The
Company
Limited information has
been found regarding the origins of Hayes, Crossley & Co. The firm appears to have been established
sometime around 1865[1] by the partnership of John
Wesley Hayes, George Crossley and Leonard Bennett under the name Hayes, Crossley and Bennett. 
The business was listed in the 1867[2]
trade journal shown below, indicating they had patented a new double pointed
easy sewing needle in 1865 which was manufactured at their Excelsior Works
factory in Alcester. They also had a
warehouse that year at No. 1, Mitre Court on Wood
Street in London where these needles were sold to drapers and
haberdashers. The firm participated in
the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867[3]
where they received an honorable mention award for their easy sewing
needles. The exhibition took place from
April 1st until November 3rd and in August of that year the partnership between
the three men who started the company was dissolved[4],
leaving John Wesley Hayes and George Crossley to carry on the business under
the Hayes, Crossley & Co. name. Two
years later they were awarded a silver medal at the Amsterdam Exhibition in
1869[5]
for their needles and were listed as having a large business in machine needles
of all kinds at 150 Cheapside, presumably meaning Cheapside in London, and at
Alcester.
In the 1870[6]
Handbook of Manufacturers and Exporters of Great Britain they were the first
company listed in the needle manufacturer section indicating they had
businesses in Alcester, a warehouse at 150 Cheapside in London, and in
Paris. The listing included details
about one of their products “The new shape or “DOUBLE POINTED” “easy sewing”
needles, so called from their being slightly tapered or reduced in size from
the centre towards the eye end. Unquestionably the principal improvement in
modern needle making”. Two years later
in 1871[7]
their partnership ended and George Crossley agreed to
continue in the business by himself.
During the 1870’s the firm participated in additional World’s Fairs in
1873[8] in
Vienna and in 1876[9] in Philadelphia.
The company’s needles were again mentioned in detail
in an article in the Hints on Haberdashery journal in 1875[10]
which indicated a company named Williams and Hall of 153 Cheapside was the
successor of Hayes, Crossley & Co.
The advertisement shown on the next page and the following two
paragraphs in the Needles section of the journal were dedicated to explaining
the company’s main product.
“A
new shaped needle, patented by Hayes and Crossley, and called Double-pointed, merits
attention, it is fast increasing in public favour. The Family Herald states that it is the only 
improvement
made in needles since our forefathers changed from bone to steel, undoubtedly
there is some truth in this remark. To make bone needles it was necessary to
select pieces of bone thick at one end to give space for the formation of the
eye on account of its brittleness, so that the form of the needle was wedge shaped.
It is a remarkable fact that some old fashioned makers
still make needles of the same shape; tailors when using them are obliged to
give a large, amount of thimble pressure, and a tug when withdrawing the
needle. Hayes and Crossley's new needle
is more the shape of a weaver's shuttle, it tapers slightly to eye, so that the
needle works with a double action, inasmuch as the
point enables the sewer to pierce the fabric, so also the taper to the eye assists
its withdrawal. Tailors take a little time in getting used to them, owing to
their requiring less thimble pressure, which proves the advantage of the shape,
after weaving material for garments, the next process is sewing, and certainly
it seems reasonable to have a needle work on the same principle as a weaver's
shuttle. The new needles are called by the patentees, double-pointed, which is
a trade term, signifying having gone through the process of pointing twice.
This needle certainly deserves the attention of all haberdashers; they are sold
at the same price as other best goods, the manufacturers are obliged to
exercise greater care in making the patent needle than in making the ordinary
shaped needles, the reducing from the centre to the
eye is a very delicate process, that each needle must be reduced in proportion
to its size.”
