckoning thousands of friends over a much wider area, but deeply regret the loss of Mr. Bartleet, mourns the sad circumstances leading up to and connected with his death, and feels the fullest and most sincere sympathy with the deceased’s bereaved and sorrowing family. The deceased gentleman was one of the best known and most popular and highly respected men in the district. He had high intellectual gifts and powers, was a pattern of gentlemanly courteousness, sympathetic, obliging, and affable, and was greatly liked by the firm’s employees. His public work has been all to a good and useful purpose. He took a great interest in the Smallwood Hospital[60] from its commencement, was a chairman of the Board of Management, and a member of the House Committee and the Saturday Committee. He has used his best efforts for years to induce the various firms of the town to adopt the system of regular weekly collections in aid of the Hospital, in which direction his own firm is so admirable an example. It is entirely due to Mr. Bartleet’s efforts that the poor children’s Christmas tree and party was kept going, and this alone brought joy and brightness to the hearts of many hundreds of little ones at Christmas. For many years, Mr. Bartleet was honorary secretary of the School of Art, and has been a member of the Technical School Committee from the beginning. He was a church warden of Beoley Parish Church, and was until last year a member of the Beoley School Board. Some years ago in the time of the Rev. Langstone Jones, Mr. Bartleet was chiefly instrumental in the raising of a sum of between £800 and £900 for the restoration of Beoley church. For many years also Mr. Bartleet was chairman of the Charity Sports Committee. His public work, as we have said, was all directed to the good and useful end, and his loss will be very keenly felt by those with who he worked, and by those who benefited by that work.”

After his death an inquest was held to determine the exact cause of death. Another local newspaper[61] printed the following:

“REDDITCH MANUFACTURER’S SUICIDE – “AN ENCUMBRNACE UPON THE EARTH” – Mr. E. Docker held an inquest at the Redditch Police-court, on Wednesday, upon the body of Mr. Edgar R. S. Bartleet, a member of the firm of William Bartleet and Sons, needle and fishing tackle manufacturers, Abbey Mills, Redditch, whose tragic death occurred on Tuesday.”

“Col. H. S. Bartleet, brother of the deceased, said his brother had for some years suffered from dyspepsia, and had been under the medical treatment of Dr. Stevenson.”

“Mr. Joseph Smith, manager in the counting-house at Messrs. William Bartlett and Sons, said he last saw deceased alive at 12:15 on the Monday morning. Deceased appeared brighter than usual. He had frequently complained of headache. William Tranter, of Woodgate, assistance painter on the Midland Railway, said he was at work painting the signal boxes on the line between Redditch and Alvechurch on Monday. At 2:30 he saw deceased walk across a meadow adjoining the railway. He (witness) lost sight of deceased for a time. About half an hour afterwards, as the three o-clock train approached, he saw deceased throw himself from the railway bank in front of the engine. After the train had passed he went to the spot with another witness, Jenkins, and saw deceased, who was not dead, but was unconscious. Witness was sent with all speed to the gas-house siding signal box, whence a telephone message was sent for assistance.”

“Samuel Jenkins, another painter, corroborated, stating that deceased died in ten minutes.”

“Dr. Herbert Page said he was summoned to deceased at 11 minutes to four o’clock. The body was lying under an archway[62], and deceased was quite dead. The right foot was cut off, and the left leg was cut off at the knee. There was a wound on the right temple, and a good many abrasions. Death was due to shock from hemorrhage.”

“Lewis Thomson Humphries, engine-driver, said he knew nothing of the occurrence until told about it at Birmingham.”

“William Mann, stationmaster at Redditch, deposed to finding a letter on the embankment.”

“The Coroner here read the letter found by Mr. Mann as follows: Forgive me, all. I know not what I do. All is dark, dark before me. My dear wife too good for me. I have become incompetent, useless, and a cumbrance on the earth - Edgar.”

“Dr. Stevenson said he had attended deceased for some time. Some months back deceased was very unwell, and he (witness) advised him to see Dr. Suckling, which he did. Dr. Suckling wrote him (witness) and said there was nothing specifically the matter with deceased but dyspepsia. Decreased was always perfectly rational and amenable to reason. He could not account for deceased committing suicide except on the assumption that he had a sudden fit of depression.”

“The Coroner having briefly summed up, the jury retired, and after a brief absence returned with a verdict “that decreased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.” The foreman added that the jury wished to express their deep sorrow at the sad event, and sympathy with the family of deceased.”

“On behalf of the family, Col. Bartleet thanked the jury for their expression of sympathy.”

William Bartleet & Sons (aka W. Bartleet & Sons): Images

Photograph of Robert Smith Bartleet (provided by Stuart Bright, a descendant of Robert's son Ernest William Bartleet 1857-1935, who emmigrated to New Zealand around 1883), 2021.

Another photograph of Robert Smith Bartleet (provided by Stuart Bright, a descendant of Robert's son Ernest William Bartleet 1857-1935, who emmigrated to New Zealand around 1883), 2021.

1920 drawing of the Abbey Mills factory ground floor (S=Forge Mill Needle Museum archives).

Detailed view of Abbey Mills showing some of the rooms associated with needle manufacturing.

The church of St. Bartholomew in Tardebigge, 2017.

Interior of St. Bartholomew, 2017.

The Bartleet font created as a memorial to two Bartleet sisters in St. Bartholomew, 2017.

One of the gravestones in the St. Bartholomew cemetery, 2017.

Another view inside St. Bartholomew, 2017.

Another view of the Bartleet font created in 1850 inside St. Bartholomew, 2017.

Grosvenor House on Prospect Hill where the W. Bartleet & Sons Abbey Mills needle factory was originally located, 2017.

The W. Bartleet & Sons trade mark was an archer (S=Forge Mill Needle Museum), 2017.

West side of Prospect Hill in the area where the Bartleet home known as “The Shrubbery” was originally located, 2019.

Parking lot in back of Grosvenor House in Redditch, 2017.

Abbey Mills factory during the early 1900’s (S=Forge Mill Needle Museum archives), 2019.

Another view of the west side of Prospect Hill where “The Shrubbery” was originally located, 2019.

Prospect House on Prospect Hill, possibly built to look like the original Bartleet residence which was across the street, 2019

Side view of Bartleet’s Arts and Industry needle case made in 1878.

Bartleet’s Pavilion needle case.

The Prospect House main entrance with sign, 2019.

Front view of the Arts and Industry needle case.

Design registration #260901 dated March 5, 1872 for the Pavilion needle case (S=The National Archives, Kew).

Drawing of the Bartleet Fountain in the book entitled “History of a Needle”, c1890.

Bartleet display at the Forge Mill Needle Museum, 2019.

The Bartleet Fountain on the Church Green next to St. Stephen’s in Redditch, 2019.

Another Bartleet display at the Forge Mill Needle Museum, 2019.

William Bartleet & Sons (aka W. Bartleet & Sons): Genealogy

Generation 1: William Bartleet (1724-1795) and Mary Millard (17??-????)

· Birth: 1724 (S=Note).

· Marriage: April 11, 1751 St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S1m). Listed as William Barttlit and Mary Millard. Also listed as William Bartleet and Mary Millard (S=Note).

· 1789 Newspaper Article: Sheffield Register, Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Nottingham Universal Advertiser dated August 8, 1789 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) which lists William Bartleet as a needle manufacturer from Redditch who purchased the Gilbert MacKenzie method of making needles from a London needle maker.

· Death: 1795 (S7) (S=Note).

· Buried: August 16, 1795 at St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S7). Also 1795 (S-Note).

· Wife’s Death: not found.

· Children: Based on brothers and sisters listed in the son William Bartleet’s 1824 will (S6)

1. William Bartleet (1753-1824) - see Generation 2.

2. James Bartleet (??-after 1824) - listed in brother’s 1824 will.

3. Mary Bartleet (??-after 1824) - listed in brother’s 1824 will as sister Mary James.

4. Sarah Bartleet (??-after 1824) - listed in brother’s 1824 will as sister Sarrah Colrite.

5. Henry Bartleet (??-after 1824) - listed in brother’s 1824 will although the name is hard to decipher.

6. Thomas Bartleet (??-after 1824) - listed in brother’s 1824 will.

Generation 2: William Bartleet (1753-1824) and Elizabeth Moore (1765-1833)

· Birth: 1753 (S7) (S=Note).

