Treasure Chest Thursday - Alice's Brooch

Over the years I have inherited a lot of family photos, which have taken some time to sort into some kind of logical order (Or what I see as a logical order!).

I have only two photos of my great-grandmother, Alice Oldknow Oldham.  She was born in Nottingham in December 1886 and died aged only 40 in June 1927.

Alice Oldknow Oldham 1886-1927

I was delighted to receive this picture and even more so when I also inherited the brooch Alice is wearing at her throat in the picture.

The centre of the brooch holds two photos and can be turned round to show either picture.  You can see the photo of Alice's husband, Ernest Richardson above.

The other side of it has a photo of her son, my grandfather, Fred Richardson as a toddler.

It's lovely to have this brooch as it feels like a connection to the past & to ancestors that I never met.

On This Day.....133 years ago

On May 15th 1880, my great-great grandparents, Robert Richardson & Sarah Percival were married at Christ Church, Harpurhey, near Manchester.

Sarah Percival 1857-1897

Robert Richardson 1855-1934

Christ Church Harpurhey

Workday Wednesday - Post Office

My great-great grandfather, Charles Bateman, began his working life as a messenger for the Electric and International Telegraph Company in 1867 aged 14.

In 1869 he was promoted to the post of clerk and a year later became a telegraphist for the Burton-on-Trent Post Office.

Moving to the Nottingham Post Office, he had worked his way up to Assistant Superintendant 2nd Class by the time he retired in May 1906.

I found this information during a visit to the British Postal Museum & Archive in London.  They were very helpful there & I would definitely recommend a visit and/or contacting them if you have any ex-postmen/women in your family, the personnel records are very detailed.






Whilst there, I also found details of Charles' son, Charles Nelson Bateman, who had followed in his father's footsteps and become a Post office employee.


Charles Nelson also stayed at the Post Office for the whole of his working life (apart from two brief stints in the army) and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal on his retirement in 1940.

Madness Monday - The Workhouse Blues

Missing records which could help in piecing together an ancestor's life can be particularly maddening.

In my case it is the workhouse records for Guisborough Workhouse in North Yorkshire.

I found my Great-Great Grandfather Robert Richardson was a resident of the workhouse in the 1861 census.

Here he is with his older brother John:

I contacted Middlesbrough Archives and they very kindly sent me copies of the entries in the workhouse register that mention Robert, John and their sister Mary Jane:

John Thomas & Robert Richardson are admitted to Guisborough Workhouse on July 8th 1858.  They are admitted by order of the Board of Guardians and charged to Liverton Parish.
On August 24th 1858 they are discharged from the Workhouse – taken out by their father.
John Thomas, Robert & Mary Jane are admitted to the Workhouse again on October 21st 1858, all charged to Liverton they are described as ‘very dirty.’
Mary Jane is taken out of the Workhouse by her father on 20th November 1858.
On March 27th 1859, John Thomas is discharged under his own charges, then appears to go straight back in again ‘transferred from Liverton’ on the same day!
On June 21st 1859, John Thomas & Robert are again taken out of the Workhouse by their father.  John is under his own charges & Robert is charged to Liverton Parish.
But July 5th 1859 sees both boys readmitted to the Guisborough Workhouse by the Relieving Officer.  As above, John is under his own charges & Robert is charged to Liverton.

Robert next appears in the 1871 census, as an apprentice joiner to Thomas Armstrong in West Gate, Guisborough;

Unfortunately the workhouse registers for 1859 to 1866 are missing, so I have no idea of what happened to Robert and his siblings between 1861 and 1871 and the terms or circumstances of his apprenticeship. There are no apprenticeship papers either!

But I do know he was very successful in his trade a a joiner; eventually owning his own business in Nottingham & looking very well-to-do!

Robert Richardson

Friday Funny - The Mighty Healer

What we've all been waiting for........

 SAVE YOUR LIVES BY TAKING

OWBRIDGE'S LUNG TONIC

THE MIGHTY HEALER

It has a power over disease hitherto unknown in medicine.  Are you at all Weakchested, or inclined to be Consumptive, with just a touch of Cough now and then?

"Try this wonderful Medicine."  The Cough and Weakness will disappear as if by magic, and you will feel a strength and power you have never had before.

HAVE YOU A COUGH?

A DOSE WILL RELIEVE IT.

HAVE YOU A COLD?

A DOSE AT BEDTIME WILL REMOVE IT.

Bronchitis and Asthma it relieves instantly.

The Spasms of Coughing so dreadful in Whooping Cough become less with each dose of the medicine.

"I have much pleasure in certifying that your Lung Tonic is a most valuable remedy in cases for which it is recommended.  It first came under my notice at a patient's house, and from curiosity I was induced to try its curative effects during a sharp attack of Bronchitis contracted by myself when travelling, and I conscientiously assure you that I found immediate relief.  I have since given it a place in my surgery, have prescribed it in several cases, and can thoroughly recommend it.  You are at liberty to use my name. - JOHN GREEN, M.R.C.S.L., Keadby, Yorks."

Prepared by W.T. OWBRIDGE, Chemist, Hull.  Sold in Bottles, 1s. 11/2d., 2s. 3d., 4s. 6d., and 11s., by all Chemists & Patent medicine Vendors.  Wholesale, all London and Provincial Houses.

 Leicester Chronicle and the Leicestershire Mercury (Leicester, England), Saturday, September 20, 1890; pg. 2; Issue 4154. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

Friday Funny - In need of invigorating?

Another newspaper advert that appealed to my sense of humour........

TO THE DAUGHTERS OF EVE

For an elegant Corset see what the Countess of Suffolk says: "A graceful upright carriage and a most perfect figure." Recommended by the medical profession. See the Invigorator Corset, from 6/6 to 22/6. Sold by Drapers, or send P.O. and 5d. postage to Patentee, 15, Claremont, Hastings. Illustrated Catalogue free. Made for ladies, maids, boys, girls, and children.

Leicester Chronicle and the Leicestershire Mercury (Leicester, England), Saturday, June 27, 1891; pg. 6; Issue 4194. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.

Workday Wednesday - Life's Work Well Done

I was very happy this morning to receive the latest copy of 'The Lenton Times' which contains an article I wrote about my Great-Uncle Fred Richardson.

He owned a garage on Derby Road in Lenton, Nottingham for approximately forty years between the 1920s & the 1960s.

Here's a link where you can download a copy.