Richard Daykin(27/4/1807 – 8/3/1885) was born in Kirk Hallam (according to www.oldilkeston.co.uk records) Derbyshire on the 27th April 1807 to lace maker Samuel and Sarah Daykin (nee Birch) and baptised on the 12th July 1807 at the Halifax and Hockley Wesleyan Chapel in Nottingham by William Henshaw (document MF1; Ref. batch C075451; source 0825363 RG4 piece2866 folio 266 call no. 0883976).
Richard Daykin married Anne Clemenson, at All Saints Church in Loughborough, Leicestershire on the 14th June 1829. According to the Church Banns Richard Daykin was a Bachelor and Anne Clemenson was a Spinster and both were of “this” Parish and were married in this “Church” by “Banns”, with consent of….(no names) this fourteenth Day of June in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine By me Joseph Place. This marriage was solemnized between us Richard Daykin and Anne Clemenson In the Presence of Mary Clemenson and Jas Smith. Entry number 324 (Ref. DE667/15 Loughborough, All Saints).
Anne Clemenson (or Clemmison) was the daughter of Loughborough needlemaker and later post office messenger Thomas and Ann Clemerson (nee Bailey) who had been born on the 25th December 1809 at Loughborough, and baptised on May 20th 1827 according to the Wesleyan records, Piece 1445: Loughborough Circuit, High Street, Leicester Road.
The spelling of her surname appears to have changed somewhat since her birth with the letters “mi” being replaced with “en”, altering the pronunciation of the last two syllables from “Clemmison” to “Clemenson”, with numerous variations including “Clemerson” used in documentation over the years.
Anne’s father, Thomas Clemmison, had been christened on the 18th March 1787 at Loughborough and married Ann Bailey on the 6th May 1807 at All Saints Church in Loughborough. The records of the marriage (No.416) show that the marriage of Thomas Clemmison and Ann Bailey was solemnized in the Presence of Jos. Bayley and Mary Silson, the writing is somewhat faded but the names are believed to be so. (DE667/13)
Anne Clemmison’s grandfather also appear to have been married in the same church, as records are found of a marriage on the 25th November 1783 between John Clemmison and Mary Wain although both were illiterate and the register is endorsed with…The Mark of X John Clemmison and The Mark of X Mary Wain. The marriage was solemnized in the Presence of Joseph Webster and John Brewer (?) once again the writing is somewhat faded and the handwriting rather shaky. (DE667/12).
Richard and Ann Daykin (nee Clemenson) had seven known children; Eliza Eleanor (Emma) born 8th January 1830, baptised on the 8th February 1830 at Long Eaton Wesleyan Chapel (Ref F.S. RG-0941); Elizabeth, born 6th January 1832 and baptised at the Wesleyan Methodist church on 27th April 1832 (Ref. F.S. b. C06682-1; f. 590683) who died shortly after and was buried on 2nd May 1832 – “an infant” according to the Kirk Hallam All Saints Church records; the next child born on the 6th April 1833 was also called Elizabeth who was baptised on the 25th June 1837 at the Wesleyan Methodist Church Ilkeston (Ref F.S. b. C06682-1; f. 590683) , confusingly there is also a record (Ref. F.S. b. CO7546-1; f. 0825363 (RG4 3133) of Elizabeth Daykin, born to Richard Daykin and Ann Clemerson on the 6th April 1833 being christened on the 27th April 1833 at the Salem Chapel, Barker gate-Armenian Methodist, Nottingham, so it appears that possibly Elizabeth was christened first in Nottingham, as her father Richard had been christened in Nottingham?
The fourth child, Anna, born on the 6th January 1837 was also baptised on 25th June 1837 at the Wesleyan Methodist Church Ilkeston (Ref. F.S. RG-0941); Richard and Ann’s first son, Richard Birch Daykin who was born in Sandiacre on the 3rd February 1842 (Ref. Shardlow 19 578) sadly never survived his infancy and died on the 17th October 1847 at Little Hallam, Ilkeston of Scarlatina. (Ref. Basford 15 291) and was buried at Kirk Hallam on October 19th 1847.