· Married: September 14, 1786 in St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S1m). Listed as William Bartleet and Elizabeth Moore. Elizabeth is also listed in her husband’s 1824 will (S6). She lived from 1765-1833 (S2), the only woman named Elizabeth Bartleet old enough to be her was buried August 20, 1833 Tardebigg (S1burials at ancestry.com).

· Occupation: Needle manufacturer from Redditch (S6) and listing on page 576 of the 1822 Pigot’s Worcestershire directory Redditch section as Wm Bartleet & Sons, needle and fish hook manufacturers (available at Ancestry.com).

· Death: 1824 (S=Note) and October 27, 1824 (S=Worcester Journal dated November 4, 1824 available at britishnewspaper.co.uk) which lists him as William Bartleet Esq. of Redditch in the 72d year of his age.

· Buried: November 2, 1824 at St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S7) listed as age 71.

· Probate: London, December 2, 1824 (S6) with original copy (S=The National Archives, Kew). Will was originally written on May 17, 1823 and amended on August 21, 1824. Listed as William Bartleet of Redditch, needle manufacturer. The will mentions the wife and all children. Thomas Moore Bartleet is mentioned the most.

· Wife’s Death: 1833 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: London October 9, 1833 (S6) with original copy (S=The National Archives, Kew). Listed as Elizabeth Bartleet of Redditch, widow of the late William Bartleet written May 22, 1833 to oldest son Thomas Moore Bartleet.

· Wife’s Burial: August 20, 1833 Tardebigg (S7).

· Children: All of the children listed below have William and Elizabeth recorded as their parents on their christening records except Richard whose birth/baptism records were not found.

1. Thomas Moore Bartleet (1787-1875), baptized July 4, 1787 in Redditch (S1c), listed in father’s will (S6) - see Generation 3.

2. Elizabeth Bartleet (1788-after 1824), baptized November 30, 1788 in Redditch (S1c), listed in father’s 1824 will as Elizabeth Hair (S6).

3. William Bartleet (1790-1860), baptized June 13, 1790 in Redditch (S1c), listed in father’s 1824 will (S6) - see Generation 3.

4. John Bartleet (1790-1863), baptized June 13, 1790 in Redditch (S1c), listed in 1851 census as age 59 an unmarried visitor in the household of William Bartleet age 59 with occupation retired needle manufacturer brother born in Redditch (S4). (Note: It seems most likely that John was the twin brother of William Bartleet). Also listed in father’s 1824 will (S6). Died July 27, 1863 Bromsgrove at age 73 (S8d), listed as John Bartleet a commercial clerk who died in Redditch of disease of the liver.

5. Mary Bartleet (1791-after 1824 and before 1850), baptized October 30, 1791 Redditch (S1c). Listed in father’s 1824 will (S6). Mary probably died before 1850 per the stone font memorial in St. Bartholomew church Tardebigg (S=A Short History of St. Bartholomew’s Church Tardebigge by David R. Harris, 1977, page 8 and Fig. 1, available at the church and partially photographed by Terry Meinke in 2017).

6. Henry Bartleet (1793-after 1824), baptized March 10, 1793 in Redditch (S1c). He appears to be listed in father’s 1824 will twice, although the name is hard to decipher (S6).

7. Anne Maria Bartleet (1799-after 1850), baptized July 13, 1799 in Redditch (S1c). Ann Maria is also listed in father’s 1824 will (S6). Anne Maria Bartleet married Samuel Greame Fenton on April 12, 1832 in Tardebigg (S1m). In 1850 Anne Maria Fenton erected a stone font memorial in the St. Bartholomew church, Tardebigg to her sisters (S=A Short History of St. Bartholomew’s Church Tardebigge by David R. Harris, 1977, page 8 and Fig. 1., available at the church and partially photographed by Terry Meinke in 2017. Note: Anne’s surname is incorrectly listed as Benton and Maria is incorrectly listed as Margaret in this book). From the photographs the memorial reads “This font was erected as a mem” … (this side was not photographed) … “leet and Maria Bartleet by their sister Anne Maria wife of S. C. Fenton Esq 1850”. A newspaper article from 1850 indicates Anna Maria, wife of S. C. Fenton, Esq. created a memorial to her sisters Mary Bartleet and Maria Bartleet in 1850 (S=Worcestershire Chronical Wednesday 6 November 1850 available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

8. Charles Bartleet (1801-after 1824), baptized August 9, 1801 Redditch (S1c), listed in father’s 1824 will (S6).

9. Richard Bartleet (??-after 1824), listed in father’s 1824 will (S6).

10. Maria Bartleet (1807-1842), baptized November 1, 1807 in Redditch (S1c). Listed in father’s 1824 will (S6). Maria died before 1850 per the stone font memorial in St Bartholomew church Tardebigg (S=A Short History of St. Bartholomew’s Church Tardebigge by David R. Harris, 1977, page 8 and Fig. 1, available at the church and partially photographed by Terry Meinke in 2017). Died November 14, 1842 in Liverpool where she is listed as the youngest daughter of the late William Bartleet, Esq., of Redditch (S=Birmingham Journal newspaper Saturday 19 November 1842 available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

Generation 3: Thomas Moore Bartleet (1787-1875) and Alice Jefferies (c1820-1897)

· Birth: 1787 (S5d) (S=Note).

· Baptized: July 4, 1787 in Redditch (S1c) with parents listed as William and Elizabeth Bartlett (Note: the surname is listed as Bartlett in the census index).

· 1840 Bentley’s Directory, Redditch and Tardebigg section (S=Ancestry.com). Page 116 listed Thomas Moore Bartleet, Esq., magistrate and manufacturer and page 139 as esquire, Redditch.

· 1841 Census: not found.

· 1847 Boyles April London Court and Fashionable Guide (S=Ancestry.com). Page 338 listed Thos. Moore Bartleet, Esq., 2 Kent-terr Regent’s pk.

· Marriage: February 27, 1847 Langham, Westminster, St. Marylebone, Middlesex (S3). Listed as Thomas Moore Bartleet and Alice Jefferies where Thomas is listed as a bachelor and gentleman residing in the parish of St. Marylebone and his father is listed as William Bartleet, a merchant deceased. Marriage date is also listed as February 26, 1847 (S1m). (Note: The marriage date is incorrectly listed as February 26, 1847 in the marriage index at ancestry.com).

· 1851 Census: 2 Kent Terrace, Marylebone (S4). Listed as Thomas Moore Bartleet age 58 retired merchant and magistrate born in Worcestershire with wife Alice age 31 born in Norfolk with 2 children born in Marylebone: Richard and Wm. Moore. (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed as Bartlett in the Ancestry.com index).

· 1860 London Royal Blue Book (S=Ancestry.com). Page 411 lists Thos M. Bartleet Esq. at 16 Kent Terrace, Regents Park NW.

· 1861 Census: 16 Kent Terrace, Marylebone, Regents Park, London (S4). Listed as Thomas M. Bartleet age 72 born in Redditch a landed proprietor and magistrate for county of Worcester with wife Alice age 42 born in Wortwell, Norfolk and three children: Richard, Elizabeth A. M. and Arthur G. born in Marylebone. (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed as Bartlett in the Ancestry.com index).

· 1871 Census: 16 Kent Terr., Marylebone, Regents Park, London (S4). Listed as Thomas N. Bartleet age 80 born in Redditch with an occupation listed as “dividends interest of money” with wife Alice age 51 born in Wortwell, Norfolk and 1 child born in Marylebone: Alice E. (Note: Thomas’s middle initial is incorrectly listed as “N”).

· Occupation: needle and fish hook manufacturer (S6).

