James Potts and Son, Cradley.

[olni]

Hi Linell, I have a letter from James Potts and Son dated 31.3.41. informing my father that  J. Harry Potts (late Managing Director) passed away suddenly on May 24th last. They were established 1882, and their telephone number was 6259 &6250 Cradley. Does this help? I know they were in the phone book in the early 1950s. The letter was signed by W. Norman. Harthill.Director. I think you must be right about the family tree as my James's father was from Sheffield.  Many thanks for your help, Regards Olni.

[linell]

Hi Olni, thankyou for the further information.  I found this Marriage for Margaret Potts and Norman Harthill in 1935:-

POTTS Margaret HARTILL   William N   Dudley, St Edmund. 

Also found a birth registration for Margaret J Potts 1919, mother's surname was Jefferies.

Can't understand why James Potts's business is not in the Trade Directories, maybe he worked with George, the business does say (& Co?)  I will phone Charles Potts's Granddaughter this week and see if she knows anymore.  Best Wishes from Linell.

[olni]

Hi Linell, more info on James Potts and Son.  I have the 1911 census which has them living at, Lion Cottage, Wrights Lane,Old Hill.
James Potts  head  60 Spade and Fork Manufacturer, Employer.
Mary   Potts  wife   57
James Harry Potts 25 Widower, partner in above business.
Maggie Potts  Grand daughter 3 months,
Lily Stevens, servant 25,  general servant domestic.
 Many thanks for your interest and help, Olni.

[linell]

Thanks for that Olni, so James is definitely George's elder brother, born about 1851.  The fact that his company was not in the Trade Directory threw me, maybe it depended on the size of a business?  I don't know who was included and who wasn't, maybe someone else on here will know what criteria Kelly's used for their Directories?  Will pass the information onto George's Gt Granddaughter.  Best Wishes from Linell.

[Peter1527]

Olni/ Linell- I have just read your posts. My name is Peter Hartill and I am the son of William Norman Hartill and Margaret Hartill( both deceased). My mother' s maiden name was Potts and her father was James Potts who I think founded James Potts and Son Ltd which made garden tools at premises in Wrights Lane , Old Hill , Cradley Heath. After my grandfather died the company was run by my father.

Matters are confused that my Mother had cousins Edward and Cecil Potts who also made garden tools from premises in nearby Halesowen - that company was called George Potts & Sons Limited but I am not sure whether it was a brother of my grandfather who set it up

Both companies stopped trading in the late 1960's as British manufacturing went into decline.

Hope this helps a bit

Peter

[linell]

Many thanks for the update and yes James born abt 1851 and George born about 1862 were brothers. Sons of John 1805 and Sarah 1807. Cecil George 1903 and Charles Edward 1906 were George's sons.  I knew Charles Edwards family very well. His daughter Judith was a very close friend of my Mothers for 60 Years.

[Peter1527]

That's v interesting thank you

I have in mind that Cecil and Edward did not get on- indeed ran the business without ever speaking - but maybe I am wrong.

I have a very very dim memory that I met Edward once and pictiture him as having quite dark skin- is his daughter still alive

Peter

[linell]

Judith sadly died 5 Years ago and my Mom died 12 Years ago, shame I would loved to have asked more. Yes there was a huge fall out over the Business, cannot remember any details, but I do remember Judith talking about it. I met Charles Edward a few times as a child. I remember him as having a florid complexion and silver hair, always very smartly turned out, very much a gentleman.

[Peter1527]

Thank you for this- I have much enjoyed remembering the business which was very much part of my childhood and, given that I am an only child , this conversation is the first I have had about it for many years. My father died in 1971 and my mother in 2001