Silkweavers in Coventry - Pickards

[JosiahS]

My GGG grandfather Joseph Pickard was born in Coventry Holy Trinity in 1776, somehow got into the East Middlesex Militia for 5 years from 1793 to 1798 and was posted to Alnwick, Northumberland where he married and settled.

On his son's marriage certificate Joseph's profession is marked as 'silkweaver', and that is also the profession noted on the church register for Joseph's death.

There is no history of Silkweaving in Alnwick at all so I can only presume that these documents refer to what he did in Coventry or in London (I presume he must have been there to end up in the Mdx Militia)

Does anyone know of the history of silkweavers in Coventry?  Often Joseph's name is spelled Picard and I was wondering if his family were Huguenots.  I've also noticed Pickards who are silkweavers in Coventry in the 1841 census.  Does anyone have links to them?

Many thanks

Jos

[janan]

Hi Joe
If you google silk weaving Coventry quite a bit pops up including

http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/features/local-history/a-brief-history-of-cash-s-in-coventry.shtml

Cheers Jan

[JosiahS]

Thanks Jan - helpful in establishing Huguenots in Coventry

Cheers

Jos

[animet]

Hi

Silk was a massive trade in Coventry, especially around the Foleshill area.

Anita

[cov2811]

Hi Joe
As someone said silk weaving was massive in coventry
cash's which was foleshill road produced some fantastic work.  Mt father worked there for many years he had amazing nails which any woman would kill for. he had to keep them long to undo the knots in the thread. I have some of the silk pictures which my father helped to weave
http://www.jjcash.co.uk/history.htm

[KathMc]

I too had silk weavers in my family, way back when, in Coventry. It is fascinating to read all the information about it. MY branch went to America and settled in Paterson, NJ, to continue the silk trade there. And the sister of my direct line married one of the few convicted in the riots. Fascinating stuff.

Kath

[Graham Whitehead]

Hello Josiah

I was most interested in your Pickard silkweaver family as my amcestor William Pickard, son of a Coventry coal merchant, William Pickard. was apprenticed to Eliz & Jane Bourne of Coventry, Staymakers. 5 Nov. 1790.  My records prior to this are somewhat hazy and it seems a possibility I may latch onto your family tree eventually as they were also in Holy Trinity, Coventry.  Would be pleased to hear how far back you go with Pickards in Coventry.
Happy Hunting
Graham

[KathMc]

Graham,

I am interested in how you found out about your apprenticed ancestor. I have just found out that one of mine was, in Coventry, but that is all I know. I would love to learn more about the whole process and where I might be able to find information regarding paricular individuals.

Thanks.

Kath

[Graham Whitehead]

Hello Kath
The Dugdale Society publish records for Warwickshire which include the Copventry Apprenticeship Register.  I have a copy  [1781-1806] if you want anything looked up.
Graham