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Email No: 1
Received Date: 24th June 2011
From: Edward G. Hellewell
Subject: Tom Nuttall
Dear Tony
I always enjoy reading your excellent research and
scholarship on basses and their makers - long may it continue.
Over the years I've learned so much.
Your recent piece on Tom Nuttall had me thinking.
I've been active in genealogical research for 50 years and I took
a quick look at the Civil Registration Index (Births) and discovered
that there were 182 of that name whose births were registered in
Lancashire between 1860 and 1880 (the most likely period of his
birth) and of these 24 were in the Bolton Registration District.
As a further check I also looked at the 1881 census for Lancashire
and found 50 Thomas Nuttalls under the age of 20 and of these 13
were living in the Bolton Registration District. I simply wonder
how you managed to confirm that the one whose baptism in 1877 at
Farnworth was the correct one? Incidentally, there were two Rose
Streets, one in Farnworth which only went to No.30 and one in Bolton
which did include No.39.
Kind regards
Ted Hellewell.
Email No: 2
Received Date: 01st July 2011
From: Edward G. Hellewell
Subject: Tom Nuttall
Hi Tony
Tom Nuttall's family history has had me intrigued
and I've put in a fair amount of time into this detective work
with some surprising findings. I'm now certain that he was not
the one you thought was baptised at Farnworth in 1877. The good
news, I'm absolutely certain I've got his correct history.
Your information on the marriage of his daughter
Emma in 1925 at the age of 25 was the vital clue. Assuming that
she gave her correct age at marriage (I've found over the years
that many women did not - usually making themselves out to be younger
than they actually were!) she must have been born in 1898/9. I
first searched the Civil Registration Index for her birth and sure
enough found her in the Bolton Registration District in 1898. I
then searched the 1901 census when she would be 2 years old. Spot
on, I found her living at 10 Scarborough Road, Bolton with her
father Thomas Nuttall aged 40, a picture frame maker, born Manchester,
her mother Emma aged 41, born Bolton and 6 siblings. Importantly,
Thomas must have been born in 1860/1.
Search in the Civ. Reg. Index for births confirmed
Thomas's birth registered in the Manchester Reg. Dist. in the 1st
quarter 1861.
As a check, I also picked up the family in the 1911
census now living at 104 Bury New Road, Bolton. Thomas gives his
occupation once again as a picture frame maker and all other details
with regard to ages etc are consistent with the 1901 census. The
other bit of useful information on the 1911 is the statement that
Thomas and Emma have been married 29 years. Therefore they were
married in 1881/2. Of course, it doesn't give Thomas's wife Emma's
maiden name.
Using the Civ. Reg. Index for marriages I find that
Thomas married in Bolton Reg. Dist. in the 2nd quarter of 1882.
Using an amazing bit of trickery I discovered that his wife was
formerly Emma Sadler. I haven't followed Emma's family history.
Who were Thomas's parents and had they any musical
instrument connections? To answer this I first searched Lancashire
parish register baptisms knowing his birth had been registered
in Manchester in 1861. I found his baptism at Manchester Cathedral
on 17th March 1861. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth Nuttall.
I then turned to the 1881 census searching for Thomas Nuttall aged
20. I discovered him living at 121 Deansgate, Bolton with father
Henry, aged 46, tripe dealer, born Manchester and mother Elizabeth,
aged 48, born Manchester along with 3 siblings. Thomas gave his
occupation as a picture frame maker. A cousin, 14 year old Samuel
Bowden was also staying with the family - of relevance in determining
identity of Thomas's mother Elizabeth (see next paragraph).
Who was Thomas's mother? From the 1811 census, Thomas, aged 20
was the oldest child listed, born in 1861. A search back from this
date in the Civ. Reg. Marriages showed a Henry Nuttall married
in Manchester in the 3rd quarter 1858. A second application of
trickery produced the name of his spouse as Elizabeth Bowden. This
is certainly the one being sought since a Samuel Bowden, cousin
of Thomas, was staying with the family in the 1881 census.
Both
of Tom Nuttall's parents were from Manchester. I haven't had time
to research further back at this stage, but thought you might like
the findings to date.
It would seem at this stage that Thomas's
family didn't have a musical instrument making tradition. However,
his occupation as a picture frame maker would be ideal to take
up the trade since he was obviously skilled in wood working and
handling planes, chisels etc - think of intricate baroque style
carved frames. I guess he must have started as an amateur part-timer
much like many others e.g. the two Wakefield makers, James Wm Briggs
who was a commercial traveller and bootmaker James Brown (originally
from Wakefield before moving to Huddersfield). Of course, details
of the 1921 census have not been released - that will show whether
Tom Nuttall listed his occupation then as a violin maker or some
such.
When I get a bit more time I'll try and take his
family history a bit further back and update you.
Kind regards
Ted Hellewell.
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