The Company
The
firm known as W. Woodfield and Sons was probably established sometime between
1853[1] and 1861[2] by William Woodfield who
was first listed as a needle manufacturer in the 1861 census. Also, in 1861[3] the company was first
recorded in city and trade directories as W. Woodfield & Co, a needle and fish hook 
manufacturer
located at Easemore Works in Redditch.
However, by 1865[4] the company name was
changed to William Woodfield & Sons presumably because William had two sons
by then and wanted his company name to reflect what he hoped would be a family
run business. Easemore Works was located[5] on the northeast
intersection of Bridge Street and Elm Road next to the railroad tracks in
Redditch, the perfect location for ease in distribution of their products. The 1873[6] advertisement shown here
indicates the company manufactured all kinds of needles and sewing machine
needles, fish hooks and fishing tackle. In 1871[7] the firm employed 60
hands.
Woodfield
registered their first patent in February 1868[8], #491 “for improvements in
papering needles or making up packets of needles for sale”. Between 1873 and 1875 they registered eight[9] additional designs
included their trade mark (a horse), 3 pin and needle
cases (#1208 pictured here), 3 crochet hooks and 1 hair pin. In 1877 Woodfield patent a new brass needle
case named “The Palace Needle Case”. Later in 1881[10] they registered a metal
joint/clasp for a bracelet or necklace and in 1894[11] four more items probably
related to packaging for needle packets which were documented as 2 leather
goods and book bindings and 2 paper hangings.
In 1897[12]
they registered their trade mark, a Greek Cross
figure, in the United States and Canada and claimed that year they had used it
since May 1862. The firm had a number of different trademarks they used throughout the
years[13].
In
order to expand their business, the company sent representatives to
international fairs and received many awards for their products: 1867[14] Exposition Universal in Paris
(Honorable Mention); 1868[15] Maritime International
Exhibition in Le Havre, France (Honorable Mention); 1869[16] International Exhibition
in Amsterdam (one of only two needle 
manufactures to receive a
Silver
Metal); 1872[17]
Exhibition Universal in Lyons, France (Bronze Medal); 1873[18] Universal Exhibition in
Vienna (Diploma of Merit); 1876[19] Philadelphia
International Exhibition; 1878[20] Paris Universal
Exhibition; 1880[21]
Melbourne International Exhibition (Second Order of Merit); 1883[22] Great International
Fisheries Exhibition in London; and 1889[23] Paris Universal
Exhibition. In the 1878, 1880, 1883 and
1889 exhibition catalogues and in advertisements after 1879[24] the company’s factory
name was changed to “Easemore Works and Victoria Mills” perhaps to show the
business had increased in size. The
advertisement shown above contains a drawing of what that factory looked like
in 1882[25]. Unfortunately, the
Easemore Works building was demolished sometime between 1968[26] and 1978 when the city of
Redditch went through a major transformation period.
The
company was managed by William Woodfield[27] from the time of its
formation until his death in 1913 and it seems likely that his older brother
Thomas assisted him as the factory foreman or warehouseman from at least 1871
until his death in 1903. At some point
after 1912[28]
the firm became a limited liability company and the name changed to W.
Woodfield & Sons, Ltd. In the
advertisement from 1937[29] on the previous page
three of William’s sons, Thomas, Victor and Frank, were listed as directors of
the firm that year. While Victor and
Frank worked in the factory from at least 1901 until their deaths in 1939 and
1944 respectively, the older son Thomas must have been a part time director
since he was a physician and surgeon living in the London area for most of his
adult life. Probably after Victor and
Frank’s deaths the business was moved to the Bournemouth and Christchurch[30] area where the firm
specialized in fishing gear and claimed in advertisements that it had been a
manufacturer of fishing tackle since 1850.
The Owners
William
Woodfield was born c1833 in Redditch, the second son of Thomas and Harriett
Woodfield. His father, a needle maker,
died when William was a young boy sometime between 1839 and 1841[31]. As a result, Harriet
worked as a needle maker, needle straightener or needle picker for much of her
life in order to support her family of seven
children. She never remarried and lived
a long life dying in 1885 at age 83.
William’s older brother Thomas was a needle finisher for a few years and
by 1871 became a foreman in a needle factory at first and later a warehouseman
in a needle factory. Because he became
the foreman between 1861 and 1871, the time when William was organizing his
needle factory, it is highly likely that Thomas worked in his brother’s
factory. William’s younger brother Caleb
followed a different path and became a painter eventually establishing his own
painting business where he was an employer living on the Church Green in the
center of Redditch where he probably had a shop. Thomas passed away in 1903 at age 74 and
Caleb in 1910 at age 72.
