The Town of Traps
A village about a mile and a half to the north east of Wolverhampton flourished in the Industrial Revolution and became the world centre of an industry for the best part of 150 years, a remarkable development by any standard. The exact origins of trap making in Wednesfield are not completely clear.
It is possible the trade was started by local blacksmiths but Wednesfield was recorded as the ‘town of traps’ as early as 1651 and was evidently already known for its industry at that time. Generations of Wednesfield families were involved manufacturing every kind and size of animal trap including traps for vermin, birds and the fur trade as well as man traps. By the middle of the 19th century, Wednesfield was selling a wide variety of ‘exotic’ products such as tiger traps to India, lion traps to the ‘jungles of the world’ and bear traps to Russia. Regular trade had been established with both America and Germany.
Wednesfield’s population increased with people gravitating to the town to learn the skills of trap making so that a small group of entrepreneurs began to emerge as masters of the trade who often worked together to protect their business. My great great grandfather, John Williams, was one of these trap makers.
White’s History Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire stated in 1834 that:
“Wednesfield … contains upwards of 3,000 acres of land and 1,879 inhabitants residing in the large village of Wednesfield and the neighbouring hamlets … Immense quantities of … traps of every description, are manufactured for the Birmingham and Wolverhampton merchants.”
Assuming John Williams started an apprenticeship between 1829 and 1834, he would have been in Wednesfield at this time. The census in 1841 recorded that John was living in March End aged 20 and apprenticed to the trapmaker, John Tottey.
John Williams of Wolverhampton
relationship to me:
John Williams – great great grandfather
Thomas Williams – great grandfather
Albert Theodore Williams – paternal grandfather
Nothing is known about John Williams’ family background nor indeed his childhood. No mention of John’s father is made on any document relating to his life so that it can be concluded that he was probably illegitimate.
There are records of a John Williams, son of Sarah and no father, baptised at St. Peter’s Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton on 10 October 1820 which might be a possible record of the trap maker’s birth considering John Williams later named one of his daughters Sarah. Census returns do record consistently though that John was born in Wolverhampton in 1820 or 1821.This is significant as those born in Wednesfield, the other members of John’s family for instance, would clearly state so on census returns.
John Williams must have moved from Wolverhampton to Wednesfield at some time between his birth and the start of his apprenticeship as a trap maker to John Tottey at March End in Wednesfield. He was to spend the remainder of his life living and working in the town.
Marriage
John married Maria Taylor at St. Peter’s Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton on 15 September 1846, presumably after finishing his apprenticeship at the age of 21 and commencing work as a trap maker on his own account.
Maria was born in Wednesfield in around 1824 descending from a family whose name, Tomkys, had long been associated with Wednesfield and trap making. For example:
- Maria’s maternal grandfather (my 4x great grandfather) Edward Tomkys (1757-1830) was a steel trap maker
- his brother, Thomas Tomkys (1773-1855) was a steel trap maker (1841) and rat trap maker (1851)
- and Thomas’ son, Charles Tomkys (1781-1830), was also a rat trap maker.
Trap Manufacturer of Wednesfield
Melville & Co’s Directory of Wolverhampton in 1851 attested to the continuing importance of trap making in Wednesfield,:
“The inhabitants are principally employed in the manufacture of steel traps of all descriptions”.
By this time, John Williams was working as rat trap maker on his own account and living with his young family, Joseph (3), Jane (2) and a baby Sarah, in the Wood End area of Wednesfield.
Baptismal records for the following children, Thomas, Hannah, Henry and John, show that the family resided in New Street from at least January 1854. This ‘New Street’ continued to be the site of John Williams’ business for over a century.
