Abel Morrall: History

The history of the Abel Morrall company is complicated by the fact that six family members were named Abel and three others were named Michael. In addition, the firm is most often referred to simply as Abel Morrall, making it difficult to distinguish whether the reference is to a person with that name or to the company. Fortunately, there are two excellent sources regarding the history of this company. One was written in 1862 by a descendant of the firm’s founder, The History and Description of Needle Making by Michael T. Morrall. The second was written in 2017 by someone who spent over thirty years researching information about the Morrall company and family. It is entitled The Art and Mystique of Needlemaking - Abel Morrall Needlemakers 1785-1991 by Peter Collins, the husband of a Morrall descendant. Most of the information about Abel Morrall in the narrative below comes from these two sources, and much of it was confirmed through other sources either footnoted here or in the genealogy section of this chapter. The Abel Morrall needle manufacturing company[1] was passed down through four generations of the Morrall family. To make the narrative easier to understand, the individuals with the forename Abel are listed as: Abel I who was the father of the founder; Abel II the brother of the founder; Abel III the son of the founder; Abel Andrew a grandson of the founder; Abel IV another grandson of the founder; and Abel Edgar the great-grandson of the founder. The individuals with the forename Michael are listed as Michael I the founder, his son Michael II, and his grandson Michael Thomas.

The Company

According to the company history written in 1862, the firm known as Abel Morrall was established in 1785 by Michael Morrall who was taught needle making by his maternal uncle Charles Rawlins[2]. If this is true, Michael I, who was born c1767, and who started an apprenticeship with Rawlins in 1779[3], would have been only 18 years old when the company was founded. The company history also states that by 1790 Morrall made 1 million of the 2.5 million needles made in the district. At first Michael I partnered with his older brother Abel II and John Cheston and they were listed in a 1791[4] British directory as Cheston and Morralls, needle makers in Alcester. Alcester is located approximately nine miles south of Redditch and was one of the first places in this area of the UK where needles were made. Some believe Cheston and Morralls were making needles at Ragley Mill in Alcester[5], perhaps being one of the first to use this old corn mill on the Arrow River for needle making. By the end of 1791 the partnership, then known as Cheston, Morrall and Morrall, was dissolved. Michael I then partnered again with his older brother Abel II, but this time was joined by John Archer, his brother-in-law, to form Morrall Archer Morrall. They apparently continued operations at Ragley Mill[6] for a few years but by 1795[7] the three young men were listed as tenants on property owned by William Farr. Although it is unclear exactly where this property was located, it may have been at Washford Mill in Studley[8] pictured here[9]. The town of Studley is roughly four miles north of Alcester and Michael I was definitely living there as a needle maker by 1799[10]. At the close of the 18^th century the partnership with Archer ended and thereafter Michael apparently ran the business at Washford Mill[11] by himself, although his brother Abel II may have provided some financial assistance.

It is unclear exactly why the firm was named Abel Morrall. Perhaps Michael I named it in honor of his father Abel I or his brother Abel II, especially since Abel II was partnered with him for a number of years. Another possibility is he named it after his first-born son who was named Abel III when he was born c1792. Or perhaps the firm was not officially established until a bit later, sometime after the move to Studley. In fact, documents from a court case in 1902[12] specifically state that “The Plaintiffs and their predecessors had carried on the business of needle manufacturers for about a hundred years under the style of Abel Morrall . . .” which would mean the company was established around 1802. Later these same court documents state that “In the year 1891, Abel Edgar Morrall was the proprietor of a very old-established business of a needle manufacturer, which had been carried on by him and his predecessors for about 100 years at Studley, near Redditch, under the style of Abel Morrall” which could mean it was established about 1791. Most people[13] believe the story written in 1862 and it has been used as the main source for the company’s history for many years. Still there are some concerns regarding its accuracy, especially considering it was written by a member of the Morrall family whose main job with the firm was salesman. It was not unusual during the Victorian Era for companies to claim they were older than they actually were. Because the firm Abel Morrall was not listed in any of the four major city/county trade directories during 1828-9[14], 1830[15], 1835[16] and 1842[17], one wonders why they did not use these directories as a way to advertise their business. Abel Morrall was listed in 1840[18] as one of the needle manufacturers from the Redditch area who signed a memorandum presented to the House of Commons Board of Trade. This memorandum questioned the practice of placing a duty on needles imported into France because the needle manufacturers knew it would negatively impact their ability to trade with France.

One thing that set the Morrall company apart from others was the innovativeness and entrepreneurial spirit of the firm’s owners which displayed itself very early in the company’s history. In 1793 they worked with a watch maker to improve the way eyes were drilled into needles, however due to its high cost, its use was stopped. Most of the inventions were created after Michael I’s two sons, Abel III and Michael II, joined the firm and were working with their father. They continued to experiment during the 1810’s in an attempt to find a new way to make the eyes in needles. At the time each needle had to be punched separately with a special tool to make the eye, a very slow and time-consuming process. By 1820 they were able to patent a stamping press that could punch the eyes into two needles at the same time, greatly increasing the speed with which needles were made. Several years later in 1823 they patented a burnishing machine to smooth the eyes of needles and it was able to handle 100 needles at a time. Some of their greatest achievements occurred in 1839[19]. First, they invented a machine to straighten needles, a device that in one hour could accomplish what would have taken twelve hours by hand. They also patented several improvements to their earlier machinery for burnishing or smoothing the eyes, thereby removing fragments of metal left after the stamping process or other imperfections that could cause thread to break. When some of the other needle manufacturers learned how Morrall had improved the needle making process, they became jealous as there was much competition in the area. This resulted in a lawsuit filed against one of the Morrall patents which ended in Morrall’s favor. The Abel Morrall firm continued to make improvements throughout the 19^th century including the creation of oval eyed needles and grooveless needles in 1842. To better understand the impact of these inventions, it was written “before the introduction of, or rather before the making of needles by machinery generally, in 1824, only five millions were made in the district per week, while in 1847, fifty millions were made in the same time”.[20]

In 1835[21] Abel III purchased the building known as “The Towers” on the corner of Green Lane and the Redditch Road in Studley. This became not only the Morrall family residence but was also their needle factory with a beerhouse on one end called the Needlemakers Arms. Within a few years the firm moved their needle production from Washford Mill[22] and started manufacturing needles at their new location, pictured here[23]. Improvements and additions to the factory probably occurred throughout their many years there. When the father Michael I died in 1839 the needle business passed to his eldest son Abel III and Michael I’s youngest son Michael II continued to work for the firm. In fact, a few years later, several of their children were also working for the Morrall company. Whereas Abel III’s sons Abel Andrew and Francis learned the needle business from their father and remained in Studley, Michael II’s eldest son, Michael Thomas, followed a different path. Around 1841/1842[24] at age 23 Michael Thomas was sent to Lancashire and Yorkshire to promote the firm’s needles in those areas. He was a very successful salesman and even set up a warehouse in Manchester. A year later, in 1843, Michael Thomas was sent to London to talk to shopkeepers in an attempt to generate more business there. Although his efforts to convince shopkeepers to purchase Morrall products failed, he tried a different approach by giving away Morrall thimbles and needles to the workers he met at tailor shops. Because Morrall’s grooveless needles were so easy to use they quickly became very popular with the workers resulting in increased sales for the company. Shortly thereafter a warehouse was established in London and by 1851[25] Michael Thomas moved to Salford near Manchester and continued his operations for the company from that location. The advertisement[26] shown here includes all three Morrall locations.

Under the management of Abel III, the company enjoyed considerable success. His brother Michael II was in charge of the beerhouse, the sons Abel Andrew and Francis worked at the factory in Studley, and Michael Thomas managed the warehouse in Manchester. The firm was listed in the Studley section of the 1845[27] Post Office Directory of London. Here they were given special attention by being included in the town’s descriptive history paragraph where they were referred to as a principal manufacturer “Mr. Abel Morrall, who has taken out several patents for some very ingenious inventions in the manufacture of the needle”. In the trade’s section of this directory they were listed as “Abel Morrall, needle and bodkin manufacturer and farmer” whereas Michael II was listed as having a beer shop. During the Victorian Period is was common practice for manufacturers to have a shop associated with their business so their workers could purchase items from them using company tokens instead of wages[28]. In this way the manufacturers made even more money because the wages of their employees went back into the company through the profits from the goods they sold. In 1850[29] the firm was listed in a local city directory as Abel Morrall & Son, needle manufacturers in Studley with Michael II again listed as having a beer house. The great success of the company is confirmed by the fact that in 1851[30] Abel Morrall was one of only a handful of Redditch area needle manufactures who participated in the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, the first World’s Fair. The main purpose of the exhibition was to show the world that Britain was the world’s industrial leader[31]. At the fair Abel Morrall exhibited and demonstrate some of their innovative machines and captivated many of the roughly 42,000 visitors[32] who attended the fair each day. Not only did they give away 200,000 needles during the exhibition, but they also showed Queen Victoria and Prince Albert how needles were made and they were certainly impressed. It was reported in a local newspaper as follows: “On Saturday last her Majesty and Prince Albert, during their visit to the Exhibition, minutely inspected the ingenious needle making machine of Mr. Abel Morrall, of Studley, which was put in operation in the royal presence, and explained. Her majesty was please to accept a packet of needles which had been made in her presence.”[33] After the exhibition, the firm Abel Morrall participated in a number of additional exhibitions including ones in Dublin in 1853[34], London in 1862[35] and Paris in 1878[36].

During the second half of the 19^th century the Morrall firm saw many changes, not only with its management but also involving legal disputes between family members. In 1861 two things happened, first the factory building on Green Lane, originally named the Needlemakers Arms, was renamed the Griffin Inn and the demi-griffin[37] symbol became the company’s new trade mark. Also, that year Abel Andrew signed a lease for the factory known as Priory Mill[38], sometimes called Priory Works or Studley Mill, which was located closer to the center of Studley on the Arrow River. Abel III’s brother Michael II died at the end of 1862 followed four years later by Abel III’s death in 1866. Although the Morrall needle business passed to Abel Andrew, the house at the Towers and the needle factory on Green Lane went to Francis. In a city directory in 1866[39] Mr. Abel Morrall was listed in the Clergy and Gentry section as living on Green Lane with Abel Andrew listed below him without a reference to a residence. That year the firm Abel Morrall was listed in the trades and professions section as a manufacturer of needles without a reference to its location. In an 1868[40] directory Abel Morrall was listed in the commercial section as at the Griffin followed by Andrew[41] and Francis both listed as needle makers which could mean the move to Priory Mill was not totally completed by this date. Four years later it must have been quite a shock for the family when Abel Andrew died in 1870 at age 47. As a result, the Abel Morrall needle company was placed in a trust until his son Abel Edgar, who was only 9 years old that year, came of age in 1882. The move to Priory Mill appears to have taken place sometime between 1868 and 1873 because by 1873[42] the Abel Morrall company was listed at Priory Mills and Francis was listed at Green Lane Works. Although the firm was operated successfully by the trustees while waiting for Abel Andrew to come of age, Francis became concerned about eventually having to work for his nephew who was 26 years his junior. Around 1874[43] Francis decided to establish his own needle manufacturing company at the Griffin Inn which he named Francis Morrall’s Green Lane Needle Works. Within a few years Francis came to the realization that he was not going to be as successful as his father unless he could use his father’s name to sell his needles. This caused him to fraudulently begin using the Abel Morrall name in an attempt to increase sales. Once the trustees of the Abel Morrall firm discovered this, they sued him in 1881[44] and won an injunction requiring Francis to stop making these claims. Needless to say, when Abel Edgar finally came of age in 1882 and took over the Abel Morrall business, the two men were probably not on the best of terms. Abel Edgar purchased the Priory Mill (seen here[45]) in 1883 and surely by then all of the Abel Morrall company business was taking place there. In fact the move to Priory Mill occurred while the trustees were in charge because in an 1878[46] city directory Abel Morrall was listed as follows: “Morrall, Abel inventor of the grooveless & egg eyed needles & manufacturer of all kinds of needles, thimbles, crochets &c. & sewing machine needles; warehouses, 22 Gresham street, City, London; & 20 Highstreet, Manchester; manufactory, Priory mills, Studley.” By 1890[47] new buildings were added to the Priory Mill factory in order to accommodate an increase in sales as the firm continued to flourish. Although Abel Edgar enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1885 and became a lieutenant, he was able to continue to manage the company because his service in the Reserves was only part time. In the late 1880’s Abel Edgar sued Francis again when the company learned Francis was continuing to try and pass off his needles as the official Abel Morrall brand. Again, Abel Morrall won.