· Death: 1^st QTR 1875, Bromsgrove age 87 (S5d), death date February 6, 1875 at Prospect House in Redditch (S6). 1875 (S=Note). Listed as Thomas Moore Bartleet.

· Obituary: February 13, 1875 Redditch Indicator newspaper (S=available on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

· Probate: Worcester February 22, 1875 (S6). Listed as Thomas Moore Bartleet Esq. a needle and fish hook manufacturer formerly of 16 Kent Terrance, Regent’s Park in Middlesex and late of Prospect House in Redditch. Effects: under £100,000. Proved by the widow Alice Bartleet and Arthur Ikin a nephew. (Note: the probate index on Ancestry.com incorrectly lists his death place as Middlesex whereas the actual document states Redditch).

· Wife’s Death: 2^nd QTR 1897 Bromsgrove at age 78 (S5d). May 23, 1897 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: London July 12, 1897 (S6). Listed as Alice Bartleet of Prospect House, Redditch widow. Effects £105,044 to Walter Hornblower gentleman and Arthur Greame Bartleet needle and fish hook manufacturer.

· Children: All of the children below have Thomas Moore Bartleet and Alice Bartleet listed as their parents on the christening records.

1. Richard Bartleet (1847-1915), born September 6, 1847 and baptized January 3, 1848 Marylebone, London (S1c). Probate: London September 18, 1915 (S6) listed as Richard Bartleet of Heathfield Managate Lane Sheppeton, Middlesex died August 3, 1915, to Elizabeth Alice Moore Hornblower (wife of Walter Hornblower), effects: £5,237, resworn £5,251.

2. Thomas Derrington Bartleet (1848-1850), born December 28, 1848 and baptized April 11, 1849 Marylebone, London (S1c). His father is listed as a gentleman residing at 2 Kent Terr. Died 2^nd QTR 1850 Marylebone, London (S5d). (Note: listed in the ancestry death index as Thomas Dorrrington Bartleet).

3. William Moore Bartleet (1850-1860), born June 26, 1850 Marylebone, London (S8b), listed as the son of Thomas Moore Bartleet, a gentleman, and Alice Jeffries, who was born at 2 Kent Terrace, Regents Park. Buried April 28, 1860 at St. John the Baptist, Margate, Kent (S1burial). Listed a William Moore Bartleet in both sources.

4. Elizabeth Alice Moore Bartleet (1852-1933), born May 11, 1852 and baptized January 14, 1853 Marylebone, London (S1c). Her father is listed as a gentleman residing at 2 Kent Terr. Married: July 18, 1876 Redditch (S1m) to Walter Hornblower with father listed as Thomas Moore Bartleet. Husband listed in father’s will (S6). In the 1891 Census this family was living in Holdenhurst, Hampshire and in the 1911 Census this family was living in Etchingham, Sussex (S4). Died January 25, 1933 with probate May 23, 1933 Birmingham. (S6), listed as Elizabeth Alice Moore Hornblower of the Underwoods, Etchingham, Sussex widow to Thomas Bartleet Hornblower lieutenant colonel H. M. Army. Effects: £10,352 resworn £11,060.

5. Arthur Greame Bartleet (1855-1901), born January 28, 1855 and baptized June 21, 1855 Marylebone, London (S1c). His father is listed as esquire residing at 16 Kent Terr. Married Maria Louisa Smith 2^nd QTR 1876 (S5m) and May 18, 1876, the fifth daughter of James Smith of Doe Bank, Astwood Bank according to a newspaper article about the wedding where Arthur is listed as of the firm of Harrison and Bartleet, Redditch (S=Alcester Chronical Saturday May 20, 1876 available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Probate: London July 20, 1901 (S6) listed as Arthur Greame Bartleet of Derrington House, Redditch died April 21, 1901 to Maria Louisa Bartleet, widow effects: £15,550. For more information about Arthur Greame Bartleet go to the chapter on R. Harrison & Co.

Generation 3: William Bartleet (1790-1860) and Elizabeth Smith (1797-1885)

· Birth: 1790 (S1c) (S=Note).

· Baptized: June 13, 1790 in Redditch (Sc1) parents are listed as William and Elizabeth Bartleet.

· Married: September 19, 1821 Edgbaston (S1m). Listed as William Bartleet and Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth was born 1797 (S4) (S5d).

· 1841 Census: Fish Hill West, Tardebigg, Redditch (S4). Listed as William Bartlett age 50 born in the county a “needle m” with wife Elizabeth age 40 born in the county and 5 children born in Redditch: Robert, Elizabeth, Harriot, Emily and John.

· 1851 Census: 48 Blakedown, Kidderminster (S4). Listed as William Bartleet age 59 born in Redditch a needle manufacturer master retired with wife Elizabeth age 53 born in Birmingham and 4 children born in Redditch: Robert Smith, Harriette Sarah, Thomas Saunders and John Robert and a visitor John Bartleet age 59 a retired needle manufacturer born in Redditch.

· Occupation: needle mfr master (S4). According to (S=Note) William lived at the chief house of the family, the Shrubbery, to which his son Robert Smith Bartleet succeeded in 1860.

· Death: 2^nd QTR 1860 Kings Norton (S5d), May 15, 1860 at Harborough House in Edgbaston (Kings Norton) (S6). Death year 1860 (S=Note).

· Death Notice: Listed as William Bartleet Esquire who died at Harborough House in Edgbaston who was formerly of the Shrubbery in Redditch in a newspaper article in The Era, May 27, 1860 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

· Probate: June 18, 1860 Principal Registry (S6). Listed as William Bartleet of Harborough House, Edgbaston, needle manufacturer. Proved by the oaths of Robert Smith Bartleet, a needle manufacturer from Redditch, the son and Thomas Shutt Stock, a Birmingham glass and lead merchant, and Frederick Elkington of Newhall Str., a Birmingham electro plater. Effects: under £8,000, resworn December 1861 under £10,000.

· 1861 Census: Wellington Road, 21 Harborough House, Edgbaston, Kings Norton (S4). Listed as Mrs. William Bartleet widow age 63 a fund holder born in Birmingham with 4 children born in Redditch: Elizabeth, William Smith, Thomas S. and John R. (Note: Bartleet is misspelled as Bartlett on findmypast.co.uk census index).

· 1871 Census: Wellington Road, 89 Harbourney House, Edgbaston, Kings Norton (S4). Listed as Elizabeth Bartleet widow age 74 born in Birmingham with no occupation and 2 children born in Redditch: Elizabeth M. and Harriet S.

· 1881 Census: Graham Road, 150 Elizabeth, Great Malvern, Upton on Severn (S4). Listed as Elizabeth Bartleet widow age 85 a funded proprietress born in Birmingham with 3 children born in Redditch: Elizabeth M., Harriette S. and Robert S. Bartleet, J.P., D.L., needle and fish hook manufacturer. The next family in the census appears to be another son, John R. Bartleet, age 42 born in Redditch, who is listed as an annuitant born in Redditch with his wife and son.

· Wife’s Death: 2^nd QTR 1885 at age 88 Upton on Severn (S5d), died April 28, 1885 at the Rockery, Great Malvern (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: Worcester August 21, 1885 (S6). Listed as Elizabeth Bartleet late of the Rockery, Great Malvern. Proved by Robert Smith Bartleet, of the Shrubbery, Redditch, County Esquire, the son. Personal Estate: £2,035, resworn August 1886 £2,135.

· Children: All of the children listed below have William and Elizabeth recorded as their parents on the christening records.

1. Robert Smith Bartleet (1822-1902), baptized December 27, 1822 in Redditch (S1c), listed in father’s will - see Generation 4.

2. Elizabeth Moore Bartleet (1823-1885), baptized December 31, 1823 in Redditch (Sc1), never married, died September 30,1885 in Cheltenham (S6), probate in London November, 12, 1895 listed as a spinster with Effects: £11,008 to Robert Smith Bartleet (S6), with parents in 1841 (S4), with sister Maria Emily Elkington 1851 (S4), listed with mother in 1861, 1871, 1881 (S4).