At the time of the 1861 census, New Street was recorded as ‘Lichfield Road, New Street’ with John Williams as a resident and employer of 4 men and 1 boy with a growing business. Employing 5 people may appear insignificant from today’s perspective but at the age of 39, John Williams had actually become one of the five largest trap manufacturers in Wednesfield and at the time the only one of the five who came from outside Wednesfield. The others were:
- Henry Mason, Master Vermin Trap Maker, employing 1 man and 4 boys (High Street next door to Dog & Partridge Pub)
- Joseph Bellamy, Vermin Trap Maker, employing 6 men and 3 boys (High Street)
- Luke Marshall, Vermin Trap Maker, employing 3 men and 2 boys (March End)
- Samuel Griffiths, Steel Trap Maker, employing 6 men and 2 boys (Wolverhampton Road)
Further expansion quickly followed confirmed by an advertisement that John placed in the Wolverhampton Chronicle in June 1862 announcing acquisition of the business of Luke Kempson in Wolverhampton and transfer of the business to Wednesfield. John was then manufacturing a large range of traps including rabbit, vermin, otter, wolf, beaver, fox, eagle, hawk and man traps.
Taylor Street, Wednesfield
Lichfield Road New Street became Taylor Street between 1861 when it was called Lichfield Road New St on the 1861 census and 30 October 1864 when William Marlow, a coal miner, gave his abode as Taylor Street on the baptismal record of his son William at Wednesfield’s Primitive Methodist Church.
The naming of this street appears to be linked to John Williams’ wife whose maiden name was Taylor. Maria’s brother, Richard Taylor, was the census enumerator of Taylor Street when the name first appeared on a census return in 1871 and could be linked to this development. He had been a close neighbour of the Williams family at Wood End in 1851, shortly before John moved to the Taylor Street area. A locksmith, schoolmaster and later ‘house land agent’, Richard’s daughter Ann married John Mattox, a major key making employer in Wednesfield. It was feasible that he was involved in the development of Taylor Street in his role as a house land agent. At the very least, Richard seems to have been an important person in both the Williams and Mattox families with both families naming descendants after him.
John Williams owned a sizeable piece of land with a house facing Taylor Street and land backing onto the canal that runs along the back of Wednesfield High Street. A trap making workshop was built next to the house and John Williams was recorded as employing three men there in 1871.
Master Trap Maker & Diversification
In the same year, a meeting was held between trap making masters and the working men at the Temperance Hall in Wednesfield to discuss a disagreement about working hours and pay. In the press, both masters and men were praised for their efforts in reaching amicable compromises and trap making was presented as an example of good industrial relations in the Black Country.
Newspapers said there were about 14 major manufacturers in Wednesfield and the Birmingham Daily Post named 11 of these ‘masters’ who attended the meeting including John Williams.
By 1881, there is evidence that John Williams and his family had begun to diversify their business:
- John still ran the trap making business with his eldest son, Joseph (snr) employing 4 men and 1 boy.
- The Williams also owned a grocery business on Wednesfield High Street with Joseph being classified as both a master vermin trap maker and grocer on the census. Joseph had married Hannah Davenport in 1867 and was living around the corner on Lichfield Street.
- John’s second son, Thomas (my great grandfather), had married Clara Pickering in 1879 and was living with his parents and own young family at the property on Taylor Street but working on his own account as a master tailor, possibly from one of the workshops on the site at 43 Taylor Street.
- Family stories and anecdotal evidence from Wednesfield residents also recount that the Williams ran a coal trading business from the canal although no documentary evidence has been found of this.
John Williams & Son
The trap making business was registered as John Williams & Son Steel Trapmakers at Crescent Works, 43 Taylor Street, Wednesfield in 1888. John Williams also wrote his Will on 22 September of the same year.
This is the last Will and testament of me John Williams of Taylors Street, Wednesfield in the County of Stafford Trap Manufacturer. I direct that all my just debts Funeral and testamentary expenses be paid in the first instance after my decease. I give devise and bequeath unto my Wife Maria Williams all my Real and Personal estate goods, chattels and effects whatsoever and wheresover for her use and benefit during the term of her natural life as soon as convenient after her decease to be sold and converted into money and equally divided between my children viz Joseph Williams, Jane Wakeman, Sarah Davenport, Thomas Williams and Anne Maria Creswell share and share alike (all the shop tools excepted which I give to my son Joseph Williams for his own sole use absolutely) but should either of my Sons or Daughters be dead at the time of my said Wife’s decease then the said share of such deceased Son or Daughter be equally divided between his or her children but if the said deceased Son or Daughter die and leave no child or children in such case his or her share shall be equally divided between the survivors of my said Sons and Daughters in equal proportions. And I appoint my two sons Joseph Williams & Thomas Williams to be executors of this my last will and testament September 22nd 1888.