William
married Ann Russell, who was also from Redditch, in Birmingham in 1856. At the time his
occupation was needle maker, however less than five years later he had formed
his own needle manufacturing business and shortly thereafter built the factory
known as Easemore Works. Because of his
success he also built an elaborate home for the family near the north side of
the factory on the southeast intersection of Elm Road and Hewell Road which was
called Elmsdale[32]. In 1870 he became a member of the Society of
Art[33], the only person in
Redditch to do so that year. William and Ann had 12 children: Mary, John, Annie, Victor, Adelaide, Emily,
Thomas, Russell, Elizabeth, Frank, Sydney and Marie. From 1861 until his death in 1913 at age 80 he
was consistently listed as a needle manufacturer. William was buried at the Plymouth Road
cemetery in Redditch on June 20, 1913 and his wife Ann
died eight years later in 1921. In his
obituary[34] he was described as
follows:
“DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM WOODFIELD. - We record, with regret, the death of Mr.
William Woodfield, who passed away at his residence, Elmsdale, Hewell Road,
Redditch, on Tuesday morning, after a comparatively short illness.”
“Although Mr.
Woodfield had kept in close touch with private and public business affairs
until very near the end, his demise was not unexpected. Signs of impaired vitality and failing
strength have been apparent to relatives and friends for a year or more, and,
though he suffered from no serious disease of any vital organ, the falling away
had been expedited by recent occurrences, among which may be mentioned the loss
of a son who died a few months ago at almost the onset of a promising
career. Mr. Woodfield had recently
undergone on ocular operation, and although he went through the trial with
courage and bore the pain with fortitude, at his advanced age – he was in his
eightieth years – the shock must inevitably have been severe. After the operation referred to he never left his bed but lost strength gradually until
the end came, as stated, on Tuesday morning.
For practically the whole of his life Mr. Woodfield has been closed
associated with the industrial and public life of the town and district. An Alcester man by birth, he served an
apprenticeship in the needle industry, and when quite a young man went into the
business on his own account. This was
founded about sixty years ago, the business of William Woodfield and Sons,
Easemore Works, in the active management of which the deceased gentleman
continued to take a part until only a few months ago. The exacting demands of a large and growing
needle and fishing tackle business did not by any means exhaust Mr. Woodfield’s
energies, the reserves of which, indeed, appeared almost limitless. For fully thirty years he took a very
prominent and most useful part in the public work of the town and district,
retaining a keen interest in affairs and clearness of perception and judgment
until the end. For about nine years
prior to the passing of the Local Government Act of 1894 Mr. Woodfield was a
member of the old Local Board. After the
passing of that Act the local governing body became the Redditch Urban District
Council, and Mr. Woodfield was elected to the office of chairman in
1901-2. With only one short break he was
a member of the local authority continuously for close upon thirty years, and
for about twenty years of that time filled the position of chairman of the
Finance Committee with marked ability.
Mr. Woodfield was for several years one of the Redditch representatives
upon the Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Joint
Isolation Hospital Committee. Mr.
Woodfield’s unresting and public-spirited energy found scope in other
directions. He was a member of the
Smallwood Hospital Bord of Management from the time of its opening in 1895, and was a regular attendant at the meetings. He was a member of the Seymour (Redditch)
Lodge of Freemasons, and was keenly interested in, and a supporter of, most of
the friendly societies. He was a
Churchman, and in politics a Conservative.
Until a few years ago he took an active part in political work, being
for some time chairman both of the local committee of
the East Worcestershire Conservative Association and of the Redditch Union
Club. His death means the severance of
another link with the past, and the loss to the town of one who for many years rendered
it zealous and most useful service.”
“Mr. Wooodfield leaves a widow and eleven children, and we know
that we are but voicing the feeling of the whole of the townspeople in offering
the members of the family the assurance of sincere sympathy in their heavy
bereavement.”
“The funeral took
place yesterday (Friday) afternoon at Redditch cemetery.”
William
and Ann’s oldest child was a daughter named Mary Russel Woodfield who was born
in 1857. In 1875[35] Mary went to Australia to
marry Edwin Thomas Harris, the son of Joseph Harris, a sewing machine
manufacturer from Birmingham. Edwin was
a successful businessman in Townsville, but disappeared under mysterious
circumstances in 1905, leaving Mary struggling to raise their two sons. She returned to the family home in Redditch
where she stayed until 1916. Following
the death of her father, she returned to Australia and purchased a home in
Sydney where she lived until her death in 1943.