By the end of the 19^th century the Abel Morrall needle business was not only one of the largest in the area but also one of the most successful especially since many of the other needle manufacturers were starting to amalgamate. In 1898 Morrall decided they needed a bigger presence in the town of Redditch because that was where most of their major competitors were located. To accomplish this, they amalgamated with the Redditch firm Lewis & Baylis who had a factory on Clive Road (see drawing on the next page) next to the Redditch railroad station. This move gave the company direct access to a modern transportation system ensuring their products could more easily and quickly be distributed to a wide variety of places. Because Lewis and Baylis had earlier purchased Francis Morrall’s needle business, there were no longer concerns about Francis confusing their customers. At the same time, Abel Edgar sold Priory Mill to the Morrall company. Several other needle manufacturers, including Johnson & Son, T. & J. Holyoake[48], Joseph Mogg & Co.[49] and Hayes, Crossley & Co[50] were also anagrammed into the Morrall firm. Although Abel Edgar served as the chairman of the new enterprise, which used the Abel Morrall Limited[51] name, because it was the older company, operational control passed to George Lewis who was assisted by his son Willibrord Lewis. In 1901[52] another legal dispute arose, this time between the Morrall company and T. Hessin & Co who had intentionally purchased another firm, known as J. Y. Morrall, so they could fraudulently use the Morrall name to sell inferior needles. Again, the lawsuit was resolved in Morrall’s favor.

Abel Morrall Ltd[53] continued to produce needles throughout much of the 20^th century. In 1905 they introduced one of their most popular needle packets with their new Flora MacDonald trade mark[54]. Then in 1925 George Lewis partially retired and after Willibrord took over management of the firm, the Clive Works factory in Redditch was reconstructed and enlarged by 1936. Also, in 1936 the company registered another trade mark and launched the Aero brand which greatly expanded the firm’s product line. When Abel Edgar died in 1943, he was still the chairman, the last Morrall associated with the firm since his only son was killed in action during World War I. Willibrord Lewis became the chairman after Abel Edgar’s death and his son Bernard George Lewis became the managing director. In 1944 they took over W. Woodfield & Sons Limited and by 1972 acquired The British Needle Company. Although the Clive Works factory was damaged by fire in 1979, that same year Abel Morrell Ltd decided to change its name to Aero Needles Group Ltd. It was purchased in 1984 by Coats Parsons Ltd and became part of ENTACO (English Needle and Fishing Tackle Co) in 1991.

Today one finds many places in the Redditch area associated with the Morrall history[55]. Ragley Mill in Alcester still exists, although it has been converted into a series of private row houses. There is a lovely scenic park just east of these buildings with a walking path offering excellent views of the natural beauty along the Arrow River. Another important site between Alcester and Studley is the National Trust estate known as Coughton Court[56] (photograph on the right). Morrall family members were Catholics and they surely worshipped here at some point because the Throckmorton family, who owned this estate since 1409, were also Catholic. The Throckmorton’s allowed fellow parishioners to worship at their estate since Catholicism at the time was frowned upon by the Church of England. In Studley both Washford Mill and Priory Mill still exist. One was recently remodeled and opened as the Miller and Carter Washford Mill restaurant with a Victorian style water wheel in the restaurant’s interior. Priory Mill was sold by Morrall in 1972 and is now a private company named Mitcorp Digital Media Limited, a small television broadcasting station. The building and grounds have been modernized and the garden contains a number of interesting sculptures. The original Morrall factory on Green Lane in Studley, known as the Needlemakers Arms and later the Griffin Inn, was demolished in recent years and a row of houses has taken its place. Another point of interest is St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Studley (photograph on the left) because Abel III was the chairman of the church’s fundraising committee when it was built 1853[57]. The Morrall family worshiped here during the second half of the 19^th century and many Morralls were buried in the cemetery surrounding the church. Only a few blocks north of the church one finds the Manor House where several members of the Morrall family once lived. Unfortunately, nothing remains in the town of Redditch related to the Morrall family. The Clive Works factory was damaged by fire in 1979 and, although it was somewhat restored later, it was finally demolished in 2003.[58] All that remains is the vacant lot on the west side of the Redditch railway station where it once stood. By standing on the station platform during rush hour and looking across the tracks to the west, one can almost visualize the hustle and bustle that must have occurred here at one time when merchandise was transferred from the Morrall needle factory to the train for distribution to other destinations.

The Owners[59]

Michael Morrall I was born c1767 and was most likely baptized in Coughton Court because his family was Catholic. His parents were Abel Morrall I and Ann Rawlins[60]. In 1779[61] Michael I’s father Abel I was listed as a master peruke-maker from Alcester and in 1791[62] was listed in a British directory as a peruke-maker and victualer in Alcester. A peruke was a “man’s wig, especially the type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century. It was made of long hair, often with curls on the sides, and drawn back on the nape of the neck.”[63] Historically in the UK a victualer was an innkeeper who sold both alcohol and food. Michael I had at least twelve brothers and sisters but was most likely closest to his older brother Abel II and his younger sister Ann because he partnered with Abel II and Ann’s husband John Archer early in his career. His brother Abel II followed in their father’s foots steps and likewise became a peruke-maker and a victualler[64], however he also became a successful auctioneer as many of his auctions were listed in local newspapers[65]. Michael I’s parents died in 1804 and were presumably both buried in Alcester, where they lived at the time. Historical events from the 18^th and 19^th centuries were frequently recorded by district rather than by town or village. It is quite possible that the individuals listed here were actually living in another town, such as Studley or Sambourne, because these towns were included in the Alcester District during this time period.

At age 12, in 1779 Michael I was apprenticed to his maternal uncle Charles Rawlins who was a master needle maker in Alcester. It is unclear exactly how long he trained under Rawlins, however by 1791 he was working with his brother and John Cheston as needle makers. Then in 1795 at age 27 he was admitted to the Grand Lodge of England as a freemason needle maker from Alcester. Michael I married Eleanor Chartars in Alcester in 1792 and by 1799 the family was definitely living in Studley where he worked as a needle maker and spent the rest of his life. They had nine children: Abel III, Michael II, Ann, Joseph, Edward, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Catherine and Charlotte. Michael I died in Studley of old age in 1839 at age 71 and was buried in Alcester. After his death, his two sons, Abel III and Michael II continued the family’s needle making business. His wife Eleanor died nine years later in 1848 at age 81.

Abel Morrall III[66] was born c1792 in the Alcester district which could mean he was born in Alcester or Studley[67]. In 1818 at age 26 he married Dinah Garrett at St. Bartholomew in Tardebigg, the main church in the Redditch area at that time. They had six children: Elisabeth, Abel Andrew, Thomas, Helen, Joseph, and Francis. By 1831 Abel III was listed as living in Studley at Green Lane as a needle maker, however he may in fact have been a needle manufacturer that year because many times manufacturers were simply listed as needle makers or as “needle m” during this time period. Because Abel III was the eldest son, he most likely inherited the majority of his father’s needle business in 1839 when his father passed away whereas his brother Michael II appears to have been the beer house keeper and grocer associated with the Morrall needle factory. Both brothers were living on Green Lane in Studley in 1851. In 1849[68] Abel III prepared his will in which he was listed as Abel Morrall of Green Lane a needle manufacturer. Although this will is very hard to read because of the old fashioned handwriting, it appears that Abel III wanted to leave the majority of his business to his eldest son Abel Andrew and the remainder of his estate was to be divided equally between his other five children. His wife Dinah died in 1855 a t age 59. It seems most likely that his son Abel Andrew took over responsibly for the company sometime before his father’s death, because Abel III is listed as a needle stamper at age 70 in the 1861[69] census. Why would he be stamping needles now if he was a needle manufacturer ten years earlier unless he was just helping out occasionally due to his old age. Abel III died in 1866 at Green Lane and in his probate record he was listed as an Esquire indicating he had achieved a relatively high status during his lifetime. His estate was valued at roughly £800 and his eldest son Abel Andrew inherited the needle business whereas his youngest son Francis inherited the Green Lane buildings.

Abel III’s younger brother Michael II was born c1794. He traveled to Birmingham in 1817 where he married Susanna Brisby. They returned to the Studley area and lived on Green Lane where Michael II was listed as a beer house keeper, grocer and occasionally a needle maker while his wife was a dress maker. Michael II and Susanna had a least five children: Michael Thomas, Ann, Edwin, Abel IV and James. Michael II died in Studley in 1862 at age 68 and was followed eleven years later by his wife in 1873 who was 83 at the time of her death. It appears as though Michael II’s son Abel IV who was born c1828, took over his father’s business because Abel IV was listed as a needle manufacturer and innkeeper at the Griffin Inn by 1871. Ten years earlier Abel IV was a needle stamper presumably working at his uncle Abel III’s needle business because he was living next door to his uncle Abel III.