“It is the general
opinion of needle buyers that the principle on which this needle is made is an
improvement. One of the largest manufacturers of ordinary needles plainly acknowledges,
that in course of time all needles will be made the new shape. Much time and
money have already been expended in bringing this needle into the market; in
many districts the public will have no others; the only objection some buyers
raise against them is, that “needles are only trifling articles,” and that it
is not worth their while to explain its merits to customers; this objection is erroneous;
the very importance of haberdashery as a department, hinges on the fact, that
customers like attention given their little wants, so also they appreciate an
improved made article when explained to them.”[11]
Hayes, Crossley & Co. continued to
appear in export directories as having businesses in Alcester and at 153
Cheapside in London in 1875[12],
although in 1877[13] they were only listed as
in Alcester. It appears the company had
some type of business arrangement with Thomas Williams and Charles Hall who may
have managed or taken over the London warehouse side of the company before
1875. When the organization was listed
as a failure and was liquidated in 1875[14]
it was recorded as “Hayes, Crossley and Co. (Thos.
Williams and Chas. Wm Hall); also trading as Williams and Hall - London, needle
manufs. 12 May 1876”.
Somehow the company continued to operate after this because they
received an honorable mention award at the 1878[15]
Paris Exhibition. Additionally, their
booth at the International Agricultural Exhibition in London in 1879[16]
contained a wide variety of their products including: “a collection of pack
needles, sail and sack needles, machine needles, sewing needles in various
sizes, elegant needle cases in 25 different patterns and needle cases and
threaders.” It is unclear exactly how
the business operated as they were only listed once in a local city directory
in 1873[17]
and were most often listed in commercial export or shippers’ guides. Evidently sending representatives to all of these fairs and presumably spending money to appear
in export guides must have taken a toll on the firm. George Crossley obviously had over extended himself because he went bankrupt in 1880[18]
and the company Hayes, Crossley and Co. was not heard of after that.
The
Owners
John Wesley Hayes was born in 1827 in
Brecon, Wales where he lived for some time with his parents Thomas and Ann
Hayes and six siblings: Mary, Jane,
Simeon, Samuel, Delmus and Elizabeth. His father was a Wesleyan
Minister who moved the family approximately 200 miles northeast to
Sheffield in Yorkshire sometime between 1836 and 1841[19]. John was most likely in the Sheffield area
for a number of years because he worked there as an
apprentice at the largest drapery establishment in the town starting in 1847[20]. By 1861 he was living in Worcester where he
resided in what appears to be a boarding house or warehouse where he worked as
draper’s assistant and met his future business partner George Crossley. For sixteen years between 1855-1875[21]
John was also employed as a haberdashery assistant and buyer in some of the
largest businesses of that type in the country.
During those years he travelled throughout the UK visiting thousands of
drapers[22]
and haberdashery shops where small items used in sewing, such as buttons, zippers and thread, were sold. Probably during one of those trips he met
Leonard Bennett, a needle manufacturer from Alcester. For six years from 1865 until 1871[23]
John operated as a needle manufacturer partnered with Crossley and Bennett in
Alcester. After the partnership ended,
he wrote three editions of a book entitled “Hints on Haberdashery” between 1871
and 1875[24]
providing advice and interesting information to others in the drapery and
haberdashery industries. By 1881 George
settled in the Islington area of London where he remained for the rest of his
life employed as a commercial traveler, one year specializing in sewing
cotton. He never married. Something horrible must have happened after
1891 because by 1901 George was an inmate at the Islington prison. Perhaps
someday the details of what caused his incarceration will come to light.
George Crossley was born c1843 in Ebrington, Gloucestershire which is located about 13 miles
southeast of Alcester. His father was
Joseph Crossley who was born in Cherrington, Shropshire, a small town about 105
miles north of Birmingham. Although it
is unclear exactly how his father got to Ebrington,
it was related to his grandfather, also named George, who apparently moved the
family from Cherrington to Hidcote Boyce near Ebrington
sometime between 1821 and 1841. Actually, the
grandfather was originally from Long Compton, Warwickshire about 12 miles
southeast of Ebrington. The real question is how did
they get from Long Compton to Cherrington in the first place, which
remains a mystery. Both the father and
grandfather were originally farmers who moved around a bit. In 1851 the grandfather had 40 acres in
Hidcote Boyce and the father had 65 acres in
Churchill, about 16 miles further south, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, where he employed 2 boys and 5 laborers. Possibly the grandfather inherited the farm
from his wife’s side of the family because she was born in the Camden area near
Hidcote Boyce. In 1842 the father
married Sarah Dee, a girl whose family lived on a neighboring farm in Ebrington. Between
1843 and 1862 Joseph and Sarah had nine children: George, James, Edward, James, Sarah, Fred,
William, Algernon and Emily. By 1861 the parents and younger children
moved to the Birmingham area and remained in Aston where Joseph worked in a
variety of positions as a laborer. Sarah
died there in 1896 and Joseph died six years later in 1902.