William’s eldest
son, John, was born in Redditch in 1860 and he attended school in Birmingham
when he was 11 years of age in 1861. In
his mid-twenties he sailed to New York from Liverpool at least four times
presumably on business. In 1892[36] he was living with his
parents at the family’s Elmsdale home in Redditch. He obviously returned to the U.S. on other
occasions as he was married in Manhattan, New York to Alice Hoyt in 1894. The couple returned to England by 1901 and
settled first in Hampshire, then Northhamptonshire and lastly in Middlesex
where John was living on his own means by the time he
was 41 years of age. John and Alice had
2 children who unfortunately died young.
It is unclear how he became financially independent, perhaps he married
a wealthy American woman or received funds from his father. He died in 1931 at a hospital in Middlesex at
age 71.
William’s
second son Victor was born in 1863 in Redditch.
He married Florence Startling in 1897 and became a needle manufacturer
by 1901 presumably working in his father’s factory. Victor and Florence had no children and
Victor remained a director in the needle manufacturing business after his
father’s death in 1913 until his own death in 1939. In his obituary[37] he was described as
follows:
“LONG ASSOCIATION
WITH NEEDLE INDUSTRY. DEATH OF MR. VICTOR WOODFIELD, REDDITCH. – THE
LATE MR. VICTOR WOODFIELD – We regret to have to record the death of Mr. Victor
Woodfield, who passed away on Saturday at his home Pennthorpe,
Birchfield Road, Headless Cross. Mr.
Woodfield, who was 76 years of age, has been in poor health for some ten years,
but in the past few months the illness has taken an acute form.
The subject of our notice was the second son
of the late Mr. William Woodfield, principle of the well known firm of W. Woodfield and Sons, needle and
fishing tackle manufacturers, Redditch, who was for many years a member and for
two years chairman of the Redditch Urban District Council. Mr. Victor Woodfield succeeded his father as
head of the firm but retired, through failing health, about ten years ago. Gentle, and of a kindly disposition, all
charitable and educational movements claimed his sympathetic interest and
generous practical support, and in all his work he had the ready co-operation
of Mrs. Woodfield, who survives him and who has the full sympathy of the local
community in her bereavement.”
“Although
Mr. Woodfield has been in failing health for so long a period
he has taken a usefully active part in public affairs. He was President of the Headless Cross
Nursing Association, and has shown keen interest in
the work connected with the Churches of St. Luke’s, Headless Cross, and St.
Philipp’s, Webheath. He was for many
years a member of the Redditch and District Needle and Fishing Trades Association,
and until quite recently was one of the managers of the St Luke’s Day
School. For the annual sports in
connection with these schools Mr. Woodfield gave a handsome shield for
competition and, with Mrs. Woodfield, provided a number of
prizes for competition in the gardening and needlework classes. He was for a long time a member of the
Redditch Technical Instruction Committee.
As an example of his generosity it may be
mentioned that he gave the land upon which stands the Webheath Village Hall.”
Thomas,
William’s third son, was born in 1868 in Redditch. By age 23 he was a student of medicine living
in the London area. He never married and
became a doctor and surgeon always living in and around the London area. Although his role in the Woodfield needle
factory must have been limited, because he was not living in the area where the
factory was located, he must have played some role as a director of the firm
after his father’s death in 1913. Thomas died in Essex
at age 96 leaving an estate valued at £47,968.
William’s
fourth son Russell was born in 1869 and became a ship captain who settled in
Newcastle, Australia. He died in 1913
and his obituary[38]
below provides some detailed information about his life.
“DEATH OF CAPTAIN
WOODFIELD. – Captain Russell Woodfield died at the Shortland Hotel, Newcastle,
on Saturday evening, after a lengthy illness.”
“The late Captain
Woodfield, who was 44 years of age, was a native of Redditch, England. In former years he was very well known in
shipping circles in this port. He came
here several times in command of the sailing vessels Ariel and Forthbank, and
his last command was that of the steamer Yeddo, of the Andrew Weir line. About thirteen years ago the deceased married
Miss Isabella Short, fourth daughter of the late Mrs. I. H. Short, of
Newcastle. Three years ago he left the sea, and went into business at Lismore. He was shortly afterwards taken seriously
ill, through a blood clot on the brain, and he had to relinquish business. He
recovered sufficiently to take a position in the service of the North Coast
Steam Navigation Company. Twelve months
ago, however, he was again taken ill, and was removed to Lewisham
Hospital. It was found that he was
suffering from aneurism, and while he was able to get about at intervals, he
gradually got worse, his intense suffering being borne with great fortitude
until the end came. The deceased is
survived by his widow, but there is no family.
He was widely popular in shipping and commercial circles. The funeral will take place this afternoon.”
