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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: Brian & Berni on Monday 08 May 06 14:48 BST (UK)
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Has anyone else got any grandfathers who were Hairdressers which i find unusual I though they would be barbers from 1881-1901 at least.
My great great grandfather was ???
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I have an ancestor Thomas Saunders who was a hairdresser in Battersea in 1881 and from 1883 to 1901 running his own Hairdresser's shop in Winslow Bucks.
David
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At that time, gentlemen's (ie posh) hairdressers certainly existed, as did barbers (er.. less posh). Several survive into the present day and can be found in trhe St James's area of London, and doubtless elsewhere.
meles
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You would only have found male hairdressers at that time, at least in business for themselves. A barber would have done men's hair, a hairdresser mostly womens.
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Having checked a number of reference books for around this period I have found a number of instances of female hairdressers, with their own business, shaving male customers for a penny after the pub on a Saturday Night. I think you will find that the "all male" hairdressers were restricted to moneyed classes.
Earlier there were surgeon barbers, which were nearly all male but with the separation of the medical profession the term barber seems to almost disappear until the twentieth century.
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I did some research on hairdressers two years ago. It became recognised as a separate trade from barber shop work in the mid 18th century in France when aristocratic ladies started having jewels and adornments added to those huge hairstyles. Early hairdressers in England tended to be foreign (mainly French) and visited clients in their homes.
By Victorian times, visiting the hairdresser was a normal occupation for professional men while ladies still preferred home visits (except actresses, et al!). As the 19th century progressed, the hairdresser became used by a much wider social scale of people. Apprentices had to serve a seven year apprenticeship and this was usually at an out of town establishment where they could practise on the "working man" and children. The successful town shops would only hire qualified men.
By the end of the century, working-class establishments opened from 8.30 to 10 at night in the week and closed at noon on Saturdays. They then opened again on Sundays so that the men who had spent Saturday afternoon getting drunk could still get their hair cut. This meant that the assistants worked really long hours and they had to work Bank Holidays too. The best they could hope for was one afternoon off every two weeks. They also had to provide all their own combs, scissors etc. and launder their own aprons. In respectable areas the hours were from 9 till 6 (those specialising in ladies' work worked slightly shorter hours) . They worked Saturdays too but were closed on Sundays. Tips were expected from men but not ladies.
Hairdressers increased their profits by selling lots of beauty preparations and hair preparations, and, at the end of the century, cigarettes too.
There were two large training establishments in London where hairdressers could come in the evenings, travelling in from the suburbs, so that they could study new styles and go in for competitions for medals and money. There were similar institutions in most major cities. The Hairdressers' Guild was founded in 1882 in Brompton Road in London and was originally intended for masters only, though later journeyman joined too. There was also a self-help friendly club for journeymen founded in 1839.
It was only after the First World War that hairdressing became a popular occupation for young women. The apprenticeship regime was changed and there were also evening classes and colleges for those who wanted to learn.
So being a hairdresser was not an unusual occupation for a man at the time you describe. Where did he work?
Best wishes
Cheryl
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He lived in Clive Street in 1881 & Appleby Bank 1891 both North Shields
I cant make out the address on the 1901 census **** bank stairs
I dont know if he had his own business or where he worked apart from the 1901 census has him down as 'own account'
His name was John Chisholm Reed b 1860
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Right. Not an area I looked closely at I'm afraid, but a close look at his neighbourhood should give you an idea of whether he ran a "genteel" business or was simply the local hairdresser.
Cheryl
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My gg grandfather, William Major, had hairdresser as his occup when he married in London (address 25 Old Bailey) in 1863. According to family tradition(!) he travelled widely in Europe tending to the hair of the nobility. This *may* explain why tracking him down is hard & why his daughter was passed to an aunt to be brought up from a few months old. I assume her mother died in childbirth but this is unconfirmed so far.
Tony
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Hello I was interested to read this thread. I have an ancestor who was also a Master Hairdresser. His name was Timothy Cheesley (Cheeseley). He was born c1852 in Chelsea and died October 1890. He lived in Sloane Street. Would anyone know if there is there anywhere that I can find out more about him and his work? Thank you.
