Wouldhaves in London

The earliest mention of a Wouldhave family in London is at Wapping, Middlesex; this is the baptism of Robert Wouldhave in 1674 and his burial later that year.  His parents, Robert and Margaret Wouldhave already had a daughter Elizabeth who was born in about 1671 and a son Joseph who died in 1677. It is possible that Robert was living in North Shields before moving to Wapping. There is a baptism of Elizabeth in 1669 at Christchurch, Tynemouth which may correspond.

Robert and Margaret had six further children baptised in Wapping, of which only three survived childhood, John b 1675, Mary b 1679 and Margaret b 1684. Robert was described as a mariner in parish records; in a letter (which can be viewed at the British Library) from the East India Company dated 20^th February 1683 Robert was commissioned as Captain of the Syam Merchant which set sail for the Bay of Bengal. 

East India Company Arms 1600 - 1709
By DiegoAma - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

The letter warned of the danger of pirates in the region of the Cape Verde Islands and that on the journey back the ship should try to keep company with other ships for defence. The letter also stated “We desire you to keep up the worship of God on Board your ship and good order among your men and take care of their health”.  Captain Wouldhave was also warned not to trust anyone from other European nations since at that time they did not know how England would stand in terms of relations with other countries when the ship eventually returned to England. William Hedges Esq, agent and governor for the East India Company noted meeting the Syam Merchant in his diary while on his journey out to Bengal on February 26^th 1684.

Robert died at sea in 1685 while on the voyage. He was succeeded in the captaincy by the mate Francis Burrel, who brought the ship safely back to London, presumably bearing the news of Robert’s death to his widow Margaret. Margaret was granted Administration on 13^th April 1686. Margaret was left with a young family to care for.  Elizabeth, the eldest was 15 years, John 11 years, Mary 7 years and Margaret, the youngest, was 2 years old. There were sufficient funds for Margaret to continue to live in the area and take care of her children.

In 1687 Elizabeth married James Jenifer (b 1661 approx), with permission from her mother, Margaret. James was a mariner and son of James Jenifer snr who had been a naval captain who commanded the Queen’s yacht from 1671 until his death in 1677. Many naval captains were relatively poor; few could make a living from their pay alone and a financially successful naval career depended on prize-taking.  The Jenifers lived in a modest house in Deptford. For most naval sea captains, life was a constant struggle to fend off creditors and claim the monies due to them from the state. Information from Margaret Wouldhave’s will (1695) indicted that she had already provided financial support to the couple since it stated “in consideration of what I have already advanced and given unto my daughter Elizabeth Jenifer wife of James Jenifer Mariner”

Margaret’s will showed her to be a wealthy widow. Her son John inherited the family house. Her two unmarried daughters, Mary and Margaret, were left the sum of seven hundred pounds to be shared among them equally when they came of age or married. Elizabeth was also living in her mother’s household or renting rooms from her since in Margaret’s will she was left “the bed whereon she now lodgeth and all the furniture to the same appertaining with the needlework looking glass now standing in the best chamber”

After Margaret’s death, James and Elizabeth Jenifer lived in Whitechapel and they had a daughter called Sarah. James was also a mariner with the East India Company. He was Commander of the ship Katherine on its voyage to the East Indies when he died in 1706, at the age of about 47 years.  In his will he left everything to his wife Elizabeth who was also his sole Executor.

East India ship about 1690

 Mary (1679 – 1749) married John Denn in 1701. They had eight children Margaret b 1704, Mary b 1705, John b 1708, Elizabeth 1709, Wouldhave b 1710, Peter b 1711, Sarah b 1717 and Edward b1721. John Denn was a mariner and the family lived in Rotherhithe, Surrey. At some point later the family moved to Lewisham in Kent. Mary lost both her husband and one of her sons in 1747.  Wouldhave Denn died at sea and Captain John Denn was buried in Lewisham. 

Signature of Wouldhave Denn from his will 1747

Wouldhave left his estate to his parents during their lifetimes but his father died before probate was granted.  Mary was the beneficiary and executor of her husband’s will and obtained the probate of her son’s will also. Wouldhave Denn’s will only mentioned his brothers John and Edward in his will as well as his siters without mentioning how many had survived by this date.

Mary Denn died in 1749.  In her will she left houses in Wapping and Rotherhithe and as well as bonds in the East India Company. Her son John was the major beneficiary together with her daughters Mary, whose married name was Green, and Elizabeth, whose married name was Drayton.

Margaret Wouldhave, the daughter of Margaret and Robert, died in 1705.  She had not yet come of age so did not inherit from her mother’s will of 1605.  Margaret left small bequests to each of her sisters and some of her friends with “the residue to my niece and goddaughter Margaret Denn daughter of my sister Mary at marriage or 21”

John Wouldhave may have also been a mariner.  A Letter of Marque, dated 1697, for the ship Richardson Galley, captained by Richard Ryder, lists John Wouldhave as Master. This ship, with forty crew, was described as having food for 6 months and carried twenty guns, twenty barrels of powder, sixteen rounds of great shot, 300 rounds of small shot and forty small arms. The ship was sailing to South Barbary, i.e. the coastal regions of North Africa. Letters of Marque were not to give permission to carry weapons on a ship since that could be done without needing any special permission.  However, a Letter of Marque allowed a ship to take a prize if the opportunity arose, without it being labelled piracy. Unfortunately we have no further information on the Richardson Galley and whether it was involved in any incidents of prize taking.

Freemen of Newcastle Part 5 The connection to families in Durham

We have always been puzzled as to how and why the Wouldhave families, who seemed to have been based largely in Newcastle and on the Tyne in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, came to live in Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  The information we found while looking at the records of the Barber Surgeons of Newcastle helped explain some of the reasons.

 

Bishop Auckland

In the Poll Book for Newcastle for the 1777 election of Burgess the following Wouldhaves were included

Anthony Wouldhave (AN052) Barber Surgeon Durham (1733-1814)

Anthony Wouldhave jnr (AN092) Barber Surgeon Durham(1754 – after 1777)

Michael Wouldhave (MI091) Barber Surgeon Barnard Castle (1745 – 1812)

Parkinson Wouldhave (PA050) Barber Surgeon Bishop Auckland (1725 – 1826)

Parkinson Wouldhave jnr (PA101) Barber Surgeon Bishop Auckland (1756 – 1845)

Robert Wouldhave (RO091) Barber Surgeon Barnard Castle (1750 – 1835)

William Wouldhave (WI091) Barber Surgeon Bishop Auckland (1750 – 1836)

William Wouldhave (WI093) Barber Surgeon Cockerton (1747-1794)

From the information we have on these individuals, none of them were practising barber surgeons. Therefore they must have inherited their status as Freemen by patrimony from their grandfathers who were barber surgeons or even their great-grandfathers.

