Thomas Johnson & Sons (T. Johnson & Sons):  History

 

The Company

It is unclear exactly when the firm T. Johnson & Sons was established, however, it seems most likely that it occurred sometime after 1868 because Thomas O. Johnson, the company’s founder, did not have two sons until that year.  It is also possible that it was not established until much later because the first design, #350940[1] for a needle wrapper named “La Belle”, was only registered under Thomas Johnson’s name at a place called Globe Works in Headless Cross, Redditch in 1880.  Although Thomas Johnson was recorded as a needle manufacturer in 1861[2] and 1871[3], it was only in 1881[4] that he was listed as a needle manufacturer employing four males and five females, presumably two of the males were himself and his eldest son Ben who was listed as a clerk that year.  Additional designs were registered in 1881[5] and 1882[6] but now they were recorded with the Thomas Johnson & Sons name also at Globe Works, Headless Cross, Redditch.  The firm’s last design #234664[7] was registered in 1894 by T. Johnson & Sons who was listed as a needle and smallwares manufacturer at Globe Works, Redditch on the registration documents.  The fact that the name Thomas Johnson & Sons did not appear until 1881 suggests the firm may have been formally established that year. 

 

Although most of the other needle manufacturers in the Redditch area were listed in city and trade directories for many years, the Johnson business was not, which many indicate the firm was not always a commercial enterprise.  The first appearance of T. Johnson & Sons in a city directory was in the 1892[8] Worcestershire directory where it was recorded at Globe Works in Redditch.  Thomas O. Johnson’s private residence was listed at Elmfield in Redditch in that directory, however there was another Thomas Johnson living at 38 Ipsley Street that year.  Four years later in 1896[9] the firm was listed for a second time, now in a Birmingham directory under two categories: “needles - sewing, and sewing machine” and “needle cases and companions” both at Globe Works in Redditch.  By 1900[10] the company was no longer recorded in any Worcestershire or Warwickshire city or trade directories although the Thomas O. Johnson residence on Queen Street was listed as was an Obadiah Johnson[11] residence on Oakley Road both in Redditch.  This could mean the needle business was no longer in existence at that time especially since the original owner, Thomas O. Johnson, was recorded as a retired needle manufacturer in 1901[12].  Additionally, many of the needle manufacturers in the Redditch area amalgamated at the end of the 19^th century/beginning of the 20^th century.  According to one author[13],  Johnson’s needle business was taken over by Abel Morrall Ltd around 1900 and they acquired Johnson’s La Belle trademark.  This is most likely the reason why one finds an Abel Morrall needle case with the words “Johnson’s patent” stamped on the back.  The Globe Works factory was not found on any of the old maps[14] of the area and no one today knows exactly where it was originally located. 

 

The Owners

Thomas Obadiah Johnson was born in 1837 in Redditch to John and Sarah Ann Johnson.  He was most likely named after his maternal grandfather Obadiah Mole.  His parents were married in 1828 in Redditch and they had five children: John, Thomas, Samuel, Ellen and Louisa.   At first the family lived in Ipsley, a parish located in the southeastern part of Redditch.  Later they moved to Hewell Road near the center of Redditch.  The father, John, was listed as a fish hook maker who by 1851 had become a fish hook manufacturer employing 6 men and boys.  Three of these workers were in fact his sons as John, Thomas and Samuel who were all listed as fish hook makers that year.  The mother, Sarah, died in 1880 and the father passed away sometime after 1881.  Unfortunately, because Johnson is such a common surname and, with nothing unique to clearly identify the father and brothers, it was impossible to locate more information about them at the present time.

 

Although Thomas Obadiah Johnson was listed as a fish hook maker in 1851 when he was 13 years old, he became a needle manufacturer by the time he was 24.  He married Harriet Hancock in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1863 and they had 4 children: Ben, Ernest, Florence and Charles. It seems most likely that Thomas travelled to a variety of places in the UK to promote his needle business because in 1861 he was recorded as a needle manufacturer visitor in Walsall, Staffordshire.  Ten years later in 1871, while his wife and children lived on Prospect Hill in Redditch, he was a needle manufacturer visitor in Ashford, Kent.  The Johnson family never resided in the same place for long, moving from Prospect Hill in Redditch to Mt. Pleasant in Headless Cross to Ipsley Street in Ipsley to Lowes Hill Farm in Tardebigg and finally to Marlsfield Cottages in Beoley.  All of these places were located within a few miles of Redditch.  Thomas retired from the needle business by 1901 and died 11 years later in 1912 leaving his estate to his daughter which could mean his wife and sons passed away before him.  He was buried at the Plymouth Road cemetery in Redditch in March 1912.  Again, the popularity of the Johnson surname prevented further research of these individuals. 

