52 Ancestors: Week 37: Mr. H. Tracey James and the Scottish Nation 1905

I had been searching Find My Past newspapers for ancestors when I came across one mentioning Mr. H. Tracey James but even though it doesn't give much information about him I thought I would include it given the timely interest in Scottish independence.  I believe Mr. H. Tracey James is Horace Tracey Barnes James born September quarter 1882, the son of Alfred Ernest James and Charlotte Marian Barnes.

Tamworth Herald - 21 October 1905

PROFESSOR MUIRHEAD ON THE NATIONAL IDEAL.

A large number of the members of the Birmingham and Midland Scottish Society gathered at the Grand Hotel, Colmore Row last Friday night, on the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the session. A feature of the gathering was that on this occasion for the first time in the history of the society, a number of ladies were admitted to the membership.  An excellent programme of vocal and instrumental music was enjoyed, the artistes being Miss Elsie Cornish, Miss Eva Dickinson, Mr. Ripley Evans, Mr. H Bannister, Mr. H. Tracey James, Mr. J. A. Beard, and Mr. Alfred Gregory's band.

In delivering his presidential address Professor Muirhead remarked that such a society did not stand merely for the promotion of social enjoyment, important as they all held that to be. They stood also for an ideal – the ideal of nationality. It was an ideal which in these days was somewhat under a cloud. They were told that the days of nationalities had passed, and there was something else taking their place – a thing called Imperialism. He confessed he was as good an Imperialist, or as he should prefer to call it, as good a Greater Briton, as anyone; but his idea of an Empire was one that should aim at preserving and not at destroying nations and national traditions and languages – (hear, hear). Therefore, they should keep to their national ideals, and keep alive the national feeling, if they could, in order to supplement the deficiencies of the ideal of any one people or nation; and because that society stood for a definite national ideal he thought they all owed it allegiance. The very vitality of the Scottish nation was a conspicuous refutation of the modern theories of what the world was moving to. He valued the Scottish ideal, the chief factors of which were a certain simplicity of life, individual frugality, a directness of speech, and mental outlook on things, and a certain loyalty to kindred, friends, institutions, and traditions. These were national assets, and so long as civilisation was civilisation, such an ideal of life as they cherished would have its value – (applause).

At another period of the evening the company bade “goodbye” to the hon. Treasurer, Mr. Harkness, who is leaving this country to take up position in Egypt.

52 Ancestors: Week 10: Charles Sharpe, Oldbury Butcher

Another @FindMyPast newspaper discovery.

Gloucester Citizen

Wednesday 20 September 1893

Charles Sharpe, an Oldbury butcher, was on Tuesday fined £10 and costs for having in his shop for sale some beef which was unfit for food. 

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Birmingham Daily Post

Wednesday 20 September 1893

BAD-MEAT PROSECUTION AT OLDBURY

Yesterday, at Oldbury Police Court -before Messrs. J. F. Wilson and H. Heaton -Charles Sharpe, butcher, of Talbot Street, Oldbury, was charged with exposing for sale on premises in Freeth Street, a fore-quarter of beef which was diseased, unsound, and unwholesome, and therefore unfit for human food. Mr. W. F. Vernon appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Local Board.  Mr G H Robbins (sanitary inspector) deposed to visiting the defendant's shop on the 12th of May.  He found a quantity of meat exposed for sale, including a fore quarter of beef, which he considered bad.  The meat was dark in colour, and the membrane from inside of the ribs  had been removed.  This was the usual practice, when an animals had suffered from tuberculosis, in order to destroy the traces of disease.  The carcass was in a state of putrefaction.  Dr. Cunningham (medical officer) gave a certificate to the effect that the animal has suffered from tuberculosis and that the meat was unfit for human food.  Mr Vernon asked the Bench to inflict a heavy penalty, as a defendant must have known the meat was bad. - Defendant denied this and said the case had ruined his business.  The bench considered it a very bad case, and fined defendant £10. and costs, in all £13. 14s. 6d., or in default fourteen days imprisonment, with hard labour.

52 Ancestors: Week 9: Thomas James, leather merchant (c1822 (Manchester) - 1884 (Alcester))

Another lovely find from my one month Find My Past subscription.  Back in 1997, when I spent a lot of time at Birmingham Archives, I found the following will for Thomas James.

