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Scissor smith


Chillijo

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My 3 × great grandfather was a scissor smith, according to the 1841 census he was a 15 year old apprentice scissor smith living in Harvest Lane, on the 1851 census he was  married with a family living in Furnace Hill still a scissor smith. Can anyone help with any information as to where he may have worked, wages, living conditions etc.... Sadly he died in 1852 aged 27

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Sorry, without knowing his name it's unlikely.

In general an edge tool worker in the 1840s would earn about 2s 6d a week, but there were many factors which would vary this. To make sense of it, you would also need to know the cost of housing, food and clothing at the time.

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Here's a photo for you Furnace Hill on the Right and Copper Street on the left. Looking at all the children shows they certainly didn't have a T.V.!  

RESIDENTS OF FURNACE HILL 1852 as you can see two mentions of Scissor Manufacturers but without knowing a name from Chillijo its hard to say if any of these was the relation they are seeking.

Furnace Hill.

15 Longden & C o. founders

Marsden W. & R. cutlers

R rammer & Co. emery suppliers

12 Rabjohn Elijah, manufacturer ( Rabjohn Elijah, scissor mfr. ; lived on Suffolk street)

24 Winter James, manufacturer

2o Webster John, beer-house (  scissor manufacturer. and beer-house, )

26 Wells Joseph, manufacturer

26 Epworth G. beer-house

32 Tasker J. shopkeeper

34 Jennings Wm. tailor

38 Wragg J. & Son, manufacturers

40 Wragg S. C. Manufacturer

42 Cooper Ann, Beer-house

46 Dean Henry, Victualler

1\8 Atkin John. Manufacturer

62 Nicholson J. Shoemaker

76 Elliott Thos. Victualler

 

Copper Street and Furnace Hill.jpg

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Thank you for your replies & photo. I would be delighted to see anymore. My ancestor was called Henry Upton & he lived at no.27 Furnace Hill

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By 1840 the Company of Cutlers had lost its ability to enforce rules and apprentices would not necessarily have to serve seven years and there was no restriction on the number of apprentices that a master could take on.

Henry aged 15, was lodging with Matthew Oakes and it is almost certain that Oakes was his master. Oakes had another apprentice, John Davison, who was committed in April 1846 for 2 months for disorderly conduct, and the newspaper report stated that Davison was the apprentice of Matthew Oakes of Harvest Lane. 

The Harvest Lane premises were overrun with mice.  In April 1840 a 12 year old girl with the surname Parrott, who was employed by Matthew Oates  as a cleaner, ate a portion of oatmeal laced with arsenic that had been left out to deal with the mice.  She “stoutly denied” having eaten it, but became ill and confessed too late for medical aid to save her.

When Henry married Sarah Rainforth Machin in November 1842 his address was Bridgehouses and his profession was scissorsmith, so presumably he completed his apprenticeship in 1842.

On Saturday 27th December 1846 Matthew Oakes, Scissor Manufacturer of Harvest Lane died aged 67.  This possibly forced Henry to either set up on his own if he had not already moved out, or find a new employer, and would have forced a change of dwelling on him.