 

Barnard Castle

Information from the Barber Surgeons records held at Tyne and Wear Archives

Samuel Wouldhave (1659 – 1691) and Michael Wouldhave (1665 – 1697), sons of William Wouldhave, gentleman, served their time as apprentices and were admitted to the Company of Barber Surgeons, thereby becoming Freemen of Newcastle. Robert Lettany, who features in the apprenticeship of both brothers married Jane Wouldhave in 1673.  Jane may have been the sister of William, from the baptism information for Newcastle, and therefore aunt to the two brothers.

Samuel was apprenticed to Richard Thompson for seven years in 1677.  However during this time he was employed by Robert Lettany and therefore Samuel’s master was fined for allowing this to happen.  Richard Thompson refused to pay the fine and Samuel could not be admitted to the company until he did so.  In 1684 Samuel married Elizabeth Grainge in Bishopwearmouth and they had two children while living in Bishopwearmouth who sadly both died young: Thomas (1688 – 1689) and Jane (1691 – 1693).  Samuel paid for his admittance in 1685 and he died and was buried in Bishopwearmouth in 1691.

Michael was apprenticed to Robert Lettany in 1683 but with the consent of his parents and master he took himself off the register and became apprenticed to Richard Todd.  Michael lived in Chester le Street and had sons Anthony (1695 – 1767) and Parkinson (born 1692). Michael was buried in All Saints, Newcastle, in 1697.

Anthony (1695-1767) married Mary Green in Darlington in 1716. In 1741 and 1753 he was recorded as a Freeman of Newcastle (Barber).  His sons also became freemen. William (WI093) was christened in Darlington in 1719, Parkinson (PA050) in 1725 and Anthony (AN052) in 1733.  All three became freemen of Newcastle and appeared in the poll books.

Sons of two of these brothers also became freemen of Newcastle by patrimony.

William was a weaver and lived in Cockerton. His sons Michael (MI091), christened in 1745, Robert (RO091), christened in 1750, and Anthony (AN092), christened in 1754 all became Freemen.

Parkinson owned property in Newgate, Bishop Auckland and he lived to be over 100 years old.  This achievement was celebrated in local newspapers and in the book The History and Characteristics of Bishop Auckland. Parkinson had two sons who also became freemen, Parkinson jnr (PA101) and Willliam (WI091).

Present Day Newgate Street is normally a busy shopping area

Therefore the Wouldhaves moved for economic reasons in the late seventeenth century into Durham and kept their status and connections as Freemen of Newcastle.  Their families flourished and a large number of Wouldhaves in Durham are descended from the Barber Surgeons of Newcastle.

Freemen of Newcastle Part 4 Another Barber Surgeon

Roger Wouldhave (RO020)1652-1681

Roger was baptised in December 1652.  His father was Lawrance Wouldhave (LA010), a coal-fitter, who had married Phillis Ruxabel (PH010) in October 1646 at All Saints Church in Newcastle.  Roger was the fifth of seven children.

A modern view of the Castle Keep, the last refuge
during the siege of Newcastle. 
St Nicholas Cathedral can be seen to the right of the Keep

Roger's parents married and raised their family in turbulent times; the Siege of Newcastle had ended in unconditional surrender of the Royalist Town to Scottish troops acting for the Parliamentarians in October 1644.  The town had suffered much damage particularly around the Quayside and from Westgate to the Bigg Market.  The townsfolk had endured nine weeks of rationing and lack of firewood. The Royalist casualties were not recorded but it is likely that most of the town’s garrison was killed either during the siege or the sacking that followed.  It is possible that Roger was named after a relative, Roger Wouldhave, who was involved in the defense of Newcastle and later served in the Scottish Army. 

Modern view of Tudor houses in Newcastle which filled
the Sandhill, Westgate and Quayside areas

In May 1646 King Charles I was held prisoner by the Scots in a stately mansion called Anderson Place, which was on the west side of Pilgrim Street and he was allowed the freedom to move around Newcastle in daily walks or riding, until an escape attempt, organised by the Queen, who was in France, was thwarted by the Scottish troops. After 9 months of negotiations, Charles was handed over to the parliamentary commissioners and the Scots left Newcastle. Charles I was executed in 1649 and the Commonwealth proclaimed which lasted until 1660 when Charles II acceded the throne.

Roger was three years old when his father died in 1657 and he is mentioned in Lawrence’s will (National Archives Prob11/276) as a beneficiary.

In September 1669 Roger was bound apprentice to Robert Rooksby to serve seven years apprenticeship as a Barber Surgeon.  By this time the monarchy had been restored with the accession of Charles II. Roger was admitted to the Company of Barber Surgeons in 1676. He was mentioned in the company minutes when he complained that another member of the company had taken a patient, Robert Bartram, out of his hands; he was later remunerated for this. Roger attended meetings until his death in October 1681, aged 29 years. His burial was recorded in St Nicholas register in Newcastle and it notes that he was buried in woollen.  The Burying in Woollen Acts 1666-1680 required the dead to be buried in a pure English wool shroud and not a foreign textile, unless destitute or a plague victim.   

Freemen of Newcastle Part 3 Barber Surgeons

The earliest records of Barber Surgeons in Newcastle start from 1442.  The oldest minute book is from 1616-1686, order books date from 1619 and apprentice enrolments from 1723 (From Tyne and Wear Archives).

The Arms of the Company of Barber Surgeons in a display
at Tyne and Wear Discovery Museum

Barber surgeons differed from Physicians in that they were trained by trade rather than academically.  They could perform minor surgical procedures such as bloodletting, cupping therapy or pulling teeth.  They could also cut hair, shave or trim facial hair.

A Display of instruments used by barber Surgeons including a
Bone Saw and Amputation Knives at the
Tyne and Wear Discovery Museum

Apprenticeships lasted seven years during which time marriage was forbidden. In 1671 apprentices paid forty shillings at the end of their seven year term in order to become free brothers.  Those who were sons of brothers had to pay thirty three shillings in order to become a free brother.

In the latter part of the eighteenth century the company declined partly due to the growth of hospitals and medical schools as well as the improvement and specialisation of medicine.

John Wouldhave (JO010) 1635-1704)

John was the son of Henry Wouldhave of Newcastle upon Tyne.  He was baptised in Newcastle St John’s in 1635. He was apprenticed to Robert Archbold in 1650 to serve for seven years.  Near the end of this time he and his master were held to account for his marriage to Ann before he had completed his apprenticeship.  In the Minute Book for a meeting on 16 February 1657 the consequences of this are given: John is fined 40 shillings and if Ann was found to be with child before his apprenticeship expired he would be fined 40s for every child.  In November that year John paid his 40s fine for his early marriage and also 40s to be admitted into the Company.