Frank, William’s fifth son, was born in
1873. Frank also never married and
became a manager in his father’s needle factory by age 24. He continued to work in his father’s business
and after his father’s death in 1913 became a director of the firm where he
remained until his death in 1944 at age 70.
Frank was buried at the Plymouth Road Cemetery in Redditch on May 11,
1944.
William’s
sixth and youngest son was Sydney who was born in 1875. He was another son who went in a different
direction from the family’s needle business.
In 1900 at age 25 Sydney became an electrical engineer. That same year he married Maude Ellen Edward
Easton in Hammersmith in the London area.
During the next ten years the couple spent time in Glasgow, Scotland and Leigh on Sea in Essex. Sydney and Maude had no children and Sydney
remained in his position as an electrical engineer until his death in 1912 at
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. His death at
the relatively young age of 37 cause significant trauma for his father[39].
William Woodfield & Sons (aka W.
Woodfield & Sons): Genealogy
Generation 1: Thomas Woodfield (??-before 1841) and Harriet Jones (c1802-1885)
·
Born: not found.
·
Baptized: not found.
· Marriage:
September 9, 1822 to Harriet Jones (per Raymond
McLaren’s research).
·
Death:
not found.
·
Probate: not found.
· 1841 Census: Fish
Hill, Redditch/Tardebigg (S4). Listed as
Harriet Woodfield age 35 needle maker born in the county with 6 children:
Alice, Sarah, Eliza, Thomas, William and Elizabeth.
(Note: census index incorrectly lists
the surname as Woodford).
· 1851 Census: 114 Fish Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as Harriet Woodfield a widow age 49 needle straightener born in Tardebigg with 5
children: Alice, Eliza, Thomas, William and Caleb.
· 1861 Census: 174
Church Green West, Redditch (S4).
Listed as Harriet Woodfield a widow age 59
needle picker born in Redditch with 2 children: Eliza and Caleb.
· 1871 Census: 44
Church Green West, Redditch (S4). Listed
as Harriet Woodfield a widow age 69 housekeeper born
in Redditch with 2 children: Eliza and Caleb.
· 1881 Census: 12
Church Green West, Redditch (S4). Listed
as Harriet Woodfield a widow age 78 with no occupation
born in Redditch with 2 children: Eliza and Caleb.
· Harriet
Woodfield’s Death: 1st QTR 1885
Bromsgrove at age 83 (S5d). Listed as Harriett Woodfield born about 1802.
Buried: February 16, 1885 (per Raymond McLaren’s research).
· Children:
1.
Alice
Woodfield (c1821/23-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
2.
Sarah
(c1826-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
3.
Eliza
(c1827/28-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
4.
Thomas
(c1828-1903). Born in Redditch (S4).
· Baptized: June 22, 1828 in
Redditch (S1c). Listed as Thomas
Woodfield with parents Thomas and Harriett Woodfield (S1c).
· 1841 Census: With
mother (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield
age 12 born in the county. (Note:
census index incorrectly lists the surname as Woodford).
· 1851 Census: With
mother (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield
age 22 a needle finisher born in Tardebigg.
· Marriage: 2nd QTR
1851 King’s Norton, Worcestershire (S5m). Listed as Thomas Woodfield and Mary
Ann Moore. June 14, 1851 in
Beoley to Mary Ann Moore (S1m).
· 1861 Census: 59
Prospect Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Thomas Woodfield age 33 a needle finisher born in Redditch with wife Mary Ann
age 37 born in Beoley and 3 children:
Thomas, Betsy and Mary Ann.
· 1871 Census: 32 Hole Hill, Beoley (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield age 43 foreman in
needle factory born in Redditch with wife Mary Ann age 47 born in Beoley and 2
children: Betsey and Mary Ann.
· 1881 Census: 52 Ipsley Street, Ipsley (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield age 52 foreman of
works born in Redditch with wife Mary Ann age 57 born in Beoley.
· 1891 Census: 57 Beoley Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield age 62
warehouseman needle manufactory employed born in Redditch with wife Mary Ann
age 67 born in Beoley.
· 1901 Census: 3 Birmingham Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield age 72
warehouseman needle factory worker born in Redditch with wife Mary Ann age 77
born in Beoley and daughter Mary Ann.
· Death: 1st QTR
1903 Bromsgrove (S5d). Listed as Thomas
Woodfield age 74 born about 1829.
·
Probate: not found.
· Children:
1.
Thomas
C. Woodfield (c1853-??). Born in Beoley
(S4).
2.
Betsy
Moore Woodfield (c1855-??). Born in
Beoley (S4).
3.
Mary
Ann Woodfield (c1858-??). Born in
Redditch (S4).
5.
William
(c1833-1913). Born in Redditch. See generation2.
6.