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My grandfather was a hairdresser apprenticed in Caernarvon in 1894 with messrs D.P Ellis and C Llew Ellis. He served three years and recieved 1 shilling a week for the first year, 2/6 weekly for the second year and 4s a week for the 3rd year. I have his apprenticeship papers.
Sian
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I have hairdressers in my family too.
Some resources on this topic are:
German Hairdressers in the UK, by Jenny TOWEY, pub. Anglo-German Family History Society, 2004. (Even though this is specifically about the Germans, it gives you some of the social history on the early closing movement, which all hairdressers were affected by.)
BOOTH, Charles. Life and Labour of the People in London., Series 2 (Industry), Vol.4, p.271.
ANDREWS, William. At the sign of the barber's pole : studies in hirsute history. Cottingham : J.R. Tutin, 1904. It's short, and entertaining!
Journals/newspapers available at the British Library Newspaper Library, Colindale, London:
The Hairdressers’ Weekly Journal , 6 May 1882 - 30 Dec.1948. In hard copy, 4 volumes per year. Contains obituaries and other news items.
The Hairdresser (London). Numbers no.1-8. Dates Jan. - Aug. 1892, then discontinued.
The Hairdresser (The official organ of the International Union of Journeymen Hairdressers of London). Numbers no.1-5. Dates 15 Jan. - 15 May 1912.
The Hairdressers' Chronicle and Trade Journal. subtitle: The Hairdressers' Chronicle & Beauty Specialists' Trade Journal. Numbers no.1-2175. 1 Nov.1866 - 24 May 1929.
The Boro' of West Ham, East Ham, and Stratford Express., 21 Nov. 1908 issue has an article on hairdressers.
I have also seen references to a magazine called Hairdressing, which began in 1908, but don't know where to find it.
In German:
MAEHNERT, Carsten Geschichte des Celler Friseur-Handwerks -- Bader, Barbiere, Perückenmacher und Friseure im Wandel der Zeit (History of the Celle barber trade – barbers surgeons, barbers, wig makers and hairdressers in changing times)
Series: Schriftenreihe Bomann-Museum und Stadtarchiv Celle. Celle, Germany: Schweiger & Pick, 1986. ISBN 3-925902-04-X. In German. 143 pages.
I will update as I find more.
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Hello Loo
I found your message interesting. I would especially like to have sight of a couple of The Hairdressers' Weekly Jounals. Is it Colindale that I would have to travel to in order to visit the British Library where you say they house these magazines?
Thank you. Rosie
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Yes, all the newspapers/periodicals I mentioned are at Colindale. I have never been there, although I certainly hope to go whenever I get to England, but from what I have read, you would be very wise to order up what you want in advance, as there can be a 48 hour delay. They are originals, not on microfilm.
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Thank you Loo,
I will make contact with them.
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My grandfather was a Gentleman's Hairdresser around the turn of the century with his own business in Worthington Street, Dover. He had been apprenticed to another hairdresser in the Woolcomber Street area.
Aged about 30 in 1917, he joined the army to avoid the "white feather". 4 months later he was killed at Ypres; he left 5 children, the youngest only a toddler.
Hairdressers increased their profits by selling lots of beauty preparations and hair preparations, and, at the end of the century, cigarettes too.
Don't forget "something for the weekend" Cheryl! ;)
Regards, Bill
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Sorry! accidentally posted twice!
My grandfather was a Gentleman's Hairdresser around the turn of the century with his own business in Worthington Street, Dover. He had been apprenticed to another hairdresser in the Woolcomber Street area.
Aged about 30 in 1917, he joined the army to avoid the "white feather". 4 months later he was killed at Ypres; he left 5 children, the youngest only a toddler.
Hairdressers increased their profits by selling lots of beauty preparations and hair preparations, and, at the end of the century, cigarettes too.
Don't forget "something for the weekend" Cheryl! ;)
Regards, Bill
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Pardon my ignorance, Bill, but what is/was a "white feather"?
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Hi Loo
If a man did not join up to fight, he was often considered by the women whose husbands were away at the war as being a coward. They would hand him a white feather to show their contempt.
Regards, Bill
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Thanks, Bill!
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My grandfather was also a Master Hairdresser but I have also seen him described as a barber on certificates too.
