Family Tree of Pete Bradshaw and Wendy Offen, Durham, England
John Ebenezer Skelton
1837
Male
Person 00000087
Born 05/08/1837 at Totnes, Devon (FM)
Father: William Skelton (1800)
Mother: Elizabeth (Betsy) Gullick (1796)
Sept quarter Totnes 9/322
Rumoured to be the second name in the first Totnes birth register. "Sixth living child" so perhaps there had been others who had
died... Name chosen because his mother had been very ill after his birth but had recovered.
June 1838 at Totnes, Devon (F)
walked at 10m
1841 at Totnes, Devon (C)
3
1843 at Exeter, Devon (F)
1843 at Totnes, Devon (F)
1844 at Stone Hill, Kent (F)
While here, had around twelve month's education at a widow lady's school - taught reading, spelling and sewing. Virtually the only
schooling he ever had. Spent more time here running errands to the shops in Sellindge.
from 1845 at Aldringham, Suffolk (F)
Couldn't attend CoE day school because they were dissenters. Looked after garden, pigs and fowls, and ran errands, such as
daily walk to Leiston to fetch the post. Three years exploring the countryside and rural life.
from 1848 at Harleston, Norfolk (F)
Started work sewing boot uppers
1850 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Apprenticed to eldest brother for 8 years. Worked 16 hour days, plus some night classes in mathematics.
1851 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (C)
Apprentice bootmaker, 13
1852 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Involved campaigning for Liberal candidate (Hon. Edward Leveson-Gower) in general election.
On another occasion got into a fight with Billy Myatt the murderer
1853 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Became leather buyer for business - walked to Newcastle before breakfast once a week.
Around now the Chapel (New Street?) closed so they held Sunday Evening meetings in their house, using sermons written and sent
weekly by father.
around 1854 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Got on well with sister in law. But business (never lucrative) hit by potato famine (-1852) and then Crimean war (1853-56). They lived
on home-made bread ("sheeps' pluck" considered a luxury) - John took eight large loaves to the bake house once a week.
around 1855 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Visited various chapels but didn;t feel at home with doctrine of General Baptists, Evangelical Anglicans, Unitarians, Methodists,
Primitives or Roman Catholics; got on better with Plymouth Brethren who met at a stone mason's in Hanley. Led singing for the first
time at a meeting at a friend's house.
1855 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Ran a branch shop in Shelton for a year, then a shop in Fenton.
1856 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Made first pair of boots while brother at father's funeral.
Around this time the first shoe upper sewing machine was patented.
around 1857 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Helped in Sunday School at Burslem methodist church. Met an attractive girl he had met two years previously, but didn't pursue her
as she was never punctual.
05/08/1858 at Stoke on Trent, Staffs (F)
Free of indenture, and resentful of 8 years unpaid work (latterly supervising other apprentices), he insisted on becoming a
journeyman, though without even money saved for tools. The pottery strike made work very slow; he worked part time for three
years, travelling sometimes to try to find a better job.
April 1861 at Stoke on Trent (C)
23, boot and shoemaker (journeyman), with brother William
around May 1861 at Barcombe, Lewes, Sussex (F)
Answered an advert in The Earthen Vessel and took everything he owned - some clothes and tools, 2 books, a carpet bag and £2
cash - to work for Mr Grainger (who had a shoe upper sewing machine). Attended the calvinistic methodist church with its American
organ.
1862 at Barcombe (F)
promoted to master's assistant
1862 at Brighton, West Sussex (F)
Started a business with Grainger "making by machine of boot uppers for the trade": John would cut and fit; Grainger sew and Mrs
Grainger stand by with needle and thread. Saved £15 in 12 months. Sang in choir at Ebenezer Baptist Chapel, Richmond Street
(demolished 1966).
from December 1862 at Luton, Beds (F)
Left Brighton at Christmas time when work was slack. Went to live with mother (25 Dumfries Street), who was "labouring constantly".
Bought a Felton sewing machine in Bishopsgate for £12-12-0 on the way to Luton. Started business at home, stitching uppers, cut
out by other bootmakers, with silk thread. Now owned the machine, 4 books and a concertina. Worked so hard he made himself ill
for 3 or 4 years. Lived almost next door to Ebenezer chapel where he was involved in the Sunday School and the choir: this latter
was organised in the gallery with ladies on the front pew, instruments (including clarinet and bass viol) on the second and gents at
the back.
1863 at Luton, Beds (F)
Attracted by a clean, punctual and sensitive girl in choir. Courted for six months.
Married 25/12/1863 at Luton, Beds (FR)
to Ann Humphrey (1840)
Christmas morning at Luton parish church. Not an expensive wedding; best wedding present was a ton of coal from father in law!
Luton, Dec quarter 3b/981
1864 at Luton, Beds (F)
Rented a house on London Road (possibly what is now called Chapel Street or South Road?) through good references of self and
mother. Workshop was in one room. Gradually built business by buying leather wholesale, from Southwark initially then from local
reps, cutting and sewing.
Jointly resolved never to be in debt so shaved at home.
around 1865 at Luton, Beds (F)
Travelled to London to discus sewing machine patent situation with lawyers; only person locally to avoid having to pay royalties.
1867 at Luton, Beds (F)
Took an assistant and moved to larger premises
January 1869 at Luton, Beds (F)
Friends sold him mortgaged house in Adelaide Street: 2 years to pay deposit but cheap at 4/- a month. A better house with a long
garden and outbuildings. Now two vanloads of goods to be moved. orkshop set up in largest room; 2 female assistants and soon
an appprentice too.
