The
Company
According
to testimony in an 1880[1] court case, the firm known
as Samuel Thomas & Sons was established in 1833 in Redditch by Samuel
Thomas. The company was first listed in
city or trade directories in 1835[2] when it was recorded
simply as Samuel Thomas, because at that time the founder had no sons. By 1840[3] Samuel had attained a certain
level of success which allowed him to build the needle factory known as British
Needle Mills on Prospect Hill, as well as an elegant house on the north side of
the factory known as “The Laurels”. The
factory was described as follows in the January 1843[4] edition of the Penny
Magazine:
“This factory has been
recently constructed, and is situated at one extremity
of the village. It consists of a number
of small court-yards or quadrangles, each surrounding
by buildings wherein the manufacture is carried on. The object of the arrangement seems to be to
obtain as much light as possible in the workshops, since most of the
departments of needle-making require good light. Some of the rooms in the factory are small,
containing only three or four men; while others contain a great many workers,
according to the requirements of the several processes of the manufacture. From the upper rooms of the factory the
surrounding hilly districts of Worcestershire are seen over a wide extent,
wholly uninterrupted by any indication of manufacture or town bustle; and it is
while glancing over this prospect that one wonders how on earth needle-making
came to speckle such a scene. The
subdivision of the factory corresponds with those in the routine manufacture;
and we accordingly find that, while some of the shops are occupied by men,
others contain only females, and others again furnish employment chiefly for
boys. We should surprise many a reader were we to enumerate all the processes
incident to the manufacture of a needle, giving to each the technical name
applied to it in the factory. The number would amount to somewhere about
thirty.”
Also, in 1843[5] the firm introduced
important improvements to the way in which needles were manufactured. This included pointing-machines and a fan to
draw away the dust that was created by the grinder’s wheel during pointing.
Prior to this, pointers had a very short lifespan due
to breathing in the tiny metal fragments created when the needles were
sharpening. In 1846 the pointers went on
strike because they thought any creation that extended their lives would also
force a decrease in their wages. Things
settled down within a few years and the workers finally accepted the fans. The firm Samuel Thomas continued to be listed
as such in 1842[6],
1850[7] and 1855[8], however by 1861[9] it was known as S. Thomas
and Sons, because by then, at least two of the sons, Samuel
and Henry, had joined their father in the business. The British flag was used as their
trademark. Census records in 1871[10] indicate Thomas’s needle
factory employed 122 people, making it one of the largest in the Redditch area.
The
firm participated in at least five major international events, the first being
the International Exhibition of 1862[11] in London. Around the time of the exhibition, the
company, or others associated with the exhibition, republished the article that
was written about the firm in the 1843[12] Penny Magazine. This included at least four of the original
drawings as well as an in-depth description of the process of manufacture used
at British Needle Mills. The company
must have received much publicity as a result.
During the Victorian period the firm obviously
expanded their business by attending these other overseas trade fairs: Paris
Universal Exhibition of 1878[13], Sydney International
Exhibition 1880[14],
Melbourne Exhibition of 1880-81[15] where they received a
silver medal for their sewing needles and the Paris Exposition of 1889[16].
During
the second half of the 19th century Thomas was involved in several lawsuits
related to the fraudulent use of their trading style and an infringement of
their trademarks and labels. In order to understand these cases, one needs to recognize
that there was an extremely high degree of competition between the needle
manufacturers in the Redditch area. Many
firms were trying to outdo their competitors, both in the UK and overseas. This was especially true of the smaller firms
who often were trying to pass off their work as that of one the larger
better-known organizations. Frequently
there were rivalries even between fathers, sons and
brothers. In 1863[17] Samuel Thomas was the
plaintiff in a case against a former employee named Cook. Mr. Cook discovered an old indigent trunk
maker from Worcester named Samuel Thomas and entered into
a partnership with him for six months. Part of the arrangement was that Thomas
would allow his name to be used by the firm after the dissolution at the end of
the six months. The firm commenced
business as Samuel Thomas and Co. at Victoria Mills and promptly committed
numerous fraudulent acts. The judge
hearing the case found Cook guilty “of one of the grossest frauds that had ever
come under his notice” and said the partnership of Thomas and Co. was a mere
sham.
The
second case was brought by Samuel’s son, Henry, who took over his father’s
needle business after Samuel died in 1878.
This case, which was heard in 1879-80[18], involved two of the
largest and one of the oldest needle manufacturers in Redditch, S. Thomas and
& Sons and T. &. J. Holyoake (aka Joseph Holyoake & Son). It is even more interesting because of the fact that Thomas and Holyoake were neighbors[19] with the Thomas residence
known as “The Laurels” on the east side of Prospect Hill and the Holyoake
residence named “The Willows” directly across the street on the west side of
Prospect Hill. The lawsuit involved an
injunction to restrain Holyoake from publication of several sales circulars
Thomas felt was libel and injurious to their trade. In fact, at one-point Thomas claimed the
documents were created to “rob his firm of their trade in Australia”.
To
more fully understand the lawsuit, one has to go back
several generations. When Thomas and
Joseph Holyoake inherited their father’s needle business there was another
brother named George who started his own needle manufacturing firm which he
named George Holyoake. For a number of years both Holyoake companies sold their
products to foreign markets including in Australia. However, in 1856 S. Thomas & Sons
acquired the George Holyoake business and merged it with its own. After the merger, S. Thomas & Sons, who
also distributed their needles to other countries, included in their
advertisements that they also sold Holyoake needles because they continued to
produce the type of needles originally made by George Holyoake. This was most likely done because the
Holyoake name was better known in foreign markets and the Holyoake company had
been around much longer. This did not
sit well with Edmund Holyoake, the owner of Joseph Holyoake & Son at the
time, because he surely felt it infringed on his firm’s market. As a result, the Holyoake company’s
representative, David Williams & Newton of London, created several trade
circulars claiming they were the only legitimate Holyoake needle manufacturer
and that the quality of needles made by others who claimed to be Holyoake’s
were of inferior or poor quality. When
S. Thomas & Son discovered these documents, they sued. The lawsuit known as Thomas vs. Williams was
heard in court in 1879-1880 and an injunction was upheld by the Court of Appeal
for one of the circulars. At the end of
the trial the judge said “It appears to me that I must
restrain the issuing of the circular and restrain the Defendants from in any
manner representing or suggesting that the goods now made and sold by the
Plaintiff are imitations of the goods made and sold by Edmund Holyoake.” Copies of the circulars both companies
issued after the lawsuit ended can be found in the S. Thomas & Sons: Images
section of this chapter and in the T. & J. Holyoake: Images section in
Chapter 11 of this book.
S.
Thomas & Sons continued to produce needles at British Needle Mills with
Henry Thomas as the head of the firm and they were listed in city and trade
directories consistently in 1892[20], 1896[21] and 1900[22]. Then in 1901 Henry was listed as living on
his own means at age 51 and by 1911 had moved north of Birmingham to Sutton
Coldfield, where he was recorded as a retired needle and fish
hook manufacturer. The company
was listed in 1912[23] as S. Thomas & Sons
Ltd, indicating it had converted to a limited liability company at some
point. The firm was also a contractor to
H. M. War Office and Admiralty and they were believed
to be the only needle manufacturer in the industry to be under government
control during World War I[24]. Throughout the late 1890’s and early 1900’s
many of the local needle manufacturing firms were sold and then merged or
amalgamated into other organizations.