 

 

Thomas Johnson & Sons: (aka T. Johnson & Sons):  Images

 

Text part of Design Registration #376674 dated February 3, 1882 (S=The National Archives, Kew).

 

T. Johnson & Sons La Belle nickel silver needle case front.

 

Abel Morrall’s nickel silver needle case front from Johnson’s patent.

 

T. Johnson & Sons Kwikso brass needle case

 

T. Johnson & Sons La Belle nickel silver needle case back.

 

Abel Morrall’s nickel silver needle case with Johnson’s patent stamped on the back.

 

 

Thomas Johnson & Sons (T. Johnson & Sons): Genealogy

 

Generation 1:  John Johnson (c1806-after 1881) and Sarah Ann Mole (c1808-1880)

·       Born:  c1806 Tardebigg/Redditch(S4).

·       Baptized: not found.

·       Marriage: May 25, 1828 Redditch (S1m).  Listed as John Johnson and Sarah Mole.

·       1841 census:  Bredon, Ipsley (S4).  Listed as John Johnson age 35 a hook maker not born in the county with Sarah age 30 also not born in the county and 3 children:  John, Thomas and Samuel.

·       1851 census:  51 Bredon, Ipsley (S4).    Listed as John Johnson age 45 a fish hook manufacturer employing 6 men and boys born in Tardebigg with Sarah Ann age 43 born in Lambeth, Surrey and 5 children:  John, Thomas Obadiah, Samuel, Ellen and Louisa.

·       1861 census: 55 Hewell Road, Redditch (S4).  Listed as John Johnson age 55 a fish hook maker born in Redditch with wife Sarah age 53 born in Lambeth, Surrey and 2 children:  Samuel and Ellen.

·       1871 census: 30 Hewell Road, Redditch (S4).  Listed as John Johnson age 65 a fish hook manufacturer employing 6 hands born in Redditch with wife Sarah Ann age 63 born in Ipsley and 1 grandchild Eliza.

·       Wife’s death: 4th QTR 1880 Bromsgrove at age 73 (S5d).  Listed as Sarah Ann Johnson.

·       1881 census: 25 Hewell Road, Redditch (S4).  Listed as John Johnson age 75 a widower and fish hook maker born in Ipsley and 1 grandchild: Lizzie.

·       Death:  not found.

·       Probate: not found.

·       Children:

1.     John Johnson (1835-??).  Born in Tardebigg (S4). Born March 9, 1835 and baptized May 10, 1835 Redditch (S1c) with parents listed as John Johnson and Sarah, daughter of Obadiah and Ann Mole (Note:  the surname Mole is incorrectly listed in the parish register index as Mols).   With parents in 1841 and 1851 (S4).  In 1851 listed as age 16 a fish hook maker.   Not found after 1851.

2.     Thomas Obadiah Johnson (1837-1912) - see generation 2.

3.     Samuel Johnson (c1840-??).  Born in Ipsley/Studley (S4). With parents in 1841, 1851 and 1861 (S4).  Listed in 1851 as age 11 a fish hook maker and in 1861 as age 21 a fish hook maker.  Not found after 1861.

4.     Ellen Johnson (c1844/45-??).  Born in Ipsley/Studley (S4).  With parents in 1851 and 1861 (S4).

5.     Louisa Johnson (c1847-??).  Born in Ipsley (S4).  With parents in 1851 (S4).

 

Generation 2: Thomas Obadiah Johnson (1837-1912) and Harriet Hancock (c1843-??)

·       Born:  April 2, 1837 Redditch (S1c).

·       Baptized:  April 23, 1837 Redditch (S1c).  Listed as Obadiah Thomas Johnson with parents John and Sarah Ann Johnson.

·       1841 census:  with parents (S4).  Listed as Thomas Johnson age 4 not born in the county.

·       1851 census:  with parents (S4).  Listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson age 13 a fish hook maker born in Tardebigg.

·       1861 census:  5 Park Street, Walsall, Staffordshire (S4).  Listed as Thomas Johnson age 24 an unmarried visitor a needle manufacturer born in Redditch.