Elizabeth
(c1837-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
7.
Caleb
(c1839/40/41-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
· Born 1st QTR 1839
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Caleb Thomas
Woodfield.
· Baptized:
September 20, 1840 Redditch (S1c). Listed as Caleb Thomas Woodfield with parents
Thomas and Harriet Woodfield.
· 1841 Census: Fish
Hill, Redditch/Tardebigg (S4). Listed as
Caleb Woodfield age 2 born in the county living in the Thomas Bent household.
· 1851 Census: With
mother (S4). Listed as Caleb Woodfield
age 12 errand boy born in Tardebigg.
· 1861 Census: With
mother (S4). Listed as Cabel Woodfield age 22 painter
born in Redditch.
· 1871 Census: With mother (S4). Listed as Caleb Woodfield age 30 plumber
& glazier born in Redditch.
· 1881 Census: With
mother (S4). Listed as Caleb Woodfield
age 42 painter born in Redditch.
· Marriage: 4th QTR
1885 Bromsgrove to Eliza Houghton (S5m).
· 1891 Census: 12
Church Green West (S4). Listed as Caleb
Woodfield age 51 house painter employer born in Redditch with wife Eliza age 50
born in Redditch.
· 1901 Census: 5 Church Green East (S4). Listed as Caleb Woodfield age 61 painter
employer born in Redditch with wife Eliza age 62 born in Redditch.
· Death: 2nd QTR
1910 Bromsgrove (S5d). Listed as Caleb
Woodfield age 72 born about 1838.
· Burial: April 27,
1910 (per Raymond McLaren’s research).
·
Probate: not found.
· Children: none.
Generation
2: William Woodfield (c1833-1913) and Ann Russell (c1835-1921)
·
Born: not found.
· Baptized: Dec. 8, 1833
Chapelry of Redditch (S1c). Listed as
William Woodfield with parents Thomas and Harriet Woodfield.
· 1841 Census: With mother (S4) Listed as William Woodfield
age 7 born in the county. (Note: census
index incorrectly lists the surname as Woodford).
· 1851 Census: With mother (S4). Listed as William Woodfield age 17 needle
hardener born in Tardebigg.
· Marriage: 2nd QTR
1856 Birmingham (S5m). Listed as William
Woodfield and Ann Russell. May 4, 1856 St. Thomas, Birmingham (S3). Listed as William Woodfield age 22 a needle
maker from Gough Street and Ann Russell also of Gough Street. William’s father is listed as Thomas
Woodfield a needle maker.
· 1861 Census: 95
Easemore Lane, Redditch (S4). Listed as William Woodfield age 27 needle
manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Ann age 24 born in Stafford Great
Bridge and 2 children: Mary R. and John W.
· 1871 Census: 94
Hewell Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as
William Woodfield age 37 needle manufacturer employing 60 hands born in
Redditch with wife Ann age 36 born in Stafford Great Bridge and 7 children:
Mary K., Annie, Victor, Adelaide L.B., Emily, Thomas H and Russell. (Note:
The census index does not include Victor probably because his name is
written between his two sisters).
· 1881 Census: 17
Hewell Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as
William Woodfield age 47 needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Ann age
46 born in Stafford Great Bridge and 12 children: Mary R., John W., Annie,
Victor, Adeliade, Emily, Harold, Russell, Elizabeth,
Frank, Sidney, Marie.
· 1901 Census: 4 Hewell Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as William Woodfield age 64 needle
manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Ann age 66 born in Stafford
and 3 children: Emily A., Frank, and Marie.
· 1911 Census:
Hewell Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as
William Woodfield age 77 needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with
wife Annie age 76 born in Redditch and 5 children: Frank, Emily Alice, Maria
and 2 married daughters: Mary Russell Harris and Adelaide Ranfree. Also indicates William and Annie had been
married 55 years with 12 children all still living.
· William Woodfield
Death: 2nd QTR 1913 at age 79 Bromsgrove
(S5d). June 17, 1913 S6).
· Obituary: June 21, 1913
Redditch Indicator newspaper (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).
· Burial: Plymouth
Road Cemetery, Redditch June 20, 1913.
Listed as William Woodfield age 79, died at Elmsdale on Hewell
Road. Internment number 9641, grave
number not recorded.
(S=Redditch
Crematorium Records researched in August 2019 by Raymond McLaren).
· Probate: May 18, 1914 London (S6).
Listed as William Woodfield of Elmsdale Hewell Road, Redditch to Ann Woodfield widow and Thomas Harold Woodfield medical
practitioner. Effects: £16,035.
· Ann Woodfield’s
Death: October 4, 1921 (S6). Burial:
October 7, 1921 (per Raymond McLaren’s research).