3. Mary Ann Bartleet (1825-1866), baptized April 28, 1825 in Redditch (S1c), married Thomas Shutt Stock in Kidderminster June 26, 1850 (S5m). Marriage announcement in the newspaper indicates she married Stock on June 26, 1850 and was the daughter of William Bartleet Esq. of Blakedown (S=Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 3 July 1850 available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Thomas Stock was listed in her father’s will (S6). Not listed with parents in 1841 (S4). With husband and children in 1851 and 1861 Northfield, Worcestershire (S4). Husband was listed as a glass and lead merchant in 1851 (S4). Widowed husband and 10 children in 1871 (S4). Died 3^rd QTR 1866 Kings Norton at age 41 (S5d). Grave in St. Lawrence Churchyard, Northfield, Birmingham (S7) indicates she died August 8, 1866, that her maiden name was Bartleet and that her spouse was Thomas Shutt Stock. Husband died January 2, 1905 Worcestershire and probate March 7, 1905 London (S6), listed as Thomas Shutt Stock of the Priory Northfield with Effects: £29,680 to Thomas Stock colonel in H. M. army, Bernard Stick gentleman and Reverend Osmund Stock, clerk.

4. William Smith Bartleet (1827-1866), baptized April 18, 1827 in Redditch (S1c), only found in 1861 census with mother where surname is misspelled Bartlett. Died: 1^st QTR 1866 Kings Norton at age 39 (S5d).

5. Harriette Sarah Bartleet (1828-1908), born 1828 and baptized January 27 1832 in Redditch (S1c), with brother Robert in 1861 (S4), listed with mother in 1871 and 1881, listed by self in Great Malvern, Upton on Severn in 1891 and 1901 (S4), never married, died 2^nd QTR 1908 Upon on Severn at age 80 (S5d).

6. Thomas Saunders Bartleet (1829-1890), born 1829 and baptized January 27, 1832 in Redditch (S1c), listed with mother in 1861 (S4) - see Generation 4.

7. Maria Emily Bartleet or Emily (1831-1899), born March 19, 1831 and baptized January 27, 1832 Redditch (S1c), listed as Emily in 1841 census with parents (S4), married Frederick Elkington 2^nd QTR 1850 Kidderminster (S5m), June 26, 1850 Kidderminster (S1m). Marriage announcement in the newspaper indicates she married Frederick Elkington on June 26, 1850 and was the youngest daughter of William Bartleet Esq. of Blakedown (S=Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 3 July 1850 available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 with husband and children (S4). Husband’s occupation was listed as J.P., D. L, manufacturer and silversmith and electro plate mfr. Widowed husband and children in 1901 (S4). Died 1^st QTR 1899 Kidderminster at age 67 (S5d) and March 5, 1899 (S6). Probate: Worchester March 28, 1899 (S6). Effects £11,586 to husband Frederick Elkington esquire and Herbert Frederick Elkington gentleman. Husband’s probate: February 20, 1905 (S6) London. Effects: £91,889 to sons Herbert and Gerard. Her husband is listed in her father’s will (S6).

8. Edward Robert Bartleet (1835-1835), baptized November 24, 1835 Redditch (S1c) and was buried November 28, 1835 Tardebigg (S1burial).

9. John Robert Bartleet (1837-1902), baptized January 15, 1837 Redditch (S1c), married Ada Jane Palmer 3^rd QTR 1863 Kings Norton (S5m) (Note: listed as John Robert Bart?? in the Ancestry.com marriage index), listed with parents in 1851 (S4), with mother in 1861 (S4) and in 1871, 1881, 1891 with wife and children (S4) where he is listed as a printer, annuitant and living on own means. Died 3^rd QTR 1902 Upton on Severn (S5d), (Note: listed in the death index as Bartleeet). Probate: August 29, 1902 London (S6) indicates he died August 8, 1902 in Great Malvern, Worcestershire and left effects £8,313 to his widow Ada Jane Bartleet.

Generation 4: Robert Smith Bartleet (1822-1902) and Harriet Stock (1828-1918)

· Birth: 1822 (S1c) (S4) (S5d), November 21, 1822 (S=memorial plaque in St. Stephen’s church in Redditch, photographed in May 2017).

· Baptized: December 27, 1822 in Redditch (S1c), parents are listed as William and Elizabeth Bartleet.

· 1841 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Robert Bartleet age 15 born in the county.

· 1851 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Robert Smith Bartleet age 28 unmarried needle manufacturer born in Redditch.

· Married: July 9, 1851 King’s Norton (S=London Evening Standard newspaper dated July 12, 1851 available at britishnespwperarchive.co.uk). Listed as Robert Smith Bartleet, Esq. of the Shrubbery, Redditch and Harriet Stock, daughter of Joseph Stock. 3^rd QTR 1851 in Kings Norton (S5m). Listed as Robert Smith Bartleet and Harriet Stock. (Note: the surname is incorrected listed as Bartlect in the Ancestry.com marriage index but is listed correctly in the findmypast.co.uk index). Harriet was born in 1828 (S4) and died after 1911 per census with her daughter (S4).

· 1861 Census: 30 Cary Parade New Road, Tormoham, Newton Abbot, Devon (S4). Listed as Robert S. Bartleet age 38 born in Redditch a Justice of the Peace Worcestershire and needle manufacturer with wife Harriet age 33 born in Northfield and 5 children born in Redditch: Edith, Harold S., Edgar R. S., Ernest W. and Constance E. and Robert’s sister Harriet S. age 33. (Note: The wife Harriet is incorrectly listed as a widow in the findmypast.co.uk census index).

· 1866 Book: Listed as written for and under suggestions from R. S. Bartleet, J.P. The History of Bordesley Abbey, in the Valley of the Arrow near Redditch, Worcestershire, by J. M. Woodward, 1866 (S=books.google.com).

· 1866 Book: Article entitled On the Manufacture of Needles and Fish Hooks by R. S. Bartleet and J. M. Woodward in The Resources, Products and Industrial History of Birmingham and the Midland Hardware District by Samuel Timmins, 1866, pages 197-204 which also discusses the role of married women who worked in factories (S=books.google.com).

· 1867 Book: Article in the section entitled The Education of the Manuel Labour Class included a paper read by Mr. R. S. Bartleet which discusses the role of married working women in Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science - Manchester Meeting, 1866 by George Woodyatt Hasting, 1867, pages 387 and 388 (S=books.google,com).

· 1871 Census: 15 Prospect Hill, Shrubbery, Redditch (S4). Listed as Robert S. Bartleet age 47 a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the Country of Worcestershire and a needle manufacturer employing 182 hands born in Redditch with wife Harriet age 42 born in Northfield and 8 children born in Redditch: Edith, Harold Stock, Edgar R. S., Ernest W., Constance E., Victoria H., Albert and Oswald.

· 1871: Robert Smith Bartleet Esquire of the Shrubbery, eldest son of William Bartleet Esq. is listed on page 60 of The County Families of the United Kingdom or Royal Manual of the Titled and Untitled Aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland, 1871 (S=books.google.com).

· 1881 Census: 150 Graham Road, Elizabeth, Great Malvern, Upton on Severn (S4) Robert S. Bartleet age 58 married is listed with his mother as a J.P. D.L., needle and fish hook manufacturer born in Redditch.

· 1881 Census: 71 Vicars Close, Wells, Somerset (S4). Harriet Bartleet age 53 married born in Northfield is listed with her daughter Edith Crowley born in Redditch. (Note: Bartleet surname is misspelled Bartlet in the Ancestry.com index).

· 1888 Display: Robert Smith Bartleet, Needle & Fishing Tackle Manufacturer history and trade display from the 1888 Melbourne Exhibition. (S=Museum of Victoria Australia, Melbourne and their website https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1332487).

· 1891 Census: 55 Prospect Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed Robert S. Bartleet age 68 a magistrate and needle and fish hook manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Harriet age 63 born in Sally Oak and 1 child: Constance E. born in Redditch. (Note: this census is not indexed by Bartleet, searched for it on ancestry.com by the family cook’s name, Hannah Nash).