Signed by John Williams the above named testator making his Mark as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who have hereunto signed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of each other.
John Williams X Mark
Joseph Tomkys, Rate Collector, High Street, Wednesfield
Thomas Bate, Architect, Wolverhampton Road, Wednesfield.
Certain details can be noted from this Will:
- Taylor Street was referred to as Taylors Street, a designation that was also given in a number of contemporary church records. This could be an indication that the street was known the ‘street of the Taylors’ or the ‘street of Richard Taylor’ confirming the connection to John Williams & Son?
- Secondly, John Williams divided his estate on the death of his wife equally among his five remaining children but left the trap making tools explicitly to his eldest son, Joseph, probably implying that that it was Joseph who was the son who was to continue with the trap making business.
- Lastly, John did not sign the document leaving his mark and apparently never learnt to write.
Illness maybe prompted John to undertake these two major steps in 1888 since he died a few months later of ‘liver disease’ at Taylor Street on 6 July 1889. The informant was his daughter, Sarah, who lived on the same street. He was buried in Wednesfield five days later.
Joseph Williams (1847-1910)
John’s wife, Maria, continued to ‘live on her own means’ at 43 Taylor Street for the rest of her life until 1906. The 1891 census records her living there with two of her grandchildren. By this time, her eldest son, Joseph (snr), had moved to a further business and was living with his family working as a publican and licensed victualler at the Boat Inn public house on Church Street. A Wednesfield landmark, this pub still exists as a locally listed building.
It was now John’s grandson and Joseph’s son, Joseph (jnr), who were managing the trap making business. Joseph (jnr) married Hannah Southall in 1893 and by 1901 was living back at the trap works at 43 Taylor Street with his grandmother, Maria, his wife and son whilst his father continued to run the Boat Inn. The grocery business continued to be recorded on the 1901 census.
Jane (Williams) Wakeman, John Williams’ eldest daughter, died in 1922. Her Will made provision for her deceased sister Annie (Cresswell’s) children and her brother Thomas. There was no reference to the trap works or of her brother Joseph and his children. Taking this and Joseph Williams’ (snr) Will in 1910 into account, assumption can be made that the trap making business was sold to and /or taken over by Joseph (snr) sometime between 1906 (death of Maria Taylor Williams) and 1910.
Joseph (snr) wrote his Will on 3 February 1910 and died on 31 August in the same year. By the time of his death, Joseph had truly become a wealthy man. He had a hand in various businesses and his estate owned a considerable amount of property in Wednesfield:
- Cross St (2 houses + 2 workshops)
- Well Lane (3 houses)
- Church St (3 houses)
- Graiseley Lane (7 houses, wharf, yard, land)
- Bloxwich Rd (3 houses)
- Wood End (7 houses)
- Summer Row (land, gardens)
- Orchard Buildings (land)
- Red Lion Public House
- 43 Taylor St (house, land, trap manufacturing business)
His will stated that the Red Lion should be offered for purchase firstly to his son Richard Taylor Williams and the trap making business should be inherited by his four sons, Joseph (jnr), Horace, Bertram and Richard.
