Julia Mitchell & Thomas James - The Leather Merchants

Julia Mitchell, born the 9 June 1820, was christened at St Philip's Church, Birmingham (now Birmingham Cathedral) on the 20 February 1835 along with her younger brother, Alfred. Julia was the ninth of ten known children born to Robert and Elizabeth Mitchell (Jeweller of Snow Hill)¹.

Julia was only 18 when lost her father and 20 when she lost her mother. So by the time of the night of the census on 6 June 1841 she was living with her older brother, Edward and her older sister, Emma and younger brother, Alfred at Sherlock Street. Edward is shown as pencil case maker and both Emma and Julia are listed as school mistresses².

Less than two years later on the 9 May 1843, Julia was married by banns at the Parish Church of Harborne (St Peter's) to Thomas James, factor, son of Thomas James (dead), draper³. James Edward, possibly her brother in law, was one of the witnesses along with her sister, Emma Mitchell³. All parties appear to have signed their names³.

Thomas and Julia went on to have ten known children.

Their first was Ellen James born on the 13 May 1844. In a little over year she was followed by another girl, Emily James, who was born on the 22 July 1845. They were both christened in St George's Church, Birmingham on the 17 November 1845. The abode given was Unett Street and their father's occupation was factor⁴.

The rate books for 1845 show Unett Street, 164 Thomas James (3 Hampton)⁵.

It was almost two years before the next child arrived. This time a boy, George Frederick James, who was born the 7 April 1847. He was swiftly followed by a fourth child, another boy, Edwin James, who was born on the 8 June 1848. They were both christened in St George's Church, Birmingham on the 6 July 1848. The abode given was Guest Street, father's occupation this time was, agent⁶.

Their fifth child, James Henry James, was born on the 15 March 1850 and christened the following month in St George's Church, Birmingham on the 18 April 1850. The address given was Northampton Street, father's occupation was back to factor again⁷.

On the night of 30 March 1851, when the census was taken, the family were living at no. 7 Northampton Street, Birmingham. Thomas James was a 29 year old general dealer from Manchester. Julia is shown as 30 years old from Birmingham, Warwickshire. The following children were listed as being in the household at the time: Ellen, 6; Emily, 5; George F^K, 3; Edwin, 2; and James Henry, 1. A visitor, Olynthey Hudson, an unmarried, 19 year old is shown in the household as a factor clerk of Manchester⁸.

Louisa James, who was born sometime later in Ravenhurst Street, Bordesley, was christened on the 29 September 1856 (need to establish if this was in St Michaels & All Angels or not). Her father was described as a commercial traveler⁹.

Three more children followed John Mitchell James, Alfred Ernest James and Edith Emma James but no dates of birth were provided. All three of them were baptised in Bordesley, Holy Trinity, Bordesley on the 29 December 1856. The residence was shown as Ravenhurst Street, Bordesley and their father's occupation was commercial traveller⁹.

By the time of the 1861 census, taken on night of Sunday/Monday 7th/8th April 1861, the family were living at 108 High Street, Bordesley. Thomas is shown as a 39 year old Commercial Traveller in the shoe trade from Lancashire, Manchester. Julia is shown as 40 years old with children: Ellen, 16, Domestic Duties; Emily, 15, Scholar; George F, 13, Scholar; Edwin, 12, Scholar; John M, 6; Edith, 5; Alfred E, 4 and shown as Blind; Louisa, 2. A 13 year old boarder, Harry J Foster? of Salop is also shown¹⁰.

Their last child,Charles William James was born in High Street, Bordesley date unknown and was christened in Bordesley, Holy Trinity the 28 August 1861. Father's occupation was again commercial traveller¹¹.

On 11 September 1865, their eldest daughter, Ellen James, now 21 year old, married Felix McDonnal Welch, a 23 year old, batchelor, tailor of Bordesley. Felix father is listed as Joseph Welch, cordwainer. Thomas James is shown as a leather merchant. The witnesses to the marriage, which took place at St Peter & St Pauls, Birmingham were Fred^K Ja^s Roberts and Mary Roberts¹². A child swiftly followed when Julia and Thomas' first grandchild Felix Edwin Welch was born on 28 July 1866 at 35 Paradise Street, Birmingham. Felix snr, a tailors assistant, registered the birth on the 8 September of the same year¹³. (see their story once it is written)

By the time of the 1871 census (on the night of 2 April) they are living at 200 Camp Hill, Bordesley. Thomas is shown as a 49 year old Leather seller (from Lancashire, Manchester) with wife Julia aged 50. Living with them are children: George F, 24, leather seller; Edwin, 22, Assistant; John M, 16, Upholsterer; Elizabeth, 15; Alfred E, 14, and Blind; Louisa, 12 and Cha W aged 9. We assume Cha W is Charles William James¹⁴.