Sometime during the first two decades of the 20th century[25] S. Thomas & Sons Ltd.
was taken over by William Hall & Co who in turn became known as Amalgamated
Needles and Fish Hooks in the 1920’s. In 1930 Hall’s company joined with the
Redditch firm of Henry Milward & Sons to form ENTACO (English Needle and
Fishing Tackle Co, Ltd.).
Today
British Needle Mills stands as one of only a handful of examples of what a
large Victorian Era needle factory was once like. Although much of the interior has been
divided into more modern offices and small factory units, it still retains much
of its 19th century character. Upon
entering the interior walkway, one finds numerous courtyards and two and
three-story side buildings with large windows.
Remember this building was constructed before electricity and therefore
required large windows in order to provide light to
the various work areas. One immediately
gets the feeling that each section had a specific purpose related to one of the
processes in needle making; for example, one for stamping, one for hardening,
another for pointing, one for scouring, etc.
The old Thomas residence known as “The Laurels” sits on the north side
of the factory and still retains much of its original chararacter.
The
Owners[26]
Samuel
Thomas was born in 1807 in Bitton, Gloucestershire, a
town about 82 miles south of Redditch. Bitton is located halfway between the cities of Bristol and
Bath. In one record Samuel’s parents
were listed as Thomas and Jane Thomas, however other evidence leads one to
believe that was an error and his real parents were James and Jane Thomas. According to testimony in the 1880[27] lawsuit mentioned in the
company history above, Samuel’s brother James stated their father, also named
James Thomas, was a needle manufacturer from about 1814 to his death in
1847. Additionally, he claimed their father
had four sons: Samuel, James, Walter and Job, the youngest
two having nothing to do with the needle business. The parents also had two
daughters, Ann who was born in Bitton in 1805, and Jane
Maria who was born in Ipsley in 1817 proving the Thomas family had in fact moved
to the Redditch area from Bitton by that time. Not long after the sister’s birth, Samuel’s
mother Jane either died and his father remarried, or Jane started using the
name Mary, possibly her middle name. In
1823 Samuel’s brother Job was born in Ipsley.
Both Samuel’s father and brother James were needle manufacturers in the
Redditch area from 1814 and the 1820’s until their deaths in 1847 and 1883 respectively. In
fact, the father left “the goodwill of his trade connections as a needle
manufacturer” to the brother James presumably because at the time of his death
in 1847, Samuel had already established himself as a successful needle
manufacturer. The father’s wife, Mary
died ten years later in 1857.
Samuel’s
brother also testified that when he, James, started in the needle business in
the 1820’s, his brother Samuel, was in Devonport near Plymouth in Devonshire,
136 miles south of Bitton, selling needles for his
father’s business. Samuel’s youngest son
Henry also testified in the lawsuit and claimed his father began to deal in
needles in 1825. Apparently, Samuel held
a position similar to that of a commercial traveler
for his father for a number of years and traveled to London as well as
Devonport. In 1829 Samuel married Mary Retallack in Stoke Damerel, a
suburb of Plymouth. Their son, also
named Samuel, was born there c1830, and at the time of his birth the family was
living in Stonehouse, another section of Plymouth, where Samuel worked as a
needle manufacturer. Unfortunately, the
son died there three months later. A
daughter Mary was also born c1831 in Stoke Damerel. In 1832 Mary inherited her mother’s estate
which appears to have provided Samuel with the funds necessary to become a
needle manufacturer on his own rather than as one working for his father. Sometime between 1832 and 1833 Samuel and
Mary moved to Redditch where Samuel established a large needle factory by 1840
which he named British Needle Mills.
After their arrival in Redditch, they had at least nine additional
children who were born there almost every other year from 1834 until 1850: Elizabeth,
Samuel, Ann, Fanny, Maria, Richard, John, Mary and
Henry.
By 1851 Samuel’s needle
business was very successful and the family lived in
an elegant home built next to the factory on Prospect Hill known as “The
Laurels”. Unfortunately, Samuel and
Mary’s relationship was not necessarily a happy one. For many years Samuel had a mistress in the
Birmingham area named Julia Reinagle Cecil. Actually, Samuel was
recorded twice in the 1861 census, once with his wife and children in Redditch
and again at Spring Street in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham, with Julia who
was also listed as his wife. In fact,
Julia, who was approximately 19 years younger than Samuel, was living in
Birmingham as a governess with a servant as early as 1851 and was listed in one
Birmingham directory as having a school in 1852. How they met is unclear, perhaps it was
through Julia’s father who was a solicitor from Oxford. And how do we know Samuel’s wife Mary knew about
this relationship? Because the following
incident was recorded in 1865[28] in several newspapers in
the UK:
“A HORSE-WHIPPING
CASE - On Tuesday, at the Worcestershire Quarter Sessions, held at Worcester
before Earl Dudley (chairman), and a numerous bench of magistrates, a case came
on for hearing which has for some time past created considerable stir in the neighbourhood of Redditch and Birmingham, where the parties
interested reside, and are well known.
At the preceding Quarter Sessions the grand
jury found a true bill against Mr. Samuel Thomas, needle manufacturer, of
Redditch, for an assault upon Mr. Henry Howell, accountant, of Birmingham, and
yesterday the trial took place. . . .
The facts are brief, and displayed a lack of morality
on both sides. Mr. Thomas is a wealthy
needle manufacturer, and the complainant, Mr. Howell, is an accountant at
Birmingham, and holds the office of Secretary to the Birmingham Musical
Festivals, and certain other charitable and religious societies. Both are married, and Mr. Thomas has seven
children by his wife. Notwithstanding
this fact, however, he had formed an illicit connection with a woman named
Julia Reinagle Cecil, who went by the name Thomas,
and this connection, by the admission of Mr. Thomas himself, had lasted 20
years. Some time ago Mr. Thomas engaged
the services of Mr. Howell in his business, and matters went on very well until
Thomas’ mistress informed him that Mr. Howell had made an attempt, as she
called it, to seduce her, whereupon Mr. Thomas resolved on administering to
Howell a public horse-whipping. It is said that the woman purchased the whip,
but be this as it may, at a meeting of the Redditch Railway Company, held at
Redditch early in the present year, Mr. Thomas produced a dog whip, and with it
administered eight or nine sharp blows on Mr. Howell’s shoulders. Hence the present proceedings. The fact of the assault having been proved, the complainant was subjected to a severe
cross-examination with reference to certain letters which it was alleged he had
received from Miss Cecil. Incidentally,
also it transpired that a charge had been made (and is still pending) against
Howell at the instance of Thomas of having attempted to tamper with Miss Cecil
as a witness in the case. Miss Cecil was
not examined, and at the close of the trial the Court sentenced Thomas to pay a
fine of £5,
and directed that each party should pay his own costs.”
Samuel
died in 1878 in Redditch[29] at age 71. He left his estate, which was valued at
approximately £16,000
(equal to about £1.9
million today) to his youngest son Henry Thomas. Mary continued to live at “The
Laurels” with her two youngest children: Henry and Mary until at least
1881. She died in 1883 in Chorlton near Manchester, while either visiting or spending
her last years with her daughter Fanny and son-in-law, Thomas Tanner, who lived
in that area.
Samuel
and Mary Thomas’ eldest son, also named Samuel Jr., was born c1835 in
Redditch. In 1870 Samuel Jr. married a
Dutch woman named Antoinette Goffin[30] and they had a least ten
children, six who were born in France: Irza, Lilla,
Henri, Samuel, Ernest and Francis; three who were born
in the Redditch area: Rose, Rosa and Newton; and one, Florence, who was born in
Peckham, a district in south London.