John and Ann’s first child was Margerie, born 2^nd August 1661.  They had a second daughter, Bridget, born 1663 and a son, John, born in February 1668.  Ann died in May 1668 and John, no doubt needing someone to look after his very young family, remarried in August 1668.  His wife was Grace Rutter, a widow.

 John is listed as an attendee at many of the meetings in the minute books and he is also listed as attending the burials of other members of the Company.  His signature is in the minute books alongside that of other members of the Company on agreeing changes to their constitution.

John's signature 3rd from the bottom

He became employed directly by the Company of Barber Surgeons and Wax and Tallow Chandlers in 1690; he had a salary of £2 per year.  It isn’t clear what work this involved although it is listed that he provided food (1690), looked after the workmen (1692) and travelled on behalf of the Company (North Shields in 1692). In 1703 it appears that he was provided with a house to live in by the Company, possibly because of his age or physical condition.  He died the next year and was buried in St John’s in October 1704.  He was described as a Barber Surgeon of Manor Chair in All Saints Parish in the register.  The Company paid the church dues and also paid his salary to his wife (£2 and 6 shillings).  His wife Grace was paid various sums during the next few months and then received a ‘pension’ of 10 shillings each year until her death in May 1708.  The Company also paid for her coffin.  

Freemen of Newcastle Part 2 Skinners and Glovers

The Skinners were one of the oldest guilds of the town of Newcastle, dating from at least medieval times. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, Blackfriars in Newcastle was bought by Newcastle Corporation in 1544 and leased to some of the town’s guilds.  The Skinners and Glovers were based in the buildings of Blackfriars for centuries.  The buildings of Blackfriars survive today forming a picturesque survival from medieval times with small shops and a restaurant.

There were Wouldhaves admitted to and working in the Guild of Skinners and Glovers from the beginning of the seventeenth century until the middle of the eighteenth century, all from one family line. They are all recorded in the registers of St Andrew’s Church, which dates from the late 1100s.

 

The baptismal font at St Andrew's
Church, Newcastle

Thomas is the first Wouldhave mentioned in the registers as a Skinner and Glover. He was possibly born in 1610, the son of Thomas Wouldhave, a yeoman, who died before his son’s birth.  From the books of the Skinners and Glovers, available to view at Tyne and Wear Archives, Thomas was apprenticed to Robert R Bates in 1619. Thomas married Elizabeth Hixson in 1628 and their son Robert was born in 1629. Thomas died in 1653 and in his will he asked to be buried in the Parish Church of St Andrews, on the North side. He left his house to his wife, Elizabeth and another “little house” adjoining it. After her death, the house was to pass onto his son, Robert.  The “little house” was to pass to his daughter Elizabeth after his wife’s death.

Inside St Andrew's Church,
the North Aisle is on the left
of this picture

Robert Wouldhave appears on the list of Newcastle Freemen in 1649 as a Skinner and Glover.  He also was the Parish Clerk of St Andrew’s from 1667.  He seems not to have been successful in the parish clerk role because in 1673 the Vicar complained about his conduct and asked for him to be excommunicated. Robert married Susan Stanger in 1652 and they had a number of children who did not survive infancy.  Their son John (JO039) born in 1671 was entered into the book of Skinners and Glovers in 1677 as a free brother’s son.

John married Ann Smyth in 1695 and their son William (WI039) was born in 1697. John lived in the Groat Market of Newcastle, where he is likely to have sold his wares; he died in 1704 and was buried in the North Aisle of St Andrew’s.  In his will he left all his “ready money, household goods, plate, stock in trade, shop goods and all other effects” to his wife Anne. 

William was apprenticed as a Tanner to Thomas Pattison and appears to have been very successful in this area.  His death notice in the Newcastle Courant in 1759 said

“He had acquired a handsome fortune in the business of a Tanner and Skinner with good character”

William's signature on the will of Susan Hylton

William did not marry.  His will included some small gifts:

·         John Barnes of Sunderland, Boatbuilder £100;

·         William and Francis Stainback , sons of Francis Stainback, late innkeeper of the city of Durham £50 each;

·         Servant Mary Smailes £20;

·         Ralph Smith, saddler’s apprentice in Sunderland, son of Ralph Smith of Sedgefield, Balcksmith, £20.

The residue went to his sole executrix Alice Thompson, wife of Thomas Thompson, Newcastle upon Tyne, Joiner.  It’s not yet clear what relationship there was between William and Alice.

William was also involved in the wool trade.  In some communication with Isaac Wilson in Kendal about an alleged debt for wool received, it is clear that William is dealing in wool of various qualities (Letter available for viewing at Kendal Archives).  Thomas Thompson pursued the debt after William’s death.

Wouldhave as a middle name Part 1

The forename of a relative is sometimes used to honour a particular familial connection or heritage. This can be helpful in tracing the ancestry of a person, although it can take some research to find the original connection.  In 1789, the 18th-century inventor William Wouldhave (WI050) proposed a model for a self-righting lifeboat in response to a competition to reward any inventor who could provide a craft for the purpose of saving lives from a shipwreck. 

The monument to Wouldhave and Greathead was used on
commemorative certificates from South Shields

Although his model did not win the competition, William’s concept led to the building of the first lifeboat by Henry Greathead. There was correspondence in local and national newspapers fifty years later, but it wasn’t until  1887 that William Wouldhave was commemorated by the Wouldhave Memorial, at Pier Head, South Shields for his part in the invention of the self-righting lifeboat.  It seems likely that some parents had heard the name Wouldhave from the newspapers and may have had it in mind when they chose a middle name for their child – especially if there was someone in their family with that surname.

The Etherington Family

The Etherington family, originating in the Barnard Castle area, used the middle name Wouldhave for 3 generations and the link to the surname comes from the early 19^th century. 

Wouldhave origins

Henry Hutchinson was a whitesmith in Barnard Castle.  A Whitesmith was someone who worked in tin or other light metals.  They worked mostly on cold metals (in comparison to a Blacksmith who worked on hot metals). Henry Hutchinson married two Wouldhave sisters.  In 1803 he married Mary Wouldhave (MA096) born 1778.  Mary died in 1807 aged 29 years, a month after the birth of her daughter Frances.  In 1814 Henry married Mary’s younger sister, Hannah (HA091) born 1786.  Hannah died later in 1814, aged 28 years, two months after the birth of her daughter Mary.

