R. J. Roberts:
History
The
Company[1]
This
firm was established by Robert J. Roberts sometime around 1868 as that was the
first year it was listed in a New York City directory as R. J. Roberts &
Co., cutlery at 416 Broadway. At some
point Roberts became the successor to the New York business of Thomas Barnett, 
who was an importer of needles, fish
hooks and fine cutlery, pens & c. at 229 Broadway, according to the
advertisement seen here[2]. Exactly when the transfer happened is
unknown, but the Barnett business was listed in New York City directories in
1856 and 1857 with the same address as the advertisement. It was also listed 30 years earlier in 1827
at a different address. It seems most
likely that the buildings pictured in this advertisement were Mr. Barnett’s
because his name is listed under the R. J. Roberts title at the top and the
Barnett address is listed at the bottom.
At some point after the succession, either the Roberts business was moved
a couple blocks away to 416 Broadway or the street’s numbering system was
changed.
The
Roberts firm continued to be listed at that address in 1870 with two trades,
importer and needles, however by 1871 it was listed as R. J. Roberts &
Randall, cutlery manufacturers at 430 Broadway.
Apparently, a man named Eugene Randall[3]
joined the firm at some point between 1870 and 1871. The company moved again sometime in 1872 as
they were listed that year in one directory as R. J. Roberts & Randall,
needles at 430 Broadway and in another directory as R. J. Roberts &
Randall, needles at 542 and 544 Broadway.
By 1875[4] the
business moved to 28 Howard Street as seen in the advertisement on the next
page. They were listed in city
directories from 1875 through 1877 as in the needles trade with the Howard
Street address. Both Robert J. Roberts
and Eugene Randall were also listed separately during several of those years
with their occupations in the needles trade at 28 Howard Street. By 1878 the business was only listed as R. J.
Roberts needles at 421 Broadway which implies that Mr. Randall left the
business sometime between 1877 and 1878.
The firm continued to be listed at 419 Broadway Street from 1879 until
at least 1882. Then in 1883 it moved to
206 Church and by 1884 to 95 West Broadway where it remained until at least
1891. The business was consistently
listed as either in the needle or cutlery trade from the late 1870’s through
the early 1890’s.
R.
J. Roberts parabola needles which he patented in 1871[5]
were listed in several articles as manufactured by R. J. Roberts in Redditch,
UK[6], howe
ver,
no R. J. Roberts business has been found there.
Evidently this New York company was working with someone in the Redditch
area who was making the parabola needles for them as most of their needle
packets contain the words “manufactured in Redditch, England” or “made in England”, as seen on the needle packets here. There were several people listed in Redditch
area census records[7] with the 
surname Roberts who were needle
makers but only one was listed in the city directories as a needle and fish
hook manufacturer[8]. This was Roberts & Lee at Greet Mills in
Redditch. Although it is possible that
they had a relationship with R. J. Roberts of New York and made the parabola
needles for them, it is questionable because in some city directories, Roberts
& Lee was only listed as a fish hook manufacturer.
In
1885[9]
the following article about the firm was placed in a book about the leading
industries in New York.
“R. J. Roberts’
“Celebrated “Parabola” Needles, No 95 West Broadway. In the multiplied arts and employments of men
some of the smallest and at first sight insignificant articles are of paramount
importance. This is especially true of
such an article as a needle. Small in
its compass, fragile in its nature, but far reaching in its results and of
incalculable benefit to all mankind, it is a universal necessity. Among all the needles used in this market none
have given the satisfaction or gained such a reputation as the celebrated
“Parabola” needle, for which Mr. R. J. Roberts is the sole agent in the United
States. The “Parabola” gold burnished
sharps are without doubt the best goods, ever offered to the American public,
and wherever once used they are sure to be used again in preference to all others. The neat and attractive manner
in which these needles are done up for safe-keeping has attracted the
attention of the trade so much that they are now taking the lead
everywhere. They are all that the firm
claim them to be, namely, the best in the world. Mr. Roberts has the exclusive wholesale
agency of the United States for these goods.
