Introduction
The
history of the English organization is complicated by the fact that there were
two separate companies with the name English who were needle manufacturers in
the Redditch area during the Victorian Period.
John English & Co. was located in Feckenham
whereas John English & Son was located on Queen Street in Redditch. Two histories of the Feckenham firm were
written, one in 1969 for the Coventry College of Education and another in 1980
as a student’s thesis at the University of London. Both of these histories
were based on extensive research done by the authors including reviewing
hundreds of historical documents about the company available at the archives in
Worcester, the Redditch Library and other places. There does seem to be a bit of confusion with regard to the company name by the 1980 author who
titles his thesis “John English and Co., Feckenham…”, however refers to it as
“John English & Sons: The Early Years 1786-1792” in the chapter about the
company’s early history. An attempt was
made to review some of these archival records during a visit to the Worcester
Archives in 2019, however, there was not enough time to examine all of
them. As a result, much of the
information presented in this narrative about the Feckenham firm is based on
information from these two earlier authors.
Be advised that these authors, who did their research between 40 and 50
years ago, may not have had access to all of the
information now available, especially with the Internet, therefore a few errors
in their research were discovered and are annotated in the footnotes.
The
Company: John English & Co., Feckenham[1]
According
to an 1899[2] Feckenham directory, the
firm known as J. English & Co. Ltd was established in 1756 in
Feckenham. Most evidence suggests it was
founded by Job English who lived from 1733-1786. Records indicate Job was the first person in
the English family associated with needles, his family and earlier ancestors
were small farmers who settled in the Feckenham area after 1650. At first Job acted as a commercial traveler,
riding by horseback throughout the UK selling needles and only later began to
manufacture them himself. He most likely
did not have a factory but rather made needles in his home and/or coordinated
with others who made them in their homes.
His journals, which were preserved by later family members, show exactly
where he traveled and where his customers were located. In the 1770’s Job was joined in the business
by his nephew, John English, the second son of his older brother. When Job died in 1786, his needle business
passed to this nephew. It seems much
more likely that the firm was in fact established after it passed to the nephew
because it appears to have been named after the nephew and not his uncle, Job[3].
Between
1786 and 1792 John worked with firms in London and other major cities in the UK
and was able to quadruple the sale of his needles. At one point he purchased an old water mill
at Old Yarr, about a mile and a half north of the Feckenham city center, in order to handle the increase in business. His youngest son, also named John, was
apprenticed to the firm around 1795 and John Sr.’s younger brother, Thomas,
later joined them to assist in the warehouse and act as the company’s traveling
salesman[4]. Sometime prior to 1810 John Sr. entered into a partnership with John Butler Toulin, a merchant in Birmingham, where they had a
warehouse together at St. Paul’s 
Square. Having a warehouse in Birmingham was
advantageous because of its location as the center of the Industrial
Revolution. Before the introduction of
railroads, workers had to travel by horseback to sell merchandize to outlying
areas and the roads leading into and out of Birmingham made travel much
easier. The partnership with Toulin was dissolved in 1810[5] and seven years later, in
1817, John Sr. entered into a new partnership, this
time with John Joseph Williams Gutch of London who
helped expand the business even more.
During the 19th century, under the leadership of John Sr., 
and then John Jr., and Mr. Gutch, the firm became a major needle manufacturer in the
Feckenham/Redditch area as they increased their trade to other countries
including the United States (US). The
needle packet shown here was obviously created for the American market as it
contains a portrait of George Washington[6].
About
1823, shortly after the death of his father, the company passed to John Jr. and
in 1878 after John Jr.’s death, passed to his grandsons, Alfred and Arthur Gutch. John Jr.’s
daughter, Sarah, had married John Jr.’s partner Mr. Gutch
in 1841 and their sons lived with John Jr. after their father passed away. According to the interior label on one of
the firm’s needle boxes “The firm of John English & Co., Feckenham, was
established in 1756, and the American Agency opened in 1839, since which time
(more than 50 years) these needles have been continuously used and approved by
the American public”[7]. By 1851 the firm employed 100 men and
continued to grow during the second half of the 19th century. They exhibited a large variety of their
needles at the International
Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia as shown in the display case[8] pictured here. At the time E. C. Pratt Bros & Co. of New
York was their sole agent in the US[9]. Whereas many other Redditch area needle
manufacturers participated in international fairs and events to expand their
business, this appears to be the only exhibition J. English & Co. attended[10]. The firm must have had a fairly significant
following in the US because their products were sold in the Carson, Pirie,
Scott & Co.’s 1893[11] catalogue. At that time, Carson’s was one of the largest
American department stores in the Midwest and one of the first mail order firms
in the city of Chicago where mail order businesses flourished[12].
With regard to
city and trade directories the company was listed as early as 1823[13] where they were recorded
as English & Co., Feckenham, needle and pin makers. From 1828-29[14] through 1896-97[15] they were consistently
recorded as John English & Co. or J. English & Co., needle and fish hook manufacturers from Feckenham. Shortly thereafter they became John English
& Co. Ltd, needle and fish hook manufacturer and
were listed as such in 1900[16] and 1912[17]. The English needle business in Feckenham
closed in 1925 and was most likely merged with H. Milward & Sons[18] who shortly thereafter
became part of Needle Industries Ltd.
Amalgamation or mergers of 
needle manufacturers in the Redditch
area were common during the first half of the 20th century[19].
The
firm’s main needle factory was located on the east side of High Street across
from The Square in the center of Feckenham[20]. In fact, the factory was listed in 1899[21] as being at The
Square. This two-story factory building
was originally made of brick with large windows to provide light for the
workers as seen in the old photograph shown here[22]. Today, the building’s west facade, which
faces High Street, has been resurfaced with white stucco and contains a plaque
with the words “The Old Needle Mill”[23]. It seems likely that the elaborate
three-story home next to the factory’s south side was where the John English
Jr. family lived because John Jr.’s address in 1871 was 72 High Street[24]. Also, there was a scouring mill in Feckenham
on Mill Lane, next to the Bow Brook[25], the main water way in
the village, which was probably used by the English family at one time to scour
needles before steam power was invented.
The
Company: John English & Son, Redditch
The needle and fish
hook manufacturer known as John English & Son or J. English &
Son, located on Queen Street in Redditch, appears to have been established
sometime between 1850 and 1855 as it wasn’t listed in area directories until
1855[26]. It seems most likely
that this company was established and operated by Henry English who was born in
Feckenham around 1816 but was living in Redditch by 1841. Henry was listed in an 1850[27] city directory as a
needle stamper, then in 1851 as a needle maker on Queen Street. By 1861 he was recorded as a needle
manufacturer on Queen Street. The firm
was listed in 1861[28] as Job English & Son,
Queen Street and in 1865[29] as English & Sons on
Queen Street. These two directories
appear t
o contain errors as the firm was never listed again with the name ‘Job’
in the title or as ‘Sons’. Then in 1876[30] it was back to John
English and Son, Queen Street and by 1878[31] was listed as J. English
and Son at Queen’s Works, the name of their factory on Queen Street in
Redditch. Evidently their factory was
built prior to 1878 because the words “Queen’s Works” was included on their
letter head in 1875[32]. The needle display shown here was created
during the second half of the 19th century[33].
Some
people believe the owner of the English firm on Queen Street in Redditch was
the nephew of the owner of the English firm in Feckenham and that the Feckenham
company was the chief outlet for needles made at Queen’s Works[34]. Although it seems highly likely the families
were related, no evidence has been located to date to support this. The business in Redditch was passed to
Henry’s two sons, Charles and William, after his death
in 1868. A detailed view of the
company’s trade mark from the display above is shown
here[35].