· 1893 Book: An article by Robert S. Bartleet, Esq., D.L., J.P., The Shrubbery is included in The Official Report of the Church Congress Held in Birmingham on October 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th by Rev. C. Dunkley, 1893, pages197 and 198 which discusses the role of married working women (S=books.google.com).

· 1901 Census: Nightengale Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire (S4). Listed as Robert S. Bartleet age 78 a manufacturer ?? (undecipherable) born in Redditch with wife Harriet age 73 born in Northfield. (Note: the surname is incorrected listed as Bartlett in the findmypast.co.uk census index).

· Occupation: magistrate, needle & fish hook manufacturer, Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Worcestershire (S4). Robert Smith Bartleet succeeded his father William Bartlett as chief of the house of the family, the Shrubbery, in 1860 (S=Note).

· Death: 4^th QTR 1902 Bromsgrove at age 80 (S5d) and December 14, 1902 (S6) (S=memorial plaque in St. Stephen’s church in Redditch, photographed in May 2017).

· Obituary: December 20, 1902 Redditch Indictor Newspaper (S=on microfilm at the Redditch library) and in the December 20, 1902 Worcestershire Chronical available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

· Probate: London March 19, 1903 (S6). Listed as Robert Smith Bartleet of the Shrubbery Redditch. Effects £66,173 to Harold Stock Bartleet and Bernard Stock manufacturers.

· 1911 Census: Albury, Surrey (S4). Harriet Bartleet widow age 83 born in Selly Hill Worcestershire is listed with her daughter Edith Crowley’s family.

· Wife’s Death: November 3, 1918 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: London March 4, 1919 (S6). Listed as Harriet Bartleet of Te Whare Ashburton, Devonshire, widow. Effects: £1,248 to Harold Stock Bartleet Esquire and Bernard Stock manufacturers.

· Children: All of the children listed below have Robert Smith Bartleet and Harriet listed on their christening records as their parents.

1. Edith Bartleet (1852-1938), born 3^rd QTR 1852 in Bromsgrove (S5b) (S4), baptized August 17, 1852 in Redditch (S1c), married Henry Ernest Crowley June 2, 1880 in Redditch (S5m). Father is listed as Robert Smith Bartleet on marriage record. 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 (S4) with husband who is listed as a clergyman and children (Note: 1891 census incorrectly indexes the surname as Rowley on ancestry.com, listed correctly on findmypast.co.uk census index). Husband died January 16, 1933 probate March 18, 1933 London (S6) listed as Reverend Henry Earnt Crowley of Albury the Avenue Andover, clerk with Effects: £15,778 to Cuthbert Crowley and Laurence Crowley of no occupations. Death: 1^st QTR 1938 Andover at age 85 (S5d), January 13, 1938 (S6) of Andover, Hampshire, probate London March 17, 1938 (S6). Effects: £2,754 to Cuthbert and Laurence Crowley. Cuthbert and Laurence were listed with their parents as sons in the 1891(S4) census born in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

2. Harold Stock Bartleet (1853-1920) - see Generation 5.

3. Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet (1855-1902) - see Generation 5.

4. Ernest William Bartleet (1857-1935), born 1^st QTR 1857 in Bromsgrove (S5b) (S4), baptized April 12, 1857 in Redditch (S1c). Immigrated to New Zealand around 1883 and died there at Mt. Eden near Auckland in 1935 at age 79 (S=copy of obituary at Ancestry.com which lists his father as Robert Smith Bartleet, a well-known needle and fishing hook manufacturer of Redditch).

5. Constance Elizabeth Bartleet (1859-1918), born 3^rd QTR 1859 in Bromsgrove (S5b) (S4), baptized September 25, 1859 Redditch (S1c), married Henry Augustine Evans 3^rd QTR 1891 (S5m). 1891 in Bromsgrove (S4) with parents. 1901, 1911 in Durham and Yorkshire with husband who was listed as a mechanical engineer and assistant superintend and children. Died: 1^st QTR 1918 Wharfedale, Yorkshire at age 59 (S5d). Probate: July 24, 1918 York (S6). Listed as Constance Elizabeth Evans of 6 Grosvenor Terrace, York who died February 17, 1918 to Henry Augustus Evans and two others, Effects: £4,219.

6. Victoria Harriet Bartleet (1862-1954), born 1^st QTR 1862 in Bromsgrove (S5b) (S4), baptized June 8, 1862 in Redditch (S1c), married Percy Mole 2^nd QTR 1887 in Bromsgrove (S5m). 1901 Jersey, Channel Islands with husband, a dentist, and daughter who was born in Australia (S4). Husband died December 26, 1906 in Jersey and probate February 13, 1907 London (S6), Effects: £249 to his widow Victoria Harriet Mole. Victoria died 2^nd QTR 1954 at age 92 in Honiton, Devon (S5d) and June 18, 1954 per probate Exeter August 6, 1954 (S6), effects £1,621 to Laurence Crowley of no occupation (S6). (Note: Laurence Crowley appears to be her nephew).

7. Albert Bartleet (1865-1929), born 3^rd QTR 1865 in Bromsgrove (S5b), baptized August 6, 1865 Redditch (S1c). Died: July 1929 Bromsgrove at age 64 (S5d). Probate: November 5, 1929 London (S6). Listed as Albert Bartleet of 42 Britten Street, Redditch who died September 28, 1929 to Alice Mary Bartleet widow, Effects: £85.

8. Oswald S. Bartleet (1870-??), born 4^th QTR 1870 in Bromsgrove (S5b) (S4) listed as Oxwald on birth record, baptized December 25, 1870 Redditch (S1). 1881 Upton on Seven, Great Malvern listed as age 10 a scholar born in Redditch (S4).

Generation 4: Thomas Saunders Bartleet (1829-1890) and Elizabeth Middlemore (1834-1929)

· Born: 1829 (S1c) and March 1829 Redditch (S=Note).

· Baptized: January 27, 1832 in Redditch (S1c) (S=Note), birth year is listed as 1829, parents are listed as William and Elizabeth Bartleet.

· 1841 Census: missing.

· 1851 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Thomas Saunders Bartleet age 22 an iron master born in Redditch.

· 1861 Census: with mother (S4). Listed as Thomas S. Bartleet age 29 a tin plate worker born in Redditch.

· Married: 3^rd QTR 1865 in Birmingham (S5m) and August 1865 Wycliffe Chapel, Bristol Road, Birmingham (S=Note). Listed as Thomas Saunders Bartleet and Elizabeth Middlemore. Elizabeth was born August 27, 1834 (S=Note) and died after 1901 (S=Note). Thomas Saunders Bartleet of Birmingham and Edgbaston was an iron master, the son of William Bartleet of “The Shrubbery”, Redditch who was born there in March 1829 and died at his residence 138 Hagley Road, Edgbaston October 16, 1890, buried at Edgbaston October 18, 1890 (S=Note).

· 1871 Census: 7 Duchess Road, Edgbaston, Kings Norton (S4). Listed as Thomas S. Bartleet age 42 a retired iron merchant born in Redditch with wife Elizabeth age 35 born in Birmingham and 2 children born in Birmingham: Arthur and Herbert.

· 1881 Census: missing.

· Occupation: iron master (S4) (S=Note), tin plate worker (S4), retired merchant (S4), gentleman (S6)

· Death: 4^th QTR 1890 Kings Norton at age 61 (S5d) and October 16, 1890 in Edgbaston, Birmingham (S6) (S=Note).

· Buried: Edgbaston October 18, 1890 (S=Note).

· Probate: Birmingham November 25, 1890 (S6). Personal estate £7,880. Listed as Thomas Saunders Bartleet a gentleman from 138 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston. Proved by Arthur Middlemore Bartleet a son and solicitor’s articled clerk.

