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BENNETT, Henry |
 Henry Bennett. Born about 1823, in Odiham, Hampshire. He moved to the Isle of Wight sometime before 1847 and he was a blacksmith and wheelwright in Ryde. He married Ellen Wheeler in 1847. He died in 1882, and was buried in Ryde Cemetery. He is listed in the Blacksmiths of Isle of Wight & Wheelwrights Indexes. Contact Sally-Ann by
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BENOY, George Henry |
 Born in Devonport 26 Nov 1877. Died: Plymouth 14 Aug 1941.  George Henry Benoy born in Devonport 26 Nov 1877. Died: Plymouth 14 Aug 1941. He was indentured as a blacksmith apprentice on 23 May 1893 and completed his apprenticeship on 20 Dec 1898. He joined the navy in 1902 and served until 22 Dec 1923. He was also a clown and worked as a bootmaker when he left the navy. Also listed in the Military Blacksmiths Index. Copy of Apprenticeship Contract can be seen in the Interesting Stories Link. Contact Norma-Jean by .
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CHANDLER, Anthony |
Anthony Chandler of Buckinghamshire, born about 1550, was trained as a Blacksmith (perhaps apprenticed to the
famous Buckingham bell-founder Ap Powell) and started a family bell-foundry at Drayton Parslow. Anthony married
in Buckingham in 1580. Some of the bells made in the 1600s by Anthony's descendants, labelled CHANDLER MADE ME, survive today and at least one 350 year old CHANDLER bell was rung to celebrate the arrival of the new Millennium. Contact Dick by.
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CHANDLER, Edmund |
Edmund Chandler. A line of CHANDLER Blacksmiths in New England was founded by Edmund Chandler born in England about 1588. Edmund joined a congregation of English religious dissenters who objected to the ceremonies and hierarchy of the established church. The dissenters were persecuted and harried out of England by King James. They fled to Holland, where they stayed for a few years in Leiden and then chartered the Mayflower to take them to America. Edmund travelled on a later ship and played a prominent role in the establishment of the Plymouth Colony. Contact Dick by.
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COLE, Ephraim |
Ephraim Cole, blacksmith. Born 1659 in Plymouth, Massachusetts USA; and in 1685 built what may be one of the first blacksmith shops in America. It was located at the corner of Leyden and Maine streets in Plymouth and it remained in the family until 1872. The shop was still standing in 1903. A postcard with a photograph of the blacksmith shop was published in 1903. Anyone interested in a scanned copy of that postcard may contact the contributor of this note. See Blacksmiths of Middlesex, England, for his grandfather James Cole (blacksmith born 1600). Contact Paul by
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COLLEY, William Henry (Jnr). |
William Henry Colley (Jnr). Information sent by Marilyn Leggat. William Henry Colley 1861-1922. See Wheelwrights Index for further information. My grandmother, Edith Avis (nee Colley), told my mother that William Henry Colley used to carve the horses for Simmonds Carousal. Two of them just fitted into the front room of their home. He also made the first travelling live-in van for Barnham & Bailey. The Simmonds Company was in Scotland when something went wrong with a piece of equipment so they wrote to the firm William Henry Colley worked for requesting that he travel to Scotland to carry out the repair. However the firm for which William Colley worked sent another employee. On arrival in Scotland this employee was asked who he was and promptly sent back with the message that they wanted the services of William Colley.
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COOPER, Charles & Family. |
Charles Cooper, born 1805 in Sussex. Charles Cooper was one of a family of shipwrights building at Berkeley in 1841. he took over the main yard at Pill in 1862. The yard lay at the head of the creek at Pill and was the only one to have it's own saw pit. He had two sons in the business, John and James . He left the yard to his brother George Cooper who at the time was living in Penarth near Cardiff, George passed the yard over to his younger brother John who worked the yard until 1905 when it closed down. 29 registered Cooper vessels are listed in the booklet "Shipbuilding in the Port of Bristol" published by the National Maritime Museum. See the Shipwrights Index for individual entries. Contact Lindsay by.