According to the birth certificate for Richard Birch Daykin, his father was named as Richard Daykin, who was a joiner by trade. Ann Daykin formerly Clemenson was named as the mother, who also registered the birth on the 21st February 1842 and was residing in Sandiacre, although no exact address was given. On Richard Birch Daykin’s death certificate which was registered on the 18th October 1847 by Catherine Cartwright, who was present at the death at Little Hallam and was apparently illiterate as the certificate bears the mark (X) of her, the child was a five year old male, the son of Richard Daykin (Joiner).
Following the death of the infant Richard Birch Daykin a second son was born on the 17th August 1850, in Ilkeston Derbyshire who was also named Richard Birch Daykin. The youngest (seventh) child was another son who was called Henry Frederick Daykin and was born in the June Qtr.1852 (Ref. Basford 7b 102).
The first census taken in the country on the 6th June 1841 listed Richard Daykin as being aged 30, a Joiner by trade living at Main Street Sandiacre with Ann, aged 30, presumably his wife, as no status is listed, and Eleanor aged 11, Elizabeth aged 8, and Ann aged 4; all of their children at the time. There were also several entries in local Trade directories including one in 1846 which listed a… “Richard Daykin, Little Hallam, Joiner and builder”…
According to the 1851 Census, taken on the 30th March, the family name was spelt without a “Y” – as “DAKIN”; Richard Dakin aged 43, a Journeyman Carpenter, Ann Dakin aged 41, their three daughters; Emma Dakin aged 21, Elizabeth Dakin aged 17, Anna Dakin aged 14 and finally their new son Richard B. Dakin aged 7 months. There was also a lodger by the name of “George Chanison” aged 22, an engineer from Laughton, Leicestershire, but the surname appears to be incorrectly translated from the written document and should maybe read “Clemmison”, which confirms that he is a relative of Richard’s wife Ann (nee Clemenson / Clemmison).
Richard Daykin (Senior) was a carpenter by trade, as listed on his second son Richard Birch Daykin’s Birth certificate, registered on the 23rd August 1850, the birth actually being on the 17th August, but he was also deeply religious and entrepreneurial. His position was described by a former elderly resident of Ilkeston, Adeline Wells, who wrote a series of letters to the “Ilkeston Advertiser” during the late 1920’s and 1930’s in which she described in great detail the residents and culture of Ilkeston during her lifetime from early childhood in the 1850’s onwards.
“Ilkeston Advertiser”, Friday, March 28th 1930… “On Whit-Sunday morning we scholars from the chapel, after morning school…would walk in procession…onto South Street Chapel…In the afternoon most of the schools assembled…then processions were formed and all marched on to the old ground, when addresses were given by different preachers and laymen…In those days Mr. Samuel carrier was superintendent one Sunday and Mr. Richard Daykin the other”… Richard is also known to have been a teacher at the Wesleyan School.
It was during this mid-19th century period that Richard Daykin’s entrepreneurial nature came to the fore as he diversified into construction and retail.
According to another letter by Adeline Wells to the “Ilkeston Advertiser” dated March 25th 1938, which described the development of Ilkeston and its businesses… “During the 1860’s… All this side of South Street had been parcelled out, and had fair-sized gardens at the rear. Mr. Richard Daykin, who was a joiner at Stanton, bought a plot and built two shops and houses on it. The first shop he occupied and started a grocery business. Mrs. Daykin managed it until Birch, the eldest son, was old enough to take charge. In 1871 this was 63 South Street. The plot of land was between Ball’s shop and Mrs. Lowe’s property.
Mr. W. Armstrong lived in the second shop (until 1870). He was a furniture dealer, also a cabinet maker. Mrs. Armstrong was Mrs. Daykin’s sister”…
Harriet Clemerson – Ann Daykin’s younger sister had married William Armstrong in the December quarter of 1857 in Loughborough (Ref. 7a 310), the town where they had both been born. William was a furniture dealer and cabinet maker and set up his business next door to his sister-in-law in the shop owned/built by Richard Daykin at 62 South Street Ilkeston in 1871.