Mary and Hannah were daughters of Michael Wouldhave (MI091) and Hannah formerly Crampton (HA094).  Michael was registered as a Freeman of Newcastle through patrimony, his father having been a Barber Surgeon.  Michael was a woollen stuff maker and dyer (listed in a directory in 1793 of Barnard Castle).

Mary Hutchinson (born 1814), daughter of Henry and Hannah, married Thomas Etherington in Gainford in 1833.  They were living in Gainford in the 1841 census. Thomas was a carpet weaver.  Although the woollen industry was prominent throughout the 18^th century in Barnard Castle and the surrounding area, a decline in the demand for woollen cloth early in the 19^th century resulted in high unemployment.  In order to make use of the plentiful supplies of wool in the area, manufacturers introduced carpet weaving.  Factories were built along the riverside and by 1834 the town had seven carpet manufacturing businesses.

1st generation

Mary and Thomas had several children including Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (1) born in 1857.  Thomas was also a carpet weaver and he married Mary Jane Robinson at Startforth in 1879.  Thomas died aged 40 years of heart failure and pneumonia.  His family lived in The Bank, in Barnard Castle.  His son, Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (2)was born in 1882. 

2nd generation

Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (2) married Mary Lizzie McKitton in 1907.  His brother John married Annie Mole in 1909.  The both had sons with Wouldhave as a middle name.

3rd generation

Robert Wouldhave Etherington was the son of Thomas (2) and Mary Lizzie. He was born in 1908 and died in 1932.

Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (3) was the son of John and Annie.  He was born in 1909, married Mary I Rutherford in 1932 and died in 2000.

Freemen of Newcastle Part 1 Ropemakers

Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne could be claimed in one of two ways. 

Sons of Freemen inherited the Freedom from their fathers i.e. by patrimony. But if the father died before his son’s admission (usually at age of 21years), then they were forfeit of their rights. No illegitimate sons could inherit the franchise.

Freedom was also obtained by serving seven years as an apprentice. Apprentices then gained the right to enter the appropriate trade guild, which in turn gave them the right to seek admission as a Freeman.

Until the Reform Bill of 1832, the Freemen were the only people with the right to vote for their representatives in Parliament.

Thomas Wouldhave (TH040) (1678-1751)

Thomas was a ropemaker and was sworn as a Freeman in 1705. He was listed in the register of Freemen in 1709. He was the son of Thomas Wouldhave of Benwell and his wife Elizabeth Anderson (married in 1672). According to the Ropemakers Book of Enrolments (Tyne and Wear Archives GU.RO/3) Thomas was

apprentice to Rich Hutchinson of Newcastel upon Tyne, Ropemaker for seven years by indenture dated 24th Dec 1692.

And then on

18th December 1693 Thomas Wouldhave late apprentice to Rich Hutchison, he being dead, has chose Wm Robson to serve the remainder of his term with.

Tyneside became world renowned for rope-making in the 1700s. The major feature of roperies was the covered rope path which determined the lengths of the rope that could be made. Near City Road, a 300 yard long rope walk was marked on a map of 1723. Before the process was mechanised, workers walked the length of the rope twisting together, spinning and attaching fibres. It was a laborious process. Long ropes were needed in shipping since splicing shorter ropes made them difficult to get through pulleys.

Thomas married Mary Ellison at St Andrews, Newcastle in 1703 and was sworn in as a Freeman in 1705. In 1704 Thomas and his wife were living in Sidgate and their daughter Elizabeth (EL050) was baptised in Newcastle St Andrews. (Elizabeth later dated aged 13 in 1717).  They lived in this area for many  years, Thomas often acted as a surety for baptism, especially for children of other ropemakers.

Thomas had three sons William (WI040) (1711- 1770s), Thomas (TH041) (1716-1778) and James (JA040) (1717-1788) who lived to maturity.  They were all made Freemen by patrimony in October 1740.

Oath signed by Thomas Wouldhave (TH040)

William (WI040) married Elizabeth Dalgleish in Morpeth in 1740.  It would appear that he became a mariner in about 1747 and later a yeoman (possibly having come into property). His son Richard was a mariner and moved to Hull. (Further information about his family is given in earlier blogs)

Thomas married Elizabeth Heart in 1747.  He moved to North Shields and his son William (WI050) became an inventor (further information is given in earlier blogs)

In the 1741 election of MPs Thomas and his three sons all voted for the same candidate.

Published voting information for 1741 Election in Newcastle

James is also recorded as voting in the elections 1777 and 1780. He was buried in St Nicholas in April 1788.

Mary died in 1732 and Thomas died in 1751; he was buried at All Saints, Newcastle in July. 

Cabinet makers, Joiners and Upholsterers

Michael Wouldhave (MI101) married Jane White in September 1806 in Barnard Castle. Michael worked in Barnard Castle as a Cabinet Maker for some years.  All their children were born in Barnard Castle before they moved to the Leeds area in the 1830s. As adults, their children were all involved in cabinet making, upholstery or tailoring. It seems that the family stayed close, even though they had separate businesses, since many of them are at the same address or close to each other in the census data or appear as witnesses or informants for their siblings.

Barnard Castle

Thomas Wouldhave (TH101)1809-1880

Thomas was born in about 1809 and married Mary Wild in 1838 in Leeds. Soon after they married Thomas was accused of an assault on his son, Thomas (TH103).  This is the account given in the Northern Star 8^th June 1839

Leeds and West Riding – Charge of Assault

On Wednesday a man named Thomas Wouldhave, a cabinet maker residing in Pottery Field, was charged before the sitting magistrates at the Court House, with an atrocious assault on his own infant, about two years old, the head of the child exhibited serious marks of violence, but there only being the evidence of his wife against him, and he contending that he was striking at her when the child fell on the floor, he was ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for twelve months, himself £20, and two bondsmen £10 each.

In the 1841 census Thomas and Mary appear to be living at separate addresses in Mill Street, Hunslett and their son Thomas is living with his grandmother, Ann Wild, in Park Street, Hunslet.  (This may well have been for economic reasons rather than being related to the assault referred to above.) The family are together in the 1851 census, living at Myrtle Place, Hunslet. In 1861 the family lived in Cankerwell Lane, Leeds and in 1871 in Batchelor Gardens, Bilton, near Harrogate. Thomas’s death was registered in Leeds in 1880 aged 70 years. In the 1881 census Mary (MA108) is living with her sister, Martha, and her brother in law, William Bentley, in Stockton. Thomas and Mary had three children:

• Thomas (TH103) (about 1838-1911) (we have not yet found his birth record, but he may have been recorded as William Wouldhave in 1837), survived the assault as given above.  He married Louisa Blair in Gateshead in 1869 and they lived in South Shields.  Thomas’s sons, Frederick and George, both served in the First World War. (See previous blogs for their stories)
• Jane Ann (b1849). In the 1881 census Jane Ann is living with her brother Samuel and her occupation is Music Teacher. She married Alfred Holmes in 1897 in South Shields.
• Samuel (SA102) (1852-1910) married Caroline Pattison in 1887 in Leeds.  He was in a partnership with Matthew Patterson manufacturing leather ankle straps in 1894.