Although this Thomas family lived in a variety of places at different
times, they frequently were staying in the Redditch area. In 1871 they were living next door to Samuel
Jr.’s parents, however by 1881 they lived in neighboring Ipsley where Samuel
Jr. appeared to have his own needle factory, a much smaller one than his
father’s because he employed only 23 men and 10 women. Samuel Jr. apparently had a falling out with
other family members after his father’s death in 1878 because the father left
his estate to his youngest brother Henry.
As a result, a lawsuit between his brothers Henry and John, in which
Samuel Jr. testified in support of his brother John, was documented in the 1879[31] newspaper below. According to another newspaper article[32], the brother John was the
defendant in this case.
“A NEEDLE MANUFACTURERS WILL - The suit of
Thomas v. Thomas involved the validity or otherwise of the alleged last will of
the late Mr. Samuel Thomas, needle manufacturers of Redditch. It was propounded by the plaintiff, who is
the youngest son, and bears date the 8th of March,
1878. The defendant, who is also a son,
alleged that his father was not of sound mind, memory, and understanding, and
that he was unduly influenced. From what
transpired it seemed that the deceased had made a prior testamentary disposition,
in which all the members of the family were named, but by the will in question
his son Henry Thomas was appointed residuary legatee, and when in the witness
box that person stated that the business, stock, and goodwill were worth 16,000£. Evidence was given by Dr. Little, who
attended deceased up to the last, which showed that he died from cancer in the
intestines, but it did not affect his mental capacity. The Rev. Mr. Fessey,
who was with the deceased frequently for the last eight weeks of his life,
deposed to his being of vigorous intellect.
In addition to this there was the testimony of Mrs. Thomas, the relict, and also that of one of her daughters, which went to show that
the deceased, though eccentric at times, was far from being incompetent to
transact business. The defendant, his
brother Samuel, and others were called for the defense, but the jury at once
found for the will, and Sir Jas. Hannen pronounced
for it with costs, stating that he was of the same opinion as the jury.”
In 1889 Samuel Jr.
attended the Exposition Universelle in Paris and met
a successful young French fishing tackle businessman named Henri Guillaume[33]. They became friends and Samuel invited Henri
to visit his needle factory in Redditch as he was looking for a private
investor to help him redevelop and expand his needle manufacturing business in
England. As a result, Henri came to
Redditch for a visit in 1890 and agreed to finance the development and
upgrading of Samuel Jr.’s needle factory.
A few years later in 1896 Henri married Samuel Jr.’s daughter Rose. The Guillaume family lived on Hewell Road
with the Thomas family for a few years and in 1901 Henri was listed there as a
cycle maker. Samuel Jr. and Antoinette
moved to the continent and were living in Erquelinnes,
Belgium by 1910[34]. Samuel Jr. died there in 1912 at age 77. His wife, Antoinette, died in 1928 in
Brussels, Belgium.
Samuel
Sr.’s middle son John[35], was born c1846 in
Redditch. After attending boarding
school near Hull in Yorkshire with his younger brother Henry, John worked in
his father’s warehouse as a timekeeper and in several other capacities until
1873. He left the firm around that time
after getting into financial difficulty and learning his father refused to pay
his debts. As a result, he pretended to
commence trading as J. Thomas and Co. but after a year or two sold the name to
others and copied his father’s labels.
Samuel Sr.’s youngest son Henry[36] was born in Redditch in
1850. He was 15 years younger than his
oldest brother Samuel Jr. At age 11
Henry was living as a pupil with his older brother John at a boarding school near
Hull in Yorkshire. He also attended school
in Bristol for some time and later spent three to four years in Paris,
presumably living near his older brother Samuel Jr. who had six children born
in France. By 1867[37] Henry had returned to
Redditch and was living with his parents, working as a cashier, a foreign
correspondent and commercial clerk in his father’s needle business. For six or seven years from 1874 until 1880
Henry was the superintendent of the manufacturer and learned all
of the details of the business. After
his father’s death, he inherited the family business and became a needle
manufacturer employer. In 1883 Henry
married Mary James in Redditch, the daughter of the Thomas’s neighbor across
the street, Arthur James another area needle manufacturer. They continued to live at “The Laurels” until
at least 1901 where they had four children: Irene, Dora, Hilda
and Samuel. Although listed as a needle manufacturer employer in previous
years, by 1901 Henry was living on his own means. The family moved to Sutton Coldfield by 1911,
33 miles north of Redditch, where Henry was listed as a retired needle and fish hook manufacturer.
At some point after 1911 but before 1939, the family moved again, this
time to Richmond Park Ave in Bournemouth along the southern coast of the UK. At
the time Bournemouth was considered a popular seaside resort known for its
healthy air, natural beauty, and the fact that a high percentage of
upper-middle and upper-class people visited and lived there. Henry died in
Bournemouth in 1941 at age 91. He left
his estate valued at £14,707
to his son Samuel who was a Reverend, to his unmarried daughter Dora and to a Methodist
minister.
Business
Feuds or Family Feuds
As
seen in this history of Samuel Thomas & Sons, there was a rivalry between
them and T. & J. Holyoake, one of the oldest needle manufacturers in
Redditch, that resulted in a lawsuit in 1879-80. One often wonders what could have been the
cause of such a rivalry. Was it just
business, one company trying to outdo another, or was something else
involved? In this case, it might have
been related to something that took place years earlier. Several newspaper articles from the 1840’s
give some insight into this. In order to understand the individuals involved, a quick
review is necessary.
During the mid to late
1800’s, three of the largest needle manufacturers in the Redditch area lived
across the street from each other.
Samuel Thomas’s home was on Prospect Hill, on the north side of his
needle factory, British Needle Mills, near the intersection with Clive
Road. Directly across the street on the
southwest corner of Prospect Hill and Clive Road was the residence of Joseph
Holyoake, known as “The Willows”. South
of this was a place called “The Shrubbery” where the descendants of W. Bartleet
and Sons lived.
All
four of the 1846 newspaper articles below involved Samuel Thomas Sr.’s younger
brother, Job Thomas. Something is going
on here, but what is it? The true story may never be known. Was Job the odd man out or a disreputable
member of the Thomas family? Was Job’s
alleged friend James Bartleet related to the W. Bartleet and Sons family? Was
it rats or rabbits? And was Job really accidentally killed?
Read on. Your guess is as good as
mine!!
May 2, 1846 “MURDEROUS
ASSAULT[38]- On Monday last, two men,
one of whom was named John Roberts, were felling timber near Redditch, and
having during the day partaken too freely of intoxicating drinks, they quarreled
on their way home and went into a field to fight, where they were observed by a
young man named Job Thomas, who with several others went into the field and
began teasing them, and tried to get them to fight again. This roused Robert’s passion, and taking up
his axe he aimed a blow at Thomas’s head, it however missed his head and he received the weight of the axe on the fleshy
part of the left thigh. Roberts
immediately regained his command over the axe and aimed another blow at Thomas,
which cut of the flesh from the front part of the forehead in a slanting
direction down to the left ear. It is
extremely fortunate that the sufferer was standing a little on one side of his
assailant; had he been standing in front of him, the last blow must inevitably have
killed him. On Tuesday morning, in
consequence of the surgeon certifying that the man was in great danger, Roberts
was apprehended and taken before a magistrate, by whom he was restrained until
Thursday. In consequent of Thomas having
lost such a quantity of blood, it is doubtful whether he will recover.”