In
1861 George Crossley was living in Worcester, probably in a boarding house or
warehouse with 27 other men, where he was working as a draper’s assistant. This is where he met John Wesley Hayes who
later became his business partner for six years. Four years later in 1865 George married Jane
Ester Hemming in Mickleton, a town about 3 miles
north of Ebrington. At the time he was a 23-year-old draper and his wife was the 30-year-old daughter of a draper. Shortly after their marriage they moved to
Alcester. It seems most likely that the
reason for the move was to pursue business opportunities. Before the move George may have been
introduced to Leonard Bennett who was a needle manufacturer in Alcester, after
all drapers needed needles to do their work.
By 1865 George and Bennett were partners in a needle business along with
John Wesley Hayes which was dissolved in 1867 when Bennett wanted to end his
role in the business. Perhaps the
partnership between Hayes and Crossley had problems because George wrote his
will in
1869 leaving all of his real and personal
estate to his wife, a rather odd thing for a 26-year-old to do. Two years later in 1871 George was still
listed as a needle manufacturer, except now he was on his own since Hayes ended
their partnership. George and Jane had
no children together and his wife died in 1878.
After George went bankrupt in 1880, he held jobs as a commercial clerk
for some years. In 1881 he married his
second wife, a widow named Elizabeth Parr.
Elizabeth, the daughter of the publican Thomas Court, was born in
Alcester c1847. Her first husband was
Bernard Parr, a tailor and draper who left her 2,000 pounds sterling when he
died in 1875. By 1881 Elizabeth had
taken over the drapery business and employed one assistant, perhaps that was
George since he was listed as a commercial clerk that year and had experience
as a draper years earlier. Or George may have married her because she
had money and he did not, having just gone bankrupt the year before. The Crossley family consisted of Elizabeth’s
two children from her earlier marriage and the two daughters she had with
George: Frances and Constance. However,
by 1891 Elizabeth and the four children had moved north to Toxteth Park in the
Liverpool area where they remained until at least 1911. George stayed in Alcester where he lived by
himself and continued working as a clerk in 1891 and became a needle packer
worker in 1901. It is unclear why they
separated and whether they ever contacted each other especially since Liverpool
is quite a distance from Alcester, over 120 miles. George died in Alcester at age 63 in 1906 and
was listed there as a warehouseman at a needle factory on High Street at the
time of his death. Although to date his
grave has not been found, he may have
been buried at the cemetery on the Birmingham Road in Alcester seen here.
Leonard Bennett was born in Alcester
c1804. In 1851 he was living with his
wife at a small village named Binton which is half way between Alcester and Stratford on Avon. At that time, he was listed as a needle maker
and stamper employing 6 men, 4 women and 7 children. By 1861 he was living in Alcester and worked
as a needle manufacturer. Leonard and
his wife Hannah moved to Claines near Worcester, 19
miles west of Alcester, where Leonard was a retired master needle manufacturer
in 1871. Leonard died there in 1877 at
age 73.
Hayes, Crossley & Co (aka Hayes, Crossley &
Bennett): Genealogy
John Wesley Hayes (1827-after 1901)
· Born: February 2, 1827 Brecon, Wales (S1c and S4).
· Baptized: April 5,
1827 Wesleyan in Brecon, Wales (S1c). Listed as John Wesley Hayes with parents
listed as Thomas and Ann Hayes. His father
was a Wesleyan Minister.
