Watchmakers Coventry/Clerkenwell 1830's

[Graham Whitehead]

I am trying to establish the relationship between members of the ATKINS FAMILY of Spon St, Coventry and ATKINS in Clerkenwell c.1830 who were watchmakers.  Wm, Henry and John Atkins all born Clerkenwell but baptised in St John, Coventry, Father Edward ATKINS watchmaker app to Wm Hill in Coventry 1807. (Mother Mary (Webb?) b. Coventry c 1790, silk warper) I do not have the correct marriage for Edward and Mary ATKINS, c 1820's. Earlier members of the Atkins family were Silk Weavers in Spon St, Coventry

[salclem]

Hello Graham,
   Do you think your Edward Atkins could be this one?
 Edward Atkins married Mary Clemson 7th March 1821, Holy Trinity Church, Coventry

If so, I can try looking at the register copy to see if any more information is there.

In case this is the right one, there is also this information:

Mary Clemson c 17/7/1797 Holy Trinity Coventry, parents George and Mary Clemson
George Clemson,  m Mary Basley 29/1/1792 Exhall ( near Coventry)
George Clempson  c 8/11/1772  Bickenhill Warwickshire, parents John and Margaret
John Clemson m Margaret Bach 27/12/1779 Knowle, Warwickshire
John Clemson c 25/5/1746, parents John and Elizabeth
John Clemson m Elizabeth Priest 26/12/1743 Hampton In Arden, Warwickshire

 Hope some of this is useful,
       Sally

[Graham Whitehead]

Hello Sally

It is most kind of you to have suggested Mary CLEMSON for my 'lost' marriage.  Yes, I am aware of this one and thank you for the birth details of this person which I think I had only estimated. [I rarely get to Coventry or Warwick for research] Edward appears to have been bap in HT 20 May 1793, which makes it possible. He was the watchmaker apprenticed to Wm Hill of Coventry 3 Feb 1807.  (1830-1850 was the greatest period of development in the Coventry trade.) I am also aware of another Edward ATKINS(snr)= Mary Glover 5 Feb 1784 HT. He was a weaver (warper) and was made a Freeman of Coventry 25 May 1784. I have never been quite certain whether to connect these two as father and son.  As the children of Edward & Mary were born in Clerkenwell (Census) but bap in St John, Coventry this took me to the Clerkenwell records, but I found no marriage there or other baptisms that I could see.  Another problem is that there is an Edward Atkins=Hannah Lowe 16 Jun 1816 at St John,Coventry.  Perhaps a son of Edw snr?
Of the children I am certain about the oldest is born in 1826 Wm and my ancestor Henry 1831 (both born London, bap St John,Cov.)   Perhaps, at a distance, you may see the way to unwravel these tangled skeins?  Thank you for the Clemson details and I would be glad of any further light you may throw on the problem.
Graham

[salclem]

Hello Graham,
    I will  hopefully be going to Coventry archives next week, so I will look up what I can. Also, the archives of local newspapers are here in our library, if there is anything you would like checking, please let me know. I live in Coventry and it's easy to get to the local studies in our library.
  Bst wishes,
      Sally

[Jenny Elizabeth]

I have Adkins of Coventry in my family tree.  Don't know if this is just another spelling of Atkins or not.  There were certainly watchmakers among them although I imagine most Coventry families would have had some watchmakers.

Also a lot of my Coventry Angliss relatives ended up in Clerkenwell too although in their case mostly in the meat trade or as fellmongers/tanners.  Is there some kind of historical connection between Coventry and Clerkenwell do you think?

Best Wishes

Jenny

[ladybird]

Hi Jenny
I'm doing the Atkins/Adkins thing too...and very confusing they are. 

I have
Susannah married John Garfield, 1792, Holy Trinity, Coventry.
Elizabeth married William Waters, 1792, Holy Trinity, Coventy.

I believe these 2 were sisters as John Garfield was a witness for Elizabeth and William..........Still looking for parents for them though!!!

Sylvia

[Jenny Elizabeth]

Hello Sylvia

My Adkins is Martha Adkins/Atkins who married William Cramp Angliss at St Lawrence, Foleshill in 1844.   More than that I don't know but I have noticed that Atkins and Adkins are virtually interchangeable and there are lots in Coventry.  Could we share a smidge of DNA do you think?

Jenny

[ladybird]

Quite possible.

The nearest Susannah and Elizabeth as siblings I can find though on the IGI are in Stratford on Avon in the 1760's...which would make them in their late 20/30's when married...so I dunno    "sigh"

[Graham Whitehead]

Hello again Sally

I did appreciate your offer of help in Coventry Library/Archives.  On Jun 4th I made one of my rare visits but only had ½hour to spare which I used checking the FHS 1871 Census Index for every Eliza or Elizabeth ( by 1861 Census in Corley) Smith née Whitehead, born Baxterley.  She seems either to have re-married or have died. [This is on my Whitehead line] Tried both Christian names and birthplace with no success.  By the way I too have Lincs ancestors as you may have seen [Kendall, Barlow,Dawson Morley, Withers,Bardill]  Atkins are now very much a problem and it seems others have entered the fray.  Pre-Census there is very little apart from Wills that can separate them out. The only Atkins PCC will I found was not one of mine. John Atkins had a natural son but it is not my John Atkins. I should really check that there are no earlier Atkins in St John Coventry. Ina 1794 Directory  of London I did find Atkins & Son, Clock & Watchmakers, 35 Elments lnae, Lombard St.   Maybe I should see if their records survive to find any links with the Coventry trade.  Hope we can keep in touch. Graham