· Ann Woodfield’s
Probate: July 22, 1922 London (S6). Listed as Ann
Woodfield of Elmsdale Hewell Road widow, Redditch to Victor Woodfield
manufacturer and Emily Alice Woodfield spinster. Effects: £226.
· Children:
1.
Mary
R. Woodfield (c1857-1943). Born in Redditch (S4). Mary Russell Woodfield went
to Australia in 1875 to marry Edwin Thomas Harris and died in 1943 in Sydney,
Australia.
(S=https://ismacs.net/wheelerandwilson/wheeler-wilson-number-one-bow-front-mirrored-cabnet.html).
Death: 1943 New South Wales (S=Australia Death Index 1787-1985). Listed as Mary Russell Harris with parents
William and Anne.
2.
John
W. Woodfield (1860-1931). Born in Redditch (S4). See Generation 3.
3.
Annie
Woodfield (c1862-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
4.
Victor
Woodfield (1863-1939). Born in Redditch (S4).
See Generation 3.
5.
Adeliade Woodfield
(c1864/65-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
6.
Emily
Alice Woodfield (c1867/68-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
7.
Thomas
Harold Woodfield (1868-1964). Born in Redditch (S4). See Generation 3.
8.
Russell
Woodfield (1869-1913). Born in Redditch (S4).
See Generation 3.
9.
Elizabeth
Woodfield (c1872-??). Born in Redditch (S4). Elizabeth married Hugh Davis
August 29, 1900 Redditch (S=The Lancet a Journal of
British and Foreign Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Physiology, Chemistry,
Pharmacology, Publish Health and News, Vol. 11 for 1900. Page 355 dated September 15, 1900). Lists Vacancies, Births, Marriage, and Deaths
including the marriage of Elizabeth Victoria Woodfield the fifth daughter of
William Woodfield of Elmsdale, Redditch.
10.
Frank
Woodfield (1873-1944). Born in Redditch (S4).
See Generation 3.
11.
Sydney
Woodfield (1875-1912). Born in Redditch (S4). See Generation 3.
12.
Marie
Woodfield (c1877/78-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
Generation 3: John William Woodfield (1860-1931) and Alice
Hoyt (c1864-??)
· Born: March 4, 1860 Bromsgrove (S8b).
Listed as John William Woodfield who was born in Redditch with parents
William Woodfield a needle factor and Ann Russell.
·
Baptized: not found.
· 1861 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as John W.
Woodfield age 1 born in Redditch.
· 1871 Census: Court
18, 8 Easy Row, Birmingham (S4). Listed
as John W. Woodfield age 11 scholar born in Redditch.
· 1881 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as John W. Woodfield
age 21 born in Redditch.
· February 23, 1885 arrived in New York from Liverpool on the SS
Britannic. Listed as John W. Woodfield
age 24 (S=ancestry.com).
· September 28, 1885 arrived in New York from Liverpool on the SS
Servia. Listed as John W. Woodfield age
25 (S=ancestry.com).
· June 28, 1886 arrived in New York from Liverpool on the SS
Umbria. Listed as John W. Woodfield age
26 (S=ancestry.com).
· July 18, 1887 arrived in New York from Liverpool on the SS Eturia. Listed as
John W. Woodfield age 27 (S=ancestry.com).
·
1891 Census: not found.
· Marriage: February
1, 1894 Manhattan, New York, USA to Alice Hoyt. Listed as John W. Woodfield. (S=New York, New
York Extracted Marriage Index 1866-1937 at ancestry.com)
· 1901 Census: 128
the Chequers, Crookham, Hampshire (S4). Listed as John Woodfield age 41 living on own
means born in Redditch and wife Alice age 37 born in New York, USA. (Note:
Alice is incorrectly listed in the census index as Aline).
· 1911 Census: Pitsford, Northhamptonshire (S4). Listed as John William Woodfield age 51
living on private means no occupation born in Redditch with wife Alice age 47
born in New York, USA. Indicates they
were married 17 years and had two children who were no longer living.
· Death: Registered June
1931 Holborn, London (S5d). Listed as
John W. Woodfield age 71 born about 1860. May 28, 1931
Middlesex (S6).
· Probate: January
30, 1932 London (S6).
Listed as John William Woodfield of 41 South Audley Street, Middlesex
who died at St. Paul’s Hospital. Effects
£2,521 to Thomas
Harold Woodfield, physician.
· Children:
1.
Unknown.
2.
Unknown.
Generation 3: Victor Woodfield (1863-1939) and Florence
Startling (c1867-??)
· Born: 2nd QTR 1863
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Victor
Woodfield.