This is the last will and testament of me Thomas James of Birmingham in the County of Warwick thereby direct all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be paid and satisfied by my  executrix hereinafter named soon as convenient maybe after my deceased.  I thereby give, devise and bequeath all my household furniture, linen, books ??? and also all and every sum and sums of money which may be in my house, about my person or at my place of business.  Also all stock and book debts owing to me the time my decease and all and everything of my effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal to my dear wife Julia James to and for her sole use.  I benefit absolutely and I nominate, constitute & approve my said wife to be my executrix to this my last will and thereby revoking all my former or other wills heretofore made by me.   I declare this to be my last will and testament.  In witness thereof I the said James Thomas have to this my last will and testament set my hand on this the twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighty two.

Signed Jany 21st 1882 in the presence of us   Thomas James

present at the same time who have hereunto 

subscribed our names witnesses in the         George Rowland

presence of the testator.                     Charles James

Proved at Birmingham 10th October 1884 by oath of Julia James widow

27 Pershore Road, Birmingham - Leather Merchant died 9th September 1884 at Alcester £1363:11:1

Wright & Marshall Solicitors, Birmingham

I knew that Thomas had been born c1822 in Manchester but I hadn't thought about how old he might have been when he died or the circumstances surrounding his death.   Well that all changed when I decided to search for 'Thomas James' and the word 'leather' on Find My Past and found the following news article which adds more meat to the bones (and as usually happens it has left me with even more questions that before).

Birmingham Daily Post 

Wednesday 10 September 1884

SUDDEN DEATH OF A BIRMINGHAM MERCHANT 

Yesterday, about noon, Mr. Thomas James, leather merchant, of 27 Pershore Street. Birmingham, died very suddenly at the Alcester Railway Station. The deceased gentleman, together with Mrs James had been on a visit to Alcester for some days past, staying at the Lord Alcester private hotel. Yesterday morning Mr. and Mrs. James walked to Great Alne, and returned by train to Alcester, immediately on alighting Mr. James was seized with illness. He was taken to the waiting room, and a medical man was sent for, but before his arrival he expired. It seemed deceased had been a great sufferer from heart disease, and had been attended by Mr. Badger, surgeon, Bromsgrove Street. The deceased was 62 years of age. The body was removed to the Lord Nelson Inn to await the decision of the coroner as to the holding of an inquest.

52 Ancestors: Week 5: Sarah Banks, b.1855 in Limerick, Ireland (updated again)

Sarah Banks, daughter of Marcus Banks, married Thomas Morrissey / Morrissy at St Michael's, Limerick, Ireland in 1876. They went on to have the following children:

Mary Anne b.1877

Margaret b. 1879

John b. 1882

Esther Christina b. 1887

Patrick Joseph b. 1890

Thomas b. 1896

William b. 1898

See 1901 census here showing all the family exept Mary Ann.  Thomas and John are shown as having the occupation jarvey (?).  The family are shown at house 27 in Vizes Fields (Dock Limerick Urban No. 4, Limerick)

See 1911 census here showing Sarah, Thomas (a car driver) and William (scholar) at house 28 Vizes Fields (Limerick No. 4 Urban, Limerick).

According to LimerickLad on Rootschat Vizes Fields was named after the gentleman that owned the land between St Joseph Street and Bowman Street (where I believe Patrick Joseph Morrissey was born) on which a housing scheme of cottages was built.

Patrick joined the army and moved to India. Talking of India, the British Library have joined with Find My Past and now 2.5 million India Office Records have been published on line.  See the list here.

Update (5th February 2014)

When I was googling Vizes Field, Limerick I came across a YouTube video - Save Vizes Field. You can see the little cottages in the back ground.  It's shocking that they want to build a horrible block of flats (that do not appear to be fit for purpose anyway) on a little bit of green land.  It will ruin it :-(  

There is also a reference to Vizes Fields (see chapter 5) in Mickey Slabdabber, a Limerick Odyssey By Michael Quinlan

Update (19th February 2014)  Another good lead from my new Find My Past month subscription.  A reference to a Marcus Banks in the Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828 - 1912.

20 July 1880, Marcus Banks, Defendant, Court Tarbert, County Kerry, a bootman or boatman of the city of Limerick - You the defendant on the 3rd July 1880 at Tarbert ??? Co Kerry were unlawfully drunk on the public highway.  To pay for fine two shillings + six pence + costs one shilling.

Any help on reading the occupation would be gratefully received.