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Dauray, Jacques |
 Jacques Dauray, was born in Marieville, Quebec 7 Dec 1860, the son of Louis Dore and Herminie Bombardier. According to the 1900 Census, his family came to the United States around the year 1870. Louis and Herminie Dore lived out west in Nebraska, and possibly other areas at different times. In the 1890's, the family went different ways from Nebraska and Louis and Herminie moved to Massachusetts with two grandsons, Emile Duby and Arthur Dorey. Some of the family remained in Kansas and Nebraska and one daughter relocated to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada. Jacques married his cousin Josephine Gauthier in Westport, Mass. in 1895. The 1900 Census lists Jacques as a blacksmith in the farming industry. In the early 1900's he moved to Augusta, Maine and resided on Locke Street and then on Park Street, where he also worked as a blacksmith. By 1910, he added farming to his occupation as a blacksmith and took up farming in Readfield, Maine, then later relocated to Weeks Mills, Maine where he also worked as a blacksmith and farmed until 1920. His son Sylveo died of influenza in 1918 at Ft. Slocum in New York as a new recruit in the US Army, and then his wife Josephine died 2 months later. They are buried in the Deer Hill Cemetery in Weeks Mills, Maine. By this time, his daughter Marie Beatrice married Harold Boynton and he was left living alone with his two young sons Charles and Bernard. In 1920, he moved to Sarcoxie, Missouri with his two sons Charles and Bernard where he worked as a blacksmith and farmed until his death in 1934. Contact Stan by
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DODDS, James |
James Dodds, born Sunderland, Durham on 3rd August 1771. Died: 20th May 1844. In partnership with John Shotton. In partnership with John Shotton, James had a boatyard described as being at the back of the pier in the East End of Sunderland, at a spot now occupied by the South Docks. A History of Sunderland by Taylor Potts states that: "Their shops were on the side of the road leading down to the beach almost opposite Tulip"s lime kiln. The only boatbuilders the pilots would trust to build their cobles were Dodds and Shotton, Humble, and Hardcastle. Ribald boys used to chaunt a doleful lay: "Dodds says to Shotton This boat will soon be rotten. Shotton says to Dodds What odds." Dodds and Shotton were also mentioned in "Recollections of Sunderland in the 1820s by Robinson Crusoe and East End sea-captain" this was a series of articles written for the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle in the 1880s: "The road led down near the boatbuilders shop occupied by Messrs. Dodds and Shotton, who were chiefly employed in repairing or building cobles". See also the Shipwrights Index. Contact Jackie by.
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DOWSE, Charles |
Charles Dowse, born about 1870, at Wainfleet, Lincolnshire , England. For more see the Blacksmiths of Lincolnshire Index The blacksmiths shown are Charles Dowse (far left) and Frederick Thomas Phillipson (second-left, shoeing horse). The picture was taken in October 1938 at the Blacksmiths Shop, Alvingham, Lincolnshire.CLick on picture to enlarge. Contact Alan by.
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ESLER, William. |
William Esler was born 1866, Wood Point, Victoria, Australia. See Blacksmiths of Australia Index. William was born to a North Irish father and a Scottish mother at Woods Point Victoria, Australia. The family migrated to Australia in November 1894. William was involved in building the Esperance Jetty, then employed with the State Electricity Commission (whatever it was called then) and in the early 1900's at the East Perth Power Station. Contact Brian at
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EUSTACE/EUSTICE, John |
John Eustace was born at Crowan, Cornwall in 1830 and as was his father became a tinsmith. In the 1861 census of Helston, Cornwall he is described as an "Engineer in a Tin Mine". He married Catherine Hodge from Cork, Ireland at St. Austell in 1855 and on 17 February 1862 they along with their children John, Ann and Catherine sailed on the "Black Swan" from Plymouth, Devon for a new life in New Zealand. The "Black Swan" arrived at Port Chalmers on 5 June 1862 after 107 days at sea. John Eustace in 1884 invented the press fit airtight lid for tins which is still in common use throughout the world today. Sadly it was only patented in New Zealand and it wasn't long before it was copied by others around the world. Contact Barry by.
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FACT: O.H.HMD explained |
If you see in a Census, a trade description eg., Blacksmith HMD(OH), the two letters OH, next to the term HM Dyd means 'On Hamoaze'. (the Dockyard on the Hamoaze). The Hamoaze being a stretch of water, hence “His Majesty's Dockyards on the Hamoaze”
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FISH, George |
George Fish was born in Cutcombe, Somerset. He arrived in Australia aboard the Zeminidar 23 Aug 1857. He started his blacksmith business in Queen Charlotte's Vale (now Perthville NSW) and in 1860 moved the business to Bentick St.Bathurst NSW. The FISH family had a celebration in 1960, of continued business at the same address for 100 years. Sadly after two family deaths the business has wound down to selling grains etc. and is now located in new premises in Lambert St. Bathurst. Contact Beverley at
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FOOT, John |
John Foot was baptised 20 June 1813 at Buckland Monochorum, was the blacksmith at Horrabridge, Devon at the time of the 1851 census. Parents: Thomas Foot & Elziabeth Abel. He was my partner's great grandfather. Photo attached of the Horrabridge smithy. Contact Madalene by.
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GRANT, James |
James Grant. Sometime in the ?early 1870's he moved from Glenshee,Perthsire, Scotland to New Zealand. Wife: Nancy Crombie, married in Wyndham NZ, 1876. They moved to Temuka approx 1887. He has been listed in the Gladstone and Geraldine electoral rolls as a Blacksmith living in Temuka with his own business, which included (at different times) his brother William,(Carriage Builder) son Peter (Blacksmith)and other son David (Coach Builder).He was then listed as Blacksmith in Herataunga St,Hastings in 1908,1911 & 1914 in the Hawkes Bay Elctoral roll. They all were listed at some point in the Stones directories also. See also Blacksmiths of Scotland & Cartwights Indexes. Anyone wanting to contact me about these relations is most welcome. Contact Vicki by.
