Hi everyone,
Hope you don't mind me joining the thread.
I'm currently researching my husbands family tree - Richards family from Nottingham(at least that's where they were in 1756!).
The family were all framework knitters in the late 18th century, only one still actively doing fwknitting in the late 19th century(I belive this John Richards had a piece of work exhibited in the 1851 exhibition).
On the various trips trying to hunt them all down it has taken me to the Nottm, Archives (to see the framework knitter's charter, the burgess index, the apprenticeship indexes,the lambley charity records, etc. , etc.), the Guildhall Library in London has brilliant records back to c.1680, showing who was apprenticed to who,etc. + contact with The Worshipful Company of Framework knitters, still in Leicester, today. For anyone determined to track down their framework knitting relatives there is a wealth of records to look at.
The company were very helpful and told me about Sheila A Mason's book, called 'The History of the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters'. (available for sale on amazon, or available in the nottingham library).
They also put me in contact with Sheila who was has done a lot of research on the early knitters' families. She told me that there were lots of family links between them all.
Sadly I still haven't YET solved the next generation down - but the hunt is certainly interesting and has led to all sorts of places around the St.Marys area of Nottingham. It's also interesting to see how some changed direction in their careers, but were always proud to still call themselves framework knitters in their wills. So, the hunt goes on!
Anyway, lovely to read the thread and to see a new book on the horizon.
PAulene.
P.S. Jane, my mum used to have a part-time job at Hurts when I first started junior school. I t was a couple of minutes walk from my school and I would go in and wait for her, and watch them putting the shawls to dry. I've only been on rootschat since Sunday, and have really enjoyed your posts and observing the help you give to everyone . Keep it up!