· Wife’s Death: April 1929 Birmingham at age 94 (S5d). April 6, 1929 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: Birmingham June 5, 1929 (S6). Listed as Elizabeth Bartleet of 138 Hagley Road, Edgbaston widow. Effects: £23,062 to Arthur Middlemore Bartleet barrister at law and the reverend Humphrey Middlemore Bartleet clerk.

· Children:

1. Arthur Middlemore Bartleet (1866-1937), born 4^th QTR 1866 Kings Norton (S5b). Death year per 1937 grave marker on Ancestry.com which lists him as the elder son of Thomas Saunders Bartleet and Elizabeth his wife, the daughter of William Middlemore. Died February 16, 1937 probate April 6, 1937 Birmingham (S6), of 138 Hagley Road, Edgbaston to reverend Hubert Humphrey Middlemore Bartleet clerk and Charles Ekin solicitor. Effects: £35,917.

2. Hubert Humphrey M. Bartleet (1869-1961), born 3^rd QTR 1869 Kings Norton (S5b). Died February 26, 1961 probate May 30, 1961 Birmingham of Cherry Orchard Guarlford near Malvern, Worcestershire clerk to Ralph Harmar Collins solicitor and Robert Humphrey Middlemoore Bartleet artist, effects £33,220.

Generation 5: Harold Stock Bartleet (1853-1920) and Edith Elizabeth Kemp (c1861-??)

· Born: 3^rd QTR 1853 in Bromsgrove (S5b) and baptized September 25, 1853 St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S1c) where parents are listed as Robert Smith Bartleet and Harriet.

· 1861 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Harold S. Bartleet age 7 born in Redditch.

· 1871 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Harold Stock Bartleet age 17 a commercial clerk born in Redditch.

· Married: August 18, 1880 in Castleford, Yorkshire (S5m). Listed as Harold Stock Bartleet and Edith Elizabeth Kemp and lists Robert Smith Bartleet as his father, marriage bands August 15, 1880 Castleford (S3) and newspaper article which lists Harold as the eldest son of Robert Smith Bartleet Esq J.P., D.L. of the Shrubbery, Redditch (S=York Herald dated August 28, 1880). Elizabeth was born 1861 (S4).

· 1881 Census: 86 Headless Cross Park House (S4). Head out on journey. Edith E. Bartleet age 20 born in Castleford, York.

· 1891 Census: 85 Evesham Road, Ipsley, Alcester (S4). Listed as Harold S. Bartleet age 37 a needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Edith E. age 30 born in Castleford, York and 2 children: Evelyn P. H. and Norah born in Headless Cross, Warwickshire. (Note: surname is incorrectly spelled Bartlett in findmypast.co.uk census index).

· 1901 Census: Evesham Road, Ipsley, Alcester (S4). Listed as Harold S. Bartleet age 47 a needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Edith Elizabeth age 40 born in Castleford, York and 3 children born in Ipsley: Lilian Edith, Marjory and Dorothy. (Note: not found in Ancestry.com index but is listed at findmypast.co.uk).

· 1911 Census: Woodhurst, Headless Cross, Ipsley, Alcester (S4). Listed as Harold Stock Bartleet age 57 a gentleman and needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Edith Elizabeth age 50 born in Castleford, York and 1 child born in Headless Cross: Marjorie. Indicates they were married 30 years and had 5 children of which 4 were still alive.

· Occupation: needle manufacturer (S4), gentleman (S4).

· Died: 4^th QTR 1920 in Alcester at age 67 (S5d), Warwickshire. November 25, 1920 (S6).

· Obituary: December 4, 1920 Redditch Indicator newspaper (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library and death notice in the Cheltenham Chronical November 27, 1920 available at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

· Probate: London February 5, 1921 (S6). Listed as Harold Stock Bartleet of Woodhurst, Headless Cross. Effects £40,068 to Edith Elizabeth Bartleet, widow, David Patrick Liddel Chalmers barrister-at-law and Richard Manwaring Manwaring White MD.

· Wife’s Death: not found.

· Children:

1. Lilian Edith Bartleet (1881-??) born 3^rd QTR 1881 Alcester (S5b), married David Patrick Chalmers 2^nd QTR 1910 Alcester (S5m). 1911 Battersea, London with husband, a bar student living on private means (S4).

2. Evelyn Phyllis Harriet Bartleet (1884-1939) born 3^rd QTR 1884 Alcester (S5b), married Richard Manwaring Manwaring-White 3^rd QTR 1909 Alcester (S5m). 1911 Norwich, Cheshire with husband, a medical practitioner. Probate: Liverpool September 23, 1939 (S6) listed as Evelyn Phyllis Harriet Manwaring-White widow died April 26, 1939 at Hawick, Roxburghshire, Effects £142 to Rosemary Anne Mathine Brown, wife of Thomas Gow Brown. (Note: Ancestry.com probate index incorrectly lists probate date as September 25, 1939).

3. Norah Bartleet (1887-1898), baptized June 12, 1887 St. Stephen, Redditch (S1c) and died 1^st QTR 1898 at age 10 Alcester (S5d). Parents are listed as Harold Stock Bartlett and Edith Elizabeth on baptism record.

4. Marjorie Bartleet (1891-1972) baptized December 27, 1891 Redditch (S1c), died 2^nd QTR 1972 Cuckfield, Sussex which listed her birth date as November 10, 1891 (S5d). Parents are listed as Harold Stock Bartlett and Edith Elizabeth on baptism record.

5. Dorothy Bartleet (1895-??) born 3^rd QTR 1895 Alcester (S5b).

Generation 5: Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet (1855-1902) and Mary Ada Grace Freer (1857-1909)

· Born: 1^st QTR 1855 in Bromsgrove (S5b) and baptized April 8, 1855 St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S1) where parents are listed as Robert Smith Bartlett and Harriet (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed as Bartlett in the census index).

· 1861 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Edgar R. S. Bartleet age 6 born in Redditch.

· 1871 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Edgar R. S. Bartleet age 16, a scholar born in Redditch.

· 1881 Census: 7 St. Leonards Cottage, Beoley, Kings Norton (S4). Listed as Edgar R. S. Bartleet age 26 unmarried the manager of a needle manufactory born in Redditch.

· Married: 3^rd QTR 1881 Pershore (S5m). September 7, 1881 in Eckington, Worcestershire (S1m). Listed as Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet and Mary Ada Grace Freer. Mary lived from 1857-1909 (S2).

· 1891 Census: 24 Church Hill, Beoley, Kings Norton (S4). Listed as Edgar R. T. Bartleet age 36 the manager of a needle manufactory born in Redditch with wife Mary Ida G. age 32 born in Leamington and 2 children born Beoley: Gerald and Leslie. (Note: surname is incorrectly listed in the Ancestry.com index as Berllut).

· 1890-1899 Book: Edgar R. S. Bartleet wrote a 35-page booklet entitled History of a Needle (S=original copy in the possession of Terry Meinke, also listed in The National Archives, Kew website as available under reference #CR3097/248 at the Warwickshire County Record Office which indicates the date written was between 1890 and 1899).

· 1901 Census: 158 Lower End, Eckington, Pershore (S4). Listed as Edgar P.S. Bartleet age 47 as a visitor and needle and fish hook manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Mary A. G. age 43 born in Leamington. (Note: surname is incorrectly listed as Bullert in the ancestry.com index).

· 1901 Census: 68 St. Leonards Cottage, Beoley, Kings Norton (S4). Lists the children Hugh G. and Doris Bartleet born in Beoley with a governess domestic, cook and housemaid.

· Occupation: Manager of needle manufactory (S4), needle and fish hook, manufacturer (S4) (S6) one of the principles of Wm Bartleet and Sons, Abbey Mill (S=Grace’s Guide on the Internet)

· Death: 2^nd QTR Bromsgrove 1902 at age 47 (S5d) and June 9, 1902 in Redditch (S6). Edgar R. S. Bartleet committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a train from Redditch to Birmingham (S=Derby Daily Telegraph dated June 12, 1902). Evidence at the inquest indicated he suffered from dyspepsia and had at time been greatly depressed. He left a signed suicide note which said: “Forgive me all, I know not what I do. All is dark before me. I have become incompetent, useless and an encumbrance on earth.” (S=newspaper at findmypast.co.uk).