After
the eldest son, Charles, passed away in 1872 the company went through difficult
times with William at the helm. A letter
in 1875[36] from John English and
Son, Queen’s Works, Redditch to John English and Co. of Feckenham mentions some
of these difficulties as they turned down an offer by the older firm from
Feckenham to purchase the newer company in Redditch. The letter states: “We have given our best
consideration to the contents of your letter of the 9th last, and regret that
we cannot entertain your kind offer for the purchase of our business, as it is
not our intention to dispose of it. We
do not think the probability of our being in difficulties with you on the label
question can be ever thought of, as it is not our intention to trade direct with the States so long as you will find us that
portion of trade necessary to keep our wheels going that we have established
for the accommodation of your demands. Thanking you for your kind offer.” If needles were in fact being made at Queen’s
Works in Redditch for the English firm in Feckenham, perhaps the ‘label
question’ mentioned in this letter meant Queen’s Works was labeling the needles
with their name when the arrangement they had with Feckenham meant they should
have labeled them with the Feckenham company name. ‘Label issues’ were a common problem among
many of the Redditch area needle makers and there were numerous lawsuits filed
regarding this during the 19th century due to the intense
competition among the manufacturers.
John
English & Son became a limited liability company sometime between 1896 and
1897[37]. After William died in 1897 an agreement was
made between his wife, Mary Elizabeth English, Frederic Mortimer William Gutch and John English & Son Ltd[38]. Frederic was the younger brother of Alfred
and Arthur Gutch who at the time owned and operated
the English company in Feckenham. By
1905 Frederic Gutch had become the director of
Queen’s Works as his name and title and the drawing of the factory building shown here were displayed on the
firm’s letter head that year[39]. Earlier in 1900[40] John English & Son
purchased the W. Avery & Son’s needle factory and home in Headless Cross,
but by 1913[41]
sold it to Heath Springs & Notions Co.
In 1915 when Alfred Gutch died, his obituary
indicated “household staff and men, employees, Feckenham and Redditch” were in attendance at his funeral in Feckenham. It seems most likely that the two English
firms were merged around this time and ultimately amalgamated with other needle
manufacturers.
The Queen’s Works factory was original
located on the northeast side of Queen Street where it meets Victoria Street[42]. Today it no longer exists and the Redditch
Police Station building and parking lot were built in
its place. The Queen’s Head Pub, across
the street from the police station, may have been used by the workers at
Queen’s Works before the factory was demolished.
The
Owners: John English & Co., Feckenham
Job
English was born c1731 in the Feckenham area, the son of George and Mary
English. He had at least three siblings,
an older brother George and two older sisters, Mary
and Elizabeth, all born in the Feckenham area.
Their father, George, owned a small farm a few miles north of Feckenham
in the hamlet of Ham Green. “The farm
was not a large one, supporting at the time of George English’s death in 1733,
nine cows and calves, four sheep, a mare, the ubiquitous pig and a couple of
acres of wheat”[43]. Although his father died when Job was quite
young, and Job’s brother was due to inherit their father’s farm and estate, the
family had enough resources to send Job to school where he learned valuable
information not available to children of the common man at the time. By 1753 Job was traveling throughout the UK
selling needles and around 1769 gave up traveling and turned to needle
making. It is unclear whether he
married, however, he does not seem to have had any children as his business
passed to his nephew, the son of his older brother, George, upon his death in
1786.
John
English Sr. was born c1759 in the Feckenham area, the second son of George and
Sarah English and the nephew of the Job English mentioned above. He had at least five siblings: George Baarer, Job, Job, Mary and
Elizabeth. John Sr. married Elizabeth
Lamb in 1783 and they had five children: Thomas Bumpas,
Elizabeth, John Jr., Ann and Susanna. Their eldest son, Thomas Bumpas
English, become a commercial traveler, presumable for his father’s needle
business, and by 1851 was living in St. Albans in Herefordshire, 25 miles north
of London where he remained until his death in 1863. It appears that John Sr. spent his entire
life in the needle business and that his youngest son, John Jr., took over the
business shortly after his death in 1821.
John Sr. was buried in Feckenham and his wife
died there twelve years later in 1833.
John
English Jr. was born c1789 in Feckenham.
Although he had two children, Thomas and Sarah,
it is unclear whether he ever married because no marriage records have been
found and he was consistently listed in census records as “unmarried”. These children’s birth records have also not
been located; however, they were listed as his children and were living with
John Jr. at times during 1841, 1851 and 1861.
Perhaps they were adopted. Both
the son Thomas’s and the daughter Sarah’s children were also living with John
Jr. at times and all of their children were listed as
the grandchildren of John Jr. in these censuses. John Jr.’s son Thomas had four children: John
Sherrington Richard, Edward Barnett, Bertha and Henry. Unfortunately, when Thomas was only 37 years
of age in 1853, he was admitted to a lunacy asylum in Droitwich, a town about
eight miles west of Feckenham. It is
unclear how long he was initially there, but a year and a half later he was
committed permanently and remained there until his death four years later in
1858, which explains why his wife and children were living with the John
Jr. Two of Thomas’s children died in
their youth and the other two died at fairly young
ages, John Sherrington Richard at age 31 in 1870 of hydrops, “the excessive
accumulation of serous fluid in tissues or cavities of the body”[44], and Henry at age 39 of
epilepsy. John Jr.’s grandson, John
Sherrington Richard, was involved in a rather messy divorce in 1868 for
mistreating his wife. During the four
years of their marriage there were many incidents of cruelty described in the
divorce documents with three of the worst being described as follows: “as the
Petitioner was driving your Respondent home he struck and cut her lip with the
end of his driving whip and turned her out of the carriage” and “the Petitioner
at their home at Feckenham aforesaid put a loaded revolver under his pillow and
threatened to shoot your Respondent with it” and “the aforesaid tried to
strangle your Respondent while in bed and on her escaping into the servant’s
room the Petitioner broke open the door pulled your Respondent out of the bed
by the hair and tried to throw her down stairs.”[45] This possibly explains why John Jr.’s needle
business was passed to his daughter’s two sons, Alfred and Arthur Henry Gutch, after his death in 1878 in Feckenham.
In
1841 John English Jr.’s daughter, Sarah, married John Joseph William Gutch who was 20 years her senior. At the time of their marriage her husband was
listed as J. J. W. Gutch, esquire of King William
Street and Stockwell in the London area[46]. Sarah most likely met Mr. Gutch
while he was visiting the Feckenham area acting as the London agent for her
father’s needle business[47]. In fact, Gutch and
another man named James Hall were in partnership with John English as pin,
needle and fish hook manufacturers in London and
Gloucester until the partnership dissolved at the end of 1841[48]. From at least 1843 Gutch
continued to be partnered with James Hall where they operated as Hall & Gutch, manufacturers of pins, needles and fish hooks, at 50 King Street in London and in Gloucester[49] until their partnership
was dissolved in 1851[50]. Sarah and her husband had seven children:
Anna, John English, Edith, Alfred, Clara, Arthur Henry
and Frederick Mortimer Williams. The
family lived in Hornchurch, Essex from at least 1844
until 1851, then moved to Peckham, Surrey by 1861 where they lived until Mr. Gutch’s death there in 1863. Gutch was buried at
the Nunhead Cemetery in Southwork. Eight years later in 1871 Sarah was living on
Caroline Street in Birmingham with her oldest and youngest sons, where the
older son, John English Gutch, was working as a pin
maker employing 30 people. Two years
later in 1873 her two eldest sons dissolved their partnership as pin and needle
manufacturers at 32 Caroline Street in Birmingham and in London[51]. Her two middle sons, Alfred
and Arthur Henry, had been living with Sarah’s father in Feckenham since at
least 1871 assisting with and learning the needle manufacturing business from
him. Sarah Gutch
died five years later in 1876 in Feckenham.
When her father, John English Jr., died two years later in 1878 his
needle business passed to Alfred and Arthur Gutch.