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The only reference to a No 27 is in 1833, below, after that No 27 seems to cease to exist as does Battys Yard  and court 27. I cannot find any Henry Upton that lived in or near Furnace Hill.
1833
Batty's yards, 27, Furnace hill; and 11, Castle folds
Hall Thos. brass &: white metal founder, screwmaker. &: hardware
dealer. court 27, Furnace hill, and 35, South street
-------------------------------
1856
Furnace Hill.
15 Longden & Co. founders.
25 Porter Wm. Henry
18 Staniforth George
24 Winter Mary, mfr
26 Allender T. beerhs
Epworth G. beerhouse
Marsden Robert
Wells Jpb. fender mfr
Nor ton, Simmons, and Ward
32 Wright Wm. shopkeeper
38 Charlesworth John
40 Webster John, mfr
42 Cooper Ann, shopkeeper
45 Dean Henry, vict
58 Atkin John, manfr
62 Nicholson J. shoemaker
72 Ratherham J. vict
-------------------------------------
1862
Furnace Hill.
15 Longden and Co., Phoenix foundry
31 Simpson Saml.,scale presser
33 Epworth George, shopkeeper
Ibbotson J.D.& R.,ivory cutters
Winter Mary. A., spring.knife.manufacturer
Norton., Simmons, and Co., Union Foundry
Thomas C. H., scissor forger
Wells Joseph, fender maker
Ellis James, scissor maker
12 Micklethwaite Vincent, chapel keeper
Staniforth George, foreman
22 Staniforth W. C., shopkeeper
24 Stubbing George, tailor
26 Bower Nathaniel, beerhouse
Crowther W., tallow chandler
30 Greaves Wm., iron broker
36 White Joseph, greengrocer
Simpson Saml., haft presser ( same Samuel listed at No 31)
40 Webster John,scissor manufacturer
42 Cooper Ann, shopkeeper
Pryor George, shield maker ?
47 Allender Thos.,vict.,The Ball
58 Atkin John, clock maker
Jarvis J ames, spring knife.manufacturer
62 Nicholson John,bootmaker
74 Ratherham John, vict.,Grapes
-------------------------------------------------
1879
Longden &Co. stove grate etc. manufacturers
23 Mallender James, shopkeeper
Court 1 and Copper street
33 Beatson Charles, shopkeeper
Pitts R & Sons, scissors manufacturers
Pearson F.G.& Co.edge tool etc .manufacturers
67 Bowling Charles, timekeeper
Thomas Charles H. scissors forger
Court 3-1  Brook Ellis, coal dealer
14 Webster James, warehouseman
Courts 2 and 4:
26 Foster Mrs Ann, beerhouse, &c
Court 6
30 Greaves Wm. scrap dealer
32 Foster J ames and Co. tallow chandlers, etc
36 McLoughlin John, firewood dealer
Court 8 - Horton Edward, farrier
38 Chapman George, shopkeeper
40 Webster Mrs Charlotte, scissors. manufacturer
42 Cooper Mrs Mary, shopkeeper
Court 10 - Eaton Samuel, shear manufacturer
44 Pope Benjamin C.Victualler
Courts 12 and 14
56 Wildblood Henry, stag horn cutter
58 Chapman John, shopkeeper
Court 16
60 Jarvis Mrs Sarah, cast handle manufacturer
62 Nicholson John (junior) shoemaker
66 Brookfield George, coal dealer
68 Chatterton J ames, shopkeeper
Court 18
74 Bingham George, victualler'
------------------------------------------
1893
NORTH SIDE
Longdon & Co Iron Founders (Phoenix Foundry)
19 Granelli Peter Ice Cream manufacturer
33 Beatson Charles beer retailer & shopkeeper
pearson F.G. & Co edge & joiners tools manufacturers
Thomas Charles scissor forger
Dyson William scissor manufacturer
Smith George cabinet maker
SOUTH SIDE
Short John coal dealer
26 Atkinson William beer retailer
30 Rhodes James Goodworth shopkeeper
32 Cardwell Richard tallow melter & refiner
38 Chapman George shopkeeper
42 Cooper Mrs Mary shopkeeper
Newton Mary & Sons scissor manufacturers
Court 10
46 Ball public house William Picken
62 Smith Thomas shopkeeper
64 Brookfield George coal dealer
72 & 74 Grapes public house James Ramsey Petrie
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1901
Longden & Co. stove grate mfrs
TRINITY STREET
COURT 1
COPPER STREET
33 Jeffries Samuel shopkeeper
Pearson F.G. & Co manufacturers of steel
HERES GIBRALTAR STREET
    LITTLEWOOD MEMORIAL HALL
12 Harrison Mrs.Hannah,chapel keeper
14 Hibberd Jabez, timekeeper
COURT 2
22 Scott George, shopkeeper
COURT 4
26 Collett Mrs.Rose Ann, lodging house
COURT 6
32 Card well Richard, oil & tallow refiner
COURT 8
40 Collett William cutlery caster
42 Newton George  Henry grocer
COURT 10
Newton M. & Sons scissors manufacturers
 Smith Tom, steel scissors forger
 Wilkinson Jn. steel scissors forger
Needham Robert, steel scissors forger
46 Haley  John, vict
Courts 12 14 &: 16
Court 18
64 Shipston Henry coal dealer
Courts 20 &: 22 '
74 Flower Mrs Eliza vict
 HERES WEST BAR
-----------------------------------------------
1905
Longden & Co. ironfounders
HERES TRINITY STREET
COURT 1
COPPER STREET
33 Warner William, shopkeeper
Pearson .F. G. & Co. edge tool manufacturers
Smith George, cabinet maker
HERES. GIBRALTER STREET
LTTTLEWOOD MK\rDRIAL HALL
12 Harrison Mrs.Hannah,chapel keeper
14 Hibberd Jabez, timekeeper
COURT 2
22 Scott George, shopkeeper
COURT 4
COURT 6
32 Cardwell Richard, oil & tallow refiner
COURT 8
40 Collett William, cutlery caster builders
42 Newton Goorge Henry, grocer
COURT 10
Newton M & Sons scissors manufacturers
Wilkinson John. steel scissrors forger
46 Daprato John, vict
COURTS 12, 14 & 16
COURT 18
64 Shipston Henry, coal dealer
66 Shipston William henry. shopkeeper
COURTS 20 & 22
74 Chapman Samuel, vict 2
HERES WEST BAR
-------------------------------------------
1911
HERES SCOTLAND STREET
Carron Company (late Longden & Co) fire grate manufacturers  (Pheonix foundry)
HERES TRINITY STREET
COURT 1
COPPER STREET
33 Nelson Mrs Maria, shopkeeper
 Pearson F. G. & Co. edge tool manufacturers (Hope works)
Wall James & Co. edge tool manufacturers (Hope works)
Sayer Henry S. cabinet maker
 Smith George, cabinet maker
HERES GIBRALTAR STREET
LiTTLEWOOD MEMORIALHALL
12 Harrison Mrs.Hannah,chapel keeper
14 Hibberd Jabez. timekeeper
COURT 2
COURT 4

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On 15/12/2017 at 20:01, Edmund said:

By 1840 the Company of Cutlers had lost its ability to enforce rules and apprentices would not necessarily have to serve seven years and there was no restriction on the number of apprentices that a master could take on.

Henry aged 15, was lodging with Matthew Oakes and it is almost certain that Oakes was his master. Oakes had another apprentice, John Davison, who was committed in April 1846 for 2 months for disorderly conduct, and the newspaper report stated that Davison was the apprentice of Matthew Oakes of Harvest Lane. 

The Harvest Lane premises were overrun with mice.  In April 1840 a 12 year old girl with the surname Parrott, who was employed by Matthew Oates  as a cleaner, ate a portion of oatmeal laced with arsenic that had been left out to deal with the mice.  She “stoutly denied” having eaten it, but became ill and confessed too late for medical aid to save her.

When Henry married Sarah Rainforth Machin in November 1842 his address was Bridgehouses and his profession was scissorsmith, so presumably he completed his apprenticeship in 1842.

On Saturday 27th December 1846 Matthew Oakes, Scissor Manufacturer of Harvest Lane died aged 67.  This possibly forced Henry to either set up on his own if he had not already moved out, or find a new employer, and would have forced a change of dwelling on him.

Very interesting, thank you

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