Genealogy Chat

Christine,

I have now tried the British Optical Association. I will let you know if and when I receive a reply!!

Elaine

I went to the Kent family history fair and glimpsed some info re apprenticeships but I could not for the life of me remember his name .

Sorry.

I was suffering from information overload. However the info exists. You could start a thread on records to see if any can supply apprenticeship records for opticians or spectaclemakers.

Anyway you seem to be on track with what you are doing.

This is interesting
This family emigrate but are from Nottingham.
they are opticians
surname Taylor and one is Burton Taylor.
worth a closer look


http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/a/y/Geoffrey-W-Taylor/PDFBOOK1.pdf

Children of Charles Taylor and Emma Simkins are:
i. Oliver Jacob Taylor, born 05 Apr 1855 in Walford, Hereford, England; died 06 Feb 1932 in Lawrence,
MA.
More About Oliver Jacob Taylor:
Age at death (Facts Pg): 76
ARRIVAL: Boston March 14, 1887
Census: 1900, Pacific St, Lawrence, MA Optician confirms arrival 1887
Occupation: optician in own shop
PLACE DEATH: Lawrence General Hospital, Lawrence, MA
ii. Burton Charles Taylor, born Abt. 1859 in Walford, Herefordshire, England.
More About Burton Charles Taylor:
Census: 1871, Walford, Herefordshire, England
Christening: April 30, 1859
1 iii. Walter James Taylor, born 14 Dec 1860 in Walford, Hereford, England; died 18 Aug 1913 in Concord,
MA; married Albertha A Tuttle 26 Oct 1888 in Charlestown, MA.
iv. Catherine Martha Taylor, born 1863 in Walford, Hereford, England.

Surviving brothers and sisters, Mrs. Fred Merriam of Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mrs. George Taylor of Afton,
N.S., Mrs. Marshall Miller of Lawrence, MA, Charles H. Taylor of Lynn, MA, Walter H. Taylor of
Maynard, MA, Prof. O.J. Taylor of Lawrence, Burton Taylor of Nottingham, England, Frank Taylor,
Wallace Taylor and Gilbert Taylor of Lawrence, MA. Funeral services at the Legault home on Bear Hill,
Milford. Her occupation is listed as housewife in death certificate. She was buried on 13 Oct 1906 in
Maynard, MA. Her parents and their place of birth are the same as the obituary.

Christine - I have had a reply - look!!!

"Thank you for your family history enquiry.

The BOA was founded in 1895 as the world’s first professional body for ophthalmic opticians.

Charles David Taylor BOA (member by election April 1898), address given simply as ‘Bridlesmith Gate’, was a very early BOA Member, number 162. He still appears in the 1938 BOA Yearbook but had in fact died in October 1937. The precise date is not given.

Arthur Charles Taylor FBOA (by examination May 1927)of 11 Bridlesmith Gate was BOA Member number 2159, admitted June 1927. He is listed as deceased March 1955 but was fully paid up to that point so presumably still in practice right up to the end. Again, the precise date of death is not given.

The Blue Book of Opticians 1939 (a one-off publication intended to be an annual list of optician’s businesses…but the War got in the way) lists both a James Taylor and the aforementioned Arthur Charles Taylor at the 11 Bridlesmith Gate address. From this I conclude that in 1939 James Taylor was still practising personally as an optician (at a very advanced age????) but not a member of a professional body, leaving that sort of thing to his son. Professional qualification was of course an entirely voluntary route until the Opticians Act of 1958.

There was also a business at 192 St Ann’s Well Road, T.F, (Thomas Francis) Taylor & Son run in partnership with an A.W. (Allen William) Taylor FBOA (by supplementary examination August 1928) BOA Member no 2539 admitted August 1926. This may be a mere coincidence of surname but Allen and Arthur seem to have been near contemporaries. A.W. was still in practice to at least 1969 and is listed as a holder of the SMC Diploma in 1964. In the early 60s he moved address to 15 Bakerdale Road.

Our records follow individuals rather than businesses, so I am not sure that I can assist you any further. From our yearbook for 1960 there are no Nottingham-based opticians with an address at Bridlesmith Gate, nor is there any body corporate with ‘Taylor’ in its name for 1960 (the earliest date at which bodies corporate practising as ophthalmic opticians had to be registered) so it is looking like the business closed. If your continuing researches turn up other names then of course I can look those up for you."

