Billy Boy commented (Aug 24th 2013)…
What a great site, so interesting for me as I am directly related to the Tatham Family of Needle and Lacemakers.
All my Tatham grandfathers back to the founder of the business in about 1824 were named Benjamin and all involved in the various companies. Their b&d. were 1875-1943, 1840-1918, 1801-1879.
I know for sure that the father of founder Benjamin (1801-1879) was called William Tatham, this I traced on the 1850 marriage certificate of Ben to his second wife Ann Hardy (Wid. nee.Scattergood) – father of the groom was stated as William Tatham dec. Framework Knitter.
Can’t find anywhere the birth / bap. of this Benjamin to William & ? or other details. Have been told that he could not have been born in Ilkeston, but on all census Benjamin gives this as his birthplace. I feel the answer could be in nonconformist records as some of the Tatham Family were linked to Methodism etc. as found in some of the data on your website.
Wonder if anyone can help?
Here is a snippet I found on my last grandfather………
Nottingham Evening Post – Thursday 20th. Dec. 1888
ACCIDENT AT ILKESTON. – Yesterday morning a young man named Benjamin Tatham, son of
Benjamin Tatham, was at work at the lace factory of Mr. Edmund Tatham, Kensington, Ilkeston,
when by some means he was drawn up to the shafting of the machinery, and whirled round
until his clothes gave way, and he fell to the floor. Strange to say, with the exception of a broken
arm and a good shaking, the lad received no further injury.
Admin replied (Aug 26th 2013)…
Thank you for your encouraging comments and for sharing your information.
I appreciate your difficulties with the Tatham line around the early 1800′s. I do note a framework knitting William Tatham at the Pottery in Ilkeston on the 1841 and 1851 censuses. I believe that he married a Sarah Bostock (daughter of Joshua and Mary) at Heanor in 1794. They had several children up to 1820, some of them baptised at the Independent Chapel and some on the Wesleyan Chapel circuit. There seems to be a gap in the births from 1795 to 1803, possibly where a Benjamin could fit in??
This of course is speculation.
The ‘Pottery’ William died in 1853, aged 88.
Billy Boy replied (Aug 26th 2013)…
Thanks for the information.
I keep looking at that William Tatham at The Pottery, only problem is that Ben’s father was stated as dead on the marriage certificate dated 1850, otherwise everything would fit.
Will have to keep looking and hope something turns up.
David wrote to Billy Boy (Sep 2nd 2013)…
Hello Billy Boy,
My ancestor wrote this about your ancestor (verbatim):
“Two years after I was born [c1887], my father [George Beardsley] started on his most important venture, in partnership with his elder step-brother, Bill, and a cousin by marriage – Richard Hunt. They rented a two-storied barn from William Manners – it was leasehold propety belonging to the Duke of Rutland’s Estate. Then they bought a second hand Milanese Machine. When they had put it into working order, they tried to buy silk to work on it, but no one would supply them without cash down. Now this is one of the most generous acts I have ever heard about any business man. My father took his courage in both hands and went to his employer for help and advice. (He had been working for some years as Head Machine Fitter for William Tatham and Sons.) When he told Mr. Tatham what he wanted, he said: “George, I do not want you to leave me,” but in the end he made a cheque out for £100 to pay for a bale of silk. When my father told him he had no security to offer, Mr. Taham replied “Your word is your bond, George, it is good enough for me, ” and indeed my father’s word was his bond throughout his career.
Thus they purchased their first consgnment of silk and with the first money received on sales, paid back the debt. Mr Tatham refused interest on the loan, and wished my father all the best of luck.”
What a remarkable ancestor you have!
Billy Boy replied to David (Nov 11th 2013)…
Hello David
Thankyou for your kind remarks about my Tatham ancestors and your interesting contribution.
The William Tatham you refer to was the son of Amos and grandson of Benjamin who started the firms of Needle & Lace Makers.
William (1850 – 1913) lived at Stanley House, Stanley St. Ilkeston. He served on the local council for 25 years and was mayor in 1890 and 1891.
I will be so pleased to add your testimonial to his records and am grateful again for this excellent site on which we can share informaton.
Billy Boy commented (Nov 11th 2013)…
The Tathams
Gap alert! Edmund married again and on the 1881 is listed at his Addison Street home with his ‘wife’ Mary, aged 58, a native of Hallam, Nottinghamshire.
Who was Mary?
SOLVED ……
The answer is Mary Smith (nee Green) born abt.1823 HALAM (Nr. Southwell, Notts.) died 1891 Nottingham.
I found this in a roundabout way from her Will / Probate Record ………….
Name: Mary Tatham
Probate Date: 5 Feb 1892
Death Date: 16 Sep 1891
Death Place: Nottinghamshire, England Registry: Nottinghamshire.
19 Addison St, Nottingham, widow
Probate to George Samuel Green, maltster
Effects £2883 3s 1d
Resworn March 1893 £3043 3s 1d
Could the name Green give us a clue?
Children to Samuel b.1784 [Oxton] (Orston) & Sarah Green b.1779 [Halam] of Halam, Notts.
Elizabeth 1814
George 1818
Mary 1822
Sarah 1825
George was an Innkeeper & Maltster in Nottingham City.
1894-1895 Wright’s Directory – Publicans
George Green, Duke of Newcastle Arms, 68 North Sherwood St.
(Corner of Bluecoat St. & N.Sherwood St.)
and Sir Isaac Newton, 2 Howard St. (Rear of present Victoria Centre)
George had a son George Samuel born 1855 Nottingham.
1910-1911 Wright’s Directory – Publicans
George Samuel Green, Duke of Newcastle Arms, 68 North Sherwood St.
This would be the person (Mary’s nephew), to whom probate was granted as he was often referred to as Maltster.
So we have a Mary Green born Halam Notts. 1822/3.
Found this marriage:
Name: Mary Green
Spouse: Charles Smith
m.SepQ 1845 Nottm.
Then back to Public Houses again:
1861 Census: St Peter, Nottm. ‘Queen Elizabeth’ on Bottle Lane. (Lace Market)
Charles Smith 47 (Licensed Victualler) Arnold
Mary Smith 38 Halam
1871 Census: ‘Queen Elizabeth’, Bottle Lane, St Peter, Nottingham
Charles Smith 57 Arnold, Nottinghamshire – Licensed Victualler
Mary Smith 48 Halam, Nottinghamshire
(Only servants were listed on all census from 1851, no children.)
Edmund, no doubt passed this Pub on his way home from the factory on High Pavement, Nottm.
The Will of Charles Smith late of the town of Nottingham, victualler, who died 26 Jan 1877
was proved at Nottingham by Mary Smith, widow. – Effects under £1500.
Then this …registered at Knaresbro’ 9a 167 Yorkshire West Riding
West Yorkshire, Marriages and Banns
Marriage: 1878
Name: Edmund Tatham
Father: Benjamin Tatham
Spouse: Mary Smith
Father: Samuel Green
No wonder we could not find it, why Yorkshire?
Perhaps they felt guilty marrying so soon after spouses’ deaths.
Sorry to be so long winded but hope we have filled the gap.
And been on a “Pub Crawl”
Admin replied (Nov 11th 2013)…
Billy Boy,
Fantastic!! What more can I say?
One gap filled … hopefully your impressive deductive work will appear in the next few days.