April 1871 at Luton, Beds (C)
43 Adelaide St, age 32, boot maker by machine, with wife and kids
around June 1871 at Luton, Beds (C)
Expanded into leather retail business.
around 1872 at Luton, Beds (F)
Able to keep up with new fashion for fancy white silk stitching on patent leather boots. A new machinist taken on and sister (Mercy?)
employed. Apprentice left to set up rival shop but returned after a year. Another 5 or 6 years of hard work with Ann running the
leather business, John cutting out and supervising machinists.
1872 at Luton, Beds ()
mother died
around 1874 at Luton, Beds (F)
School board established - campaigned for dissenters party against C of E for control - so 3 sons and a daughter now able to go to
school.
November 1876 at Luton, Beds (F)
First wife died. Left with 8 children to look after, the baby was taken by a sister and her friend to nurse and a housekeeper was
sought, eventually contacting an old friend, Caroline Endersby, in Croydon. They met for an interview in London and John accepted
her terms! She rearranged the house, moving: the shop from the back sitting room to the back yard; the family from the under
kitchen to the sitting room; the store room to the under kitchen, to free up a bedroom. The workshop by now took up half of the back
yard.
1877 at Luton, Beds (F)
After various disputes between the choir, the choirmaster and the minister the band was removed, the choir moved from gallery to
"table" and John eventually became chapel choirmaster. He was never baptised so could not join the church but continued in this
role for 40 years.
around 1877 at Luton, Beds (C)
Bootmaker employed to teach trade to son marcus
September 1877 at Luton, Beds (C)
After ten months together, and an ex-beau come and gone, John and Caroline arranged to marry in a year's time
Married 05/08/1878 at Luton, Beds (FR)
to Caroline Ruth Endersby (1843)
Big wedding at Ebenezer chapel on John's birthday
Luton 3b/686
around September 1878 at Eastbourne, Sussex (F)
took honeymoon (arranged by Mrs Mitchell of Grove Road chapel)
1880 at Luton, Beds (C)
bought square plot of adjoining land for £144, initially for a vegetable garden. Then took loan of £400 from friends to build four
cottages on it.
April 1881 at Luton, Beds (C)
at 43, Adelaide Street - Boot upper manufacturer. Master employing 1 man, 3 woman and 2 boys. With wife and seven eldest
children plus visitor Emma Hazell (unemployed cook)
around 1882 at Luton, Beds (F)
Two further loans of £100 allowed for further building behind house - a three storey building with warehouse, shop and workshop.
Family moved into the nearest cottage (now called Princess Street?) and the Adelaide Street house was let.
around 1883 at Luton, Beds (C)
Business went steadilly despite competition.
around 1887 at Luton, Beds (F)
Large cutting press bought in case a change of business emphasis required. Moved to retail trade and larger premises found in a
good position but cramped, dreary and smoky. Experimented in shoe production over two years.
1888 at Aldeburgh (F)
holiday, re-visitting boyhood scenes
September 1890 at Luton, Beds (F)
Moved to larger premises, an old butchers shop that John refitted, and modernised over 4 years. Worked largely in shoe and boot
design and fitting.
1891 at Luton, Beds (FC)
Bootmaker, 53, at 31 Wellington Street
with wife and 4 kids
around 1892 at Luton, Beds (F)
After 28 years in Luton, years of long days and short nights, he developed painful pleurisy, so bad he thought he would die. But the
delirium passed and he recovered. He rented a private house for five years to convalesce, on the outskirts or tosn, with large
garden, fruit trees and poultry. But the plums took a frost, rats took the ducklings, the apples failed and he hurt his back moving turfs.
Business was also less prosperous in his absence.
1896 at Luton, Beds (F)
Moved to Dallow Road, the first house on the street, which John had had built. (Perhaps near the old workhouse)
1901 at Luton, Beds (CF)
bootmaker aged 63 at 2, Dallow Road (house he had built)
around 1902 at Luton, Beds (F)
House bought by school board as a caretakers house for the adjacent school. Price arranged so they could move to number 74, a
double fronted house just built. One front room made into a drapery shop for the eldest daughter, and an extension built at the back
for the youngest daughter's dressmaking. The shop income paid for a maid to relieve Caroline's workload.
1903 at Luton, Beds (F)
Silver Wedding anniversary celebrated
02/10/1907 at Luton, Beds (F)
Surprised, at a tea in the new chapel school room, to be given a specially commisioned bookcase/bureau; suggested by Carioline
and presented by Mr J Booth of Bradford, to commemorate his 30 years as leader of the singing. Always reticent, this is the one
occasion on which "Quiet John" made a speech of thanks. He had also built up a large library at the Sunday School together with
Mr Shepheard, and led singing on his concertina.
1909 at Luton, Beds ()
second wife died
1911 at Luton, Beds (C)
7, Dallow Road (6 rooms)
boot maker (employer), 73, widower, 8 live and 2 dead children, with 2 daughters, a niece (Emma) and a maid
around 1913 at Luton, Beds (F)
Wrote autobiography aged 75 (later edited and typed by son Oliver).
Died 18/03/1915 at Luton, Beds (FR)
age 77 - 3b/782
estate of £1903 14s. 6d. - probate to sons Albert and Oliver