I havent managed to find an 'Thomas Francis' or 'Allen William' yet - but will try and do more research on this.

What a nice chap- I only emailed him last night and he replied so promptly!!! He is correct about the age of James though - if the records are correct - he was still practising until he was 106 yrs old!!!!

Elaine

That is fantastic.

Please post if you find anything more.

Fascinating stuff.

Thank you for your help Christine - I wouldnt have discovered this if you hadnt suggested getting in touch with the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers!!

You are a star!!!

Elaine

ps/ I will indeed keep you posted of any new info!!!

Hi Christine,

just going back over old postings to see if i have missed anything!!

the marriage you in Geddington 1812 found is too early as Alfred's father would only have been born at about that time - by the way, where on earth did you find such an early marriage????

Alfred was born in 1846. in the census' for 1851 there are 2 Alfred's - both born in Northamptonshire. the 5 yr old was born in Kettering - father Isaiah and the 1 yr old born in Geddington - father Enos. There are lots of John's but none I can locate in that census with a son called Alfred.

Is there another way that i can check to make sure i am right in thinking Isaiah is Alfred's father? I am just going to try to go back another generation and want to make sure that i am as right as i can be before i order the certs!

Elaine

I take it you are referring to this one



Marriages:
Spouse: ELIZ. MOORE Family
Marriage: 03 MAY 1812 Geddington, Northampton, England


I was wondering if this was the marriage of Isaiah's parents. that would link the two names together.

oh - i see [sorry but i can be a bit thick at times]. well i will let you know who their parents are as i am ordering their wedding cert next week.

but where did you find such an early marriage [IM me!] the earliest i seem to be able to access is 1837

Elaine

1861 Address: Jobs Yard, High Street, Kettering
WOOD, Isaiah Lodger Widower M 48 1813 Tailor
Geddington
Northamptonshire

I think that was a family search record

yeah - that is the last mention i can find for him. i am going to try to find his death [when i get the time! - work does seem to be getting in the way of my researching at the moment! lol]

was there anything very contagious going around about 1850? only i think his son Stephen died in 1856 and he lost his wife between 1851 and 1861 - just a thought!

Elaine

Births Jun 1841 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wood Rhoda Kettering 15 289

Family Search
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Rhoda Wood Pedigree
Female


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening: 15 AUG 1841 Kettering, Northampton, England

Death:
Burial:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents:
Father: Isaiah Wood Family
Mother: Rachel


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:

I032377 Film


Sheet:

Stephen Wood Pedigree
Male


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening: 18 SEP 1839 Geddington, Northampton, England

Death:
Burial:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents:
Father: Isaiah Wood Family
Mother: Rachel Wood


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:

I007046 Film


Sheet:

If the marriage of John and Elizabeth is right then these are some of their children


1. Mary Annie Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 14 MAY 1820 Geddington, Northampton, England

2. Charlotte Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 27 MAR 1825 Geddington, Northampton, England

3. Rose Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 28 OCT 1832 Geddington, Northampton, England

4. Fredereick Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 04 JAN 1818 Geddington, Northampton, England

5. Alfred Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 13 OCT 1822 Geddington, Northampton, England

6. George Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 01 JUN 1828 Geddington, Northampton, England

7. Enos Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 12 MAR 1815 Geddington, Northampton, England

8. Charles Wood - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 19 FEB 1832 Geddington, Northampton, England

1841 Address: West Street, Geddington
WOOD, John M 50 1791 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Elizabeth F 50 1791 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Charlotte F 15 1826 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Charles M 10 1831 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Rose F 5 1836 Northamptonshire

http://www.geddington.net/messages.php

The village website with a family history message board

This is one of Isaiah's brothers Enos

1841 Address: Queen Street, Geddington
WOOD, Eneas M 26 1815 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Rebecca F 26 1815 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, James M 4 1837 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Ann F 2 1839 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Walter M 1 1840 Northamptonshire VIEW
SKELHORN, James M 21 1820 Northamptonshire VIEW
WOOD, Fredrick M 23 1818 Northamptonshire

As far as I can see John /Isaiah is not in Geddington 1841