He also handles “razor” scissors and pocket knives, and in these goods,
also has, after thirty years experience in this
market, built up a valuable patronage. He
occupies eligible and convenient premises at No. 95 West Broadway, corner of
Franklin, where buyers can find a full supply of these goods
at all times, offered at prices which will compete with anything in the market. This firm is well known to the dry goods and
notion trade throughout the United States, and it is with particular
gratification that we accord special and prominent mention to the
Parabola needles in this work.”
Although no information about Mr. Robert
J. Roberts has been found in the 1890 and 1900 censuses, the firm R. J. Roberts
was listed in 1898 as a cutlery at 54 Franklin.
In 1902 the company was not listed, although the owner was recorded in
the cutlery manufacturers and needle & fishhook importers section of the
city directory as “Robert J. Roberts (estate of) 54 Frankin” which seems to
imply that his firm was no longer in business and that he may have died that
year. 1902 was the last time Mr. Robert
J. Roberts was listed in New York City directories. Then the R. J. Roberts company reappeared in
1903 under the cutlery manufacturers section as an agency at 101 Duane, the
same address as Hermann Boker & Co., who was also in the cutlery
manufacturers section that year at 101 Duane. Both were listed like this again
in 1906 and in 1913. The last time the
Roberts company was listed was in 1917 as “R. J. Roberts agency 
(Hans P. Booker) cutlery” whereas the
Boker business was listed that year as “H. Boker & Co. Inc, Hans P. Boker pres and treas” which most likely
meant Hans P. Boker was the president and treasurer of the Boker company that
year. Exactly what happened is unknown
except the firm H. Boker & Co. Inc. of New York, became the owners of the
R. J. Roberts parabola needles according to the text on the wrapper of a packet
of Roberts’s needles, detail pictured here[10]
(a photograph of the entire packet can be found in the Images section of this
chapter). This implies that Boker took
over the Roberts company at some point between 1902 to 1917. The Boker firm was listed in a 1949[11]
journal as “H. Boker & Co., Inc. 101 Duane Street, sole owner and
distributor of the famous R. J. Roberts”.
Additional information about the Boker company was not researched as the
focus of this history was the R. J. Roberts company.
During the mid-1860’s and throughout the
1870’s R. J. Roberts patented[12]
several items. In 1866 it was needles,
in 1871 scissors, razors and parabola needles and in 1878 more needles. On several occasions 
the firm was involved in lawsuits as
other companies tried to use the word 
parabola to describe their needles,
however, because Mr. Roberts patented the parabola needle, his firm was the
only one legally allowed to use it[13]. Also, the Roberts business used the symbol of
St. George and the Dragon as their trademark.
On the next page there are detailed views of their trademark on two
different needle cases. The one on the
left is from a pasteboard needle case[14]
and the one of the right is from the brass Avery style
needle case known as the Unique - Roberts Version[15]. Additional views of these two needle cases
can be seen on the next page or in the Images section of this chapter. Why the firm selected St. George and the
Dragon as its trademark is unknown.
Perhaps it was because St. George was the patron saint of England and
Mr. Robert J. Roberts was originally born in England as was Mr. Thomas Barnett,
the owner of the company that preceded R. J. Roberts.
To date only one Avery style needle case
has been found with the R. J. Roberts name.
It is the Unique - Roberts Version which was patented in 1869 by James
William Lewis[16], a
die-sinker and manufacturer of gilt and plated jewelry, etc
from 
Birmingham, 
UK.
In fact, Lewis created the first Avery style needle case known as the
Beatrice in 1868. The Lewis company was
often listed in advertisements as being the patentee and sole manufacturer of
the Unique and three other Avery style needle cases. The original Unique, on the left, is
identical to the Roberts version, only the exterior decoration is
different. The original has a diamond
shaped center filled with a variety of flowers, whereas the Roberts Version,
pictured on the right, has a circular center with the Roberts St. George and
the Dragon trademark. In addition, the
Roberts version includes the name “R. J. Roberts” and the words “very best”
above the center circle and the words “Patent Parabola Needles” underneath the
circular center.