He had a shop at Wells Next the Sea, Norfolk and worked at hairdressing sometime between 1881 - 1891 and retired from hairdressing in 1925.
I have a suspicion he went into hairdressing because he injured his leg as a youngster and was probably unable to become an Ag Lab as a result. Most of my relatives before him were Ag Labs. My grandfather seems to have broken the mould. If you are looking at these dates you probably think I am an extremely old person - I'm not, but my Dad was a great deal older than my Mum!
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Hi
I would like to add my gggrandfather to the list of hairdressers. His name John COLES and he was a Hairdresser and tobacconist in 69 Commercial Street Newport Monmouthshire in 1851 to his death in 1872. His sons followed him into the same business.
One son even came to Australia and still continued his trade.
I have been told that up until the present day there is still a tobacconist shop on that same site.
So am interested in this subject. But don't have anymore info to contribute.
Janette
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Hi there,
I'm sorry I don't have fantastic resources to contribute but I would like to thank Cheryl for her great information on early hairdressers. My ggf x lots (about eight) was apparently the first recognised hairdresser and peruquier in Belfast, Nthn Ird in the late 1700's-early 1800's, and yup he was French too. I know he had a shop and went through several apprentices judging by newspaper ads I have found or been provided with.
However there is always room for more information......
Cheers
Bunny 8)
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Have just noticed this thread and I also have a male hairdresser in the family - Samuel THOMPSON b.~1804 in Cheshire.
He was working at/owned premises in Leadsmithy Street, Middlewich in 1841 (age 37) and I've found other likely relatives (presumably brothers or cousins) listed on the Stockport Biography Index also working as Hair Dressers in 1848, one at the same address as Samuel in Leadsmithy Street, and the other at Wheelock Street, Middlewich.
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For those of you who have German-origin barbers/hairdressers/barber-surgeons/barber-dentists in your tree (there were about 1000 German-origin barbers in London in 1891), the following vocabulary might help, when looking at German records, as they cannot all be found in modern dictionaries:
Aderlasser – barber, surgeon
Baader - Barber, also surgeon, dentist
Bader - barber, surgeon (Bad = bath)
Barbier - barber
Barbknecht - barber's helper
Barfknecht - barber's helper
Bartscher(er) barber
Bastoever - bathhouse operator; barber
Friseur (male) barber, hairdresser
Scherer - barber; beardcutter; cloth cutter
Arzt - physician; doctor
Bruchschneider - physician; surgeon
Chir. - abbr. for Chirurg (surgeon)
Chirurg - surgeon, for minor wounds, animal kicks, etc.
Chirurgus - surgeon
Chyrurgus – surgeon
Totenbeschauer - physician attesting death; medical examiner; coroner
Wundarzt surgeon
Bisser - dentist
Zahna(e)rtz - dentist
I have picked these up from various places, and can no longer give references for them. The barbering trade grew out of the emergence of bathhouses, simply because people were dirty and they didn't have bathrooms in their houses, so they went to public bathhouses, spas etc.
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I also have hairdressers in the family. Henry HOLTON b 1823 Gawcott, Bucks to a Publican, was a Hairdresser at 84 Mount St, Mayfair, London on 1851,61,71,81 censuses. Of his 5 surviving sons all were hairdressers, including my gggfather Thomas Henry b 1847 Hairdresser & Tobacconist.
The info given about hairdressers has been really interesting!
Thanks,
Shaz
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I too have a Master Hairdresser in my family. His name was Solomon Mason. He owned his own
hairdresser 132 Breck Rd., Liverpool. This was late 1800's-early 1900's. He employed a number of
staff to work for him.
He came from a long line of stone masons, even his brothers. So, don't know what happened to make Solomon change career direction. Didn't want to get his hands dirty I expect.lol.
If anyone has old pictures of Breck Rd, that might include his shop/salon, could you let me know please.
Thanks,
Red ;D
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Hello
I'd just like to add my thanks for all the information on Hairdressers. I had found it hard finding out much about early Hairdressers so found the contributions on this thread really useful.
My hairdressers were:
James Matthews (b 1797), Southgate Street, Bath from 1841 to 1871. His son John (b1830) and daughter Mary (b1827) were also listed as hairdressers at the same address.