· 1841 Census: Broad
Lane Court 7, Sheffield (S4). Listed as
John Hayes age 14 not born in the county with what appear to be his parents
Thomas Hayes age 56 a Wesleyan minister and his mother
Ann age 48 and 6 siblings all not born in the county: Mary, Jane, Simeon,
Samuel, Delmus and Elizabeth.
·
1851 Census: not found.
· 1861 Census: No. 3
and 4, St. Swithun Street, St. Swithun,
Worchester (S4). Listed as John Hayes
unmarried age 32 a draper assistant born in Brecon, Wales. Hayes appears to be living in a boarding
house or warehouse with 27 other men who are mostly apprentices or draper
assistants with George Crossley listed fifth ahead of him. (Note: according to goggle maps, the parish of
St. Swithin is misspelled in the census index, it
should be St. Swithun).
· 1867 Partnership
Dissolved: John Wesley Hayes, George Crosley and Leonard Bennett needle
manufacturers at Alcester dissolve their partnership in the firm of Hayes,
Crossley and Bennett effective August 17, 1867 and that
John Wesley Hayes and George Crossley will carry on business as Hayes and
Crossley. (S=The London Gazette for the year 1867, page 4631 August 20, 1867,
available at books.google.com).
· 1871 Partnership
Dissolved: John Wesley Hayes and George Crossley needle manufacturers at
Alcester and 153 Cheapside in London dissolved their partnership in the firm
Hayes, Crossley & Bennett or Hayes, Crossley and Co May 2, 1871 and that George Crossley alone will carry on the
business of Hayes, Crossley and Co. (S=The London Gazette for the year 1871,
page 3118 July 7, 1871, available at books.google.com).
· Marriage: never
married.
·
1871 Census: not found.
· 1875 Author: J. W. Hayes of Sheffield wrote three editions
of a book entitled Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery Etc. The second edition was completed in 1873 and the
third edition in 1875. It was published
by Clements & Newling, a Drapers’ Stationary
Warehouse at 93 Wood Street in Cheapside, London. According to the author it had been 28 years
since his apprentice in the largest drapery in Sheffield and for the past 20
years was employed as a haberdashery assistant and buyer except for 6 years the
author spent as a needle manufacturer.
Additionally, the author writes about the firm Hayes and Crossley in the
Needles section, pages 47-48. (Source for the third
edition=books.google.com. Source for the
second edition=personal conversation with Philip Lewis of W. O Lewis Badges in
Birmingham, UK since he has a copy of an advertisement from that addition
framed on the wall in his business office). (Note: this is the key that links this John Wesley
Hayes to the Hayes, Crossly & Co firm).
· 1881 Census: 37
Ellington Street, St. Mary’s, Islington, London (S4). Listed as John W. Hayes unmarried age 53 a
lodger, a commercial traveler sewing cottons born in Brecknockshire.
(Note: the census lists his birthplace as Brecknockshire
which is another name for Brecon, Wales).
· 1891 Census: 37 Ellington Street, Islington, London
(S4). Listed as John W. Hayes single age
61 living alone as a commercial traveler employer born in Brecon, Wales.
· 1901 Census:
Inmate at St. Stephens Parish, Islington, London (S4). Listed as John Hayes single age 73 a draper
born in Brecon, Wales
·
Death: not found.
·
Probate: not found.
· Children: none.
Generation 1: Joseph Crossley (c1821-1902) and Sarah Dee
(c1823-1896)
· Born: c1821/22 Cherington,
Warwickshire (S4).
· Baptized: March 4, 1821 Cherington, Warwickshire (S1c). Listed as Joseph Crossley with parents George
and Caroline Crossley.
· 1841 Census: Hidcote Boyce, Ebrington
(S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 20 no
occupation listed born in the county with what appear to be his parents George
Crossley age 60 a farmer born in the county and Caroline Crossley age 60. Sarah Dee age 17 is listed several households
away with what appear to be her parents Thomas and Mary Dee.
· Marriage: October
27, 1842 Ebrington,
Gloucestershire (S3). Listed as Joseph
Crossley and Sarah Dee. Joseph was
listed as a farmer living in Hidcote and his father was George Crossley also a
farmer. (note: the marriage location is incorrectly
listed in the index as Eastington).
