News Letter 12 Final - The Binns Family

A Cautionary Tale of Two JosephsMargaret Page writesfrom Kidderminster.Some time ago now I discovered thatthe Society of Friends had disownedmy great great grandfather, ThomasBinns, for “unnecessary frequentingpublic houses and houses of ill fame.”He died of “galloping consumption”(TB) at the early age of fortytwoin 1858, when the youngest of hischildren, my great grandmother wasjust two years old. He was a draper inAshton under Lyne when his other 3daughters and only son were born.His only son, Joseph, (born 1852 inAshton under Lyne) was educated inaccordance with family tradition, atRawden Quaker School. His nephew,David, youngest son of Thomas’sbrother David attended the sameschool. (A fact that seems strange asRawdon School was established, Ithought, for children whose parentswere not members of the Society ofFriends. This was true for Joseph butnot for his cousin David). Could Ihope to find more about the family?Well thanks to Donald Benson Binnslegacy to us all, in the shape of theBindex database, yes I could.The Bindex database collection ofBinns details often fills in those otherwiseelusive Binns facts. One suchexample is the details of the Will ofJoseph’s uncle, David. I wonderwhere Donald found the Will? ThisUncle David (1799-1883) was adraper, a Quaker, and a pillar of Halifaxsociety. I knew from his autobiographythat his children who survivedinfancy were three sons, Joseph,Charles, and David and two daughters,Hannah and Maria.Charles took over the stuff merchantbusiness of George Binns and Co. ofBradford when his Uncle George diedhaving no surviving sons from twomarriages.According to David’s autobiography,it was Joseph (born 1836 in Halifax),his second son, who took on the Halifaxdrapery business, firstly in CornMarket, where his father had previouslyhad his business, and then inLord Street, although by the time ofDavid’s death in 1883 the businesswas at 1 Princess Street, Halifax.3DJHDavid himself had moved on retirementto Akeds Road, Halifax.I was armed with this half forgottendetail when, on eBay, I came acrossand was able to purchase a billheaddated 29 th April 1887, for Jos. Binns& Co., Wholesale Drapers, Hosiers,and Pinafore Manufacturers of 1 PrincessStreet, Halifax. They were agentsfor Brook’s Reels, Cambell’s LinenReels, and Clark’s Crochet Cocoons.The details of items sold in the shopwould have been a reward in itself butthe real beauty, the gem of my purchase,is the etched image of the shopthat I would like to share with you all.In an artistically licensed compositionyou can almost see the goods for salein the shop and the ladies outside intheir bustles and the fine carriages areclearly visible. Also featured proudlyand prominently is the newly erectedTown Hall built in 1869. In case therecould be any doubt about the identityof the building it is clearly labelled.As a bonus another bill, this time for1898, was purchased but either fashionor costs robbed us of an updatedimage. However the text tells us theywere still drapers but had expandedmanufacturing to include “Aprons,Underclothing, Shirts, Hosiery, Etc.”in addition to pinafores. They werestill “Agents for Brook’s Reels,Chadwick’s and Clark’s Crochet BallsPopular Fingerings and Worsteds.”The loyalty of the same particular customerover the years enabled the twobills to come to me together and theirpossession sparked a fuller investigationof the cousins Joseph and theirfamilies. For clarity the elder Joseph,son of David will be referred to asJoseph I and the younger, son of Thomaswill be Joseph II.In 1881 Joseph I was aged 44 and livingat 6, Lord Street, Halifax, with hiswife Hannah aged 50 and their threedaughters Mary Ellen, age 19, Lucyage13, and Louisa age 8. He was alinen draper employing three assistants.At the same time, Joseph II wasaged 28 and living at 42, GrosvenorSquare, Halifax with his wife Mary Aand three year old daughter EthelMary.In 1901 there is no trace of Joseph I inHalifax but Joseph II is there in theindex and he is a draper. My mindlogically determined that he mighthave taken over his cousin’s business.Bindex gave Joseph I as dying in1909, an essential date needing verification.I took advantage of the wider searchesavailable for the 1901 census, lookingnot only nationwide but also doing afuzzy search for the missing Joseph Iwho would be aged 64. I was rewardedwith a Joseph Bines (sic) aged64, who was a retired draper living inAudley Villa, Frodsham, Cheshire.The other family members indexed asBinns were a wife, Jane aged 59, adaughter Lucy, age 33, and a femaleservant Susan, at first an elusive Cinderella.When the census image itselfwas viewed it was clear however, thatSusan did not in fact share the Binnsname. Joseph I was now married to aJane who was born in Audley, Staffordshirewhereas in 1881 his wifewas called Hannah and was born inUnder Winder Sedbergh. In fact othersources had already established thatJoseph I had married Hannah Robinsonat Lancaster Church [Sep Q 1860]so was that the end of his Quakermembership? Presumably Hannah haddied and I did find the marriage of aJoseph Binns to a Jane Bibby registeredin September Quarter 1899 inChester.%,116&211(&7,216