Another son James (b1823) - moved to Gt Queen Street, London where he was hairdressing from 1851-1881.
Finally, yet another son Richard (b1825) was hairdressing between Bath and London up to 1891.
Talk about keep it in the family!
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According to family tradition(!) he travelled widely in Europe tending to the hair of the nobility.
Like TonyJ, I was also told this about one of my g.g.grandfather's although I don't think there is any proof. He died in 1865 aged only 39. I'm getting his death certificate to find out what he died of, although I think drink may have played its part.
Liz
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My Great Great Grandfather was a Hairdresser - Im having trouble finding out about him His Name was Henry Harvey , I believe his hairdressing shops were in London near The Kingsland Road , think he was born about 1829 ish
Would be grateful for any further information - Thanks , Clare
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My ggf GUSTAV HEISE came from Germany in the 1880s.and became a master hairdresser, latterly in Birkenhead before he was interned in the WW1.After his release he went back to Germany.
Read all about him on my post in the immigrants to Britain, Europe board.
His brother ERNEST HEISE was also a hairdresser but I haven't found out what became of him yet.
Michael
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It's comforting to know that other people are seeking information on hairdressing ancestors. My hairdresser was also a perfumer and master wig maker. He was Thomas Mellish and lived and worked in Finsbury London. He was born in the 1770s and I have a copy of an insurance policy he took out in 1820 which covered his premises, wearing apparel, plate, items used in his business etc which suggests he might have operated his business from his home but I'm not sure. Am currently trying to find him in trade directories. I would love to know about his working life, who his clients were, what he actually did and where he served his apprenticeship. If I find out anything useful I will post it here to assist others. I haven't found any of this children following the same career. Sometimes I think of him powdering the wigs of a regency dandy and sometimes a Sweeney Todd image springs to mind! He certainly intrigues me.
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Sorry to all if this has been mentioned in previous post
A master hairdresser was usually associated with that of an employer and more than likely belonged to a 'guild' to enhance status.
Depending on the time frame you are working with, a hairdresser was in all a wig maker, very fashionable and would have earned, as any other tradesman, more than that of the unskilled. Even more so since those who were indentured to the trade were exploited.
Once those who had mastered the craft were free. they could travel the country as what is described as a journeyman (which comes from the French word journ) who had completed his apprenticeship and was competant with his trade who could be hired by the day, wherever.
This would most likely to have been the case with many.
Note however, that this occupation was quite different to that of a 'barber' who tended to use his skills mainly on male clients, and had nothing whatsoever to do with wig making. Indeed, their secondary occupation was that of an unqualified doctor, hence the barbers pole being red and white - red as a symbolism of blood.
Hope this sheds light on the subject
failsafe
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Many thanks failsafe. Yes this all fits with what I have read. The wig apparently was by far the most expensive item of a person's wardrobe. A Hairdressers' Guild still exists but when I contacted them to ask if they have an archives section I didn't receive a reply which was disappointing. Though I appreciate that barbers were not the same thing, I have written to the Barber Surgeons Co simply to see if someone there can point me in the right direction. If/when I receive a reply I will add a post here.
Chirp
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Thanks also. My gg gfather is described in 1851 as Apprentice (relationship to Head) & Hairdresser (occup), in 1861 his relationship is Journeyman & occup Hairdresser and in 1871 when he is the Head he is a Hairdresser. He was in Grantham in 1851 & Chipping Barnet in 1861 staying with his employers. In 1871 he was living in Deptford Kent with wife & family.
I dont have any evidence of his supposed travelling "widely in Europe tending to the hair of the nobility" (as I mentioned previously) although this *may* have been fitted between 1861 & 1863 (when he married in London) & possibly before my ggmother was born in 1868.
Another of these mysteries ....
Tony
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I've also got hairdressers in the family name I'm researching - Archbell of Tadcaster - three generations of them.
The earlier ones are classed as Barbers, whilst one of the middle generation is classed as a peruke maker when he marries in 1787. There were three hairdressers in Tadcaster in the 1820s, one of whom also sold perfume and two of them were related. And the death certificate of one of the widows in 1875 stated that she was the widow of a hairdresser and perfumer.
Plus I have a later hairdresser in another of my families.