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GUERIN, Thomas |
Thomas Guerin, a French Huguenot, came from St. Narzaire en Saintonge (today, it is en Clarente), France. He was 11 years old when he escaped with his older brothers and their families. Their parents, Pierre Guerin and Jeanne Bilibeau, were probably put to death for their Protestant faith.St. Narzaire is little costal fishing village. We have no indication of the occupation of the family in France. The older brothers tended to go into farming the area of Charleston, SC. when they arrived in America. In adulthood, Thomas was a blacksmith and iron smelter. He married Mary Ford/Faure whose family seemed to be connected with an area in SC near Charleston what did something with iron. See entries in the Blacksmiths of USA & Cartwrights Indexes. Contact Elsie by.
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HARRIS, William
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William Harris, blacksmith. Born about 1781,Husley, Hampshire, England. The 1841 UK census lists William as 60yrs, at Hursley with wife Sarah 60yrs and children George 20yrs; John 15yrs. They had three other children not seen on 1841 census: Charlotte (baptised on 23 October 1814), Thomas, a blacksmith (baptised on 17 December 1815) and Harriet (baptised on 19 November 1817). They lived in extremely cramped accommodation behind and above the forge . I have attached a photograph of it as it is today. See Blacksmiths of Hampshire for son Thomas Harris and Grandson Benjamin Harris. Email bounces.
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HILL, Timothy (Jnr) |
 Timothy Hill, blacksmith, brazier, furnishing ironmonger. Lived circa 1773-1792. Timothy jnr. Lived with uncle Moses Hill 1818 to 1823 (see entry for Moses history). Business operated under HILL until bankruptcy in 1839. See Interesting Stories Link on the Home Page for photo of business circa 1860 and original brass printing plate for business card which is in my possession [circa 1820] . The HILL family is listed in Whitesmiths, Brownsmiths, Iron Workers Indexes plus the Blacksmiths of Surrey; the history is very complicated, Contact Sue by
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HISLOP, Alexander David |
Alexander David Hislop. As told by Jean Hislop via Brian Webb (friend) when he visited her in a nursing home in Kalgoorlie, Westyern Australia, early in 2006. Sadly Jean passed away on 4th May 2008. Alex trained as a blacksmith in Bunbury and was in business there with a Mr.Trigwell. Around 1903 Alex moved to Fremantle & worked for various employers. In 1925 he established his own business Alex.D. Hislop Blacksmith & Coachbuilder, on the corner of South Terrace & Arundel Street (opposite the Fremantle Hospital). Mum was working in Fremantle when she met my dad (A.B.Hislop) and they courted. So we assume they were married by 1900. In time, two sons Albert(Bert c1925) & Colin (Col c1930) joined the business which became Hislop & Sons. Alex moved his business to 198 South Terrace adjoining the family home in 1933/4. Bert did much of the work building the business premises and setting up the new workshop. Dad passed away 1944 and two of his sons along with his own brothers Albert Oscar and Colin Alexander Hislop, changed the business name to "Hislop Bros". Louis (Lou) Howe worked for Hislop Bros for 20 years doing all the above mentioned work. See Lou's own story. Lou Howe may be interviewed for finer detail (phone No: supplied). Among their customers were Streeter & Male who were pearlers from Broome - Hislop Bros carried out repairs on their pearling luggers. Watson's Foods - repairing vans and rebuilding truck bodies. Capel Dairy Co a subsidiary of Watson's Foods. Repairs were carried out also for the butcher, baker and milk carts, horse drawn lorries were fitted with wheel spokes and generally repaired. The business adapted to the times, and as motorized transport became common, the business diversified into such things as wrought ironwork for doors & horse railings. See Blacksmiths of Australia Index. Contact Brian at
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HOPKINS, Joseph aka FINCH |
Joseph Hopkins aka Finch. Joseph was a worker in tin utensils for dairies. He was Convicted for stealing (pickpocketing), sentenced at The Old Bailey and transported to Tasmania for 7years(some records say for life). He is mentioned on the Old Bailey website (alias Finch). He's also in the Historical Records of Australia Series 111 Vol.111 p.819 Sept 25 to Oct 24 (1819) ...For blacksmith work for Government. 19½ lbs. Sugar... and on p.719 16 Dec 1816 ...Joseph Hopkins and Thomas Legg, Blacksmiths, were ordered by the Government to form part of a road making gang between this station (George Town) and Launceston. Joseph drowned in December 1819 but before that he had married another convict, Sarah Smith. They had 2 or 3 children (and THAT's another story!!??). Also listed in Blacksmiths of Australia. Contact Anne at .
