The Company
The
Redditch company known as Joseph Welch probably started as a family run
business named after its owner. Not much
evidence exists regarding this company as the name does not appear in the 1865[1] directory of the area and
was first found in the 1876[2] Worcestershire Post Office
Directory as Joseph Welch, a watch maker on Windsor Street in Redditch. Additionally, no advertisements have been
found with the name, no factory was ever mentioned and
it was not listed in trade and export directories which referenced commercial
businesses. It seems most likely that it
started not as an official business but rather was just a listing of a person’s
name and their occupation, a person who took on side jobs, such as a watch
maker taking on extra work involving needle cases to supplement his income.
Most
of the evidence related to Joseph Welch comes from census records and from data
on ten patents or design registrations that were made by him between 1865 and
1888[3]. The first patent, which was registered in
1865, lists Joseph Welch as a watch maker from Redditch. In fact, Joseph Welch was listed as a
watchmaker in most of the patent documents and in four he was listed with a
co-designer who was a needle manufacturer: Joseph Hemming in 1868, Richard Bourne Turner in 1870 and Charles Laight twice in 1871. Part of the first page of one of these
patents is shown here. In census records in 1881 Welch was listed as a watch
maker and fancy needle case manufacturer and in 1891 as a crochet hook
manufacturer. Although Welch went
personally bankrupt in 1891, a firm named Joseph Welch & Sons, a crochet
needle/ hook manufacturer at the same address on Unicorn Hill in Redditch, was
listed in Kelly’s Worcestershire Post Office Directories in 1892[4] and 1900[5]. Presumably, Joseph’s sons, George
and Harry, reestablished the business under this new name, however, it did not
last long as Harry moved out of the area by 1911 and the firm was no longer
listed in the 1912[6]
directory.
Although there was another company in the
Redditch area with the name Welch, there is no evidence linking them in any way
to Joseph Welch or Joseph Welch & Sons.
Solomon and William Welch, needle manufacturers from Hunt End, first
appeared in the Redditch area in 1865[7] and ceased to exist
sometime before 1877[8]
when they became known as Welch Brothers at Hunt End Works.
The Owners
Joseph
Welch was born c1825 in Coventry, a town approximately 30 miles northeast of
Redditch. His parents were John and
Eliza Welch. Joseph’s father, who worked
as a weaver, appears to have died in 1837 in Coventry which explains why Joseph
was on his own in 1841 when he was only 15 years old. Joseph was living with another family,
possibly a relative, according to the 1841 census and was working as a weaver
apprentice in a neighborhood where most of the men were working as
weavers. Presumably if his father was still alive then, he would have been learning the
weaving trade from him. Joseph was
united in marriage to Sarah Hall in Coventry in 1849 and their first child,
George, was born there a few months after their marriage. In 1851 Sarah’s mother lived with the Welch
family. During the 10 years between 1851
and 1861 Joseph must have decided to change careers because he and Sarah were
living in Over, Cheshire, about 86 miles northeast, in 1861[9] where he was working as a
watch maker. Their son George remained
in Coventry, living with an uncle. They
did not stay in Cheshire long because by 1865 Joseph had moved again, another
86 miles southeast to Redditch where they resided on Windsor Street. The reasons for both moves
will remain a mystery but perhaps had something to do with career opportunities
because by 1865 Redditch was an up and coming community. By 1871 Joseph and Sarah had another child,
Harry, who was born in Redditch. Their
eldest son, George, was also living on Windsor Street in Redditch that year,
just a few houses from the parents.
Although
Joseph worked as a watch maker from 1861 until at least 1881, his proficiency
must have provided him with the skills needed to create and produce needle cases. He patented or registered ten designs during
this period and worked with at least three different needle manufacturers. As a result, he was listed as a watch maker
and a fancy needle case manufacturer in 1881.
Sometime between 1881 and 1891 Joseph turned his attention to crochet
hooks including patenting one in 1888.
By 1891 he was listed as a crochet needle manufacturer having moved from
Windsor Road to the town center on Unicorn Hill in Redditch. Unfortunately, times must have changed
because Joseph was required to attend bankruptcy court in Birmingham that same
year. He died roughly a year later in
1892 at age 64 and was listed as a crochet hook manufacturer on his death
certificate. Joseph was buried at the
Plymouth Road Cemetery in Redditch on December 27, 1892.