When this needle case
is opened, there is a place inside to store four packets of needles as well as
areas with fabric where individual needles or pins could be inserted. It seems most likely that someone from the
Roberts company contacted Mr. Lewis in Birmingham, UK because Lewis was known
for designing some unique covers for his needle cases for other companies. They asked him if he could customize
the
exterior of the Unique with
the Roberts trademark and include a
reference to parabola
needles. Mr. Lewis
then designed the cover and manufactured it for Roberts.
The
Roberts Owner[17]
Not
much is known about Robert J. Roberts as his name was quite common. According to the 1870, 1875 and 1880 censuses
there was only one man in the New York City area with this name and he was
listed in 1870 as an import merchant, in 1875 as an import cutlery and in 1880
as an importer of steel goods which matches with much of the information found
about the R. J. Roberts firm in city directories during those years. Additionally, according to the city
directories Mr. Roberts lived in S. I. which appears to mean Staten Island and
that is where this Robert J. Roberts family lived in these censuses.
Robert
J. Roberts was born in England, but the exact location of his birth has not
been found. There were several men in
the Redditch, UK area with the Roberts surname but with different forenames who
were needle makers and one in the Birmingham area who was a large needle maker
employing 116 hands[18]. To date no evidence has been found connecting
these individuals to Robert J. Roberts of New York. Mr. Roberts married Caroline M. who was also
born in England and they adopted three children who were born in Canada between
1859 and 1863. This could mean Robert
and Caroline were married in England, immigrated to Canada together sometime
around 1859 and lived there for a few years while adopting these children. Or perhaps they met after immigrating
individually and married in Canada around 1859 and then lived there until at
least 1863 when they adopted their youngest daughter. Another possibility is that they immigrated
to the USA, settled in New York and then adopted three
Canadian born children. Unfortunately,
without additional information, the Roberts family history prior to 1870 is
unknown except that they were probably living in New York by 1866 as that was
the year Roberts registered his first patented needle in the United
States. Not much is known about their
lives after 1880 either. It seems most
likely that Mr. Roberts continued his needle and cutlery business until
sometime around 1902 based on the way he was listed that year as “Robert J.
Roberts (estate of) 54 Frankin” which implies he died around that time. His wife Caroline appears to have died nine
years later in 1911.
Thomas
Barnett[19]
Thomas
Barnett was born c1789 in England. He
established his business as a merchant and needle and fish hook manufacturer in
the Birmingham, UK area according to an 1818 city directory. He married and had 2 children born between
1814 and 1818: George and Caroline M.
Around 1825 the Barnett family immigrated to the USA and settled in the
New York City area. By 1827 Thomas established
his needle manufacturing business there at N. Moore Street which later moved to
229 Broadway. There was only one family
with the Thomas Barnett name in the 1850 and 1855 New York City censuses with
an occupation related to the Barnett business which included Thomas and his two
children although his wife was not living with them which implies she died
before 1850. In 1855 Thomas’s home was
valued at $12, 000 (equivalent to $423,098[20]
today) and the family was living with 2 servants. The Barnett business
continued to be listed in city directories until at least 1857. To date no information after 1857 about this
Barnett family has been found.
R. J. Roberts: Genealogy
(Note: Limited information has been found about this
family because the Roberts name is very common in the UK and in the USA. A search of census records was done of all
individuals whose forename started with the letter “R” that had the surname
Roberts in the Redditch, UK area between 1841 and 1881 and in the New York
City, USA area from 1860 through 1910.
Below are the only individuals found that could be associated with the
R. J. Roberts company because they had occupations related to the company such as
needles, cutlery, importers, merchants, etc.
