Arthur James:  History

 

The Company

The firm known as Arthur James first appears in local city and trade directories in 1855 on Brockhill Road[1] in Redditch.  Since the company was not listed in the 1850[2] directory for the area, one assumes the business was established sometime between 1850 and 1855 by Arthur James, a A picture containing text, rug, picture frame, fabric

Description automatically generatedRedditch needle manufacturer.  Since Mr. James’s father was a grocer and ironmonger it seems most likely that Arthur learned the details of the needle trade while in the employ of W. Bartleet & Son, a major Redditch needle manufacturer[3].  Within 15 years, c1870, Arthur had a large needle factory known as Excelsior Works[4] near the corner of Clive Road and Birmingham Road only a few blocks from Bartleet’s Abbey Mills factory.  The impressive three-story building was made of red brick articulated with plain pilasters and rounded arched windows including a cart entrance on the street side.  In 1871 the factory employed 160[5] people which by 1881 had increased to 234[6].  It was a very large operation with 54 men, 30 boys, 70 women and 80 girls[7] presumably performing all of the tasks necessary to make fine quality needles.  By 1881 the James family was living on Birmingham Road next to the factory in Brunswick House, a stuccoed structure presumably built around the same time as the factory[8].  Parts of both Excelsior Works and Brunswick House exist today, the factory being listed as a historic building that has survived with little alteration[9].  Based on the drawing of the factory on the Victorian Era company trading card[10] shown here, the original building appears to be several times larger than what we see today but the street side view is almost identical to the drawing.  After Arthur James, the firm’s founder, died in 1888, the business was continued by his son-in-law, William Edwin Compton until at least 1912[11].

 

The Owners

Arthur James has an interesting background.  His father was William Henry James a grocer who married Catherine Tommas in December 1825.  Arthur was the oldest son who was born nine and a half months after his parents were married in Redditch.  Arthur had eight brothers and sisters: Harriett, Selina, John, Epsoma, Fredrick, Kate, Ann and William.  His mother died in 1850 and nine years later in 1859, his father remarried Elizabeth Woodfield, a widow from Northampton.  On the father’s marriage bands, Arthur’s grandfather was listed as Henry James, a school master.    From at least 1841 until his death in 1866, William James and his family lived on the east side of the Church Green in Redditch, presumably with a grocery shop on the ground floor of their residence similar to the buildings in that area of the town today.

 

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Description automatically generatedArthur James was born in 1826.  He was already considered a needle manufacturer in 1849 when he traveled to Birmingham to marry his wife Sarah Colesby, who was born in Birmingham.  Arthur and Sarah had four children:  Anna, Emily, Sarah and Mary.  At first they lived in several different places within the Redditch area but between 1871 and 1881 settled down at Brunswick House which was built next to his needle factory.  In addition to always being listed as a needle manufacturer, Arthur was a creative man who registered at least ten patented designs between 1852 and 1874[12], nine which are listed on the trading card seen here.  By 1886 Arthur had achieved the status of Esquire[13].  Two years later Arthur died in 1888 at age 62.  William Avery and several other needle manufacturers from the area attended his funeral procession[14] when Arthur was buried at the Plymouth Road Cemetery in Redditch.  Mr. James left an extremely large estate for the time of £33,732, which is equivalent to roughly £4.6  million today, to his wife, his brother Frederick William James, to John Stack a school master from Edgbaston and to his son-in-law William Edwin Compton a needle manufacturer.  His wife Sarah died a year later.  Additional information about Arthur’s life can be found in his obituaries, parts of which are listed below.

 

 


 

REDDITCH FUNERAL OF MR. A. JAMES.[15] - “The funeral of Mr. Arthur James, needle and fish-hook manufacturer, who died at his residence, Brunswick House, on the 29th took place on Monday.”

 

THE LATE MR. ARTHUR JAMES.[16] - “The deceased, who was in his sixty-second year, was, in every sense of the word, a self-made man.  He began life in the employment of Messrs. W. Bartleet and Sons, and early proved that he possessed an inventive genius of no mean order.  Among his inventions may be mentioned the “Needle Quiver” case, which at once obtained a marked success; an ingenious needle-counting machine, a patent wrapper, and the finishing machine.  Mr. James for many years had a large French trade, but on this becoming depressed he turned his attention to America, where he did a large business.  Towns grow by increase of manufacturer, and this in its turn is increased by doing a large trade at a fair profit.  In this Mr. James very largely assisted, and brought into the town a trade which would probably have gone to Germany.  He was a member of the Wesleyan body, and contributed the sum of £250 towards the recent enlargement of the chapel on Bates Hill.  In politics he was a Conservative, and for some time previous to his death was president of the Redditch Conservative Association.  He was also a large shareholder and a director of the Redditch Town and District Gas Company.”