· 1851 Census:
Churchill, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire (S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 30 farmer with
65 acres employing 2 boys and 5 laborers born in Cherrington, Warwickshire with
wife Sarah age 28 born in Ebrington, Gloucestershire
5 children: George, J. William, Edward, James and Sarah.
· 1851 Hidcote
Boyce, Campden, Gloucestershire (S4).
Listed as George Crossley age 74 a farmer with 40 acres born in Long
Compton, Warwickshire with wife Caroline age 72 born in Campden. (Note: these
are the parents of Joseph Crossley).
· 1861 Census: 6
House 5 Court, Richard Street, Aston, Birmingham (S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 40 a labourer born in Cherrington, Worcestershire with wife
Sarah age 38 born in Hitchcote, Gloucestershire and 5
children: James, Sarah, Fred, William E. and Algernon.
· 1871 Census: 79
Phillip Str., Aston Manor, Erdington (S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 50 boat
unloader born in Cherrington, Worcestershire with wife Sarah age 47 born in
Hidcote, Gloucestershire and 5 children: James, Sarah, Fred, William
and Emily.
· 1881 Census: 135 Phillip St., Aston Manor, Aston (S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 60 coal dealer
born in Gloucestershire with wife Sarah age 58 born in Gloucestershire and 2
children: Fred and William.
· 1891 Census: 192
Phillip St., Aston Manor, Aston (S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 69 laborer
born in Weston Mill, Worcestershire with wife Sarah age 68 born in Hidcote,
Gloucestershire and 2 children: Fred and
William. (Note: unable to locate Weston Mill in Worcestershire, perhaps this is
a census error since all of the other family members
match with information from previous censuses).
· Wife’s Death: 1st
QTR 1896 Aston age 72 (S5d). Listed as
Sarah Crossley.
· 1901 Census: 192
Phillip St., Aston Manor, Aston (S4). Listed as Joseph Crossley age 80 a widow with
no occupation born in Charrington and 1 child:
William.
· Death: 3rd QTR 1902 Aston age 81 (S5d). Listed as
George Aston.
·
Probate: not found.
· Children:
1.
George
Crossley (c1843-1906). See generation 2.
2.
J.
William/James Crossley (c1846-??). Born
in Ebrington/Maugerbury,
Gloucestershire (S4).
3.
Edward
Crossley (c1847-??). Born in Maugerbury, Gloucestershire (S4).
4.
James
Crossley (c1849/50-??). Born in Churchill, Oxfordshire/Maugerbury, Gloucestershire (S4).
5.
Sarah
Crossley (c1850/51-??). Born in Ebrington, Gloucestershire/Churchill, Oxfordshire
(S4).
6.
Fred
Crossley (c1852/53-??). Born in
Churchill, Oxfordshire (S4).
7.
William
E. Crossley (c1854/55/57-??). Born in
St. John’s Woods/Middlesex, Middlesex/Kilbourne, Oxfordshire,
Birmingham (S4).
8.
Algernon
Crossley (c1859-??). Born in Birmingham
(S4).
9.
Emily
Crossley (c1862-??). Born in Birmingham
(S4).
Generation 2: George Crossley (c1843-1906) and Jane Esther
Hemming (c1835-1878) and Elizabeth Court (c1847-??)
(Note: This is the
only George Crossley living in the Alcester area. Ebrington is next
to Hidcote which is near Mickleton which are all in
the Camden district area)
· Born: c1843 Ebrington,
Gloucestershire (S4).
· Baptized: March 4, 1843 Ebrington, Gloucestershire (S1c). Listed as George Crossley with parents Joseph
and Sarah Crossley. Joseph was listed as
a farmer living in Hidcote.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4) listed as a scholar age 8 born in Ebrington, Gloucestershire.