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HOWE, Louis |
Lew Howe (Western Australia) worked for the Hislop Brothers (their story is above) for twenty years. He carried out all work and repairs , refitting trucks, blacksmith striking and general welding. Prior to Lou leaving Hislop's, he helped manufacture canopy tractors for a Mr Schilling and Mr Morrison and made hundreds of them for farmers in general. The canopies were made of a pipe frame and a sheet iron roof and helped to keep out the weather while the farmers were working on their tractors in the fields. Contact Brian at
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IREDALE, Lancelot |
Lancelot Iredale, born 21st Apr 1789, at Jesmond Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England. Baptised:17th May 1789 at St Mary's, Gateshead, Durham, England. Died 16th June 1848 at his home, Auburn Cottage, Bourke St, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW. Buried 18 June 1848 at Sandhills (aka Devonshire St) and transferred to the Pioneer Cemetery at Botany when Central Station was built on the site of the cemetery. Lancelot arrived as a convict aboard the Mariner 11 June 1816,leaving his wife Sarah (nee Young) and 3 daughters back in the UK. He was sentenced to 14 years at Northumberland Assizes 27 July 1815. Lancelot is thought to have started the first registered company in NSW in 1820, Iredale & Co. Which after his death became Lassetter's (his son in law took over the business) later through mergers etc,becoming Knock and Kirbys, BBC Hardware, Hardware House and most recently Bunnings. Contact Michelle by .
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JAMES, William |
William James. Information sent by David James: William James born 1873 died 18 May 1933 at Teignmouth-DEV. Married Alice Linda Maud DAY (Born 18 Apr 1875) at Maindee Parish Church Newport on 26 Dec 1898. My grandmother was one of 11 children. Her brother Henry ("Harry") played rugby for Wales. She lived until she was 81 yrs of age. She used to light a cigar and place it on the marble mantle-piece in her lounge. When I asked her why she did it, she told me it gave her the sense of having a man about the house.
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JULER, John. |
John Juler. 1801 - 1894. Until around 1980 all the sewer manhole covers in the City of Cambridge (Kent) were stamped "John Juler". See Iron Workers Index. Contact John by
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KENSHOLE, William |
William Kenshole, blacksmith. Born about 1796. Absconding Apprentices: William Kenshole 1813. Articles from Trewman's Exeter Flying Post Relating to Apprentices that have Run Away or Absented themselves from their Masters. http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/DevonMisc/ParishApprentices.html. Thursday, October 21, 1813; Issue 2511 - Gale Document Number Y3200653099 On the 17th of October inst. Ran Away from his master, Mr John Sharland, of the parish of Sandford, blacksmith, William Kensoule, his apprentice, aged 19 years, 5 feet 8 inches high, fair complexion, and black hair. Wore away a web jacket, velvet breeches, has with him a dark cloth jacket, and dark cord breeches; his Sunday's coat is swansdown, and his working coat a patent cord. Whoever employs the said Wm. Kensoule will be prosecuted as the law directs. He is by trade a blacksmith, and works with his left hand. Contact Cath by
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KENYON, Richard |
Richard Kenyon. We have a long case clock with Richard Kenyon,Liverpool engraved on its face. I noticed the website www antiquclocksales co uk, indicated the parent business, "Ye Olde Clock Shop" have a clock marked on the dial face also inscribed on a cartouche as Richard Kenyon of Liverpool. The clock offered is dated about 1760 and the disign shown in attached pictures is exactly like my own. However, the website states that Richard Kenyon of Liverpool is not listed as a maker in Liverpool. There is, however, a Richard Kenyon listed as working in Manchester 1796-1813 but the latter is unlikely to be the same person. Contact William at.
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KNIGHT, Charles |
Charles Knight. My Great grandfather was a Blacksmith in Beechworth in the late 1800’s. His name was Charles Knight born 1852 in Surrey UK, parents were George Knight and Hannah Price. Not sure how or when he arrived in Australia, but he married Mary Elizabeth Wright in 1883 in Milawa, Vic. They then lived in Beechworth till he died in 1930. He had his Blacksmith shop in Camp st, where the Armour Motel is now built on the site. He is listed in the Ned Kelly books as being one of the blacksmiths, who made Joe Byrnes suit of armour for the Kelly gang. Contact Vicki by .