Furniture dealing must have been a Clemerson family speciality as Harriet Clemerson’s brother, Henry Clemerson had a furniture business with his wife Betsy Clemerson (nee Riste) at 1 Mill Street in Loughborough, which was continued by Betsy following Henry’s death in 1864, and expanded by their son Henry (Jnr) in 1881 into number 2 Mill Street where he employed two men and twelve boys, as well as a family servant.
Although not specifically relevant to the “Daykin” family history this particular in-law is worthy of inclusion as an example of the harsh reality of life in the mid to late 19th century in England.
… “William Armstrong and his wife Harriet (nee Clemerson) saw their family and business expanding, as they had three sons and two daughters by 1868 and William now owned… “a wholesale and retail furniture and paper-hanging warehouse”… which stocked furniture… “suitable for Cottage or Mansion”… dining and easy chairs, bedsteads, sofas, couches, chiffoniers, sideboards, drawers, bookcases, mirrors, carpets, hearth rugs, mattresses and blankets. Plus a range of over 6,000 pieces of paper hangings of 400 different patterns in gold, flock, grounded and pulp papers”… William also offered… “joinering, cabinet-making, painting and general decorating, paper-hanging etc., attended to on the shortest notice”…
However, events in the late 1860’s were very traumatic and painful for the Armstrong’s, and effected William and Harriet deeply.
… “During that time the couple lost sons Frank Thomas from whooping cough and Harry Frank (born in 1869) in infancy, daughter Eliza Harriet as a young child, and then their eldest child 11-year old William Herbert from typhus, at the beginning of 1870.
A few weeks after the last death, William left home one Sunday morning to attend chapel as usual, leaving Harriet alone. She was improving in spirit but perhaps not sufficiently to go with her husband. She told him that she would stay behind to prepare an early dinner and then the couple could go out for an afternoon walk.
At midday William returned home to find the dinner ready as usual, except for some partly peeled potatoes in a basin, but no Harriet. He called out to her and then when hearing a moan, he was drawn to a small room in the house where he found his wife, lying on the floor. Not having the strength to lift her himself, he ran for Dr. Norman who came immediately, accompanied by an assistant. Although Harriet was still alive at that time, the doctor found her…“in a state of great spasmodic contraction of all the muscles of the body, the pupils very much dilated, teeth firmly clenched, and insensible”… It was too late to treat her meaningfully and she died within half an hour, the cause of death being strychnine poisoning, in the form of “Battle’s Vermin Killer”. Troubled by mice on his premises, William had purchased the poison a few weeks previously, from the neighbour and druggist Richard Potts – who had allowed the sale only after George Sanson could witness the transaction.
The jury at the inquest held at the King’s Head returned a verdict to the effect that Harriet had committed suicide… “while in a state of temporary derangement”… Harriet’s death Ref. Basford 7b 91 – age 42.
In the spring of 1870 the furniture warehouse was sold to William Alfred Whitchurch. William Armstrong, with his two surviving children – Florence and Arthur Ernest – then left Ilkeston. About a year after the death of Harriet – his first wife- William Armstrong married Elizabeth Snelson in the March quarter of 1871 (Ref. Radford 7b 234) a Nottingham lass, the daughter of house agent Frederick and Ann Snelson (nee Sissling). He returned to his native Loughborough where he lived out the rest of his life. By 1882 he was advertised as an auctioneer, public house and general trade valuer, living at 33, cattle market in the town”…
During the development of Ilkeston there was a short row of houses constructed called “Daykin’s Row”, described by Adeline Wells as… “an extinct area at the rear and west of Bath Street opposite Chapel Street”… “a waste piece of land in front of these cottages, and on the street level was where wheelbarrows, etc., were parked. This row of cottages derived its name from occupant John Daykin, a lace agent who died in the row in June 1875, aged 70, (Ref. Basford 7b 88) who is believed to be a cousin of Richard Daykin, the son of Joseph and Ann Daykin (nee Briggs), and one of his father Samuel’s older brothers.