· 1861 Census: No. 3
and 4, St, Swithun Street, St, Swithun,
Worchester (S4). Listed as George
Crossley unmarried age 18 a draper assistant born in Hidcote. George appears to be living in a boarding
house or warehouse with 27 other men who are mostly apprentices or draper
assistants with John Hayes listed fifth after George. (Note:
the census index incorrectly lists the surname as Crotsley. Also, according to goggle maps, the parish of
St. Swithin is misspelled in the census index, it
should be St. Swithun).
· Marriage #1: September
18, 1865 Mickleton,
Gloucestershire (S3). Listed as George
Crossley and Jane Esther Hemming. George Crossley was listed as a draper age 23 with father Joseph Crossley a farmer and Jane was
listed as age 30 with father Charles Hemming, a draper.
· 1867 Partnership
Dissolved: John Wesley Hayes, George Crosley and Leonard Bennett needle
manufacturers at Alcester dissolve their partnership in the firm of Hayes,
Crossley and Bennett effective August 17, 1867 and
that John Wesley Hayes and George Crossley will carry on business as Hayes and
Crossley. (S=The London Gazette for the year 1867, page 4631 August 20, 1867,
available at books.google.com).
· 1869 Draft Will of
George Crossley: dated December 20-21, 1869.
Listed as George Crossley of Alcester, needle manufacturer who
bequeathed all real and personal property to his wife Jane Ester. (S=Document
CR1596/box 136/11, Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK).
· 1871 Partnership
Dissolved: John Wesley Hayes and George Crossley needle manufacturers at
Alcester and 153 Cheapside in London dissolved their partnership in the firm
Hayes, Crossley & Bennett or Hayes, Crossley and Co May 2, 1871 and that George Crossley alone will carry on the
business of Hayes, Crossley and Co. (S=The London Gazette for the year 1871, page
3118 July 7, 1871, available at books.google.com).
· 1871 Census: 2
High Street, Alcester (S4). Listed as George Crossley age 28 needle
manufacturer born in Hidcote, Gloucestershire with wife Jane Ester age 36 born
in Mickelton, Gloucestershire.
· Wife #1 Jane
Esther Crossley’s death: 1st QTR 1878 at age 43 Alcester (S5d).
· 1880 Bankruptcy: July 23, 1880 George
Crossley, needle manufacturer in Alcester went bankrupt (S=The London Gazette
for the Year 1880, page 4185 July 27, 1880, available at books.google.com).
· 1881 Census: 34
Temperance Hotel, Alcester (S4). Listed
as George Crossley age 38 a widow, lodger and commercial clerk born in Campden,
Gloucestershire.
· Marriage #2: December
26, 1881 Alcester (S3). Listed as George Crossley age 38 widower
needle maker from Alcester and Elizabeth Parr 34 also a widow whose father was
Thomas Court a publican. George’s father
is listed as Joseph Crossley a farmer.
· 1891 Census: 128
Greyhound Inn, Alcester (S4). Listed as
George Crossley age 48 married boarder clerk born in Hebinglow,
Gloucestershire. (Note: the birth town looks like it might be a misspelling of Ebrington).
· 1891 Census for
wife and children: 208 Upper Parliament Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool
(S4). Listed as Elizabeth Crossley
married age 40 with no occupation born in Alcester with 4 children: Francis M., Constance M. and Edith P. Crossley
and Gertrude Parr all born in Alcester (Note: the surname of Edith P. appears
to be a census error and should be Parr).
· 1901 Census: 48
High Street, Alcester (S4). Listed as
George Crossley age 58, a married needle packer worker born in Campden,
Gloucestershire, blind in one eye.
· 1901 Census for
wife and children: 4 Granby Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool (S4). Listed as Elizabeth Crossley age 53 married
living on own account as a fancy stationer working at home born in Alcester
with 2 children: Frances Y. and Constance.
(Note: the surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Cressley).
· Death: Dec. 29, 1906 Alcester (S8d). Listed as George Crossley age 63 a
warehouseman at needle factory died at High Street, Alcester with Alfred
Greenhill present at death.
· Burial: January 1, 1907 at
age 63 Alcester (S7). Listed as George
Crossley of High Street.
