Barnsley exports to Finland

[Jarmo Peltola]

New information

I checked population register of Messukylä (Sermonvillage in English), which was then neighbour parish of Tampere (From 1877 the area, where mill located was connected to Tampere). In the end of 1850s there began linen mill, which grew quickly. When Finlayson &Co Cotton mill was the biggest, Linen mill was the second in Finland for a long time. They employed four British experts until 1860:

Levy E.
Lee, James, wife Mary, 2 children
Beevers, Josef, S(a)ara, 2 children
Dawson Edwin, Mary 2 children

According to Lars  G. Von Bonsdorf, Linne och Jern (Linen and Iron), p.314: Merrick Boyes & Co sent experts from England to Finland. Mr Lee was forced to act to be master of Linen's ret (I am not sure if this is correct term) instead of master Beevers, who had made some mistakes, and was fired. Unsatisfied James Lee wanted to leave Finland for England during the summer 1863. They needed new man, and they promised 3-4 £/week 12 hour/day for a man who came instead Mr. Lee.

[Ebch]

Hello Brianz/Jalmo
Good to see this post revived.  I found a few newspaper cuttings re Tammerfors/Tampere.  One relates to a patent taken out by James Lee and an interesting article re the need for an English Church in Tammerfors.  If either of you would like to pm me with your email address I will happily forward them.  My great grandparents once lived in the same street at James Lee.  There are also a couple of obits for English people who died in Tammefors.

[Ebch]

The Edwin Dawson quoted in your last post filed the patent jointly with James Lee.  Dawson described as Loom Mechanic and Lee as Loom Master.  The patent was for improvements in looms for weaving.

[Jarmo Peltola]

Masters of Linen Mill in the beginning of 1860s (according to Kanerva 1972, p.39)

- John Sudell, executive manager
- Mac Levy
- James Lee, master of bleaching (of linen) department, (in Swedish: bleakmästar)
- Josef Beawers
- Josef Sudell, master of spinning
- Edwin Dawson (also Dorsson in church registers), master of weaving. (in other sources as Mechanic (Finnish: laitosmies) of weaving) Dawson was enthusiastic fisherman. Rapid of Tammerkoski, from where the Mills got the energy felled 17-18 meters between lake of Näsijärvi and lake of Pyhäjärvi.)
- Bookkeeper A. F Calwagen (i am not sure, if he was British)

[brianz]

Thanks Jarmo ans Ebch
                                  Jarmo do you know if the Fins issue Birth Certificates? And if they do is it possible to obtain them?

Steve

[Jarmo Peltola]

There are no regular Birth Certificates, if you meant official paper, which was given after christening. But sometimes if needed, pastor wrote a that kind of testimony for legal system.

Of course, church have records for births (also time of christening), marriages and deaths in their books

[brianz]

Thanks Jarmo

[Jarmo Peltola]

*17.7.1860 John Thornley god parents were 1) British: John Ballantyre and his wife Elisabeth Ballantyre, 2) British Joseph Beevers and his wife Sarah Beevers. and 3)Finnish Needle factory owner (fabrikören) Viktor Leopold Renfors and his wife Mamsell Amanda Florentina Lagerlöf (marriage 1841). - Renfors died, when he was 52 year old (19.3.1867). Reason of death: Tyfus

Beevers was a workmate at the Linen Mill as you know. Ballantyre is not known yet.

[Jarmo Peltola]

From Barnsley came also William Nell. He came to Tampere 1867, and he was here almost 25 years. He returned back to England and died there in 1896. He worked as weavingmaster at the Linen Mill.
His wife was Sarah Nell (Greenwood), and they had 5 daughters and 5 son.

Do yo know anything about him?