Author Topic: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist  (Read 2775 times)

Offline Smokey807

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 700
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« on: Thursday 18 September 14 12:55 BST (UK) »
 I have had no luck at all finding much out about a chemist and druggist by the name of James Williams. He is found in an 1886 advertisement as J. Williams Mount Pleasant Pharmacy, dispensing and family chemist at 33 Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells and that he had taken over the shop from chemist "Whitrow & co" which was the run by Benjamin Whitrow. Directories show that Whitrow was at 33 Mount Pleasant Rd from 1883 to 1885.A book about bottle collecting lists " J. Williams,chemist, 33 Mount Pleasant Road circa 1886 t0 1895. I noted from a search of directories that 33 Mount Pleasant road was occupied in 1899 by chemist Alfred Ernest Hobbs who took over from J. Williams.  I also found that 33 Mount Pleasant Rd was occupied in 1882 by Charles Edward Taylor, an outfitter.

I did find from the records of the British Pharmaceutical Society for Feb 25,1888 a J. Williams of Tunbridge Wells who donated some money to a fund

There is a chemist James Williams in Hastings Sussex at 187 Queens Rd in 1909 to 1930 directories who is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society but Im not sure if he is the chap in Tunbridge Wells Im looking for.


I cant find any geneology information for the J. Williams of T. Wells. Can anyone find out anything?

Offline artifis

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 760
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 18 September 14 16:49 BST (UK) »
1891 census James Williams 37 chemist born Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokshire.

Can't find him an any previous or succeeding censuses nor the James Williams living at 187 Queen's Road between 1909 and 1930 in the 1911 census

Offline redtonyt

  • Deceased † Rest In Peace
  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ********
  • Posts: 1,012
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 18 September 14 17:18 BST (UK) »
There is a very lengthy article in the Kent & Sussex Courier dated 24th Jan 1896 re 'Matrimonial matters'.

'James Williams, a local chemist, was summoned for wilfully neglecting to provide reasonable maintenance for his wife Marian and by such neglect, caused her to live apart from him'.

The article is several paragraphs long, including the fact that they married on the 28th May 1893, living initially at Lansdowne Road and then at Mount Pleasant.  Her parents lived at St Leonards.

Could this be your James Williams?

Tony


Offline redtonyt

  • Deceased † Rest In Peace
  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ********
  • Posts: 1,012
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 18 September 14 17:36 BST (UK) »
There is a death of a Marian Williams on 10th Feb 1905, of 55 Pevensey Road, St Leonards (wife of James).  Probate to Henry Elliott Currey, solicitor, and William David Symington, MD.
Effects - £7221 7s 9d

Tony



Offline redtonyt

  • Deceased † Rest In Peace
  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ********
  • Posts: 1,012
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 18 September 14 17:51 BST (UK) »
1901 census - RG13; Piece: 869; Folio: 91; Page: 15.
Newlands, De Cham Road, Hastings St Mary Magdalen, Hastings

Marian Williams born 1854 Yeovil
James Williams born 1854 Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Ellen Tilson born 1861 Bloomsbury (servant)

Marian and James Williams are 'living on their own means'

Tony



Offline Smokey807

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 700
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 18 September 14 21:33 BST (UK) »
Good work! You have the right James Williams, born 1854 Lampeter Velfrey,Pembrokeshire,Wales as he is a chemist at 33 Mount Pleasant Rd T. Wells in 1891 census with a shop assistant and a general servant. This matches him up with  the 1901 census at Hastings Sussex where he is with wife Marion and one servant; and also with the 1911 census at Bromley Kent where James is widower and chemist and druggist.  As you noted Marion died 1905. I shall order the K & S article from the library to get the full story.

It would have been nice to find a reliable death or probate record for James and find out who his parents were and more information about his wife Marion, but apart from that, thanks to your detective work, I have what I need.  Thanks for your help!!

Offline artifis

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 760
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #6 on: Friday 19 September 14 11:53 BST (UK) »
There are quite a number of James Williams in the 1851 and 61 censuses, these seem the likeliest but it would be worth double checking.

1861
William Humphreys head 29 Clothier
Dinah Humphreys wife 38 born Norberth
Rachel Williams stepdaughter 14 born Norberth, Pembrokeshire
John Williams stepson 10              "         "              "           
Isaiah Williams stepson 9              "         "              "           
Leah Williams stepdaughter 7        "         "              "           
James Williams stepson 5              "         "              "           
Margaret Humphreys daughter 1   "          "              "
David Humphreys son 1                "          "              "
+ 8 servants all workers in cloth trade.  William would have been quite a wealthy guy as at that time clothiers were the middle men between the makers and the users.

Dwelling listed as ? Mill, first word indecipherable.

1851
James Williams head 44 clothier
Dinah Williams wife 30 born Egremont, Carmarthanshire
Rachel Williams daughter 4 born Lampeter
Mary Williams daughter 3     "        "
John Williams son 2             "        "
+ 4 staff, 2 clothiers & 2 house servants.
Again quite a well to do household.

Dwelling listed as ? Mill, first word indecipherable.

The difference in where born for Dinah is a little worrying but the birth locations for Rachel and John both concur with the 1861 census - Narberth and Lampeter Velfrey associated.

If this is correct the father James presumably died post 1855/6 and pre 1860 for Dinah to have remarried but I couldn't find a reliable death registration for James - too many possibilities.

If the 1861 census is correct it could explain where James born c1854 got the money to both train as a pharmacist/chemist and start his own business.

No reliable birth registration for son James - too many possibilities.

Don't know if this is much help but maybe worth pursuing.

Offline Smokey807

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 700
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: James Williams Tunbridge Wells Chemist & Druggist
« Reply #7 on: Friday 19 September 14 14:26 BST (UK) »
Yes this looks good. Thank you