· 1911 Census for
wife and children: 4a Granby Street, Liverpool (S4). Listed as Elizabeth Crossley age 63 a widow
stationer born in Alcester with 2 children: Frances and Constance. Indicates Elizabeth had 5 children of which 4
were still living.
·
Probate: not found.
· Children:
· Frances Maggie
Crossley (1882 - ??). Born 4th QTR 1882
Alcester (S5b) and baptized November 3, 1882 in
Alcester (S1c) with parents listed as George and Elizabeth Crossley of Swan
Street, a draper.
· Constance Maud
Crossley (1884-??). Born 3rd QTR 1884
Alcester (S5b) and June 15, 1884 Alcester (S5c) and
baptized July 9, 1884 (S1c) with parents listed as George and Elizabeth
Crossley of Swan Street, a draper.
Addition Information about Elizabeth Court aka
Elizabeth Parr and Elizabeth Crossley
(Note: this
evidence proves that the Elizabeth Court who married Bernard Parr and later
married George Crossley is the same person as the Elizabeth Crossley living in
Liverpool from 1881-1911).
· 1861 Census: 125
Bleachfield Street, Partridge Inn, Alcester (S4). Listed as Elizabeth Court age 13 born in
Alcester with her parents Thomas and Maria Court and four siblings.
· Marriage #1:
December 5, 1870 (S3). Listed as
Elizabeth Court daughter of Thomas Court Publican to Bernard Parr a draper.
· 1871 Census: 180 Swan Street, Alcester (S4). Listed as Bernard Parr age 32 a tailer and draper born in Alcester and his wife Elizabeth
age 23 born in Alcester. (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed in the
census index as Pdw).
· First Husband’s
Death and Probate: September 7, 1875 Birmingham
(S6). Listed as Bernard Parr who died
June 22,1875 in Alcester as a tailor and general draper. Effects:
under £2,000
to Elizabeth Parr widow.
· 1881 Census: 160
Swan Street, Alcester (S4). Listed as
Elizabeth Parr age 33 a widow, born in Alcester working as a draper employing
one assistant with two children: Edith R and Gertrude F. Children:
· Edith Rose Parr (1871-??). Born August 17, 1871 and baptized September 15, 1871 Alcester (S1c) with
parents listed as Bernard and Elizabeth Parr who lived on Swan Street, Alcester
where Bernard was a clothier. Baptized
in the Catholic Church in Liverpool December 14, 1894 (S1c) listed as Edith
Rosa Parr born August 17, 1871 with parents Bernard
Parr and Elizabeth Court.
· Gertrude Fanny
Parr (1873-??). Born May 2, 1873 and baptized May 29, 1873 Alcester with parents listed
as Bernard and Elizabeth Parr who lived on Swan Street in Alcester where
Bernard was a draper (S1c).
· Norah Lizzie Parr
(1875-1877). Baptized March 24, 1875 Alcester (S1c) with parents listed as Bernard and
Elizabeth Parr who lived on Swan Street, Alcester where Bernard was a
draper. Burial Date: October 15, 1877 at age 2 on Swan Street in Alcester (S7).
Leonard Bennett (c1805-1877)
(Note: This is the only Leonard Bennett in the Alcester/Redditch
area)
· 1851 Census: 7 Binton Village,
Stratford on Avon (S4). Listed as Leanord Bennett age 46 a needle maker and stamper with 6
men, 4 women and 7 children born in Alcester with wife Hannah age 46 born in Binton.
· 1861 Census: 49 Stratford Road, Alcester (S4). Listed as Leonard Bennett age 56 a needle
manufacturer born in Alcester with wife Hannah age 55 born in Binton.
· 1871 Census: 288 Wood Terrace, Claines,
Droitwich (S4). Listed as Leonard Bennett age 65 a retired master needle
manufacturer born in Birmingham with wife Hannah age 65 born in Binton. (Note:
Leonard’s birth place seems to be an error by the
census taker as all other information matches with the earlier censuses).
· Death: 2nd QTR 1877 Droitwich at age 73 (S5d). Listed as Leonard Bennett.