Be advised that the male’s forename in the 1870 census is Richard which
appears to be a census taker error as his residence, occupation, birthplace,
and the wife and one of the daughter’s information
appear to be a close match. Also, this
is the only R. J. Roberts in the New York City directories during those years
with occupations related to this business.
The business was listed with slightly different trades during those
years but mainly with the word needles and often with a reference to the
owner’s home residence as S. I. which most likely means Staten Island as that
is where this Roberts family is listed in the 1870, 1875 and 1880
censuses. Research was also done
regarding Thomas Barnett, who Mr. Roberts was the successor to, and the little
information that was found is included below.
Unfortunately, no additional information could be found about Mr.
Roberts’s one-time business partner, Eugene Randall, other than being listed
separately in several city directories with the same business address as R. J.
Roberts.)
Generation 1: Robert J. Roberts (c1836-c1902) and Caroline ???
(c1836-1911)
· Born: c1836
England (S4).
·
Baptized: not found.
·
1841 Census: not found.
·
1851 Census: not found.
·
Marriage: not found.
· Immigration
Date: by 1866 (S=1866 patent).
·
1860 Census: not found.
· 1868 New York, New
York City Directory, page 871 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, cutlery at 416 Broadway and as Robert J. Roberts & Co, importers
& manufacturers of needles and cutlery at 416 Broadway.
· Possible 1870
Census: Northfield, Richmond, New York (S4).
Listed as Richard J. Roberts age 36 an imp. merchant whose real estate
was valued at 6,000 and personal estate 5,000 born in England with wife
Caroline M. age 36 born in England and 2 children born in New York: Cecelia and
Fanny and servant. (Note: Northfield, Richmond is located on Staten Island in
New York City).
· 1870 New York, New
York City Directory, page 933 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, importer at 416 Broadway and as Robert J. Roberts & Co, needles at
416 Broadway.
· 1871 Gouldings Business Directory of New York 1871-72, page 168
(S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J. Roberts & Randall
cutlery manufacturers at 430 Broadway.
· 1872 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1019-1020 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995
available at ancestry.com). Listed as
Robert J. Roberts, merchant at 544 Broadway with home S. I. and R. J. Roberts
& Randall, needles at 542 and 544 Broadway.
Also, page 987 lists Eugene Randall, merchant at 544 Broadway with home
in N.J.
· 1872 Trow’s New
York City Directory Vol. LXXV, by H. Wilson, 1872, page 969
(S=books.google.com). Listed as R. J.
Roberts & Randall, needles at 430 Broadway.
· 1875 Census:
Castleton, Richmond, New York (S4).
Listed as R. J. Roberts age 39 born in England an import cutlery with
value of dwelling 3,500 with wife C. M. age 38 born in England and 3 children
all born in Canada: Violet, William J. and Fannie and
3 servants. (Note: Castleton, Richmond is located on Staten Island in New York
City).
· 1875 Gouldings Manual of New York and General Statistical Guide,
page 1207 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at ancestry.com),
listed as Robert J. Roberts, needles at 28 Howard with home at S. I and R. J.
Roberts & Randall, needles at 28 Howard.
Also, page 1168 lists Eugene Randall, needles at 28 Howard.
· 1876 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1124 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 28 Howard with home at S. I. and R. J. Roberts &
Randall, needles at 28 Howard.
· 1877 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1158 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 28 Howard with home at S. I. and R. J. Roberts &
Randall, needles at 28 Howard. Also, page 1120 lists Eugene Randall, needles at
28 Howard with home in N.J.
· 1878 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1190-1191 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995
available at ancestry.com). Listed as
Robert J. Roberts, needles at 421 Broadway.
Also, R. J. Roberts & Randall is not listed and neither is Eugene
Randall (on page 1152).
· 1879 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1230 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 419 Broadway with home at S. I.