John
Jr.’s estate was valued at under £2,000 at the time
of his death and the Gutch grandson’s own father’s
estate was also valued at under £2,000 when he died
fifteen years earlier. Either the
grandfather and/or father passed their businesses to their descendants before
they died or Alfred and Arthur Gutch
were able to expand their estates significantly over the next 25 to 37
years. The oldest son, John English Gutch, married in 1874 and moved to the London area by 1881
where he was a button manufacturer’s agent for a few years before living on his
own means by age 46. He died in Kent in
1895 leaving as estate valued at £79. The second son, Alfred Gutch,
remained in Feckenham and was listed in 1881 as a partner in the John English
& Co firm employing 100 people. By
1891 he moved to the Dunstall Court estate just north of Feckenham where he
lived with his wife Constance who he married in 1896. When he died there in 1903
he left an estate valued at £38,674 to his
youngest brother Frederic Mortimer Williams Gutch and
his solicitor. The third brother, Arthur
Henry Gutch, lived in the Feckenham area and married
Sarah Jane Smith, the daughter of the needle manufacturer James Smith & Son
of Astwood Bank. By 1891 Arthur and Jane
were living at the Waldrons estate just east of Feckenham
with their children where Arthur was listed as living on his own means. He continued to live there until his death in
1915 and was most often listed as a needle manufacturer. His estate was valued at £44,266 when he
died at the Waldrons in 1915. The youngest son of Sarah English and John
Joseph Williams Gutch, Frederick Mortimer Williams Gutch, moved his family to Haye Farm in Mappleborough
near neighboring Studley by 1891 where he was listed as a needle
manufacturer. He continued to live there
with his wife and six children until his death in 1921. At that time his
estate was valued at £265. What follows is the obituary[52] for Alfred Gutch and a death notice[53] for Arthur H. Gutch, the two brothers who managed the John English &
Company firm during its most prosperous period.
“THE LATE MR.
ALFRED GUTCH, OF FECKENHAM. - As was
briefly announced in our last issue the death took place on Wednesday of last
week of Mr. Alfred Gutch, of Dunstall Court,
Feckenham, at the comparatively early age of 57 years. The deceased had been
suffering from a painful illness for some time, but the news of his untimely
decease came as a great shock and surprise to the inhabitants of the village
and neighbourhood where he was well known. Mr. Gutch was very
highly respected by a large circle of friends, and his loss will be greatly felt,
not only in the immediate neighbourhood, but over a
wide area. For many years Mr. Gutch had taken a very active part in public work, and among those with whom
he came in contact he was greatly liked and esteemed. His public work was characterized by that
thoroughness which the deceased gentleman threw into all business matters. By his death Feckenham has lost a friend whom
it will be difficult or impossible to replace, and many will miss one in whom
not only was sympathy a marked attribute, but who in a quiet and unostentatious
way was always willing to assist and relieve.
This, however, was always done in such a delicate and gracious way that
the objects thereof were relieved in a double sense – in
regard to their feelings as well as their wants. In religion deceased was a strong Churchman, and had held many offices connected with the
Parish Church. At the time of his death he was a manager of the National Schools, and hon.
secretary to Sir Thomas Cook’s as well as the Hanbury and Walkwood
charities. In politics Mr. Gutch was a Conservative, and a leading and active member
of the local and divisional organizations.
In upholding these opinions the deceased
gentleman was an active and earnest worker, but both to opponents in politics
and those who differed from him in religion, he always set a noble example of
toleration. For many years deceased held
a seat upon the Alcester Board of Guardians, and the Feckenham Rural District
Council, and his efforts for the benefit of the poor, the parish, and the union
were well known and appreciated. He
carried out his duties as a member of the above institutions until quite
recently, when he was compelled through illness to resign, and a well deserved tribute was paid by
him by his colleagues, who spoke in praiseworthy terms of the manner in which
the deceased gentleman had carried out his duties, and expressed their sympathy
with him in his unfortunate illness. In
village work there was no cause or institution that needed support but found
help in him, and in many instances active work as well. The life of the deceased gentleman, in fact,
was one of strenuous work and activity and usefulness, and while deceased will
be greatly missed in the many causes with which he was associated, more will
mourn his loss from feelings of affection which his unfailing courtesy and
kindness had engendered.”
“FECKENHAM. DEATH
OF MR. A. H. GUTCH. – We regret to announce the death of Mr. Arthur H. Gutch, which occurred at his residence, the Waldrons, on Fridays in last week. The deceased gentleman, who was sixty-four
years of age, had been confined to his bed for several months
past, and it had been known for some time that he was not likely to
recover. He was the senior partner of
the old-established firm of John English and Company, needle manufacturers, and
by his death the village loses one of its principal inhabitants. The funeral took place on Wednesday, and was
conducted by Canon Eagles, of Coughton, who is an old
friend of the family, and the Rev. W. E. Davis-Winstone
vicar of the parish. The funeral cortege consisted of members of the family,
friends, church officials, principal tenants and
employees. A service took place in the
Parish Church. The lesson was read by
Canon Eagles, and the hymn, “Now the labourer’s task
is o’er,.” was sung. Miss Lewis presided at the
organ. Tokens of respect were shown by
the villagers, and floral tributes were sent by the following: . . . ”
The
Owners: John English & Son, Redditch
Henry
English was born c1816 in Feckenham, the son of John English and Esther Wheeler
who had married in Studley nine years earlier in 1807. Henry had three brothers: George, Job and
Thomas, all born in the Feckenham area.
Exactly how his family was related to the other English family in Feckenham
is unknown, but it seems they were related in some way as they appear to be the
only English families in Feckenham at the time. In 1836 Henry married Henrietta Lewis at St.
Bartholomew in Tardebigg and settled in Redditch where Henrietta was born. Henry and Henrietta had five children: John,
Ellen, Charles, William Henry and Henrietta. By 1851 the family was living on Queen Street
in Redditch where they remained until their deaths. Sometime between 1851 and 1861 Henry went
from needle maker to needle manufacturer.
He died in 1868 and his estate passed to his wife who at first carried
on the business although she moved to the Church Green sometime between 1871
and 1881 and retired by 1881. At the time of his death, Henry’s estate was
valued at under £1,500
and when Henrietta passed away in 1884 her estate was valued at £1,570. Their son Charles married Mary Henrietta Mogg in 1866 and worked as a needle manufacturer fathering
three children before he died at age 25 in 1872.
Henry’s
youngest son, William Henry English, who was born in 1849 in Redditch, married
Selina Owen in 1870 and they lived with his mother on Queen Street when he took
over his father’s needle business.
Unfortunately, Selina died after only two years of marriage and William
married his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Smith, in 1875. Whereas his mother moved and retired by 1881,
William and his family remained at Queen Street presumably living next to the
Queen’s Work needle factory. William and
Mary have four children: Henrietta, Lilian, Frederick
and Margaret. When William died in 1897
his estate was valued at £2,274. Apparently, his wife Mary sold the needle
business to Frederic Mortimer William Gutch shortly
after William’s death. Mary lived in the
area until she reached the age of 92, passing away in 1944.
Not
much is known about William Henry English’s personal life and his funeral
notice[54] is quite brief. However, during his teenage years, he was
involved in a scandalous court case[55], published in a
Birmingham newspaper, which surely brought unwanted publicity to the
family. The details are listed below.
“REDDITCH. FUNERAL. – The funeral of the late Mr.
William Henry English, head of the firm of J. English and Sons, needle
manufacturers, Redditch, took place on Monday, in the presence of a large number of spectators. Decease was highly respected in the town, of
which he was a native. In addition to
the members of his family, the officers of the “Earl Plymouth” Friendly
Society, of which deceased was a member, were present, together with many of
the aidesmen of the Parish Church. The first portion of the burial service was
read in the Parish Church where there was a large attendance, the Rev. Canon
Newton (victor) ad Rev. A. Prue (curate) officiating. At the cemetery the
service was completed by Canon Newton.
Deceased, who died at the comparatively early age of 47, leaves a widow
and five children.”
“ALLEGED PERJURY
AT REDDITCH. – Mary Court (18), fish-hook bower, on bail, was charged with
committing wilful and corrupt perjury, on the 1st January, 1867, at the parish of Claines. – Mr. Benson prosecuted; Mr. Godson defended the
prisoner. – Mr. Benson, in opening the case, explained that the perjury with
which the prisoner was charged was committed in support of an application to
have William Henry English, son of Mr. English, needle manufacturer, Redditch,
adjudged the father of the prisoner’s bastard child.