· Obituary: June 14, 1902 Alcester Chronical newspaper (S=www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) and June 14, 1902 Redditch Indictor newspaper (S=available on microfilm at the Redditch Library) and June 12,1902 Derby Daily Telegraph (S=findmypast.co.uk).

· Probate London: August 13, 1902 (S6). Listed as Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet of St. Leonards Cottage, Beoley. Effects £11,064 to Harold Stock Bartleet, needle manufacturer, Reverend Henry Earnest Crowley, clerk and Mary Ada Grace Bartleet, widow.

· Wife’s Death: April 14, 1909 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: London July 9, 1909 (S6). Listed as Mary Ada Grace Bartleet of Besley, Worcestershire widow. Effects: £211 to Gerald Bartleet mechanical engineer.

· Children:

1. Gerald Bartleet (1885-1961) born 2^nd QTR 1885 Kings Norton (S5b), death date (S2).

2. Leslie Bartleet (1887-??) born 3^rd QTR 1887 Kings Norton (S5b).

3. Hugh Gordon Bartleet (1892-1974) born 1st QTR 1892 Kings Norton (S5b), death date (S2).

4. Doris Grace Bartleet (1895-1984) born 2^nd QTR 1895 Bromsgrove (S5b), baptized May 5, 1895 Redditch where parents are listed as Edgar Robert Smith Bartleet and Grace (S1c), death date (S2).

S=Note Some Account of the Family of Middlemore of Warwickshire and Worcestershire by W. P. W. Phillimore, 1901 (S=available at books.google.com). Page 228 contains two paragraphs of historical information regarding the Bartleet family from Tardebigge because Elizabeth Middlemore married Thomas Saunders Bartleet in August 1865. This history also indicates that William Bartleet (1724-1795) had two wives, Mary Millard and Elizabeth Moore based on a monumental inscription in the Tardebigg churchyard. Although records related to his marriage to Mary Millard have been found, the marriage record between Elizabeth Moore and William Bartleet appear to be related to his son, also named William Bartleet (1753-1824). It seems highly unlikely that they would both marry women with the same name. The Bartleet family history is also listed in Visitation of England and Wales by Joseph Jackson Howard, L.L.D., Volume 8, published 1900, page 77 (S=available at books.google.com).

Needle Related Patents and/or Design Registrations made by Bartleet

· 1872 Patent: Registration # 260901 dated March 5, 1872 by William Bartleet & Sons Redditch for the Pavilion needle case (S=The National Archives, Kew). Two earlier provisional patents applied for by R. S. Bartleet seem to apply to this same item: #1671 May 31, 1869 and #3035 dated October 18, 1869 (S=Patents for Inventions. Abridgments of Specifications. Class 112, Sewing and Embroidering. Period A.D. 1867-76, 1904 available at books.google.com).

· 1878 Patent: Design Registration #320012 dated April 1, 1878 by William Bartleet & Sons Redditch for the Arts and Industry needle case (S=The National Archives, Kew).

Avery style needle cases patented/registered to Bartleet and with the Bartleet name: Arts and Industry and the Pavilion.

Another William Bartleet (1786-1856) and Nancy ?? (c1791-1842) and Elizabeth ?? (c1822-??)

· Baptized: January 22, 1786 Redditch (S1c) with parents listed as James and Katherina Bartleet.

· Marriage: February 10, 1812 Wootton Wawem, Warwickshire (S3). Listed as William Bartleet of Redditch and Nancy Cooper.

· 1828/29 Pigot’s Redditch page 872. There are three individuals in question listed in this directory as needle and fish hook manufacturers: William Bartleet & Clarke, Wm. Bartleet & Sons, Fish Hill and also Joseph Clarke, Fish Hill (S=books.google.com).

· 1835 Pigot’s, Redditch page 651: There are two individuals listed in this directory as needle and fish hook manufacturers: William Bartleet and William Bartleet & Sons. (S=books.google.com).

· Bankrupt: October 10, 1837 William Bartleet needle mfr from Redditch (S=Bankruptcy Directory 1820-1843 page 26 available at findmypast.co.uk).

· Possible Bankrupts: October 12, 1837 Dorset County Chronical newspaper (S= britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Listed as William Bartleet of Redditch, needle manufacturer bankrupt October 10, 1837.

· Possible Bankrupts: October 14, 1837 Perry’s Bankrupt Gazette newspaper (S= britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Listed as William Bartleet of Redditch, needle manufacturer, dir. and ch. (heretofore carrying on trade in partnership with Joseph Clarke, now deceased, under the style or firm Bartleet and Clarke).

· 1841 Census: Evesham Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as William Bartleet age 55 needle m born in the county with Nancy age 50 not born in the county and Susan age 25 born in the county. (Note: the surname listed in the census index as Bartlett).

· Wife’s Death: 2^nd QTR 1842 Bromsgrove (S5d). Listed as Nancy Bartleet.

· 1842 Pigot’s, Redditch page 29: There are two individuals listed in this directory as needle and fish hook manufacturers: William Bartleet, Evesham Road and William Bartleet & Sons. (S=books.google.com).

· 1850 Kelly’s, Redditch page 463: There is only one Bartleet individual listed in this directory as a needle and fish hook manufacturer: William Bartleet & Sons. (S=books.google.com).

· 1851 Census: 149 Portland Place South, Lambeth, Surrey (S4). Listed as William Bartleet age 65 agent born in Tardebigg with wife Elizabeth age 29 born Beosley and 3 children born in Birmingham, Surrey and Lambeth: Clara, William and Helen. (Note: the surname listed in the census index as Bartlett).

· Death: November 14, 1856 Bromsgrove at age 71 (S8d). Listed as William Bartleet a needle maker who died in Redditch of apoplexy.

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Endnotes

[1] Advertisement found on the Internet, unsourced.

[2] Detailed information about this William Bartleet’s birth can be found in the genealogy section of this chapter.

[3] Detailed information about this William Bartleet’s birth can be found in the genealogy section of this chapter.

[4] Detailed information about this William Bartleet’s death and will can be found in the genealogy section of this chapter.

[5] Detailed information about this William Bartleet’s death can be found in the genealogy section of this chapter.

[6] Sheffield Register, Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Nottingham Universal Advertiser newspaper dated August 8, 1789 (S=britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk) which lists William Bartleet as a needle manufacturer from Redditch who purchased the Gilbert MacKenzie method of making needles from a London needle maker.

[7] S. Lewis Worcestershire General and Commercial Directory for 1820. (S=complied copies available from fellow researcher Raymond McLaren and on the internet at https://www.parishmouse.co.uk/worcestershire/redditch-lewis-worcestershire-directory-1820/).

[8] For detailed information about this directory go to the Needle Manufacturer City and Trade Directories section of the Introduction to this book.

[9] For detailed information about these directories go to the Needle Manufacturer City and Trade Directories section of the Introduction to this book.

[10] Pigot’s 1828/29, page 872.

[11] Drawing from the archives at the Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch.

[12] See the last page of the genealogy section of this chapter which contains detailed information about a second William Bartleet who was probably associated with the Bartleet and Clarke firm.

[13] This is an assumption on my part because genealogical evidence shows that the second William Bartleet was the son of a man named James Bartleet. See the genealogy section of this chapter for more information.

[14] The Repertory of Patent Inventions and Other Discoveries & Improvements in Arts, Manufactures and Agriculture. New Series – Vol. XVI. July-December, 1841, pages 308-313 mention Abel Morrell’s Patent (S=books.google.com) as does an article in Aris’s Birmingham Gazette newspaper dated December 7, 1840 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). These two sources indicate Abel Morrall assigned all of his interest in his 1839 invention of machinery to assist in manufacturing needles to these three Bartleet’s, all needle makers from Redditch. Based on the will of their father, William Bartleet who died in 1824, I assume these three Bartleet’s were brothers.