Michael Wouldhave (MI102) (1812-1870)

Michael was born in 1812 and married Mary Allen in 1857. He was also a cabinet maker and in the 1861 census he is living in Castle St, Leeds. He died in Leeds aged 58 years in 1870.

George Wouldhave (GE101)(1814-1858)

George was born in 1814.  In the 1851 census he is living with his parents and his occupation is Tailor. He was in a Leeds directory list of Tailors in 1842 at 56 Coburg Street, in 1847 at 74 West Street and in Whites directory of 1853 at 5 Great George Street.  He was in business with Alfred Thomas Sanden as tailors and drapers.  They dissolved their partnership by mutual consent on 20^th April 1845. He died in 1858 aged 43 years. The cause of death was a visceral malignancy and Michael Wouldhave, his brother, of Castle Street was the informant.

Hannah Wouldhave (HA109) (1817-after 1881)

Hannah was born in 1817 and married Robert Wright in 1842 in Leeds. In the 1851 census she is widowed and living with her brother John Henry in Ripon with her three children, Fanny, Henry and Sarah Jane. In the 1861 census she is living in St James Street, Leeds with her three children and her widowed father.  Her occupation is upholsterer in the 1866 Directory of Leeds.  In 1881 her brother Robert is staying with the family in Preston Street, Leeds. Sarah Jane Wright married Arthur Stead in 1882.  Her son, Willie Wouldhave Stead, a journalist,  died in the First World War in France (see earlier blog).

William Crampton Wouldhave (WI104) 1819 - 1899

William was born in 1819 and married Sarah Thomas in Leeds. In the 1851 census William is living with his family in Farrar Street, Leeds and his occupation is Tailor. In 1861 they are living in Darley Street, Leeds.  By 1881 he has moved to London and was living in Woodstock Street, Westminster; his daughter Sarah is a tailoress, and his son George is a plumber. Woodstock Street is near to the junction between Oxford Street and New Bond Street.  In 1894 he is on the electors list at the Tailors’ Benevolent Institution at Queens Crescent in Kentish Town.  Queen’s Crescent has one of the oldest street markets in London.  The Tailors’ Benevolent Institution was formed in 1837 to provide aid and grants to anyone who had worked in tailoring for a minimum of ten years.  We’re not sure if William was a beneficiary or working for the institution. William died in 1899 aged 80 years.

Robert Wouldhave (RO101)(1812-1883)

Robert was born in 1821 and married Rosetta Churchill, a widow, in 1867 in Harrogate. In the 1871 census he is living in Thomas Yard, Leeds and he is listed in 1872 Whites Directory of Leeds as a tailor at Thomas’s Yard, St James Street. Robert died in 1883 and was buried in Beckett Street cemetery, Leeds. We have not been able to find any reference to Rosetta other than her marriage.

John Henry Wouldhave (JO111)(1824-1874)

John Henry Wouldhave was born in 1824 and married Jane Dunnington (JA105) in 1857.  In 1857 John Henry was living in Commercial Court. In the 1860s’ electoral registers for Leeds he is living in Park Row, Leeds, where he had a half share of the freehold of houses and workshops in Bentick Street. He was in partnership in the company Roberts and Wouldhave.  In the 1861 census, John Henry is described as a master employing 15 men, 5 boys and 7 women.  He seems to have been an enlightened employer as shown in the following newspaper extract from the Leeds Intelligencer 19^th May 1866

The strike of Leeds cabinetmakers

This strike still continues, but yesterday (Friday) Messrs Roberts and Wouldhave of Park Row intimated to the men’s committee that they had considered the terms asked – an advance of 2s per week upon the present rate of wages, and a reduction in the hours of labour from 59 to 56 1/2 .  At this establishment, therefore, the men will at once resume work.

In 1868 the partnership was dissolved.  In the Yorkshire Post of 24^th Dec 1868 the following article appeared

Roberts and Wouldhave of 14 Park Row, Leeds

The above firm, having dissolved their partnership, the whole of their extensive stock of upholstery and cabinet furniture will be disposed of, and to facilitate a speedy winding up of their affairs, the whole will be sold at a considerable reduction from the ordinary prices for cash only.  Parties about furnishing will find this a rare opportunity of obtaining first class goods at a low price. The extensive showrooms, upholstery work premises and dwelling-house in Park Row to be let and remains of unexpired lease to be disposed of.  The cabinet works with four dwelling houses adjoining, situate in Bentick St, Sunny Bank with all the working plant and material also to be disposed of.

For particulars as to property apply as above or to Messrs Cariss and Tempest Solicitors Leeds. Nov 10^th 1868

The family moved to Harrogate in 1871. In the 1871 census they are living at Upper Parliament House on Parliament Street (now part of the commercial area in Harrogate) with one servant.  However it would appear that things were not well financially and in 1873 a notice in the Yorkshire Post indicated that John Henry was liquidating his assets for declaring bankruptcy.  John Henry and Jane moved to London near his brother William Crampton and family.  Sadly they both died in January 1874 within five days of each other.  John Henry’s will was proved by John Lancaster of Hathersage, Derby (a Hotel keeper and a retired Draper).  His effects were less than £200.

His son William (WI110)(1858-1906) became an upholsterer and was living in Hull in the 1901 census. His son Edward (ED102)(1865-1943) also moved to the East Riding; in the 1901 census he is living in York and his occupation is stationer.  He later moved to Hull where he was a manager in a stationery business.

Edward Wouldhave (centre) receiving a retirement gift in 1936

Cabinet Makers, Joiners and Upholsterers

Historically, the term ‘joiner’ ranks above ‘carpenter’ and below ‘cabinetmaker’. The ‘carpenter ‘was mainly concerned with large work and with comparatively soft woods; the ‘joiner’ was mainly concerned with small work in more expensive and harder woods. A ‘cabinetmaker’ made more elaborate furniture, the term "cabinet" being applied to a piece of furniture consisting of a case or box with doors and drawers. Essentially, a ‘cabinetmaker’ was a woodworker who made cabinets and carried out the finer kind of joiner's work.

With the industrial revolution and the application of steam power to cabinet making tools, mass production techniques were gradually applied to nearly all aspects of cabinet making, and the traditional cabinet shop ceased to be the main source of furniture, domestic or commercial. The Wouldhaves in these occupations would have experienced ongoing change in their working practices throughout the nineteenth century. They may have had their own businesses, employing others, or been employees in large businesses.