Although most of Michael II’s life was spent supporting his brother Abel III in the needle business it was Michael II’s eldest son Michael Thomas, who contributed significantly to the success of the Abel Morrall company. This was partially because he was a few years older than his cousins but also, he most likely knew he would not inherit the family’s needle business because he was the son of the second son. Therefore, he had to find a different path to success. Michael Thomas[70], pictured on the next page, was born c1818 in Studley and was living there with his parents in 1841. Between 1841 and 1851 he acted as a traveling salesman visiting Lancashire, Yorkshire and London many times in an attempted to find new clients who would purchase Morrall needles. In fact, he became quite successful and established warehouses for the Morrall company in the Manchester area and in London. In 1849 he married Martha Hollins in Liverpool and by 1851 they had settled at the town of Salford, a suburb of Manchester where his wife was born. After the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, Michael Thomas began researching the history of needle making during his free time when he wasn’t preoccupied with business activities. In 1852 he published the first book ever on the topic entitled History and Description of Needle Making[71] which became quite poplar resulting in four additional editions being published between 1854 and 1866. The later editions included advertisements which promoted Morrall’s thimbles and needles as well as the company’s warehouse in Manchester. In order to reduce the cost of publication, Michael Thomas sold advertising space to other companies so they could advertise their products in his book as well. In an 1855[72] city directory he was listed as the Manchester agent for the Abel Morrall company. By 1861 Michael Thomas and Martha, who had no children, moved to the town of Matlock Bank in Derbyshire, at the south east side of the Peak District where they lived for the rest of their lives. Michael Thomas was listed as either a needle manufacturer or a merchant during his years in Matlock and their residence was known as Balmoral House. Michael Thomas must have been very successful in his business as he was retired at age 52 by 1871. He was also very interested in genealogy and obtained a great deal of information about the history of the Morrall family throughout the years which he carefully recorded. His enthusiastic approach to everything eventually took a toll on his health, he suffered from delusions and spent several months in 1873 at a mental hospital. Then one night nineteen years later in 1891[73] Michael Thomas heard a loud explosion and discovered his wife had been murdered. The ensuing search by the police for the culprit was unsuccessful and for a while Michael Thomas was a suspect especially after the police discovered he spent time in an asylum twice in the past for nervous conditions. This case caused quite a scandal in the Matlock area and surely placed significant pressure on Michael Thomas. Approximately eight months later he died at Balmoral House at age of 72 and was buried next to his wife at the St. Gile’s Churchyard[74] in Matlock. Although the perpetrator of his wife’s murder was never found, in 1904[75] a newspaper article indicated a prisoner in Manchester who died that year had confessed to shooting Mrs. Morrall for money.

Abel Andrew Morrall, the eldest son of the Morrall company’s owner Abel III, was born c1822 in Studley. In 1847 he married Ann Jane Sopere the step-daughter of William Davies, Esquire, of Studley. Abel Andrew and Ann had at least three children: Laura, Louisa and Jane, before Ann passed away suddenly at age 32 in 1858. Three years later Abel Andrew married his second wife Mary Teresa Pippet and they had four children together: Abel Edgar, Rose, Mary and Mildred. Abel Andrew was responsible for convincing the firm in 1861 to lease the buildings at Priory Mill so they could expand their business because this mill not only offered the company more space but it had a water wheel which would help with the process of pointing and scouring needles. When he inherited the business after his father’s death in 1866, he continued to register patents to improve the way in which the firm’s needles and fish hooks were made. Unfortunately, he became ill shortly thereafter and wrote a detailed will appointing trustees to manage the firm in the event of his death until his only son Abel Edgar came of age. Abel Andrew passed away in 1870 at age 47 and left an estate valued at £16,000, which is equivalent to approximately £1 million today. His death notice in a local newspaper indicated he died at his residence the Manor House[76] in Studley. Abel Andrew was buried in the cemetery at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Studley, the church where over seventeen years earlier his father Abel III had served as the chairman of the church’s fundraising committee before its construction in 1853[77].

Francis Morrall, the youngest son of Abel III, was born c1835 in Studley, thirteen years after his older brother Abel Andrew. He married Mary Isabella Sumner in 1857 and they had ten children: Mary, William, Francis, John, Ignatius, Bernard, Leonard, Cuthbert, Frederick and Veronica. Within a few years of their marriage they were living in neighboring Sambourne where Francis was listed as a needle manufacturer and farmer with 40 acres employing 2 men, 10 woman and 10 boys in the 1861 census. After the death of his father in 1866, Francis moved his family to Green Lane in Studley and by 1874 had established his own needle manufacturing company there under his own name. Between 1881[78] and 1890 Francis was sued twice by the Abel Morrall firm for trying to sell his products using the Abel Morrall name. In both cases he lost and although he continued business for another eight years, he eventually sold his needle factory to W. C. Vale in 1898 when most of the smaller needle manufacturers in the area were merging with others. Francis’s wife Mary died in 1912 followed by Francis less than two months later that same year at age 76 and both were buried at the Catholic cemetery in Studley.

The last Morrall associated with the Abel Morrall company was Abel Edgar[79] who was born in 1861 in Studley, the only son of Abel Andrew who died in 1870. He was living with his mother and several sisters in Edgbaston in 1881 when his mother suddenly passed away later that year at age 42. Then when he turned 21 in 1882, he assumed control of the Abel Morrall needle manufacturing firm. He married Annie Townsend of Hunt End in London in 1883. They most likely met because two of his sisters had married two of her brothers[80]. Both the Morrall and Townsend families had been in the needle business in the Redditch area for many years. Shortly after taking control of the company in late 1883 Abel Edgar personally purchased Priory Mill which the company had been leasing for twenty-two years. In 1885 he enlisted in the Army Reserves and was appointed Lieutenant, but was able to continue to manage the needle business because his Reserves activities were only part time. As his father and grandfather did before him, Abel Edgar continued to support improvements to the way in which needles were made and many new patents were introduced during his tenure as the company’s director. Abel Edgar and Annie had one child, Edgar Percy and were living at the elegant Manor House estate on Alcester Road in Studley in 1891. In 1898, after Abel Morrall merged with Lewis and Baylis, Abel Edgar became the chairman of the new enterprise and members of the Lewis family were responsible for the day to day operations at the company’s two factories. Although Abel Edgar remained the chairman of the firm for the rest of his life, he no longer lived in the area. In 1901 he was living in Hasting, Sussex where he was listed as a 39-year-old whose occupation was Captain Major and in 1911 at age 49 was a Colonel living on private means in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. During WWI he temporarily put his chairmanship on hold and served with the Army Reserves and became a Lieutenant Colonel working at the War Office. The summer of 1917 must have been one of the saddest of his life because his only son Edgar Percy Morrall was killed in action in France at age 33. Edgar Percy was buried at Browns Copse Cemetery in Roeux, Nord-Pas-de Calais, France[81] (photograph of his gravestone seen here). Abel Edgar’s wife Annie died in 1935 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and three years later in 1938 Abel Edgar married his second wife Lesley Annie Row, 48 years his junior, in Hastings. When Abel Edgar died in Devonshire in 1943 at age 82 he left an estate valued at £41,935 or £1.5 million in today’s pounds. His wife Lesly remarried in 1946 and died 52 years later in 1998 in Poole, Dorset.

George Lewis[82] was born c1847 in Redditch, the son of Henry and Amelia Lewis. His father was a needle pointer who died in 1868 at age 55. It was not unusual for needle pointers to die at relatively young ages because prior to the 1840’s, when protective shields were introduced, they often breathed in tiny particles of metal while pointing needles which damaged their lungs. George had at least five siblings. In 1867 he married Ann Webb in Edgbaston and they returned to Redditch where they had thirteen children including several who died in childhood: Alfred, Edward, Emily, Willibrord (1), Clara, Willibrord (2), Harriet, Elsi e, Tom and Hilda. George spent his early years as commercial traveler most likely promoting the needle business he established with another needle maker in 1869. George and Ann experienced great sadness in 1873 when their newborn son Willibrord died only a few months after his birth. He must have meant a great deal to them because when their next male child was born in 1876 they named him Willibrord as well. By 1891 George had partnered with Baylis and they had a large needle factory on Clive Road next to the Redditch railway station. When his company merged with Abel Morrall in 1898 George was selected to be the operational manager, a position he held for over twenty-five years. He continued the long standing Morrall tradition of innovativeness but also increased sales by expanding the firm’s product line to keep up with the fashionable trends of the day which included hat pins, hair pins, knitting pin gauges, gramophone needles, etc. depending upon what was popular at the time. George’s wife Ann died in 1916 at age 71 and he semi-retired in 1925 passing the torch of managing director to his son Willibrord. George died five years later in 1930 at age 83.

Willibrord Lewis[83] (photograph on the left) was born in 1876 in Redditch. He married Catherina Perks in 1902 and they had at least four children: Mildred, Arthur, Bernard and Margaret. Willibrord spent many years working with his father and continued to develop new products. After his father passed away in 1930, he became the managing director of Abel Morrall Ltd. He very successfully managed the Abel Morrall firm which can be witnessed by the size of his personal estate when he passed away years later. Willibrord’s wife died in 1953 and he died ten years later in 1963 at age 87 leaving an estate valued at £106,781 or £2.5 million in today’s pounds. His son Bernard George Lewis[84] (photograph on the right) was born in 1906 in Redditch and joined his father in the needle business. Bernard traveled at least three times to north America, 1930, 1939 and 1957, most likely to pursue business opportunities in the USA and Canada. Bernard married Winifred R. Salomon in 1934 in Kensington, London and they lived on Feckenham Road in Redditch until at least 1957. His wife died in 1984 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire at age 77 and Bernard died three years later in Upton on Severn at age 81 in 1987. It is unknown whether they had any children.

Abel Morrall: Images

Ragley Mill Townhouses in Alcester, 2018.

Coughton Court main entrance, 2017.

Miller & Carter Washford Mill restaurant in Studley, 2018.

Another view of the Ragley Mill Townhouses, 2018.Another view of the Ragley Mill Townhouses, 2018.

Path along the Arrow River near Ragley Mill, 2018.

View of the waterway near the mill pond next to Washford Mill, 2018.

Studley village sign near the intersection of Green Lane and the Redditch Road, 2019.

Green Lane street sign, 2019.

Redditch Road south of the intersection with Green Lane, 2019.

Row houses on Green lane from the west where Morrall’s Green Lane Needle Works was originally located, 2019.

Row houses from the east side of Green Lane, 2019

South side view of the row houses on Green Lane, 2019.

Priory Mill in Studley, 2017.

Arrow River next to Priory Mill looking south, 2017.

Statue of a lamb in the garden surrounding Priory Mill, 2017.

Another view of Priory Mill, 2017.

Arrow River next to Priory Mill looking north, 2017.

Statue of a man sitting on a bench in the Priory Mill garden, 2017

Manor House in Studley from the north east where the Morrall family once lived, 2019.

St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Studley, 2019.

Grave of Francis Morrall at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church cemetery, 2019.

Close up view of Manor House from the east, 2019.

View of some of the graves at the cemetery next to St. Mary’s, 2019.

Close up of Francis Morrall’s gravestone which shows it is missing part of the top, 2019

Edward Street in Redditch from the southwest where Morrall’s Clive Works needle factory was originally located, 2019.

View of the vacant lot from the west, with the Kingfisher Shopping Centre in the background, 2019.

View of the Clive Works factory on the west side of the railway tracks during demolition in 2003 (S=Peter Harris, a Redditch area historian).

Another view of the vacant lot where Clive Works once stood, 2019.

The Clive Works factory during demolition in 2003 (S=Peter Harris, a Redditch area historian).

The south side of Clive Works during demolition in 2003 (S=Peter Harris, a Redditch area historian)

Front of the Hygrometer Weather House needle case. This needle case is either stamped A. Morral Studley or it is unsigned.

The Abel Morrall needle case made of nickel silver with the Griffin trade mark.

Abel Morrall silver thimble (S=internet)

Back of the Hygrometer Weather House with the side open showing where needle packets were placed.