 

It appears that Arthur’s son-in-law took over the Excelsior Works needle business after Arthur’s death.  In 1875 Arthur’s daughter Emily, who was born in Redditch in 1852, married William Edwin Compton in Redditch.  Mr. Compton was originally from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.  He was listed as a clerk in 1881 but became a needle manufacturer by the time of Arthur’s death[17] and a needle and fish hook manufacturer employer by 1891.  After living on Bromsgrove Road in Redditch for many years in the 1880s and 1890s, the Compton family moved to Clive Road near Excelsior Works by 1901 and in 1911 they were living in the old Arthur James family home known as Brunswick House.  Emily and William had two children: Ethel and Muriel.  William died in 1925 in Upper Norgrove near Redditch where the family was living at the time and Emily died there in 1944.

 

In 1883 Arthur’s youngest daughter, Mary, married Henry Thomas in Redditch.  Mr. Thomas was the son of their neighbor Samuel Thomas, another Redditch area needle manufacturer.  For more information about the Thomas family see Chapter 19.

 


Arthur James:  Images

 

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Excelsior Works on Clive Road from the southeast, 2018.

 

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Excelsior Works from the southwest, 2017.

 

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Close up view of the cart entrance at Excelsior Works, 2018.

 

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Clive Road sign, 2019.

 

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South side of Brunswick House which appears to be attached to Excelsior Works, 2019.

 

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Brunswick House at the northwest corner of Clive Road and Birmingham Road, 2019.

 

 

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Brunswick House is located directly east of the Excelsior Works factory, 2019.

 

 

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North side of Brunswick House which appears to be attached to Excelsior Works, 2019.

 

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Shops on the Church Green East in downtown Redditch from the north looking south, 2018.

 

The Beatrice 4 Section, an Avery style needle case with interior panels stamped with the Arthur James name.

 

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Close up of the Beatrice showing the Arthur James name

 

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Old post card showing the buildings on the Church Green East from the south looking north, 1902 (S=sold on eBay in March 2019).

 

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Close up of one of the shops on the Church Green East, 2018.


 

Arthur James:  Genealogy

 

Generation 1:  William Henry James (c1805-1866) and Catharine Tommas (c1806-1850) and Elizabeth Woodfield nee Sturges (c1815-??)

·       Born:  c1805/6 (S4).  Father Henry James, a school master (S3).

·       Baptized: not found 

·       Marriage #1: Dec. 27, 1825 Redditch (S1m).  Listed as William Henry James and Catharine Tommas.

·       Pigot’s Directory of 1835, page 651.  Listed under Grocers, Drapers and Dealers of Sundries as William Henry James. 

·       1841 Census: Chapel Green East, Redditch (S4).  Listed as Wm James age 35 a grocer born in the county with wife Catherine age 35 also born in the county and 8 children: Arther, Henrietta, Sellma, Epsoma, Roba, Ann, John and Fredrick. (Note: Henrietta is incorrectly listed in the index as Harriett).

·       Wife #1’s Death: 3rd QTR 1850 Bromsgrove (S5d).  Listed as Catherine James.

·       1851 Census: 78 Chapel Green East, Redditch (S4).  Listed as William Hy James a widow age 46 a grocer born in Redditch with 5 children: Selina, Epsama, Kate Elizabeth, Ann Eliza and William Henry James.

·       Marriage #2: Aug. 2, 1859 St. Sepulchre, Northhampton (S3).  Listed as William Henry James a widow and grocer from Redditch and Elizabeth Woodfield a widow from Northhampton. William’s father was listed Henry James school master and Elizabeth’s father was listed as William Sturges a shoemaker.

·       1861 Census: 110 Church Green East, Redditch (S4).  Listed as William H. James age 55 a grocer born in Redditch with wife Elizabeth age 46 born in Wooton, Northhampton and 3 children: Kate E., Ann E, and William H.

·       Death:  Jan. 31, 1866 Redditch (S6). 

·       Probate: April 6, 1866 Worcester (S6). Listed as William Henry James late of Redditch grocer and ironmonger.  Proved by David Ball of Redditch commercial clerk and James Smallwood of Redditch boot and shoe manufacturer executors.  Personal effects: under £450.

·       Wife #2’s Death: not found

·       Children:

1.     Arthur James (1826-1888) - see generation 2.

2.     Harriett James (c1828-??) born in Worcestershire (S4).

3.     Sellma/Selina James (c1830-??) born in Redditch (S4).

4.     John James (c1832-??) born in Worcestershire (S4).

5.     Epsoma/Epsama James (c1835-??) born in Redditch (S4).

6.     Fredrick James (c1837-??) born in Worcestershire (S4).

7.     Roba/Kate Elizabeth James (c1838/39-??) born in Redditch (S4).

8.     Ann Eliza James (c1841-??) born in Redditch (S4).

9.     William Henry James (c1846-??) born in Redditch (S4).  Listed as an apprentice needle making in the 1861 census.

 

Generation 2:  Arthur James (1826-1888) and Sarah Colesby (c1822-1889)

·       Born:  1826/27 (S4) and October 15, 1826 (S=gravestone per Raymond McLaren).