May 13, 1846 -“DEPREDATION[39] - On Sunday morning,
between three and four o’clock, nearly the whole of the windows and leading in
a large and extensive building now fitted up as a needle manufactory for Messrs T. and J. Holyoake, of this place, were completely
demolished by two mischievous persons named Job Thomas and Wm. Malin. The same
parties also paid a visit to some new houses near Hewell Terrace, the property
of Mr. R. Harrison, where they took the quarries from the floors, and threw
them into the well; they also broke the windows and frames, and then collected
all the boards, wheelbarrows, ladders, and other moveables
on the premises, and deposited them also in the well, fitting it almost level
with the ground. It will be seen by our
Bromsgrove police report that they have been fined for the offence.”
November 11, 1846
- “FATAL ACCIDENT WITH A GUN[40] - An accident occurred on
Monday last at Redditch which we regret to say was attended with fatal
consequences. On the morning above
named, the deceased, Job Thomas, a young man named Bartleet, and several
others, went out to shoot rabbits, Bartleet using the gun. Between 10 and 11 o’clock, while at a rick
belonging to Mr. J. Robinson, a rabbit started out, and the deceased (who was
on another side of the rick to Bartleet) called out “Here he is” and sprung
forward to strike him. At the same minute the rabbit appeared in sight of Bartleet, who
instantly pulled the fatal trigger and lodged the contents in the right side of
Thomas’s head, tearing away the skull and scattering the brains; he died
immediately. An inquest was held on
Tuesday, at the Unicorn Inn, before R. Docker, Esq., coroner, and a verdict of “Accidental
death” returned. The unfortunate man has
left a widow and three children to deplore his loss.”
November 14, 1846
- “FATAL ACCIDENT[41]
- On Monday last, great excitement prevailed throughout the neighborhood of
Redditch, owing to the following accident, which occurred in a field (or
rickyard) near the factory of Mr. T. Holyoake.
It appears that a young man named Job Thomas, about 25 years of age, a
needle-maker by trade, in company with eight or nine more, had collected together for the purpose of destroying rats in the
corn ricks. During the time they were
engaged in this sport, Thomas caught sight of a rabbit, and calling to a lad
named James Bartleet, who at the time had a loaded gun in his hand, requested
him to watch the place where the rabbit was concealed. A ferret was then send
into the hole, which drove the rabbit from its hiding place, and Thomas at the
same moment called to Bartleet to fire, when he raised the gun, but before he
got it to his shoulder, it accidentally went off, and the change unfortunately
lodged in the head of poor Thomas, who fell dead upon the spot. An inquest was held on the body of the
unfortunately young man, on Tuesday, before Mr. Docker, Coroner, when a verdict
of “Accidental Death” was returned.”
The British Flag Avery style needle
case registered by S. Thomas & Sons in 1879.
Samuel Thomas & Sons (aka S. Thomas & Sons):
Genealogy
Note #1: According to “The Law Reports” of a legal
case adjudicated in 1880, S. Thomas and Sons was founded in 1833 by the father
of the then current head. Also, “The
Hosier and Glover” from 1880 describes the case and says the witness Henry
Thomas, son of Samuel Thomas, indicated the firm was established in 1833 by his
father and that his uncle was James Thomas of Redditch and his grandfather died
in 1847. The operations in the British Mills factory in
Redditch are described in detail in The Penny Magazine in 1843.
Note #2: Explanation of how Samuel Thomas
(1807-1878) and James Thomas (1809-1883) were brothers even though the baptism
record for Samuel shows a different father.
There are three theories about this.
Theory 1: Samuel’s baptism record is in error and the father should be
listed as James Thomas rather than Thomas Thomas. The person recording the baptism made a
mistake and recorded the father’s name as Thomas when is should have been
James. Theory 2: Samuel’s baptism record is in error and the father should be
listed as James Thomas rather than Thomas Thomas. The actual record of this transaction was not
personally reviewed by me, only a transcription was available at Ancestry.com.
The original record might be hard to read, especially if the name was
abbreviated, after all both Thomas and James have similar endings, “mos” or “mes”, and the letter “T”
and “J” are often hard to read in the old English handwriting. I have seen numerous incidents of
transcription errors in genealogical records. A descendant of the Thomas family
has reviewed the actual record and claims it clearly states the father is
Thomas Thomas.
Theory #3: Samuel and James were
in fact half-brothers with the same mother, who were raised together. According
to the baptism records, both fathers were married to a woman named Jane. Let’s say Thomas and
Jane’s son, Samuel, was born and the father died shortly after the birth. The mother, with a newborn would be looking
for another man to marry, to provide for the child, and what if Thomas had an
unmarried brother named James. Then once
Jane and James were married, their children would be raised together with
Samuel. Although in this example James
was actually a step-father, since the two boys, Samuel
and James, were raised together from a very early age, they considered
themselves brothers. This theory is
supported by the fact that a Thomas Thomas died at
age 22 in Bristol, a city only a few miles from Bitton,
where Samuel was baptized.
Generation 1: James Thomas (c1786-1847)
and Jane ??-?? and Mary ??
(c1791-1857)
·
Born: c1786 (S4).
·
Baptized: not
found.
·
Marriage #1: to
Jane ?? - not found.
·
Possible Wife
#1 Death: Jane ?? between 1817-1823 - not found
·
Possible Marriage #2: to Mary Weston November 3, 1822 Tardebigg (S=marriage records for Tardebigg Parish at
the Hive in Worcester).
·
1841 Census: Headless Cross, Studley, Alcester,
Warwickshire (S4): Listed as James
Thomas age 55 a needle manufacturer not born in the county with Mary Thomas age
50 not born in the county.
·
Death: April 26, 1847
Studley (S8d). Listed as James Thomas
age 63 a needle maker who died in Ipsley.
·
Probate: proved July 2, 1847 London and written March ? (undecipherable), 1847 (S6). Listed as James Thomas of Headless Cross a
needle manufacturer. Mentions wife Mary and son James
·
1851 Census: 66 Headless Cross, Ipsley, Studley,
Alcester (S4). Listed as Mary Thomas a
widow age 62 a needle maker born in Ipsley with a
granddaughter, 2 lodgers who were a needle finisher and a needle driller and 2
visitors who were a nurse woman and a needle driller.
·
Wife #2’s Death: August 18, 1857
Ipsley, Studley (S8d). Listed as Mary
Thomas, age 70, widow of James Thomas, needle manufacturer.
·
Children: (Note:
Four of these children were mentioned in the 1880 legal case as being
the sons of James Thomas a needle manufacturer who died in 1847).
1. Ann Thomas (c1805-??). Baptized:
August 25, 1805 Bitton,
Gloucestershire (S1c). Listed as Ann
Thomas with parents James and Jane Thomas.
2. Samuel Thomas (1807-1878) - born in Bitton,
Gloucestershire - see generation 2.
3. James Thomas (c1809-1883) - born in Bitton,
Gloucestershire - see generation 2.
4. Possible child: Mary Heming Thomas (c1810-??) - baptized June 30, 1811 in Inkberrow at age 2 with parents listed as James and
Jane Thomas (S=baptism records for Inkberrow Parish at the Hive in Worcester).
5. Possible child: Jasmine Thomas (c1810-??) - baptized June 30, 1811 in Inkberrow at age 2 with parents listed as James and
Jane Thomas (S=baptism records for Inkberrow Parish at the Hive in Worcester).
6. Jane Maria Thomas (c1817-??) - Baptized: January 28, 1817
Ipsley (S=England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975, Parish Baptisms from the
website www.findmypast.co.uk). Listed as Jane Maria Thomas with
parents listed as James and Jane Thomas.