Michael Wouldhave MI101

Michael was born in 1781 and lived in Barnard Castle.  He was listed in the Gazeteer of Durham in 1827 as living/trading in the Market Place, Barnard Castle.  He was the son of Michael Wouldhave (MI091)(1745-1812) and Hannah (HA091)(1718-1823) nee Crampton, who lived in Barnard Castle.

St Mary's Barnard Castle

Michael Snr had rights as a Freeman of Newcastle, a member of the barber surgeons. Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne could be claimed in one of two ways. 

• Sons of freemen inherited the freedom from their fathers i.e. by patrimony. But if the father died before his son’s admission (usually at age of 21years), then they were forfeit of their rights. No illegitimate sons could inherit the franchise.
• Freedom was also obtained by serving seven years as an apprentice. Apprentices then gained the right to enter the appropriate trade guild, which in turn gave them the right to seek admission as a Freeman.

Until the Reform Bill of 1832, the Freemen were the only people with the right to vote for their representatives in Parliament. Michael (MI091) was listed as a voter in the poll book for Newcastle of 1777-1780. He was a Freeman by patrimony – his father William was a Freeman. Michael Jnr (MI101) may have become a Freeman (on payment of the admission fee) but we have not found any evidence yet to show that he did.

Poll Book for Newcastle 1877

Michael (MI101) married Jane White in September 1806 in Barnard Castle. Michael worked in Barnard Castle as a Cabinet Maker for some years (in the Pigot’s directory of 1828-29 Michael is listed as a cabinet maker on Market Place and also in charge of the Fleece Inn), until he moved to Leeds with his family sometime in 1830s. Leeds occupied an increasingly favourable position as a trading centre in the North of England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. According to a Leeds directory of 1839 Michael was a joiner and cabinet maker at Pottery Field and in 1842 Michael is listed at Coburg Street in Leeds. In the 1851 census Michael is living with his family in West Avenue in the St Andrew’s district of Leeds. In 1861 he was a widower living in St James Street with his daughter Hannah (grandmother to Willie Wouldhave Stead – see blog of First World War Wouldhaves part 2).

Jane died in 1851 aged 73 years and Michael died in 1865 aged 84 years. They had a large family, several of whom were also involved as cabinet makers, tailors or upholsterers. All of their children were born in Barnard Castle.

• Sarah Wouldhave (SA103) was born 1807 and married Thomas Bowman in 1827 at Gainford.  Sarah was widowed by the time of the 1851 census; Sarah and her son, Joseph Bowman, were living with her parents in Leeds.  Joseph was listed as a Cabinet Maker.
• Thomas Wouldhave (TH101) was born in 1809 and married Mary Wild in 1838 in Leeds. Thomas was a Cabinet Maker in the 1851, living at Myrtle Place, Hunslet.
• Michael Wouldhave (MI102) was born in 1812 and married Mary Allen in 1857. He was also a cabinet maker and in the 1861 census he is living in Castle St, Leeds.
• George Wouldhave (GE101) was born in 1814.  In the 1851 census he is living with his parents and his occupation is Tailor.
• Hannah Wouldhave (HA109) was born in 1817 and married Robert Wright in 1842 in Leeds.  In the 1861 census she is widowed and living in St James Street, Leeds with her three children and her widowed father.  Her occupation is upholsterer.
• William Crampton Wouldhave (WI104) was born in 1819 and married Sarah Thomas in Leeds. In the 1851 census William is living with his family in Farrar Street, Leeds and his occupation is Tailor. In 1861 they are living in Darley Street, Leeds.  By 1881 he has moved to London and is living in Woodstock Street, Westminster; his daughter Sarah is a tailoress.
• Robert Wouldhave (RO101) was born in 1821 and married Rosetta Churchill, a widow, in 1867 in Harrogate. In the 1871 census he is living in Thomas Yard, Leeds. 
• John Henry Wouldhave (JO111) was born in 1824 and married Jane Dunnington in 1857.  John Henry was an upholsterer and employed a number of men.

Marriage entry for William Crampton Wouldhave (WI104)

Further information about Michael's children will be given in a later blog.

First World War Wouldhaves part 5

George Jackson Wouldhave and Thomas Wouldhave

Parents

George Jackson Wouldhave(GE108)  and Thomas Wouldhave (TH104) were brothers (born fifteen years apart), sons of Richard Wouldhave and Ellen Wells. Richard Wouldhave (RI103) was the son of Richard Wouldhave (RI102) and Jane Jackson (see blog North Shields Wouldhaves part 3).  Richard (RI103) was born in 1856 in North Shields and christened in the Middle Street Mission.  He married Ellen Wells in August 1875.  He had various occupations connected to the sea; shipyard labourer, seaman, waterman, mariner and steamboat fireman.  

Thomas Wouldhave (TH104)

Thomas Wouldhave from his Merchant
Marine Index Card

Family

Thomas was born on 2^nd September 1876, the eldest of twelve children, only seven of whom remained alive at the time of the 1911 census. He married Helen Lauder in October 1899 in Christchurch, North Shields.  Helen (HE102) was the daughter of Alexander and Margaret Lauder; Alexander was an iron ship builder and lived in Chirton, just to the west of North Shields. In the 1901 census they are living in Nile Street, North Shields and Thomas is given the occupation Seaman. They had three daughters, Helen Lauder Wouldhave (1901) Gladys Lauder (1904)and Beatrice (1906), and one son Thomas (1900).  Both Beatrice and Thomas sadly died the same year they were born. In the 1911 census both daughters, Helen and Gladys, are with their grandparents, Richard and Ellen, in King Street, North Shields.  Their mother Helen is with her parents Alexander and Margaret Lauder in Front Street, Chirton. Thomas, a merchant seaman, was presumably at sea at the time of the census. The two daughters later married, Helen to John Wilkinson in 1927 and Gladys to Robert Todd in 1929. Helen Wouldhave (HE102) died in mid 1915, aged 35, in North Shields.

War Service

Thomas was a merchant seaman.  His registration documents state that he had brown hair and brown eyes, was 5ft 6ins tall and had a tattoo of faith hope and charity on his right arm. He enlisted 9^th Jan 1915 into the RNR Trawler section as a Boiler fireman. He served on HMS Island Prince which was a Tyne trawler requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a mine sweeper. He received the Distinguished Service medal in recognition of services in Mine-sweeping operations between 1^st July 1916 and 31^st March 1917.  He had the rank of Ensign, 2nd Engineman RNR. 