· Baptized: April 2,
1865 Redditch (S1c).
Listed as Victor Woodfield with parents William and Anne Woodfield.
· 1871 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Victor Woodfield
age 7 born in Redditch. (Note: The
census index does not include Victor probably because his name is written
between his two sisters).
· 1881 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Victor Woodfield
age 17 born in Redditch.
·
1891 Census: not found.
· Marriage: 2nd QTR
1897 Solihull, Warwickshire to Florence Startling (S5m).
· 1901 Census: 59
Prospect Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Victor Woodfield age 37 needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife
Florence age 34 born in Birmingham and a mother-in-law Jane Startling.
· 1911 Census:
Birchfield Road, Headless Cross (S4).
Listed as Victor Woodfield age 47 needle manufacturer employer with wife
Florence age 44 born in Edgbaston.
Indicates they were married 13 years and had no children.
· Death: Registered
June 1939 Bromsgrove (S5d). Listed as
Victor Woodfield age 76. June 24. 1939 (S6).
· Obituary: July 1, 1939 Redditch Indictor newspaper (S= on microfilm at the
Redditch Library.)
· Probate: September 9, 1939
London (S6). Listed as Victor Woodfield
of Pennthorpe Headless Cross. Effects £5,920 to Florence Woodfield widow.
· Children: none.
Generation 3: Thomas Harold Woodfield (1868-1964)
· Born: 1st QTR 1868
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Thomas
Harrold Woodfield.
·
Baptized: not found.
· 1871 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Thomas H.
Woodfield age 3 born in Redditch.
· 1881 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Harold Woodfield
age 13 born in Redditch.
· 1891 Census: 14 Myddelton Sq.,
Clerkenwell, London (S4). Listed as
Thomas H. Woodfield age 23 a single student of medicine born in Redditch.
· Marriage: never
married.
· 1901 Census: Brook
Hospital, Kidbrooke, London (S4). Listed
as Thomas Harold Woodfield age 33 a single doctor of medicine
born in Redditch.
· 1911 Census: Gore
Farm Hospital, Darenth near Dartford (S4). Listed as Thomas Woodfield age 40 single,
senior assistant medical officer born in Redditch.
· 1939 England and
Wales Register: 76 Walnut Tree House, Spring Road, Brightlingsea, Essex
(S=ancestry.com). Listed as Thomas H.
Woodfield born January 16, 1868 a single physician and
surgeon born January 16, 1868.
· Death: Registered
June 1964 Colchester, Essex (S5m). June 6, 1964 (S6).
· Probate: December
29, 1964 Essex (S6).
Listed as Thomas Harold Woodfield or 74 Spring Road, Brightlingsea,
Essex. Effects £47,968 to Dorothy
Lila Mabel Keats doctor of medicine and Robert George
Lord solicitor.
· Children: none.
Generation 3: Russell Woodfield (1869-1913) and Isabella
short (??-??)
· Born: 4th QTR 1869
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Russell
Woodfield.
·
Baptized: not found.
· 1871 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Russel Woodfield
age 1 born in Redditch.
· 1881 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Russell
Woodfield age 11 born in Redditch.
·
1891 Census: not found.
· Certificate:
February 9, 1894 Cardiff. Listed as Russell Woodfield born in Redditch
in 1869 (S=UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927 at ancestry.com).
· Certificate:
December 25, 1895 Liverpool. Listed as Russell Woodfield born in Redditch
in 1869 (S=UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927 at
ancestry.com).
· Certificate: June
4, 1898 London.
Listed as Russell Woodfield born in Redditch in 1869 (S=UK and Ireland,
Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927 at ancestry.com).
· Marriage: Isabell
Short (S=obituary see below).
·
1901 Census: not found.
·
1911 Census: not found.
· Death: Registered
1913 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia (S=Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985
at ancestry.com). Listed as Russell
Woodfield with parents William and Ann Woodfield.
· Obituary: December 1, 1913, page 5 Newcastle Morning
Herald and Miners’ Advocate newspaper from New South Wales (S=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/137028126?
browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FN%2Ftitle%2F356%2F1913%2F12%2F01%2Fpage%2F15144817%2Farticle%2F137028126). Listed as Captain Russell Woodfield age 44 a
native of Redditch who married Isabella Short of Newcastle in 1900 and they had
no children.
·
Probate: not found.
· Children: none.
Generation 3: Frank Woodfield (1873-1944)
· Born: 4th QTR 1873
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Frank
Woodfield.
·
Baptized: not found.
· 1881 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Frank Woodfield
age 7 born in Redditch.
· 1891 Census: Denstone College, Denston in
Alton and Rocester, Staffordshire (S4). Listed as Frank Woodfield age 17 a scholar
born in Redditch.