Joseph’s
oldest son, George Welch, was born in 1849 in Coventry. When his parents moved temporarily to
Cheshire around 1861, George remained behind in Coventry living with an
uncle. However, after his parents moved
to Redditch, George relocated as well.
Around 1871 George married Sarah Ann, a Redditch woman approximately 10
years his senior, and they resided on Windsor Road, a few houses from his
parents, for a few years before moving to Edward Street by 1881. They had no children together and were living
apart by 1891. Over the years in
Redditch George held a variety of jobs including a fish bait maker, a bicycle fitter and a metal bait maker. He remained at Edward Street living with his
housekeeper for the last 30 years of his life until his death in 1919 at age
69.
Harry
Welch, the youngest son of Joseph Welch, was born in Redditch in 1869. He married Mary Ann Hall, who may have been
related to his mother, in 1894 in Coventry.
After the wedding Harry and Mary returned to Redditch and by 1901 were
living on Unicorn Hill where Harry worked as needle maker. It seems likely that Harry worked for his
father until the father passed away in 1892.
Harry and his older brother, George, may have taken over whatever was
left of the family business after their father’s bankruptcy and renamed it
Joseph Welch & Sons. However, before
1911 Harry moved his family back to their origins in Coventry and lived on Swan
Lane where both Harry and his wife worked as caretakers of the council
school. Harry and Mary Ann had 2
children: Ethel Mary Ellen who was born in Redditch c1899 and another child who
passed away before 1911. Harry died in
Coventry in 1936 at age 67.
Joseph Welch (aka Joseph Welch & Sons): Genealogy
(Note: there is another Welch company named Solomon
and William Welch (aka S. & W. Welch and Welch Brothers), needle
manufacturers, who were living in Hunt End, but there seems to be no relation
between them and Joseph Welch. Neither
Solomon Welch (c1816-1884) nor William Welch (c1816-1891) appear to have had
any children. S=ancestry.com records).
Generation 1:
Joseph Welch (1825-1892) and Sarah Hall (c1826-??)
· Born: c1826, 1827,
1828 (S4) (S5d)
· Baptized: June 15,
1825 Coventry (S1c). Listed as Joseph Welch with parents John and
Eliza Welch. His father is listed as a
weaver.
· Possible
Parents: This is the only John Welch and
Eliza married in the Coventry area between 1810-1830. Listed as John Welch and Eliza Clarke of
Coventry in the marriage band dated January 23, 1814
at St. John the Baptist, Coventry where John is listed as from St. Trinity
(S3). Marriage: April 11, 1814 at Holy Trinity, Coventry where they are listed as John
Welch and Eliza Clarke and where Eliza is listed as from St. John the Baptist
(S3). Death: John Welch age 45 buried November 19, 1837
at Holy Trinity in Coventry (S1burial).
(Note: One of the two burial indexes incorrectly listed the surname as Welck). If this is
Joseph’s father, it would explain why he is not living with his father in 1841,
because his father died four years earlier.
· 1841 census: Jaynes
Lane, Coventry (S4). Listed as Joseph
Welch age 15 a weaver ap born in the county who appears to be living in the
Jonathan Bidmead household.
· Marriage: March 5,
1849 Holy Trinity, Coventry (S1m) (S3). Listed as Joseph Welch and Sarah Hall. Joseph is listed a weaver and his father is
listed as John Welch also a weaver.
· 1851 Census: 108
Swan Street, Coventry (S4). Listed as
Joseph Welch age 25 a ribbon weaver born in Coventry with wife Sarah age 23
born in Coventry and 1 child: George and Mary Hall age 65 the mother-in-law
born in Bakewell.
· 1861 Census: 28
Winsford, Over, Cheshire (S4). Listed as
Joseph Welch age 34 a watch maker born in Coventry with wife Sarah age 33 born
in Coventry.
· 1871 Census: 65
Windsor Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as Joseph Welch age 43 a watch maker born
in Coventry with wife Sarah age 43 born in Coventry and 1 child: Harry. (Note:
the census index incorrectly lists the child’s name as Henry).
· 1871 Provisional
Patent: February 2, 1871 #290 for improvements in
cases for holding, needles, pins, portable mirrors and other articles. Listed as Joseph Welch a watch maker from
Redditch with Charles Laight a needle manufacturer from Redditch. (S=British
patent books at books.google.com).
· 1881 census: 28
Windsor Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as Joseph Welch age 53 a watch maker and
fancy needle case manufacturer born in Coventry with wife Sarah a ribbon weaver
age 53 born in Coventry and 1 child: Harry.