In 1871 George Frederick James married Ann Mills (daughter of John Mills, Clothier), in Bishop Ryder Church, Birmingham on the 3 August 1871. George is described as a 24 year old bachelor leather seller of Camp Hill. Ann is described as a 27 year old spinster of Moor Street. The witnesses to the marriage were John Mills and Ann Mills¹⁵.

They had four children. Their first child, Annie James, was born in 247 Newtown Row and was christened in Bishop Ryder, Birmingham on the 26 June 1873. George was described as a leather seller¹⁶.

In the occupation index there is an indenture between Charles Stanley, boot & shoe manufacturer, Thomas James, leather dealer, William Handley, shoe manufacturer and the creditors of Charles Stanley dated 10 November 1873¹⁷.

George Frederick and Annie has several more children. Mary James followed and was christened in 1875. Followed shortly by Edwin James who was christened in 1876. Lastly, came Beatrice James christened in 1879²⁰.

On 24 September 1880 according to a notice in the Birmingham Daily Post, Mr Thomas James, Leather Merchant, was appointed chairman at a meeting of creditors of William Sidaway, of No. 76 Angelina Street, Birmingham, formerly of Cradley Heath and Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham, boot and shoe manufacturer¹⁸.

By the time of the 1881 census, taken on the evening of Sunday 3rd April, Thomas and Julia and the remaining children were living at 21 Belgrave Road, Edgbaston. Thomas is shown as a 59 year old leather seller currier with wife Julia, 60 years old. They have four children left at home: Emily, 35 years old and unmarried; Alfred E, 24 years old, unmarried teacher of music and states blind 21 years; and Louisa James aged 19. .They also have two lodgers living with them. John A Bird, 25, Managing Clerk of Hatshell HEF and Robert B Rennie, 25, Chartered Accountant, of Bristols GLS. Something must have happened to Alfred when he was 3 years old that caused him to go blind. Will we ever know what?¹⁹

By now George F was living with his in laws at 36 Barker Street, Aston. There are 11 people listed in the household. The head of the family being Ann Mills, widow aged 68 with her son and 4 daughters. George is shown as her son in law – a 34 year old Currier leather seller. His wife, Ann, is shown as 36 and they have four children. Annie aged 7 described as Grand Daughter – school girl. Mary aged 6 also described as Grand Daughter – school girl. Edwin aged 5 and shown as described as Grand son – school boy. Lastly, Beatrice aged 2 described as Grand Daughter²⁰.

There is an entry for an Edwin James on the 1881 census at 213 Moseley Road. This Edwin is described as a 33 year old commercial traveler with wife Mary L James aged 35 and a 16 year old domestic servant from London called Laura Chamberlain²¹.

Also, on the 1881 census is an entry for Alcester Road, Kings Heath for a John M James, 26 year old, boot maker, employing 1 man and 2 apprentices. He is shown with wife Sarah A, 29 and children: Ernest A, 5, Scholar; Beatrice, 3, Scholar, born Lady Pool, Evesham; Rosana aged 1 born Kings Heath. Also listed is James Newman, Apprentice aged 15 born Kings Heath and Emily Stroud, a 15 year old, servant of Worcester²².

There are a number of baptisms registered at All Saints, Kings Heath.

• Ross baptised to John and Sarah James, bootmaker of Kings Heath on 13 February 1881.
• Oliver and Ethel baptised to John and Sarah James, manufacturer of Kings Heath on 18 May 1884.
• Eva baptised to John Mitchell and Sarah Anne James, boot maker of Kings Heath on 18 October 1885.
• Thomas Wilfred Mitchell to John Mitchell and Sarah Anne James , shoemaker of Kings Heath on 11 March 1887²³.

(This branch, like Ellen James and Felix McDonnal Welch, probably needs a story of their own).

It is believed that Alfred Ernest James married Charlotte Marion Barnes (1857-1893) on 3 December 1881 at Christchurch, Sparkbrook. Their first known child, Horace Tracey Barnes James was born in September Quarter 1882 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Followed quite quickly by their second child, Norma Gladys James, born in 1883 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. (Norma Gladys went on to marry Thomas Edward Mitchell in 1905 and she died on 17 May 1915 in Birmingham)^(evidence?).

In the trade directory for 1884 Thomas is listed as a leather merchant & boot & shoe manufacturer of 114 Pershore Street²⁴.

Julia's husband, Thomas James, sadly died on the 9 September 1884 in Alcester^25/26.