The prisoner had been in the employ of Mr. English, and
had assisted in the factory. Early in
the spring of last year she was delivered of a child, and on the 15th November, and not till then, she took out a
summons, alleging that Mr. Wm. Henry English was the father of the child. The magistrates made an order on young Mr.
English, who made an appeal against that order.
That appeal was heard at the Quarter Sessions on the 2nd
January last, and the girl then came forward and repeated the story she had
told before the magistrates, only with more detail. She then said that on a certain Sunday, the
28th of May, 1865, Mr. William Henry
English took a walk with her; that about eight or half-past eight in the
evening she went with him to some allotment gardens, and that there the
connection took place. The question was
whether, when she gave that detailed and circumstantial account, it was, to her
knowledge, true or false. Now, young Mr.
English would deny upon his oath that he never had had connection with the
prisoner; and it so happened, by a very curious and almost providential
circumstance, that Mr. English, being about to leave England, was enabled to
remember that he could not have had connection with her at the time mentioned,
for on the Sunday in question he had a young friend, Mr. Tay, staying with him,
and he was with him at the time named by the prisoner. – Mr. Wm. Henry English,
the prosecutor, was called. He supported
Mr. Benson’s opening statement, adding that in the afternoon he went with Mr.
Tay to his (Mr. Tay’s) grandmother’s to tea, and that
afterwards he went to the Independent Chapel.
On coming out, between seven and eight, they went a long walk-together,
and did not part from each other till nine o’clock. He said he had no conversation with the
prisoner that evening. – Mr. Tay was also called, and
gave corroborative testimony. In
cross-examination by Mr. Godson, witness said he did not recollect what the
sermon was about at the Independent Chapel.
He was present at the hearing before the magistrates,
but did not give evidence. He
remembered the 28th May, because it was the
Sunday before Mr. English went abroad; he also recollected because it was the
Sunday before Redditch Races. – Mr. Godson, in addressing the jury for the
defense, mentioned that both at the petty sessions and when the appeal was
heard the prisoner’s statement was substantially confirmed by several
witnesses, who could not, however, swear positively as to the 28th
May, and urged that she might possibly have been mistaken in the date, pointing
out that the witnesses for the prosecution was well as the prisoner were rather
frail in their memories. – His Lordship having summed up, the jury found the
prisoner not guilty, and she was acquitted.”
John English & Co. in Feckenham and
John English & Son at Queens Works in Redditch: Genealogy
NOTE: According to Ancestry.com,
there were four males named Job English who were born between 1731 and 1811 in
Feckenham and three males named George English who were born between 1724 and
1808 in Feckenham. They appear to fall
into the following three family groups, although the exact relationship between
the John and Esther English family and the other two English families is unclear.
George and Mary English:
·
Mary English baptized December 27, 1720 Feckenham and February 1, 1721, Feckenham (S1c) with
parents listed as George and Mary English.
·
George English baptized April 2, 1724
Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as George and Mary English.
·
Elizabeth English baptized May 15, 1726 Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as George and Mary
English.
·
Job English baptized June 3, 1731
Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as George and Mary English.
George and Sarah English (this George is probably the older brother of the Job English born in
1731 mentioned above):
·
George Baarer English baptized
March 19, 1757 Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as
George and Sarah English.
·
John English baptized May 16, 1759
Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as George and Sarah English (see First English
Family Generation 1).
·
Job English baptized February 28, 1761
Feckenham and died March 10, 1761 (S1c) Feckenham with parents listed as George
and Sarah English.
·
Job English baptized April 4, 1762 (S1c) Feckenham
with parents listed as George and Sarah English.
·
Mary English baptized December 25, 1764 (S1c)
Feckenham with parents listed as George and Sarah English.
·
Elisabeth English baptized May 17, 1767 (S1c)
Feckenham with parents listed as George and Sarah English.
·
Unable to located any genealogical records related to the son named
Thomas English 1770-1804 that is mentioned in S. R. H. Nokes’s
history of John English & Co., Feckenham.
John and Esther English: (Note: July 27, 1807 Studley (S1m) John
English married Esther Wheeler).
·
George English baptized June 26, 1808
Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as John and Esther English.
·
Job English baptized June 16, 1811
Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as John and Esther English.
· Thomas English baptized
April 25, 1813 Feckenham (S1c) with parents listed as
John and Esther English. (Note: listed in the 1841 census in Redditch 2 houses
from possibly his brother Henry).
·
Henry
English baptized August 22, 1816 and May 20, 1717
Feckenham S1c) with parents listed as John and Esther English (see Second English
Family Generation 1).
First English Family Generation 1: John English
(c1759-1821) and Elizabeth Lamb (c1758-1833)
·
Baptized: May
16, 1759 Feckenham (S1c). Listed as John English with parents George
and Sarah English.
·
Marriage: July 9, 1783
Worcester (S1m). Listed as John English
and Elizabeth Lamb.
·
Death: not
found.
·
Burial Date: October 2, 1821
Feckenham (S1burial). Listed as John English.
·
Probate: not
found.
·
Wife’s Burial: December 17, 1833
Feckenham (S1burial). Listed as
Elizabeth English.
·
Children:
1. Thomas Bumpas English (c1785-1863). Baptized December 29, 1785
Feckenham (S1c). Listed as Thomas Bumpas English with parents John and Elizabeth English.
Marriage: August 19, 1818 Melton, Suffolk (S1m). Listed as Thomas Bumpass English and Francis Sillett. 1851 Census: St.
Albans, Herefordshire (S4). Listed as
Thomas B. English widow age 65 commercial traveler
born in Feckenham. 1861 Census: St.
Albans, Hertfordshire (S4). Listed as
Thomas B. English age 75 widow almsman commercial traveler born in Redditch
(note: the birth place listed on the 1861 census seems
to be in error). Death: April 23, 1863 St.
Albans, Hertfordshire at age 78 (S8d).
Listed as Thomas Bumpas English a retired
liquor merchant who died of heart disease at St. Peter’s Street in St.
Albans. Burial: April 30, 1863 Feckenham (S1burial).
Listed as Thomas Bumpas English.
2. Elizabeth English
(c1788-??). Baptized August 24, 1788 Feckenham
(S1c). Listed as Elizath
English with parents John and Elizabeth
English.
3. John English (c1789-1878) - see First English Family Generation 2.
4. Ann English (c1792-??).
Baptized July 23, 1792 Feckenham (S1c). Listed as Ann English with parents John and Elizath English.
5. Susanna English (c1799-1881).
Baptized June 25, 1799 Feckenham (S1c). Listed as Susanna English with parents John
and Elizath English. Marriage: December 31, 1827 Feckenham (S1m).
Listed as Susannah English and Charles Ashwin. In 1851, 1861 with 3
daughters one year and 2 daughter the other year (S=Baylis Family Tree on
ancestry.com). 1871 census: with brother
John English (S4). Listed as Susan
Ashwin age 71 widow, sister born in Feckenham.
1881: Aston with John Tetley (S4).
Listed as Susanna Ashwin age 81 widow mother-in-law born in Feckenham
(Note: incorrectly listed in the census index as Rosanna). Death: October 11, 1881
Warwickshire (S6). Probate: December 9, 1881 Birmingham (S6).
Listed as Susannah Ashwin proved by Elizabeth Mary Tetley
daughter, the wife of John Tetley.
Personal Estate: £5.
First English Family Generation 2: John English (c1789-1878) and
??
· Born: c1790/1791 Feckenham (S4).
· Baptized: December 28, 1789
Feckenham (S1c). Listed as John English
with parents John and Elizath English.
· Marriage: not
found.
·
Wife’s death: not found.
· 1841 Census: Feckenham
(S4). Listed as John English age 50 pin
and needle manuf born in the country with 5 others: Thos, Myra, Sarah, John and Edward
all born in the county except Myra.
· 1851 Census: 131
Feckenham (S4). Listed as John English
age 61 an unmarried landed progenitor master needle and fish
hook maker employing 100 men born in undecipherable with 5 others all
born in the same place as John: Henry
Thomas (son), Myra Jane (son’s wife), John S.K. (grandson), Edward B.