This is the last will and testament of me Joseph Williams of the Red Lion Inn High Street, Wednesfield in the County of Stafford – Licensed Victualler and Trap Maker. I appoint my sons Joseph Williams and Richard Taylor Williams and my friend William Bates of Wednesfield aforesaid Executors and Trustees of this my Will and I bequeath to the said William Bates if he shall prove this my Will and act in the Trusts thereof a legacy of Twenty five pounds free of legacy duty. I direct payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses. I give devise and bequeath all my real estate and the residue of my personal estate unto my said Trustees Upon Trust as to my Business of a Licensed Victualler to permit my wife Hannah Williams to have the full benefit and enjoyment thereof during her life including the use of my household furniture and effects and of the brewing plant and machinery on the premises but I desire to express my earnest wish that my said Wife will from time to time pay over to my Trustees for the benefit of my Estate any profits arising from such business after making reasonable provision for her maintenance and personal comfort and upon the death of my said Wife Upon Trust to sell the said business with the Freehold and inheritance of the Red Lion Inn and premises whereon the same is carried on provided always that my said Trustees shall in the first place offer the same to my said son Richard Taylor Williams at the price of one thousand five hundred pounds such sum to include the freehold of the premises and the plant and trade utensils and effects and the goodwill of the said business but not the household furniture in and about the premises. And I declare that in case my said son Richard shall decline to purchase at the price aforesaid within one calendar month after the death of my Wife then my Trustees shall make the like offer to each of my other sons in order of seniority each having one calendar month to decide and if none of the said sons shall elect to become the purchaser at the price aforesaid then the said business and premises shall be offered first to my said son Richard and if he shall decline to purchase then to my other sons in order of seniority at such a price as my said Trustees shall be advised is the fair marketable value thereof my son electing to purchase notifying my Trustees to that effect within seven days after the offer has been made to him in writing. And as to the freehold works and land and the messuage adjoining situate fronting to Taylor Street and Duke Street Wednesfield where my business of a Trap Manufacturer is carried on including the land I recently purchased from Thomas Hickman and the Goodwill and Trade Marks of my said business of a Trap Manufacturer and the fixed and loose machinery stock effects and tools belonging thereto but not including the outstanding book debts of the said business which I direct shall be treated as part of my residuary estate Upon Trust to my four sons Joseph, Richard, Horace and Bertram in equal shares for their own benefit subject to the payment by them to my Trustees of the sum of Four hundred pounds to be applied as part of my residuary estate. I direct my Trustees to accumulate the rents and annual income of all other my real and personal estate during the life of my said Wife and to apply the same in or towards the discharge of the incumbrances affecting any part of my estate. And upon the death of my said Wife I direct my Trustees to sell all my residuary real estate and to convert into money my personal estate and after payment of the expenses attending the same to pay my said son Joseph a legacy of Two hundred pounds free of duty and my son Albert a legacy of one hundred pounds free of duty And to pay and divide the residue thereof between and amongst my six sons and Four Daughters in equal shares. I direct my Trustees if so desired by my said sons Joseph, Richard, Horace and Bertram to advance to them out of my residuary estate any sum or sums of money not exceeding in the whole Four hundred pounds for the purpose of enabling them to carry on my said business of a Trap Manufacturer. My said sons shall pay to my said Wife during her life interest on any money so advanced at the rate of Five per cent per annum and all the money so advanced shall be brought into hotchpot on the distribution of my estate at the death of my said Wife and accounted for accordingly. I hereby declare that the sums of one hundred pounds sixty pounds and sixty pounds advanced by me to or applied for the benefit of my daughters Ethel Stewart, Kate Thornley and Edith Foster many years ago shall be taken into account. I further declare that upon any sale of my Estate either of my said sons Joseph and Richard may become the purchaser of any part thereof nothwithstanding his being a Trustee of this my Will and that any other son of mine who may hereafter be appointed a Trustee may have the like right. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this third day of February one thousand nine hundred and ten.
Signed by the Testator Joseph Williams as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of those present at the same time who in his presence at his request and the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
Joseph Tomkys, Rate Collector High Street Wednesfield
E T Cresswell Solicitor Wolverhampton
On the thirteenth day of October 1910 Probate of this Will was granted at Lichfield to Joseph Williams and Richard Taylor Williams, the sons and two of the Executors.
Richard Taylor Williams did go on to run the Red Lion until 1931 when the license transferred to Harry Davenport, John Williams’ grandson and son of his daughter Sarah. The pub closed in 1938 when the license was transferred to the Red Lion that exists on Amos Lane today.