The Louise Folding needle case which can be found with the Morrall name on it or with one of several other needle manufacturers.

Abel Morrall bone thimble (S=internet).

Abel Morrall: Genealogy

Generation 1: Abel Morrall (c1734-1804) and Ann Rawlins (c1736-1804)

· Born: 1734 (S=N1), c1734 (S7), January 8, 1734 Coughton (S2). Parents listed as Abel Morrall and Elizabeth Joyce (S2).

· Married: January 25, 1761 (S2), listed as Abel Morrall and Ann Rawlins. 1761 Coughton Court (S=N1), listed as Abel Morrall and Ann Rawlings. Ann was born c1736 (S7).

· Apprenticed: June 2, 1779 Alcester (S=UK Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices’ Indentures, 1710-1811 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Abel Morrall master peruke maker of Alcester apprenticed Jn Taylor.

· Burial: January 11, 1804 Alcester (S7). Listed as Abel Morrall age 70.

· Probate: not found.

· Wife’s Burial: January 18, 1804 Alcester (S7). Listed as Ann Morrall age 68

· Children:

1. Abel Andrew Morrall (c1761-1821) (S7), birth year (S=N1), married Mary Watson in 1789 in Aston (S=N1). Abel and Mary had 11 children (S2). Freemason March 18, 1795 (S=England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 available at ancestry.com), listed as Abel Morrall age 31 hairdresser from Alcester admitted 1794. Freemasons Quarter Sessions: 1799 and 1800 Alcester (S=Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Sessions Records, 1662-1866 available at ancestry.com), listed as Abel Morrall hairdresser Alcester. 1805 Land Tax: S=Warwickshire, England, Land Tax, 1773-1830 available at ancestry.com), listed as Marquis of Hertford proprietor and Abel Andrew Morrall as occupier. Alcester Juror’s Lists 1811 and 1818 (S=Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Sessions Records, 1662-1866 available at ancestry.com), listed in 1811 as Abel Morrall vict. Alcester and in 1818 as Abel Morrall innkeeper in Alcester. Buried: December 8, 1821 Alcester at age 60 (S7), listed as Abel Andrew Morrall.

2. Charles Morrall (1763-1763) (S2).

3. Elizabeth Morrall (1765-1803) (S2).

4. Michael Morrall (c1767-1839) (S2) - see Generation 2.

5. Charles Morrall (1770-1770) (S2).

6. Ann Morrall (c1772-1846) (S7). Married: John Archer (S2 and S=email correspondence with Peter Collins). John Archer was baptized December 26, 1772 Alcester (S1c) and was buried May 4, 1837 Alcester at age 66 (S7). Possible 1841 Census: Sambourne (S4), listed as Ann Archer age 70 born in the county. Death: January 24, 1846 Alcester (S8d), listed as Ann Archer widow of John Archer schoolmaster. Buried: January 29, 1846 Alcester at age 74 (S7).

7. Winefride Morrall (1773-1784) (S2).

8. Sophia Morrall (1775-1833) (S2.)

9. Catharine Morrall (1777-1834) (S2).

10. May Morrall (1778-1781) (S2).

11. Apollonia Morrall (1782-1864) (S2).

12. Edward Morrall (c1783-1861) (S2). Studley Juror’s Lists 1831 and 1836 (S=Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Sessions Record available at ancestry.com), listed in 1831 as Edward Morrall Studley tailor in Studley and in 1836 as a shop keeper in Studley. 1861 Census: 132 Sandy Lane, Aston (S4). Listed as Edward Morrall age 78 father widower formerly grocer born in Alcester living with Edward Morrall age 47 married clerk at gas office born in Alcester and his family. Death: 2^nd QTR 1861 Aston (S5d), listed as Edward Morrall. Probate: Principal Registry August 14, 1862 (S6). Listed as Edward Morrall formerly of Studley draper and tailor but late of Birmingham died April 13, 1861 Birmingham. Effects: under £100 prove by the oaths of Abel Andrew Morrall of Studley needle manufacturer and John Reeve of Coughton.

Generation 2: Michael Morrall (c1767-1839) and Eleanor Chartars (c1767-1848)

· Born: October 10, 1767 Coughton (S2) with parents Abel Morrall and Ann Rawlins. 1767 (S=N1) with parents Abel Morrall and Ann Rawlings.

· Baptism: not found.

· Apprenticed: June 2, 1779 Alcester (S=UK Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices’ Indentures, 1710-1811 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Cha Rawlins master needle maker of Alcester apprenticed Michael Morrall. Charles Rawlings was Michael Morrall’s maternal uncle (S=N1).

· Founded the Abel Morrall company (S=N1) (S=N2)

· Marriage: February 13, 1792 Alcester (S3). Listed as Michael Morrall and Eleanor Chartars. Eleanor was born in 1767 and died in 1848 (S2).

· Founded the needle company known as Abel Morrall about 1785 (S=N1), (S=N2).

· Freemason 1795 (S=England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 available at ancestry.com), listed as Michael Morrall age 27 needle maker from Alcester admitted March 18, 1795.

· Freemasons Quarter Sessions: 1799 and 1800 Alcester (S=Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Sessions Records, 1662-1866 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Michael Morrall needle maker Studley.

· Death: January 26, 1839 Studley (S8d). Listed as Michael Morrall age 71 needle maker who died in Studley with John Huband present at death.

· Burial: January 31, 1839 Alcester (S7). Listed as Michael Morrall age 71.

· Probate: not found.

· Wife’s Death: December 15, 1848 Studley, Alcester (S8d), listed as Ellen Morrall widow of Michael Morrall needlemaker.

· Children:

1. Abel Morrall (c1792-1866) (S2) - see Generation 3.

2. Michael Morrall (c1794-1862) or (1796-1862) (S2) - see Generation 3.

3. Ann Morrall (1795-1818) (S2).

4. Joseph Morrall (1797-1802) (S2).

5. Edward Morrall (1798-1855) (S2).

6. Elizabeth Morrall (1800-1860) (S2).

7. Eleanor Morrall (1802-1876) (S2).

8. Catherine Morrall (1805-1886) (S2).

9. Charlotte Mary Morrall (1809-1889) (S2).

Generation 3: Abel Morrall (c1792-1866) and Dinah Garrett (c1796-1855)

· Born: November 24, 1792 Studley (S2), 1792 (S=N1), c1791/93/96 (S4).

· Baptism: not found.

· Marriage: May 25, 1818 St. Bartholomew, Tardebigg (S1m). Listed as Abel Morrall and Dinah Garrett. Dinah was born c1796 (S4).

· Studley Juror’s Lists 1831 and 1836 (S=Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Sessions Record available at ancestry.com), listed as Abel Morrall Green Lane needle maker.

· 1841 Census: Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Morrall age 45 needle m born in the county with wife Dina age 45 also born in the county and 4 children: Elizh, Abel Andrew, Helen and Francis.

· Draft Will: September 29, 1849 (S=Reference #CR1596 box 103-1-18 Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick). Listed as Abel Morrall of Green Lane Studley needle manufacturer bequeathed to his oldest son Abel Andrew Morrall and friend Charles Walker the needle manufactory and the rest of the estate to be divided in equal portions to children: Abel Andrew, Elizabeth, Helen and Francis.

· 1851 Census: 132 Green Lane, Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Morrall age 58 needle manufacturer born in Alcester with wife Deana age 58 born in Oldenburg, Worcestershire and 1 child Frances born in Studley and a nephew Edward age 20 needle maker bornin Studley.

· Wife’s death: April 6, 1855 Studley (S2), 2^nd QTR 1855 Alcester (S5d). Listed as Dinah Morrall.

· 1861 Census: 134 Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Morrall age 70 widow needle stamper born in Studley.

· Death: 4^th QTR 1866 Alcester (S5d) at age 74. December 10, 1866 Green Lane House, Studley (S6).

· Probate: March 11, 1867 Birmingham (S6). Listed as Abel Morrall Esq. late of Green Lane House Studley proved by Francis Morrall of Studley needle maker the son and sole executor. Effects: under £800.

· Children:

1. Elizabeth Morrall (1819-1887) (S2).

2. Abel Andrew Morrall (c1822-1870) (S2) - see Generation 4.

3. Thomas Morrall (1824-1824) (S2).

4. Helen Morrall (1826-1889) (S2.)

5. Joseph Morrall (1833-1833) (S2).

6. Francis Morrall (c1835-1912) (S2) - see Generation 4.

Generation 3: Michael Morrall (c1794-1862) and Susanna Brisby (c1790-1873)

· Born: 1794 (S=N1), July 30, 1794 Studley (S2), 1794/96 (S4).

· Baptized: not found.

· Marriage: May 29, 1817 St. Phillips, Birmingham (S1m and S3). Listed as Michael Morrall and Susanna Brisby. Susan was born c1790/1791 Henley in Arden (S4) or 1790 (S7).

· 1841 Census: Studley, Alcester (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall age 45 needle m with Michael Jr age 20 tailor and Susanna age 45 and 3 children Edwin, Abel, and James all born in the county.

· 1851 Census: 122 Green Lane, Studley (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall age 57 beer house keeper & grocer born in undecipherable Alcester with wife Susanna age 61 born in undecipherable and 1 child: James.

· 1861 Census: 142 Studley (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall age 67 master needle maker born in Alcester with wife Susanna age 71 dress maker born in Henley in Arden.

· Death: 1^st QTR 1862 Alcester (S5d). Listed as Michael Morrall.

· Probate: not found.

· 1871 Census: 157 Crown House, Studley (S4). Listed as Susanna Morrall mother widow age 80 annuitant born in Henley in Arden living with her son Edwin and his family.

· Wife’s Death: 3^rd QTR 1873 Alcester at age 83. Listed as Susanna Morrall.

· Children:

1. Michael Thomas Morrall (c1818-1891) - see Generation 4.

2. Ann Morrall (c1820-1895 (S2).

3. Edwin Morrall (c1826-1904) born in Studley (S4), death (S2).

4. Abel Morrall (c1828-1891) born in Studley (S4) death (S2). 1841: with parents (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall Junr age 20 tailor born in the county. 1851 Census: 115 Green Lane, Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Morrall age 24 needle maker born in Studley with wife Mary Ann and son Thomas. Living near his father Michael Morrall (1794-1862) and uncle Abel Morrall (1792-1866). 1861 Census: Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Morrall age 33 needle stamper born in Studley with wife Mary A. and 4 children: Susan, Thomas, Michael and Edward. Living next to his uncle Abel Morrall (1792-1866). 1871 Census: 144 Griffin Inn, Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Morrall age 43 needle manufacturer and innkeeper born in Studley with his wife Mary A. and 6 children: Susan, Thomas, Michael, Anptona, Jane and Lewis. Living next to his cousin Francis (1835-1912).

5. James Morrall (c1830-1904) born in Studley (S4), death (S2).

Generation 4: Abel Andrew Morrall (c1822-1870) and Ann Jane Sopere (c1826-1858) and Mary Teresa Pippet (c1839-1881)

· Born: 1822 (S=N1), November 8, 1822 Studley (S2), c1823/26 (S4).

· Baptized: not found.

· 1841 Census: with parents in Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall age 15 born in the county.