(grandson) and Henry (grandson). (Note: listed in the census index as Henry
Thomas English whereas the actual census could be interpreted as Thomas Henry
English or Henry Thomas English).
· 1861 Census: 156
Feckenham (S4). Listed as John English
age 71 an unmarried needle and fish hook manufacturer
born in Feckenham with 3 others all born in the Feckenham: Myra Jane
(daughter-in-law, widow), John R. (grandson) and Henry (grandson) and Charles
Ashwin (brother-in- law).
· 1871 Census: 72
High Street, Feckenham (S4). Listed as
John English age 81 an unmarried landowner and needle and fish
hook manufacturer born in Feckenham with 3 others: Susan Ashwin (sister
and widow born in Feckenham), Alfred Gutch (grandson
born in Hornchurch) and Arthur Henry Gutch (grandson born in Hornchurch).
(note: John is incorrectly listed in the census index
as age 31 instead of 81).
· Death: January 27,
1878 Feckenham (S6). 1st QTR 1878 Alcester at age 88
(S5d).
· Death Notice:
February 2, 1878 Redditch Indicator newspaper (on
microfilm at the Redditch Library). Listed as John English Esq. having died
January 27, 1878 at age 89.
· Probate: February
14, 1878 Worcester (S6). Listed as John English late
of Feckenham proved by Alfred Gutch and Arthur Henry Gutch both of Feckenham needle manufacturers the
executors. Personal estate: under £2,000.
· Children:
1.
Thomas
Henry English (c1816-1858) - see First English Family Generation 3.
2.
Sarah
Maria English (c1819/21-1876) - see Gutch Family Generation
1.
First English Family Generation 3: Thomas Henry
English (c1816-1858) and Myra Jane Barnett (c1821-1869)
· Born: c1816 (S4).
· Baptized: not found.
· Marriage: August
29, 1838 Feckenham (S1m). Listed as Thomas Henry English and Mira Jane
Barnett with father listed as John English.
· 1841 Census: with father in Feckenham (S4). Listed as Thos
English age 25 pin and needle manuf born in the
country with Myra English age 20 not born in the county and 2 others: John and
Edward.
· 1851 Census: with father in Feckenham (S4). Listed as Henry Thomas English age 35 master
needle and fish hook maker employing 100 men born in
undecipherable with wife Myra Jane age 38 and 3 children born in
undecipherable: John S. K., Edward B., and Henry. (Note: census index listed as
Henry Thomas English whereas actual census could be interpreted as Thomas Henry
English or Henry Thomas English. Also, Edward B. is incorrectly listed in the
index as age 18 when the census says 10).
· Lunacy Admission:
May 19, 1853 Droitwich, Worcestershire (S=Lunacy
Patients Admission Registered, 1846-1912 at Ancestry.com). Listed as Thos
Henry English.
· Lunacy Admission:
November 8, 1854 Droitwich, Worcestershire with death
May 14, 1858 (S=Lunacy Patients Admission Registered, 1846-1912 at
Ancestry.com). Listed as Thos Henry English.
· Death: May 15, 1858
Droitwich (S8d). Listed as Thomas Henry
English age 42 a needle manufacturer who died at the Lunatic Asylum in
Droitwich with Francis Bennett present at the death. Cause of death inflammation of the membranes
of the brain.
·
Probate: not found.
· 1861 Census: wife
Myra and 2 children listed with Thomas’s father in Feckenham (S4). Listed as Myra Jane English
widow age 49 and 2 children born in Feckenham: John R. and Henry.
· Wife’s Burial Date: January 30, 1869
Feckenham (S7). Listed as Myra Jane English.
· Children:
1.
John
Sherrington Richard English (c1839-1870) born in Feckenham - see First English
Family Generation 4.
2.
Edward
Barnett English (c1840/41-1859) born in Feckenham (S4). Baptized July 22, 1841
Feckenham (S1c). Listed as Edward
Barnett English with parents Thomas Henry and Myra Jane English. Death: 2nd QTR 1859 Alcester (S5d). Listed as Edward Barnett English. Burial: June 17, 1859
Feckenham (S7). Listed as Edward Barnett
English.
3.
Bertha
English (c1842-1850). Baptized November
26, 1842 Feckenham (S1c). Listed as Bertha English
with parents Thomas Henry and Myra Jane English. Burial: April 12, 1850 Feckenham (S7).
Listed as Bertha English.
4.
Henry
English (c1844-1883) born in Feckenham - see First English Family Generation 4.
First English Family Generation 4: John Sherrington
Richard English (c1839-1870) and Eliza Jane Boulton (c1841-??)
· Born: c1839/40 Feckenham (S4).
· Baptized: June 5, 1839
Feckenham (S1c). Listed ss John
Sherrington Richard English with parents Thomas Henry and Myra Jane English.
· 1841 Census: with grandfather and parents in Feckenham
(S4). Listed as John English age 2 born
in the county.
· 1851 Census: with
grandfather and parents in Feckenham (S4).
Listed as John S. R. English age 12 born in Feckenham. (Note: census index incorrectly lists him as
John S. K. English).
· 1861 Census: with
grandfather and mother in Feckenham (S4).
Listed as John S. R. English age 21 needle and fish
hook manufacturer born in Feckenham. (Note: census index incorrectly
only listed his middle initial as R).
· Marriage: December
28, 1864 St. Mary’s, Kingswinford, Stafford
(S1m). Listed as John Sharington Richard English and Eliza Jane Boulton with father
listed as Thomas Henry English. December
28, 1864 Kingswinford, Stourbridge,
Worcestershire (S8m). Listed as John Sharrington Richard English and Eliza Jane Boulton. John is
listed as a needle manufacturer from Feckenham whose father was Thomas Henry
English also a needle manufacturer.
· Divorce: 1869
(S=England and Wales Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1916). Listed as John Shaungton
Richard English and Eliza Jane English.
· Death: April 17, 1870
Feckenham (S8d). Listed as John Sharrington Richard English age 31 needle manufacturer who
died in Feckenham with John Wm. Leacroft in
attendance. Cause of death hydrops (S=
an excessive accumulation of serous fluid in tissues or cavities of the body
per Wikipedia).
· Death Notice: April
23, 1870 Redditch Indictor Newspaper (S=on microfilm
at the Redditch Library).
· Probate: not found.
· Children: None.
First English Family Generation 4: Henry English
(c1844-1883) and Mary Baylis (c1843-1895)
· Born: c1844/45/48 Feckenham (S4).
· Baptized: December 1, 1844
Feckenham (S5c). Listed as Henry English
with parents Thomas Henry English and Myra Jane English.
· 1851 Census: listed
with grandfather in Feckenham (S4).
Listed as Henry English age 6 born in Feckenham.
· 1861 Census: listed
with grandfather in Feckenham (S4).
Listed as Henry English age 13 scholar born in Feckenham.
· Marriage: July 24,
1864 St. Philip, Birmingham (S3). Listed as Harry English, needle maker, and
Mary Baylis with father listed as Henry English needle maker.
· 1871 Census: 98
Alcester Road, Feckenham (S4). Listed as
Henry English age 26 publican born in Feckenham with wife Mary Jane age 27 born in Feckenham and 3 children: Bertha, Albert H. and John.
· 1881 Census: 94
Alcester Road, Feckenham (S4). Listed as
Henry English age 36 annuitant born in Feckenham with wife Mary age 36 fish hook maker binding born in Feckenham and 1 child: John.
· Death: September 13, 1883
Feckenham (S8d). Listed as Henry English
age 38 annuitant who died in Feckenham with Bertha English daughter present at
death. Cause of death epilepsy.
· Death Notice: September
15, 1883 Redditch Indictor Newspaper (S=on microfilm
at the Redditch Library). Listed as
Henry English the youngest son of Thomas Henry English.
·
Probate: not found.