Birmingham Daily Post 

Wednesday 10 September 1884

SUDDEN DEATH OF A BIRMINGHAM MERCHANT

Yesterday, about noon, Mr. Thomas James, leather merchant, of 27 Pershore Street. Birmingham, died very suddenly at the Alcester Railway Station. The deceased gentleman, together with Mrs James had been on a visit to Alcester for some days past, staying at the Lord Alcester private hotel. Yesterday morning Mr. and Mrs. James walked to Great Alne, and returned by train to Alcester, immediately on alighting Mr. James was seized with illness. He was taken to the waiting room, and a medical man was sent for, but before his arrival he expired. It seemed deceased had been a great sufferer from heart disease, and had been attended by Mr. Badger, surgeon, Bromsgrove Street. The deceased was 62 years of age. The body was removed to the Lord Nelson Inn to await the decision of the coroner as to the holding of an inquest²⁵.

This is the last will and testament of me Thomas James of Birmingham in the County of Warwick thereby direct all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be paid and satisfied by my executrix hereinafter named soon as convenient maybe after my deceased. I thereby give, devise and bequeath all my household furniture, linen, books ??? and also all and every sum and sums of money which may be in my house, about my person or at my place of business. Also all stock and book debts owing to me the time my decease and all and everything of my effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal to my dear wife Julia James to and for her sole use. I benefit absolutely and I nominate, constitute &; approve my said wife to be my executrix to this my last will and thereby revoking all my former or other wills heretofore made by me. I declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness thereof I the said James Thomas have to this my last will and testament set my hand on this the twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighty two.

Signed Jany 21st 1882 in the presence of us Thomas James

present at the same time who have hereunto

subscribed our names witnesses in the George Rowland

presence of the testator. Charles James

Proved at Birmingham 10th October 1884 by oath of Julia James widow

27 Pershore Road, Birmingham - Leather Merchant died 9th September 1884 at Alcester £1363:11:1

Wright & Marshall Solicitors, Birmingham²⁶.

James did not get to meet his namesake, Thomas Gordon James, born to Alfred Ernest and Charlotte in Birmingham in 1886. Nor their last child, Kingsley Eric M James, who was born on 15 October 1890^(evidence?).

Julia died in 1890 so she too may not have been around to see baby Kingsley. She is shown in Deaths registered in October, November, and December 1890 index as Julia Mitchell James aged 70, registration district Kings Norton²⁷.

In 1891 there is an entry for a Beatrice James, aged 12, granddaughter, living with an Ann Mills, Widow at Victoria Road²⁸.

George Frederick James is shown in the Trade Directories from 1884 to 1888 at Oaklands, Trafalgar Road, Moseley and from 1892 to 1902 at 84 Trafalgar Road, Moseley²⁹.

Sources

1 1835 Baptism solemnised in the Parish of St Philip's Birmingham in the Country of Warwick in the Year, page 518, No. 4024 Source Information Ancestry.com. Birmingham, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Original data: Anglican Parish Records. Birmingham, England: Library of Birmingham.

2 1841 census Source Citation Class: HO107; Piece: 1142; Book: 8; Civil Parish: St Martin; County:Warwickshire; Enumeration District: 23; Folio: 27; Page: 17; Line: 1; GSU roll:464179

3 1843 marriage Source Information Ancestry.com. Birmingham, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Original data: Anglican Parish Records. Birmingham, England: Library of Birmingham.

4 1845 Baptism (transcript)

5 1845 Rate book transcript taken on 17 November 1997

6 1848 Baptism (transcript)

7 1850 Baptism (transcript)

8 1851 census Source Citation Class: HO107; Piece: 2059; Folio: 245; Page: 29; GSU roll: 332122 Description Enumeration District : 11 Source Information Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. 

9 1856 Baptism (transcript)

10 1861 census Source Information Ancestry.com. 1861 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Data imaged from The National Archives, London, England. 

11 1861 Baptism (transcript)

12 1865 Marriage certificate (photocopy)

13 1866 Birth certificate (photocopy)

14 1871 census Source Citation Class: RG10; Piece: 3137; Folio: 147; Page: 21; GSU roll: 839228

Description Enumeration District : 26 Source Information Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. 

15 Marriage (transcript)

16 1873 Baptism (transcript)

17 Occupation Index transcript taken on 17 November 1997

18 Birmingham Daily Post

19 1881 census Source Citation Class: RG11; Piece: 2954; Folio: 40; Page: 2; GSU roll: 1341707

Description Enumeration District : 11 Source Information Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. 1881 British Isles Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

20 1881 census (transcript from 1881 census discs)

21 1881 census (transcript from 1881 census discs)

22 1881 census (transcript from 1881 census discs)

23 Baptisms (transcript)

24 1884 trade directory transcript taken on 17 November 1997

25 Add Find My Past link

26 Transcription taken at Birmingham Library 1997

27 1890 Death of Julia Mitchell James Source Information FreeBMD. England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office. 

28 1891 census (transcript)

29 Trade Directory (transcript)

Notes

Obviously it is very much a work in progress and some of the detail has already been mentioned on the blog before .  However, I now have two branches roughly written up so hopefully if I keep going I might get it all drafted and then I can start to polish and look for the gaps and mistakes.