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MAYZE, James |
James (Jaz) Mayze, was born in Scotland 1863. He migrated with his parents to Invercargill, New Zealand where he began his career as a blacksmith & coachbuilder. In 1886, he sailed for Victoria, Australia ; after spending a year at Moonee Ponds, he came to Traralgon where he settled down to do his part in creating a prosperous town and district. In the early days, Jas. Snr., became associated, in partnership, with the late Mr. Walter West, as Coachbuilder and Blacksmith. Their smithy was in Seymour Street, at the rear of where the National Bank is today. The partnership was dissolved when Mr. West accepted the position of Secretary to the Shire of Traralgon. Jas. Snr. carried on and, after a short while, the shop was shifted to Princes Street After completing his schooling, James William, Junior, joined his father in the business in 1915. He learned all aspects of the blacksmith trade. The manufacture and repair of buggies, wagons, and jinkers was a major industry in those days. Bullock wagons were built for such stalwarts as the Graham brothers, William, Harry, and Robert, who were renowned for the carting of split paling from the area of Balook and Blackwarry. Mr. J. Dwyer, famed for his excellent bullocks, was also a notable customer for wagons. Furniture removal vans were built to order; many Indian hawkers called in for repairs to their wagons and to have horses shod. Shoeing was also a major industry. In 1939 James Mayze, Snr., passed away after a short illness and the business was carried on in partnership by Arthur and Jim. But with the advent of the motor car, business started to decline, and in 1941, Jim joined the Australian Military Forces in the 2nd. Field Co. and Arthur went to work for Australian Paper Manufacturers. Listed in Australian Blacksmiths Index, Cartwrights Index. Contact Lin by.
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McQUAGGE x 3 |
McQuagge x 3. Information sent by Duncan McQuagge Panama City, FL USA. Family legend is "according to Uncle Daniel, three McQuagge boys came over from Scotland on a prison ship and landed in the Carolinas. According to Uncle Daniel they were expelled from Scotland for killing the King's deer. They were gunsmiths (or blacksmiths) by trade and the King's guards would take their guns but that did not stop them as they went home and made more so they were finally expelled and sent on a prison ship to the New World" Many of the older registers, such as this one from Kildalton, are severely damaged and are virtually unreadable......A torn smeared fragment at the bottom of one page of the Parochial Registers of Baptisms 1723-1762 Co of Argyll, Kildalton from 1762 reads ch.17 Dond M'Cuaig smith in ..... .... two male children in bapt..... .... the other Donal... Translation: March 17, 1762, Donald McCuaig, a BLACKSMITH in Kildalton (Islay), baptized two sons (twins?), Donald and (name unknown)...........From that small written shard, we can determine that the father was a BLACKSMITH in Kildalton on Islay and we can also know that Donald's mother was Margaret McArthur from the birth record of a younger brother of Donald's. "John McCuag and Margaret McArthor in Glenastin had a child baptized called John". "Glenastin" may be a variant of the present day Glenegedale, one of the principle villages of Kildalton. We can presume that the family lived in the village where the father operated his BLACKSMITH BUSINESS. I have been trying to determine if these two accounts are connected in some way. Contact Duncan by
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MILNE (MILLS),George |
George Milne (Mills) 59yrs,No 4 Victoria Terrace, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. I have been led to believe there is one of his clocks in the Basingstoke Museum, but have not yet had this confirmed. The photo of George I am not absolutely 100% sure of, but that is who my aunt has said it is. I have put the name Milne (Mills) as he moved down to Hampshire in about 1849 from Aberdeen in Scotland, then for some unknown reason changed the family name to Mills. It may be that no one could understand his broad Aberdeen accent. Contact Tom at.
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MOODY, Mr. |
Mr. Moody. Over two hundred years ago, at about mid-day on a day in early May, a spark flew out of Mr Moody's blacksmiths shop at the north end of the village - somewhere near Wheat Cottage - and started a train of events that shapes Barton Stacey today. Luckily for posterity and amateur historians, the Hamsphire Chronical reported the following: In five brief paragraphs the unknown author not only chronicles the horror of the fire, but also gives a fascinating glimpse of the village life at the time and adds a touch of (unintentional) humour with the moral story of Farmer Friend. Unfortunately the village does not seem to have stood a chance. By the time a rider could have reached the fire services in Winchester of Whitchurch and the engines returned to Barton Stacey, it would have been all over. You can read the full details on the Barton Stacey Parish website.
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MOORE,William James. |
William James Moore was a cabinet maker, wheelwright and coachmaker who left Tasmania in the early 1900's and travelled to the mainland so that he might study how to make the springs on coaches. Iassume that he did. He worked for Cobb & Co and travelled through Victoria,New South Wales and northern South Australia to places like Quorn, Hawker,Port Pirie, Jamestown, etc. until about the mid 1920's. He then moved to Exeter (an Adelaide suburb) and was a coachmaker with Holdens handmaking car parts and carriages, etc. See Indexes for Wheelwrights & Coachmakers. Contact Ann by.
