Shoemakers, Bootmakers, Saddler and Harness Makers

[psearing]

Hi Dismo

My name is Paul Searing

as a matter of interest my family were shoe/boot makers and repairers dating bake to 1850's.

My fathers was still working as a Cobbler in Luton until his death in 1986 when the business was sold on.

regards

Paul

[seamuso]

Hi Dismo
I noticed in an earlier reply to this topic someone suggested that you contact Northampton Museum and enquire about their collection.  I contacted Victoria Davies in January and she was enthusiastic but unfortunately as the email below from Jerry Weber, Collections Access Officer for the Museum, shows it is a non-starter.  They won't be doing a National Index of Shoemakers never mind one for Northamptonshire. You have taken on a huge task.  I know someone who is experienced in setting up online indexes.  He offered to help Victoria Davies free of charge.  Let me know if you are interested and I can contact him to see if he would be willing to help or advise.  I have my own list of shoemakers and cloggers for your site.  Have you made any progress?
seamuso

Email from Northampton Museum.
Victoria Davies has passed your enquiry to me and I hope I will be able to address some of the issues that you have raised.
 
The Shoemaker's Index is an interesting and potentially very useful addition to knowledge of people who have worked in the shoe industry.  Unfortunately, the very nature of the index and its incompleteness does give me serious concerns.  When we receive inquiries relating to people working in the industry, we refer to the Index.  We also indicate to the enquirer that the Index is very incomplete.
 
We are currently planning ways of putting our collections on the web and the Shoemaker's Index potentially is one of those collections although it is not a priority.  I would be loath to attempt this while the index is so incomplete even for Northamptonshire.  I do see the possibility of making a completion on Northamptonshire using volunteers at the Museum but it will be lengthy job but is feasible in the next couple of years.  As far as getting other people to contribute, the option that may be useful would be to set up a community website relating to the shoe industry.  We have been thinking of doing this for some while but once again it is not currently our highest priority.
 
Do get back to me if you have an further enquiries.
 
Regards
 
Jerry
 
Jerry Weber
Collections & Information Access Officer
Northampton Museums Service
Guildhall Road
Northampton
NN1 1DP
01604 837633
07749 594652
 

[Sophronia13]

My GARDNERs in Bristol were Shoemakers.  William GARDNER born c. 1774 goodness knows where married a Mary ?? born Haverfordwest, Pembroke Wales.

William died in 1838 in Bristol but his wife and children were also in the industry.  From the 1841 Census:

1841 Census:
Mary GARDENER, 50, shoe B(inder), not born in county
Caroline, 22, shoe B(inder), not born in county
Thomas 16, cordwainer, not born in county
[27] Sussex Street, St. Philip & Jacob without, Bristol

The surname was spelled GARDINER in other census records and GARDNER on death certificates.  I have never found baptism for any of them as I don't know where they came from.

In the 1851 Census Mary GARDNER nee ?? says she was born in Haverfordwest, Pembroke, Wales.

If anyone reading this has this couple in the ancestry, please contact me.

Nancy Frey

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[Danceangel]

My great great great grandfather was a boot and shoe maker in Yorkshire

George Hawkin (1806 – 1862)
  1881 and 1891  Pateley Bridge Boot and shoemaker
 1901 Pateley Bridge boot and shoe maker, own acct.
 
Regards
Tricia

[Danceangel]

Hi
 
Here is another bootmaker

James McCracken (b1835 Downpatrick, Co. Down, d 1898 Glasgow)
    Glasgow 1861 Shoemaker( journeyman)
Glasgow 1871 Bootmaker
Glasgow 1881 Shoemaker

Kind regards
Tricia

[SBZ5809]

From the 1881 census (plus a few of my own additions):

William Hardwick (my mother's father's father's father)
Address: 1 Cottages, Eskdaleside, North Riding of Yorkshire
Age 63, born 1818.
Occupation: Bootmaker
Spouse: Jane Hardwick (born Mortimer)

Some information is incorrect; it gives his birthplace as "Peakstondl", but he was born at Peak Hill, near Ravenscar.

His son, Simeon, was my mother's GF, and was Mayor of Darlington in 1927-28.

[SBZ5809]

No census records for this one while he was a Saddler (later a Collar-Maker) because he was in the Army:

Arthur Gage Plampin, born 1866, New Cross.

1881 shows him as a stableman to Thomas Jennings in Newmarket. He joined the C & T Corps in 1887, qualified as a Saddler, then a collar-maker. Left with 21 years service (mainly at Home, but with periods in Egypt and South Africa). Still described himself as a saddler on his daughter's marriage certificate in 1923.

[KGarrad]

I've got lots in my tree!

G-G-Grandfather was Thomas Newman Crocker (1820-1870).
He was a bootmaker in Glastonbury.

The tradition follwed in the family.
Son William Thomas Crocker (b 1858) was also a Boot & Shoe maker in Glastonbury.
2nd son John H Crocker was a Clicker.
Grandson William was a bootmaker in Westminster.

Another of Thomas Newman Crocker's sons was my G-Grandfather, Alfred James Crocker.
He married Ada Jane Vanstone, whose father, Ascott James Vanstone (1842) was a Harness-maker.
He was born in Jersey, but lived most of his life on Bath.
Ascott's father was James Vanstone (1812 - 1874) - he was a saddler, originating in North Devon.
He spent a few years in Jersey before moving to Bath.

It will take me a while to go through all the family!

Kevin

P.S. Crocker's shoe business in Bath was bought by Clarkes' of Street. At one time their factory-outlet shops were called Crockers.

[bootsman]

Hi, my great,great,great grandfather, Henry Burt, was a Master Shoemaker in Snape near Aldburgh, Suffolk in 1866, at the time of my 2xgreat grandfathers birth, James Henry Burt.  Please include this in your website.

Bootsman