·       Baptized:  Oct. 22, 1826, Redditch (S1c).  Parents are listed as William and Catharine James.

·       1841 census:  with parents (S4).  Listed as Arther James age 14 born in the county.

·       Marriage: 4th QTR 1849 Birmingham (S5m) and December 4, 1849 St. George, Birmingham (S3).  Listed as Arthur James needle manufacturer from Tardebigg parish and Sarah Colesby. Arthur’s father was listed as William Henry James, a grocer. 

·       1851 Census: 50 Littlewith, Redditch (S4).  Listed as Arthur James age 24 a needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Sarah age 26 born in Birm, Warwick and 1 child: Ann Cathe.

·       1861 Census: 5 needle factory, Beoley, St. Leonard, Kings Norton (S4).  Listed as Arthur James age 34 a needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Sarah age 40 born in Birmingham and 4 children: Ann Catherine, Emily, Sarah Jane and Mary.

·       1871 Census: 72 Station Road, Redditch (S4).  Listed as Arthur James age 43 a needle manufacturer with 160 hands born in Redditch with wife Sarah age 44 born in Birmingham and 2 children: Anne C. and Emily.

·       1881 Census: Brunswick House, 18 Birmingham Road, Redditch (S4).  Listed as Arthur James age 54 a needle manufacturer employing 54 men, 30 boys, 70 women and 80 girls born in Redditch with wife Sarah age 59 born in Birmingham and 1 child: Mary.

·       The London Gazette July 2, 1886.  Lists Arthur James as Esquire of Clive Road, Redditch

·       Death:  1st QTR 1888 Bromsgrove (S5d).  Feburary 29, 1888 Redditch (S6).

·       Probate: May 11, 1888 Worcester (S6).  Listed as Arthur James late of Redditch a needle manufacturer who died at Redditch.  Proved by Sarah James widow the relict and Frederick William James confectioner the brother both of Redditch, John Slack of Edgbaston in the county of Warwick school master and William Edwin Compton of Redditch needle manufacturer the executors.  Personal Estate £34,796 resworn May 1890 £33,732.

·       Obituary: March 10, 1888 Redditch Indicator newspaper (S=Microfilm at the Redditch Library).

·       Buried:  Plymouth Road Cemetery, Redditch.  Listed as Arthur James, age 61, a manufacturer, who died on Clive Road and was buried March 5, 1888.  Interment number 4793, grave number 1350.  (S=Redditch Crematorium Records researched in August 2019 by Raymond McLaren).

·       Wife’s death: 1st QTR 1889 at age 69 Bromsgrove (S5d).

·       Children:

1.     Anna Catherine James (c1851-??) born in Redditch (S4).

2.     Emily James (1852-1944) - see generation 3.

3.     Sarah Jane James (c1855-??) born in Redditch (S4).

4.     Mary James (c1857-??) born in Redditch (S4). Married: February 6, 1883 Bromsgrove (S8m).  Listed as Mary James age 25 of Birmingham Road in Redditch whose father was listed as Arthur James a manufacturer and Henry Thomas age 32 a bachelor manufacturer from Prospect Hill in Redditch whose father was listed as Samuel Thomas a manufacturer.  The marriage certificate indicates the marriage took place in the presence of Arthur James and Emily Compton.

·       Patents

1.     March 27, 1852 - #3197 needle case

2.     October 19, 1852 - #437 improvement in needle cases or wrappers

3.     January 14, 1853 - #99 improvements in means for enclosing needles

4.     December 9, 1853 - #2860 mechanism and apparatus for numbering, measuring and weighing needles and for preparing papers to receive them

5.     November 6, 1862 - #4522 needle case

6.     July 30, 1867 - #2206 needle case

7.     October 1867 (S=trading card sold on eBay)

8.     May 8, 1868 - #1514 sewing needles polishing and sharpening

9.     October 20, 1868 - #3284 envelope for needles

10.  April 15, 1874 - #1294 sewing machine needles

11.  July 10, 1874 (May 1874) - 2429 improved machinery for grading and polishing needles

 

Generation 3:  Emily James (1852-1944) and William Edwin Compton (c1854-1925)

·       Born: 1st QTR 1852 Bromsgrove (S5b).

·       Baptized: not found.

·       1861 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as Emily James age 9 born in Redditch.