7. Walter Thomas - Possibly died at age 9 months on November 14, 1812 in Inkberrow (S=death records for Inkberrow Parish at
the Hive in Worcester).
8. Job Thomas - (c1823-?? - Baptized January 26, 1823
Redditch (S1c). Listed as Job Thomas
with parents James and Mary Thomas. Marriage: November 1, 1840
Ipsley, Warwick (S8m). Listed as Job Thomas and Eliza Eades,
both age 19, needle drillers residing in Headless Cross with Job’s father
listed as James Thomas, needle manf and Eliz’a father listed as Joseph Eades,
tailor. Baptized: May 4, 1841 Redditch
(S1c), listed as Mary Thomas, daughter of Job and Eliza Thomas. 1841 census: New End, Redditch (S4). Listed as Job Thomas age 15 a needle m born
in the county with Eliza Thomas age 15 not born in the county and Mary Thomas
age 1 month born in the county. Death: November 9, 1846
Tardebigg, Bromsgrove (S8d). Listed as
Job Thomas, needle maker accidentally shot, informant Ralph Docker, coroner.
Generation 2: Samuel Stephens Thomas (1807-1878) and Mary Retallack (c1808-1883)
· Born: January 16, 1807 per gravestone (S=ancestry.com) c1807 or 1811 Bitton, Gloucestershire (S4).
· Possible
Baptized: February 9, 1807
Bitton, Gloucester (S1c). Listed as Samuel Stephens
Thomas with parents Thomas and Jane Thomas.
· Possible Father’s
Death: burial February 28, 1807, Bristol, Gloucester at age 22 born 1785 (S7).
· Marriage:
September 2, 1829 Stoke Damerel,
Devon (S1m) (S3). Listed as Samuel
Thomas and Mary Retallack.
· Will of Wife’s
Mother: Written August 18, 1832 and annexed October
31, 1832 (S6). Listed as Elizabeth Retallack widow of Devonport bequeaths her property and
goods to her two children John and Mary to be divided equally. The annexed part lists only Mary Thomas, wife
of Samuel Thomas.
· 1841 Census: Fish Hill, Redditch (S4). Lists Samuel Thomas age 30, needle m. not born
in the county with wife Mary age 30 also not born in county and 3 children all
born in the county: Samuel, Ann and Fanny.
· 1851 Census: 169
British Needle Mills, Redditch (S4).
Lists Samuel Thomas age 44 needle manufacturer born in Bitton, Gloucester with wife Mary age 43 born in Plymouth,
Devonshire with 9 children all born in Redditch: Elizth,
Saml, Ann, Fanny, Maria, Richard, John, Mary and Henry.
· 1861 Census: 17
Prospect Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Samuel Thomas age 54 needle manufacturer born in the U.K. with wife Mary age 53
born in Devonport, Devon and 4 children: Anne, Fanny, Richard
and Mary.
· 1861 Census: 113
Spring Str, Edgbaston, Birmingham (S4).
Listed as Samuel Thomas age 54 married needle manufacturer born in Bitton, Gloucestershire with wife Julia Thomas age 35 born
in Oxfordshire. (Note: this is Samuel Thomas and his mistress).
· 1865: The Glasgow
Daily Herald newspaper: July 3,
1865. Listed as a horse whipping case
involving Samuel Thomas a wealthy needle manufacturer from Redditch who
assaulted Henry Howell of Birmingham who allegedly made a pass at his mistress
Julia Reinagle Cecil who lived as Thomas
(S=ancestry.com).
· 1871 Census: 17
Birmingham Road, British Needle Mills, Redditch (S4). Listed as Samuel Thomas Sen, age 64 needle
manufacturer employing 122 work people born in Bitton,
Gloucestershire with wife Mary age 63 born in Devonport, Devonshire and 3
children: John, Mary and Henry. (Note: surname is
incorrectly listed in the census index as Thomasson).
· Death: 3rd QTR 1878 Bromsgrove at age 71 (S5d)
listed as Samuel Thomas and September 6, 1878 Redditch
(S6).
· Death Notice:
September 7, 1878 Redditch Indicator (S=on microfilm
at the Redditch Library).
· Funeral Notice:
date unknown Redditch Indicator (S=ancestry.com).
· Burial: Samuel Thomas grave which appears to have
been moved to this cemetery at later date.
(S=personal visit to the Borough of Redditch Cemeteries & Crematorium).
· Probate: May 15, 1879 Worcester (S6).
Listed as Samuel Thomas late of Redditch needle and fish
hook manufacturer proved by Henry Thomas of British Needle Mills
Redditch needle and fish hook manufacturer the son and sole executor. Personal
estate: under £18,000, Resworn September 1881 under
£16,000.
· 1881 census:
Prospect Hill, the Laurels, Redditch (S4).
Listed as Mary Thomas mother age 73 born in
Devonport, Devonshire with son Henry Thomas age 31 needle manufacturer, born in
Redditch and Henry’s sister Mary Hickman age 41 born in Redditch.
· Wife’s death:
April 9, 1883 Chorlton upon
Medlock, Chorlton, Lancashire (S8d). Listed as Mary
Thomas age 75, the widow of Samuel Thomas a needle manufacturer with the
son-in-law Thomas Tanner of 166 Oxford Street Chorlton
upon Medlock present at death.
1.
Samuel
Thomas (c1830-c1830). Baptized August 23 1830 Stoke-Damerel, Devonshire
(S=ancestry.com family tree for Samuel Thomas [1807-1878]). Listed as Samuel Thomas with parents Samuel
and Mary Thomas of Stonehouse. Father’s
trade is listed as needle manufacturer. Buried: November 10, 1830
Stoke-Damerel, Devonshire (S=ancestry.com family tree
for Samuel Thomas [1807-1878]). Listed
as Samuel Thomas age 3 months of Adelaide Street Stonehouse.
2.
Mary
Thomas (c1831-??). Baptized October 4, 1831 Stoke-Damerel, Devonshire
(S=a copy of the original baptism record was obtained from Snatch51 who is a
descendant of Samuel Thomas and has listed a Thomas family tree on
ancestry.com). Listed as Mary Thomas
with parents Samuel and Mary Thomas of East Stonehouse. Father’s trade is listed as gentleman.
3.
Elizabeth
Thomas (c1834-??). Born in Redditch
(S4).
4.
Samuel
Thomas (c1835-??). Born in Redditch
(S4). See generation 3.
5.
Ann
Thomas (c1838-??). Born in Redditch
(S4).
6.
Fanny
Thomas (c1840-??). Born in Redditch
(S4). Married: 2nd QTR 1866 Bromsgrove (S5m).
Listed as Fanny Thomas and Thomas Tanner. 1881 Census: Chorlton
on Medlock Lancashire (S4). Listed as
Fanny Tanner age 40 born in Redditch with husband
Thomas Tanner and 8 children.
7.
Maria
Thomas (c1841-1860). Born in Redditch
(S4). Death: January 12, 1860, Passy,
near Paris, France. Worcester Chronical January 25, 1860. Listed as Maria the 4th surviving daughter of
Samuel S. Thomas British Needle Mills, Redditch (S=ancestry.com). Also listed
with the same death date and place, on the side of her father’s grave. (S=personal visit to the Borough of
Redditch Cemeteries & Crematorium).
8.
Richard
Thomas (c1844-??). Born in Redditch
(S4). Born 4th QTR 1843 Bromsgrove (S1b) listed as Richard Thomas.
