The Village, Kings Norton

[RobPhill]

My great-grandmother had an illegitimate son, John Gwilliam who was a blacksmith. I understand that his forge was on the Green at Kings Norton. Does anyone have any information on this?
Rob.

[Yegvard]

Rob,

I'm not certain, but I think there was a forge on the southwest corner of The Green, sort of opposite the old workhouse.  (Wendy Pearson's book makes reference wheelwrighting and blacksmithery [Shephard's] next to the Bull's Head.  So I may be wrong, but you don't give a time frame.)

There certainly was a Blacksmiths in the 1840s on Wharf Lane (later Road).  Wendy also states that Shephard's moved later to the Alpha Farm on Wharf Road.

Regards

Mike

[RobPhill]

Hi Mike,
thanks for your prompt reply. I think that John Gwilliam was born about 1846/7., so he would have been at the forge after about 1865. He did his apprenticeship in Defford with John Roper. He married Ellen, b. 1848 and had  6 children. He was shown on the 1881 census as living at "The Village, Kings Norton" on the 1881 census . Whether he owned the forge or merely worked there, I don't know. It's a part of the family I haven't got round to investigating too deeply as yet. Interesting that the workhouse was near to the green as I have found a young child named Phillips (my family name) in the workhouse in 1881 - could be a relative! More research to carry out - lovely!!
Rob.

[bobblehat]

thanks I found OLDHAM COTTAGES....NORTHFIELD....WHERE you said....
brilliant................Jan

[bobblehat]

the email from bobblehat ...Jan......was for YEGVARD.....OOPS SORRY SPELT
wrong.......

[NJK]

Hi Mike,
thanks for your prompt reply. I think that John Gwilliam was born about 1846/7., so he would have been at the forge after about 1865. He did his apprenticeship in Defford with John Roper. He married Ellen, b. 1848 and had  6 children. He was shown on the 1881 census as living at "The Village, Kings Norton" on the 1881 census . Whether he owned the forge or merely worked there, I don't know. It's a part of the family I haven't got round to investigating too deeply as yet. Interesting that the workhouse was near to the green as I have found a young child named Phillips (my family name) in the workhouse in 1881 - could be a relative! More research to carry out - lovely!!
Rob.

Rob,

My name is Nancy Kiser and I am the volunteer administrator of a Phillips DNA project and one-name study.  We have a descendant of Henry Beynon Gwilliam/Phillips who was born 7 May 1835 in Shropshire in the project.  This person thought he was the descendant of Eliza Beynon and a man named Charles Gwilliam, but his yDNA matches Phillips Family Group 17, which can be viewed at this link:   http://www.phillipsdnaproject.com/ylineage-main/pedigrees-by-family-group/70-family-group-17

It is known that Eliza Beynon became the wife (possibly common law) of a man named Thomas Phillips after the birth of Henry, so it is possible (even likely, it seems to me) that Thomas was the father of Henry, although for some reason Eliza claimed the father was Charles Gwilliam.

It would be very interesting to see if your yDNA matches that of Phillips Family Group 17.  The Phillips DNA project is offering a free DNA test to any man named Phillips who lives in the UK and can supply a five generation Phillips lineage.  Please contact me if you are interested in participating.

Sincerely,
Nancy Kiser
Volunteer administrator
Phillips DNA Project and One-Name Study
www.phillipsdnaproject.com

[Tricia_2]

I can't find it at the moment, but I have, somewhere, a booklet which I think is called 'A Walk around The Green'. If I remember correctly, it looks at the history of each property in turn and it may be of use to you, if you haven't seen it already.
Maybe they would have a copy in Birmingham Central Library, or maybe on The Green, somewhere.

[Yegvard]

Hi

Thanks for this.  Can you remember as to what time period the booklet was set?

Cheers

Mike

[Tricia_2]

Hi

It may well have been earlier than the dates that you are interested in.
If I find it, I'll let you know.

Good luck!