Shoemakers in Hunts

[Gillg]

Does anyone have information on Hunts shoemakers?  I have several generations of the Fairey family of Easton and Ellington who were all shoemakers, and would like to know if there is a register of some kind which lists them and their apprentices.  Any info welcome. 

[liverpool annie]

Hi!

I was just reading your post and the thought occured to me that you might find - instead of shoe makers - "Cobblers "- they made shoes and repaired them !

You might try the Cambridge County website for Family History - Huntingdon comes under them now!!

Another thought - depending where in Huntingdon - most of the small towns have their own websites - I know Godmanchester and St Ives do - Google and then see if they can give you any information!!

Annie

[liverpool annie]

I came across this - maybe this is what you asked for ....

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=cobblers+in+huntingdon+1890&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Did Craft Guilds Monopolize Markets in Medieval England
File Format: Microsoft Word 97 - View as HTML
Cobblers and Tanners. Holy Trinity ... Cambridge 1890. Ditchfield, PH The Story
of the City Companies. Foulis 1926. Dyer, Alan. ...

Annie

[Gillg]

Thanks, Annie.  G-g-grandfather lived and worked in the little village of Easton, as did two of his cordwaining sons, while another moved to Great Paxton.  Easton doesn't have its own site, but I'll look for Gt Paxton.  If only Hunts R O wasn't so far away!  The FHS seems a better bet.  Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Gill 

[Bodgertree]

I have Joseph Wright b 9/1/1819 Broughton a shoemaker and cordwainer, his sons James and John were both shoemakers later on, and his cousin James Bodger 20yrs, was also a shoemaker, he was apprenticed to Joseph learning the trade on the 1851 census for Broughton.

[Gillg]

Re your shoemaker James Bodger.  Would he be the same James Bodger, who married Naomi Fairey in 1859 St Neots?  Naomi's father John, my ancestor, was also a shoemaker, as were some of her brothers.

[Dale]

Kia Ora Gill
Try 'googling" Northampton Museum" there's a multitude of sites about this museum which maintains an Index of shoemakers and various statistical data.
Although not directly related to your query it might provide another interesting excursion for you!
I have replied to this site in order that I might be kept informed of any clues for my FAIRY cordwainers as well.
regards
Marlene

[Gillg]

Thanks, Marlene.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/work/england/northants/index.shtml  gives a very good picture of the working life of the shoemaker and the transition from homeworker to factory worker. 

My cordwaining Faireys seem to have continued to work independently for some time after industrialisation of the industry, possibly because they lived in small villages and could rely on local support.  I was interested to read that shoemakers were supposed to be fairly literate, as they had to keep records and deal with measurements, etc.  Since my 2xgt-grandfather couldn't even sign his name on his marriage record, I think he must have drawn round the customer's foot or used some other primitive form of record-keeping.

Regards,
Gill

[Dale]

Hi Gill
Well well. My William managed to sign his name but reverted to the old Riseley Beds spelling!
Apparently my Betsy (here in Aotearoa) was always immaculately shod and gloved as her father continued to provide her "boots" (as she aways called them) up until his death in 1914.
I recall a wonderful site full of photographs of boots & shoes at a Northants site which I didn't find last night - had mentally put it on my list as a place to visit - when I win Lotto!
regards
Marlene