· Marriage #1: October 20, 1847 Studley, Alcester (S8m). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall of age a needle manufacturer from Green Lane in Studley whose father was listed as Abel Morrall a needle manufacturer and Ann Jane Sopere of age from Studley whose father was listed as John Sopere. October 20, 1847 (S=Worcester Journal newspaper dated October 28, 1847). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall of Green Lane near Studley to Miss Ann Jane Soper, daughter-in-law of William Davies, Esq. of Studley. Ann Jane was born c1826 (S4).

· 1851 Census: 3 Studley Village, Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall age 28 needle manufacturer born in Studley with wife Ann Jane age 25 born in Alcester and 1 child: Laura C. and 2 sisters-in-law: Louisa Davies age 14 and Laura Davis age 11 all born in Studley.

· Death Wife #1: July 6, 1858 Warwick (S6). Listed as Ann Jane Morrall.

· Probate Wife #1: July 14, 1859 Principle Registry (S6.) Listed as Ann Jane Morrall, wife of Abel Andrew Morrall, late of Studley proved by the oath of Abel Andrew Morrall of Studley needle manufacturer and sole executor. Effects: under £100.

· Marriage #2: 1^st QTR 1861 Alcester (S5m). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall and Mary Teresa Pippet. Mary was born c1838/39/41 (S4).

· 1861 Census: 5 Alcester Road, Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall age 37 needle manufacturer and farmer born in Studley with wife Mary Teresa age 23 born in Somersetshire and 2 children: Louisa Jane and Jane Ann. (note: Abel is incorrectly listed as Roll Andrew Morrall in the census index).

· Death: 1^st QTR 1870 Alcester at age 47 (S5d), January 22, 1870 Studley (S6).

· Probate: March 16, 1870 Principal Registry (S6). Listed as Abel Andrew Morrall late of Studley needle manufacturer proved by oaths of Mary Teresa Morrall widow and John Perks of Sambourne farmer. Effects: under £12,000. Resworn April 1876 under £16,000.

· 1871 Census: 4 Rosheat House, Studley (S4). Listed as head of family out with 5 children with the surname Morrall: Laura Catherine, Abel Edgar, Rosa Agnes, Mary Eleanor and Mildred and 3 children with the surname Peverelle: Oswald, Lea and Percy.

· 1871 Census: 25 Lever Street, Manchester (S4). Listed as Mary Ann Morrall age 30 boarder marital status not listed needle manufacturer born in Nettlebridge Somersetshire. Lewis Peverelle boarder widower age 29 merchant born in Birmingham was listed next to her.

· Wife #2’s Remarriage: 2^nd QTR 1871 Birmingham (S5m). Listed as Mary Teresa Morrall and Lewis Peverelle.

· Wife #2’s 2^nd Husband’s Probate: November 17, 1880 Birmingham (S6). Listed as Lewis Peverelle died November 6, 1879. Estate under £300 to Mary Teresa Peverelle of 52 Pershore Road widow. Resworn March 1882 under £400.

· 1881 Census: 52 Pershore Road, Edgbaston (S4). Listed as Mary T. Peverelle age 42 born in Stratton Somerset with 3 children born in Studley: Abel E. Morrell age 19, Rose A. Morrell age 17 and Maria T. Peverelle age 8.

· Death Wife #2: September 12, 1881 Birmingham (S6). Listed as Mary Teresa Peverelle.

· Road, Birmingham, widow. Personal Estate: £2,418 to William Pippet the grandfather of Leamington Priors and guardian of Abel Andrew Morrall, Rose Agnes Morrall, Mary Eleanor Morrall, Mildred Elizabeth Morrall and Marie Peverelle spinster, the minor children and only next of kin.

· Children:

1. Laura Catherine Morrall (c1850-??) born in Studley (S4). Marriage: August 2, 1871 Alcester (S8m). Listed as Laura Catherine Morrall age 21 from Studley whose father was listed as Abel Andrew Morrall a needle manufacturer and Edward James Foster age 22 a needle manufacturer from Hunt End whose father was listed as William Foster (deceased). The marriage certificate indicates they were married in the presence of Lewis Peverelle and Mary Teresa Peverelle.

2. Louisa Jane Morrall (c1855-??) born in Studley (S4).

3. Jane Ann Morrall (c1857-??) born in Studley (S4). Marriage: February 23, 1876 Alcester (S8m). Listed as Jane Anne Morrall age 19 of Studley whose father was listed as Andrew Morrall a needle manufacturer and George Townsend Foster age 21 a needle manufacturer from Hunt End whose father was listed as George Townsend a needle manufacturer. The marriage certificate indicates they were married in the presence of Edward J. Foster. For more information about the Townsend family see Chapter 20.

4. Abel Edgar Morrall (1861-1943) - see Generation 5 (married Anne Townsend).

5. Rose Agnes E, Morrall (c1864-1929) born in Studley (S4). Death (S2).

6. Mary Eleanor Morrall (c1867-??) born in Studley (S4).

7. Mildred Elizabeth Morrall (c1869-??) born in Studley (S4).

Generation 4: Francis Morrall (c1835-1912) and Mary Isabella Sumner (c1837-1912)

· Born: 1835 (S=N1), December 8, 1835 Studley (S2), c1836 Studley (S4).

· Baptized: not found.

· 1841 Census: with parents in Studley (S4). Listed as Frances Morrall age 5 born in the county.

· 1851 Census: with parents in Studley (S4). Listed as Frances Morrall age 15 a scholar born in Studley.

· Marriage: 2^nd QTR 1857 Alcester (S5m). Listed as Francis Morrall and Mary Isabella Sumner. Mary was born c1837 (S4).

· 1861 Census: 32 Parkfield House, Sambourn (S4). Listed as Francis Morrall age 25 born in Studley needle maker and farmer of 40 acres employing 2 men, 10 women and 10 boys with wife Isabela age 24 born at Coughton and 3 children all born in Sambourn: Josephine, William and Francis, J.

· 1871 Census: 143 Green Lane House, Studley (S4). Listed as Francis Morrall age 35 born in Studley needle manufacturer employing 8 men, 8 women and 4 boys with wife Isabella age 34 born in Coughton and 8 children: Mary J., William, Francis J., John A., Ignatius A., Bernard P, Leonard and Cuthbert.

· 1874 - Founded his own needle company (S2) around 1874 (S=N1).

· 1881 Census: 91 Green Lane, Studley (S4). Listed as Francis Morrall age 45 needle manufacturer born in Studley with wife Isbelle age 44 born in Coughton and 7 children: John, Ignatius, Percy, Leonard, Cuthbert. Fredk and Veronica.

· 1891 Census: 136 Green Lane, Studley (S4). Listed as Francis Morrall age 55 needle manufacturer employer born in Studley with wife Isabella age 54 born in Coughton and 4 children: Mary J., Bernard P., Leonard and Cuthbert.

· 1901 Census: 57 Green Lane, Studley (S4). Listed as Francis Morrall age 65 retired needle manufacturer born in Studley with wife Mary I. age 64 born in Coughton and 3 children: Mary J., Veronica M. and a niece Constance.

· 1911 Census: Studley (S4). Listed as Francis Morrall age 75 private means employer born in Studley with wife Isabella age 74 born in Coughton and 3 children: Josephine, Leonard and Veronica and 2 grandchildren: Florence and Mary. Also indicates they were married 53 years and had 10 children of which 7 were still alive.

· Wife’s Death: 1^St QTR 1912 Alcester (S5d). Listed as Mary I. Morrall. March 3, 1912 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: March 29, 1912 London (S6). Listed as Mary Isabella Morrall of the Towers Studley wife of Francis Morrall to Francis Morrall retired manufacturer Cuthbert Morrall caterer and Mary Josephine Morrall and Veronica Mary Morrall spinsters. Effects: £1,220. Resworn £1,271.

· Death: 2^nd QTR 1912 at age 76 Kings Norton (S5d). Listed as Francis Morrall. April 25, 1912 Birmingham (S6).

· Probate: June 15, 1912 London (S6). Listed as Francis Morrall of Roselawn Middleton Hall Road, Kings Norton to Leonard Morrall merchant and Cuthbert Morrall caterer. Effects: £2,154. Resworn £2,450.

· Children:

1. Mary Josephine Morrall (c1858-1916) Born in Sambourne/Coughton/ Studley (S4). Death (S2).

2. William Abel Morrall (c1860-1951) Born in Sambourne/Coughton (S4). Death (S2).

3. Francis Joseph Morrall (c1861-1878) Born in Sambourne/Coughton (S4). Death (S2).

4. John Augustine Morrall (c1863-1905) Born in Coughton (S4). Death (S2).

5. Ignatius Andrew Morrall (c1864-1911) Born in Coughton (S4). Death (S2).

6. Bernard Percy Morrall (c1867-1931) Born in Studley (S4). Death (S2).

7. Leonard Morrall (c1868/69-1948) Born in Studley (S4). Death (S2).

8. Cuthbert Morrall (c1870/71-1946) Born in Studley (S4). Death (S2).

9. Frederick Charles Morrall (c1872-1908) Born in Studley (S4). Death (S2).

10. Veronica Mary Morrall (c1877-1959) Born in Studley(S4). Death (S2).

Generation 4: Michael Thomas Morrall (c1818-1891) and Martha Hollins (1814-1891)

· Born: June 15, 1818 (S=gravestone at St. Giles Churchyard in Matlock, Derbyshire available at ancestry.com). Born in Studley (S4).

· Baptized: not found.

· 1841 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall Jr. age 20 tailor born in the county.

· Marriage: 3^rd QTR 1849 Liverpool (S5m). Listed as Michael Thomas Morrall and Martha Hollins. Martha was born in 1814 per her gravestone.

· 1851 Census: No. 5 Gravel Lane, Salford, Lancashire (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall age 32 factor of needles master born in the Studley with wife Martha age 35 born in Manchester, Lancashire.

· 1861 Census: 5 Matlock Bank, Matlock, Lichfield, Derbyshire (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall age 42 needle manufacturer born in the Studley with wife Martha age 46 born in Salford, Lancashire. Two nieces were living with them Ann Morrall age 15 and Martha Davis age 11 who both born in Studley.

· 1871 Census: 10 Balmoral Road, Matlock, Derbyshire (S4). Listed as Michael T. Morrall age 52 retired merchant born in the Studley with wife Martha age 57 born in Salford, Lancashire.

· 1881 Census: 43 Matlock Bank Balmoral House Bent Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire (S4). Listed as Michael Thomas Morrall age 62 annuitant born in the Studley with wife Martha age 67 born in Salford, Lancashire.

· Wife’s Death: March 26, 1891Matlock, Bakewell, Derbyshire at age 74 (S8d), listed as Martha Morrall the wife of Michael Thomas Morrall a retired merchant who was found dead and was murdered by a shot in the face. She was murdered (S2) (S=N1).

· Wife’s Burial: St. Giles Churchyard, Matlock, Derbyshire with birth date March 23, 1814 and death date March 29, 1891on photograph of grave (S=UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300’s-Current available at ancestry.com).

· 1891 Census: 82 Cavendish Street, Matlock (S4). Listed as Michael Morrall age 72 widower retired merchant born in Studley with Helen Morrall niece age 35 housekeeper born in Studley.

