11
Mar
2014

Mary Downing’s Writing Box

Below are listed the contents of Mary Downing‘s (or Aunt Mary’s) Writing Box in the possession of her great niece Juliet. The letters from the trenches have generally been transcribed here as the originals are written on poor quality paper and in pencil and are somewhat illegible. Continue reading →
Last updated on 4 October 2021 by JJ Morgan
04
Nov
2013

Joseph Showell

Joseph Showell was baptized on 18 Aug 1769 in St Edburgha’s in Yardley to the East of the then small town of Birmingham. His father was Thomas Roades Showell, a victualler and his mother Mary Bissell, from nearby Bickenhill. The Showells came from a stock of middling yeoman farmers based around Sheldon, Coventry and Monks Kirby. Joseph’s grandparents – Joseph Showell and Elizabeth Roades were married in St Edburghas in 1729. His grandson Walter Showell, the brewer clearly felt a strong affinity to his heritage in Birmingham and its past, when he famously published the Dictionary of Birmingham in 1885. Continue reading →
Last updated on 12 July 2025 by JJ Morgan
31
Oct
2013

John Hartill

John Hartill was a relatively wealthy merchant and tradesman in Dudley (c1735-1812). It is not clear when and where he was born, but there is good reason to believe he is descended from one of the many Hartill families of nearby Willenhall. Continue reading →
Last updated on 4 February 2025 by JJ Morgan
04
Oct
2013

Joseph Hartill

Joseph Hartill was baptized on 11 Oct 1772 in St Thomas Dudley. His father John Hartill would appear to be a relatively wealthy and active citizen of the burgeoning industrial town of Dudley. It is reasonable to think that the John Hartill who leaves a will in 1812 is indeed his father, although there must be some doubt. In his will John Hartill appoints his son Joseph as executor and leaves money to his daughter Anne Cooke, wife of James Cooke. John Hartill’s profession is recorded as broker. Joseph Hartill’s mother was Margery Cartwright, possibly a relation of the Vicar of Dudley Joseph Cartwright (1743-1812). Continue reading →
Last updated on 3 August 2025 by JJ Morgan
03
Jun
2013

George Marten

George Marten was born on 4 Nov 1801 the third and youngest son of Robert Humphrey Marten, a wealthy businessman and dissenter. Whilst the two eldest sons went into the family ship broking business, largely established by their father, George Marten became a lawyer. Continue reading →
Last updated on 31 October 2024 by JJ Morgan
29
May
2013

Emma Maria Martin

Emma Maria Martin, the third wife of Robert Humphrey Marten, was born in 1768 in the East of the City of London, the daughter of Samuel Martin, an upholsterer by trade. She was baptized on 4 Apr 1768 in Hand Alley Dissenters Church and probably had a strong non-conformist upbringing. The members of Hand Alley Church and the closely associated New Broad Street Independent Church were on the whole wealthy and practical city people. Continue reading →
Last updated on 31 October 2024 by JJ Morgan
26
Feb
2013

Downing Sisters 1920s Photos

These pictures of Pamela, Hazel and Jill Downing, daughters of Noel and Molly, were taken by a professional photographer A. Clara Cooper, 203, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham roughly at annual intervals in 1920s. Continue reading →
Last updated on 1 January 2021 by E Morgan