9.
John
Thomas (c1846-after 1871). Born in
Redditch (S4).
10.
Mary
Thomas (c1848-after 1881). Born in
Redditch (S4)
11.
Henry
Thomas (1850-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
See generation 3.
Generation 2: James Thomas (c1809-1883)
and Mary Ladbury (c1813-after 1881)
·
Born: c 1809, 1811 (S4).
·
Baptized: October 9, 1808 Bitton, Gloucestershire (S1c). Listed as James Thomas with parents James and
Jane Thomas.
·
Possible Second Baptism: baptized June 30, 1811 in Inkberrow at age 3, listed as James Thomas with
parents listed as James and Jane Thomas (S=baptism records for Inkberrow Parish
at the Hive in Worcester).
·
Marriage:
January 1, 1835 Redditch (S1m). Listed as James Thomas and Mary Ladbury.
·
1841 Census: Albert Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as James Thomas age 30 a needle m not
born in the county with Mary age 25 born in the county and 3 children: Samuel,
William, Nk.
·
1851
Census: not found.
·
1861 Census: 13 Station Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as James Thomas age 52 a needle
manufacturer born in Bitton, Gloucester with wife
Mary age 48 born in Inkberrow and 8 children: Mary Jane, Hannah, John, Emma,
Elizabeth, Ann, Mary and George. (Note:
the surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Thames and
James’s age is incorrectly listed in the census index as 32).
·
1871 Census: 74 Station Street, Redditch (S4).
Listed as James Thomas age 62 a needle manufacturer born in Bitton,
Gloucester with wife Mary age 58 born in Inkberrow and 5 children: Emma,
Elizabeth, Ann, Mary and George. (Note: the census index incorrectly lists Mary’s
name as May and James’s age a 52).
·
1881 Census: 34 Clive Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as James Thomas age 72 needle manufacturer
born in Binton, Gloucester with wife Mary age 68 bon in Inkberrow and 3 children: Mary Jane, Emma and Annie.
·
Death: March 24, 1883 (S6).
·
Probate: September 10, 1883
Worcester (S6). Listed as James Thomas
of 34 Clive Road, Redditch a needle manufacturer died March 24, 1883 proved by David Ball manufacturer manager, John Smith
commercial clerk and James Edward Bryant School master. Personal estate: £1,393. (Note: the death year is incorrectly listed
on the probate index on ancestry.com).
·
Wife’s Death:
not found.
·
Children:
1. Samuel Thomas (c1837-??) - born in the county (S4).
2. William Thomas (c1839-??) born in the county (S4).
3. Nk Thomas
(c1840-??) born in the county (S4).
4. Mary Jane Thomas (c1841/42-??) - born in Redditch (S4).
5. Hannah Ledbury Thomas (c1843-??) - born in Redditch (S4).
6. John Thomas (c1845-??) - born in Redditch (S4).
7. Emma Thomas (c1846-??) - born in Redditch (S4)
8. Elizabeth Thomas (c1848-??) - born in Redditch (S4).
9. Ann/Annie Thomas (c1849-??) - born in Redditch S4).
10. Mary Thomas (c1851-??) - born in Redditch (S4).
11. George Thomas (c1853-??) - born in Redditch (S4).
Generation 3: Samuel Thomas (c1835-1912) and Marie
Antoinette Goffin (c1845-1928)
· Born: c1835 (S4).
· Baptized: July 1, 1835 Redditch (S1c). Listed as Samuel Thomas with parents
Samuel and Mary Thomas.
· 1841 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Samuel Thomas
age 6 born in the county.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Saml Thomas age 16 a scholar
born in the county.
· 1861 Census:
Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham (S4).
Listed as Saml Thomas Jr unmarried visitor age 26 needle manufacturer born in Tardebigge.
· Marriage: October
25, 1870 Jersey, UK (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Samuel
Thomas of Redditch and Antoinette Goffin of Neederwert,
Holland. Samuel’s father is listed as
Samuel Thomas, needle manufacturer.
· 1871 Census: 18
Albert Street, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Samuel Thomas Jur. age 36 needle manufacturer born in
Redditch with wife Irza age 26 born in Holland and 3
children born in France: Irza, Lilla and Henri. (Note: Irza, Lilla
and Henri are incorrectly listed in the census index as Joza,
Silla and Harrie.
Also, this family is listed next door to Samuel Thomas Sen.).
· 1881 Census: 37
Crabbs Cross, Ipsley, Alcester (S4).
Listed as Saml Thomas age 46 needle manufacturer employing 23 men and 10 women born in Redditch
with wife Marie Antoinette age 36 born in Holland and 7 children: Lilas, Henry, Samuel, Ernest, Francis, Rosa and Florence
Mabel.
· 1891 Census: 6
Hewell Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Antoinette Thomas married wife age 47 stocking
manufacturer born in Dutch with 6 children: Samuel, Ernest, Frank, Rose,
Florence and Newton. (Note: census index incorrectly lists surname as Guise)
(Note: it looks like this is a census
error and that Samuel was incorrectly omitted as the head of the family because
the census doesn’t list Antoinette as the head, but
rather simply as the wife.)
· 1901 Census: 43 Hewell
Road #6, Redditch (S4). Listed as
Samuel Thomas age 66 traveler in fishing tackle born in Redditch with wife
Marie age 56 born in Holland and 3 children: Newton and Florrey
and a son-in-law Harry Guillaume age 35 a cycle maker born in France with Rose
Guillaume a daughter age 23 born in Redditch and 5
grandchildren.
· 1910 - Arrived in
Belgium: May 1, 1910 Ministere
de la Justice record from Erquelinues, Belgium (S=a
copy of the original record was obtained from Snatch51 who is a descendant of
Samuel Thomas and has listed a Thomas family tree on ancestry.com). Listed as Samuel Thomas and Maria Antoinette
Goffin of Redditch with Samuel’s parents listed as Samuel Thomas and Marie Retallack.
· Death: August 3, 1912 Erquelinues, Belgium at age 77 (S=UK, Foreign and Overseas
Registers of British Subjects, 1628-1969).
Listed as Samuel Thomas from Redditch, England.
·
Probate: not found.
· Wife’s Death:
October 19, 1928 Brussels, Belgium (S=death record
posted on the Snatch51 family tree
on ancestry.com). Listed as Maria
Antoinette Goffin, wife of Samuel Thomas and daughter of Jean Hubert Goffin and
Marie Elisabeth Maasen.
· Children:
1.
Irza Thomas (c1867-??) Born in Paris,
France (S4). Born May 21, 1866, Paris (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Irza
Thomas with parents Samuel Thomas and Antoinette Goffin.
2.
Lilla/Lilas Thomas (c1869-??) Born in St. Maur,
France (S4).
3.
Henri/Henry
Thomas (c1870-??) Born in Billancourt, France (S4).
4.
Rose
Thomas (1871-1872). Born: July 20, 1871 Redditch, Bromsgrove (S8b) with parents listed as
Samuel Thomas, needle manufacturer, and Marie Antoinette Thomas formerly
Goffin. Death: July 17, 1872 Billancourt,
Pairs, France (S=correspondence with Snatch51 from Ancestry.com)
5.
Samuel
Thomas (c1873-??) Born in France (S4).
6.
Ernest
Thomas (c1875-??) Born in France (S4).
7.
Francis/Frank
Thomas (c1877-??) Born in France (S4).
8.