On the 1865 and 1868 records for the Ilkeston Polling District the only two “Daykin” entries are for … “4725 Daykin John Bath Street, Ilkeston and 4726 Daykin Richard South Street, Ilkeston”…
Richard Daykin’s commercial success gained him an entry in the “White’s 1857 Directory of Derbyshire”, being listed as a Grocer & Tea Distributor, with premises on South Street in Ilkeston, and in an 1864 Trade directory Richard Daykin was listed as … “A Grocer of 62 South Street”…
According to the “Return of owners of land 1873”, Richard Daykin owned land extending to 4 Acres and 17 Poles, and an article in the “Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald” dated 1st July 1876 read;
… “THE NEW DOMESDAY THE LANDOWNERS OF DERBYSHIRE
Name of owner and address Extent of land Gross estimate rental
Richard Daykin, Ilkeston 4 A. OR. 17 P. £18 6s.”…
In the 1861 Census, taken on the 7th April, Richard Daykin, now aged 53, was still a joiner and carpenter by trade, living at 66 South Street, Ilkeston along with his wife Anne, aged 51, whose occupation was described as a Grocer and Tea Dealer. There were two children at home at the time, Richard B., a ten year old scholar and the youngest child Henry F. who was an eight year old scholar.
According to the “London Gazette” dated March 6th 1863… “Court of Bankruptcy… Assignment by the said William Armstrong of all his estate and effects to the said… and Richard Daykin of Ilkeston, Grocer… absolutely to be applied and administered for the benefit of the creditors of the said William Armstrong in like manner as if he had been at the date therefore duly judged bankrupt”…
Richard Daykin of Ilkeston, Grocer, is named as a creditor along with Robert Kynaston, of No. 4, Gresham Street, London, Warehouseman, in the bankruptcy case of William Armstrong, Ilkeston, Cabinet Maker, Joiner and Builder… “When left for Registration – 3rd March 1863, at half past 2 o’clock”…
The United Methodist Free Church Sunday School rooms at South Street were opened on Monday, May 15th 1865, when the Ilkeston brass band played throughout the town and the church bells rang in honour of the occasion. It was at this time that Adeline Wells’ brother, Martin, served as a teacher at the school… “along with…Richard Daykin”…
The Ilkeston Brass Band had several of Richard Daykin’s relations amongst its members; John Goddard, son of Jonathon and Kitty Goddard (nee Daykin), Richard’s uncle and aunt, was the bandmaster, and two of his sons, John (Jnr.) and William Rawdin Goddard played in the band along with a nephew, Alfred George Branshaw. They were to be joined at a later date in the band by another Goddard brother, George, and another nephew, Isaac Goddard; at one point Ilkeston Brass Band had six members of the Goddard family playing in it or conducting.
There was a story in the “Derby Mercury” on Wednesday January 17th 1866 relating to Richard Daykin… “Alfred Daykin and Mary Daykin, husband and wife were brought up under remand, charged with stealing a bankers draft for £20, the property of Richard Daykin of Ilkeston on December 18th. – Remanded to the following Monday. Bail refused”… There is no indication as to what (if any) the relationship was between Richard Daykin and the two felons.
In the late 1860’s Richard and Anne Daykin (nee Clemenson), along with their youngest son, Henry Frederick, migrated to live in Little Hallam, leaving Richard Birch to live on in South Street and take over the running of the grocery business now he’d reached adulthood, a task he continued with up until the shop, along with others, was taken over by the Cooperative Society in 1874, when the business was at 62 South Street.
In the 1871 Census, taken on the 2nd April, for 26 Little Hallam, Richard Daykin is the head of the household, age 63, a Carpenter, born Kirk Hallam, living with his wife, Ann, age 61, born Leicester, Loughborough, and their son Henry Frederick, age 18 and now a pupil teacher, born Derbyshire, Ilkeston.