· 1901 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Frank Woodfield
age 24 single a manager needle factory worker born in Redditch.
· Marriage: never
married.
· 1911 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Frank Woodfield
age 37 single an undecipherable needle worker born in
Redditch.
· 1939 England and
Wales Register: Park Road, Redditch (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Frank Woodfield a single needle
manufacturer born September 15, 1873 living at the
same location as Emily L. A. Woodfield a single woman retired born August 22,
1869 probably his sister.
· Death: Registered
June 1944 Bromsgrove (S5d). Listed as
Frank Woodfield age 70 born about 1874.
May 9, 1944 (S6).
·
Burial:
Plymouth Road Cemetery, Redditch May 11, 1944. Listed as Frank Woodfield age 71 died at 28
Park Road. Internment number 15481, grave
2E.
(S=Redditch Crematorium Records researched in August 2019 by Raymond
McLaren).
· Probate: February
14, 1945 Birmingham (S6). Listed as Frank Woodfield of
28 Park Road Redditch. Effects £4,794 to Thomas Harold Woodfield retired
medical practioner.
· Children: none.
Generation 3: Sydney Woodfield (1875-1912) and Maude Ellen
Edward Easton (c1878-??)
· Born:1st QTR 1875
Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Sydney
Woodfield.
·
Baptized: not found.
· 1881 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Sidney Woodfield
age 6 born in Redditch.
· 1891 Census: With
parents (S4). Listed as Sidney Woodfield
age 16 born in Redditch.
· Marriage: April 7,
1900 St. Matthew, West Kensington, Hammersmith
(S3). Listed as Sydney Woodfield age 25
an electrical engineer married Maude Ellen Edward Easton age 26. Sydney’s father was listed as William
Woodfield needle manufacturer.
· 1901 Census: 20
Derby Cres, Glasgow, Scotland (S4).
Listed as Sydney Woodfield age 26 electrical engineer with wife Maude
age 29. (Note: there is no actual census
image available for this census on ancestry.com only a transcription).
· 1911 Census: Denstone, Marine
Parade, Leigh on Sea, Essex (S4). Listed
as Sydney Woodfield age 38 electrical engineer worker born in Redditch with
wife Maude Woodfield age 33 born in London.
Indicates they were married 10 years and had no children.
· Death: 4th QTR
1912 Rochford, Essex (S5d). December 3,
1912 (S6).
· Probate: May 31, 1913 London (S6).
Listed as Sydney Woodfield of Runnemede, The Leas Westcliffe-on-Sea.
Effects £830 to Maude Woodfield, widow.
· Children: none.
Needle
Related Patents and/or Design Registration made by Woodfield
· 1868 Patent
Registered by W. Woodfield: #491 dated
February 12, 1868 for improvements in papering
needles. (S=The Mechanics’ Magazine and
Journal of Engineering, Agricultural Machinery Manufactures, and Shipbuilding.
Volume XIX New Series, January to June 1868, page 192. Available at https://books.google.com/).
· 1873-1875 Designs
registered by W. Woodfield of Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew).
1.
#5511
dated November 27, 1973 for a crochet hook.
2.
#280611
dated February 19, 1874 for a metal crochet.
3.
#1206
dated September 29, 1874 for a pin and needle case.
4.
#1207
dated September 29, 1874 for a pin and needle case.
5.
#1208
dated September 29, 1874 for a pin and needle case.
6.
Trade Mark dated November
17, 1874 for a horse.
7.
#287299
dated November 20, 1874 for a hair pin.
8.
#291104
dated May 7, 1875 for a crochet hook.
· 1877 Mechanical
Patent #366 registered January 27, 1877 by William
Woodfield and Albert Fenton (S=British Library - Business and Intellectual
Property Centre, London). This item is
known as the Palace needle case.
· 1881 Designs
registered by W. Woodfield of Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew). #371913
dated October 21, 1881 for a metal joint/clasp for
bracelet or necklace.
· 1891 Census: 14
Hewell Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as
William Woodfield age 57 needle and fish hook
manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Ann age 56 born in Stafford
Great Bridge and 3 children: Emily Alice, Sidney, Marie.
· 1894 Designs
Registered by W. Woodfield of Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew).
1.
#235295
date June 29, 1894 for leather goods and book
bindings.
2.
#236401
date July 21, 1894 for paper hangings.
3.
#236402
date July 21, 1894 for paper hangings.
4.
#236403
date July 21, 1894 for leather goods and book
bindings.
Avery
style needle cases patented/registered by Woodfield or with the Woodfield name:
Butterfly, Louise - Folding, Palace, Wheelbarrow
with Holly.