Avery style needle
cases with the Hayes, Crossley & Co. name: Butterfly, Louise
- Folding, Quad-Golden Casket - Fleur de Lis and Scallop Shell.
Endnotes
[1]An advertisement in a journal contains a note
mentioning an article written about the company in the Birmingham Daily Post
newspaper dated December 30, 1865. (S=The Tailer and Cutter, A Trade Journal &
Index of Fashion, Saturday April 13, 1867, page 14 of the advertisement
section. Available at
books.google.com). This date for
establishing the company is also implied in
Hints
on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third Edition, 1875,
page 3. (Available at books.google.com).
[2]
The Tailer and Cutter, A trade Journal & Index of Fashion,
Saturday April 13, 1867, page 14 of the advertisement section. (Available at books.google.com).
[3]
Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867 Catalogue of the British Section,
1868, page38 and page 15-16 of the Class XL Award section. Available at books.google.com).
[4]
The London Gazette for the Year 1867, Vol. H, August 20, 1867, page
4631. (Available at books.google.com)
[5]
Trade Union Abroad and the Hints for the Home Legislation: Reprinted from a Report of the Amsterdam
Exhibition of Domestic Economy, 1870, page 172. (Available at
books.google.com).
[6]
The Handbook to the Manufacturers & Exporters of Great Britain,
1870, page 341. (Available at books.google.com).
[7]
The London Gazette for the Year 1871, July 7, 1871, page 3118.
(Available at books.google.com)
[8]
Reports on the Vienna
Universal Exhibition,
1873, Part 1, pages 36 and 58. (Available at books.google.com)
[9]
Official Catalogue of the
International Exhibition of 1876: Part I Main Building and Annexes - United
States Centennial Commission. Philadelphia, page 151. (Available at
books.google.com)
[10]
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third
Edition, 1875, pages 47 and 48. (Available at books.google.com).
[11]
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third
Edition, 1875, pages 47 and 48. (Available at books.google.com).
[12]
The Commercial Directory and Shippers’ Guide, 1875, page 410. (Available at books.google.com).
[13]
The Commercial Directory and Shippers’ Guide, 1877, page 484. (Available at books.google.com).
[14]
Record of Failures & Liquidations in the Financial, International,
Wholesale, and Manufacturing Branches of Commerce in the United Kingdom from
1865 to 1884 both inclusive, 1885, page 184. (Available at books.google.com).
[15]
Paris Universal Exhibition
of 1878 Official Catalogue of the British Section Part I, page 148. And The
Chemical News and Journal of Physical Science, by William Crookes, 1878,
pages 225 and 226. Available at
books.google.com.
[16]
Royal Agricultural Society of England.
A Catalogue of the Various Agricultural Implements, Seeds, Roots,
Manures; and other Articles Exhibited at the International Agricultural
Exhibition London, 1879, page 633.
Available at books.google.com.
[17]
The Needle Almanack and Directory for 1873, page 9. (S=Available at the Redditch Library).
[18]
The London Gazette for the Year 1880, Vol. II, July 27, 1880, page
4185. (S=Available at the Redditch
Library).
[19] The date of the move to Sheffield
is based on the family living in Sheffield in 1841 and the youngest son
age 5 not being born in the county in which they lived which
would mean they moved after his birth in 1836.
[20]
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third
Edition, 1875, page 3 which indicates he was an apprentice 28 years earlier
which would be 1847. (Available at books.google.com).
[21]
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third
Edition, 1875, page 3. (Available at books.google.com).
[22]
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third
Edition, 1875, page 3. (Available at books.google.com).
[23] Page 3 of his book
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc.,
by J. W. Hayes, Third Edition, 1875 indicates he was a needle manufacturer for
6 years. Based on the
fact that his partnership in Hayes, Crossley and Co was dissolved in
1871, that means he started as a needle manufacturer around 1865 which matches
with the information listed in the advertisement at the beginning at this chapter.
[24]
Hints on Haberdashery & Drapery, Etc., by J. W. Hayes, Third
Edition, 1875, preface. (Available at books.google.com).