Joseph John Williams (1895-1916)
As for John Williams & Son, it was the four brothers Joseph (jnr), Richard Taylor, Horace and Bertram who then became part of the story. Joseph’s (jnr) brothers, Bertram & Horace, were registered in the 1911 and 1921 census as trap makers working at the Crescent Works on Taylor Street.
Joseph (jnr) and Hannah Southall continued to live at the house at 43 Taylor Street. The couple had just one child, Joseph John Williams, born on 30 September 1895. Joseph John was also a trap maker and the likelihood is that it was intended for him to inherit the business, or at least a share of it, in the long-term. The First World War dictated a different and more tragic fate.
Joseph John joined the territorial force in 1912 and was in France as a member of the Royal Field Artillery and part of the 46th Division from February 1915. He was involved in a number of military actions before being posted to an area between Vimy Ridge and Mont St Eloi on 6 March 1916.
The area was already destroyed by previous fighting and very dangerous with attacks from snipers above on Vimy Ridge and attacks from below as a result of mining. The division lost the equivalent of a battalion of men between 11 March and 30 April 1916 and Joseph John was one of those killed on April 23.
According to his father’s letters:
“He was killed behind the line with a lot of his battery nearby … he was not blown to pieces as he lived half an hour after the shell burst and hit him in the back”.
This description confirms the war diary entry for 23 April 1916:
Cambligneul
“For three and a quarter hours this afternoon, the enemy heavily bombarded the 4th and 5th Staffs battery positions, firing in all between 160 and 200 rounds of 5.9. Casualties were 4 OR killed and 1 OR wounded. No material damage was suffered with the exception that one telephone dugout was demolished. Practically all the shell detonated came to 50 to 100 pounds over the battery positions”.
Sergeant Joseph John Williams was buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery at Mont St. Eloi. Gunner Ernest Edwin Trevitt, a warehouse packer from Pelham Street in Wolverhampton, acting Bombardier, Joseph James Allen, a brass caster from Beaumont Street in Wolverhampton and Sergeant Harry Griffin from Stafford died on the same day and are buried alongside Joseph John. These men are presumably the 4 OR (other ranks) casualties mentioned in the war diary. Judging by their Royal Field Artillery regiment numbers – 878, 899, 708 and Joseph John’s 953, it might also be assumed that they all had known each other since their territorial days.
As for so many families across Britain, the news was devastating for the Williams family back in Wednesfield. Joseph John’s service record includes a series of six letters that his father wrote using letterheads from John Williams & Son complaining about items and money missing from his son’s effects.
Joseph’s (jnr) persistence is striking but so is his grief at losing his only child:
“My only child a boy of 19 years gave his life and to think he should be robbed of his few belongings is heartbreaking. His poor mother in fact I am doubtful whether she will keep in her proper senses. Why don’t you reply.”
Eventually a commanding officer from the Drill Hall on Stafford Street in Wolverhampton paid a visit to the Williams at 43 Taylor Street to satisfy them that every effort had been made.
Brothers: Joseph (1867-1929), Richard Taylor, Horace & Bertram Williams
Joseph (jnr) wrote his Will in 1922 . He appointed his wife and brother, Richard Taylor Williams, as executors and trustees leaving all his personal belongings to his wife. His estate was to be sold and invested with all returns from investments left to his wife and on her death to his brothers and sisters and to their children should his brother or sister die before the distribution of investments. No specific reference was made to the property at 43 Taylor Street but interpretation of this Will must mean that any rent or sale of at least part of the property at 43 Taylor Street would be inherited by Joseph’s siblings and their descendants.
This Will is certainly not written in plain English!
I Joseph Williams of 43 Taylor Street Wednesfield in the County of Stafford Vermin Trap Manufacturer hereby revoke all testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last Will
- I appoint my wife Hannah Williams and my brother Richard Taylor Williams (who and the survivor of whom and all other trustees or trustee for the time being hereof are hereinafter referred to as “my Trustees”) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will
- I BEQUEATH to my wife absolutely (free of duty) all my plate plated articles linen china – glass books pictures prints furniture jewellery and articles of household or personal use or ornament.