BumbleB
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This is a follow-up to my previous post. First off an apology to the Guild of Hairdressers who had indeed replied to me by email but I had failed to see it!! (Must have had a "senior moment"). It seems that the Guild of Hairdressers was established in 1892 but most of the early records were lost in a flood. The records they do have are mostly 20th C.
From the Barber Surgeons Co. I have received a list of suggested reading on the subject of barbers and hairdressers. Here it is for the benefit of other researchers:
The Barber's Shop by R W Procter (London 1883)
At the Sign of the Barber's Pole by William Andrews (Cottingham 1904)
An Illustrated Dictionary of Hairdressing and Wigmaking by J Stevens Cox (London 1966)
A Nineteenth Century Barber's Shop by Stephanie Jones in 'Business Archives' Magazine, November 1988
Old Occupations: Peruque Makers by Barbara Given in Family Tree Magazine, January 1997.
The Guild of Hairdressers: a hundred years of hairdressing by S Henson in 'The Guild Hairdresser' Vol 1 no 1 (1982?)
Chirp
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One of my great great great grandfathers was Thomas Ransley a Hairdresser, who besides being a bigamist with families in London and Nottingham, seemingly travelled widely mainly in the pursuit of his occupation. He had children born in Tunbridge Kent, London, Coventry & Leicester. According to census records, his daughter Ellen declared she was born in London, Coventry and Sheffield which would indicate that she had travelled around when very young in pre-railway England.
I have yet to discover when Thomas was active in his hairdressing business but he was apparently born in circa 1770 and had died prior to 1838. He appeared to remain in London after 1801 where 4 of his sons were born.
Was there a Hairdresser's organisation in the early 19th century and would such Journeymen be registered in any way?
Thanks
BJNR1
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Was there a Hairdresser's organisation in the early 19th century and would such Journeymen be registered in any way?
Thanks
BJNR1
A journeyman by definition is someone who has completed his apprenticeship but has not yet established himself as a master at his trade. It has nothing to do with travelling.
Thus the answer to your question is to find out where he carried out his apprenticeship and so whether his indentures were held by a particular Guildhall.
David
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David
From census, it would appear my g.g.grandfather was an apprentice in Boston, Lincolnshire in 1841. From what the Guild of Hairdressers said to Chirp, the Guild of Hairdressers wasn't established until 1892, so where would his indentures be held, or weren't they given any until 1892?
Lizzie
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Did Boston have a Guildhall? In that case I would be looking for its records in the Lincolnshire Record Office. Even if there was no Guildhall, that would be the place to start as there may be other apprenticeship records held there.
David
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Thanks David. Yes Boston did (does) have a Guildhall. I'll contact Lincs Record Office to see if they have any records of Indentures.
Lizzie
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Thanks David,
I realised that Journeyman was a job description of someone having attained a qualification such as Butcher, Baker, Bootmaker & indeed Hairdresser each of which appear in my tree . I'm not sure whether my Thomas was ever a Master Hairdresser, if he was a Sole Proprietor or a just a Journeyman.
I guess my aim is to find if, when and where he was indentured. Probably in London or Tonbridge.
Brian
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Hi All,
This is a fascinating thread as my Great Grandfather was a Hairdresser, a John Merryman Moore. In the 1891 Census he is in Winchester, 1901 living in Lichfield Road,Bow and guess what in the 1911 Census still living in Lichfield Road, he is a Master Hairdresser. Would be fascinated to learn as to just where he may have worked? Cheers, Stephen :)
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Hi Everyone,
I was originally looking to find the thread about watermen & lightermen, and I found this one. :D
On the 1901 census, I found my Gt x2 Grandfather Arthur R Broadurst, occupation hairdresser, living in Croydon, Surrey. It says he worked from home?? My aunt told me that he was widowed soon after, left with 5 young kids & ended up in debtors prison, tho I've not found records of this myself. I've not found much else on him after this.
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Hi,
My great great great grandfather Louis Pique was also a hairdresser in Dover in Snargate Street (the bit now demolished) and other places. His business was listed as Louis Pique and Sons, so it stayed in the family, not sure for how long.
He was the son of Louis Pique who was quite a famous character around Dover. He was sketched by William Heath, which is quite exciting to have his named picture.