· Death: 4^th QTR 1891 Bakewell, Derbyshire at age 73 (S5d). Listed as Michael Morrall. October 30, 1891 (S6 and grave).

· Burial: November 2, 1891, Matlock. Derbyshire (S=Derbyshire, England, Church of England Burials 1813-1991 available at ancestry.com). St. Giles Churchyard, Matlock, Derbyshire with death date October 30, 1891 on photograph of grave (S=UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300’s-Current available at ancestry.com).

· Probate: December 9, 1891 Principal Registry (S6). Listed as Michael Thomas Morrall late of Balmoral House Matlock Bank gentleman. Personal estate £464 proved by John Sykes and George Sykes both of Olton, Warwick timber merchants.

· 1904 Newspaper Article: Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser newspaper dated January 9, 1904 (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Article entitled “A Matlock Mystery” regarding the murder of Martha Morrall twelve years earlier.

· Children: None.

Generation 5: Abel Edgar Morrall (1861-1943) and Annie Townsend (c1861-1935) and Lesly Annie Rowe (c1909-1998)

· Born: 4^th QTR 1861 Alcester (S5b), December 1, 1861 Studley (S2).

· 1871 Census: with sisters in Studley (S4). Listed as Abel Edgar Morrall age 9 born in Studley.

· 1881 Census: with mother sisters in Edgbaston (S4). Listed as Abel E. Morrell age 19 accountants clerk born in Studley. (note: Morrall is incorrectly listed as Morrell in the Census index).

· 1882 - took control of the Abel Morrall company (S2) (S=N1).

· Marriage: 3^rd QTR 1883 London (S5m) and July 18, 1883 St. Botolph, London (S3). Listed as Abel Edgar Morrall needle manufacturer residing at 64 Skinner Street and Annie Townsend of Hunt End. Abel’s father is listed as Abel Andrew Morrall deceased needle manufacturer and Annie’s father is listed as George Townsend deceased needle manufacturer. Annie was born c1861 (S4). For more information about the Townsend family see Chapter 20.

· 1891 Census: 88 Manor House, Studley (S4). Listed as Abel E. Morrall age 29 needle manufacturer born in Studley with wife Annie age 30 born in Hunt End and 1 child: Edgar P. B.

· 1901 Census: 121 London Road, Hastings, Sussex (S4). Listed as Abel E. Morrall age 39 captain major 4^th Batt born in Studley with wife Annie age 40 born in Hunt End and 1 child: Edgar P.B.

· 1911 Census: Halidon, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (S4). Listed as Abel Edgar Morrall age 49 Col. 4 Srzabe Boaders retired private means born in Studley with wife Annie age 50 born in Feckenham. Indicates they had been married for 27 year and had 1 child who was still alive.

· Wife #1’s Death: 3^rd QTR 1935 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire at age 75 (S5d), listed as Annie Morrall. July 19, 1935 (S6).

· Wife #1’s Probate: October 1, 1935 London (S6). Listed as Annie Morrall of the Rock House Cheltenham (wife of Abel Edgar Morrall). Effects £2,114 to the said Abel Edgar Morrall retired Lieutenant Colonel H. M. Army.

· Marriage #2: 1^st QTR 1938 Hastings, Sussex (S5m). Listed as Abel E. Morrell and Lesly A. Rowe.

· Death: January 1, 1943 Devonshire (S6) (S2).

· Probate: March 22, 1943 Llandudno (S6). Listed as Abel Edgar Morrall of 2 Clifton cottage Park Hill Sidmouth Devonshire to Neville Cleve Harrison chartered accountant and Bernard George Lewis company director. Effects: £41,935.

· Wife #2’s Remarriage: August 19, 1946 Honiton, Devon (S8m). Listed as Lesly Annie Morrall age 38 a widow whose father was listed as Herbert Henry Row and Patrick Keegan age 45 a bachelor.

· Wife #2’s Death: June 1998 Poole, Dorset at age 89 (S5m). Listed as Lesly Annie Keegan. June 7, 1998 (S=N1).

· Children:

1. Edgar Percy Basil Morrall (1884-1917) - see Generation 6.

Generation 6: Edgar Percy Basil Morrall (1884-1917) and Rose Ethel MacDonogh (c1879-??)

· Born: 3^rd QTR 1884 Alcester (S5b). Listed as Edgar Percy B. Morrall.

· 1891 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Edgar J. B. Morrall age 6 born in Studley.

· 1901 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Edgar J. B. Morrall age 16 born in Studley.

· Marriage: 3^rd QTR 1909 Hastings, Sussex (S5m). Listed as Edgar Percy B. Morrall and Rose Ethel MacDonogh. Rose was born c1879 (S4).

· 1911 Census: Hill Grove, Clytha, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (S4). Listed as Percy Morrall age 26 private means born in Studley and wife Rose age 32 born in Kerry, Killarney. Indicates they were married 1 year and had 1 child who died.

· Death: July 28, 1917 France (S6 and grave).

· Buried: Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Nord-Pas-de Calais, Frances (S=Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations,1300s-Current available at ancestry.com including photograph of grave). The gravestone lists him as Major E. P. B. Morrall Border Regiment 28th July 1917.

· Probate: February 6, 1918 London (S6). Listed as Edgar Percy Basil Morrall of Highfield Abergavenny, Monmouthshire major H. M. Army. Effects: £476 to Rose Ethel Morrall widow.

· Wife’s Death: not found.

· Children:

1. Basil Joseph G. Morrall (1910-1910) born 1^st QTR 1910 and died 1^st QTR 1910 Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (S5b and S5d).

Lewis Generation 1: George Lewis (c1847-1930) and Ann Webb (c1845-1916)

· Born: not found. 1847 (S4).

· 1851 Census: 61 Redditch Wapping, Redditch (S4). Listed as George Lewis age 5 born in Redditch with parents Henry Lewis age 38 needle pointer born in Crabbs Cross and Amelia Lewis age 38 born in Crabbs Cross with 6 children.

· 1861 Census: 111 Edward Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as George Lewis age 14 scholar born in Redditch with parents Henry Lewis age 48 needle pointer born in Feckenham and Amelia Lewis age 48 born in Feckenham with 4 children.

· Marriage: July 30, 1867 St. Bartholomew, Edgbaston (S3). Listed as George Lewis and Ann Webb. George is listed as a traveler with father Henry Lewis needle pointer. Ann was born c1845 (S4).

· Father Henry Lewis’s death: February 29, 1868 Bromsgrove (S8d), listed as Henry Lewis age 55 a needle pointer born in Redditch.

· 1871 Census: 64 Township of Redditch, Ipsley (S4). Listed as George Lewis age 24 commercial traveler born in Redditch with wife Ann age 26 born in Redditch and 3 children: Alfred H and Edward W. and Emily A.

· 1881 Census: missing not found.

· 1891 Census: 101 Bromsgrove Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as Geo Lewis age 44 needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Ann age 46 born in Redditch and 7 children: Edward, Emily A., Willibrord, Harriet A., Elsie E., Tom O. and Hilda M.

· 1901 Census: 29 Bromsgrove Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as George Lewis age 55 needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Ann age 56 born in Redditch and 5 children: Clara J, Willibrord, Harriet A, Elsie E and Hilda M.

· 1911 Census: The Elms, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as George Lewis age 64 needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Ann age 66 born in Redditch and 3 children: Clara Jessie, Elsie Eliza and Hilda Mary. Indicates they were married 43 years and had 13 children of which 11 were still living.

· Wife’s Death: March 8, 1916 Tardebigg, Bromsgrove at age 71 (S8d), listed as Ann Lewis the wife of George Lewis needle manufacturer who died at The Elms on Bromsgrove Road in Redditch.

· Death: 1^st QTR 1930 Bromsgrove at age 83 (S5d). Listed as George Lewis. January 8, 1930 (S6).

· Probate: May 20, 1930 Birmingham (S6). Listed as George Lewis of The Elms, Bromsgrove Road Redditch. Effects: £24,967, resworn £24,634 to Midland Bank executor and Trustee Company Limited.

· Children:

1. Alfred H. Lewis (c1869-??) born Redditch (S4).

2. Edward W. Lewis (c1870-1948) born in Redditch (S4). Death (S2).

3. Emily A. Lewis (1871-??) born in Redditch (S4), born 3^rd QTR 1870 Alcester (S5b) listed Emily Annie Lewis.

4. Willibrord Lewis (1872-1873) born June 30,1872 Studley, Alcester (S8b), listed as the son of George Lewis a commercial traveler and Ann Webb and died 1^st QTR 1873 Alcester with estimated birth year 1873 (S5d).

5. Clara Jessie Lewis (1874-??) born in Redditch (S4), born 4^th QTR 1874 Bromsgrove (S5b) listed as Clara Jessie Lewis.

6. Willibrord Lewis (1876-1963) - see Lewis Generation 2.

7. Harriet A. Lewis (1878-1922) born in Redditch (S4), born 3^rd QTR 1878 Bromsgrove (S5b) listed as Harriette Alice Lewis. Death (S2).

8. Elsie Eliza Lewis (c1880-??) born in Redditch (S4).

9. Tom O. Lewis (c1881-??) born in Redditch (S4).

10. Hilda Mary Lewis (c1885-??) born in Redditch (S4).

Lewis Generation 2: Willibrord Lewis (1876-1963) and Catherine Perks (1874-1853)

· Born: January 16, 1876 Tardebigg, Bromsgrove (S8b), listed as Willibrord Lewis with parents George Lewis a commercial traveler and Ann Webb. 1872 (S=N1, Note: based on email correspondence with Peter Collins in February 2020 he agreed that he had not researched the Lewis family genealogy and was unaware they had an earlier son named Willibrord who was born in 1872 and died in 1873).

· 1881 Census: missing not found.

· 1891 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Willibrord Lewis age 15 warehouseman fac employed born in Redditch.

· 1901 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Willibrord Lewis age 25 commercial clerk worker born in Redditch.

· Marriage: 3^rd QTR 1902 Alcester (S5m). Listed as Willibrord Lewis and Catharine Perks. Catherine was born in 1874 per the 1939 Register.

· 1911 Census: Hawthron Cottage Webheath, Redditch (S4). Listed as Willibrord Lewis age 35 Directory of Co (needle manufacturer & smallwares) employer born in Redditch with wife Catherine age 36 and 4 children: Mildred Mary, Arthur Willibrord, Bernard George and Margaret Clare. Indicates they were married 8 years and had 4 children all still living.

· 1939 Register: The Tors, Mount Pleasant, Redditch (S9). Listed as Willibrord Lewis born January 16, 1876 needle mfg managing director with wife Catherine born November 22, 1874.

· Wife’s Death: 2^nd QTR 1953 Bromsgrove at age 78 (S5d). Listed as Catherina Lewis. June 11, 1953 (S6).

· Wife’s Probate: September 11, 1953 London (S6). Listed as Catherine Lewis of Winterfold Rowney Green Alvechurch (wife of Willibrord Lewis). Effects: £3,215 to Midland Bank Executor and Trustee Company Limited and Reginald Francis Barnett shipping agent.