· 1891 Census: 22
Unicorn Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as Joseph Welch age 63 a crochet needle
manufacturer born in Coventry with wife Sarah age 62 born in Coventry and no
children.
· 1891
Bankruptcy: October 7, 1891 date of First Meeting and October 29, 1891 date of
Public Examination in Birmingham County Court.
Listed as Joseph Welch of 22 Unicorn Hill Redditch a crochet hook
manufacturer. (S=The London Gazette for the Year 1891, Vol II, page 5120, available
at books.google.com).
· Death: December
22, 1892 Tardebigg (S8d). Listed as Joseph Welch age 64 of Unicorn Hill
a crochet hook manufacturer (master) with son H. Welch present at his death.
· Burial:
Plymouth Road Cemetery,
Redditch. Listed as Joseph Welch, age 64, a crochet hook maker, who died on
Unicorn Hill and was buried December 27, 1892.
Interment number 5853, grave number unrecorded (S=Redditch Crematorium
Records researched in August 2019 by Raymond McLaren).
· December 27, 1892 Plymouth Road Cemetery, Redditch. Listed as Joseph Welch, age 64 a crochet hook
maker. Internment #5853, grave
unrecorded. (S=
·
Probate: not found.
·
Wife’s Death: not found.
· Children:
1.
George
Welch (1849-1919) born in Coventry - see generation 2.
2.
Harry
Welch (1869-1936) born in Redditch - see generation 2.
Generation 2:
George Welch (1849-1919) and Sarah Ann ?? (c1841-1916)
· Born: (c1849)
(c1850) (S4)
· Baptized:
September 9, 1849 St. Peter, Coventry, Warwickshire (S1c). Listed as George Welch with parents Joseph
and Sarah Welch. His father is listed as
a weaver.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as George Welch age
1 born in Coventry.
· 1861 Census: 15
Bradford Street, Coventry (S4). Listed
as George Welch age 11 a nephew and loam turner born in Coventry living with
the Joseph Harriss family who was a ribbon weaver.
· Marriage: not found.
· 1871 Census: 52
Windsor Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as
George Welch age 21 a fish bait maker born in Coventry with wife Sarah Ann age
30 a needle gilder born in Redditch.
· 1881 Census: 3
Edward Lane, Redditch (S4). Listed as
George Welch age 32 a fish bait maker born in Coventry with wife Sarah An age 42 a needle gilder born in Redditch.
· 1891 Census: 1
Edward Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as
George Welch married age 41 a bicycle fitter born in Coventry living with a lodger
Isabella J. Chatterley a married needle eyer who was age 38 born in Crabbs
Cross.
· 1891 Census for
Wife: 115 Ipsley Street, Redditch (S4).
Listed as Sarah Ann Welch age 52 a married lodger and fishing tackle
manufacturer born in Redditch.
· 1901 Census:12 H2
Edward Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as
George Welch married age 51 a fishing bait maker on own account at home born in
Coventry living with a housekeeper Isabella J. Chatterley married a needle eyer
who was age 48 born in Crabbs Cross.
· 1911 Census: Back
40, C12 H2 Edward Street, Redditch (S4).
Listed as George Welch married age 62 a metal bait maker worker born in
Coventry living with a house servant Isablar Jane
Chatterley married who was age 58 born in Crabbs Cross. This census indicates George had no children.
· 1911 Census for
Wife: House 1 Court 2 Evesham Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as Sarah Ann Welch
age 72 a married lodger born in Redditch.
Indicates she was married 45 years and had no children.
· Wife’s Death: 3rd
QTR 1916 at age 77 Bromsgrove (S5d).
Listed as Sarah A. Welch.
· Death: April 19, 1919 Bromsgrove at age 69 (S8d). Listed as George Welch who died at 48 Edward
Street in Redditch and was a cycle worker and fishing bait maker.
· Probate: not found.
· Children: None.
Generation 2: Harry Welch (1869-1936) and Mary Ann
Hall (c1868-??)
· Born: 2nd QTR 1869
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Harry Welch.
· Baptized: August
1, 1869 Redditch (S1c). Listed as Harry Welch with parents Joseph and
Sarah Welch.
· 1871 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Harry Welch age
2 born in Redditch. (Note: his first
name is incorrectly listed on the census index as Henry).
· 1881 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Harry Welch age 12 a scholar born in Redditch.