- I DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all my real and personal estate not hereby or by any Codicil otherwise specifically disposed of and which I can dispose of by Will by any manner I think proper- either as beneficially entitled thereto or under any general power unto my Trustees UPON TRUST that my Trustees shall sell the said real estate (including chattels real) and call in sell and convert into money such part of my real and personal estate as shall not consist of investments or the nature hereinafter authorized with power to postpone such sale and conversion for such a period as my Trustees without being liable to account may think proper and so that any reversionary interest be not sold until it falls into possession unless my Trustees see special reasons for sale
- SUBJECT to the payment of my funeral and testamentary expenses death duties and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this my Will or any Codicil hereto I DIRECT that my Trustees shall invest in manner hereinafter authorized the proceeds of the said sales calling-in and conversion and stand possessed of such investments as aforesaid and of my ready money (hereinafter called “my residuary trust fund”) UPON TRUST to pay the income thereof to my said wife during her life And after her death as to both capital and income IN TRUST to my four brothers and four sisters namely the said Richard Taylor Williams Harry Williams Horace Williams Bertram Williams Ethelred Jane Foster (widow) Kate Thornley (wife of Harry Thornley) Edith Foster (wife of Joseph Henry Foster) and Annie Maria Adey (wife of James Adey) in equal shares as tenants in common PROVIDED ALWAYS that in case either of my said brothers and sisters had died or shall die before the period of distribution such issue shall stand in the place of such deceased brother and/or sister and take per stirpes and equally between them if more than one the share of my residuary trust fund which such deceased brother and/or sister would have taken if he or she had been living at the period of distribution
- MONEY liable to be invested under the trusts of my Will may be invested in any investments for the time being authorised as investments for trust money and also in or upon the stock or securities (not payable to bearer) of any British Colony of Dependency or any Municipal Corporation or Local Authority in England or Wales and also in or on mortgage debentures or debenture stock or guaranteed or preference stock (not payable to bearer) of any railway or other Company public or private incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act or under any special Act of Parliament
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this eight day of September One thousand – nine hundred and twenty two
JOSEPH WLLIAMS
Vermin Trap Manufacturer
43 Taylor Street
Wednesfield
SIGNED by the said Joseph Williams as and for his last Will in the presence of us both present together who at his request and in the sight and presence of him and each other have subscribed our names as witnesses
THOMAS WARREN Key Manufacturer 19 Taylor St Wednesfield
JOSEPH HENERY MASON Trap Maker (15) Hall St Wednesfield
Shortly before his death seven years later, Joseph (jnr) added a codicil to his Will in which he changed the name of one of the trustees and executors from that of his brother Richard Taylor to his brother Horace.
I JOSEPH WILLIAMS of 43 Taylor Street Wednesfield in the County of Stafford Vermin Trap Manufacturer declare this to be a first Codicil to my Will which is date the eighth day of September One thousand nine hundred and twenty two
I REVOKE the appointment contained in my Will whereby I appointed my brother Richard Taylor Williams to be and Executor and Trustee thereof and I appoint my brother Horace Williams to be an EXECUTOR and TRUSTEE in the place of the said Richard Taylor Williams and to act jointly with my wife Hannah Williams and I declare that my Will shall be read and have effect as if the name of the said Horace Williams had been inserted therein in the place of the said Richard Taylor Williams wherever his name occurs as an Executor and Trustee and as if the said Horace Williams had been originally appointed an executor and trustee of my Will in the place of the said Richard Taylor Williams
Subject as aforesaid I confirm my said Will
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of February one thousand nine hundred and twenty nine
- WILLIAMS
SIGNED by the said Joseph Williams as and for a first Codicil to his last Will in the presence of us both present together who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
HAROLD V. PEDLEY Clerk to Underhill Neve& Co., Solicitors Wolverhampton
JOSEPH HENERY MASON 15 Hall St Wednesfield Vermin Trap Maker
Will and Codicil proved Birmingham 2nd May 1929
Joseph died two weeks later on 21 February 1929 so that Richard Taylor, Horace and Bertram took over the management of the trap making business from this date. This partnership was dissolved at the end of 1933. Richard Taylor retired and had left Wednesfield to live on Stream Road in Kingswinford by 1939.