· Death: 2^nd QTR 1963 Droitwich at age 87 (S5d). Listed as Willibrord Lewis. May 4, 1963 Droitwich (S6).

· Probate: July 30, 1963 London (S6). Listed as Willibrord Lewis of the Ravenstone Nursing Home Droitwich. Effects £106,781 to Midland Bank Executor and Trustee Company Limited and Bernard George Lewis company director.

· Children:

1. Mildred Mary Lewis (c1904-??) born in Redditch (S4).

2. Arthur Willibrord Lewis (c1905-1979?) born in Redditch (S4). Death (S2)

3. Bernard George Lewis (1906-1987) - see Lewis Generation 3.

4. Margaret Clare Lewis (c1910-??) born in Redditch (S4).

Lewis Generation 3: Bernard George Lewis (1906-1987) and Winifred R. Salomon (1906-1984)

· Born: 3rd QTR 1906 Alcester (S5b), listed as Bernard George Lewis. August 15, 1906 (S9).

· 1911 Census: with parents (S4). Listed as Bernard George Lewis age 4 born in Redditch.

· 1930 Passenger Border Crossing June 5, 1930 Niagara Falls, NY (S=US, Border Crossings from Canada to US, 1895-1960. Listed as Bernard George Lewis born in Redditch August 15,1906 with father listed as Willibard Lewis of the Tors Redditch.

· Marriage: 3rd QTR 1934 Kensington, London (S5m). Listed as Bernard G. Lewis and Winifred R. Salomon. Winifred was born in 1906 according to the 1939 Register.

· 1939 Register: Broadoak, 121 Feckenham Road, Redditch (S9). Listed as Bernard G. Lewis born August 15, 1906 needle and smallware manufacturer director and secretary and Winifred R. Lewis born June 26, 1906.

· 1939 Passenger List: Departed Liverpool November 8, 1939 and arrived in New York November 18, 1939 (S=New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Bernard George Lewis age 33 manufacturer from Redditch.

· 1957 Passenger List: Departed Montreal, Quebec and arrived in Liverpool November 26, 1957 (S=UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger lists, 1878-1960 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Bernard G. Lewis born August 15, 1906 of 108 Feckenham Road, Redditch manufacturer. (Note: his middle initial is incorrectly listed in the passenger index as C).

· Wife’s Death: May 1984 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire at age 77 (S5d), listed as Winifred Rosamund Lewis who was born June 26, 1906. May 17, 1984 (S6). (Note: the reason this most likely is the wife of Bernard George Lewis is because the birth date on her death record matches the birth listed on the 1939 Register).

· Wife’s Probate: September 11, 1984 Winchester (S6). Listed as Winifred Rosamund Lewis of 2 High Trees Beach Road, Canford Cliffs, Poole. Effects: £51,033.

· Death: March 1987 Malvern, Hereford and Worcester (S5d). Listed as Bernard George Lewis. March 5, 1987 (S6).

· Probate: June 11, 1987 Llandaff (S6). Listed as Bernard George Lewis of 17 Berrow Ct Upton on Severn, Hereford and Worcester. Effects: £191,560.

· Children: unknown.

Notes and Special Sources:

(S=N1) The Art and Mystique of Needlemaking - Abel Morrall Needlemakers 1785-1991 by Peter Collins, 2017. (Note: most of the birth, marriage and death years for the main Abel Morrell needle business owners listed in this genealogy match the ones listed in the Collins book).

(S=N2). History and Description of Needlemaking, by Michael T. Morrall, 1862. Copy available at The National Archives, Kew website.

Avery style needle cases with the Morrall name: Abel Morrall, Hygrometer Weather House and Louise Folding.

---

Endnotes

[1]]The Morrall advertisement pictured here is displayed at the Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch..

[2]]According to Michael T. Morrall’s book, the surname was Rawlins whereas in Peter Collins’s book the surname is listed as Rawlings.. Rawlins is used here because this matches with the 1779 apprentice register..

[3]]June 2,, 17799Alcester County Register.. Listed as Cha Rawlins master needle maker from Alcester apprenticed Michael Morrall. (S=UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices’ Indentures, 1710-1811 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[4]] Universal British Directoryy, 1791, Alcester, Warwickshire page (S=UK, City and Country Directories, 1766-1946 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com).. Cheston is not listed in alphabetic order in this document..

[5]] A Survey of the Arrow Valley Needle Industryy, 1994 by Paul Collins page 55 (S=copy available at the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives).. Also listed inn Needlemakers in Alcester, Sambourne and Studleyy by Richard Churchley, 2014, page 28 (S=copy purchased from Karen Cording, a local historian, a specialist book seller in Redditch and owner of the Nonnykettlee book storee)..

[6]] A Survey of the Arrow Valley Needle Industryy, 1994 by Paul Collins page 55 (S=copy available at the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives). Also referenced inn Needlemakers in Alcester, Sambourne and Studleyy by Richard Churchley, 2014, page 55. (S=copy purchased from Karen Cording, a local historian, a specialist book seller in Redditch and owner of the Nonnykettlee book storee)..

[7]]Alcester Parish Tax Record from 1795 which lists thee Morrallssand Archer as tenants of Farr.. (S=Warwickshire, England, Land Tax, 1773-1830 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com).. Alsoofrom a Freemason 1795 record with lists Michael Morrall as age 27 a needle maker from Alcester being admitted to the lodge in 1795 (S=England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[8]]This statement is my assumption as I could find no evidence to support Michael T. Morrall’s claim that they were att WashforddMill in Studley Priory to 1799..

[9]]The drawing of thee WashforddMill factory shown here is from Reference CR3097-361 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK) which was drawn probably around 1837.. See H. Milward & Sons: History in Chapter 16 for more details..

[10]]Freemasons Quarter Sessions: 1799 Alcester, listed as Michael Morrall needle maker Studley. (S=Warwickshire, England, Occupational and Quarter Sessions Records, 1662-1866 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[11]]Also referenced inn Needlemakers in Alcester, Sambourne and Studleyy by Richard Churchley, 2014, pages 10 and 19. (S=copy purchased from Karen Cording, a local historian, a specialist book seller in Redditch and owner of the Nonnykettlee book storee)..

[12]] Reports of Patent, Design,, Trade Markkand Other Cases Vol. XIX Together with a Digest of Cases Reported in 19022by John Cutler.. Pages 557-565 discuss the case of Abel Morrall, Ld. v. T.. Hessinn& Co and includes information about the history of Morrall.. (S=books.google.com).. The quotes are from page 557 second paragraph and page 558 third paragraph..

[13]] Much of Michael T. Morrall’s history of the needle making was used inn The Victorian History of the County of Warwickkby William Page, 1908, pages 234-237. (S=books.google.com).. Then in turn many people have usedd The Victorian History of the County of Warwickkas their source..

[14]] Pigot and Co’s National Commercial Directory, for 1828-9; Comprising a Directory and Classification of the Merchants, Bankers, Professional Gentlemen, Manufacturers and Trades, in all the Cities, Towns,, Sea-Portss, and Principal Villages in the Following Counties in England, VIX…Warwickshire, Worcestershiree…, pages 762-763 which includes Alcester, Studley andd Neighbourhoodss. (S=books.google.com). The only Morrall listed is Thomas Morrall music..

[15]] The History, Topography and Directory of Warwickshiree, 1830 by Wm. West. Pages 489-495 covers Alcester and includes individuals from Studley.. Twoo Morrallssare listed but neither is related to Abel Morrall, one is John a plumber and glazier and Thomas a music master and professor. (S=books.google.com)..

[16]] Pigot and Co’s National Commercial Directory,, Comprisingga Classification of the Merchants, Bankers, Professional Gentlemen, Manufacturers and Trades, … in all the Cities, Towns, Seaports, and Principal Villages in the Counties Warwickshire, Worcestershire. . .,,1835, pages 494-496 which includes Alcester,, Studley andd Neighbourhoodss. (S=University of Leicester Special Collections Online website att http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/167171/rec/33).. The onlyy Morrallsslisted are Edward a ironmonger in Studley, Edward a linen and woolen draper and grocer in Studley andd Thssa professor of music and organist..

[17]] Pigot and Co’s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of. Warwickshire, …Worcestershiree, 1842, Warwickshire section, pages 2-4 which includes Alcester, Studley and Neighborhood which lists fourr Morrallss: Edward a carpenter,, jointerrand builder in Studley; John a plumber, painter and glazier; Michael a beer retailer in Studley and Thomas a professor of music and organist.. (S=books.google.com)..

[18]] Accounts and Papers: Nineteen Volumes (14) Trade: Corn: Post Office: Postage Session 26 January – 22 June 1841, Vol. XXVI,,1841.. Item 96 Needles andd Fish-Hookssincludes Abel Morrall as one of 57 needle manufacturers from the Redditch area who signed the memorial in 1840. (S=books.google.com)..

[19]] Titles of Patents of Invention Chronologically Arrangedd FrommMarch 2, 1617 to October 1, 1852 Part II. Nos. 4801 to 14,359, pages 785-15544 (S=books.google.com)). Page 1065 for patent #7923 dated January 2,, 18399to Abel Morrall of Studley, needle maker for his invention for the improvement to the manufacturer of needles and machinery.. Also listed inn The Furniture Gazettee AnnIllustrated Weekly Journal, Treating of All Branches of Cabinet-Work, Upholstery, and Interior Decoration Vol. XIV. New Series July – December 1880.. (S=books.google.com).. Page 391-392 contains an article entitled Early Patents Related to Needles which includes information about Morrall’s 1839 patent and the lawsuit by some of the other area needle manufacturers..

[20]] The History and Description of Needle Makinggby Michael T. Morrall, 1862, page 21 (S=copy available online at TNA websitee https://archive.org/details/historydescripti00morr/mode/2upp)..

[21]] Alsoofromm Needlemakers in Alcester, Sambourne and Studleyy by Richard Churchley, 2014, page 11. (S=copy purchased from Karen Cording, a local historian, a specialist book seller in Redditch and owner of the Nonnykettlee book storee)..

[22]] A Survey of the Arrow Valley Needle Industryy, 1994 by Paul Collins page 23 (S=copy available at the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives).. According to Collin’s research, the Milward’s took control off WashforddMills by 1839..

[23]]From a book at the Redditch library.. Need to find source..Was either fromm The Needle Millssby John G. Rollins orr The Needle Industry in Redditch Study Pack Forge Mill Museumm.

[24]]According to Michael T. Morrall’s book page 22 this occurred in 1841, however in Peter Collin’s book page 60 it happened in 1842..

[25]]1851 UK census (see genealogy section for details)..

[26]]On display at the Forge Mill Needle Museum..

[27]] 1845 Post Office Directory of Londonn, Studley Section page 690-691.. (S=UK,, Midlandssand Various UK Trade Directories, 1770-1941 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com).. This directory also listed three otherr Morrallss: Andrew a butcher and farmer, Edward aa beershoppand carpenter and Michaell beershopp.

[28]]I learned about this during a visit and discussion with the Redditch historian Alan Foxall in 2017 when he showed me his collection of tokens.I learned about this during a visit and discussion with the Redditch historian Alan Foxall in 2017 when he showed me his collection of tokens.