Did you find out much information about the hairdressers of Dover, I am looking for stuff from 1850ish.
Perhaps they all knew each other as friends or competitors!
Would enjoy hearing from you,
Lisa
(in Deal, Kent)
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My Great Grandfather a John Merryman Moore was a Hairdresser in Windsor in the 1881 Census, 1891, Winchester, the 1901 Census in Bow, London and in the 1911 Census a Master Hairdresser, still in Bow.
However he was employed, but would be very interested to know where he may have worked in London.
Cheers :)
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My G-G grandfather was a hairdresser, according to the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census. He is also in a 1902 street directory, stating his address and profession. He was from Bethnal Green and it would appear he lived above his own shop. He is listed as 'employer' in some of the censuses. In one census he is a 'Master Hairdresser'. His father was a hairdresser too.
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My ancestor was also a hairdresser. His name was Samuel Taylor, and he lived in Toxteth Park, Liverpool. He is listed on the 1851, and 1861 censuses as a hairdresser. Is there a hairdresser site where I can find out more about where he worked etc.?
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Hi Brian & Berni = Have accumulated the following leads: although some seem unclear & may even conflict ? =
“The Trade Directories show in 1901 John Chisholm Reed, Hairdresser at 3 Wooden Bridge, North Shields living at 131/2 Liddell Street and then by 1920-24 John C Reed, Hairdresser was at 109 Bedford Street living at 115 Church Way, so it seems that the shop was in his name.
Wooden Bridge was at the bottom of Bedford Street
1914
Thomas J Reed married Elizabeth J Crass in 1914 but which church unknown(Registrar’s website list it as reference W108)
1918
– John Chisholm Reed – aged 24, Plater’s helper son of John Chisholm Reed, hairdresser married Mary Ann Crass, aged 22, daughter of James Crass, Plater on 26th December 1918 at Christ Church – both have their addresses listed as 115 Church Way.
1924
1924 Register of Electors has a
John Chisholm Reed at 86 Clive Street;
John Chisholm Reed snr and wife Bridget (nee Jennings) are at 115 Church Way
Eliza, Joseph and Jon Reed at 117 Church Way.
Robert and James Crass are at 3 Camden Street
1931
1931 Electoral Register and John Chisholm Reed is as being at 1 Cross Camden Lane (There is a Joseph and Ellen Reed at 3 Cross Camden Lane).
+ Let me know if you can add to or clarify from this please?
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Has anyone else got any grandfathers who were Hairdressers which i find unusual I though they would be barbers from 1881-1901 at least.
My great great grandfather was ???
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“The Trade Directories we have here show in 1901 John Chisholm Reed, Hairdresser at 3 Wooden Bridge, North Shields living at 131/2 Liddell Street and then by 1920-24 John C Reed, Hairdresser was at 109 Bedford Street living at 115 Church Way, so it seems that the shop was in his name.
Wooden Bridge was at the bottom of Bedford Street – I attach a section of the 1861 Ordnance Survey sheet for your information.”
1914
Thomas J Reed married Elizabeth J Crass in 1914 but I haven’t found which church (Registrar’s website list it as reference W108)
1918
– John Chisholm Reed – aged 24, Plater’s helper son of John Chisholm Reed, hairdresser married Mary Ann Crass, aged 22, daughter of James Crass, Plater on 26th December 1918 at Christ Church – both have their addresses listed as 115 Church Way.
1924
1924 Register of Electors has a
John Chisholm Reed at 86 Clive Street;
John Chisholm Reed snr and wife Bridget (nee Jennings) are at 115 Church Way
Eliza, Joseph and Jon Reed at 117 Church Way.
Robert and James Crass are at 3 Camden Street
1931
1931 Electoral Register and John Chisholm Reed is as being at 1 Cross Camden Lane (There is a Joseph and Ellen Reed at 3 Cross Camden Lane).
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Yes, have found my husbands grandfather, who passed in 1928, was listed as a hairdresser on his son's birth certificate. This is from 1900 in Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia. Broken Hill was a major mining centre at that time - population 30,000. Unionism very strong among miners, railway men and the Journeymen Hairdressers - lobbying for better pay and conditions. Found some fab old photos of the committee members of the Master Hairdressers Association in South Australia. Men dressed in style then - even in the bush.