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MORGAN, Charles. |
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Morgan Blacksmiths
The Blacksmiths premises beside the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Nonington, Kent |
Charles Morgan. Information sent by Beverley O'Neill (Melbourne): I am connected to the Morgan family from Nonington Kent who were blacksmiths in that village from about 1790. There were three generations, two named Andrews (why the plural I don't know) Morgan and the last being Charles. The first Andrews Morgan born 1765, the second his son born 1803. By the second generation the occupation in documents had changed from Blacksmith to Veterinary Surgeon. Charles Morgan is mentioned in a book written about the village of Nonington as a Veterinary Surgeon. The author of this book is Aubrey Sutton. There is a brass memorial placque in Nonington Church which I have seen and photographed. Attached is a copy of the Blacksmiths premises which was next door to the Church. Also a piece written in the East Kent Mercury upon the death of Charles Morgan. I have more research on this family if required. See Blacksmiths of Kent index. Contacts email address bouncing.
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NEWTON, John |
John Newton, blacksmith & wheelwright. Born 1859 in Earlsheaton, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England. Married Martha Clafton in 1881 & they emigrated to Canada soon after but returned when Martha was homesick. They lived in Low Road Hanging Heaton, and later on Commonside Hanging Heaton where he ran the Smithy, his sign read "John Newton Wheelwight and Smith Hanging Heaton" shown on the image. The other picture shows the Newton home in Commonside at the time, now unrecognisable. They had 4 children only 2 survived- Eliza and Herbert. Eliza's daughter Ida Morton was my grandma. Herbert served in WW1 he survived that and died the day before I was born in 1955. Ida married John Shannon at Ebenezer Chapel Hanging Heaton. Hanging Heaton is a small village on the hillside above Dewsbury and Batley West Yorkshire. Contact John by
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NUNN, Thomas |
Thomas Nunn, blacksmith. The attached photo was taken around 1900 outside the smithy at Thompson. From left to right are Walter Nunn (son) born 1879; Arthur William (Will) Anthony (grandson) born 1895; Arthur Nunn (son) born 1886; Thomas and Harriett; Catherine (Kate) Anthony (grand-daughter) born 1894. Attached to the smithy is the Post Office which Harriett was in charge of. The buildings still exist but are now a residence. See Blacksmiths of Norfolk for more informtaion. Contact Dave by
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PARKIN, John James. |
John James Parkin. Information sent by Wendy Baird: J.J. Parkin was born Aston Birmingham in 1879 and died at Bushy Herts 1944. He was a Farrier & Blacksmith at the Old Forge, Bushy Herts UK. 1900-1920's he also provided horses for haulage, which were stabled at a Public House named The Horse and Chains. At the same time he was a Fireman for 15 years in the Bushy Fire Brigade, also supplying the horses. Photo from the Bushy Museum. John is the small man on the right of the picture, the other man is believed to have worked with him. Contact Wendy by.
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PHILLIPSON, Frederick Thomas |
Frederick Thomas Phillipson, blacksmith. See Blacksmiths of Lincolnshire. The blacksmiths shown are Charles Dowse (far left) and Frederick Thomas Phillipson (second-left, shoeing horse). The picture was taken in October 1938 at the Blacksmiths Shop, Alvingham, Lincolnshire. Contact Brian by
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PLUMMER, Arnold |
Arnold Plummer, wheelwright. Born in 1883 in Ringland, Norfolk, England. In 1901 he was living in Mattishall in Norfolk working as an apprentice wheelwright. By 1911 he was working in Long Stratton in Norfolk as a wheelwright employed by my great grandfather, Benjamin Reeve (see Blacksmiths of Norfolk). Arnold was astute enough to marry Benjamin's daughter, Rosa. Poor Arnold died of pneumonia in 1914 at the age of 31. The attached image shows shows my Grandfather, Arnold Plummer, standing next to the lady with the bike who later became his wife, my grandmother, Rosa Reeve. The two men standing next to Arnold worked in the forge and I believe that one of them had the surname, Dade. Behind them is the blacksmith's shop which belonged to Benjamin Reeve, my great grandfather. He would have been an old man at the time this photo was taken (c 1905) but still owned the business. Contact Mary by
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PUDIFIN, William (or Jonathon) |
William (or Jonathon) Pudifin. My grandfather owned & operated a blacksmith shop in Plymton St. Maurice, Devon. England. He is also listed in the Blacksmiths of Devon Index. Contact Steve by.
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RUGG, John. |
John Rugg was the smith in 1689. His descendent William, was blacksmith in the present day forge in 1779. Richard Northcott (see Stories from the Past link and Blacksmiths of Devon link) came to Otterton Devon in 1812 and probably worked for Rugg. He took over the forge in 1830, and his family were here until 1929, when it was sold to the Carters of Budleigh Salterton, when it continued as a smithy until 1990, Don Elliott being the last of a very long line of smiths. Contact Robin by.
