Differing Responses to an Industrialising Economy - eTheses ...

during this period, the largest group after farmers, which underlines the importance of
needlemaking hereabouts. Although apprentices were used, the business was often kept
in the family. When Thomas Perkins died, he left money to each of his brothers with the
desire that they take on his sons as apprentices. 252
Although there were many poor
needlemakers, a judicious combination of farming and needlemaking could bring
financial and social advancement. Richard Mills, a wealthy needler, was the grandson of
a labourer, while, later in the century, Richard’s son was described as a yeoman. 253
A needlemaker’s tools were not costly, nor were specialist premises required.
John Barr’s ‘shop of working tools’ was worth a mere £2, while the working blocks and
tools of other needlemakers amounted to under £1. 254
However, the raw materials and
the finished articles could be valuable. Richard Bell alias Daniel had ‘wire and needles
£66-7-4’, while Henry Barr had ‘needles of all sorts £35’ amongst his possessions. 255
This shows that Barr made or dealt in various types of needles, but there may already
have been some specialisation within the trade, with some families concentrating on
certain types of needle or carrying out certain processes, such as scouring or pointing, as
happened in later times. The inventory of Richard Laurence in 1729/30 mentions
‘needles in worke and in workemens hands £4-10-0’, suggesting that he put out work to
others. 256
Some processes such as scouring took more time and labour than other
operations and thus caused a bottleneck in needle production.
252 WoRO, probate of Thomas Perkins, Sambourne, (Coughton), needlemaker, 1729, £54-5-6.
253 I have researched this family extensively from local parish registers and other sources. WoRO, probate
of Richard Mills, Sambourne, (Coughton), needlemaker, 1748, £659-14-4.
254 WoRO. probate of John Barr(s), Sambourne, (Coughton), needlemaker, 1686, £62-1-4. N. B. For a
while he had lived in the neighbouring parish of Spernall.
255 WoRO, probate of Richard Bell alias Daniel, Astwood, (Feckenham), 1728, £276-6-2, and of Henry
Barr, Feckenham, needlemaker, 1738, £132-15-6.
256 WoRO, probate of Richard Laurence, Feckenham, needlemaker, 1729/30, £162-9-6.
301