·       Marriage:  August 11, 1863 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (S8m).  Listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson age 26 a commercial traveler from Redditch whose father was listed as John Johnson a fish hook manufacturer and Harriet Hancock age 20 from Cheltenham.  The marriage certificate indicates the marriage took place in the presence of Samuel Johnson.

·       1871 census: 27 High Street, Ashford, Kent (S4).  Listed as Thomas O. Johnson age 34 a married visitor and needle manufacturer born in Redditch.

·       1871 census:  14 Prospect Hill, Redditch (S4).  Listed as Harriet Johnson head married age 28 with no occupation born in Newnham, Gloucestershire and 3 children:  Ben, Ernest and Florence.

·       1881 census:  199 Mount Pleasant, Ipsley/Headless Cross (S4).  Listed as Thomas O. Johnson age 44 a needle manufacturer employing 4 males and 5 females born in Ipsley with wife Harriet age 37 born in Newnham, Gloucestershire and 4 children: Ben, Ernest, Florence A. and Charles S.

·       1891 census: 76 Ipsley Street, Ipsley (S4).  Listed as Thomas O. Johnson age 54 a needle manufacturer employer born in Redditch with wife Harriet age 48 born in Newnham, Gloucestershire and 2 children: Ernest and Florence.

·       1901 census:  13 Lowes Hill Farm, Tardebigg, North Redditch (S4).  Listed as Thomas Obediah Johnson age 63 a retired needle manufacturer born in Redditch with wife Harriet age 57 born in Newnham, Gloucestershire and 1 child: Florence and son-in-law Ernest Lupton Allen.

·       1911 census:  Marlfields Cottages, Beoley, Kings Norton (S4).  Listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson age 74 married a boarder and a retired needle manufacturer born in Redditch.

·       Death:  2nd QTR 1912 at age 74 King’s Norton (S5d). Listed as Thomas O. Johnson. March 11, 1912 Besley, Worcestershire (S6).  Listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson.

·       Buried:  Plymouth Road Cemetery, Redditch.  Listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson, age 74, who died at Fairview, Beoley and was buried March 14, 1912.  Interment number 9412, grave unrecorded.  (S=Redditch Crematorium Records researched in August 2019 by Raymond McLaren).

·       Death Notice:  March 16, 1912 Redditch Indicator newspaper (S=on microfilm at the Redditch Library).  Listed as Thomas O. Johnson of “Fairview” Beoley age 75.

·       Probate: London May 23, 1912 (S6).  Listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson of Marlfield, Besley to Florence Anna Allen (wife of Ernest Lupton Allen).  Effects: £59.

·       Wife’s death: not found.

·       Children:

1.     Ben Johnson (1866-??).  Born in Redditch (S4), 2nd QTR 1866 Bromsgrove (S5b).  With mother in 1871 and with parents in 1881 (S4).  Listed in 1881 as age 15 a clerk.  Not found in 1891, 1901 and 1911.

2.     Ernest Johnson (1868-??).  Born in Alvechurch (S4).  Born 1st QTR 1868 Bromsgrove (S5b) and baptized September 27, 1868 Alvechurch (S1c) with parents listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson and Harriet Johnson.  With mother in 1871 and with parents in 1881 and 1891 (S4).  Listed in 1891 as age 23 a needle manufacturer.  Not found in 1901 and 1911.

3.     Florence Anna Johnson (1871-??).  Born in Redditch (S4), 2nd QTR 1871 Bromsgrove (S5b).  Listed as Florence Anna Johnson.  Baptized June 25, 1871 Alvechurch (S1c).  Parents listed as Thomas Obadiah Johnson and Harriett Johnson. With mother in 1871 and with parents in 1881, 1891 and 1901 (S4). Married Ernest Upton Allen around 1903 (S4-1911 Kings Norton) and had 3 children: Joan, Ben and Richard.

4.     Charles S. Johnson (c1873-??).  Born in Ipsley (S4).  With parents in 1881 (S4). Not found in 1891, 1901 and 1911.

 

 

Needle Related Patents and/or Design Registration made by Johnson

·       Design Registration: #350940 dated June 15, 1880 for “La Belle” needle wrapper (S=The National Archives, Kew).

·       Design Registration: #372469 dated November 1, 1881 for “Belle Companion” needle case.  #376674 dated February 3, 1882 for La Belle pin and needle companion.  (S=The National Archives, Kew).

·       Design Registration: #234664 dated June 21, 1894 for a paper needle and pin case (S=The National Archives, Kew).

 

Avery style needle cases patented/registered by Johnson or with the Johnson name: Kwikso, La Belle and Abel Morrall.