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SAGAR, Edmund et al. |
Edmund Sagar et al. Here is the entry from "Yorkshire Clockmakers" by Brian Loomes: Sagar, Edmund Askrigg/Middleham/Skipton b.1746 - d. 1805 Clock and watchmaker. Born at Askrigg 1746, son of John Sagar, Clerk. Married there in 1769 Jane Horsefield, then shortly after went to live at Middleham. Long-case brass dial clock reported signed "E.Sagar - Middleham". Had children born: 1772 Edmund; 1773 Mathew (died same year); 1774 James; 1778 Mathew. By 1793 the family had moved to Skipton, and son Edmund died that year there. Son James died there in 1796. Son Mathew was a watchmaker there during his short life. Edmund died there in 1805 aged 58. Longcase clock reported signed "Sagar - Skipton". Could not have been working as early as 1750, as stated by Reid and Britten. Another brass dial longcase clock reported signed "E. Sagar - Middleham". Brass dial 30 hour clock reported signed "E. Sagar - Skipton". This is the uncle of Matthew Sagar in the Blacksmiths of Devon Index. Contact Carole by.
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SISSON, David Hill & John Wilson(Jnr) |
David Sisson born 11th Oct ober1857, Temple Sowerby, Westmorland . Died: 19 May 1935, Auckland, NZ.
David and his brother, John Wilson Sisson (Jnr), emigrated to Australia, bringing the first pair of Clydesdale horses to New South Wales, as well as racehorses to their mother's brothers; George and John FAINT, in 1883, to "Spring Valley", Armidale, NSW . Thomas Sisson, their other brother, came out later, with his wife, Eliza, to Australia and returned to England for a few years then went to live in New Zealand. See Blacksmiths of Durham for Grandparents William Sisson & “Hannah” Johanna nee Lowther & other Sisson family members. Contact Cynthia by .
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STEWART, John Thomas |
John Thomas Stewart, whitesmith, tinsmith, blacksmith & bell hanger. Born 1860 in Hatfield,Yorkshire. Died in 1928 in Wallasea. Married Jane Elizabeth Alderson, Richmond,Yorkshire, and they had eight children. His grandson has copyof his Indentures dated 24 August 1874 on his 14th birthday. His parents were William Stewart 1828 and Charlotte Smith 1827 both from Yorkshire. Listed in the Blacksmiths of Yorkshire, Whitesmiths and Interesting Stories Indexes. Contact Eric by
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SUTTON, George |
George Sutton (William's son), a blacksmith; born 22nd April 1902, at The Smithy, Burlton, Shropshire, England. Died: 1970s, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. No issue. George was the last smithy at Burlton. The Smithy at Burlton in George Sutton's time was used as the model for the Shropshire Women’s Institute’s commemorative plates celebrating rural activities. The Smithy is now a private house. George & his father William are both listed in the Blacksmiths of Shropshire Index . Contact Susan by
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SUTTON, William |
William Sutton, a blacksmith; born 10th August 1867, Sandford, Prees, Shropshire, England. Died 9th October 1952, Weston Lullingfields, Shropshire. Buried at Loppington, Shropshire. 1891 UK Census lists him as 23yrs, and a servant to William Rogers (Blacksmith) at Corre Rd, Whitchurch, Shropshire. In 1901 he was a blacksmith at Burlton. (2) William’s son - George Sutton, a blacksmith; born 22nd April 1902, at The Smithy, Burlton, Shropshire, England. Died: 1970s, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. No issue. George was the last smithy at Burlton. The Smithy at Burlton in George Sutton's time was used as the model for the Shropshire Women’s Institute’s commemorative plates celebrating rural activities. The Smithy is now a private house. William & George are both listed in the Blacksmiths of Shropshire Index . Contact Susan by
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TAYLOR, Wallace Deane |
Wallace Deane Taylor, blacksmith. He was a founding member of the North Carolina (USA) Blacksmith Artists Association (I think that name is right). Deane was a very versatile man. His profession was Funeral Director, and in that work he was an extraordinarily compassionate and comforting fellow and he was a very good friend to me. His off-duty time was taken up with such things as taxidermy, leather working, knife making, at which he was very accomplished. At about the age 40, he took up blacksmithing, built a big shop, with state-of-the art forge and equipment, behind his house. At the very start, he produced some beautiful work, and earned a reputation. His "smithy" demonstrations at the local fall fair were very popular. But, he died sitting at his design desk in his shop at age 50. I would like to see my friend honored by being included in your website. Contact Charlie at
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TOWN, Amos, Jesse, John & William. |
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Amos Town
working on a dray wheel watched by daughter Jean |
Town family. A touch of trivia for you ! The most important resident of 19th century Downe (Kent) was Charles Darwin who lived F11in the village for over 40 years. Putting2 & 2 together and making 5 it seems logical that Jesse or William Town would have worked for him at some point. Jesse's brother was the village carpenter and undertaker (from coffin-maker to undertaker seems a reasonable step to take !!). Perhaps he buried Darwin ? Anyway that's my claim to fame. 1801 - 1894. See Iron Workers Index. Contact Bryn at