Cheers
Jennie
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Hi JennieJ6759 - Understand now that earlier barbers were called hairdressers when they were more specialist and included other services e.g. supplying wigs. + PS your husbands Grandfather looks quite the dapper gent !
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Thank you for this thread. I've learn't alot more from this thread then I have by google when researching my family of hairdressers. I have generations of Hairdressers in my family going back to the 1841 census. My gggg grandfather was listed as a hairdresser and that continues down most of the subsequent sons (grandfathers and uncles) until it reaches my grandad. They were all hairdressers in London in Bethnal Green and Whitechapel. The census has them living at Bethnal Green Road on the 1841 census through to the 1861 as hairdressers and some of the sons going to Great Yarmouth to be a hairdressers Assistants and boarding there. The hairdresser theme continues after my grandad by my sister who is a hairdresser and I am a dog groomer (still use scissors.! lol) I would love to find out more infomation about them and what they actually did as part of their job.
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Wow this thread is fascinating. I too have a hairdresser ancestor, my ggg grandfather William Brumfitt (1815-1890). His marriage in 1835 states he was a hairdresser as does the 1841 census. By 1851 he was a Master hairdresser and Beer Seller. He owned a pub which he sold in 1879. He gave up his hair dressing business to enter politics and I found an exert about him in the following book which states he was a barber.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE FOR THE YEAR 1955 VOLUME 107
POLITICS IN FAMINE-STRICKEN PRESTON AN EXAMINATION OF LIBERAL PARTY MANAGEMENT, 1861-65 BY H. A. TAYLOR, M.A. Read 15 September 1955
Page 124
William Brumfitt born in 1814 began as a barber in Old Hall Street, Liverpool, and gained through the conversation of his customers a remarkable grasp of political affairs, so much so that he gave up a good business in 1852 to become Liberal agent in Liverpool. Following the elections of the same year, he conducted petitions against the two Tory members returned and unseated them both. He retired in 1876 after twenty years as Liberal agent for Liverpool and South-West Lancashire, having made a name for himself in the registration courts opposite R. Bennett the Tory lawyer, but their protracted legal battles never impaired a deep personal friendship between them.
And his obituary:
Liverpool Mercury
15 April 1890
LOCAL NEWS
The late Mr W Brumfitt – After a lingering illness, Mr William Brumfitt, well known in Liverpool political circles for about a quarter of a century, died yesterday at his residence, Hatton-hill, Ford, in the 76th year of his age. Deceased was for more than 20 years the Liberal agent for Liverpool and South-west Lancashire, and on his retirement, a good many years ago, he was succeeded in office by Mr J McComb. Mr Brumfitt did good service during his official career to the Liberal party, and his work in the registration courts (when the late Mr R Bennett represented the Conservative interests) was of a highly valuable character in view of the important points which were then being almost continually raised. He deservedly had the confidence of the members of the political party whose interests were placed in his hands, and on his retirement a presentation was made to him, which emphasised the high esteem and confidence he had secured by able and faithful services. The interment takes place at Anfield Cemetery on Thursday afternoon.
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Hi Tony1936TT , welcome to RC :)
If you wish to post please press the REPLY button not the Report to Moderator button.........
Yes, I have a Grandfather who is listed on 1901 census as a Master Hairdresser.
ev
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Thanks for this thread. I also have a hairdresser ancestor, Barnabas Harris who seems to have worked in Salisbury from the late 1700's until about 1840. His place of work also seems to have been his home.
I found a short video online- "The hairdresser in history" by Dr Sean Williams, uni of Sheffield, which is quite interesting on the subject.
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My training was in London and I achieved Master Craftman status and spent many years traveling the world competing for the UK (as well as running a business).
My mother also a Master craftsman, was trained by Raymond Bessone ( known as Teasy Weasy and Britain's first celebrity hairdresser) he had a salon in Soho, he also trained people like Vidal Sassoon and I remember both of them very well as both along with their families spent time at our home over the years.
However there is no hairstylists prior to my mother in my ancestry, my mothers God mother was one as was her husband, so I think my mothers inspiration was from them.
