Genealogy Chat

Please see below...

Having searched for my wife's ancestor - John Jackson, a blacksmith of Witney - I found the following by googling: 'In the 1840's, Staples & Lea provided many fittings for Witney Church. In July 1842 a blacksmith named John Jackson is listed as operating in High Street' However, I also found that Leigh & Sons were due to shut in June just gone. Does anybody who lives locally have any way of tracing any old records that Leigh & Sons might have had as they closed? Perhaps someone may actually know the most recent owners?? In desperation! William PS I have found John Jackson on all censuses and as many old directories as I can. If it's any help, here is what I have: Born c1806, Married Eliza Bartlett 9 Nov 1829, Died after 1896. Children William, Mary, Anna, Emma, Eliza, John, Ellen 1839 Robson's Commercial Directory: John Jackson, High Street, Witney. Blacksmith 1841 Census(I): Witney Middle Row, Market Place, Mary Jackson, 70, ind, not born Oxon Middle Row, Market Place, John Jackson, 35, Blacksmith, Oxon Middle Row, Market Place, Eliza Jackson, 34, Oxon Middle Row, Market Place, William Jackson, 10, Oxon Middle Row, Market Place, Anna Jackson, 4, Oxon Middle Row, Market Place, Emma Jackson, 1, Oxon 1842 Pigot's Directory: John Jackson, High Street, Witney. Blacksmith 1844 Pigot's Directory: John Jackson, High Street, Witney. Blacksmith 1851 Census(I): HO107/1731-?? Witney Middle Row, Market Place, John Jackson, head, mar, 45, blacksmith employing two men, Witney Middle Row, Market Place, Eliza Jackson,wife, mar, 43, blacksmith's wife, Standlake Middle Row, Market Place, Emma Jackson, daur, 10, scholar, Witney Middle Row, Market Place, Eliza Jackson, daur, 6, scholar, Witney Middle Row, Market Place, John Jackson, son, 3, scholar, Witney 1852 Gardner's Directory of Oxfordshire: John Jackson, High Street, Witney. Blacksmith 1854 Post Office Directory: John Jackson, High Street, Witney. Blacksmith 'In July 1842 a blacksmith named John Jackson is listed as operating in High Street. Sometime in 1852 the Staples & Lea partnership was disolved and Samuel Lea began operating under his own name. In 1887 Alfred Lea Leigh and John Jackson, who were both assistants to Samuel Lea, purchased the business from Samuel Lea and formed a partnership under the name of 'Leigh and Jackson.' At this time the company had extensive workshops and warehouses around the main premises, it undertook machine and implement repair, and builders' and constructional ironwork, and in the 1890's introduced steam power for turning and boring. In the 1895 issue of Kelly's Oxfordshire directory Leigh & Jacksons are listed as Ironmongers. In 1896/7 John Jackson retired from the business.' from http://www.leighandsons.ltd.uk

Went there three weeks ago to search out rellies! Merry

Quite a lot online if you google............ I put in 'leigh sons witney' Reg

The reference librarian at Witney library was quite knowledgeable and very helpful indeed about local history issues. Every Friday afternoon from 2pm (I think) they have a lady come into the library to help others with family history searching and queries. We were going to pop along when she was there, but found what we were looking for without her help in the end. However, the ref librarian said the other lady is very keen.......maybe you should 'phone if you don't get a result on here. I'm afraid I haven't kept a note of her name :o(( Merry

Thanks for the advice - particularly Merry's on the library! Kind regards, William