After the War

Thomas continued with his Merchant Marine career.  He was listed on the Trojan Prince as a member of the crew arriving at Ellis Island in 1920. He was also listed on the Merchant Marine index in 1935 and 1939. Thomas died in 1960 in North Shields aged 84 years.

George Jackson Wouldhave (GE108)

As merchant mariners, Thomas and George
Jackson would have known this landmark
overlooking the Quayside in North Shields

Family

George Jackson was born on 18^th September 1891. He was probably named after his father’s brother George Jackson Wouldhave (1861-1867). He married Nancy Matthewson in 1915. We haven’t been able to find any further information about this marriage, whether there were any children or when Nancy died.  

War Service

George Jackson was also in the merchant marine.  In the 1911 census his occupation is given as Engineers  Apprentice. All we have found of his war service is his medal card.  He was awarded the Mercantile Marine Ribbon, and the British Medal ribbon in 1919 and the Mercantile Marine Medal in 1921.

After the War

The New York Passenger lists include George J Wouldhave arriving at Ellis Island in June 1918 aged 26 years and in 1923 he is listed as an Engineer (4) on board the S/S Lucerna in the inter-war list of Merchant Mariners. In the 1939 register, George is living in Hedley St, Percy Main and his occupation is Tool fitter. Although it gives his status as married, his wife is not at the same address. George married again in 1948 to Margaret Lillie. In 1939 register, Margaret is a Nursing Auxilliary. George Jackson died in 1967 in North Shields and Margaret in 1977.

First World War Wouldhaves part 4

George Wouldhave (GE105)

 Parents

George was born on 13^th Jan 1886 and his birth was registered at South Shields. His parents were Thomas (TH103) Wouldhave and his wife Louisa formerly Blair (LO101). Thomas and Louisa married in Gateshead in April 1869 and they lived in South Shields.  Thomas was born in Leeds in 1838, his father, Thomas (TH101), was a cabinet maker. Thomas however did not follow the family tradition of cabinet making but worked in the iron industry on the South Tyne.  In the 1901 census, at the age of 63, he was a church caretaker.  His death is registered in the first quarter of 1911, aged 73.  Louisa was born in South Shields and died in the fourth quarter of 1924.

Family

George (GE105) attended St Stephen’s Junior Boys School in South Shields and is on the admissions records from 1891-1894. George’s older brother, Frederick (Fred), was a labourer in the Shipyards in the 1901 census and he joined the Royal Navy in 1903.  His role in WW1 was given in the blog of November 2016.  Their older brother Arthur (born 1878) had emigrated to the USA in 1906.  Arthur’s wife Clarissa was living with his family in Tyne Dock in the 1911 census (she emigrated, joining her husband in 1912).  In the 1911 census, George’s occupation was given as Shore stoker in stamping works. 

In 1914 George married Elizabeth A M Scott.  Their first child, George (GE106), was born in 1915. Their second son, James, died in infancy in 1918. Their only daughter, Mary J (MA132) was born in 1920 and a second son, James Everett Voyce (JA117), was born in 1922.  Elizabeth died in South Shields in 1933 aged 43 years.

War service

Trimmers and Firemen in the Engine Rooms

George enlisted on 1^st June 1915, aged 29 years, and gave his address as 26 West Walpole Street, South Shields.  He was rated as Leading Trimmer RNR from 19^th August 1915. Trimmers were responsible for getting the coal to the Fireman or Stokers in the Engine Room and for clearing out the ashes when the fire was out.  It was a physically demanding job, working in hot and dirty conditions. 

George first served on the HMS Duchess of Hamilton from 29^th October 1915. The Duchess of Hamilton was a paddle steamer which had been built and registered in Scotland in 1890. The ship was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in March 1915 as part of the mine-sweeping force based in Harwich on the East coast of England.  The ship was sunk by mines on 29^th Nov 1915, off the Galloper Lightship, near Harwich, with the loss of nine lives. (The Galloper is an area of sea off East Anglia.  It is presently the site of construction of an offshore wind farm).

George survived the sinking of the Duchess of Hamilton and received from the Admiralty “an expression of their Lordships appreciation for his conduct”.  George spent most of the rest of his service on HMS The Duchess of Rothesay, another converted paddle steamer operating out of Harwich, joining the ship on 17^th January 1916. 

Duchess of Rothesay

On 14^th July 1917 George was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as one of the honours awarded by the King to the officers and men in the Auxiliary Patrol for their “splendid heroism” as detailed in the London Gazette Supplement.  He was also commended for his part in mine sweeping services on 1^st January 1917.  In the London Gazette of 17^th November 1917 he was awarded the Bronze medal for Military Valour and conferred by His Majesty the King of Italy. George was demobilised on 15^th August 1919. 

After the first world war

George was listed in the 1939 register at 26 West Walpole Street, South Shields.  He was a widower living with his son James Everett.  His occupation was Electric Craneman. George died in South Shields aged 69 in 1955.

His son George (GE106) was living in Chertsey, Surrey, in the electoral register of 1938.  In the 1939 register his occupation was Aircraft Fitter.  He died in 1982 in South Shields.  Mary J married Christopher Grant in South Shields in 1939.  James Everett’s occupation in the 1939 register was Apprentice Coach Painter.  He died in South Shields in 1989.

First World War Wouldhaves Part 3

There were two other military personnel who were involved in the First World War with Wouldhave as a middle name rather than their surname. Both of the men detailed below had limited service during the war for very different reasons.

George Wouldhave Crowther

George was the second son of Thomas Frederick Crowther and Hannah Isabella Wouldhave (HA106).  He was born in 1892 in Jarrow. Thomas was a marine engineer and a member of the Masons.  He was working in the shipyards in Govan, Glasgow when he died on 31^st January 1900.

In the 1901 census the family had moved back to the North East and were living at 75 Clayton Street, Jarrow. In 1911 the family were living at 54 Walter Street, Jarrow.  Hannah Isabella died soon after the census date (in June 1911), which left Joseph Crowther, the eldest son, aged 21 (born Dec 1890), as the head of the family.  Joseph married in July 1914 and was a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

George was a drilling machinist at Palmers Works in Jarrow, where he had served his apprenticeship, and was living with his brother, Alfred Ernest Crowther at 8 Dee Street, Jarrow when he enlisted in Sunderland with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 20th September 1914.  He was discharged on 23^rd October 1914 after serving 33 days. His papers state he was discharged under Kings Regulations para 392 part (iii) b, which is detailed below.  

Whatever the reason was for non-approval by the recruiting officer, George returned to his role as an iron driller.  Just over a month later he died of Lobar Pneumonia on 25^th November 1915. Lobar Pneumonia is a communicable disease and it may be possible that George was showing symptoms that led to his discharge. The informant of his death was William Robson Wouldhave (WI113), his uncle. (Some time later William Robson Wouldhave's daughter Phyllis Mary Wouldhave (PH101) married Alfred Ernest Crowther, George's next of kin).