·
1891 Census: not found
· Marriage: Mary Ann
Hall June 25, 1894 Coventry (S3) (S1m). Listed as Harry Welch age 25 an engineer from
Redditch whose father was Joseph Welch a crochet hook manufacturer.
· 1901 Census: 31
Unicorn Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Harry Welch age 32 a needle maker worker born in Redditch with wife Mary A. age
34 born in Coventry and 1 child: Ethel M. E.
· 1911 Census: 341
Swan Lane, Coventry (S4). Listed as
Harry Welch age 42 a caretaker council schools born in Redditch with wife Mary
Ann age 43 also a caretaker council schools born in Coventry and 1 child: Ethel
Mary Ellen. The census indicates they
were married 16 years and had 2 children of which only one was still living. (Note:
the census index incorrectly lists their occupation as carchaker coemal schools).
· Death: October 12,
1936 Coventry at age 67 (S8d), listed as Harry Welch
who died at Cramer’s Road and was a gatekeeper at a motor works with his daughter
E. M. Day present at his death.
· Probate: not found.
· Wife’s Death: not
found.
· Children:
1.
Ethel
Mary Ellen Welch (c1899-??) born in Redditch (S4).
2.
Unknown
(S4-1911).
Needle Related
Patents and/or Design Registration made by Welch
· 1865 Patent: September 12, 1865
#2334 for swivels. Listed as Joseph
Welch a watch maker from Redditch (S=British patent books at books.google.com).
· 1867 Patent: June
17, 1867 #1765 for improvements in swivels for fishing
tackle and for other purposes. Listed as Joseph Welch a watch maker from
Redditch. (S=British patent books at books.google.com).
· 1868 Useful Design
Registration: October 15, 1868 #4973 for an expanding fish hook. Listed as Joseph Hemming and Joseph Welch of
Redditch. (S=The National Archives, Kew).
· 1870 Patent:
October 29, 1870 #2852 for improvements in needle
cases or holders. Listed as Richard Bourne Turner a needle manufacturer from Redditch and
Joseph Welch a watch maker from Redditch. (S=British patent books at
books.google.com).
· 1870 Provisional
Patent: 1870-3006 dated November 17, 1870 for needle
like cases. Listed as J. Welch.
(S=British patent books at books.google.com).
· 1871 Patent: May 12, 1871 #1287
for improvements in cases for holding needles, pins and other articles. Listed as Joseph Welch a watch maker from
Redditch with Charles Laight a needle manufacturer from Redditch (S=British
patent books at books.google.com).
· 1872 Design
Registration: October 5, 1872 #266936 for a metal case
for holding needles and pins. Listed as
Joseph Welch of Windsor Street in Redditch. (S=The National Archives, Kew).
· 1875 Design
Registration: September 8, 1875 #294314 for a metal
part of a crochet hook. Listed as Joseph
Welch of Windsor Street in Redditch. (S=The National Archives, Kew).
· 1888 Patent:
#15,076 for improvements in and relative to crochet hooks. Listed as Joseph Welch. (S=The Money Market
Review, page 811 November 2, 1888, available at books.google.com)
Avery style needle
cases patented/registered by Welch: Cross, La Facile and Ladies Needle Album.
Endnotes
[1] Jones’s Mercantile Directory of the Iron District of
South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire, 1865, page 139. (Available at
books,google,com).
[2] The Post Office Directory of
Worcestershire by Kelly, and Co for 1876, page 1039. (Available at
books,google,com).
[3] See patent and design registration
details in the genealogy section.
[4] The Post Office Directory of
Worcestershire by Kelly, and Co for 1892, page 323. (Available at
books,google,com).
[5] Kelly’s Directory of
Worcestershire, 1900, page 209. (Available at
books,google,com).
[6] Kelly’s Worcestershire Director,
1912, page 231. (Available at books,google,com).
[7] Jones’s Mercantile Directory of
the Iron District of South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire, 1865, page
139. (Available at books,google,com).
[8] The Commercial Directory and
Shippers’ Guide, 1877 page 485.
(Available at books,google,com).
[9] It may seem old that Welch moved from
Coventry to Cheshire and then to Redditch.
Some might think this is a genealogical error. However,
a search of the 1861, census was done on Ancestry.com for all men named George
Welch who were born in Coventry within 5 years of 1825
and this was the only one. Additionally,
the wife’s information on the 1861 census matches with earlier and later
censuses which is further evidence that the George Welch is Cheshire is the
same man as the one in Coventry in 1851 and in Redditch in 1871.