·       1871 Census: with parents (S4).  Listed as Emily James age 18 born in Redditch.

·       Marriage: 3rd QTR 1875 Bromsgrove (S5m).  Listed as Emily James and William Edwin Compton.

·       1881 Census: 18 Bromsgrove Road, Redditch (S4).  Head listed as William E. Compton age 27 clerk born in Tewksbury with wife Emily age 29 born in Redditch and one child. Ethel Jane

·       1891Census: 29 Bromsgrove Road, Redditch (S4).  Head listed as Wm. Compton age 37 needle and fish hook manufacturer employer born in Tewkesbury with wife Emily age 39 born in Redditch and two children. Ethel and Muriel.

·       1901 Census: 10 Clive Road, Redditch (S4).  Head listed as William E Compton age 47 needle and fish hook manufacturer employer born in Tewkesbury with wife Emily age 48 born in Redditch and one child: Muriel.

·       1911 Census: Brunswick House, Birmingham Road, Redditch (S4).  Head listed as William Edwin Compton age 57 needle and fish hook manufacturer employer born in Tewkesbury with wife Emily age 59 born in Redditch and one child Muriel.  Indicates William and Emily were married 36 years and had two children of which two were still living.

·       Husband’s Death: May 10, 1925 (S6).

·       Husbands Probate: July 23, 1925 London (S6).  Listed as William Edwin Compton of Upper Norgrove near Redditch to Emily Compton widow, Robert Ernest Compton retired manager, William Frederick Lofthouse Wesleyan Minster, Bernard Beverly Wills tobacco manufacturer and Herbert Andrew Pearson bank Manager.  Effects £24,444.

·       1939 England and Wales Register: Upper Norgrove, Webheath (S9).  Listed as Emily Compton born February 8, 1853 a widow, occupation unpaid domestic duties with daughter Muriel Compton born October 19, 1881 single, occupation unpaid domestic duties.

·       Emily’s Death: January 18, 1944 (S6).

·       Emily’s Probate: May 15, 1944 Llandudno (S6).  Listed as Emily Compton of Upper Norgrove near Redditch to Muriel Compton spinster, Evan Thomas Lewis retire bank official, William Frederick Lofthouse Methodist Minister and Harry Harris manager.  Effects: £21,894.

·       Children:

1.     Ethel James Compton (1876-after 1911) - Born in Hereford (S4).

2.     Muriel Compton (c1881-??) Born in Redditch (S4).

 

Needle Related Patents and/or Design Registration made by Arthur James

·       1852 Useful Design Registration: #3197 for a needle case dated March 27, 1852 (S=The National Archives, Kew).

·       1862 Useful Design Registration: #4522 for a needle case dated November 6, 1862. (S=The National Archives, Kew).

 

Avery style needle cases with the James name:  Beatrice - 4 Sections and the Butterfly.

 




Endnotes

 

[1] M. Billings Directory and Gazetteer of the County of Worcester, 1855, page 377.

[2] Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Birmingham with Staffordshire and Worcestershire, 1850 page 463 does not list Arthur James, however his father William Henry James was listed as a grocer and ironmonger.

[3] From his obituary dated March 10, 1888 in the Redditch Indicator newspaper.

[4] According to two sources, the Excelsior Works factory was built in the mid 1800’s.  The Buildings of England Worcestershire, by Alan Brooks, 2007, page 559 indicates it was built c1870 whereas the Historical England website at https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/the-excelsior-works-redditch-4792   claims it was built in the mid 1800’s.  Also, because the 1871 census shows Arthur James as a needle manufacturer with 160 employees, a large factory would have been needed to accommodate that many employees.

[5] 1871 census for Arthur James.

[6] 1881 census for Arthur James.

[7] 1881 census for Arthur James.

[8] The Buildings of England Worcestershire, by Alan Brooks, 2007, page 559.

[9] Historical England website at https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/the-excelsior-works-redditch-4792.

[10] This Victorian Era trading card was sold on the Internet.

[11] Kelly’s Worcestershire Directory, 1912, page 229.

[12] Nine of the patent months and years are listed on the company’s Victorian Era trading card displayed on this page.   Additional information comes from a variety of patent listings online include the one found at https://fiddlebase.jimdo.com/patents-1/.  All of these will need to be researched at the British Library Business and Intellectual Property Centre in London at a future date.

[13] The London Gazette, July 2, 1886, page 3211.  Listed as Arthur James, Esquire, Clive Road, Redditch.

[14] From his obituary dated March 10, 1888 in the Redditch Indicator newspaper (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

[15] From his obituary dated March 10, 1888 in the Alcester Chronical newspaper (S=britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk)

[16] From his obituary dated March 10, 1888 in the Redditch Indicator newspaper. S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).

[17] From Arthur James probate record.

 

 

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