· 1891 Census: 78
Feckenham (S4). Listed as Mary English
age 47 needle picker born in Feckenham with 2 children: Bertha and John both
born in Feckenham.
· Wife’s Death: 1st
QTR 1895 Alcester at age 50 (S5d). Listed
as Mary English. Burial Date: January
30, 1895 Feckenham (S1burial). Listed as Mary English.
· Children:
1.
Bertha
English (c1865-??) Born in Feckenham (S4).
2.
Albert
H. English (1868-??) Born in Feckenham (S4).
3.
John
English (c1871-??) Born in Feckenham (S4).
Second English Family
Generation 1: Henry English (c1816-1868)
and Henrietta Lewis (c1816-1883)
· Baptized: August
22, 1816 and May 30 1817 Feckenham (S1c) with parents
listed as John and Esther English.
· Marriage:
September 19, 1836 St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg
(S1m). Listed as Henry English and
Henrietta Lewis.
· 1841 Census: New End, Redditch (S4). Listed as Henry English age 20
needle m born in the country with Henrietta age 25 born in the county and 1
child: John.
· 1851 Census: 15
Queen Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as Henry English age 34 needle maker born
in Feckenham with Henrietta age 35 born in Redditch and 3 children: Ellen, Charles and William Henry and a
visitor Ann Wheeler age 21 born in Studley.
· 1861 Census: 44
Queen Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as Henry English age 44 needle manufacturer
born in Feckenham with Henrietta age 45 born in Redditch and 4 children: Ellen, Charles, William H., and Henrietta and
with a visitor George Holyoake age 52 a merchant born in Redditch.
· Death: January 23,
1868 Redditch (S6).
· Probate: April 27,
1868 Worcester (S6).
Listed as Henry English late of Queen Street, Redditch, needle
manufacturer. Proved by widow Henrietta
English. Effects: under £1,500.
· 1871 Census: 44
Queen Street needle manufactory, Redditch (S4). Listed as Henrietta English age
54 needle manufacturer born in Redditch.
· 1881 Census: 9
Church Green East, Redditch (S4). Listed
as Henrietta English widow age 65 retired manufacturer
born in Redditch and 1 child: Henrietta.
· Wife’s Death: 4th
QTR 1883 Bromsgrove at age 67 (S5d).
Listed as Henrietta English. November 23, 1883 (S6).
· Probate: May 30, 1884 Worcester (S6).
Listed as Henrietta English formerly of 9 Church Green East but late of
7 Church Green West, Redditch proved by Henry Parr of the Paper Mills, Besley. Personal
Estate: £1,570.
·
Children:
1.
John
English (c1838-??). Born not in the county.
2.
Ellen
English (c1843-??). Born in Redditch.
3.
Charles
English (1847-1872) - see Second English Family Generation 2.
4.
William
Henry English (1849-1897) - see Second English Family Generation 2.
5.
Henrietta
English (c1855-??). Born in Redditch.
Second English Family
Generation 2: Charles English (1847-1872)
and Mary Henrietta Mogg (c1847-??)
· Born: January 6, 1847 Bromsgrove (S8b).
Listed as Charles English who was born in Redditch with parents listed
as Henry English a needle maker and Henrietta Lewis.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Charles English
age 4 born in Redditch.
· 1861 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Charles English
age 14 scholar born in Redditch.
· Marriage:
September 19, 1866 Redditch (S1m). Listed as Charles English and Mary Henrietta Mogg. 3rd QTR 1866
Bromsgrove (S5m). Listed as Charles
English and Mary H. Mogg.
· 1871 Census: 140 Peakman Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as Charles English age 24 needle
manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Harrietta age
24 born in Redditch and 3 children: Mary H. A., F. R.
and John.
· Death: May 5, 1872 at age 25 Bromsgrove (S8d). Listed as Charles English a needle
manufacturer who died at Queen Street in Redditch.
· Burial: May 10, 1872 at age 25 Redditch (S1burial). Listed as Charles English.
·
Probate: not found.
·
Wife’s Death: not found.
·
Children:
1.
Mary
H. A. English (c1868-??). Born in Redditch.
2.
F.
R. English (c1869-??). Born in Redditch.
3.
John
English (c1870-??). Born in Redditch.
Second English Family
Generation 2: William Henry English (1849-1897) and Selina Owen (c1850-1872)
and Mary Elizabeth Smith(c1852-1944)
· Born: June 25, 1849 Bromsgrove (S8b).
Listed as William Henry English who was born in Redditch with parents
listed as Henry English and Henrietta Lewis.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as William Henry
English age 1 born in Redditch.
· 1861 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as William H.
English age 11 scholar born in Redditch.
· Marriage #1:
December 27, 1870 Redditch (S1m). Listed as William Henry English and Selina
Owen with his father listed as Henry English. 4th QTR 1870
Bromsgrove (S5m). Listed as William
Henry English and Selina Owen.
· 1871 Census: 47
Queen Street, Redditch (S4) living next to his mother. Listed as William H. English age 21 needle
manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Selina age 21 born in Redditch.
· Wife #1 Death: 2nd
QTR 1872 Alcester (S5d). Listed as
Selina English.
· Wife # 1 Burial:
May 27, 1872 Redditch (S1burial). Listed as Selina English age 22.
· Patent: Registered Design #281424 dated March 27,
1874. Registered by J. English &
Son, Queens Works, Redditch for an earthenware needle case (S=The National
Archives, Kew).
· Marriage #2:
December 28, 1875 Beoley (S1m). Listed as William Henry English and Mary
Elizabeth Smith. 4th QTR 1875 Kings Norton (S5m). Listed as William Henry English and Mary
Elizabeth Smith.
· 1881 Census: 5
Queen Street, Margnet Place, Redditch (S4). Listed as William H. English age 31 needle
manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Mary E. age 29 born in Littleton and 2
children: Henrietta and Lilian M.
· 1891 Census: 255
Queen Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as
William Henry English age 41 needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with
wife Mary Elizabeth age 39 born in Littleton and 4 children: Henrietta Ethel,
Lilian Mary, Frederick William and Margaret Helen.
· Death: 2nd QTR
1897 Bromsgrove at age 47 (S5d). Listed
as William Henry English. April 23, 1897 (S6).
(Note: the probate index incorrectly listed the death date as April 28,
1897).
· Funeral Notice:
The Alcester Chronical newspaper dated May 1, 1897, page 5 column 2
(S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
· Burial: April 26, 1897 St. Stephen, Redditch (S1burials). Listed as William Henry English.
· Probate: September
2, 1897 Worcester (S6). Listed as William Henry English of Queen
Street, Redditch manufacturer to Mary Elizabeth English widow. Effects: £2,274.
· Wife #2 Death: 2nd
QTR 1944 Bromsgrove at age 92 (S5d).
Listed as Mary E. English.
·
Children:
1.
Henrietta
Ethel (c1877-??). Born in Redditch.
2.
Lilian
Mary (c1881-??). Born in Redditch.
3.
Frederick
William (c1882-??). Born in Redditch.
4.
Margaret
Helen (c1887-??). Born in Redditch.
Gutch Family Generation 1:
John Joseph Williams Gutch (c1801-1863) and
Sarah Maria English (c1821-1876)
· Born: c1801 Somerset (S4).
·
Baptized: not found.
·
Wife’s Baptized: not found.
· 1841 Census: Feckenham (S4). Sarah age 20 is listed with her father.
· 1841 Census:
Feckenham (S4). Listed as John W. Gutch age 35 pin maker not born in
the county.
· Marriage: 4th QTR 1841 Alcester (S5m). Listed as John Joseph William Gutch and Sarah Maria English. March 27, 1842
at Feckenham, J. J. W. Gutch, esq.
of King William St. and Stockwell, to Sarah Maria,
only dau. of J. English, esq.
of Feckenham (S= The Gentleman’s Magazine by Sylvanus Urban, Gent., Volume XVII
New Series., January to June, 1842. Available at books.google.com. Note: The Gentleman’s Magazine seems to be
just reporting that the marriage occurred and not necessarily reporting the
exact date it occurred).