· 1880 Census:
Staten Island, Castleton, Richmond, New York (S4). Listed as Robert J. Roberts age 44 an
importer of steel goods born in England with wife Caroline M. age 43 born in
England and 3 children all adopted and born in Canada with both parents born in
England: Violet C, William J. and Fanny C. and 4
servants.
· 1880 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1278 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 419 Broadway with home at S. I.
· 1882 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1371 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, cutlery at 419 Broadway with home at S. I.
· 1883 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1382 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 206 Church. (Note:
the directory index incorrectly lists the address as 206 Fnoch).
· 1884 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1474 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 95 Broadway. (Note:
the directory index incorrectly lists the address as 95 West Broadway).
· 1886 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1611 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, cutlery at 95 W. Broadway.
(Note:
the directory index incorrectly lists the address as
85 West Broadway).
· 1888 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1661 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, needles at 95 W. Broadway.
· 1889 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1673 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Robert J.
Roberts, cutlery at 95 W. Broadway.
·
1890 Census: not found.
· 1891 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1150 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed as Rob’t J. Roberts, needles at 95 W. Broadway.
· 1898 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1089 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com). Listed in the cutlery section
as Robt. J. Roberts at 54 Franklin.
·
1900 Census: not found.
· 1902 New York, New
York City Directory, page 382 and 866 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995
available at ancestry.com), listed in the cutlery manufacturers and needle
& fishhook importers sections as Robert J. Roberts (estate of) 54 Franklin.
Also, on page 381 Hermann Boker & Co
was listed as a cutlery manufacturer at 101 Duane.
· 1903 New York, New
York City Directory, page 399 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com), listed in the cutlery manufacturers section as R. J. Robert,
agency at 101 Duane. Also, on page 398
Hermann Boker & Co was listed as a cutlery manufacturer at 101 Duane.
· 1906 New York, New
York City Directory, page 311 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available at
ancestry.com), listed in the cutlery manufacturers section as R. J. Roberts,
agency at 101 Duane. Also, on page 311
Hermann Boker & Co was listed as a cutlery manufacturer at 101 Duane.
· Death: possibly
c1902 (S=1902 New York City Directory).
·
Burial: not found.
·
Probate: not found.
·
1910 Census: not found.
· Possible Wife’s
Death: January 1911 (S7).
· Possible Wife’s
Burial: New York City Marble Cemetery
(S7). Listed as Caroline M. Roberta who
died January 1911.
· Possible Wife’s
Obituary. The Standard Union (Brooklyn,
New York) newspaper dated January 10, 1911, page 2 (S=newspapers.com). Listed as Caroline M. Roberts, age 95, who
was born in England, the widow of Robert J. Roberts and who was a resident of
Jamacia for more
than forty years died at the resident of Miss E. Napier on Fulton Street, she
leaves no family and will be buried at Marble Cemetery in Manhattan. (Note: her
age could be a editor’s
error or this is another person with the same name and husband‘s
name as Mr. Roberts’s wife).
·
Wife’s Probate: not found.
· 1913 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1307 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995 available
at ancestry.com), listed as R. J. Roberts agency cutlery at 101 Duane. Also, on page 158 Hermann Boker & Co was
listed as hardware at 101 and Hans R. Boker as cutlery at 101 Duane.
· 1917 New York, New
York City Directory, page 1648 (S=U.S., City Directories. 1822-1995
available at ancestry.com), listed as R. J. Roberts
agency (Hans R. Booker) cutlery at 10 Thomas.
Also, on page 389 H. Boker & Co. Inc, Hans R. Boker pres & treas, high speed
& tool steel at 101-103 Duane and Boker Cutlery & Hardware Co., Hans R.
Boker v-pres & treas at
101-103 Duane.
· Children:
1.
Violet
C. Roberts (c1859 -??). Possible 1870
Census: with parents (S4), listed as Cecelia Roberts age 11 born in New
York. 1875 Census: with parents (S4),
listed as Violet Roberts age 17 born in Canada.
