Author Topic: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby  (Read 482 times)

Offline AnnieBard

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Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« on: Sunday 08 December 24 11:30 GMT (UK) »
I’m trying, with minimal success, to find out more than can be gleaned from census returns etc. etc. about the above company. I know that at least three generations of Alexander Robinson’s were involved and I have their personal information and have seen various newspaper advertisements for their wares. What I’m missing is any sense of the scale of their operations. Alexander Robinson b. 1777 d. 1849 apparently had enough leisure time to win multiple prizes for flowers and vegetables at local horticultural competitions in his middle and later years and I don’t get the impression he spent many back breaking days at a loom but I could be wrong. Can anyone here with relevant local knowledge tell me more please or point me at where I might learn more. I’ve tried CASCAT but they don’t have much beyond the will of Alexander Robinson d. 1805 which I’ve yet to see. Thank you!

(Edited to correct mistyped date)
Somerset and Wiltshire: Rodgers, Wilkins, Maundrill, Tucker, Adlam, Carey, Butcher, Fleetwood AND Scotland: Rodgers

Offline heywood

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 08 December 24 12:05 GMT (UK) »
I know you have the census information but for reference, is this him in 1841?
Relationships are not given in that census but i5 looks to be Alexander, possibly his wife Ann and sons Alexander and James and daughter Ann?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M73F-SPY

If you look at the census pages, most of his neighbours are weavers too.

Are you saying that the weaving was a business company? Do you have dates?
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Online Kay99

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 08 December 24 12:06 GMT (UK) »
Have you come across mention of their work on Page 21 of this? https://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/bulletin-61-April-2005.pdf

Offline AnnieBard

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 08 December 24 12:17 GMT (UK) »
I know you have the census information but for reference, is this him in 1841?
Relationships are not given in that census but i5 looks to be Alexander, possibly his wife Ann and sons Alexander and James and daughter Ann?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M73F-SPY

If you look at the census pages, most of his neighbours are weavers too.

Are you saying that the weaving was a business company? Do you have dates?

Yes this is him. Son James 1850 marriage record describes his father as a Damask Manufacturer.

(Edited to add date of marriage)
Somerset and Wiltshire: Rodgers, Wilkins, Maundrill, Tucker, Adlam, Carey, Butcher, Fleetwood AND Scotland: Rodgers


Offline AnnieBard

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 08 December 24 12:21 GMT (UK) »
Have you come across mention of their work on Page 21 of this? https://www.cumbria-industries.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/bulletin-61-April-2005.pdf

I have, thank you, yes. And there are a number of similar advertisements in the local Carlisle Newspapers that I accessed via BNA. It’s these advertisements that suggest to me that the question about scale is worth asking.
Somerset and Wiltshire: Rodgers, Wilkins, Maundrill, Tucker, Adlam, Carey, Butcher, Fleetwood AND Scotland: Rodgers

Offline Gan Yam

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 10 December 24 21:16 GMT (UK) »
There's an article in the Cumberland News 16 September 1977 pg 4, Alexander Robinson and sons, Upperby, Linen Manufacturer. It might contain some information, accessible on microfiche at Carlisle Library.
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline AnnieBard

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 11 December 24 09:31 GMT (UK) »
There's an article in the Cumberland News 16 September 1977 pg 4, Alexander Robinson and sons, Upperby, Linen Manufacturer. It might contain some information, accessible on microfiche at Carlisle Library.
Thank you.
Somerset and Wiltshire: Rodgers, Wilkins, Maundrill, Tucker, Adlam, Carey, Butcher, Fleetwood AND Scotland: Rodgers

Offline Gan Yam

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 11 December 24 13:37 GMT (UK) »
I have a locally written booklet about Upperby Church and the history of Upperby and there is a small passage in it where Alexander Robinson receives a brief mention.

It reads "With peaceful times that followed the failure of '45 Upperby became more prosperous. Hand looms were erected in many of its houses which earned over £1 per week.  By 1829 Upperby's main industry was damask weaving carried on by Isaac Fell and Alexander Robinson,"

It sound as if  Alexander (b 1777) may possibly have been the 3rd generation of damask weavers in Upperby.  There is a death notice possibly for his father (Alexander b 1744) in Carlisle  Journal 9 March 1805. The above passage implies that his grandfather may have started the weaving after the Bonnie Prince Charlie uprising of 1745.

There is also a details of the number of families that lived in Upperby in 1780: 20 houses, 21 families, 35 males, 54 females, so at that point in  time its looks like most of the weaving was taking place in the home, a lot which were clay daubins.

(not sure where you are, but if you need someone to look up what the Cumberland News article is about or the 1805 Will I could do that)
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline AnnieBard

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Re: Alexander Robinson and Sons, Memorial Damask Weavers, Upperby
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 12 December 24 00:40 GMT (UK) »
This is really helpful, thank you so much.

I have seen the 1805 death notice for 1777 Alexander’s father but I haven’t found a baptism for Alexander senior so can’t confirm if there was another Alexander before him.

If you were able to report back on the content of the 1977 newspaper article and the 1805 Will that would be really greatly appreciated, thank you. I’m in North Wales so Carlisle would be a bit of a hike for me!

Thank you again, Annie
Somerset and Wiltshire: Rodgers, Wilkins, Maundrill, Tucker, Adlam, Carey, Butcher, Fleetwood AND Scotland: Rodgers