· 1851 Census: 50
Suttons Gate, Hornchurch, Essex (S4). Listed as John
J. W. Gutch age 50 pin manufacturer
born in Frome, Somerset with wife Sarah M. age 32
born in Feckenham and 6 children: Anna M., John E., Edith M., Alfred, Clara M.
and Arthur H.
· 1861 Census: 4
York Terrace, Peckham, Surrey (S4). Listed
as John J. W. Gutch age 60 pin manufacturer
born in Frome, Somerset with wife Sarah M. age 42
born in Feckenham and 7 children: Anna Maria, John English, Edith Myra, Alfred,
Clara M., Arthur Henry and Fredk Willm. (note: surname is
incorrectly listed as Gatch in the census index and
the son John’s middle name is incorrectly listed as “M. Lish”
in the index and his age is incorrectly listed as 10 when it is 16).
· Death: March 13, 1863
Peckham, Surry (S6).
· Burial: March 19, 1863 at age 62 Nunhead Cemetery,
Linden Grove, Southwork (S7). Listed as John Joseph
Williams Gutch.
· Probate: July 23, 1863
Principle Registry (S6). Listed as John
Joseph Williams Gutch late of 4 York Terrance Queens
Road Peckham of Surrey and Watling Street London pin and needle manufacturer
proved by Sarah Maria Gutch widow. Effects: under £2,000.
· 1871 Census: 82
Caroline Street, Birmingham (S4). Listed
as Sarah M. Gutch age 50 annuitant
born in Feckenham with 2 children: John E. age 26 pin maker employing 30 hands
born in Hornchurch and Frederick age 18.
· Wife’s Death: November
12, 1876 at age 58 Alcester (S8d). Listed as Sarah Maria Gutch
who died in Feckenham and was the widow of Joseph William Gutch
a pin and needle manufacturer.
· Children:
1.
Anna
Maria Gutch (1842-??). Born in Surrey (S4). Born November 9, 1842
and baptized December 27, 1842 St. Mark Kensington, London (S1c). Listed as
Anna Maria Gutch with parents John Joseph Williams
and Sarah Maria Gutch.
2.
John
English Gutch (1844-1895). Born in Hornchurch, Essex (S4) - see Gutch
Family Generation 2.
3.
Edith
Myra Gutch (1844/45-??). Born in Hornchurch,
Essex (S4).
4.
Alfred
Gutch (1846-1903). Born in Hornchurch,
Essex (S4) - see Gutch Family Generation 2.
5.
Clara
M. Gutch (1849-??). Born in Hornchurch,
Essex (S4).
6.
Arthur
Henry Gutch (1850-1915). Born in Hornchurch,
Essex (S4) - see Gutch Family Generation 2.
7.
Frederic
Mortimer Williams Gutch (1852-1921) Born in Hornchurch, Essex (S4) - see Gutch
Family Generation 2.
Gutch Family Generation 2: John English Gutch
(1844-1895) and Ida Maria Passmore (c1847-1932)
· Born: 3rd QTR 1844 Romford,
Essex (S5b).
· Baptized: Born September 20, 1844
and baptized August 5, 1845 Hornchurch, Essex
(S1c). Listed as John English Gutch with parents John Joseph William and Sarah Maria Gutch.
· 1851 Census: with
parents in Hornchurch, Essex (S4). Listed as John E. Gutch
age 6 a scholar born in Hornchurch.
· 1861 Census: with
parents in Peckham, Surry (S4). Listed
as John English Gutch age 16 clerk to his father born
in Hornchurch.
(Note: John’s middle name is incorrectly listed as M. Lish in the census index and his age is incorrectly listed
as 10 when it is 16).
· 1871 Census: with
mother in Birmingham (S4). Listed as
John E. Gutch age 26 pin maker
employing 30 hands born in Hornchurch.
· Marriage: 4th QTR
1874 Eastbourne, Essex (S5m). Listed as
John English Gutch and Ida Marian Passmore.
· 1881 Census: 22
Wynell Road, Lewisham, London. Listed as
John E. Gutch age 36 a button manufacturers agent
born in Hornchurch with wife Ida M. age 34 born in
Middlesex and 2 children: Florence M.
and Grace M. and Amy Passmore sister-in-law age 50
born in Middlesex.
· 1891 Census: 22
Wynell Road, Lewisham, London. Listed as
John Gutch age 46 living on own means born in Hornchurch with wife Ida age 44 born in London and 2
children: Florence and Grace.
· Death: February 10, 1895
Forest Hill, Kent (S6).
· Probate: March 23,
1895 London (S6).
Listed as John English Gutch of 22 Wynell Road
Forest Hill Kent gentlemen to Alfred Gutch needle
manufacturer and Frederic Mortimer Williams Gutch
needle manufacturer and farmer. Effects:
£79.
· 1901 Census: 22
Wynell Road, Forest Hill, Lewisham, London (S4). Listed as Ida M. Gutch
widow age 54 living on own means born in London,
Middlesex with daughter Grace.
· 1911 Census:
Roseneath Longmne Lane Shirley, Solihull,
Warwickshire (S4). Listed as Ida Gutch widow age 64 living on
private means born in London, Middlesex
Census indicated she had 2 children born alive.
· Wife’s Death:
October 1931 Birmingham at age 84 (S5d).
Listed as Ida M. Gutch and October 1, 1931
(S6).
· Wife’s Probate:
January 9, 1932 Birmingham (S6). Listed as Ida Marian Gutch
widow of 3 Springfield Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham to Cyril Roland Foden,
dentist. Effects: £90.
· Children:
1.
Florence
M. Gutch (c1876-??).
Born in Birmingham. (S4).
2.
Grace
M. Gutch (c1879-??).
Born in Forest Hill, Kent (S4).
Gutch Family Generation 2: Alfred Gutch
(c1846-1903) and Constance Emma Woolrych (c1857-1927)
· Born: c1847 Hornchurch,
Essex (S4).
· Baptized: Born April 25 and baptized August 19, 1846 Hornchurch, Essex (S1c). Listed as Alfred Gutch
with parents John Joseph William and Sarah Maria Gutch.
· 1851 Census: with
parents in Hornchurch, Essex (S4). Listed as Alfred Gutch
age 4 born in Hornchurch.
· 1861 Census: with parents in Peckham, Surrey (S4). Listed
as Alfred Gutch age 14 clerk to father born in Hornchurch.
· 1871 Census: with grandfather John English in Feckenham (S4). Listed as Alfred
Gutch age 24 needle and pin maker born in Hornchurch.
· 1881 Census: 3 High Street, Feckenham (S4). Listed as Alfred Gutch
age 34 an unmarried land owner and needle manufacturer
partner in the firm of John English and Co employing about 100 people with
sister Edith Myra Webb widow age 36 and sister Clara Medora Gutch
age 32 and brother Frederic Mortimer William Gutch
age 28 all born in Hornchurch, Essex.
(note Frederic is incorrectly listed in the census
index a Fueric).
· 1891 Census: 15 Dunstall
Court, Feckenham (S4). Listed as Alfred Gutch age 44 a single needle manufacturer born in Hornchurch, Essex with sister Edith M. Webb widow age 46 living on own means born in Hornchurch.
· Marriage: August
10, 1896 Bradfield, Berkshire (S8m). Listed as Alfred Gutch
and Constance Emma Woolrych. Alfred was listed as a gentleman from Feckenham whose father was John
Joseph William Gutch also a gentleman.
· 1901 Census: 15
Dunstall court, Feckenham (S4). Listed as Alfred Gutch
age 54 needle manufacturer and landowner employer born in Hornchurch
with wife Constance E. age 44 born in Herefordshire.
· Death: 3rd QTR 1903 Alcester at age 57 (S5d) and
July 8, 1903 (S6).
· Death Notice: July
11, 1903 Redditch Indictor Newspaper (S=on microfilm
at the Redditch Library). This mentions
that more details will be in the next week’s newspaper.
· Obituary: The Alcester Chronical newspaper dated July
18, 1903, page 8 column 5 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).