The Hairdressers Journal was THE magazine which was/is a source of information for the industry, anyone who was/is anyone in the industry will be in that and it has been in print monthly for at least 100yrs so if you can find out where they are archived that will be a good sources
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This is an interesting discussion. My ancestor was listed as a hairdresser on the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census in Pentonville, Middlesex. In 1841 his neibours are mainly in trade: tobacconist, news agent, confectioner & surgeon so sounds like a parade of shops. In 1851 he has moved to Hampstead high street so his neighbours are various trades so it sounds like it’s an hair dressing establishment. Two of his sons are listed as medical students and train as doctors, this seems quite a leap socially for the time.
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What a fabulous discussion & over so many years too.
I too have an ancestor whose trade was listed as Hairdresser on his Convict records, even though at the time of his trial & conviction (1842) he was employed (12months) as a London City Policeman (gotta love characters in the family tree 😀). He was transported to Tasmania for 15 years but he was given an early Conditional pardon for good behaviour & released in 1851.
He managed to organise passage for his wife and 12yo son out to Australia. They then had another child a year later. On the baby girls birth (& 3weeks later, her death) certificate, his occupation was again Hairdresser. (Sadly his wife also died the day after the child's birth. 😢)
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My 4x g-grandfather (George Clapham 1764-1810) was a hairdresser in Kirkgate in Leeds from probably about the 1780s until his death there in 1810. The trade directories list him as a hairdresser.
George's father Charles Clapham 1740-1799 was married twice and on his second marriage in 1773 it says he was a barber, although gave this up probably in the 1780s early 1790s to run a pub in Holbeck, where he died in 1799.
Would there be any records from back then about apprenticeships, etc.
Thanks
Ian C
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This is a follow-up to my previous post. First off an apology to the Guild of Hairdressers who had indeed replied to me by email but I had failed to see it!! (Must have had a "senior moment"). It seems that the Guild of Hairdressers was established in 1892 but most of the early records were lost in a flood. The records they do have are mostly 20th C.
From the Barber Surgeons Co. I have received a list of suggested reading on the subject of barbers and hairdressers. Here it is for the benefit of other researchers:
The Barber's Shop by R W Procter (London 1883)
At the Sign of the Barber's Pole by William Andrews (Cottingham 1904)
An Illustrated Dictionary of Hairdressing and Wigmaking by J Stevens Cox (London 1966)
A Nineteenth Century Barber's Shop by Stephanie Jones in 'Business Archives' Magazine, November 1988
Old Occupations: Peruque Makers by Barbara Given in Family Tree Magazine, January 1997.
The Guild of Hairdressers: a hundred years of hairdressing by S Henson in 'The Guild Hairdresser' Vol 1 no 1 (1982?)
Chirp
Have just found this very interesting thread. Just wondering if anyone knows where to go for the Guild of Hairdressers records from the 20th Century? My Great Grandfather was brought up in a Pauper School but was apprenticed to Mr Wilhelm George Zucker in 1882. I have a copy of his indenture. He then ran his own Hairdresser's shop in 1 Clinton Road, Mile End Old Town and was a Master Hairdresser for around 18 years. Sadly in 1907 (maybe due to the Hairdressers Closure Act) he became melancholy and spent the rest of his life in the Asylum :'(
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A fascinating thread. Only male hairdressers seem to figure so I'm not optimistic I'll hear answers to my query about hairdressers.
To be a female hairdresser, in her own business, would that be unusual in the 1890s to early 1900s?
My great Aunt wasn't described as Master Hairdresser but she did run a shop in Bradford where hairdressing seemed the main game and tobacco was also sold. She was a stay at home wife until her husband went bankrupt and disappeared in the 80s, leaving her with 3 small children.
She was a milliner before she married, her Warwickshire parents had been well off but fallen on hard times and had died when she was young, so I assume she had grit.
I have no idea if she did an apprenticeship in hairdressing; with 3 toddling infants, husband's debts to pay and running a failing tobacconist shop, it doesn't sound as if she'd have the time!
But she managed to turn things around, presumably by introducing hairdressing.
Her eldest son also became a hairdresser too. (He died too young, shortly after his mother, from depression it sounds like.)
Does anyone else have a female hairdresser working in the 1890s? And know anything of their work practice?