Joseph Henry Wouldhave Laidler

Joseph was the son of John Robert Laidler and Elizabeth Wouldhave (EL111). Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Henry Wouldhave (JO113) and Mary (nee Armstrong) (MA122).   Joseph Henry Wouldhave was born in Bishop Auckland and worked as a currier (leather processing).  He married in 1845 in St Andrew Auckland. In 1861 the family moved to Newcastle and lived in the All Saints area.  Elizabeth was born in 1858.  She married John Robert Laidler in 1879 in Newcastle.  Her father died suddenly in 1885.  The Newcastle Courant reported the sudden death of Joseph Henry Wouldhave, 63 years of age on Jun 19th.  "He was found in bed at his residence at 8 Wilkie St, Shieldfield.  A few hours earlier he had been seen alive and then appeared to be in good health."

Joseph Henry Wouldhave Laidler, presumably named after his grandfather, was born in 1893. In the 1901 census the family is living in South Shields and John Robert's occupation is Timber Measurer.  In the 1911 census the family is living in Greenside, Ryton and Joseph's occupation is Coal Miner.
 Joseph married Joanna Armstrong on 8th May 1915 in the registry office, Gateshead.  He attested later that year, following the outbreak of war, on 10th December 1915 joining the Northumberland Fusiliers.  His address at the time was Bond Street, Newcastle.  He was put into the army reserve the next day and remained there until he was mobilised in May 1918. He was living at 18 Wylam Road, Newcastle at that time.  He was demobilised on 2nd May 1919 from the London MT Repair (RASC) depot.
Joseph and Joanna had two children during his period in the army reserve, John Henry Wouldhave Laidler born in 1916 and John Robert Laidler in 1918.
Joseph and Joanna are both on the 1939 register in Chester le Street.  Joseph's occupation is now Omnibus Driver, possibly using some of his skills from his experiences in the war.

First World War Wouldhaves part 2

Some of the military personnel who were involved in the First World War had Wouldhave as a middle name rather than their surname.  One such was Willie Wouldhave Stead.

Willie Wouldhave Stead

Newspaper Photo

 Willie Wouldhave Stead was born in 1887.  He was the grandson of Hannah Wright (nee Wouldhave) (HA109).  In this year the 18th-century boat-builder William Wouldhave (WI050) was commemorated by the Wouldhave Memorial, at Pier Head, South Shields for his part in the invention of the self-righting lifeboat.  It seems likely that Willie’s parents had this in mind when they chose his name.

Hannah was the daughter of Michael Wouldhave (MI101), a joiner and cabinet maker, who was originally established in Barnard Castle but moved to Leeds in the 1830s.  Hannah married Robert Wright, a bricklayer, in 1842 in Leeds but was widowed in 1849.  In the 1851 census she is living with her brother, John Henry Wouldhave (JO111), an upholsterer, in Ripon.  She has three children Sarah Jane, Henry and Fanny.

Willie’s parents, Arthur Stead and Sarah Jane Wright, married in 1882.  In the 1901 census, Willie is living in Spring Grove Walk in Headingley, Leeds with his father and mother, and his sister, Edith. Arthur was a tailor and died in 1908. In the 1911 census Willie is living with his widowed mother, his sister and two aunts Fanny Wood (formerly Stead) and Mary Ellen Stead (Arthur’s sister).  His mother, Sarah Jane died in 1912.

In the 1911 census, living at Hyde Park, Leeds, Willie’s occupation is Journalist for an evening paper.  Willie began his career as a journalist with the Yorkshire Evening News and rose to the position of Chief Reporter before moving to the Yorkshire Evening Post.  Accounts written after his death indicated he was popular with his colleagues having unfailing geniality and modesty.  He showed every promise of a successful career.  He was a member of the National Union of Journalists and served for four years as corresponding secretary of the Leeds Branch.

Willie was one of a group of Leeds Pressmen who joined the ranks of the Leeds ‘Pals’ Battalion at the outbreak of the Great War.  For several months they trained at Colsterdale in the Yorkshire Dales, Willie sending articles to the Yorkshire Evening Post during this time.  His merits were quickly recognised and he received a commission in another newly formed battalion, the Leeds Bantam Battalion. 

Newpaper photo of Leeds platoon,
Willie is on the right of the second row

In June 1915 he was involved in a serious road accident near Skipton with several brother officers.  They had hired a car to visit the Ilkley Picture House to see a film of the regiment.  During their return journey the car turned over at Chelker Reservoir and the occupants were thrown violently against a wall.  Although Second Lieutenant Willie Wouldhave Stead was bruised his injuries and that of a fellow journalist and officer, Arthur Tadman, were not serious. However one of the officers, Second Lieutenant Ernest Roscoe later died of his injuries. 

In August 1916 the battalion was at the Battle of the Somme. When one of his friends, Alex Monteith Hamilton, was injured, Willie wrote home to his friend’s mother to reassure her and his letter was published in the Leeds Mercury on 4^th August.  In it he said “The last fortnight, and especially the last three days, has been a living torture and a perfect hell, and Monty’s men have been falling today like ninepins, killed, wounded, shattered.  I have sole charge for the time being of a company, and last night we all escaped by the skin of our teeth…. Please excuse more, I am weary and jaded, almost to the breaking point, and shells are making things hot.”

Information from the war diaries show that on 24^th August the battalion moved up to the front line at the battle of the Somme.  There was heavy shelling early the following morning (25^th) and intense bombardment at 8pm.  The following day (26^th) was largely quiet. Although the newspapers indicate Willie was killed by enemy action on the 26^th August, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) gives his date of death as 25^th August, which has a better fit with the information from the war diaries.

Extract of war diary

A brother officer was quoted in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer on 4^th September “He was an exceptionally smart officer, and when his company lost its commander the Colonel had no hesitation in handing over the reins to Lieutenant Stead.  He acted in this capacity for some time, and it was during his command of the company that the battalion had its most trying experience.  He never made a mistake and the work he accomplished called for the plaudits of all.  Poor Stead’s death had cast a gloom over the battalion.  I don’t think there was an officer in the battalion who was held in higher esteem.” The Yorkshire Evening Post on 31^st August said that “He was as brave as he was cheerful and capable, big-hearted, if small in stature, he endeared himself to his colleagues in civil life, and to his comrades after he joined the army…We shall miss a staunch colleague and a loyal friend.”

From the CWGC information, Willie was buried at Peronne Road cemetery, Maricourt.  His next of kin was his sister, Edith Stead, who was living at this time in South Street, Durham.