Rosa
Thomas (1877-??) Born: October 6, 1877 Redditch,
Bromsgrove (S8b) with parents listed as Samuel Thomas, merchant, and Marie
Antoinette Thomas, formerly Goffin.
Married: Henri Guillaume of France 3rd QTR 1896 Bromsgrove (S5m) and by
1891 (S=Henri Charles Guillaume by David Guillaume, 2004, Forge Mill Needle
Museum archives).
9.
Florence/Florry Thomas (c1880-??) Born in Peckham, Surry/London
(S4).
10.
Newton
Thomas (c1883-??) Born in Ipsley/Crabbs Cross (S4).
Generation 3: Henry Thomas (1850-1941) and
Mary James (c1857-between 1911-1939)
· Born: 2nd QTR 1850 Bromsgrove (S5b). Listed as Henry Thomas.
·
Baptized: not found.
· 1851 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Henry Thomas age 1 born in Redditch.
· 1861 Census: 11
Wright Street, Sculcoates, Yorkshire (S4). Listed as Henry Thomas age 11 pupil born in
Redditch with John Thomas age 15 pupil born in Redditch both
in the John Fisher household.
Fisher was listed as a master of boarding school. (Note: the census
index incorrectly spells Redditch as Reddetch. Also, the town of Sculcoates
is located next to the city of Hull in Yorkshire).
· 1871 Census: with
parents (S4). Listed as Henry Thomas
unmarried age 22 commercial clerk born in Redditch. (Note: the surname is
incorrectly listed as Thomasson in the census index).
· 1881 Census: 9
Prospect Hill, the Laurels, Redditch (S4).
Listed as Henry Thomas unmarried age 31 needle manufacturer, born in
Redditch with sister Mary Hickman age 41 born in Redditch and mother Mary Thomas age 73 born in Devonport, Devonshire.
· Marriage: February
6, 1883 Bromsgrove (S8m). Listed as Henry Thomas age 32 a bachelor and
manufacturer from Prospect Hill in Redditch whose father was listed as Samuel
Thomas a manufacturer and Mary James age 25 from Birmingham Road in Redditch
whose father was listed as Arthur James a manufacturer. The marriage certificate indicates the
marriage took place in the presence of Arthur James.
· 1891 Census: 7
Prospect Hill, Redditch (S4). Listed as Henry Thomas age 41 needle and fish hook manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife
Mary age 34 born in Redditch and 4 children all born in Redditch: Irene Mary,
Dora Retattack, Hilda Eunice and Samuel Henry.
· 1901 Census: 4
Birmingham Road, Redditch (S4). Listed as Henry Thomas age 51 living on own
means born in Redditch with wife Mary age 44 born in Redditch and 4 children
all born in Redditch: Irene Mary, Dora R., Hilda E.
and Samuel H.
· 1911 Census:
Beechwood, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire (S4).
Listed as Henry Thomas age 61 retired needle and fish
hook manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Mary age 54 born in
Redditch and 2 children: Hilda Eunice
and Samuel Henry. Indicates Henry and
Mary had been married for 28 years and had 4 children all still alive.
·
Wife’s death: not found, died between
1911 and 1939.
· 1939 England and
Wales Register: 82 Richmond Park Ave, Bournemouth, Hampshire
(S=ancestry.com). Listed as Henry Thomas widow born February 20, 1850 needle and fish hook
manufacturer retired with Dora R. Thomas single born February 23, 1886 trained
nurse invalid.
· Death: 1st QTR 1941 Bromsgrove (S4d) listed as Henry
Thomas. March 6, 1941 (S6 and
ancestry.com newspaper clipping). Listed
as Henry Thomas of 82 Richmond Park Ave., Bournemouth (late of Redditch), age
91 years.
· Probate: September
27, 1941 Llandudo (S6). Listed as Henry Thomas of Heathfield 82
Richmond Park Ave., Bournemouth to the Reverend Samuel Henry Thomas clerk Dora Retallack Thomas spinster and John Fisher Robson Methodist
minister. Effects: £14,707
· Children:
1.
Irene
Mary Thomas (c1885-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
2.
Dora
Retallack Thomas (c1886-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
3.
Hilda
Eunice Thomas (c1889-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
4.
Samuel
Henry Thomas (c1890-??). Born in Redditch (S4).
Additional
information about Julia Reinagle Cecil (c1826-after
1871)
· 1841 Census: Oxford
(S4). Listed as Julia Cecil age 18 born
in the county with what appear to be her parents and 4 siblings. The father was
listed as George Cecil a solicitor age 61 born in the
county with Alice age 56 not born in the county.
· 1851 Census: 34
Albion Street, Birmingham (S4). Listed
as Julia R. Cecil age 26 unmarried head a governess born in Oxford with a house
servant.
· 1852 Birmingham
Directory (S=ancestry.com). Listed as
Julia R. Cecil, school, 33 Albion Street.
· 1858 Birmingham
Directory (S=ancestry.com). Listed as
Miss Julia Cecil, 37 Spring Street.
· 1861 Census: 113
Spring Str, Edgbaston, Birmingham (S4).
Listed as Samuel Thomas age 54 married needle manufacturer born in Bitton, Gloucestershire with wife Julia Thomas age 35 born
in Oxfordshire.
· 1871 Census: 37
Spring Street, Edgbaston, Birmingham (S4).
Listed as Julia Thomas age 45 unmarried head with houses of interest
money as her occupation born in Oxford.
Needle
Related Patents and/or Design Registration made by Thomas
· Patent: 1869-1589
dated May 22, 1869 for needle cases (S=patent journals
online).
· Patent: 1871-538
dated February 28, 1871 for sewing needles, needle
cases. Issued to S. Thomas and W. Guise.
(S=patent journals online).
· Provisional
Patent: 1876-4415 dated November 15, 1876 for sewing
needles, sewing-machine needles (S=patent journals online).
· 1879 Design
Registration: #336171 registered June
17, 1879 for a class 1 metal item (S=The National
Archives, Kew). Listed as S. Thomas and
Sons British Needle Mills, Redditch.
Avery
style needle cases patented/registered by Thomas or with the Thomas name: Alliance, British
Flag Cart and Louise -Square.
Endnotes
[1] The Hosier and Glove. An Illustrated Monthly
Journal for Hosiers, Glovers, Outfitters, Umbrella and Portmanteau Manufacturers,
Hatters and Clothiers, May 20, 1880 pages 10-15. Available at books.google.com.
[2]
Pigot and Co’s National Commercial
Directory, 1835, page 651. Available
at books.google.com.
[3] The drawing of the factory shown
here is from the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives. Other versions have the date 1840 inscribed
under the name (S=Raymond McLaren’s collection and from ancestry.com).
It is also listed as a historic building built
c1840 on the Historic England website (S=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1296838).
[4] The Penny Magazine of the
Society for the Diffusion of Useful Information New Series, January 1843
Supplement, pages 33-40, A Day at the British Needle-Mills, Redditch. The drawing of the pointer here is from page
33. Available at books.google.com.
[5] The Victorian History of the
Counties of England, a History of Worcester Vol II, by J. W. Willis-Bund
and William Page, 1906, page 274 which also mentioned the pointers strike in
1846. Available at books.google.com.
[6]
Pigot and Co’s Royal
National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of.
Warwickshire, …Worcestershire,1842, page 29. Available at books.google.com.
[7]
History, Gazetteer, and Directory of
Warwickshire, by Francis White & Co, 1850, page 760. Available
at books.google.com.
[8]
M. Billing’s Directory and Gazetteer of
the County of Worcester, 1855, page 379. Available at books.google.com.