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TREMLETT, Archie. |
Archie Tremlett, blacksmith. Born in December 1891, Devon, England. Died: 1972 (seen on death certificate). He was the third generation to be a blacksmith in the Devon village of Silverton following his grandfather Robert and father Sidney. Archie’s standards were so high that in 1937 he won the silver medal for the best shod horse in the farriers’ class at Devon County Show. His forge is now a popular exhibit at the Museum of Mid-Devon Life, Tiverton. The exhibit of Archie Tremlett’s forge which was set-up after his death looks terrific. All his tools, the bellows etc still look as they did when Archie last shoed a horse! I am sure that the old chap would be thrilled, and children and other visitors, who would not remember seeing an authentic forge in operation, can really get a feel of the atmosphere; the only thing missing is the smell! See him also listed in Blacksmiths of Devon Index. Contact Andrea by OR contact Graham by
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TURL, Frank |
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Frank at work in the Colyton Forge |
Frank Turl, born 1905, was one of seven children born to Thomas and Helena Turl of Colyton,Devon. This photo is taken from the book called "The River Runs By" by Jim Board, a childhood remembered. See Blacksmiths of Devon Index. The Turl family was is connected to the Anning family, also of Colyton. Contact Julie by
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TYAS, William Thomas |
William Thomas Tyas, born circa 1796 at St.Giles, Cripplegate, London. He was robbed three times(1824, 1826,1828). Was described in the Old Bailey Records as a watchmaker, jeweller and silversmith. Two people are researching the Tyas surname. Contact Jeremy by and Simon by
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WALLER, William. |
William Walller, born1833, St. John the Baptist, Northants. Died: 28 Dec 189 at Back Rutland Street, Bishopwearmouth. William:- He moved north to "follow" the expansion of the railway. Peterborough was a main railway town and the expansion to Yorkshire took place in the early 1850's. According to his descendants he told the story of making the wheel spokes and pistons for the trains that were being made based on the original design of Stephenson's Rocket. See Wheelwrights Index. Contact Linda by
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WEST, Edward. |
Laceby Blacksmiths |
Old Smithy Beelsby |
Edward West. Pictures supplied by Jean Ellis, the lady who is descended from Edward West (1760) although the architecture looks (to an amateur) a bit later than the late 18th Century. Jean thinks that the smithy is no longer there and that the photo was taken in the 1970s (the car looks about right for that time). I suspect that I am going to find a few more blacksmiths Wests from that branch of the family who probably worked from this smithy. She also supplied a cutting from our local newspaper advertising "The Old Smithy, Beelsby" which could tie in to several more Wests. Contact John by.
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WEST, George Parker. |
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George Parker West 1928 |
George Parker West was born in Ashby cum Fenby in 1856. Parents:Joseph West and Ann West (nee Parker). He married Frances Maidens in 1878. He is listed in the 1881 Census as a Blacksmith ibn Cuxwodl (where they had four children), They moved to Saltfleetby St.Peter by 1886 (where they had another five children) and to Louth by 1901 where he is still listed in the Census as a Blacksmith. See others from the WEST family who are listed in indexes for Wheelwrights, Iron Workers & Blacksmiths of Lincolnshire, Lancashire & Yorkshire. Contact John by.
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WEST, Walter Williams. |
Walter William West, born 12 April 1861, Mortlake, Victoria,Australia. Second child of David Venson West and Mary West (Blewett). Married: Susan Agnes Barrett, 28 April 1886, Ararat, Victoria. Children: Lilian (b.1887 d.1887); Evelyn (b.1888, d.1969); William (b.1891, d.1891); Florence (b.1893, d.1956); Vera (b.1896, d.1968). Walter moved to Traralgon from Mortlake in Victoria in 1882, where he worked as a blacksmith and wheelwright. He and his brother bought out John Sullivan who had a blacksmith business on Seymour Street in Traralgon. Subsequently Walter joined James Mayze in partnership as a coachbuilder before going into business for himself. Sold out of his business in 1907 to a Mr Bruton. Walter was elected to the Town Council in 1897 and continued to be involved in local politics up until his death in 1934. 1902 he was elected Shire President. Traralgon Shire Secretary 1907-1934. Founder and President. See Blacksmiths of Australia Index plus Cartwrights Index. Contact Trish by.
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WRIGHT, Robert. |
  Robert Wright of Oundle, Northants. Clock movement early to mid 18th century. Robert Wright lived and worked in the small Northamptonshire town of Oundle. He was a Whitesmith by trade and used those skills to design and make Long Case Clocks. Robert isalso listed in the Clockmakers Index + Whitesmiths Index. The above photos are of clocks he made circa 1750. Contact Brian at
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