[29] History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Warwickshire, by Francis White & Co, 1850, Studley section on pages 755-758. This is the first Warwickshire directory where Abel Morrall is listed. Two other Morralls listed are Edward gent and Michael beerhouse. (S=books.google.com).

[30][30] Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry All Nations, 1851 Corrected Editionn. Page 44 Class 6 Manufacturing Machines and Tools - exhibitor #240 and page 117 Class 22 General Hardware - exhibitor #333. (S=books.google.com).. The drawing of the main exhibition building on the next page is from the royalparks.org.uk website..

[31]]Great Exhibition (S=Wikipedia)..

[32]]The number of visitors is from the Great Exhibition (S=Wikipedia)..

[33]]Birmingham Journal newspaper dated June 21, 1851, page 8 fourth column.. (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)..

[34]]Dumfries and Galloway Standard and Advertiser newspaper date October 26, 1853, page 1 fifth column includes an Abel Morrall advertisement mentioning Morrall’s presence at the Dublin exhibition. (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)..

[35]] International Exhibition 1862 Official Catalogue of the Industrial Department, Third Edition.. Page 27 Class 7 Manufacturing Machines and Tools – exhibitor # 1665.. (S=books.google.com))

[36]]Although Abel Morrall is not listed in the official exhibition catalogue, they are listed in The Worcestershire Chronical newspaper dated January 26,, 18788page 5 third column under the Worcestershire Exhibitors at the Paris Exhibition article which lists Abel Morrall of Priory Mills, Studley.. (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).. Also, the 1878 Paris exhibition is listed on an Abel Morrall advisement..

[37]]The needle packet with the demi-griffinn trade markkpictured here is from an eBay auction in 2020..

[38]]Also listed inn A Survey of the Arrow Valley Needle Industryy, 1994 by Paul Collins page 38-39 (S=copy available at the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives)..

[39]] 18666 Morris’s Commercial Directory of Warwickshire with Birminghamm. Pages 772-773 Studley section. (S=UK,, Midlandssand Various UK Trade Directories, 1770-1941 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[40]] 1868 Post Office Directory of Warwickshiree. Page 1124 Studley section.. Both Abel Andrew and Francis are also listed in the residential section, however only Francis had Green Lane as his address. (S=UK,, Midlandssand Various UK Trade Directories, 1770-1941 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[41]]This was probably Abel Andrew Morrall who appears to have been erroneously listed as Andrew Morrall..

[42]] 1873 White’s Directory of Birminghamm. Page 1150 Needle Manufacturers section.. (S=UK, Midlands and Variouss

UK Trade Directories, 1770-1941 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[43]] A Survey of the Arrow Valley Needle Industryy, 1994 by Paul Collins page 31-33 which includes an 1874 drawing of Francis Morrall’s Green Lane Needle Works. (S=copy available at the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives).. Also listed inn Needlemakers in Alcester, Sambourne and Studleyy by Richard Churchley, 2014, page 11 which includes an 1874 drawing of Francis Morrall’s Green Lane Needle Works. (S=copy purchased from Karen Cording, a local historian, a specialist book seller in Redditch and owner of the Nonnykettlee book storee)..

[44]] The Weekly Notes: Being Notes of Cases Heard and Determined by the House of Lords: The Court of Appeal: The Chancery, Queen’s Bench, and Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Divisions of the High Court of Justice: and the Chief Judge in Bankruptcy,,1881. The Weekly Notes July 9,, 18811page 111.. (S=books.google.com).. The case named Perks v Hall and Co. involved the wrongful use of a trade name.. Hall purchased needles from Abel Morrall’s nephew who was fraudulently passing them as Abel Morrall’s needles.. Although no name is mentioned here, the nephew was in fact Francis Morrall..

[45]]The photograph of Priory Mill c1908 seen here is from Karen Cording, a historian and book seller in Redditch..

[46]] The Post Office Directory of Birmingham with its Suburbs for 18788, by E. R. Kelly, page 520.. (S=books.google.com)..

[47]]Also listed inn A Survey of the Arrow Valley Needle Industryy, 1994 by Paul Collins page 38-39 (S=copy available at the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives)..

[48]] Saddlery and Harness: A Monthly Trade Journal Volume VIII July 1898 to June 18999. June 1899 page 60 contains an article entitled Abel Morrall Ltd., Redditch which says Morrall took over J. Holyoake & Sons (aka T. & J. Holyoake), the oldest needle manufacturer in the trade, in the last year.. (S=books.google.com)..

[49]] Reports of Patent, Design,, Trade Markkand Other Cases Vol. XIX Together with a Digest of Cases Reported in 19022by John Cutler.. Pages 557-565 discusses the case of Abel Morrall, Ld. v. T.. Hessinn& Co. which contains historical information about the history of Morrall including their purchase of Josephh Moggg& Co. (S=books.google.com).& Co. (S=books.google.com).

[50] The Alcester Chronical newspaper dated January 8 1898, page 5 column two which discusses the Morrall amalgamation with Lewis and Baylis but also includes Hayes & Crossley as part of the amalgamation..

[51][51]From a book at the Redditch library. Need to find source. Was either fromm The Needle Millssby John G. Rollins orr The Needle Industry in Redditch Study Pack Forge Mill Museumm.

[52]] Reports of Patent, Design,, Trade Markkand Other Cases Vol. XIX Together with a Digest of Cases Reported in 19022by John Cutler.. Pages 557-565 discusses the case of Abel Morrall, Ld. v. T.. Hessinn& Co. (S=books.google.com)..

[53]]Most of the information about the history of Morrall during the 200^thhcentury comes from a single sourcee The Art and Mystique off Needlemakingg- Abel Morrall Needlemakers 1785-19911 by Peter Collins.. Limited research was done by Terry Meinke after 1900 because the focus of this book was to write company histories from their origin until the close of the Victorian Period..

[54]]The needle packet with the Flora MacDonaldd trade markkpictured here is from an eBay auction in 2020..

[55]]I personally visitedd all offthese places during my 2017, 2018 and 2019 trips to the Redditch area and took the two photographs off CoughtonnCourt and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Studley shown in this paragraph..

[56]] CoughtonnCourt (S=Wikipedia)..

[57]]This information is from email correspondence with Peter Collins in February 2020..

[58]]A series of photographs of the demolition, which were taken by Peter Harris a Redditch area historian, were shared with me during my visit with Peter in 2017 and they are dated 2003..

[59]]Most of the records associated with the Morrall family history are listed in detail in the genealogical section of this chapter and only a few are footnoted in this section.. Additionally, much of the information regarding the Morrall family after 1890 is fromm The Art and Mystique off Needlemakingg- Abel Morrall Needlemakers 1785-19911 by Peter Collins..

[60]]The surname is listed as Rawlins here because this matches with other information about the man named Charles Rawlins who was a maternal uncle of the founder.. According to Michael T. Morrall’s book, the surname was Rawlins whereas in Peter Collins’s book the surname was listed as Rawlingss

[61]]June 2,, 17799Alcester County Register.. Listed as Abel Morrall master peruke-maker from Alcester apprenticed Jn Taylor. (S=UK Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices’ Indentures, 1710-1811 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[62]] Universal British Directoryy, 1791, Alcester, Warwickshire page (S=UK, City and Country Directories, 1766-19466

found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com).. There are two Abel Morrall’s listed in this directory, this one is listed as Abel Morrall (F) which probably means father. Be advised that he is not listed exactly in alphabetic order and is several places above the otherr Morrallss.

[63]]Peruke definition fromm https://www.britannica.com/topic/perukee.

[64]] Universal British Directoryy, 1791, Alcester, Warwickshire page (S=UK, City and Country Directories, 1766-1946 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com). There are two Abel Morrall’s listed in this directory, this one is listed as A. Abel Morrall which probably stands for Abel Andrew which is how he is listed in some other records.. Abel II is also listed as being admitted to the freemasons as a hairdresser at age 31 of Alcester in 1794 and his other occupations are listed in other records (see the genealogy section of this chapter for more information)..

[65]]Oxford Journal newspaper dated November 14,, 17955column five, and Worcester Journal newspaper dated April 13, 1820 column five. (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). There are a least 12 other Abel Morrall auctions listed in newspapers on this website dated between 1795 and 1821..

[66]]The drawing of Abel Morrall seen here is on display at the Forge Mill Needle Museum which indicates it is from around 1860..

[67]]In the 1851 census he is listed as born in Alcester, however in the 1861 census he is listed as born in Studley.. At the time Studleyy was located innthe Alcester district..

[68]]Copy of Will dated September 29, 1849 - Reference #CR1596 Box 103-1-18 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK)..

[69]]A thorough search of the 1861 census was done looking for all individuals with the name Abel Morrall in the Studley, Alcester and Redditch areas.. Only one was found who was the appropriate age to be Abel III..

[70]]The drawing of Michael Thomas Morrall seen here is on display at the Forge Mill Needle Museumm

[71]]An 1862 edition of this book is available online at The National Archives, Kew website att https://archive.org/details/historydescripti00morr/mode/2upp.

[72] Slater’s Directory of Manchester, 1855, page 688 (S= UK, City and Country Directories, 1766-1946 found during an Abel Morrall search on ancestry.com)..

[73][73]The Derbyshire Times newspaper dated April 4,, 18911page 3 columns three through seven contains detailed information about this case (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).. Because this case was so unusual and interesting additional information can be found at these two websites:: http://www.jtrforums.com/showthread.php?t=222833andd https://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/news/morrall1891-1904.htmm.

[74]]Photograph of the gravestone is fromm https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183974930/michael-thomas-morralll.

[75]]The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser newspaper dated January 9, 1904, page 11 column four (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)..

[76]]The Manchester Weekly Times newspaper date February 5, 1870, page 8 column two.. (S=britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). The post card displayed here is from an eBay auction in 2020..

[77]]Information about Abel III being the chairman of the church’s fundraising committee comes from email correspondence with Peter Collins in February 2020..

[78]] The Weekly Notes: Being Notes of Cases Heard and Determined by the House of Lords: The Court of Appeal: The Chancery, Queen’s Bench, and Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Divisions of the High Court of Justice: and the Chief Judgee inn Bankruptcyy,1881.. Thee WeeklyyNotess July 9, 18811 page 111.. (S=books.google.com).. Thee caseenamedd

Perks v Hall and Co. involved wrongful use of trade name.. It mentions that Hall purchased needles from Abel Morrall’s nephew who was fraudulently passing them as Abel Morrall’s needles.. Although no name is mentioned here, the nephew was in fact Francis Morrall..

[79]]Photograph of Abel Edgar Morrall from Reference #CR3097-339 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK)..

[80]]For more details see Chapter 21: George Townsend & Co. History..

[81]]The photograph of his grave is fromm https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56379940/e-p_b-morralll.

[82]]Photograph of George Lewis from Reference #CR3097-339 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK)..

[83]]Photograph off WillibrorddLewis from Reference #CR3097-339 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK).Lewis from Reference #CR3097-339 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK).

[84] Photograph of Bernard George Lewis from Reference #CR3097-339 (S=Warwickshire County Record Office, Warwick, UK).

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