· Probate: October
3, 1903 Worcester (S6). Listed as Alfred Gutch of Dunstall Court, Feckenham gentleman to Constance
Emma Gutch widow and Arthur Henry Gutch
and Frederick Mortimer Williams Gutch and Frank Holyoake solicitor. Effects: £38,674.
· 1911 Census: Kings End Cottages, Powick,
Worcester (S4). Listed as Constance Emma
Gutch age 54 widow living on
private means employer born in Herefordshire.
Listed as having had no children.
· Wife’s Death: Registered December 1927 Upton upon Severn,
Worcestershire at age 71 (S5d). Listed as Constance E. Gutch. October 16, 1927 Powick, Worcestershire (S6).
· Wife’s
Probate. November 18, 1927 (S6). Listed as Constance Emma Gutch
of Kings End Cottage, Powick, Worcestershire widow to
the reverend Bertram Best Woolrych clerk. Effects: £1,578
Resworn: £1,592.
· Children: None.
Gutch Family Generation 2: Arthur Henry Gutch
(1850-1915) and Sarah Jane Smith (c1850-1917)
· Born: c1851 Hornchurch,
Essex (S4).
· Baptized: Born May
11 and baptized October 30, 1850 Hornchurch,
Essex (S1c). Listed as Arthur Henry Gutch with parents John Joseph William and Sarah Maria Gutch.
· 1851 Census: with
parents in Hornchurch, Essex (S4). Listed as Arthur H. Gutch
age 10 months born in Hornchurch.
· 1861 Census: with parents in Peckham, Surrey (S4). Listed as Arthur Henry Gutch
age 10 a scholar born in Hornchurch.
· 1871 Census: with grandfather John English in Feckenham (S4). Listed as Arthur
Henry Gutch age 20 a needle and fish
hook maker born in Hornchurch.
· Marriage: June 30,
1880 Feckenham (S1m).
Listed as Arthur Henry Gutch age 30 and Sarah Jane
Smith with father listed as John Joseph William Gutch.
June 30, 1880 Feckenham, Alcester (S8m). Listed as Arthur Henry Gutch
and Sarah Jane Smith. Arthur was listed as a needle manufacturer from Feckenham
whose father was John Joseph William Gutch a merchant. Sarah was listed as from Astwood Bank whose
father was James Smith a needle manufacturer. (Note: there was only one James
Smith a needle manufacturer in Astwood Bank, James Smith & Son).
· 1881 Census: 94
Astwood Hill, Feckenham (S4). Listed as Arthur
H. Gutch age 30 needle manufacturer
born in Hornchurch, Essex with wife Sarah J. age 33
born in Astwood Bank.
· 1891 Census: 105
the Waldron, Feckenham (S4). Listed as Arthur H Gutch
age 40 living on own means born in Hornchurch, Essex
with wife Sara J. age 42 born in Feckenham and 2 children: Edward H. B. and
Charles A. I. (note: Census index incorrectly lists the surname as Gueth and also Sara J. as Lura
I.).
· 1901 Census: 43
Alcester Road, Feckenham (S4). Listed as
Arthur H. Gutch age 50 needle manufacturer employer born in Hornchurch, Essex
with wife Sarah J. age 51 born in Feckenham.
· 1911 Census:
Feckenham Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Arthur Henry Gutch age 60 needle manufacturer employer born in Hornchurch, Essex
with wife Sarah Jane age 61 born in Astwood Bank with 1 child: Edward Henry Blackesley.
Indicates they were married for 30 years and had 3 children of which 2
were still alive.
· Death: March 26, 1915
Feckenham (S6).
· Obituary: Redditch
Indictor newspaper dated April 3, 1915 (S=on microfilm at the Redditch
Library).
· Probate: July 15, 1915 Worchester (S6). Listed as Arthur Henry Gutch of The Waldrons Feckenham
to Edward Henry Blackesley Gutch
gentleman, George Charles King accountant and Frank Holyoake
solicitor. Effects: £44,266.
· Wife’s death: Registered
March 1917 Alcester at age 71 (S5d).
Listed as Sarah J. Gutch. February 3, 1917
Feckenham (S6).
· Wife’s Probate:
June 7, 1917 Worcester (S6). Listed as Sarah Jane Gutch
of the Waldrons, Feckenham to George Charles King
accountant and Frank Holyoake solicitor. Effects: £1,751.
· Children:
1.
Edward
Henry Blackesley Gutch
(c1884-??) Born in Feckenham (S4).
2.
Charles
A. I. Gutch (c1885-??) Born in Feckenham (S4).
3.
Unidentified
child (S4-1911).
Gutch Family Generation
2: Frederic Mortimer Williams Gutch (1852-1921) and Eliza
Ann Marshall (c
· Born: in Hornchurch, Essex (S4).
· Baptized: Born
April 18 and baptized June 2, 1852 Hornchurch,
Essex (S1c). Listed as Frederick
Mortimer William Gutch with parents John Joseph
William and Sarah Maria Gutch.
· 1861 Census: with
parents in Peckham, Surrey (S4). Listed
as Fredk William Gutch age
8 scholar born in Hornchurch,
Essex.
· 1871 Census: with
mother in Birmingham (S4). Listed as Frederick M. Gutch
age 18 born in Hornchurch, Essex.
· Marriage: 1st QTR
1881 King’s Norton, Worcestershire (S5m).
Listed as Frederic Mortimer M. Gutch and Eliza
Ann Marshall.
· 1881 Census: 297
Pershore Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham (S4).
Listed as Eliza A. Gutch age 23 married lodger
farmers wife born in Feckenham with 1 child: Frank M. (Note: Frederick is not listed).
· 1891 Census: 52
Hay Farm, Studley (S4). Listed as F. M.
W. Gutch age 38 needle manufacturer employer born in Hornchurch, Essex
with wife Eliza A. age 33 born in Feckenham and 6 children: Frank M., Hugh F.,
Edith M., Archibald W., Alfred S. and Walter L. (Note: incorrectly listed in
the census index as St. M. W. Gutch).
· 1901 Census: 75
Haye Farm, Studley (S4). Listed as F. W.
Gutch age 48 needle manufacturer employer
born in Hornchurch, Essex with wife Eliz Ann age 43
born in Feckenham and 4 children: Frank M., Hugh F., Edith M. and Walter L.
· Wife’s Death: 1st
QTR 1908 Alcester at age 49 (S5d).
Listed as Elisa Anne Gutch.
· 1911 Census: The
Haye, Mappleborough, Studley (S4). Listed as Frederic Mortimer Williams Gutch widower age 58 living on
private means born in Hornchurch, Essex and 4
children: Frank Mortimer, Hugh Frederick., Edith Mildred and Walter Leonel.
· Death: 3rd QTR
1921 Alcester at age 69 (S5m). Listed as
Frederick M. W. Gutch. September 23, 1921 (S6).
· Probate: December 23, 1921
London (S6). Listed as Frederic Mortimer
Williams Gutch of The Haye Mappleborough,
Studley to Hugh Frederic Gutch and Archibald Williams
Gutch esquires.
Effects: £265.
· Children:
1.
Frank
Mortimer Gutch (c1881-??). Born in Edgbaston (S4).
2.
Hugh
Frederic Gutch (c1882-??). Born in Studley (S4).
3.
Edith
Mildred Gutch (c1884-??). Born in Studley (S4).
4.
Archibald
Williams Gutch (c1885-??). Born in Studley (S4).
5.
Alfred
S. Gutch (c1886-??). Born in Studley (S4).
6.
Walter
Leonel Gutch (c1890-??). Born in Studley (S4).
Needle Related Patent and/or Design Registration made
by English
·
Patents:
Provisional design #3624 and #3625 dated July 31, 1883
registered to Pratt & Farmer of Birmingham and John English & Co of
Feckenham for a box or case for holding sewing machine needles and other
needles (S=The National Archives, Kew).
Avery style needle
case with the John English & Co., Feckenham name: Scallop Shell.
Avery style needle
case with the J. English & Sons, Redditch name: Louise - Folding.