[9]
Corporation General and Trades Directory
of Birmingham, . . . Redditch . . .and Wolverhampton, by William Cornish,
1861, page 868. Available at books.google.com.
[10] 1871 census for Samuel
Thomas. See genealogy section for more
details.
[11] International Exhibition
1862. Official Catalogue of the
Industrial Department, 1862 page 99.
[12] International Exhibition of
1862. Class XXXII. Improved Spring Steel
Needles and Fish Hooks. Samuel Thomas and Sons, British Needle Mills, Redditch,
page 149-152 (S=Forge Mill Needle Museum archives, Redditch).
[13]
Paris Universal Exhibition of 1878 Catalogue of the British
Section Part I, page 154.
Available at books.google.com.
[14] From the advertisement shown here
which was in the 1885 London Directory (S=ancestry.com).
[15]
Melbourne International Exhibition 1880-1881 - Official
Record Containing Introduction History of Exhibition Description and Exhibition
and Exhibits Official Awards of Commissioners and Catalogue of Exhibits, 1882, page 328 which indicates Thomas
received a silver medal for their sewing needles. Available at
books.google.com.
[16]
Paris Universal Exhibition 1889 - Official Catalogue of the
British Section, 1889,
page 54. Available at books.google.com.
[17] This case was noted on several
advertisements issued around 1862-1863 including the one displayed in the
Images section. Another came from
Raymond McLaren’s collection which indicated the case was heard before
Vice-Chancellor Sir W. P. Wood on May 28th
and was from the “Times” of May 29, 1863.
[18] The Hosier and Glove. An
Illustrated Monthly Journal for Hosiers, Glovers, Outfitters, Umbrella and
Portmanteau Manufacturers, Hatters and Clothiers, May 20, 1880 pages 10-15.
Also, from The Law Reports. Division I. – Chancery. Cases Determined by the Chancery Division of
the High Court of Justice Vol. XIV, 1880 by George Wirgman Hemming, pages
864-875. Available at books.google.com.
[19] From the 1883-1886 map of Redditch
at www.old-maps.co.uk.
[20]
The Post Office Directory of
Worcestershire, by Kelly and Co., 1892, page 180. Available at
books.google.com.
[21]
Peck’s Circular Trades Directory and
Detailed Buyer’s Guide to the Manufactures of Birmingham and District including
… Redditch, 1896-7, page 195. Available at books.google.com.
[22]
Kelly’s Directory of Worcestershire, by Kelly’s
Directories Limited, 1900, page 209. Available at books.google.com.
[23]
Kelly’s Worcestershire Directory, 1912, page 231.
Available
at books.google.com. According to family
oral history, becoming a limited liability company was a scam set up by some
members of the Thomas family to capitalize on the goodwill of the company name
(S=from communications with Snatch51 from ancestry.com, a descendant of Samuel
Thomas who added a Thomas family
tree to ancestry.com).
[24] Redditch and District
Illustrated Business Review, 1923, page 21 (S=Raymond McLaren’s
collection).
[25] Needlemakers in Alcester,
Sambourne and Studley by Richard Churchley, 2014 edition, page 16. Originally written in 1981 and published by
the Alcester & District Local History Society. All of the details of the merger and amalgamation
are from this source. (S=purchased from
Karen Cording, a bookseller known as Nonnykettle in Redditch).
[26] Both photographs of the Samuel
Thomas senior and Samuel Thomas junior are from the Forge Mill Needle Museum archives
as well as from ancestry.com and the website tonyshaw3.blogspot.com. Much of the information about the early years
of the Thomas family comes from testimony mentioned in the court case of 1880.
Detailed genealogical sources are listed in the genealogical section of this
chapter.
[27] The Hosier and Glove. An
Illustrated Monthly Journal for Hosiers, Glovers, Outfitters, Umbrella and
Portmanteau Manufacturers, Hatters and Clothiers, May 20, 1880 pages
10-15. Available at books.google.com.
[28] The Glasgow Daily Herald
newspaper: July 3, 1865. (partial from
S=ancestry.com and a full copy with the date from communications with Snatch51
from ancestry.com, a descendant of Samuel Thomas who added a Thomas family tree to ancestry.com).
[29] According to communications with
Snatch51 from ancestry.com, a descendant of Samuel Thomas who added a Thomas family tree to ancestry.com). Per Snatch51, Samuel Thomas’s gravestone was
photographed by the late David Guillaume of Alcester before it was moved when
downtown Redditch was redeveloped. Also, Snatch51 provided a copy of the 1975
Notice of Intended Removal of Human Remains and Monuments or Tombstones from
the Burial Ground at Redditch United Reformed Church and Samuel Thomas’s
gravestone is listed.
[30] Her maiden name is from her
Brussels, Belgium death record (S=ancestry.com).
[31] April 27, 1879 Lloyd’s Weekly
London Newspaper, “Special Sunday Morning Edition. Yesterday’s Law. Probate Division.
A Redditch Manufacturers Will”, page 12 (S=ancestry.com).
[32] Undated newspaper clipping
entitled “A Redditch Needlemaker’s Will” which mentions John Thomas as the defendant
in the case (S=ancestry.com).
[33] Henri Charles Guillaume (Founder
of the Firm) by the late David Guillaume of Alcester, Henri’s grandson, 2004
(S=Forge Mill Needle Museum archives).
This document also claims that Samuel Thomas junior inherited British Needle
Mills from his father however I have found no evidence to support this.
[34] Additional information about the
Samuel and Antoinette Thomas family and their descendants can be found at
Ancestry.com on the family tree created by Snatch51.
[35] All of the information about John,
other than his birth year, is from his brother Henry’s testimony in the lawsuit
described in detail in The Hosier and Glove. An Illustrated Monthly Journal
for Hosiers, Glovers, Outfitters, Umbrella and Portmanteau Manufacturers,
Hatters and Clothiers, May 20, 1880 pages 10-15. Available at books.google.com.
[36] Much of the information about
Henry’s early years comes from his testimony in the lawsuit described in detail
in The Hosier and Glove. An Illustrated Monthly Journal for Hosiers,
Glovers, Outfitters, Umbrella and Portmanteau Manufacturers, Hatters and
Clothiers, May 20, 1880 pages 10-15.
Available at books.google.com.
[37] The 1867 date comes from his
testimony in the court case in 1880 where he claims he worked for his father ‘s
company for 13 years. The Hosier and
Glove. An Illustrated Monthly Journal for Hosiers, Glovers, Outfitters,
Umbrella and Portmanteau Manufacturers, Hatters and Clothiers, May 20, 1880
pages 10-15. Available at
books.google.com.
[38] Birmingham Journal dated Saturday
May 2, 1846, page 8 (copy obtained from communications with Snatch51 from
ancestry.com, a descendant of Samuel Thomas who added a Thomas family tree to ancestry.com).
[39] Worcester Chronical and Provincial
Railway Gazette May 13, 1846 (copy obtained from communications with Snatch51
from ancestry.com, a descendant of Samuel Thomas who added a Thomas family tree to ancestry.com).
[40] Worcester Chronical and Provincial
Railway Gazette, November 11, 1846 (copy obtained from communications with
Snatch51 from ancestry.com, a descendant of Samuel Thomas who added a Thomas family tree to ancestry.com).
[41] Birmingham Journal dated Saturday
November 14, 1846 (copy obtained from communications with Snatch51 from ancestry.com,
a descendant of Samuel Thomas who added a Thomas family tree to ancestry.com).
