Black Country (Bilston) Friends and Neighbours - more names

[judijee]

Hi Dudley

I can't recall the dates on Obadiah Johnson's memorial, except that he was a Victorian - no help there!  I saw it some years ago when I visited St Leonard's looking for any memorial to my Fowler family, and was especially interested because another of my Bilston lot were named Johnson.  I don't think there's any link to your Obadiah, though, because these Johnsons migrated from the Wombourne area around the 1850s.

Maybe there's a RootsChat member living in Bilston who would be kind enough to pop into St Leonard's and take a look at the details on Obadiah's memorial?  If I remember correctly, it was on the wall to the right of the altar and was made of brass with red enamel decorations.

- judijee

[Doug Lewis]

Hi All
I'm researching the men on the War Memorials of Bilston for my website and a future book, does anyone have a relative on the memorials who would be willing to share any information they have.

The three memorials are

http://www.wolverhamptonwarmemorials.org.uk/memorial_pages/Town/bilston_town.htm

http://www.wolverhamptonwarmemorials.org.uk/memorial_pages/Town/bradley_memorial_bilston.htm

http://www.wolverhamptonwarmemorials.org.uk/memorial_pages/Town/bilston_priestfield.htm

Regards Doug

[judijee]

Hi Doug

I didn't recognise any names from my own Bilston families on the memorials.  However, I feel I must say how incredibly moving I found it to read the details of all those young men who never made it home.  Thank you for your web site.

- judijee

[judijee]

Hi Dudley

I have located the Obadiah Johnson memorial at St Leonard's  - found it on the Staffordshire Encyclopedia site under 'church memorials' (incidentally, a very interesting Bilston section).  This Obadiah died in 1864 aged 19 and had been a chorister at the church.

Hope this helps.

- judijee

[DudleyWinchurch]

Thanks Judigee,
 
for taking all that trouble,

Although, that rules out both Obadiah who married Nancy Dudley and his son Obadiah (the catholic), Obadiah and Nancy had an older son Joseph who married an Emma Goodhall and seems to have had at least 10 children, including an Obadiah born about 1844.  I wonder if it was him. 

Like most of the men in the Johnson/Dudley lines that Obadiah was an Engineer (as also seems to be a family trait, Obadiah senior was both Engineer and Public House Keeper/Manager).  They lived at 113 Wolverhampton Road Street, Bilston but I don't seem to have a note yet as to which Pub that would have been.  Need to check back to Willow's notes.

Sheila

[Addendum: I probably do know the pub - the Hand and Bottle transferred from an Obadiah Johnson to a Joseph Johnson the year that Obadiah senior died]

[juliem27]

Hi,

I am new to the message boards today ! And seeing as you have a brilliant Bilston thread already going, thought I would like to join in please !

I am trying to find out some information on an Alfred Edwards, who was a " licensed publican / victualler " and resided at 14, Bilston Street, Sedgley in 1901. He is on the 1901 census, married to a Isabella Edwards ( nee Cooper ) and they had 2 children, Isabella and Florrie at that time.

If anybody could tell me how to find out more information on the pub / pubs in the local area in 1901 and how I could maybe access publicans details, I would be most grateful. I don't know the area well but live In Tamworth so distance isn't a problem.

Many Thanks.

Julie

Following my enquiry above I am delighted to say I had 2 replies from a chap from Bilston local history society and it looks very probable that my great grandfather did run " The Bulls Head " pub in Sedgley in 1901. He replied :

" I have been able to confirm 14, Bilston Street, Sedgley as the [Old] Bulls Head. The building dates as a pub from c1800 to the present day. Today it is owned by a local brewery - Holden's.
There are gaps in the list of licensees around 1900 and I cannot trace Alfred Edwards, but feel fairly confident he fits the bill ".

I enquired about the street numbers and he said they have changed over the years, but the present " Bulls Head " has hardly changed in the last 60 years or so.

I have found a great picture of the pub which I must try and print off if I can so I can show my mum. I hope to go over sometime next year and will have to follow up with contacting the records office to try and find out for sure.

Thanks to all who helped ( I shall still be watching this thread lol )

Cheers,

Julie.


 

[Trees]

Thats good news julie now try to find the licence application in the RO You should be able to follow them through then and know the period  they held the licence for the pub. Also ask if the RO has any other records of the pub and if you have time look for News paper items about the pub even ads will tell you what sort of house it was...did it hold social meetings of any sort was if often mentioned in court cases and so on
Good luck with it keep us updated but FIRST HAPPY Christmas to everyone on the thread
(if anyone has youngish children read them my Chrismas Stories its my pressie to every one and only on the site until January  illustrated by  other Rootschatters)
Trees

[Willow 4873]

Hiya Julie

Glad they confirmed which pub it was and we had the right one

Sheila the Hand and Bottle was on Wolverhampton Street but they have knocked it down - it was gone before I moved to Bilston 20 years ago. We have just had a planning notification for new flats and houses on the site - its just waste ground at the moment.

Happy Christmas and Blessed Solstice to everyone 

Willow x

[DudleyWinchurch]

Thanks Willow,

I just love these extra little bits of information.

... and a very Happy Christmas to one and all

Sheila
PS looks like there is getting to be enough of us to maybe plan a Bilston meet some time in the New Year?