By the time of the next census on the 3rd April 1881, Richard Daykin had moved to live at 7 Little Hallam, Ilkeston, where he is listed as Head, age 73, and now a Model Maker, living with his wife, Ann, a 71 year old Artisan, born Loughborough. At the same address is still his youngest son, Henry Frederick, a 28 year old school master who is now the head of his own household as he has a wife, 25 year old Annie Mary, a 2 year old daughter, Margaret Ann, and a 4 month old baby son, Albert Henry, along with a servant, Ann Perkins age 61.
Richard Daykin’s wife Anne (nee Clemenson) died on the 15th September 1883 at Little Hallam Ilkeston (Ref. Basford 7b 75) aged 73 of “General Debility and Pleurisy”. She was listed as the wife of Richard Daykin, joiner and her death was witnessed by their son H.J. Daykin and registered the same day. Ann was buried in Stanton Road Cemetery in Ilkeston on 18th September 1883.
Richard Daykin died aged 77 on the 8th March 1885 at Little Hallam (Ref. Basford 7b 85) of Senile Decay. On the death certificate his occupation was given as “formerly a Carpenter” and the death was informed by his son H.F. Daykin, (who was also present at the death) on the 10th March 1885, the same day that Richard Daykin was buried at Stanton Road Cemetery Ilkeston. It is unclear if Richard was buried in the same grave as his wife Anne as there is no documentation, headstone, or any accurate plan of the graves, and also the actual grave numbers have been altered over the years; so it can only be presumed that he was.
The Last Will & Testament of Richard Daykin is written as follows:
… “This is the last will and testament by me RICHARD DAKIN of Little Hallam in the county of Derby. My personal property I give and bequeath to my son HENRY FREDERICK DAKIN. Whatever money may be in my possession at the time of my death and whatever may be received from my two lodges after all funeral expenses have been paid I give to my two daughters ELIZA. E. MOON and ELIZABETH HIGGIT in equal portions. My real property I have given to my two sons by deeds of gift on certain conditions set forth therein. I do appoint my son HENRY FREDERICK DAYKIN as sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witness there I the said RICHARD DAYKIN have set my name to this my last will and testament April 26th 1884. Richard Daykin___Signed by the testator and acknowledged by him to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses______SAMUEL and SARAH WEST.____
3 Folio
The Will bearing date the ___day of April 1884 but in fact executed on the 26th day of April 1884 was proved at Derby the 21st day of September 1885 by the Oath of Henry Frederick Daykin the son the sole Executor to whom Administration was granted
The Testator Richard Daykin was late of Little Hallam in the County of Derby Carpenter and died on the 8th day of March 1885 at Little Hallam aforesaid.
Gross value of personal estate £43.3.00….”
In person.
According to extracts from the National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration)… “DAYKIN Richard Personal Estate £43 3s. 21 September. The Will of Richard Daykin late of Little Hallam in the County of Derby Carpenter who died 8 March 1885 at Little Hallam was proved at Derby by Henry Frederick Daykin of Little Hallam School Master the Son the sole Executor”…
As a footnote to Richard Daykin’s life, another letter by Adeline Wells to the “Ilkeston Advertiser” dated December 3rd 1937 mentions both Richard and two of his sons… “When Mr. Holroyd left Ilkeston he was succeeded by Mr. Wright Lissett, who afterwards became Clerk to the Local Board; and when Ilkeston became a Borough Mr. Lissett was appointed Town Clerk. Mr. Lissett’s successor to the head ship of the British School was Mr. Fred Daykin, second son of Mr. Richard Daykin, who was for many years one of the superintendents of the Old Cricket Ground Chapel Sunday School, Mr. Samuel Carrier being his colleague. Fred Daykin’s elder brother, Birch, had the grocery business in South Street left to him by his father. This shop, with others, was taken over by the Cooperative Society”…
But before the sons, we examine the daughters of Richard and Ann.