[15] Accounts and Papers: Twenty-Eight Volumes (14) Railways. Session 22 January-28 August 1846 Vol. XXXVIII, 1846. Page 22 mentions Charles Bartleet, a needle manufacturer from Redditch, Thomas Moore Bartleet esquire of Regents Park and William Bartleet manufacturer of The Shrubbery in Redditch and 52 Wellington Street, Leamington (S=books.google.com).

[16] A. E. Wright’s Boston, New York, Philadelphia & Baltimore Commercial Directory and … 1840, page 63 (S=books.google.com).

[17] Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, 1851, page 114 indicates they had facilities in Redditch, Birmingham and at 37 Gresham Street in London (S=books.google.com).

[18] They are listed at 53 Gresham Street in London in Bartleet advertisements obtained from Raymond McLaren dated 1884 and 1888.

[19] 1871 census for Robert Smith Bartleet.

[20] Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, 1851, page 114 (S=books.google.com).

[21] Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867. Catalogue of the British Section, 1868, pages 15 and 21. (S=babel.hathitrust.org) and from their advertisements.

[22] As listed in their advertisements.

[23] As listed in their advertisements.

[24] London International Exhibition, 1873 - Popular Edition of the Official Catalogue.  Fine Art and Industrial Departments in One Volume, 1873, page 140 (S=books.google.com).

[25]Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878 Catalogue of the British Section Part I, pages 143 and 157 (S= books.google.com) and as listed in their advertisements.

[26] An article in the Worcestershire Chronical newspaper dated June 19 1880 in the City and County News section (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) indicates William Bartleet and Sons of Redditch received a gold medal at the Fishery Exhibition at Berlin. Also listed in their advertisements.

[27] As listed in their advertisements.

[28]As listed in their advertisements and from a historical article about the Bartleet needle display at the Museum Victoria in Melbourne website (S=collections.museumvictoria.com).

[29] Official Record of the Centennial International Exhibition Melbourne. 1888-1889, 1890, pages 447, 466 and 841. (S=digit.slv.vic.go.au the State Library of Victoria website) and (S=collections.museumvictoria.com).

[30] Paris Universal Exhibition 1889 - Official Catalogue of the British Section, 1889, page 50 (S=books.google.com). Bartleet was also listed as having an elaborate display in an article entitled The Paris Exhibition in The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent newspaper dated June 17, 1889 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Also listed as receiving a gold medal in the Local Honors at the Paris Exhibition section of the Alcester Chronical newspaper dated October 5, 1889 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

[31] Royal Commission for the Chicago Exhibition, 1893 - Official Catalogue of the British Section. Second Edition, 1893 (S=books.gooble.com), page 100 lists W. Bartleet & Sons of Abbey Mills, Redditch. However, I could not find a reference to them in the World’s Columbia Exposition 1893 Catalogue, 1893 (S=books.gooble.com) although several other Redditch area needle manufacturers were listed. According to a newspaper article in The Birmingham Daily Post newspaper dated February 21, 1893 about the Chicago Exhibition, William Bartleet & Sons of Abbey Mills in Redditch was in attendance (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

[32] From an article entitled Local Awards from the Paris Exhibition in the Birmingham Daily Post newspaper dated September 17, 1900 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) which indicates William Bartleet & Sons, Henry Milward & Sons, John James & Sons and Kirby, Beard & Co. LTD won two gold medals for their collective exhibit of needles and fish hooks, comprising the “Redditch Joint Exhibit”.

[33] From my collection which has the words Souvenir de L’Exposition 1878 engraved onto the brass.

[34] Design Registration number 320012 dated April 1, 1878 (S=The National Archives, Kew).

[35] Based on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.

[36] Photograph found on the Museum Victoria website (S=collections.museumvictoria.com).

[37] From my personal visit to the Scienceworks Museum where I was given a behind the scenes tour, with several members of the Needlework Tool Collectors Society of Australia (NTCSA), of the museum’s storage area where this

item is located. I discovered this item on their website while researching the Bartleet family in 2016 and because I was traveling to Melbourne that year to give a lecture on Avery needle cases to NTCSA, I contacted my friend in

Brisbane who in turn contacted the Vice President of NTCSA who contacted the museum, uncovered where the display was located and made arrangements so we could visit the museum and see this display.

[38] Unsourced from the sewing machine history website known as Fiddlebase at https://www.fiddlebase.com/needles/needle-makers/bartleet-sons/.

[39] In the section entitled Needle Trade Amalgamations in the Alcester Chronicle newspaper dated May 9, 1903 which lists the amalgamation of William Bartleet & Sons and Henry Milward & Sons Limited (S=britishnewspaprarchive.co.uk). Also, according to the note on the Bartleet trade display on view at the Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch.

[40] An 1884 map of Redditch (S=www.old-maps.co.uk) shows that Prospect House was located on the east side of Prospect Hill on the south side of the Abbey Mills factory. Today there is a house with that name Prospect House on the west side of Prospect Hill, however there is no evidence indicating it was related to the Bartleet family.

[41] Photograph taken by Terry Meinke during her 2017 visit to the Redditch area.

[42] A Short History of St. Bartholomew’s Church Tardebigge, written by David R. Harris, 1977, pages 5-7.

[43] Photograph taken by Terry Meinke during her 2017 visit to the Redditch area.

[44] According to his death notice in the Worcester Journal newspaper dated November 4, 1824 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

[45] Photograph on the next page was taken by Terry Meinke during her 2017 visit to the Redditch area.

[46] From his obituary in the Redditch Indicator newspaper dated February 13, 1875 (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

[47] Listed in his daughters 1850 newspaper marriage announcement as William Bartleet Esquire of Blakedown (see the genealogy section for source details). Also listed in The County Families of The United Kingdom or Royal Manuel of the Titled and Untitled Aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland, 1871. On page 60 which lists Robert Smith Bartleet as the eldest son of William Bartleet Esquire.

[48] Accounts and Papers: Twenty-Eight Volumes (14) Railways. Session 22 January-28 August 1846 Vol. XXXVIII, 1846. Page 22 mentions William Bartleet manufacturer of The Shrubbery in Redditch. (S=books.google.com).

[49] Listed in his daughters 1850 newspaper marriage announcement as William Bartleet Esquire of Blakedown (see the genealogy section for source details).

[50] Photograph found on the Internet, unsourced.

[51] The Upper Ten Thousand, for 1877 a Handbook of the Titled and Official Classes Third Annual Edition, 1877, page 35 (S= books.google.com).

[52] Schedule of Buildings of Local Interest, Borough of Redditch Core Strategy Background Document, revised July 2009. Page 23 mentions that the Bartleet Fountain was presented to the town by R. S. Bartleet in 1883 to commemorate the installation of the town’s new water supply. (S=booklet Terry Meinke picked up at one of the tourist sites in town while visiting Redditch in 2018 or 2019).

[53] Photograph on the previous page taken by Terry Meinke during her 2017 visit to the Redditch area.

[54] From his obituary in the Redditch Indicator newspaper dated December 20, 1902 (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

[55] Photograph taken by Terry Meinke during her 2017 visit to the Redditch area.

[56] Photograph of the church on the next page taken by Terry Meinke during her 2019 visit to the Redditch area.

[57] Cheltenham Chronical newspaper dated November 27, 1920, page 1, column 4, (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

[58] From his funeral notice and Redditch Magistrates Sympathy article in the Redditch Indicator newspaper dated December 4, 1920 (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

[59] From his obituary in the Redditch Indicator newspaper dated June 14, 1902 (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

[60] Photograph taken by Terry Meinke during her 2018 visit to the Redditch area.

[61] From an article entitled Redditch Manufacturers Suicide in the Worcestershire Chronicle newspaper dated June 14, 1902, page 1 column 7 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).

[62] The photograph seen here is of the railway bridge just north of the Redditch train station near where Edgar Bartleet died. Photograph taken by Terry Meinke during her 2018 visit to the Redditch area.

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