1880 Census: with parents (S4), listed as Violet C. Roberts age 21
adopted and born in Canada.
2.
William
J. Roberts (c1860 -??). 1875 Census:
with parents (S4), listed as William J. Roberts age 15 born in Canada. 1880 Census: with parents (S4), listed as
William J. Roberts age 19 adopted and born in Canada.
3.
Fannie
Roberts (c1863 -??). Possible 1870
Census: with parents (S4), listed as Fanny Roberts age 7 born in New York. 1875 Census: with parents (S4), listed as
Fannie Roberts age 12 born in Canada.
1880 Census: with parents (S4), listed as Fanny C. Roberts age 17
adopted and born in Canada.
Generation
1: Thomas Barnett (c1798-after 1855) and ??
(Note: this is the only Thomas Barnett in the
Birmingham and Redditch, UK and New York, USA areas with an occupation related
to needles).
· Born: c1789 (S4).
· 1818 Directory:
Wrightson’s New Triennial Directory of Birmingham, by R. Wrightson, 1818, page
10 (S=books.google.com). Listed as
Thomas Barnett, merchant and needle and fishhook manufacturer, Great Charles
Street and Livery Street,
· Immigration Year:
c1825 (S=1855 Census).
· 1827 Directory
Longworth’s American Almanac, New York Register and City Directories, 1827,
page 73 (S=books.google.com). Listed as
Thomas Barnett needle manufacturer, 58 N. Moore.
· 1850 Census: New
York Ward 3, New York (S4). Listed as
Thomas Barnett age 63 an importer born in England with George Barnett age 36
born in England, Caroline M. Barnett age 32 born in England, Ellen Gorman age
33 born in Ireland and Mary McNannie age 35 born in Ireland.
· 1855 New York
Census: New York City Ward 18, New York (S4).
Listed as Thos. Barnett age 66 a merchant born in England who lived in
the city for 30 years whose home was valued at 12,000 with a daughter Caroline
M. Barnett age 35 born in England and 2 servants: Ellen Gorman age 33 born in Ireland and Bridgt O-Brien age 28 born in Ireland.
· 1857
Directory: Trow’s New York City
Directory, by John F. Trow, 1857, page 52
(S=books.google.com). Listed as Thomas
Barnett needles at 229 Broadway with home at 60 E. 22nd.
· 1858
Directory. Wilson’s Business Directory
of New York City, by John F. Throw, 1858, page 315 (S=books.google.com). Listed as Thomas Barnett, needle
and fishhook importer at 229 Broadway.
· Children:
1.
George
Barnett (c1814-??). 1850 Census: with
father (S4), listed as George Barnett age 36 born in England.
2.
Caroline
M. Barnett (c1825-??). 1850 and 1855
Censuses: with father (S4). Listed in
1850 as Caroline M. Barnett age 32 born in England and in 1855 as Caroline
Barnett age 36 born in England who lived in the city for 30 years.
Items Patented in
New York, USA by R. J. Roberts
From Subject
Matter Index Patents for Inventions, 1790-1873 Inclusive, Vol. III., by M.
D. Legell (S=books.google.com) unless otherwise
noted.
1.
July
24, 1866 (S=according to the July 24, 1866 date listed on the pasteboard needle
case in the Images section of this chapter).
2.
May
16, 1871 #262 - scissors
3.
May
30, 1871 #299-300 - razor
4.
June
27, 1871 #358 - parabola needle
5.
July
4, 1871 #368 – razor steel
6.
May
14, 1878 #647, 648 and 871 - needles (S=Annual Report of the Commissioner of
Patents for the Year 1878, published by Washington Printing Office, 1879,
page 423 available at books.google.com).
Avery Style Needle
Case Stamped with the R. J. Roberts Name
1.
Unique
– Roberts Version - Non-Ornamental design #5017 registered on April 6, 1869 by
James William Lewis of Birmingham (S=The National Archives, Kew, UK).