Neither Bert or Horace ever lived at 43 Taylor Street. Bert lived at the Red Lion in 1921 and 62 Amos Lane in 1939 and Horace at 11 Nordley Hill in 1921 at 8 South Avenue in 1939, all a short walk from Taylor Street. In 1939, A rabbit trap maker, James Whittingham, and his wife, Hannah, were living at 43 Taylor Street and Joseph’s (jnr) widow was living “on independent means” at Ashmore Lake in Willenhall.
At some point, 43 Taylor Street ceased its use as a residence so that the house was used as office space and part of the business premises. In many ways, this was a fortunate turn of events as the house at 43 Taylor Street did not undergo improvements or further changes (apart from a doorway made between the house and the workshop) and the house remained largely intact as a fine example of a 19th century and early 20th residence and workshop.
The company continued to trade until after the Second World War but two events in the 1950s were significant. The first occurred when Bert died on 22 February 1955 at the age of 64. Secondly, the use of gin trap, the type of steel jawed animal trap made at John Williams & Son, was banned in England and Wales on 31 July 1958. Scotland followed in 1971.
John Williams & Son – the End of Trap Making
After just over a century, John Williams & Son ceased trading from Taylor Street as trap makers in 1966.
It is believed that that the site at Taylor Street was rented as alternative business premises from this date.
Horace died aged 81 in 1969 and his widow Sarah Elsie Downing, a member of the Downing family who were well-known as butchers in Wednesfield, died four year later in 1973.
According to oral family history, the estate of Mrs S E Williams was distributed between her siblings and their children and the siblings of her deceased husband Horace Williams and their children. This family history also records that Downing relatives contested a Will that stated the property and land at 43 Taylor Street should remain in the Williams’ family for 100 years. Such a Will has not been found in this research to date. However, this may help to explain why the property was rented rather than sold until 2010 when a company called Village Gears Ltd who had been renting the premises went out of business. The buildings were left vacant and the property sold. There were many beneficiaries to the final sale only one of whom still bore the Williams surname.
John Williams – Family
The family members connected to ownership and management of John Williams & Son are highlighted in blue:
JOHN WILLIAMS MARIA TAYLOR
1820/21-1889 1824-1906
Children
JOSEPH (snr) m. Hannah Davenport
1847-1910
Jane m. Joseph Wakeman
1849-1922
Sarah m. John Davenport
1851-1897
Thomas
m. Clara Pickering
m. Mary Ann Newell
1854-1923 (disappearance)
Henry m. Mary Ann Jones
1857-1880
John
1860-1863
Samuel
1862-1863
Annie Maria m. James Cresswell
1864-1917
Richard Taylor
1869-1871
*************
JOSEPH (snr) WILLIAMS Hannah Davenport
1847-1910 1848-1929
Children
JOSEPH (jnr) m. Hannah Southall
1867-1929
Joseph and Hannah had one child
JOSEPH JOHN
1895-1916
Etheldred Jane
m. William Steward
m. John Henry Foster
1868-1955
Albert John
1872-1920
Henry m. Elizabeth Dunning
1874-1925
Kate Selina Eleonor m. Charles Henry Thornley
1875-1934
Edith m. Joseph Henry Foster
1878-1954
Richard Taylor m. Elizabeth Stringer
1880-1972
Hannah M. m. Alfred J Adey
1882-1958
HORACE m. Sarah Elsie Downing
1888-1969
BERTRAM m. Mary Sault
1891-1955
************
left to right Wolverhampton Archives, Express and Star, m
e, Wolverhampton Civic & Historical Society
I presented “John Williams & Son, Wednesfield Trapmakers” at the Wolverhampton Local History Symposium in February 2013. The main objective was to raise awareness so as to halt the proposed demolition of 43 Taylor Street and find an alternative which would preserve the historical significance. To my surprise and delight, I won a Bursary from Wolverhampton’s Express and Star and the Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society to fund further research.